The other Scarlett? Is that what shed taken from the suitcaseher ticket?
Jill leaned against the bed frame, feeling dizzy and sick. Trevor had been planning to marry someone named Rachel tonight and run off with her to Brazil? It was unbelievable. She thought she couldnt despise him more than she already did. She was wrong.
As she started to put the ticket back into the suitcase, she noticed the credit-card number on the receipt for the tickets. Trevor, you really are a lousy bastard. Hed used Jills credit card to buy the tickets for himself and his secret new bride.
Reeling, Jill stumbled out of the condo. Her head throbbed, and when she touched the bump on her forehead, her fingers came away sticky with blood.
All she wanted to do was go home and forget this day had ever happened. Forget Trevor. Too bad she couldnt forget what had happened between them in the cottagebefore the other Scarlett had shown up.
As she drove downtown to her apartment over the bakery she owned, she told herself this night couldnt get any worse. But as she passed the bakery, she saw the sheriffs deputy car parked across the street. Two deputies got out as she parked the van out front rather than continue on around to the back entrance to the upstairs apartment.
She stood paralyzed with worry on the sidewalk as they approached, afraid it had something to do with her father. Gary Lawson hadnt been well enough to attend the party tonight. Hed said it was only the flu
Jill Lawson? the taller of the deputies asked, the one whose name tag read James Samuelson. Sorry to bother you so late. May we come in and have a word with you?
She nodded dumbly and swallowed, her throat constricting, as she shakily unlocked the door to the bakery and let them in.
Were here about Trevor Forester, the shorter, stouter of the two said. He introduced himself as Rex Duncan. He took out a small notebook and pen.
She stared at the deputy. Is Trevor in some kind of trouble? Understatement of the year.
She could feel Samuelson studying her face. Past him, she caught her reflection in the front window. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and the bump on her forehead was now bruised and caked with blood around the small cut where shed been hit.
When was the last time you saw him? Samuelson asked.
Tonight. At the party. She saw the deputies exchange a look.
Tonight? What time was that? Duncan asked.
About eight-fifteen.
Youre sure you saw him? Samuelson said.
I was with him until aboutnine-thirty, then I left. Has something happened?
The deputies exchanged another look.
Please tell me what this is about, she said. Youre scaring me.
Ms. Lawson, you couldnt have been with Trevor Forester tonight at the party, Samuelson said. Mr. Forester was murdered during the time you say you were with him at another location. I think youd better tell us why youd make up such a story.
Chapter Two
Who the hell was that? he asked the darkness, still stunned by what had happened between them.
Silently he cursed himself. When shed come into the cottage while he was spying on the boat just off the shore, hed kissed her, only planning to shut her up and keep her from giving him away. But one thing had led to another so quickly
Damn. What had he been thinking? That was just it. He hadnt been thinking.
He felt dazed as he checked his watch. Nine-forty. Hed completely lost track of the time. Completely lost track of everything. Especially his senses.
He quickly dressed, changing enough of the costume so that he wouldnt be recognized as Rhett Butler. The last thing he wanted to do was run into either of the Scarlett OHaras again tonight.
In the mood they were in it could be dangerous. Another reason to hightail it out of here as fast as possible.
It was obvious the man he was supposed to meet here had stood him up. Which, all things considered, was just as well.
But first, Mac had to know what the woman had thrown at him. Using the penlight hed brought with him, he shone it around on the floor.
Something in the corner glittered in the light and he bent to pick it up. A diamond ring. The stone was a nice size, the setting obviously old. He pocketed the ring and started to leave, but spotted something else on the floor in the beam of the penlight.
It appeared to be a scrap of black fabric. He picked up the skimpy, sexy panties. Silk. Her scent filled his nostrils, momentarily paralyzing him with total recall of the woman hed had in his arms tonight.
Suddenly he wished he could have seen her in these. But his tactile memory flashed on an image of her that was now branded on his mouth, his hands, his body and his brain.
It seemed the woman had thought he was Trevor Foresterher fiancé. At least he had been her fiancé until the other Scarlett OHara had shown up.
He swore again, realizing the magnitude of what hed done. Hed just made love to the last woman on earth he should have!
Not wanting to leave any evidence, he pocketed the panties along with the ring, then moved to the cottage door to make sure the coast was clear. It was time to get out of here. Hed gotten more than hed come for. And then some.