Free Be My Love Song by Sable Hunter Page A

I
knew it wouldn’t keep them from badgering me about Windswept, but I was just so
tired of her baiting and innuendoes.” She paused to make a turn. “I gave the
escort a name to use, Weston Rogers.”
    Tilly laughed. “Why?”
    “Because when Morgana pushed me and I lied about having a
boyfriend, I used West’s name. He had been on my mind because of our phone
conversations and I just pulled it out of thin air.”
    Shaking her head, Tilly grinned. “I’m getting the picture.
The real Weston Rogers showed up and you thought it was the escort. Later,
Elaine nabbed the real escort for herself.”
    “What a tangled web we weave.” Madeline sighed. “Anytime I
ever try to lie, I end up making a mess out of things.”
    “I don’t know, Maddie,” Tilly answered thoughtfully. “This
might have all worked out exactly like it was supposed to. I think Cupid had a
hand in this. When the real Weston Rogers came to your door, what did you do?”
    “Well, you had told me he was sending someone to drop off
the drawings, I wasn’t expecting him to actually show.”
    “Exactly, fate intervened. Now, answer my question.”
    Maddie sighed and laughed a little. “I grabbed him and kissed
him so hard he turned blue.” She blushed, remembering all the kisses she’d
shared with West.
    “And that’s why you got three dozen red roses.”
    Well, not really, but she wasn’t going to argue about it.
Once they’d returned to Windswept, Maddie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Juliana met her at the door with Hugh in tow. “Where have you been?”
    “Shopping, I have a date tonight.”
    “Surely not with the instigator of that spectacle in the
sky?”
    Watching her mother, Maddie concluded she had all the appearance
of someone who had a broomstick stuck up her butt. “Yes, his name is Weston
Rogers, a local architect. The one who is preparing to help me get Windswept up
to code.” Okay, she was being unrealistically optimistic, but she wasn’t going
to just cave in and give up.
    Hugh gave Juliana a look, then came to her rather quickly
for a gentleman of his age, and took Madeline by the arm. Before she knew it,
he was leading her from the lobby to the dining room. “Let’s speak frankly,
shall we?”
    Tilly tried to follow, but Juliana stopped her. “I’ll see
you up in your room to help you get ready in a bit, Maddie,” she called.
    “Okay, Tilly.” She nodded at her friend and employee, then
turned to face Mr. Beaumont. “I really don’t have time to speak frankly or
otherwise.”
    “Make time.” He backed her up against the wall near the
fireplace. They weren’t touching, but Maddie could feel his clammy breath on
her face. “Your mother and sister can force this issue. They’re already drawing
up the sale papers. It would behoove you if you cooperated. In fact, I can make
it worth your while. If you’ll consent to sign the papers and evacuate the
premises within thirty days, I’ll tell you the real reason I want this
property.”
    To Madeline’s dismay, he ran one cold, too-soft fingertip
down her arm, causing her to flinch. “I won’t agree to any such thing.”
    “Oh, I think I can convince you otherwise. I have discovered
a secret, a big secret.” He smiled at her strangely. “Aren’t you the least bit
curious?”
    There was no use lying—she was. “I have no idea what you’re
talking about. Selling is not on the table for me.”
    “Oh, I’d like to have you on the table, on your knees, tied
to a St. Andrew’s cross, naked and awaiting my pleasure.”
    Maddie nearly died. The old man was actually drooling and
her skin was crawling. “Ewwww, no, absolutely not, never!” She pulled away from
him and he just laughed.
    “Think about it and think about my secret. I am attracted to
you and I can make you richer than you’ve ever dreamed. You have an earthy
submissive way about you, unlike that iceberg of a sister of yours.”
    Madeline almost laughed. This was a fine kettle of fish.