The Comforts of Home (25 page)

He was on his third cup of coffee when she walked in.

He stood and waited for her to take her seat across from him.

“You’ve got the drowned-rat look about you,” she said.

He shook his stil -wet hair. “When it starts raining, my plan is usual y just to run. I don’t think I own an umbrel a.”

“Because you always travel light?”

He grinned. “Because I always travel light.” At least she’d listened to one thing he’d told her about himself. “You, however, with your raincoat and umbrel a, look terrific.” The thought crossed his mind that in another month the rain would be warm enough to make love outside on a rainy night. The hammock on his back patio might be the perfect place. They could finish off a bottle of wine first to warm their blood, then strip so neither would have to worry about getting clothes wet, then . . .

Denver slapped himself mental y. He had to stop thinking about her that way al the time or he’d never be able to carry on a conversation. “What looks good?” He tried distraction as he picked up the menu. “This time maybe you’d like to order your own food instead of just eating mine.”

She didn’t look at the menu. “Al right.”

The waitress showed up to fil her coffee cup and they ordered, then just stared at one another.

Denver had never been one to waste words, and he didn’t now. “So, we’re going public, me and you?”

“It’s on the table for discussion.”

“When I’m here in town, you’l come over to my place so we can spend some time alone. I’l come to your place, maybe watch a game or cook out. I like being around your family; except for you, they al seem to enjoy company.” She pouted and he almost leaned across the table to kiss her.

“We could take Saralynn with us to the show, and I’l go to anything she has at school. We’l just be an ordinary couple as soon as we figure out what ordinary couples do.” She shook her head. “It sounds so boring.” He laughed. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe Saralynn and I could meet you in New York or Dal as one weekend? She’s getting stronger and she’s already old enough to travel wel . We could see a few shows, take a carriage ride in the park.”

“Sleep in separate rooms,” he added, then smiled. “I could handle it as long as I get to see you.”

“It would be hard on me too, but Saralynn is my life. If we’re to go public, she has to be a part of that.”

“I agree. I love talking to that kid. She may be only eight, but I got a feeling she’s smarter than both of us.” He raised one eyebrow. “But after a weekend of seeing you on a hands-off basis, promise me time alone next. I’ve become addicted to you.”

She nodded as if she understood. They both seemed to have the same addiction.

The conversation died there. He couldn’t think of anything else to say, and Claire didn’t seem interested in smal talk. Denver just stared at her. Every woman he’d ever met could carry on a conversation even if al he did was nod now and then, but not Claire.

When the waitress brought their food, he managed to comment on how hers looked better than his, and she claimed his might taste better. Without another word they began eating off each other’s plates. Sharing the eggs, fighting over the sausages. As the food disappeared, they got in a sword fight over the last bit of pancake.

Denver laughed as he let her win. He watched her eat her prize bite and whispered, “You’re so beautiful, darlin’.

Any chance you’d consider sliding under the table and making love right now?”

“That’s why I wanted to meet you somewhere for breakfast. If I’d gone to your house, I’d be naked and starving right about now.”

“I love you naked and starving. Remember last fal when we were snowed in near the D.C. airport? No planes were in the air, but we didn’t care. We’d make love and order room service, then do it al over again. I think we had breakfast brought up three times that day.”

“Four.” She winked at him.

He’d made enough memories that day to keep him in daydreams for a month. “I love the way you make love, but I want to know more about you, Claire. I want to know everything about you.”

“I’m not sure.”

He saw the worry and the fear flash in her eyes. “I swore I’d never get involved with a man again. Maybe al we have is this attraction, nothing more. Maybe al the rest would just be boring details.”

“Maybe. But if we could have more, isn’t it worth the risk?”

She looked down and the world went silent for him. They could debate al day, but if she wasn’t wil ing to try, she wouldn’t try.

Denver waited as long as he could, and then he stood.

Dropping bil s on the table, he reached for her hand. “Walk with me, Claire.”

She glanced out the window. “It’s stil raining.”

“I don’t care.”

He didn’t let go of her hand until they were at the door.

She lifted her umbrel a as he put his arm around her shoulders. Claire was tal for a woman and with her heels they were now almost the same height. They fit, he thought.

A perfect match.

Walking in step, he held her close as they rushed in the rain past stores and offices, past the town square, past the funeral home and along the tree-lined streets everyone cal ed the old part of town. Neither said a word, neither seemed to care that they were getting soaked to the bone.

They just walked.

Final y they reached the city park, long forgotten in winter. Leafless branches waved over brown grass. A trash can rattled in the wind as if fighting to escape the chain that bound it to the ground, and empty swings jerked as if angry that they’d been forgotten.

Denver pul ed her into a corner of one of the buildings that surrounded the public swimming pool. The space was dark and littered with trash, but it was dry. She lowered the umbrel a and moved into his arms.

For a while he just held her as she shivered.

When she raised her head, she laughed. “This is crazy.”

“I agree.” He kissed her cold cheek. “So, why’d you come?”

Without hesitation, she said, “Because you asked me.” And, just like that, for the first time since he’d met her, Denver believed it might work between them.

TYLER LIT THE FIREPLACE IN HIS OFFICE FOR

WHAT HE hoped would be the last time this winter. After al , it was March; spring had to be just around the corner.

He watched the firelight’s reflection off the beveled cut-glass window. Rain ran in tiny rivers along the outside of the glass. He’d had to cancel two funerals for today, which would probably mean working al weekend. Tyler didn’t real y mind, but if he didn’t get his paperwork done on Saturday he wouldn’t al ow himself to take his Sunday drive.

Even with the rain, he hated the thought of missing it.

He loved the long drives where he could take forgotten trails and back roads. Only with the rain, it would probably stil be too muddy on Sunday to venture too far off the highway. He knew every road mark and back path in this part of the state.

Lightning flashed, mirroring the flames.

Autumn poked her head inside his office. “You busy?”

“No,” he said, smiling. He’d told Autumn several times not to interrupt him unless it was important, but in the days she’d been with him, he’d learned that her “important” level and his were vastly different.

She took one step into the room. “Don’t you find this place a little scary when it’s storming like this?”

“No,” he answered. “Maybe a little gloomy, but not scary.”

She took another step inside. “You know, Mr. Wright, you should rent this old building out for one of those horror films where a group of people are trapped for a night and picked off one by one. Some evil spirit would have a field day in this place. I found a passage in the back of my closet that drops down to the basement.”

Tyler grinned. He’d forgotten al about that hole in the floor. “Years ago when they used coal, the housekeeper could lower a bucket from there and the guys in the basement would fil it with coal. She’d stomp her foot three times and they’d send up enough to supply the stove in her bedroom. My father took the stove out when he put in central heating. I guess he forgot about the hole in the closet.”

She moved a little closer to his desk. “Speaking of scary things, Leland is due to make bail today. Wil ie told me last night that one of the deputies told him that Leland’s mother was wiring him the money. If they let him out, this town wil never see him again. When they cal his name at his hearing, he’l be three states away.”

“That’s fine with me.” Tyler just wanted him gone, but he figured Autumn might want justice. “Of course, for your sake, I hope he pays for his crimes.”

She sat on the arm of an overstuffed chair. “As long as he’s gone, I think I’m al right. I think I was just a thing to him, not a person. He didn’t hit me any harder than my step-mom used to when I was a kid.” She brushed her hand over her middle. “I swear I’m never going to do that to this child.”

“I’m glad.” Tyler smiled. “But just in case Leland doesn’t leave town, I’ve told everyone to make sure the doors are kept locked except for the front door during business hours.

You’re in charge of checking the kitchen door.”

“I won’t forget.” She stood and started for the door. “I’l bring in your lunch in about half an hour.”

“I thought we agreed that today would be your day off.” She grinned, guilty. “I know, but it’s so cold and I don’t have anywhere I wanted to go in this rain. If I hadn’t cooked, everyone who works here would have to go out. Besides, stew is easy.”

“You’re very thoughtful, Autumn.”

She looked like she didn’t want to take the compliment.

“Oh, one more thing. I asked Wil ie and Bran if they wanted to drop by. I have a feeling it wil be around lunchtime.” Tyler smiled. “I’m always happy to feed the fire department. You sure we have enough?”

She grinned. “Sure. I baked an extra pie. I figured they could split it.”

Autumn was gone before he could comment.

Tyler sat down at his desk, smiling. He wasn’t too worried about Leland showing up. Men like him tended to pick on women they think are helpless and alone. Autumn was no longer either. Even Calvin in the basement set a shovel beside the back door and bragged that he’d just like to see Leland try to get past him.

Tyler also suspected the two young firemen would be circling by today if Leland did get out on bail.

He wished Kate would contact him so he could tel her al about his little adventure, but he guessed she was off working somewhere and hadn’t had time to check her mail.

RONELLE LOGAN DELIVERED THE MAIL TWICE

DURING THE week. Both times Marty was working. When she handed him his letters he held the phone away from him and said, “See you Friday, right?”

She nodded and left.

One lunch hour she spent her time looking for a new blouse. Her mother had told her more than once that top-heavy girls like her only looked appropriate when wel covered, but Ronel e wanted something new. But on Friday she walked to his house in the same old clothes she always wore, tel ing herself he’d simply invited her to lunch, nothing more. It wasn’t like a real date.

The afternoon was stormy. She wore a plastic rain slicker that was held together with duct tape. She delivered mail to the fire station and then stopped in at the diner and ordered the takeout special and two slices of pie. No one noticed her.

At the corner she turned toward the dried-up riverbed.