by Nora Roberts
“Why?”
“Why what?”
Jordan sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. How did she manage to do this so often? “Why does Alison need a puppy?”
“Because she wants one, first of all. That’s a good reason.” She smiled at him. “And a puppy would be a companion and a responsibility for her. What do you think about cocker spaniels?”
Jordan leaned back against the door. “I’m forced to admit I’ve never given them much thought.”
“Give it a minute, then,” she suggested. “It’s a gentle breed, good with children. A pet is very important in childhood, Jordan. Owning one teaches a variety of valuable—”
“Wait.” Jordan held up a hand to stop her. “It would be simpler if I just said yes and saved us both a lot of time.”
“I told you that you were logical.” Kasey smiled, pleased with herself.
Jordan put his hands on her shoulders. “I also think it’s very thoughtful of you.”
“So do I,” she said lightly. “I’m a very thoughtful person.”
“You are,” he said and drew her closer. “Whether you like to hear it or not. You’ve made quite a difference in Alison’s life—and in mine.”
She couldn’t speak but only laid her head on his chest. I love you both, she thought and shut her eyes tight.
“Does this mean yes to the popcorn, too?” she asked him. It was so warm in his arms, so secure. It was impossible to believe that one day soon she’d have to leave them.
“I don’t suppose I could face a naked Christmas tree.”
She squeezed him. “Thank you.”
“Now I’ve something to ask you.”
She tilted her face back to his and smiled. “Your timing’s exceptional,” she decided. “I’m obliged to say yes to almost anything.”
He kissed her nose. “Perhaps you’ll remember that at a more opportune time, but for now you’ve probably noticed my mother doing quite a bit of sighing because I haven’t attended any of the holiday parties.”
“As a matter of fact, I have.” Kasey kept her voice light. “I’ve also noticed,” she said, “how expertly you ignore her.”
“I’ve had a lifetime of practice,” Jordan said dryly. “But there’s a club dance at the end of the week. I should go. Come with me.”
“Are you asking me for a date, Jordan?”
“It sounded like it.” He laughed suddenly and shook his head. “Kasey, you make me feel as though I were sixteen. Will you come with me?”
“I like to dance.” She slid her hands up behind his neck and linked them. “I’d like to dance with you.” She gave him a kiss and let it slowly deepen until she heard his quiet sound of pleasure. “I believe I’ll buy a new dress,” she murmured. “Do you have a favorite color?”
“Green.” His mouth roamed to her neck. “Like your eyes.”
She laughed a little and pressed closer. “Jordan, there’s one more thing I should tell you.”
“Hmm. What?” His mouth was back on hers.
“Alison,” Kasey began, accepting the kiss. “When she finished in here, she went to do your room.”
“Do what?” he murmured, steeped in Kasey’s taste.
“Your room.”
“My room?” Jordan drew away a bit to look at her. “My room?” He glanced over her head at the paper chains and cardboard figures. Incredulity spread over his face as he looked back at Kasey. “My room?”
“Jordan, you’re repeating yourself.” Kasey laughed as he let out a long breath. Slipping her arms around his waist, she hugged him tightly. “You’re going to love it,” she promised. “You’re getting a foam snowman.”
The next afternoon, Kasey looked on as Alison strummed her guitar. The technique was still clumsy, but she made up for it with enthusiasm. Kasey thought back to the first time she had watched Alison sit stiffly at the piano, playing Brahms with precision and disinterest.
No more empty eyes, she thought and reached out to touch the girl’s hair. What would it be like to have a child of her own? she wondered. She shook her head. She was becoming too sentimental and much, much too attached.
“Terrific,” she told Alison when she had finished. “You learn quickly.”
“Will I ever play as well as you?”
“Better, soon.” Kasey smiled and packed the guitar in its case. “I’ve an affection for music. You’ve affection and skill.”
“I didn’t think so before.” Alison sat down at the piano and began to finger the keys. “I can play things on the piano and the guitar now.”
Kasey grinned. “Alison, I have to go shopping. Want to come with me?”
“Shopping?” Alison’s attention was arrested. “Christmas shopping? I’ve finished mine, but I’d like to help you with what you have left.”
“Have left? I haven’t started yet.”
“None at all?” Alison’s eyes widened. “But there are only ten days left.”
“That many?” Kasey rose and stretched. “Well, I suppose I can start early. I usually wait until Christmas Eve. I love the confusion.”
“But what if you can’t find what you want?”
How like Jordan she was, Kasey thought. “That’s the challenge,” Kasey told her. “I drive the sales clerks crazy.” The thought made her grin. “In any case, I need a dress. We can grab a hamburger, too. There must be a McFarden’s around somewhere.”
“McFarden’s?” Alison brought her brows together. She was intrigued and cautious. So like Jordan, Kasey thought again. “I’ve never been to McFarden’s.”
“Never been to McFarden’s?” Kasey gave her a look of exaggerated astonishment. “That,” she said, “is positively un-American.” Grabbing Alison’s hand, she pulled her to her feet. “You need a lesson in patriotism.”
Some time later, Kasey eased into a parking space. “I told you I’d find one.” Switching off the ignition, she dropped the keys into her pocket. Alison climbed out, and Kasey locked up carefully.
“I hope Uncle Jordan won’t mind that we borrowed his car.”
“He told me I could use it whenever I liked.” Kasey skirted around the Mercedes’s hood.
“But Charles usually drives everyone except Uncle Jordan.”
“Why should we drag poor Charles around?” Kasey countered. “We must have gone to a hundred and thirty-seven stores.” She pushed through the glass doors. “I’m starving. Do you realize how long it’s been since I had a hamburger?”
Alison looked around her and became caught up in the crowd and the noise. “It smells wonderful.”
Kasey laughed and pulled her into line. “Smelling’s not eating. I have a craving for French fries.”
Alison stared up at the menu that hung above the counter and zeroed in on a picture of a hamburger. “I’d like one of those. Is it good?”
“Fantastic.” Kasey laughed. “You have big eyes, Alison. Let’s hope you have an appetite to match.”
“It is big,” Alison stated when they found a table. She took a bite and grinned. “And it’s good.”
“You have very discerning taste.” Kasey dug into her own. She closed her eyes and sighed. “It’s been too long. Do you think we can talk Francois into trying his hand at one of these?”
“You could,” Alison stated and wolfed down a French fry.
“Why do you say that?”
“You could talk anybody into anything.”
Kasey laughed and shook her head. “Perceptive little squirt, aren’t you?”
Alison grinned and sampled her milk shake. “I’ve never seen anything like the present you got for Uncle Jordan.”
“The shaman’s rattle?” Kasey chewed thoughtfully on a French fry. “It was quite a find.” It had been elegantly carved and painted. Apache. Kasey had been thrilled enough to come across it that she hadn’t even thought to bargain. “It’ll help him ward off evil spirits.”
Alison was bulldozing her way through the hamburger. “I liked the dress yo
u bought, too. Green looks beautiful on you.”
“I don’t usually wear it. It’s so obvious with my coloring.” She sat back with her own milk shake. “Then, I don’t mind being obvious now and again.”
“It’s very stylish,” Alison told her and took another bite of her hamburger. “And slinky.”
Kasey grinned. “I did like that other one, though. You know, the smashed velvet.”
“Crushed velvet,” Alison corrected and giggled.
“Whatever. Would you like an apple pie?”
Alison sat back and took a deep breath. “I don’t think so. Would you?”
“Not if I want to get into that dress. What did you get me for Christmas?”
“It’s a—Kasey!” Alison exclaimed.
“I thought I might catch you off guard.”
“It’s supposed to be a secret.” Alison wiped her hands primly. “Telling would spoil it.”
“Really?” Kasey gave her a guileless smile. “Is that why you’ve been creeping around the house and searching through closets?”
Alison blushed, then giggled again. “I only thought I might shake some boxes.”
“That’s an old story.”
“Christmas is more fun with you here, Kasey.” Her eyes were serious again. “Will you stay forever?”
Kasey felt the first crack in her heart. How could she explain to the girl what she didn’t want to think of herself? “Forever is a long time, Alison.” She kept her voice quiet and her eyes level. “I’ll have to leave when my job’s finished.”
“But can’t you stay and keep working for Uncle Jordan?”
“He doesn’t need a resident anthropologist, Alison. And I’ve work of my own.” She watched the child’s gaze falter and drop. “Friends stay friends, Alison, no matter how far apart they are. I love you.” She reached out to lay her hand over Alison’s. “That’s not going to change.”
“Will you come back?” Alison lifted her eyes again. “And visit me?”
I can’t, she wanted to say. How can you ask me? Can’t you understand how it would hurt me? “You could visit me,” she said instead. “Would you like that?”
“Really?” Alison’s smile bloomed again. “And your grandfather?”
“Sure. Pop would love it.” She began to pile things back on the tray. “You’re much better behaved than I ever was. Why don’t you dump all this stuff in the trash?”
Kasey took a moment when she was alone at the tablé to pull herself together. It was better this way. Alison was already being prepared. And what about me? She shut her eyes a moment. I’ve said I’ll pay the price when the time comes. I have to stick to that.
“Ready?” she said and gave Alison a smile when she came back to the table. “Now we have to find a post office so I can mail off those things to my grandfather. Do you think he’ll like that little gnome with the buck teeth?”
When they entered the house, Alison was laughing, struggling to balance her share of Kasey’s purchases. “I’ll help you wrap them,” she said, grabbing at a sliding box.
“We’d better get them upstairs first.” Kasey rescued the box and glanced up as Beatrice came down the stairs.
“Alison, what have you been doing?” She frowned at the child’s windblown hair.
“Alison helped me with my Christmas shopping, Mrs. Taylor.”
Beatrice shifted her gaze and met Kasey’s eyes. “I don’t approve of you taking Alison from the house without discussing it with me first.” She turned to her granddaughter again. “Go up and brush your hair, Alison. You look a sight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kasey watched her walk obediently up the stairs. She turned back to Beatrice and spoke calmly. “I’m sorry if you were concerned, Mrs. Taylor. You were out when we left, and I did tell Millicent what our plans were.”
Beatrice lifted a brow. “I dislike being informed by a servant of the whereabouts of my grandchild.”
“It didn’t occur to me you’d notice she wasn’t here.”
Beatrice’s color flared. “Are you criticizing me, Miss Wyatt?”
“Of course not, Mrs. Taylor.” Kasey fought to keep the conversation in perspective. “I enjoy Alison’s company, she enjoys mine. We spent an afternoon together. I’m sorry if you were worried.”
“I find your attitude impertinent.”
“I can only repeat, I’m sorry,” Kasey replied evenly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go put these things away.”
“You’d be wise to remember your position in this house, Miss Wyatt.” Kasey stopped, then set down her packages. It seemed they weren’t through just yet. “You’re a paid servant and can very easily be replaced.”
“I’m here on a job, Mrs. Taylor, and no one’s servant unless I choose to be.” She paused a moment. “Is that all you have to say to me?”
“I won’t tolerate your insubordination.” Beatrice’s knuckles whitened on the post of the banister. She wasn’t accustomed to being looked at so directly by someone she considered an employee. “I won’t tolerate your disruptive influence on my granddaughter.”
“I was under the impression that Alison was Jordan’s ward.” What am I doing? Kasey thought abruptly. I’m putting Alison right between us. I’m putting her right in the middle. “Mrs. Taylor,” she began, searching for a way to ease the tension for the child’s sake.
“What’s going on?” Jordan came through the drawing room doorway. He’d heard the argument the moment he’d stepped out of his study.
“This woman,” his mother began, turning to him, “is insufferably rude.”
Jordan lifted a brow. “Kasey?” he asked turning to her.
“Probably,” she agreed and tried to relax her muscles.
“Miss Wyatt took it upon herself to disappear with Alison for the entire afternoon, then had the effrontery to criticize me when I expressed concern.”
Jordan, caught between amusement and annoyance, studied Kasey again. “Been busy, have you?”
“We only went Christmas shopping, Uncle Jordan.” Alison came down half the stairs in a rush, then stopped when her grandmother turned to her.
“This is none of your concern, Alison. Go back up to your room.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Jordan stepped around his mother and held out a hand to Alison. She dashed down the rest of the stairs. “Well, you appear relatively unharmed. Did you have a good time?”
“It was wonderful.” Alison grinned up at him. “We went to McFarden’s.”
“Really?” Jordan shot a look at Kasey. He knew her well enough to see beyond the careless front. She was raging inside and, he thought curiously, hurting. What had been said, he wondered, before he had come upon them? He smiled at her, wanting to soothe her. “You might have asked me to go along.”
Kasey was working to control her temper. She knew very well anger wasn’t the way to handle Beatrice Taylor. And handling Beatrice Taylor would be necessary if she wanted to keep things smooth for Alison. It helped to see Alison standing under Jordan’s arm.
“You were working,” she returned. “And I didn’t think the idea of tramping through shops would appeal to you.”
“Kasey bought you a present, Uncle Jordan.”
“Did she?” He drew the child to his side, but his eyes were on Kasey’s.
“Chocolate cookies,” Kasey told him. “Alison thought they were pretty.”
“Obviously you intend to treat this matter lightly.” Beatrice spoke again.
“Mother. There’s nothing here to be concerned about. Alison’s fine.”
“Very well.” She nodded, then brushed by him to mount the stairs.
Kasey looked down at Alison, who was watching her grandmother’s retreating back. “I’m sorry, Uncle Jordan. I didn’t know Grandmother would be upset. She wasn’t here when we left, and we told Millicent, in case you wondered where we were.”
“You haven’t done anything.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “Your grandmother’s probably
a bit tired after her luncheon today, that’s all. She needs to rest awhile. Why don’t you take these packages up for Kasey?”
Alison gathered up boxes. “I’ll bring wrapping paper to your room.”
“Thanks.” Children spring back quickly, she noted. Alison was already more concerned with the presents than with her grandmother’s annoyance.
Jordan put his hands on Kasey’s shoulders as Alison disappeared up the steps. “Shall I apologize, too?” he asked quietly as he soothed the remaining tension from her muscles.
Kasey shook her head. “No.” She sighed. She was aware that it was Beatrice’s dislike of her which had caused the confrontation. She felt responsible. “I’ve put you in a bad position. Alison, too. I never meant to, Jordan.”
“Let me handle my mother,” he told her. “I’ve been doing it for a long time. And next time you go off for an afternoon,” he added, “invite me. I might have found tramping through shops and a hamburger appealing.”
“All right.” She smiled, steadying. “Next time I will.”
He started to pull her close, then stopped. His brows drew together. “Chocolate cookies?”
11
Kasey paused in the drawing room doorway. She’d taken her time dressing for the dance at Jordan’s club, wanting to be certain Beatrice was gone before she came downstairs.
Standing there, she had a moment to study Jordan unobserved as he mixed drinks at the bar. Formal dress—the stark black and white, the perfect tailoring—suited him. He moves well, she thought, a man used to elegant clothes and elegant rooms. Yet there’s so much more to him than I realized that first night I walked in here. More depth, more character, more strength. If I could have chosen a man to fall in love with, I couldn’t have chosen any better.
Taking a deep breath, she walked into the room. “It seems my timing’s perfect.”
Jordan turned to watch her. The dress was dark green and clinging with a deep slash of a neckline. It was caught at the side of her waist and fell straight, leaving a slit that opened and closed as she walked.
“I thought once you were a witch,” Jordan murmured. “Now I’m sure of it.”
Kasey took the glass from his hand. “Like it?” She smiled and sipped. “Jordan, you’ve picked up the knack for mixing these. You could make a living from it.”