Free Shadow Lover by Anne Stuart

concerned about me."
    He blinked, and then his smile widened as he recognized the irony. "If he's an imposter, Carolyn, it's up to you to expose him."
    "Why me?"
    "Because you're here, for Christ's sake. You knew him better than any of us, and you'll be around him day and night. This little visit to Edgartown will give you the perfect time to get to know him better. See if you can trip him up in some of his lies."
    "Lies?" she echoed. "You don't believe he's the real Alexander?"
    "I didn't say that. I'm a careful man. I watch, and I listen. As I said, it's not my money, but since it belongs to my beloved aunt, I don't want to see her handing it over to some criminal."
    "Noble of you," Carolyn said lightly.
    He moved closer. "Listen, Caro , why don't you come down to
New York
after you get back from the Vineyard? I know you must miss the city, living up here in the boonies. We could go out, have a good time. I know a marvelous Moroccan restaurant that you'd adore."
    She stared at him in disbelief. "Why would I do that?"
    "You can tell me what you've found out about Alex. And you know I've always liked you. You're a very attractive woman, Carolyn." He dropped his voice to a husky note that was obviously supposed to sound seductive.
    The swinging door opened, and Tessa strode in, breaking up the awkward moment. "I've been looking for you, Carolyn. You're needed. Warren, Mother, and Grace want to play bridge, and I'd rather slash my wrists."
    "No." It was the second time she'd told a MacDowell no, and the experience was heady. "Sorry, I have too much to do. They'll have to play three handed."
    "Don't be absurd. I'm sure whatever you have to do can wait," Tessa said grandly.
    "No." Number three. Carolyn was so pleased with herself she even managed a gracious smile. "They'll have to entertain themselves."
    And she scooted around the kitchen island, leaving the pills scattered over the wooden floor, making a graceful escape.
    * * *
    Despite the extensive remodeling, the MacDowell family compound wasn't large enough to comfortably encompass the entire extended family. With the newcomer in Alex MacDowell's remodeled bedroom, and Tessa and Grace sharing, albeit unwillingly, Carolyn's old one, she was officially dispossessed. Patsy, Warren, and George had claimed the three self-contained suites, and there was no moving them, short of using dynamite.
    Which left Carolyn with a fold-out sofa in the library.
    Normally she didn't mind. But these weren't normal times. George was getting odd ideas. Warren was far too chummy, and worst of all, there was a lying stranger in the house.
    On top of that, the library was the room equipped with a large-screen TV and a bar, and at least two of the younger MacDowells had taken up residence there.
    At least Alex had made himself scarce. Probably sucking up to Aunt Sally, Carolyn thought bitterly. She didn't know how she was going to survive the next few days, the next few weeks. The very thought of being trapped in a car with him for untold hours filled her with dread. He disturbed her, in ways she didn't even want to think about. He was a liar and a cheat and possibly far worse, and there was nothing she could do or say to stop him from using the MacDowells for his own nefarious purposes.
    It was a huge, rambling house, but she had nowhere to hide. The older generation was in the living room, the younger in the library. She didn't dare go back to the kitchen, even to retrieve her scattered pills, and it was a bitterly cold night. She wasn't in the mood for another moonlight stroll, especially considering who she'd run into last time.
    It was after one in the morning when Tessa and George finally decided to vacate the library. Carolyn waited until the house was still and quiet, secure in the knowledge that everyone was asleep, before she crept back to the kitchen to find her tranquilizers.
    They were gone. Some helpful soul had cleaned up, and there was no sign of the scattered pills or the empty