Read Online Wait Until Dark by Karen Robards, Andrea Kane, Linda Anderson, Mariah Stewart - Free Book Online Page B

be?"
    His frown deepened. "Lindsey, what is it? What's wrong?"
    She searched his face. He looked tired, lines of weariness etched around his eyes. As for guilt, he was either the best actor she'd ever seen, or he had no idea what was bothering her.
    With that in mind, she took the risk.
    "I'm tired and on edge. I got a pretty upsetting phone call at three in the morning." Seeing no flicker of comprehension register on Nicholas's face, she continued. "I was warned to sell the manor and stay away. Oh, and to keep my parentage a secret. Or else."
    Nicholas's eyes narrowed. "Or else what?"
    "The caller wasn't specific. He just suggested I stay healthy by following his advice."
    "Did you recognize the voice?"
    Her gaze was steady. "No. Then again, rich, powerful people don't usually do their own dirty work. Do they?"
    Her point got through, loud and clear, and Nicholas's jaw clenched. "You think I had something to do with it?"
    "Did you?"
    "No. Then again, if you have to ask me that, I doubt you'll believe me."
    "Frankly, Nicholas, I don't know what to believe. It's hard for me to imagine your being that cruel. On the other hand, you told me yourself how much you wanted this manor."
    "I also told you I'm not the self-indulgent hedonist you think I am. I don't always get what I want. When I don't, I live with it. I don't resort to the kind of tactics you're describing."
    "How about your friend Stuart Falkner? Does he resort to those kind of tactics? Or what about his sister, Tracy?"
    Nicholas rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with her question. "I can't speak for Stuart. Or for Tracy. I can only speak for myself." He reached out, gripped Lindsey's shoulders, his probing stare boring through her. "Look at me," he commanded, waiting until she'd complied. "I realize we haven't known each other long. Whatever it is that's happening between us is happening fast. That scares you. Who I am, how I live, scares you. I can accept all that. But I can't accept suspicions like the ones you're battling now. Trust your gut, Lindsey. Do you honestly think I'd threaten you just to get this house?"
    Lindsey released her breath on a sigh. "No. I don't." She felt frustrated, unsettled, and just plain drained. "But someone would. And I'm getting a little sick of this cat-and-mouse game. It's starting to get out of hand."
    "I agree."
    Something about Nicholas's tone struck her, a hard decisiveness that was new.
    "Why is it I can't get past the feeling that you know a lot more than you're willing to say?" she asked. "Are you protecting someone - Stuart, for example?"
    "Nothing like that," Nicholas weighed his words carefully. "Whatever I might or might not know has nothing to do with you, or with last night's phone call. Let's leave it at that."
    Puzzled, Lindsey inclined her head, studied Nicholas's unreadable expression. She felt more curiosity than suspicion, an indication that, with or without any logical basis, she believed him. Whatever was troubling him clearly related to the Falkners, but in what way, she didn't know.
    "You still think I'm lying," Nicholas stated, watching the speculative look on her face.
    "Actually, no. I think you're telling the truth."
    "Then what is it you're so deep in thought about?"
    "I'm trying to fit together the pieces. How do you factor into the Falkners' lives? How close are you really, and what is it about them you're hiding?" She waved away the evasive reply she knew was coming. "Never mind." Just as quickly - before she had time to chicken out - she added, "Would you answer just one question for me - one that has nothing to do with your relationship with Stuart and Tracy?"
    "All right," Nicholas agreed warily.
    Now came the hard part. Lindsey wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. "You told me you knew Harlan Falkner for twenty years, that he gave you your first business break. What about personally? How well did you know him?"
    Nicholas never averted his gaze. "He was like a father to me. My own