Free Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins

the naive young girl who'd arrived in the city
three years previously. She'd learned plenty along the way, and it
seemed to her that staying away from men was the wisest path to
take.
    "That's very generous of you, Mr. Lomas," she said politely, "only
it's not such a good idea."
    "Why?" he asked, a nerve twitching on the left-hand side of his
narrow face.
    "Because you have a wife."
    "I'm not asking you to marry me, dear," he sneered, refusing to
accept defeat gracefully. "I'm merely inviting you for a spot of
dinner."
    "I understand, Mr. Lomas," she replied, wishing he'd leave her
alone. "And perhaps if your wife were to join us ..."
    "Forget I asked," he said, marching off in a huff.
    Fiona, one of the floor maids who'd been standing nearby, quietly
applauded. "You told him," she said. "Mind you, he might've given you
a raise."
    "Who wants a raise if that's the way I have to get it?"
Dani said scornfully.
    "Dead right," Fiona said. "That man is a big old married lech. The worst kind."
    "He sure is," Dani agreed.
    "Y' know," Fiona continued, "my boyfriend has some real nice friends. So ... if you do want to go out and celebrate
..."
    Dani shook her head, thinking that was the last thing she wanted.
"No thanks," she said quickly.
    "Why?"
    "I'm not interested."
    "In what ?"
    " Getting involved with anyone."
    "One date's hardly gettin' involved," Fiona sniffed.
    "Besides," Dani added, taking the edge off, "my sister's throwing
me a party."
    "Nice," Fiona said snippily. "Thanks for the invite."
    "Not a big party," she added hurriedly. "Actually, it's
only me, my sister, and her husband."
    "Sounds like a laugh a minute."
    She couldn't care less what Fiona thought, it was her birthday and she would celebrate it any way she chose.
Besides, Sam and Emily were the only two people she cared about
    By the time she finished work and got over to their apartment, it
was past seven. Emily had promised to cook, and she was looking
forward to her sister's delicious roast chicken and home-style
potatoes—Emily's specialty.
    Sam answered the door looking agitated. "Where is she?" he asked,
peering past her.
    "Who?" Dani asked, disappointed because there was no smell of
cooking in the air.
    "Emily."
    "How would I know?" she answered, shrugging off her knit jacket.
"I thought she'd be here."
    "So did I," Sam said. "But as you can see, she's not."
    "Then where is she?"
    " I'm asking you ," he said, exasperated.
    "Haven't seen her. I came straight from work."
    "Damn!" Sam said, frowning. "She was due home three hours
ago."
    "Did you call the restaurant?"
    "Yeah."
    "What did they say?"
    "That she signed off her shift at four o'clock."
    "Maybe she went shopping."
    "She did all her shopping yesterday. The food's in the kitchen,
waitin' for her to cook." He ran his hand through his tousled red
hair. "It's not like Emily to screw around."
    "Do you think something might have happened to her?" Dani asked
tentatively.
    "Dunno," he said, grabbing his jacket. "I'm gonna run over to the
hotel, see if she's there."
    "I'll come with you."
    The restaurant at the hotel where Emily worked had no news of her.
She'd signed off at four o'clock, exactly as the manager had informed
Sam over the phone.
    "Is there anyone here who was workin' with her today?" he
asked.
    "I think Sharon's still around," the manager said.
    "Can I talk to her?"
    "Wait in the back. I'll see if I can find her. No need to disturb
the customers."
    "You got it," Sam said.
    He and Dani made their way to a small stockroom at the rear of the
restaurant and waited.
    Five minutes later Sharon appeared. "What's up, Sam?" she
asked.
    "What's up is Emily ain't come home," he said agitatedly. "Did she
say anythin' about where she was goin' after work?"
    "No," Sharon replied. "She told me she'd see me tomorrow, that was
it."
    "Maybe we should check the hospitals," Dani suggested, joining
in.
    "I'm sure she'll turn up," Sharon said cheerfully. "You know
Emily. Miss Reliable."
    "Yes," Dani agreed, trying to