Behind the Shadows by Patricia; Potter Page A

gone to the hospital first. That’s something for our side.”
    She liked that “our side.” She left an hour later, feeling much better. She planned to do exactly as he suggested. He would get rid of the pretender.
    The sense of violation, though, ran deep. She had been used. Lied to. She had invited someone into her house as a guest and her hospitality was abused.
    Not only abused but trashed with an outrageous falsehood.
    Max prided himself on self-control. Some, including the CEO of Westerfield Industries, called it arrogance. Perhaps they were right, because Max didn’t give a damn what others thought.
    He had a small opinion of most people. He’d been dumped as a kid into a group home, then foster care, and that didn’t endear him to authority and courts and do-gooders.
    He owed one person. No one else. He planned never to owe anyone else again, and he was wary of anyone venturing too close to him.
    And no one had, not until this weekend when he’d spent a few hours with a woman he would usually avoid.
    He knew now why he distrusted such emotions. Kira Douglas was a liar.
    Max wanted to slam something. Instead, he finished eating. It was important that Leigh not notice how angry he was.
    He had protected her now for more than twenty years. It had become more than a habit, especially when he had discovered what was behind her self-destructive actions. He related only too well.
    He also felt deceived. He had been fooled by misty blue eyes and earnestness.
    He looked at his companion at the table. Leigh was picking at her salad, but her eyes caught his and held. She had changed in the past year. Or maybe he had. What he used to believe was irresponsibility was really shyness and fear, and God knew she had a right to both of them.
    Still, Max wanted to hurry her. He had appointments this afternoon but none he couldn’t cancel. He wanted to call Kira Douglas and find out what in the hell was going on. And if she was playing games with Leigh, or was a threat to her, he would destroy her.

12
    Kira spent Saturday afternoon taking care of business for the Clean Sweep. She sent out bills to clients and made out checks for employees.
    She wanted her mother to come back to a functioning business. She would come back.
    The busywork, though, couldn’t quench the dread in her heart. Kira knew the roof was going to fall in on her. She simply didn’t know when.
    She should have told Max Payton about what she suspected. Suspected? Hell, no. What she knew. Now he probably wouldn’t believe anything she said.
    That thought hurt. Far more than she wanted to admit.
    It had been a long time since a guy made her tingle from the inside out. Even longer since she’d been so challenged in every way. She liked him as well as being so physically attracted to him. She liked the preciseness of his mind, the trace of gallantry after they left the restaurant. She liked the ease with which he made conversation even while gently interrogating her.
    But the supper had probably been their first and last social meeting. He did not seem a man who took kindly to lies. And she had lied by omission. Big time.
    The phone rang and she hesitated. She felt as if she were jumping out of her skin. It kept ringing. When she picked up the receiver, she heard a very cold, very hard, clipped voice. She’d heard that words could sound like pieces of ice falling, but she’d never experienced it before. An apt description.
    â€œThere are things we need to talk about,” Max said after introducing himself very curtly as Max Payton.
    â€œYou’ve talked to Leigh.” A statement, not a question.
    â€œYes.” Even icier if possible.
    â€œThere’s a reason I didn’t tell you Friday.”
    â€œReally?”
    She could mentally see him raise his eyebrows in disbelief.
    â€œWhen do you want to meet?” she asked.
    â€œAs soon as possible. Leigh is understandably upset. No, she’s