Free Twist of Fate by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

interesting idea.”
    Â 
    H ANNAH WAS STRUGGLING with the cane, her tote, an umbrella, and a bag of groceries as she approached her front door the next morning. A familiar morning drizzle had made the walk to the grocery store more of an event than usual. The cane tended to slip a bit on wet surfaces, and it had been impossible to keep the umbrella properly positioned while she carried the bag. In the end she had abandoned the rain protection in favor of concentrating on her footing. As a result her hair was damp and turning frizzy.
    She was debating about the wisdom of trying for the mail on top of everything else, when she stepped into the apartment building entranceway and saw Gideon Cage lounging on the bottom step. He got to his feet at once.
    Hannah said the first words that came into her head. “People in this building are getting far too casual about security. Who let you inside the gate?”
    â€œA very nice man who looked like James Dean. He and his boyfriend said they were your neighbors.”
    â€œWhat are you doing here, Gideon?”
    â€œWould you believe me if I said I came by for a little counseling?” He smiled at her as he reached out to take the sack of groceries but there was a strange wariness in his eyes.
    Hannah brushed aside his dry question. She looked at him searchingly. “My brother said it was all over. He said you were out of the picture.”
    â€œThere are a few minor loose ends,” Gideon began carefully.
    â€œI don’t believe you. Have you changed your mind? Decided to try to take over the company after all?”
    â€œIf I said yes would you offer me another game of cards?”
    â€œI can’t make the offer, can I? You stole my deck.” She realized that she was following him up the stairs to her apartment. There wasn’t much else she could do. He had her groceries.
    â€œI didn’t steal the cards. I kept them as a souvenir.” He paused outside her door, waiting for her to fish out the key. “Do you always dress as if you’re heading out on safari?”
    She chose to ignore the question. “Gideon, tell me what this is all about. I’m busy getting ready for my trip to the Caribbean. I don’t have time for playing games with you.” She shoved the key in the lock and twisted it with a vengeance.
    â€œI don’t need any more games. I’ve been trying to play them in Las Vegas for the past twenty-four hours. No fun.” He unzipped the lightweight windbreaker that was all the protection he had against the rain.
    â€œMy heart would bleed for you except that I’m kind of busy at the moment.” She dropped the leather and linen tote bag and sank down wearily into the nearest cushioned rattan chair.
    â€œThe leg still hurts?” Gideon put the groceries in the kitchen and came to stand in the doorway.
    â€œOccasionally it hurts like hell.”
    â€œIs now one of the occasions?” he asked.
    â€œI’ll make a deal with you, Gideon. You don’t waste any false sympathy on me and I won’t waste any on you, okay?” She closed her eyes and reached down to lightly massage the knee through the fabric of her olive green bush pants. She shouldn’t have tried walking to the store this morning. It was about one block too far for comfort. Now her leg would ache for a good hour.
    She didn’t hear Gideon cross the room but the instant his fingers settled in the vicinity of her knee she stiffened. Without opening her eyes, she said very evenly, “Touch that leg and you’re a dead man.”
    He pulled away. “I get the feeling you mean that.”
    Hannah looked up at him from under half-closed lids. “The last person who tried to do me the favor of massaging my knee had a Ph.D. and she nearly killed me. Your qualifications aren’t nearly as impressive. No telling what might happen if I let you try your hand at massage. I might never walk