Free Queen of Diamonds by Sandra Cox Page B

emphasized his blond hair and deep blue eyes. Caroline's eyes.
    Confidence shrouded him like a second skin, confidence that came from old money. She'd always been amazed that she’d caught his interest. A blue-collar worker's daughter and a preppie. But the answer was simple, lust and attraction. They’d wanted each other from the first moment they’d met. She waited for it to hit her again, but it was so distant from the feelings of the past, it barely registered. For the first time she noticed the weakness in his chin, and how his eyes, even filled with admiration, tended to slide away from her gaze.
    "What are you doing in Charleston?" She was proud of the way her voice didn't waver or her hand tremble when she extended it. The attraction might be over, but her entire life was still on the line.
    He took it in both of hers and held it. "Business. And you? Wait, you’re from here right? I seem to remember you mentioned that on one of the few times we actually talked." He gave a low seductive chuckle.
    She withdrew her hand. "That’s correct."
    “Why did you leave?”
    “I graduated remember?”
    “Yes, but you just disappeared. I was going to give you money to take care of that little matter. You were on a scholarship. I remember that.  I know it’s a little late but let me rectify that now.” He reached into his jacket pocket.
    “Don’t be insulting.” She turned to walk away.
    He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Kendall, I’m sorry. That’s the last thing I meant to be. It was extremely crass of me, but seeing you has rattled me. Something that doesn’t happen very often.”
    “You have your hand on my date’s arm.”  The voice was as smooth as always, but there was an underlying edge to it that Kendall had never heard before.
    James dropped his hand. He turned to Logan, who stood holding two glasses of champagne. “Sorry. I’m James Roderick the third, an old friend of Kendall’s.” His restrained expression changed to one of delight as he recognized Logan. “You’re Logan Hunter. I’m a big fan.”
    “Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse us.” He handed Kendall the champagne flute and put a proprietary hand on her back.
    “Kendall, I’m going to be in town for a few days, how can I get hold of you?”
    “Try the yellow pages,” Logan said rudely and moved away, taking Kendall with him.
    “We’re not on a date,” Kendall protested.
    Logan stopped in his tracks. “Did I mistake the matter? Do you want to go back?”
    “No,” she muttered and took a healthy sip of champagne, wishing the night was over. She placed the cool flute against her forehead.
    “Who is that smarmy bastard?”
    Kendall bit back a smile. The pressure behind her eyes receded.  “He told you James Roderick the third.”
    “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. What is he to you?” he snapped.
    She arched an eyebrow. “What difference could it possibly make to you?”
    “Writer’s curiosity,” he muttered and downed his champagne.
    Could the great Logan Hunter actually be jealous? It just didn’t make sense. Logan was almost as famous for his casual affairs as he was for his mystery novels.
    “What’s this about? Why should you care that another man was talking to me?"
    His eyes narrowed. After a moment, he relaxed. "Do you want to do a dance or do you want the truth."
    Like her daughter. Always the pragmatist. What would have happened if she'd met Logan five years ago and Caroline had been his? Something told her the first words out of his mouth wouldn’t have been 'get rid of it'. "I think I’d just as soon do the dance."
    "Coward," he said without heat.
    "Maybe."
    "Do you want to talk about it?" His hand slipped from her back to her elbow as he led her out to an empty balcony. The night air cooled her heated skin and tickled her senses, while the wind whispered softly in a nearby tree, carrying the scents of Logan’s aftershave and sweet autumn clematis. He tugged ’til she