Sanctuary (32 page)

She wouldn't now. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead, she thought, as she left sun for shade, she would set her sights on someone else and make Giff suffer.

When she caught sight of Little Desire Cottage, and the figure sitting on the screened porch, she smiled slowly. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before. Of him before.

Nathan Delaney. He was perfect. He was successful, sophisticated, educated. He'd been places and done things. He was gorgeous to look at—gorgeous enough that even Jo had taken notice.

She'd bet Nathan Delaney knew how to treat a woman.

Lexy opened the little red bag she wore strapped across her body. After popping a cherry Lifesaver in her mouth to sweeten her breath, she took out her compact, carefully dusted her nose and brow. Her color was up, so her cheeks needed no blusher, but she methodically painted her mouth a young, inviting red. She spritzed on some Joy and fluffed back her hair while calculating exactly how to play the scene.

She wandered closer to the cottage, then looked up with a friendly smile. “Why, hello there, Nathan.”

He'd brought his computer out on the picnic table on the porch to enjoy the breeze while he worked. The design he was tinkering with was nearly perfected. At the interruption, he looked up distractedly. And realized his neck had stiffened up again.

“Hello, Lexy.” He rubbed at the ache.

“Don't tell me you're working on such a beautiful morning.”

“Just fiddling with final details.”

“Why, is that one of those little computers? How in the world do you draw whole buildings on that?”

“Painstakingly.”

She laughed and, cocking her head, skimmed a finger down her throat. “Oh, now I've interrupted you, and you probably wish I'd scoot.”

“Not at all. It gives me an excuse to take a break.”

“Really? Would you just hate me if I asked to come up and take a peek? Or are you temperamental and don't like to show your work in progress?”

“My work's just the beginning of progress, so it's tough to be temperamental about it. Sure, come on up.”

He glanced at his watch as she turned to go to the steps. He really wanted a couple of hours more to refine the plans. And he had a date at one. A drive up to the north end of the island, a picnic lunch. And some more time to get to know Jo Ellen Hathaway.

Still, he smiled at Lexy—it was impossible not to. She was pretty as a picture, smelled fresher than the spring breeze teasing through the screens. And the short white skirt she wore hinted that she had legs approximately up to her ears.

“Want something cold?”

“Mmm, I'll just have a sip of yours, okay?” She picked up the large insulated glass on the table and sipped slowly. “Iced coffee. Perfect.” She detested iced coffee and had never understood why people chilled a perfectly nice hot drink.

She ran her tongue over her top lip and sat companionably beside him. Not too close. A woman didn't want to be obvious. She glanced at the monitor and was so surprised by the complex and detailed floor plan that she nearly forgot the point of the visit.

“Why, isn't that fantastic? How in the world do you do all that with a computer? I thought architects used pencils and slide rules and calculators.”

“Not as much as we used to. CAD makes our lives easier. Computer-assisted drawing,” he explained. “You can take out walls, change angles and pitch, widen doorways, lengthen rooms, then change your mind and put it all back the way it was. And you don't wear out erasers.”

“It's just amazing. Is this going to be someone's house?”

“Eventually. A vacation home on the west coast of Mexico.”

“A villa.” Images of hot music, exotic flowers, and white-suited servants popped into her mind. “Bri's been to Mexico. I've never been anywhere.” She slanted him a look under her lashes. “You've been all over the world, haven't you?”

“I wouldn't say all over, but here and there.” A little alarm bell rang in his brain, but he ignored it as foolish and egocentric. “Wonderful cliffs on the west coast, great vistas. This place will look out over the Pacific.”

“I've never seen the Pacific Ocean.”

“It can be wild down this way. This area here”—he tapped the monitor—“it'll be the solarium. Arched glass, sides and roof—motorized roof. They'll be able to open it for parties or whatever when the weather's right. The pool goes there. We're keeping it free-form and building up the west side with native rock and flora. Small waterfall trickling down here. It'll look like a lagoon.”

“A swimming pool, right inside the house.” She gave a long, wistful sigh. “Isn't that something. They must be millionaires.”

“And then some.”

She filled her eyes with dreamy admiration and stared deeply into his. “You must be the very best, then. So important. So successful. Designing Mexican villas for millionaires.” She laid her hand on his thigh. “I can't even imagine what it would be like, being able to build such beautiful things.”

Uh-oh. The second alarm bell was louder and impossible to ignore. He considered himself a fairly intelligent man. An intelligent man knew when a woman was hitting on him. “A lot of people work on a project like this. Engineers, landscapers, contractors.”

Wasn't he sweet? she thought, and slid a little closer. “But without you, they wouldn't have anything to work on. You're the one who makes it happen, Nathan.”

Retreat was often the intelligent man's choice, Nathan decided. He shifted, managed to put the best part of an inch between them. “Not if I don't get these plans done.” He gave her a quick smile that he hoped wasn't as nervous as it felt. “And I'm running a bit behind on them, so—”

“They look wonderful.” Her hand trailed up a little higher on his thigh. Intelligent or not, he was also human. His body reacted as nature dictated.

“Listen, Lexy—”

“I'm just so impressed.” She leaned in, inviting. “I'd just love to see more.” Her breath fluttered out onto his lips. “Lots more.” Deciding he was either too much of a gentleman—or too blockheaded—to make the next move, she pressed her mouth to his and wound her arms around his neck.

It took him a minute. She was warm and tasty, and most of the blood had drained out of his head, making it difficult to think rationally. But he managed to take hold of her wrists, unwind her, and ease away.

“You know ...” He found it necessary to clear his throat. “You know, Lexy, you're a very appealing woman. I'm flattered.”

“Good.” Her pulse picked up a little. The image of Giff's face, enraged with jealousy, slipped into her mind and the pulse picked up a bit more. “Then why don't we go inside for a little while?”

“There's this other thing.” He drew her arms down, kept his hands firmly over hers. “I really like my face the way it is. I've gotten used to it. Hardly ever cut myself shaving anymore.”

“I like it too. It's a wonderful face.”

“I appreciate that. And I don't want Giff to feel obliged to try to remodel it for me.”

“Oh, what do I care about Giff?” She gave a careless toss of her head. “He doesn't own me.”

The edge that came into her voice, and the sulky heat in her eyes amused him, and told him that a lovers' spat was certainly at the root of this current attempt at seduction. “Have a fight, did you?”

“I don't want to talk about Giff. Why don't you kiss me again, Nathan? You know you want to.”

Part of him did, a very primal part that was just a little too close to the surface right then. “Okay, we won't talk about Giff. We'll talk about Jo.”

“She doesn't own me either.”

“No. I'm . . .” He wasn't quite sure how to put it. “Interested in her,” he decided.

“I think you're interested in me.” To prove it, she freed a hand and made a beeline for his crotch.

Managing not to yelp, he caught her hand firmly. “Cut that out.” His voice took on a lecturing tone that would have made any mother proud. “You're worth more than this, Lexy. A hell of a lot more.”

“Why would you want Jo more than me? She's cold and bossy and—”

“Stop it.” He gave her captured hands one quick, hard squeeze. “I don't want to hear you talk about her that way. I care about her. And so do you.”

“You don't know what I care about. Nobody does.”

Because her voice had cracked at the end, he felt suddenly and pitifully sorry for her. Gently he lifted her hands, and when he kissed them had her blinking in surprise. “Maybe that's because you haven't really made up your mind yourself yet.” Hoping it was safe, he released one of her hands to brush the hair back from her face. “I like you, Lexy. I really do. That's another reason I'm not taking you up on your very tempting offer.”

Shame washed over her, rushing hot to her cheeks. “I made a fool of myself.”

“No. I damn near did, though.” Steadier at last, he eased back, reached for his now tepid coffee to cool his throat. “Most likely you'd have changed your mind somewhere along the way. Then where would I be?”

She sniffled. “Maybe I wouldn't have. Sex is easy. It's the rest that messes things up.”

“Tell me about it.” When he offered her the coffee, she managed to smile and shake her head.

“I hate iced coffee. I only drank it to seduce you.”

“Nice touch. You want to tell me about your fight with Giff?”

“Doesn't matter.” Misery settled over her so heavily she rose and paced, hoping to shake it off. “He doesn't care about me, doesn't care what I do or who I'm with. He couldn't even spare an hour of his precious time for me today.”

“Sweetheart, he's crazy about you.”

She let out a quick laugh. “Being crazy about somebody's easy too.”

“Not always. Not when you're trying to make it all work.”

Lips pursed, she looked back at him. “Do you really have feelings for Jo?”

“Apparently.”

“She's not easy about anything.”

“I'm finding that out.”

“Are you sleeping with her?”

“Lexy—”

“Not yet,” she decided and her lips curved. “And it's making you twitchy.” She came back, sat on the edge of the table. “Want some tips?”

“I don't think it's appropriate for us to discuss ...” He trailed off, then simply abandoned dignity. “What kind of tips?”

“She likes to be in charge, in control of things, you know? It's how she works, how she lives. And always, she keeps that little space, that maneuvering room between herself and someone else.”

He found himself smiling again, and liking Alexa Hathaway even more. “She'd never guess how well you know her.”

“Most people underestimate me,” Lexy said with a shrug. “And mostly I let them. But I figure you did me a good turn today, so I'll do you a good turn back. Don't let her maneuver too much. When the time comes, you sweep her away, Nathan. I don't think anybody's ever swept Jo Ellen away, and it's just what she needs.”

She gave him a long, measuring, and very female look, then smirked. “I figure you can handle that part just fine. And I also figure you're smart enough not to tell her what went on around here.”

“Not in this lifetime.”

Then the sassy look faded. “Find out what's wrong with her, Nathan.”

“Wrong?”

“Something's eating at her, and whatever it is, she came here to get away from it. But she isn't getting away from it. The first week or so she was here, she'd cry in her sleep, or pace the floor half the night. And now and then there's a look in her eye, like she's afraid. Jo's never afraid.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“Me?” She laughed again. “Jo wouldn't talk to me about anything important. I'm the silly little sister.”

“There's nothing silly about you, Lexy. And I, for one, don't underestimate you.”

Touched, she leaned over and kissed him. “I guess that makes us friends.”

“I'd like to think so. Giff's a very lucky man.”

“Only if I decide to give him a second chance.” She tossed her head and rose. “Maybe I will—after he crawls some and begs a lot.”

“As a friend, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to Giff either. He'd feel really bad about pounding me.”

“Oh, I won't name names.” She sauntered to the door, glanced back. “But I think you'd handle yourself, Nathan. I do believe you'd handle yourself just fine. 'Bye now.”

Alone, Nathan rubbed his eyes, his heart, then his stomach. Handling that one, he thought, would be a real challenge. And he wished Giff the very best of luck.

 

 

JO was just loading the picnic hamper when Lexy strolled into the kitchen. Her camera bag sat on the counter, carefully packed. Her tripod leaned against it.

“Going on a picnic?” Lexy asked airily.

“I want to shoot some pictures on the north end, thought I'd make an afternoon of it.”

“All by yourself?”

“No.” Jo tucked the wine she'd decided on into the basket. “Nathan's going along.”

“Nathan?” Lexy hitched herself up on the counter to sit, chose a glossy green apple out of the stoneware fruit bowl. “Why, isn't that a coincidence.” Smiling, Lexy polished the apple on her blouse, just between her breasts.

“Is it?”

“I just came from his place.”

“Oh?” Though her back went stiff, Jo managed to keep her tone casual.