Free The Main Attraction by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

that?“
    Meg Cromwell sighed. „I know there’s nothing to the tale, dear, but you know how rumors fly around here. We heard you met Brady Paxton in town this morning. Someone said you’d been seen sharing coffee with him at Muriel’s cafe. And if we’ve heard it, you can bet everyone else in Gallant Lake has, too, including Gloria.“
    Trent felt all his good resolutions about taking his time with Filomena go up in a cloud of smoke. This, he decided, was what came of giving a woman too much time, especially a woman who was endowed with a bent toward mischief and who had an old score to settle.
    „Apparently I’m not doing my job properly,“ he remarked coolly.
    Filomena whirled on him. „What’s that supposed to mean?“ she demanded in ominous tones.

4
    „It looks like I’ll have to pay more attention to the task of keeping an eye on you,“ Trent said a little too casually.
    Filomena stiffened at the implied accusation. She saw the anxiety in her mother’s eyes and was furious with whoever had relayed the story of her unwelcome chat with Brady Paxton. Shari and her father didn’t appear as upset as her mother, but there was no doubt that the news had made them uneasy. Most of all, Filomena was aware of the cool, possessive watchfulness in Trent.
    „You’ve assured me you’re not here to work this summer, Trent, so don’t start worrying about the job of keeping me out of trouble,“ she said icily.
    „Hey,“ Shari put in quickly, „he was just teasing you, Fil.“
    „No, I wasn’t,“ Trent said calmly. He reached for the pitcher of iced tea and poured himself a glass. „I was dead serious. No more unsupervised trips into town for you, Filomena. You’re obviously incapable of steering clear of trouble. You can’t resist putting on your ^how for the locals, can you? Fdrtunately for you I’m willing to keep an eye on you.“
    „Oh, gee, thanks.“ A flash of recklessness went through her. She put her hands on her hips and regarded Trent and her family with narrowed eyes. „Would you all like to know exactly what happened this morning at Muriel’s? I’ll tell you. I was sitting there alone, enjoying a quiet cup of coffee, when Brady came in and sat down across from me.
    Guess what he wanted.“
    „Uh, I think we can all guess what he wanted,“ Amery said uncomfortably.
    „Sure,“ said Shari. „Everyone knows he’d jump at the chance to have a fling with you this summer. He’s restless and bored and everybody in town knows it.“
    „Is that right? Well, I’ve got news for you. What he wanted was for me to pump Trent for information on Asgard Development’s plans for a resort here on the lake. He’s convinced Trent’s here to scout the territory for Asgard.
    Furthermore, Brady offered me a nice little commission if I’d get the information for him and his real estate partnership cronies. There. Does that answer all your questions?“ Filomena lifted her chin in triumphant challenge.
    „Oh, dear,“ Meg said. „How awkward.“
    Shari was grinning. „Trust old Brady to put business before pleasure.“
    Amery groaned. „I should have known. I’ve heard Paxton’s got options on some prime land around the lake.“
    It was Trent who put the next question to Filomena. He grinned at her over the rim of his tea glass. „You haven’t told us yet whether or not you’re going to do it.“
    „Do what?“ Filomena demanded.
    „Pump me for the information about Asgard’s development plans.“
    „You don’t look particularly worried,“ she muttered. The rush of recklessness faded as she realized Trent wasn’t going to rise to the bait.
    „Probably because I’ve already told you Asgard doesn’t have any plans for Gallant Lake, and I think you believe me. But I won’t mind if you try to worm the details of our lack of plans out of me.“
    He looked so expectant that Filomena felt her annoyance begin to melt. Her sense of humor resurfaced. „Too late. I already told Brady you