Velvet Touch Read Free

always known what he wanted. Holt Randolph had that
inner sure-ness which indicated a man who took what he wished from life. The
only surprising thing, to her way of thinking, was that he would have wanted to
run an old-fashioned inn tucked away on the edge of a tiny island.
    "Well, each to his own," she returned breezily,
sliding in behind the wheel as he held the tiny door open for her.
    "Is that an old midwestem philosophy?" He
grinned.
    "Are you kidding? One of the reasons I'm out here is
to be among people who really do practice that philosophy! Now, which cabin is mine?"
    "The one at the top of that small rise. You'll have a
view of the Sound from there and plenty of privacy. I'll meet you up there. . .
." he added. "You obviously don't have room to give me a lift!"
    Lacey laughed happily, her hand sweeping out in a gentle
arc to indicate the boxes piled high even in the passenger seat. "You are
viewing all my worldly possessions. I feel like those people on the old wagon
trains must have felt when they packed what they could and sold off everything
else!"
    Holt stared at her for a second and she could see the
mingled astonishment and curiosity mirrored in those perceptive hazel eyes. A
thousand questions had suddenly leaped to life there and Lacey could have given
a shout of sheer satisfaction. Back in Iowa no one had suddenly been consumed
with curiosity about her. Everyone knew her, knew her family, and knew her life
history. The only time curiosity had been aroused was when people found out she
was leaving town.
    But Holt merely nodded and started up the path which led
toward her cabin. She switched on the ignition and put the Fiat in gear.
    She reached the little cottage a minute or so ahead of him
and hurried to unlock the front door, eager for a glimpse of the rustic charm
promised in the brochure.
    She stepped through the doorway and glanced around
expectantly. Yes, it was exactly as promised. Heavy cedar logs framed a cozy little
parlor, complete with her own stone hearth. Wide windows on either side of the
door provided the view of the main lodge and Puget Sound. A small, compact
kitchen occupied a comer of the room and beyond that a hallway extended toward
what must be the bedroom and bath.
    "Will it do?" her host asked politely, walking up
to stand behind her as she took in her new home.
    "It's
perfect," she told him enthusiastically.
    "Some of the furniture's a little ancient," he
said somewhat apologetically, his eyes on the quaint, comfortable, overstuffed
sofa and lounge chair. "But the bed is new and the bath was redone during
the winter. . . ."
    "I'm sure it will be fine," she said quickly,
wondering why a landlord would sound so apologetic about his property.
"It looks just as it did in the brochure."
    Thick, braided rugs covered wide sections of the hardwood
floor and the curtains were a bright, cheerful print. The sunlight pouring in
through the windows reflected warmly off the cedar walls.
    "Good, I'm glad you like it," Holt said,
appearing somewhat relieved for no apparent reason. "I'll start getting
your things in from the car."
    "Thank
you."
    Lacey
set down the huge stack of mail on a small desk which had been placed in front
of a window and stepped back outside to help unload.
    "Were you kidding when you said this lot really does
comprise all your worldly belongings?" Holt finally broke down to ask as
he lifted her stereo out of the trunk.
    "Nope. That's it I had one of the largest yard sales
ever seen in the state of Iowa before I left! I even sold the yard,
itself," she added smugly, following him into the cottage with a suitcase
in one hand.
    He carefully set the stereo down on a low coffee table.
"Where are you planning on moving after you've had your summer vacation
here?"
    "Haven't the foggiest," Lacey said lightly.
"We'll have to see what happens this summer. As I said, I'm job hunting
and there are several things I intend to do before I decide where to settle
next. For now, this is