Secrets by Jude Deveraux Page B

light in the room, and she could hear voices. For a moment she stopped, telling herself that she was spying on a woman who had been very nice to her. She should go back the way she’d come and never bother Miss Fairmont again.
    But even as she thought it, she couldn’t help looking at a gap in the curtains. She could see part of the room through the space. It was as pretty as she remembered, and for a moment she thought about asking Althea who had been her decorator. Maybe she could redo their living room. If Jeff would let her touch it, that is. If Jeff didn’t marry Skylar, that is. If Jeff—
    Cassie stopped thinking because into her view came Roger Craig, Dana’s lawyer-husband. He had a drink in his hand, and he was laughing.
    Cassie stepped forward, moving closer to the glass. On the couch she could see two people. One was Althea with her perfectly coiffed head and the other looked to be her gardener-cum-bodyguard, the beautiful Brent Goodwin. The three of them were drinking cocktails and laughing.
    When Roger turned his head, Cassie quickly moved to the side. She hoped he hadn’t seen her.
    She wasted no time as she ran across the terrace, down the steps, then ran back toward Jeff’s house. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t know if anyone had opened the door or not.
    Roger! she thought as she ran all the way back as fast as she could. Perfect Dana’s perfect husband was the neighborhood spy. What’s more, he’d ratted his own wife out, telling an outsider that his wife desperately wanted little Elsbeth Ames for her own. Why? Because Dana was infertile? Had the rat fink told Althea that too?
    When Cassie reached Jeff’s house, she ran in through the back, into the mudroom, closed the door, then leaned against it to catch her breath. She could hear voices in the breakfast room. They were back. But then, she knew that, didn’t she? Ratty Roger must have run straight from the boat to report to Althea about what he’d heard that day. Every secret he’d gleaned from Jeff, Thomas, Elsbeth, and Skylar would be told to Althea Fairmont.
    And what would she do with those secrets? Cassie wondered. The woman kept to herself. She didn’t see anyone at Hamilton Hundred other than Roger. Her meeting with Cassie and Dana had been an accident. So what harm did it do that Roger Craig was blabbing everything to her? Maybe she was his client and maybe the way he got to handle her multimillions was to entertain her with the happenings about Hamilton Hundred.
    â€œI thought I heard someone,” Jeff said, looking at her from the doorway. “Why are you standing in the dark?” He flipped on the light switch, then stared at her. “Are you all right? You look out of breath.”
    â€œJogging,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “I’ve decided to take it up. I need to lose about twenty pounds.”
    He smiled. “You don’t need to lose an ounce, and since when does a person go jogging while carrying a basket of cookies?”
    â€œSince Little Red Riding Hood ran through the forest.”
    Jeff chuckled. “In that case, I think you should look out for the Big Bad Wolf.” He took the basket from her hand and put it on the counter. “The house smells great, but I thought you were going to take the day off and have some fun.”
    â€œI did have fun. I like to bake.” She still wasn’t looking at him.
    â€œHey,” he said softly, taking a step toward her. “What’s going on? You look upset. Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine,” she said, taking a deep breath and straightening her shoulders. “Have you guys had dinner?”
    â€œNope. We decided to eat with you, so we bought about twenty different Chinese dishes. Dad couldn’t make up his mind so we got everything. Come and eat with us.”
    â€œSure,” she said. “Just let me change first.”
    Jeff caught her wrist.