Read Online Walk in Beauty by Barbara Samuel, Ruth Wind - Free Book Online Page B

sometime.”
    “You had no right do that without my permission.”
    “I know.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I did it last night when I was feeling so blown away. If you want me to take you to the hotel now, I will. Marcia doesn’t know it’s you guys—I just told her there was somebody I wanted her to meet.”
    Jessie stared at him, holding the warm weight of her child against her, and suddenly realized it was not only Jessie who was upset by all this. Luke, too, had to grapple with the demons of the past. “No,” she said. “It’ll be all right.”
    He gave her a grateful smile and reached over to touch her hand. “Thanks, Jessie.”
    All at once she realized how much she had relaxed in his company. He was so damned easy to be around, so easy to talk to. He never seemed to expect anyone to be anything except just what they were.
    Alarmed, she moved her hand gently from his and saw a ripple of hurt cross his features. Pressing her lips together, she resolutely turned her face to the window. “It’s only fair.”
    His voice sounded tired as he said, “Fair doesn’t have much to do with any of this.”
    “No,” she agreed softly. “I guess it doesn’t.”

Chapter Five
    A t Luke’s house, he gave Jessie the keys. “I’ll get Giselle. Why don’t you get the door open?”
    “I don’t mind, Luke. I carry her all the time.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t.”
    Jessie moved out of his way, watching as he scooped the child into his arms, shifting so her head fell on his shoulder. In spite of herself, Jessie smiled. Giselle’s mouth hung slack and her arms flopped around Luke’s shoulders.
    As they neared the porch, a small yellow car pulled in front of the house, and a woman got out. Wearing an ivory serape striped with orange, she had ribbons of black hair cloaking her small, slim body, and a face open and mischievous at once.
    Marcia.
    Jessie glanced at Luke, then back to Marcia, who crossed the yard eagerly.
    Marcia caught sight of Luke, with the child draped over his shoulder, then glanced at Jessie. A tangle of emotions crossed her mobile face—surprise, dismay, joy, excitement.
    In twenty years, Jessie thought in astonishment, Giselle would look exactly like this woman. Exactly. And Giselle had inherited that same buoyant energy.
    “Oh, my God,” Marcia cried at last, breaking the silent tableau on the lawn. “Jessie.” She shook her head, coming forward to take Jessie’s hands in hers. “Daniel didn’t tell me it was
you.
”
    “I’m beginning to think Daniel had an agenda that had nothing to do with the project.” Jessie clasped Marcia’s small, cold hands in her own, tightly. “It’s so good to see you.”
    “Ditto.” She laughed and hugged Jessie fiercely, then moved toward Luke. “She’s your daughter?”
    Luke turned slightly, nodding. “She’s sound asleep right now. I’m gonna lay her down and you can talk to her later.”
    Bustling forward, Jessie unlocked the door and stepped out of the way. Luke gave her a smile as he moved by, and somehow it lightened her heart a little. She smiled back, brushing the top of Giselle’s head as she passed.
    Marcia flung off her serape and dropped a big canvas bag on the couch. “I have to get a couple of things from the car,” she said, pausing at the door. For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. “I—Daniel didn’t tell me—” She shook her head. “I didn’t know you and Luke’s old girlfriend were the same person.”
    Jessie raised an eyebrow. Obviously, Daniel had known all of it. If he knew Marcia and Luke, Jessie and Giselle, there was no way he had not put all the pieces together.
    “I think Daniel was pretty careful to make sure none of us figured it out.”
    Marcia lifted her eyebrows and slipped out the door.
    Then she popped back in and gave Jessie another quick, excited hug. “When I was eighteen, I had the most terrible crush on you. I wanted to grow up and be just like you. It broke my heart when you