by Judi Lynn
“They make a cozy sitting area.” Ansel shook his head and turned to the front half of the room. “But you have a lot of empty space.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
Her farmhouse dining table and chairs looked great near the kitchen island, but they didn’t begin to fill the room either. She could circle four lounge chairs around a coffee table by the front window.
Ansel went to get George. “Good, we still have time to go furniture shopping.”
“Today?”
“Why not?” Ansel glanced down at himself. “My jeans don’t have holes in them and I’m not covered with sawdust. If you find something, I can help you bring it here.”
He had a point, and she did need more furniture. “Why not?”
George huffed when she got to ride shotgun instead of him, but then he curled on the floor and rested his head on her feet. They left the windows down when they reached the first furniture store.
“Is that smart?” Jazzi asked. “Anyone can climb into your truck.”
“With George here? He’ll stand guard. I can’t leave the windows up. It will get too hot in here for him.”
Ansel had more faith in George protecting his truck than Jazzi did, but George seemed fine with the idea. He stretched out on the backseat, and Ansel poured bottled water into a bowl for him. They had to visit a few stores before Jazzi and Ansel could agree on a yellow leather sofa and two chairs that would work with what she had.
“How do we get the two sitting areas to blend?” she asked.
“Easy, we find a rug with lots of yellow in it to center the red furniture grouping and a rug with reds for the yellow sofa and chairs.”
Jazzi stared. “You’re better at picturing all this stuff than I am.”
He grinned. “I’ve been looking at lots of decorating magazines. I really wanted to buy a house before Emily dropped her bombshell.”
“What have you got in mind for the front window in the dining room?”
“Four chairs around a round coffee table. That’s as far as I got.”
The minute they saw four club-style recliners, in a blue-and-yellow flower print, though, they both wanted them.
In between the three trips it took to move everything Jazzi bought, her sleigh bed was delivered and Ansel oversaw exactly where it should be put. Jazzi let him. The furniture in that bedroom was his vision, so she left him to it. As long as the room was rose colored, she was happy. By five, every piece of furniture was in place, and the security system was installed. Jazzi was exhausted. All she’d wanted to do was move her farmhouse table here. Things had gotten out of hand.
Yes, it was her house, but Ansel had been determined to get it right. Happy with the finished product, he grabbed George. He hesitated. “You sure you’re going to be okay here tonight? I know you have the security system, but I was thinking. There aren’t any houses close to you now.”
She’d worried about that, too. “The guy who installed the alarms said someone would be here in ten minutes if one of them went off.”
Ansel frowned. “Ten minutes is a long time.”
“I had them install a deadbolt on the inside of my bedroom door. I’m locking it tonight. If an alarm goes off, I’ll move furniture in front of it and barricade myself in.” That sounded pitiful, but she’d rather be safe than sorry.
“You’re sure?”
“Get out of here,” she told him. “I have company coming and I have to get ready.”
He left to meet Emily, and then Jazzi went upstairs to take a quick shower.
It felt odd, not returning to her apartment. Her old bed and chest of drawers were in the caramel-colored bedroom, but she’d already hung her clothes in the rose room. Everything was so new, so different. Would she feel lost in a king-size bed?
Clean and dressed, she hurried down to the kitchen and unpacked the box that held the blue-sprigged plates she’d bought two years ago and still loved. She set the table with those and four drinking glasses. She had wine glasses somewhere, but she had no idea which box to look in.
She’d found the silverware and placed them on the table when the front doorbell rang and she went to welcome Olivia, Reuben, and Isabelle. She’d keep a close eye on Isabelle tonight to study her reactions. She couldn’t be that good of an actress.
Isabelle stepped into the foyer, held a hand to her heart, and let out a deep sigh. “It’s beautiful.”
Isabelle looked happy for her. Could she smile at her and celebrate, and then hire someone to hurt her?
“Jeez, sis, I’m jealous.” Olivia glanced into the living room, then headed to the island in the kitchen.
Reuben carried in two bags of food that wafted the aroma of Chinese. He put them on the island’s stainless-steel counter, then turned to study what Jazzi had done. “Perfection.” He pointed to the fake tin ceiling and beams. “A blend of old and functional. I love it.”
Jazzi smiled. “Coming from you, that’s a high compliment.”
“I know.” He started to the living room. “I want to see it all, every room. We’ll do the grand tour first, and then we’ll feed you.”
Fair enough. She led them into the long, spacious living room.
Standing next to Isabelle and Olivia, she felt downright tawdry. She’d taken a shower, but she should have dressed up. Olivia had come from the salon and wore tight black leggings with a zebra-print tunic over them. Isabelle wore wide-bottomed black slacks with a red kimono-style top. Her black hair was twisted high on her head. Her eyes were black rimmed and her lips red.
Reuben approved the red and butter-yellow leather sofas and chairs. “A nice blend. Good. There’s nothing on the walls yet. No small touches. Those can add a lot of character. Take your time with those. Don’t rush.”
Olivia walked over to plop onto the yellow sofa. “Comfortable. It was smart using area rugs to blend everything.”
“That was Ansel’s idea. He went with me to pick out furniture.”
Her sister raised an eyebrow. “He did?”
“He had a lot of ideas about this house.” Jazzi led them upstairs.
Reuben and Isabelle both loved the rose bedroom.
“I want a sleigh bed like this.” Isabelle ran her hand over the thin stitched quilt that was heavy and warm. “I like the ribbon work on this, too.”
Jazzi smiled, pleased. “Ansel wanted a sleigh bed. I really like it.”
Olivia grinned. “Did he want a king-size bed, too?”
“Come look at this!” Reuben saved Jazzi by calling from the bathroom. “It’s just plain stunning.” He nodded toward the long antique chest of drawers holding the two sinks.
Isabelle sighed when she saw the claw bathtub. “I’m glad you kept that.”
Her voice hinted at something, and Jazzi wondered if Isabelle had soaked in that tub on occasion.
When Jazzi showed them the two other rooms, all three of them approved. Olivia especially loved the amethyst room, even though it was empty. “I love the color.”
“Ansel picked it out. He chose the caramel paint for the other bedroom, too.”
“And you let him?”
Jazzi shrugged. “I liked everything he came up with, and it made him so happy . . . why not?”
Olivia’s eyebrows lifted. “I didn’t think Ansel paid any attention to colors and design.”
“He does on the fixer-uppers, but his vote doesn’t count with Emily. He had really strong opinions about this house. He wanted to bid on it, but Emily vetoed him.”
“But you didn’t.” Olivia gave a sly smirk.
“What?” Her sister was being obvious. Jazzi had better be careful what she said from now on.
“You like him.”
Jazzi rolled her eyes. “Of course I like him. I work with him every day.”
Olivia’s smirk widened. “Thane would give Emily her
marching orders.”
“Your Thane?” Jazzi started leading everyone back downstairs. “He’s almost as easygoing as Ansel.”
On their way to the kitchen, Reuben stopped to look at the half-bath near the base of the stairs. “Nice.” They’d kept it old-fashioned with a pedestal sink, beadboard on the walls, and vintage black-and-white Victorian floor tiles.
Jazzi smiled. “Thanks.”
Olivia returned to Ansel and Thane. “Thane’s quiet, but he’s not exactly easygoing. He can dig in.”
“Cal was easygoing. That’s what I liked about him.” Isabelle opened the bags on the counter and lifted out carton after carton of Chinese food. “We weren’t sure what you liked, so we bought a variety.”
“Am I easygoing?” Reuben asked.
“Darling, you’re adorable.”
Reuben looked like he might float for the rest of the night.
Olivia started flipping open lids. Lo mein. Sesame chicken. Mongolian beef and more. Eight egg rolls and crab Rangoon.
Saliva flooded Jazzi’s mouth. After a hurried lunch, she was starving. They sat around the farmer’s table and Isabelle sighed. “The last time I saw this house, it was in shambles. Disgusting. Cal would be so happy with this.”
“Thank you.”
Isabelle lifted her chopsticks. Her expression grew serious, ready to move to a different topic. “Have you had any more news about Gaff’s investigation?”
Jazzi decided to ease into her news to see how Isabelle reacted to it. She grabbed a fork. She was all thumbs with chopsticks. She could never get the food to her mouth. She told them about Sorrell. “He seemed like a possible suspect.”
Isabelle shook her head. “Thomas would never meet with Noah alone. He’d only bother with him if Cal was within seeing distance. He had no interest in the boy other than annoying Cal.”
“He has ego issues, doesn’t he?” Jazzi asked.
Isabelle gave a low laugh. “Thomas’s ego overshadows everything else—even his intelligence. I’d feel sorry for him if he wasn’t so unlikeable.”
“So, you don’t think he could kill someone?” Jazzi asked.
Isabelle pursed her lips, considering. “I didn’t say that, but it wouldn’t be premeditated. He’d lose his temper and do something rash, then panic. That wouldn’t be the case twice in this house, would it? It might have been with Lynda, but luring Noah into the basement while Cal was called away on an emergency and hitting him in the back of the head? That smacks of someone planning it all out.”
Jazzi took a second helping of lo mein. “Gaff thinks both cases are connected.”
Isabelle nodded. “It seems likely. They were both committed here and they both involve Cal somehow. But they feel different, don’t they?”
“Someone’s trying to warn me off, so that I don’t help Gaff.” Jazzi explained about the phone calls. She was curious how Isabelle would respond.
Olivia blurted out, “You’re staying with Thane and me for a while.”
“I took care of it. I bought a security system,” Jazzi told her.
Isabelle’s hands went to her hips. “Gaff should have someone watching over your house. If he’s going to drag you around with him, he should protect you!”
Jazzi smiled. The caller couldn’t be Isabelle, not unless she was a wonderful actress. She looked outraged right now. She tried to reassure them. “I think I’m a pretty low risk, and I’m not just sitting here hoping nothing happens. I’m going to be fine.”
“Did you buy a gun?” Reuben glanced out the front window at the dark yard. “There are no streetlights out here. You don’t have to aim if you have a shotgun.”
Jazzi stared. “I didn’t even think about one. I’d probably hurt myself with it.”
Before Reuben could argue with her, Olivia waved away his argument. She reached for another egg roll and more sweet-and-sour sauce. “I don’t want to talk about murders anymore tonight and not on Sunday either. Jazzi’s smart. She’s protected herself. I want to celebrate her new house.”
Jazzi looked at her, surprised.
Olivia mumbled, “And your security people had better be darned good.”
Isabelle nodded reluctantly. “Tonight’s supposed to be fun. I don’t want to ruin it. Your house is beautiful, Jazzi.”
“To Jazzi!” Reuben raised his glass of wine, and they all toasted.
Olivia was right. Tonight was about filling Cal’s house with new joy. The rest of the supper was low key and filled with laughter. Reuben was still in decorator mode.
“If you’re sure you’re completely finished with the Victorian, Isabelle and I can move all of my furniture downstairs this weekend, and we’re hiring people to gut the upstairs kitchen of our house. We’re going to make the second floor into two huge bedrooms and a luxury bathroom.”
Isabelle took another sip of wine. Jazzi had never seen her so relaxed. “We’re having someone paint all of the downstairs rooms, and we’re making your old bedroom into a study. If either of us wants to work from home, we’ll have a place to do it.”
Olivia sighed. “You guys are making me want a house. Thane has been yammering about it, but I didn’t think we were ready.”
“A house is a lot of responsibility,” Jazzi said. “If anything goes wrong, you have to fix it, not call your landlord.”
Olivia laughed. “Thane’s handy, and so is my sister.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Jazzi knew she’d just been signed up for free labor.
They finished the night talking about old houses versus new. When Reuben and Isabelle said their good nights, Olivia rose, too. “It’s later than I thought. I’m taking off, too. Tomorrow’s busy at the salon. I’ll see you on Sunday, sis.”
Jazzi walked to the door and waved them off. She shut it and locked it, then set the alarm. It took her a few minutes to clean the kitchen. She couldn’t stop a happy zing when she used the big, deep farm sink after the first time she’d entertained. It even made her happy to put the few pieces of silverware into her dishwasher. Then she wandered to the living room and sat down. Darn, this place was big. She turned on the TV, but felt like a lone viewer in an empty movie theater. When her cell phone rang, she was grateful.
Ansel’s voice sounded hesitant, but gruff. “Jazzi? I know it’s late, but can I come and spend the night at your house? Emily and I had a big argument, and she kicked me out. I’ve gone to two motels, but they won’t let me keep George in my room.”
“Why would you try a motel? I have plenty of space, and I’m rambling around in it, a little bit lost. You can use the caramel room.” Besides, she’d been trying to tell herself she wasn’t afraid. With Ansel here, she wouldn’t be.
“Thanks.” He couldn’t hide his relief. “I’ll stay out of your way and try not to bother you.”
“Forget that,” she said. “This house is sort of overwhelming and lonely. I’m glad I’ll have company, but I get to choose what we watch on TV.”
His laugh sounded harsh. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“I have leftover Chinese if you’re hungry.”
“You’re a true friend.” He hung up and Jazzi leaned deeper into the couch cushions. Emily had kicked him out? That woman needed her head examined.
Chapter 27
Jazzi woke before the alarm went off. She thought she’d have trouble sleeping last night. Cal’s house was big. It was far enough out of town, there were no streetlights. Houses sat so far apart, neighbors wouldn’t notice if someone broke in during the night. When she looked outside her bedroom window, blackness blanketed the yard and surrounding fields. Not like West Central with neighbors on both sides of her and across the street and a streetlamp located on the corner of the yard near the curb. And it was quiet out here, too quiet, but with Ansel and George in the room next door, she felt safe and secure. When she hit the mattress, that’s
the last thing she remembered.
She woke refreshed, got dressed in her scruffiest shirt and jeans, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. They were finishing the upstairs hallway today, then painting the basement. She couldn’t paint without splattering herself. After today, she’d keep the clothes she had on in the laundry room as paint clothes, because she’d never get them clean again. Next, she made her bed. It was too beautiful to leave mussed. Plus, Ansel was a bit of a neat freak. His bed would probably be made with square corners.
When she opened the bedroom door to head downstairs, Ansel stepped out of the hallway bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Be still my heart. His blond hair was damp, and water drops clung to his corded muscles. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart thudded. Oh, boy, how could Emily deprive herself of this? It would be like going off crack.
Ansel didn’t notice her and padded to the caramel bedroom and closed the door. Jazzi grabbed the door frame to brace herself. How many times could she see that and not throw herself on him? What would he do? Knowing Ansel, he’d hold her at arm’s length and tsk-tsk her. The man didn’t have a clue how gorgeous he was!
Jazzi swallowed hard. She was a strong woman. She could resist temptation and work side-by-side with Ansel as a friend. Couldn’t she? Yes, she had some shreds of restraint, unless Emily made him spend too many nights here. Then all bets were off. She might drug him and crawl into his bed to have her way with him.
She forced her feet to move and zipped down to the kitchen. She’d set the coffeepot to brew last night, so she was pouring two mugs when Ansel carried George into the kitchen. She silently handed one to him.
“Thanks.” He took a long draw. “I had trouble going to sleep last night.”
She felt guilty. Having him here had helped her, but he’d probably stayed awake thinking about how to work things out with Emily. “I’m sorry. Do you want some toast? I usually make myself two slices.” Her toaster had four slots.
“Mind if I make myself an egg sandwich instead?”
“Go for it.”
He hesitated. “I shouldn’t be the first person to use your stove. You should have that honor.”