Free Nights in White Satin: A Loveswept Classic Romance by Linda Cajio

paperwork.”
    “And I was just heading out,” Jill added. She took advantage of the moment to slip out the terrace doors.
    “Doesn’t anyone use the front door?” Grahame asked.
    Rick shrugged.
    “It looks as if you and Jill are getting along just fine,” Lettice commented in a smug tone.
    He shrugged again, wondering exactly what she had seen. To encourage her thoughts would be a mistake, although he had to admit this was one instance when she wasn’t “off.” He walked toward the hallway door. “If you’ll excuse me …”
    “See if you can carry over your way with figures to the ladies, laddie,” Grahame said. “You’ll need it.”
    Rick looked heavenward for help. When none was forthcoming, he escaped to the office, Grahame’s booming laughter ringing in his ears.
    Jill took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her racing pulse. She looked around the back terrace where they had had that leisurely breakfast. It seemed like ages instead of just days ago. If she’d thought she had problems then, she should have done a fast-forward.
    “Well, at least he agreed,” she muttered, and pushed away any guilt over her small manipulation of Rick. Lettice
would
enjoy getting away from Devil’s Hall and seeing Rick’s friends. That she was betting Rick’s friends would also move in the Colonel’s circles was no reason to feel rotten.She was just killing two birds with one stone. She was finally moving ahead in her quest to regain the necklace, and doing a good deed in the process.
    But how she had fended off Rick’s kiss was quite another matter. She was thankful she had. There was no honor in getting involved with him. She wouldn’t be able to stand herself if she did. And the closer she got to him, the more likely he would discover what she was doing. The truth would come out eventually when the Colonel was caught. But she preferred to be back in the good old U.S. of A. in a good old new job, and about as far away from the Lord of the Manor as she could get when that happened. He would be furious.
    Jill closed her eyes as the remembered feel of his mouth on hers rose up inside her. She could almost taste him again. Want swirled through her at the thought of his strong hands stroking across her body, at the way her breasts had been crushed to his hard chest, at the sensations pulsing through her veins.…
    “You look contented.”
    Jill started as Lettice’s voice penetrated her forbidden dream. The very last thing she felt was contented. She cleared her throat. “Just enjoying the weather.”
    “Looks like rain to me,” the older woman said, peering at the black clouds darkening the hills below Bishop’s Cleeve.
    “I’m enjoying it until the rains start,” Jill amended, refusing to turn red.
    “We haven’t really talked about this,” Lettice said, smiling gently, “but I don’t think you shouldleave just yet, Jill. I am still furious with Edward for his attitude when I told him how useless that twerp Havilan was.”
    “He said if the twerp couldn’t help, then no one could,” Jill reminded her. It was a moot point anyway.
    “Well, I’m sorry we can’t get you help over the necklace, but I think it would be good for you to be away from home for a while. It’s about time your mother faced up to her actions. Her friends and loved ones have been bailing her out for years. Don’t you make the same mistake. You have done your best to get the necklace back for your mother, more than you ever needed to do.”
    Jill sighed. “I know.”
    Lettice patted her on the back. “I intend to stay on until Edward comes home from Moscow. You are very welcome to stay too. Have a little vacation. My grandson would be extremely pleased to have you. He likes you, I can tell. Maybe we can come up with other options. I can call Edward and see if there’s someone else who can—”
    “No, Lettice. No. It’s gone. I think I need some peace now. Are you sure you don’t mind if I stay?”
    Lettice hugged her.