Free Test of Time by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

occur to you, Katy, that I have something more at stake here than just a business deal?"
    Katy flashed him a look of intense curiosity. "Such as?"
    "My pride, for one thing," Garrett retorted tightly.
    "Oh, that." Katy lost interest in the subject.
    Garrett's temper gleamed for an instant in his eyes as he slid a sidelong glance in her direction. "You may not give a damn about my pride, lady, but I sure as hell do. I do not want all my employees and friends aware of the fact that my wife changed her mind about the marriage on her wedding night. We will take the next two weeks off, just as I originally planned, and we will spent the time trying to act like newlyweds, at least when we're in front of others. Besides, I've got some work I want to do around the house and stables. I need the time. I haven't taken more than an occasional weekend off in five years."
    "If you want to waste the next two weeks, that's your business." Katy leaned forward, determined to put a halt to the conversation. "Look, there's a fast-food place coming up. We can grab a meal there."
    They arrived at Garrett's new home sometime after dark. A fitful cloud cover obscured the moonlight and made it almost impossible to see any details of the property. But Katy sensed Garrett's inner satisfaction as he turned off the main road and drove along a tree-lined road that led toward the sea. He began describing the night-shrouded scene to her.
    "The main house is over there on the left behind those trees. You'll see it in a moment. It's near the top of the cliffs. You're going to like it, Katy. Red tile roof, white stucco finish and lots of arched doorways and windows. Plenty of gardens, too. Over there on the right are the stables and paddocks. The setup will house two horses. On that hill above the stables is the Brackens' cottage. Wait until you see it all in the daylight, Katy. This is beautiful land."
    Katy heard the enthusiasm in his voice and tried to ignore it. It wasn't easy because her own curiosity was getting the better of her. Until last night, she had been looking forward to living here. She had thought the place was going to be her home. Well, she reminded herself, it was still to be her home for the next three months.
    "Looks like Bracken didn't leave any lights on in the main house. Dammit, I told him I wanted the porch light left on in case we got in after dark." Garrett slowed and finally stopped the car in a long, curving drive. He frowned at the darkened two-story house. The headlights picked up a small section of a wide, arched front door and a portion of rockery that enclosed a flower garden.
    "Perhaps he forgot about the light," Katy suggested as she slowly opened her door and stepped out onto the drive. On the other side of the vehicle, Garrett's door slammed as he got out.
    "Yeah, maybe he forgot," Garrett muttered as he searched for the house key. "Or maybe he started drinking too early in the afternoon."
    "He's got an alcohol problem?"
    "Atwood implied something of that nature. Didn't go into details. I'll talk to Bracken in the morning. If the man wants to stay on here, he's going to have to learn to follow orders."
    Katy wisely said no more, but she privately hoped the unknown Emmett Bracken would learn quickly that his new employer allowed very little slack. As a teenager in her father's stables, he had always given Harry Randall his money's worth. Katy had learned during the past two months that Garrett had not changed in that respect. He worked hard and expected others to do the same.
    The front door swung open on silent hinges as Garrett turned the key in the lock. He leaned inside and found the hall switch. An instant later light blazed, revealing a wide foyer with a floor of rich, burnished quarry tile. Katy stepped inside, smiling in spite of herself.
    "Oh, this is lovely, Garrett," she whispered as she glanced around. The overhead light fixture, a handsome creation of wrought iron and glass, gleamed. Katy saw herself in an