Page 5 (1/2)
Aa billboard where a stunning ed a passionate kiss, sweetened, they claimed each time they came up for air, by Mountain Stream Breath Freshener
Their vehicles jammed flank to flank, a couple of cabbies shouted inventive insults at each other Aan ear-stinging screech that had pedestrians on ra their heads or their fists
A traffic hovercraft dipped low, blasted out the standard order to proceed or be cited Traffic inched uptown, full of noise and temper
The city changed as she es, where the wealthy and the privileged made their homes Wider, cleaner streets, the sweep of trees from the islands of parks Here the vehicles quieted to a whoosh of movement, and those alked did so in tailored outfits and fine shoes
She passed a dog walker who handled a brace of elegant gold hounds with the steady aplomb of a seasoned droid
When she caates of Roarke’s estate, her car idled until the progra White blosso with pink, accented by deep, rich reds and blues, all carpeted by a long sweep of erass
The house itself towered up into the deepening sky, glass sparkling in the late sun, the stone grand and gray It had been rown used to the grandeur, the sumptuousness, the si herself what she was doing here—here, with him
She left her car at the base of the granite steps and climbed them She wouldn’t knock That was pride, and it was ornery Roarke’s butler despised her and didn’t trouble to hide it
As expected, Summerset appeared in the hall like a puff of black s, a frown of disapproval ready on his long face
“Lieutenant” His eyes scraped her,the same clothes she’d left in, and they were considerably rumpled “We were unaware of the time of your return, or indeed, if you intended to return”
“Were we?” She shrugged, and because she knew it offended him, peeled off her scarred leather jacket and held it out to his elegant hands “Is Roarke here?”
“He is engaged on an interspace transmission”
“The Olympus Resort?”
Summerset’s mouth puckered like a prune “I don’t inquire as to Roarke’s business”
You know exactly what he’s doing and when, she thought, but turned out of the wide, glittery hall toward the curve of the stairs “I’lance over her shoulder “You can let him knohere I am when he’s finished his transmission”