Passion's Dream (The Doms of Passion Lake Book 1) Read Free Page A

person was caught in the act of actually doing something to endanger Leah’s life, there was nothing they could do.  A friend of mine dusted them all for prints, but of course there were none.  We installed surveillance cameras, but the letters stopped.”
    “Again,” Clay said, tossing the papers back onto the desk, trying to convince himself he didn’t want to get involved, “why am I here?”
    Everett Burke sat back in his luxurious, leather office chair.  “Because last week, she found a dead cat outside her front door.  Not just dead.  Mutilated.  And three days later, she was nearly run down while crossing the street in front of the gallery on her way to lunch.  Whoever is responsible for this is escalating and I think Leah’s in serious danger.”
    Clay’s chest constricted.  “Any idea who it is?”
    “Richard Gordon, her ex.  Who else could it be?  He was a rising lawyer in a very prestigious law firm, on the fast track to becoming partner.  They knew he was sleeping around and cheating on his wife, but they didn’t care, as long as he continued bringing in wealthy new clients.  Until he made the mistake of sleeping with one of his subordinates, who filed charges against him for sexual harassment.  When three other associates came forward and made the same allegations, he was summarily dismissed.  For the past three years he has been unable to find a position, since no reputable law firm will touch him.”  Burke’s lips twitched.  “He even managed to get himself fired from Burger King.”
    “Your doing, no doubt.”
    Burke’s smile was modest.  “One does what one can.  It pays to have influence, even if it is only at Burger King.  Anyway, he blames Leah for ruining his career and, subsequently, his life.  I believe he’s extremely dangerous and will stop at nothing until she’s dead.”
    “Again,” Clay repeated.  “Why me?  Any of the operatives at SinclairTech could do this job.  And why now, after all these years of nothing but silence from you?”
    “I called SinTech because they’re the best.  And I asked for you because you’re Rosemary’s cousin and I know you to be a man of unquestioned integrity.  And because you once made Leah feel safe.  I want her to feel safe.  Thanks to Richard Gordon, she hasn’t felt that for six years.  Not during their marriage, and certainly not since.”
    “Has she agreed to having a bodyguard?”
    “Well…”Burke gave a little half smile, “Not exactly.  She’s adamant about my not hiring a bodyguard.  We had a rather significant altercation about it just last week.  So I’ve arranged a slight subterfuge.  To get her out of Richard’s grasp, I’m sending her to my estate in Palm Beach, Florida.  I just inherited it from my sister upon her death seven months ago.  She doesn’t know I own the property.  She only knows that she’s going there to appraise everything in the house to get it ready for an estate auction.  I’ve told her that I’ve hired the former housekeeper to look after things as long as she’s there and that she will be met at the airport by my groundskeeper, Julio Rodriguez.  But I want you to meet her instead.  Tell her Julio had to have emergency open heart surgery and you’re taking his place.  And I want you to keep her safe.”
    Clay’s throat tightened, as did his grip on the photograph of Leah Stanhope.  He wanted to keep her safe, too.  That day at the beach three years ago, she had touched a place hidden deep inside him and left her image there.  A place no other woman had ever even come close to touching.  That had made her unforgettable.  And that had made him alone in the middle of endless nights with nothing but the memories of how she’d felt in his arms.  Oh, yes.  I’ll keep her safe.  “I’d have to see the place first, check the security layout.  I may have to install additional surveillance devices.”
    “I’ll email you a complete set of