Free Secrets by Jude Deveraux Page A

he’d had a lifetime of training, so when his father was incapacitated, Jeff went in his place, and he’d done an excellent job. Not one argument had gone past the shouting stage.
    When Jeff first mentioned Skylar to his father, they had gone to downtown Williamsburg to The Trellis restaurant. Jeff knew that after lunch his father would want to go to the William and Mary bookstore and spend hours browsing.
    But the minute their order was placed, Thomas started on his favorite topic: Cassie. As always, he asked Jeff when he was going to ask Cassie out.
    â€œDon’t start on me again,” Jeff said. “Cassie is wonderful, but if I let her get close to me, she’ll find out too much, and you know that she couldn’t handle the truth about my life.”
    â€œDon’t underestimate her,” Thomas said. “There’s more to that girl than you think.”
    â€œDo you forget that I’ve known her for a very long time?”
    â€œSince you never let me forget it, how could I?”
    Jeff paused until the waiter had put his salad down and left. “Look, Dad, Cassie is great. I couldn’t like a girl better than I like her, but, face it, she’s a quiet, gentle person. She lives in a world that’s normal. My world would scare her. Look at the way she’s terrified of her own mother.”
    â€œI’ve met Margaret Madden, and she scares everybody.”
    Jeff ate a few bites before speaking. “Cassie is an innocent and it’s better that way. She stays at home with Elsbeth and that’s all she needs.”
    Thomas smiled. “I’ve seen the way you look at her, and it’s not especially ‘innocent.’”
    Jeff grinned. “Who wouldn’t? She’s a knockout.”
    â€œShe’s in love with you.”
    Jeff put his fork down. “She thinks she is, but it’s just an old-fashioned crush that she’s carried into adulthood. She loves my daughter, and that’s what’s important.”
    â€œJeff, my son, you’re a fool. Someday that beautiful young woman is going to get tired of waiting for you.”
    â€œShe’s not waiting for me . If she finds some nice young man, great. I’ll walk her down the aisle and give her away.”
    Thomas looked at his son in astonishment. “I wonder where your mother and I failed in raising you. Or do you think it’s a genetic defect? I must brush up on my Mendel to see how two intelligent people could give birth to an idiot.”
    â€œAre you finished?”
    â€œNo. I’m not going to be finished until you come to your senses about Cassie. If you don’t do something soon, someone’s going to swoop down and snatch her away from you.”
    â€œGood. I hope she finds someone nice and safe .”
    Thomas snorted in derision. “I’d like to see what you’d do if someone went after Cassie.”
    â€œYou don’t know me as well as you think you do. Look, let’s forget this. I have a problem. You remember David Beaumont?”
    â€œI remember his money.”
    â€œThe agency wants him to help—” Jeff broke off and looked away.
    â€œI know. You can’t tell me. So what’s the problem?”
    â€œThey want me to look after his daughter for a while. Get her settled here in Williamsburg.”
    â€œIs she too old for Elsbeth?”
    Jeff smiled. “I guess so. She’s thirty-four and gorgeous.”
    Thomas was silent as their entrées were placed before them. “And how were you chosen to be this woman’s escort?”
    Jeff shrugged. “I don’t know. She and Roger Craig knew each other in college, so—”
    â€œCouldn’t he and that lovely wife of his, Dana, show this older woman around?”
    Jeff frowned. “What is wrong with you today? I’m going to be spending time with a beautiful woman. Haven’t you been complaining that I never go