Death Leaves a Bookmark Read Free Page B

does it feel to maybe becoming a multi-millionaire?”
    “I haven’t the slightest idea. But if he left some money to me, I do know I would get rid of the payments on this old rattle-trap. First things first, though.”
    She smiled to herself. She removed a scarf from her handbag and tied it around her blowing hair. Making her look even more adorable, he noted.
    He decided to show her some balls: “What about you, Marcella? Did you ever have a paying job in your life?”
    The question didn’t seem to disturb her in the least. “No, I haven’t. I was a pampered brat ever since Uncle Rodney took care of me. And that, of course, was Uncle Rodney’s choice. We loved each other.”
    “Pretty soft life,” he said, looking over at her. Better not over-do this, he thought. How the hell am I going to make her fall in love with me? Seems all she wanted to do was pick on him.
    “Yes. Pretty soft. I’ve had a life wrapped in cotton-wool. But that’s the way he wanted it. I majored in political science in college and that prepares you for nothing.”
    He met her eyes. “Did Rodney think you’d meet some rich young man who would sweep you off your feet? You are quite beautiful, you know.”
    Her smile brightened. “Why thank you, Troy. I never thought you noticed.”
    “I’ve got two eyes, don’t I?”
    “Do you think you could fall in love with me?”
    Jesus, she was really putting him on the spot. “What makes you think I’m not already in love with you? That I was in love with you ever since you were no taller than a toadstool.”
    “I never knew that,” she said. It was hard to tell if she was sincere or not.
    “Well, now you know.”
    “How come you never told me this before?”
    “Because I’m good at hiding things.” Like committing murder, he thought.
    “I’m really surprised.”
    He was having trouble keeping his eyes on the road and also glancing at her. She looked like she had more color in her face. God, was he turning her on?
    “Well, now you know,” he said, dangerously taking his eyes off the road again for a quick moment to look at her. “So what are we going to do about it? Do you feel anything for me?”
    “You know you’re quite handsome,” she said. Her slight teasing tone had vanished. “Want to call each other’s bluff?”
    “What do you mean?” He could feel his heart jumping.
    “We could stop and take a motel room. Just for the afternoon.”
    My God, was she kidding? Was this really happening to him? Much earlier, he had thought his lucky star had disappeared somewhere in the firmament.
    There was a row of motels on the side facing the ocean. “Take your pick,” he said.
    “Any one’s as good as another. Let’s try this one right here.”
    He waited until a few speeding cars had passed before he swung into the motel’s driveway.
    “I’ll see if they have a room,” she said, getting out of the car.
    He waited, his pulse racing. Was this his day or not? Sometimes Lady Luck smiled when you weren’t even looking.
    She came out of the manager’s office and gave him a thumbs-up. He drove into one of the empty stalls and parked.
    He practically floated out of the car like he was on a magic carpet.
    She had a key with a tag and she opened door number four. He followed her in, breathing deeply. If she couldn’t read his surging desire she was both blind and deaf.
    The room was typical with moldy green drapes open to the highway and a double bed with a bleached-out russet bedspread. But who gave a damn?
    She closed the drapes and pulled the bedspread and blanket to the foot of the bed. The sheets looked fresh and clean.
    Before he knew it, she was pulling off her sweater and shucking off her skirt. Off came her bra and panties and he was so impressed with her gleaming nudity that he wondered if he could perform. He found out almost immediately.
    It was a half hour of fabulous sex. She even had a condom in her handbag! He totally forgot where he was as he enjoyed her opulent