Free Lady's Choice by Jayne Ann Krentz

themselves until Juliana's head was ringing.
    She wondered when the Lone Ranger would arrive.
    It didn't take her intuitive mind long to figure out who among her acquaintances was most likely to be standing on her doorstep making a nuisance of himself tonight. It also did not require great mental endowment to figure out that the offender was probably not going to give up and go away anytime soon.
    Travis Sawyer was not the type who gave up easily, as he had already demonstrated by waiting five years for his vengeance.
    Juliana got out of bed and reached for her peach satin robe. She ignored the dueling chimes long enough to pause beside her dressing table mirror and gloss her lips with a shade of lipstick she thought went well with the robe. She was considering adding blusher when the endless chimes finally got to her.
    Unable to stand the torture any longer, she stepped into a pair of silver high-heeled lounge slippers and stalked into the living room and threw open the door.
    "Whatever you're selling, I'm not buying," she announced. "But you can try."
    Travis, who was leaning against the chime button, straightened slowly, his eyes chips of ice.
    "Why didn't you tell me you had dropped a chunk of your personal savings into Flame Valley Inn?"
    "Why should I have told you? It was family business and I only hired you to consult on Charisma.
    Besides, I had no idea of your deep, personal concern for the inn until a few hours ago."
    His gaze swept over her and his cold expression grew even harsher. "You can't stand around out here dressed like that. Someone's likely to drive past any minute. Let's go inside."
    "I don't think I want you inside my apartment. Maybe you secretly hold the mortgage on this whole building or something. Maybe you're getting ready to foreclose on the condominium association and kick all us poor owners out into the street."
    "Stop talking nonsense. I am not in the mood for any more of your warped humor tonight. Stranding me at Flame Valley was the last straw." He shouldered his way past her, heading for the living room.
    "How did you get back to Jewel Harbor?" Juliana closed the door slowly and followed Travis. She noticed that he had removed his tie and there were several green splotches on his white shirt. A niggling sense of guilt shot through her. She quelled it quickly.
    By the time she caught up with Travis he had already lodged himself on the salmon-colored leather sofa. He sprawled there with negligent ease, one foot prodded on the black and chrome coffee table.
    "What do you care how I got back?"
    "It wasn't a question of caring exactly," Juliana explained as she sank into a turquoise chair and crossed her legs. The silver slippers gleamed in the light from a nearby Italian style lamp. "I asked out of simple curiosity."
    "I flew."
    "On your broomstick?"
    "No, you used the broomstick, remember?"
    "Ah," said Juliana. "Feeling peevish, are we? I'll bet David gave you a lift home. He would. David's always the perfect host. Did you tell him who you were before or after he went out of his way for you?"
    "Before."
    "How very upright of you. Your sense of business ethics is certainly an inspiration to the rest of us."
    The silver sandals winked again as Juliana recrossed her legs and smiled blandly.
    "Don't give me that superior look, Juliana. My temper is hanging by a thread tonight."
    "Shall I fetch a pair of scissors?"
    Travis closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the leather cushion. "No, you can fetch me a shot of brandy. Lord knows I need it."
    "Brandy is expensive. Why should I waste any of my precious supply on you?" Juliana asked.
    Travis's eyes opened and he looked straight at her. "One of these days you're going to learn when to stop pushing," he said very softly.
    "Who's going to teach me?"
    "It's beginning to look like I'm stuck with the job. It's obvious there aren't a lot of other candidates and one can certainly understand why. Go and get the brandy, Juliana. I want to talk to