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Finally," Bess said as the younger man came in a step
ahead of King. She looked at him and then averted her eyes. "Did you get
what you went for?" she asked. The question sounded innocent enough, but Elissa sensed something in the blonde's voice,
something faintly accusing. Perhaps she won dered if Bobby's
"business" was really business.
    "Of
course," Bobby replied. He gave his wife an intent appraisal, his gaze
both searching and faintly defensive.
    He wasn't
anything like King, Elissa decided. His hair was dark blond,
and he was blue eyed. He wasn't a bad-looking man at all, and he was slim
but well built. He had a nice mouth, and he seemed pleasant enough altogether. But he
looked weary and worn, and there were deep lines in his face.
    "Your
husband has approved the subcontractors," King announced with
a grin. "And the bids were well under budget. He'll make you a rich
woman yet, Bess."
    "How
lovely," she said carelessly. "I'll run right out and
buy a new mink."
    "You'd better get a strong
cage and some thick gloves," Elissa
said with a mischievous smile.
    Bess
looked up, clearly puzzled by the remark. She frowned. "Cage?
Gloves?"
    Bobby got
the joke and burst out laughing, in stantly looking years younger and more
approachable. "I'm afraid you've got it wrong," he told
Elissa. "She doesn't want a mink kit. She wants the real thing—a ready-made coat."
    "Oh,
a fast-food mink in a manner of speaking," Elissa agreed.
"Got you."
    King's
eyes sparkled as he watched her, his firm lips tugging up in a
smile. "Watch this girl," he cau tioned his half
brother. "She's got a quicker mind than I have."
    "That'll
be the day you old—I mean, darling," she drawled at King,
winking. "I happen to know that yours is a genuine steel trap, always
set and ready for business."
    "A
better description I haven't heard," Bobby agreed. "You must be Elissa.
Kingston's told me so much about you over the past couple of years that I feel as if I know you already. Tell me, how in the world do you put up with him?"
    "Why, there's nothing to
it," Elissa said, glancing wickedly at
King, and oddly pleased to hear that he talked about her at home. "I got commando training

52
    Diana
Palmer

 

    by watching that television show about
professional mercenaries."
    "I guess that's telling
you," Bobby said with a chuckle,
winking at King.
    "I guess it
is," she agreed.
    "Kingston
isn't all that bad, surely," Bess inter rupted, smiling
gently up at him. "He's kept me from vegetating on this
island for the past two weeks. I don't know how I'd have managed without
him."
    Bobby
laughed, failing to see Bess's intent look at his brother. He seemed
to be too busy looking at Elissa. "Good thing, too, considering
how little free time I've had," he tossed off to his wife. "You know,
Elissa, you're every bit as delightful as Kingston said you
were," he added.
    Elissa
smiled, murmuring a polite reply. She was totally unprepared
for the shock and sudden irritation in Bess's eyes.
     

    Chapter Three .Bobby spared Bess a faintly curious glance before his attention went back to
Elissa. "I'm glad you're back," he
told her. "Kingston's been a royal pain these past few days."
    King frowned, but he didn't rise to the bait.
    "So
you did miss me." Elissa batted her lashes at King. "How
nice!"
    "Of
course I missed you," he said curtly. "Bobby, what will
you have to drink?"
    "Nothing,"
Bess said quietly. "I'd like to go back to the hotel
now," she told her husband with a cool stare. "I'm
tired."
    "Try
sitting in a board meeting for four straight hours and see how
relaxed that leaves you," her hus band challenged.
"Look, Bess, we're leaving tomor-

54
    Diana
Palmer
     
    Fit for a
King
    55
     

row, and I may not
see Kingston again for weeks. I want to talk over a new project with
him."
    "You
can use the phone, can't you?" Bess asked, exasperated, as she
got gracefully to her feet. In three- inch heels, she was almost her
husband's height. "Lord knows you find time to talk to everyone