Deadly Sanctuary by Sylvia Nobel Page A

electricity.
    “Well,” I said, keeping my voice light, and gently disengaging my hand, “that’s definitely one of the more original opening lines I’ve ever heard.”
    He looked stricken. “Dear lady, do you doubt my sincerity? How deeply you wound my vanity.”
    I laughed aloud. The man was an absolute poet. A real charmer. I decided he must be a television personality from Phoenix.
    “Do I get to know your name?”
    “Kendall O’Dell. What’s yours?”
    “Eric Heisler.”
    I widened my eyes. Ginger and Bonnie had referred to him as a god. That he was.
    “Eric! Darling!” Thena Rodenborn bore down on us and grasped his arm. “Naughty boy. Gone for two weeks and you can’t take even one little minute to let me know you’re back?”
    “I’m sorry, mother,” he said kissing her lightly on one cheek, “my flight was delayed. I arrived here not fifteen minutes ago.”
    She beamed up at him, “My dear boy, you work too hard.”
    Eric flashed her a tender smile before returning his attention to me. “So, mother, have you met Miss O’Dell?”
    “Oh, yes indeed. She’s here to write a story for the newspaper.”
    Another one of those inscrutable looks passed swiftly over his face. Had he assumed I was one of the moneyed citizens of Castle Valley? An heiress? Would his interest evaporate now?
    Thena responded to someone calling her name and excused herself, saying she’d see us later.
    Eric watched her leave and then turned back to me. “So, you’re a reporter?”
    “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
    “Should I be?”
    “Only if you were expecting a sizable donation.Alas, I’m afraid I’m not a princess, just a poor working girl here to cover this event, which I must say is most impressive.” I flipped my notepad to a new page. “Coincidentally, you’re at the top of my list of people I wanted to meet.”
    “If that is the case, then my evening is a great success already.” He had a radiant smile. “If you don’t have a dinner companion, I’d be honored to have you sit at my table.”
    Flattered, I started to accept when Bradley’s voice cut in sharply, “Kendall, my little desert flower, there you are.” I flinched with surprise as he hooked his hand possessively through my elbow and pulled me next to him. I flashed him a sizzling look which he ignored. Even though he wore a tight smile, cold dislike was mirrored in his eyes as he stared at Eric Heisler.
    “Bradley.” Eric acknowledged quietly. And then with just a touch of coolness he said to me, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here with someone.”
    “I’m not.” I tried to pry my arm from Bradley’s iron grasp.
    “Now don’t cause a scene, darlin’,” Bradley said in a soothing voice. “I have to feed her on time or she gets real cranky,” he added, patting my arm.
    Eric and Bradley, visually dueling, faced each other like two pawing bucks about to lock antlers. Then Eric, in courteous retreat, smiled graciously at me and excused himself, murmuring perhaps we could talk another time.
    Wistfully, I watched the ‘god’ walk across the room out of sight, and probably out of my life. I turned to Bradley and freed my arm from his grip, then stuck out my chin and repeated through clenched teeth, “My little desert flower? I have to feed her on time?” My voice rose shrilly. “I could strangle you!”
    “Calm down,” he said under his breath. “I knew you’d want me to intercede.”
    “Now, why would I want that?”
    “Because, you were drooling all over yourself. It isn’t ladylike.”
    “I wasn’t drooling. And even if I was, it’s none of your business. I’ll thank you to butt out of my affairs.”
    He looked amused. “Did you know your eyes are the same gray color as thunderheads during a summer storm?” He leaned closer. “I can actually see sparks of blue lightning.”
    I was so angry with him I wanted to cry. Aware, however, that people were now watching us, I said coolly, “Tell me, Bradley,