Read Online Weekend Agreement by Barbara Wallace - Free Book Online

other day.” An unreadable glint shone in his dark gaze. Coming on top of the look they shared back in the foyer, Charlotte found herself quivering in places she wished she didn’t. Of course he’d read the book after making their arrangement. A good businessman always made sure he learned all he could about his potential partners.
    “For what it’s worth,” Cole remarked, disrupting the moment, “you could easily be an actress as well. Beauty and brains are an impressive combination. Careful, Danny, or I’m going to have to try and steal her away.” Though said good-naturedly enough, the comment made Charlotte uneasy. She was beginning to see why Daniel didn’t get along with his family. It was like standing in a nest of snakes waiting to see who might strike. So far, only William seemed genuine, and even then, the verdict was somewhat uncertain.
    “I’ve always wanted to write a novel,” Vivian said suddenly. She had settled herself regally on the settee located in the middle of the terrace. Charlotte noticed the chair was the only one in that location, the others having been placed in a revolving pattern around it. “Although I would be more suited to fiction than nonfiction. So much more exciting. I’ve been told I have a very vivid imagination.”
    “Why don’t you?” Having anticipated her need, William was at her side with a fresh drink. “You’d be a natural.”
    “Maybe I will. Goodness knows, I’ve a wealth of material to draw upon, what with our circle of friends.” The wind blew a strand of hair across her face, and she smoothed it back into perfection. “Imagine the scandals I would cause.”
    “With our friends? They would love the notoriety. Especially if you were the author.”
    She noticed Daniel moving away from the circle surrounding his mother to the veranda wall to stare at the ocean beyond.
    “Seems my big brother has forgotten his manners,” she heard a voice say in her ear. “Let me get you a drink. G&T all right?”
    She nodded absently, her attention still on Daniel. He looked so solitary, standing there watching the waves. Dark and withdrawn, his hair blowing in the wind. She watched him comb a hand through the locks, trying to tame them.
    The trill of Vivian’s laughter cut the air behind her as she joined him. “Out of curiosity,” she asked when she reached his elbow, “how long does cocktail hour actually last?”
    One corner of his mouth curled wryly. “Well, if William had his way, we’d sit out here all evening, but Mother’s a stickler for having dinner at a ‘proper’ time, so we’ll no doubt eat shortly. Thankfully I timed our arrival fairly well this evening.”
    Timed? “You mean we’re late on purpose?”
    “I make it a point of enduring as little of cocktail hour as possible. My family’s easier to take on a full stomach. Speaking of which, keep an eye on your drink. William doesn’t like a half-empty glass.” Across the way, his stepfather was, yet again, freshening his drink.
    “You missed some terrific sailing today.”
    She’d forgotten Cole had gone to get her a cocktail. He appeared at her elbow, smiling a little too broadly. As if to reinforce Daniel’s comment about half-empty glasses, his eyes had a slightly glassy look.
    “We had the boat heeled about thirty degrees,” he said. “Waves breaking over the bow. Absolutely fantastic.”
    “Cole lives for sailing,” Daniel explained.
    “Boating, fishing—you name it. It’s in the blood. The whole family loves being on the open water.”
    “Except for Daniel,” Vivian remarked from her perch. “He always wanted to stay on the beach and do his own thing rather than participate.”
    “Now Vivian, so what if Daniel’s not much of a sailor,” William reminded her. “It’s no great sin.”
    “At least not too much of one,” he added with a chuckle. “Are you a sailor, Charlotte?”
    “I don’t know; I’ve never tried.”
    “We’ll have to get you out on the Lucky Duck