"Linda Evans - Time Scout 3 - Ripping Time" - читать интересную книгу автора (Evans Linda)

тАЬHuh. This dress is a lot more glamorous than I am. Now, if I just had Aunt
CassieтАЩs nose, or cheekbones, or chin . . .тАЭ
тАЬI like your nose and cheekbones and chin just the way they are. And if you
donтАЩt scoot, youтАЩll be late.тАЭ
So Jenna had slid gingerly into the exquisite dress, all silken fringe and
swaying sheik, and splurged on a taxi, since arriving on a bicycle in a ten-
thousand-dollar dress simply would not do. Jenna followed the maitre dтАЩ
nervously into the glitzy restaurant, aware of the stares as she made her way
past tables frequented by New YorkтАЩs wealthiest Templars. She did her best to
ignore the whispers, staring straight ahead and concentrating on not falling
off her high-heeled shoes and damning her father for saddling her with the
price of an infamous family face and name.
Then she spotted her aunt at a dim-lit corner table and swallowed hard,
palms abruptly wet. Oh, God, sheтАЩs got somebody with her and itтАЩs not her
latest.
If this was family only . . . The only person it could be was a private
detective. CassieтАЩd hired more than her share over the years. Jenna knew her
style. Which meant Jenna was in really serious hot water. Worse, her aunt
appeared to be absorbed in a violent argument with whoever it was. The dark
circles under Cassie TyrolтАЩs eyes shocked her. When Jenna reached the table,
conversation sliced off so abruptly, Jenna could actually hear the echoes of
the silence left behind. Her aunt managed a brittle smile as she stooped to
kiss one expertly manicured cheek.
тАЬHello, Jenna, dear. Sit down, please. This is Noah Armstrong.тАЭ
Jenna shook hands, trying to decide if the androgynous individual in a fluid
silk suit beside her aunt was male or female, then settled for, тАЬA pleasure,
Noah.тАЭ Living in New York for the past four years-not to mention a solid year
plunged into Temple life-had been an education in more ways than one.
 тАЬMs. Caddrick.тАЭ Firm handclasp, no clue from the voice. Noah ArmstrongтАЩs
eyes were about as friendly as a rabid pit bull challenging all comers to a
choice cut of steak.
Jenna ignored Armstrong with a determination that matched ArmstrongтАЩs dark
scowl, sat down, and smiled far too brightly as Cassie Tyrol poured wine.
Cassie handed over a glass in which tiny motion rings disturbed the wineтАЩs
deep claret glint. Jenna hastily took it from her aunt before it could slosh
onto snowy linen.
тАЬWell, what a surprise, Cassie.тАЭ She glanced around the elegant restaurant,
surreptitiously tugging at her short skirt to be sure nothing untoward was
showing, and realized with a start of surprise there were no reporters
lurking. тАЬGawd. HowтАЩd you manage to ditch the press?тАЭ
Her aunt did not smile. Uh-oh.
тАЬThis was not an announced visit,тАЭ she said quietly. тАЬOfficially, IтАЩm still
in L.A.тАЭ
Worse, oh, man, sheтАЩs gonna let me have it, both barrels . . .
тАЬI see. Okay,тАЭ she sighed, resigned to the worst, тАЬletтАЩs have it.тАЭ
CassieтАЩs lips tightened briefly. The redness in her eyes told Jenna sheтАЩd
been crying a great deal, lately, which only added guilt to an already-
simmering stew of fear and defensiveness. Jenna, wishing she could gulp down
the wine, sipped daintily, instead, determined to maintain at least a facade
of calm.