Moonlight Masquerade by Jude Deveraux Page A

did Sophie say when she found out her employer was the hit-and-run driver?”
    â€œNothing,” Reede said. His mind was working hard as he tried to think of how he could get Sophie to forgive him.
    â€œI don’t blame her for not speaking to you,” Ellen said. “Did she throw things at you? I hope everything sharp was locked up. Roan stopped by and told me the details. He was absolutely delighted and he’s going to go after her. He said he likes her spunk. Isn’t that a lovely old-fashioned word? As for you, a pretty girl, unattached, was practically handed to you on a platter but you messed it up. Roan said—”
    â€œMother!” Reede said loudly. “Don’t let her know it was me.”
    â€œSophie? Don’t let pretty little Sophie know that it was you who nearly killed her, then drove off as though nothing had happened? You who—?”
    â€œYes, exactly. I’m going to try to make her forgive me.”
    That news so startled his mother that for a moment she was silent—something that didn’t happen often.
    â€œIf I introduce myself to Sophie now,” Reede said, “she’ll run away screaming. But if I have some time maybe I can . . . ” He trailed off.
    â€œMaybe you can what?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said honestly. “I’m sure it’s just a pipe dream, but Mom, I liked her. I told her about Laura.”
    â€œYou did what?”
    â€œLast night I talked to her on the phone and I told her about Laura and me. Sophie said that if it had happened as I’d planned, that now I’d be living in Edilean forever and I’d never have been anywhere.”
    â€œTrue,” Ellen said cautiously. “But then, if I remember correctly, several other people said that same thing to you.”
    â€œMaybe they did, but last night I was full of Sophie’s food, a bottle of wine, and . . . I don’t know, maybe I’ve reached my limit of misery. If I’m to be here for another two and a half years maybe I should try to make the best of it. What do you think?”
    â€œYes,” Ellen said in a voice with a quiver in it.
    â€œMom? Are you crying?”
    â€œOf course not!” she said quickly. “But I do admire your spirit. I’ll talk to those silly women in your office and do whatever I can to keep Sophie from finding out the truth for as long as I can.”
    â€œThis weekend. If you can give me these three days I’d appreciate it.”
    â€œDon’t forget the big party tomorrow night. Everyone we know will be there. I ordered your costume months ago, and Sara’s almost finished with it.”
    â€œHow about if I wear a stethoscope and ask everyone to remove their clothes for an exam?”
    His mother didn’t laugh and Reede started to say he had to go, but he stopped. “Why are the women silly?”
    â€œBecause they prefer Tristan over my son.”
    â€œThanks, Mom.” Grinning, he clicked off the phone. But the next minute his mind was full of asking himself what he could do in just three days.

    Reede was standing in the big office at Frazier Motors, waiting for a salesman. His hands were in his pockets and he was staring out the floor-to-ceiling glass wall. Below him was the huge showroom full of sparkling cars, salesmen hovering about, ready to destroy any speck of dust that dared touch one of the vehicles.
    Behind him the door opened, but he didn’t turn around.
    â€œWhat is that saying about ‘Physician, heal thyself’?”
    Reede turned to see his cousin, Colin Frazier, in the doorway, blocking the light with his big body. He’d recently married and his wife was going to have a baby. “How’s Gemma?” Reede asked. She was going to an OB/GYN in Williamsburg.
    â€œGreat. Healthy,” Colin said. “She outeats my little brother. Is that normal?” Colin’s youngest