“How about lasagna, then?” Leigh suggested.
Both of the Hills shook their heads.
“Well, more for me, please,” Niles said, smiling all around. He served himself and continued to eat, although it took determination.
Leigh popped up from the table and cleared empty plates. When she caught Niles’s eye, she smiled and he hoped it wasn’t only because she was grateful to him.
Coffee had finished brewing and she put a plate of pastries in the middle of the table before bringing mugs and clean plates. “Sorry the dessert isn’t homemade—or at least not by me—but I didn’t have much time after I left work.”
The Hills’ silence grated on Niles. “Are these some of Cliff’s?” he asked about the pastries. “He makes the best.” He tried a smile on Gib. “Cliff’s the chef at Gabriel’s, where Leigh works.”
Gib shrugged.
Niles disliked sweet foods but he would eat the entire plateful if necessary.
“Don’t you worry about any of that,” Jan said to Leigh. She sighed and the breath she let out came in little spurts. What was making her so uptight?
“You look tired, Leigh,” Gib said. He pushed his chair back, tucked the ends of his fingers into his pants pockets, and glanced at Niles.
That was a you’re in the way here look if Niles had ever seen one.
“I never felt better,” Leigh said. “I’ve always loved Whidbey.”
Niles read exactly what was happening between him and this man who was accustomed to being in charge. Gib felt threatened. At some unreachable level he sensed he was not the alpha male around here and he chafed against that.
“Of course you love Whidbey. You met Chris here,” Gib said to Leigh. “The two of you were crazy about each other and about being here.”
“That’s true,” Leigh said tonelessly.
“You don’t get over that kind of attachment easily. Takes years.”
Gib gave Niles another of those looks. The guy wanted him to leave.
“I’m glad you can feel good coming back here,” Jan said abruptly, her voice breaking. She patted her sister’s hand on the table. “It shows you’re healing.”
Gib gave a harsh laugh.
“Well, doesn’t it?” Jan asked. Tears shone in her eyes and Niles had an urge to plant a fist in the middle of Gib’s sneering face. “When you can go back to a place you thought you’d have to stay away from—and enjoy it—it’s healthy.”
“If you say so, Dr. Hill. I guess there are two of us in the family, now.” Gib said.
“My husband’s a psychologist,” Jan said to Niles. “I must have gotten into the habit of analyzing why people do things, I guess. But Leigh and I—”
“Think the same way,” Gib finished for her. “We know, darling, but you have a habit of being too close to Leigh, and too protective for her own good.”
“Twins are often extra close,” Jan said defensively.
That was the first Niles had heard about Leigh and Jan being twins. He looked at Jan with fresh interest.
“The days of matching dresses and hair bows are over,” Gib said.
“Oh, Gib, you know we never had matching—”
“We don’t have to get into your deprived childhood,” her husband said, patting her cheek as if to soften the nastiness.
“This conversation isn’t really a good idea,” Leigh said, and rather than appearing crushed, irritation tightened her features. “Jan and I don’t talk about when we were kids in front of other people. We never have.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Gib said. “I’m very glad you have a friend here, but perhaps we need some family time alone, just the three of us. You don’t have far to go, you said, Niles?”
“Niles isn’t going anywhere,” Leigh said. “He is my friend and my guest—and you can say what you need to say with him here.”
A little thing like that, a comment thrown out in anger, shouldn’t bring a man so much pleasure. But it did. “Whatever you want,” Niles told her and only her.
“I want you here. Let’s go sit by the fire and unwind. How about a brandy, just a little one since you have to drive, Gib?”
Predictably a chorus of “not for me” came from the Hills.
Niles spied the bottle in question and headed for it. “Go settle in,” he said and waited until they had straggled out before pouring two glasses.
Did it go over ice?
Damn, he thought he had all these little things down years ago.
The refrigerator was old and rattled. He found ice trays in a little metal box fixed to the inside at the top.
It would be better to forget the ice than to risk raised eyebrows if it wasn’t used. Niles noticed several pieces of raw steak on a plate with plastic wrap over the top. He glanced over his shoulder, then touched it. Leigh wouldn’t care about a little bit of meat.
He shook himself. She’s got a dog, fool. It’s for Jazzy.
With a glass in each hand, Niles joined the others. The scent of burning cedar, the flames, the sparks from the logs, pleased him, and he wished it were an outdoor fire with just him and Leigh sitting close beside it.
“Where’s Jazzy?” he asked suddenly, giving Leigh one of the glasses.
Leigh turned that interesting splotchy pink of hers. “With Gabriel,” she said. “Thanks for pouring the brandy.”
“Who is Jazzy?” Gib asked.
When Leigh didn’t answer, Niles decided she didn’t like having her dog brushed off like a nonentity—a sentiment he wholly agreed with. “He’s the same dog he always was,” he said lightly and added a little chuckle. “A dog is a girl’s best friend.”
“You don’t have a dog,” Gib told her.
The way Jan’s laced fingers turned white bothered Niles.
“I do,” Leigh said. “He’s a sweetie. But I know you don’t like dogs so I got my boss to keep him overnight.”
Niles wanted to laugh. This guy didn’t know real dogs—big, powerful dogs who could snap him in half.
“When did you get a dog?” Gib said.
“I’ve had Jazzy a year,” Leigh said. “And before you ask why you haven’t seen him, it’s for the same reason he isn’t here tonight. He’s a cute guy, Jan, you’d love him. Remember—”
“Toughy?” Jan said before Leigh could finish. The woman’s sudden wide smile transformed her. For the first time Niles could see the likenesses between the sisters. “You know I do. Our buddy.”
“She wasn’t very big but she was lionhearted,” Leigh told Niles. “And she was the best company. She came everywhere with us.”
“I’d love to meet your Jazzy,” Jan said. “Please keep him home next time we come.”
“Or better yet,” Gib said, not meeting anyone’s eyes, “bring him on over to Camano. We’re going to be there for a few months and that’s something we came to talk about, isn’t it, Jan?”
With an anxious giggle, Jan said, “Yes. Come to Camano with us and stay there. Gib has his patients in Seattle so he’s busy all the time and—”
“Just spit it out,” Gib said, shaking his head. He picked at the thick, comfortable covering on his chair and his distaste showed. “We want you to come to us. Forget all this stupidity about being on your own over here. You don’t have anything to prove. We know you’re strong and there isn’t anyone else to impress.”
Ass. The brandy wasn’t so bad. Niles had grown quite accustomed to the taste of beer—even liked it since they got the occasional bottle in Iraq—but he hadn’t tried much other alcohol since he had been changed.
Leigh was taking a long time to respond. Her mouth was in a rigid line.
“It’s lonely over here and we don’t want to be worrying about you all the time,” Gib said, all gentle sympathy. “You need your own things around you. You need a safe place with people who love you, a safe place to grieve.”
This time Leigh looked straight at Gib and said, “I’ve got all my things around me. Chris left this house and everything in it to me, rememb
er? He made sure I would be comfortable until I was on my feet again. I’m here for my own sake, to find my own feet and get on with my life. The way Chris would have wanted. I’ll always miss him and in a way he’ll always be with me. But I’m moving on. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’ve got a job here.”
Niles got up and put logs on both fires.
“That would irritate the hell out of me,” Gib said. “Two fires.”
“Two fires for Two Chimneys,” Jan said and laughed a little nervously. “I’ve always thought it was cute, whimsical. I love whimsical things.”
“Insecure people often do,” her husband said. He shook his head and held a hand toward her. “I don’t mean you’re insecure, darling. That was a general comment.”
Gib patted his wife’s hand but turned to Leigh. “You don’t need a job. As you just said, Chris left you very well off and you’ve done great for yourself. This move makes no sense. Come to us.”
“You’re kind, Gib, but, no.”
Forcing himself up with his hands on the arms of the chair, Gib stood and went closer to Leigh. “We’d like to take you back with us tonight.”
Leigh’s lips parted and she stared at her brother-in-law.
“I expect you need time to think about it,” Jan said. She swallowed repeatedly, her throat jerking. “See how it goes, huh?”
“That’s not what we both know is right,” Gib said. “This woman is a mess and she’s doing this stupid thing to try to get a hold of herself. I’ll—”
“What did you just say?” Niles asked. He heard his own voice, dropped dangerously low and took a breath. “Leigh? A mess? She is one of the most in-control people I’ve ever met. Ask Gabriel—her boss. She’s already running that place of his like it was never run before.”
“Some sleazy little bar in the back of beyond,” Gib said. “Do you have any idea what a good mind Leigh has? She can’t be allowed to waste herself up here.”
“I guess she’ll do what she decides to do,” Niles said. He shouldn’t be interfering but Leigh didn’t have her own cheering squad, which she deserved. He could do a pretty good job of filling in.
“Thank you for the lovely dinner,” Jan said, checking her watch. “I haven’t even unpacked my suitcase so we’d better get back. I was in California… on retreat.”
An understanding glance passed between Leigh and Jan.
“Anyway, I want to get unpacked and sleep before I’m so tired I can’t sleep at all. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She got up and put a hand under her husband’s arm.
He reached forward with the same arm, severing the contact, and picked up a wrapped package on the bentwood table between the chairs. “Maybe Jan’s right. She usually is. We shouldn’t rush you, Leigh. But I do know what’s best for you, just as I do for Jan. You know that. This is for you.”
“What is it?” Leigh asked.
“Open it.”
She did, pulling off a red ribbon and peeling away white tissue. It was a framed photo but Niles couldn’t see who was in it.
Leigh swallowed and her stare at Gib was accusatory. “How did you get this? It was in my apartment.”
With no sign of embarrassment, he said, “Of course it was. As soon as I heard you’d left I decided I should go by and check from time to time to make sure everything’s okay. When I saw that I figured you forgot to take it with you.”
Scratching at the door annoyed Niles. He tried to ignore it but automatically opened his channel of communication to Sean. “This isn’t a good time,” he told his friend. “We’ve got big trouble. Company we weren’t expecting. Someone’s using a zombie woodsman to make a point.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw it, for God’s sake. It attacked Leigh.”
Niles felt Sean’s mind race around. “Let’s go deal with it.”
“Not now. We’ll talk tomorrow,” Niles told him.
“I’ve been around since Leigh’s guests arrived,” Sean said. “The guy’s an ass. You sure you don’t need a little backup?”
“No, I—” Niles rethought what he’d been about to say. “I’m going to let you in. Behave.” He went and opened the door.
“Oh, my god,” Gib said, and took a step backward. “Don’t let that in here.”
“This is my dog,” Niles said.
Leigh held the picture against her chest with her arms crossed over it but when she saw Blue her eyes sparkled. The girl had more than a little mischief in her soul.
“Blue, come on in and meet Leigh’s family. Be on your best behavior now.”
Blue slid into the room, glancing from side to side with narrowed eyes. When he did that he looked more werewolf than werehound.
“Look at him,” Jan said. She stood in front of Blue and looked into his face. “You are so beautiful. I’ve never seen such a beautiful dog, have you, Leigh?”
He’s going to be insufferable, Niles thought.
“Who, me?” Sean gave a doggy grin.
“Lie in the corner over there,” Niles said aloud, considering ways to get back at Sean. “And not a sound out of you.”
Blue let out a low, pitiful whimper and Jan wrapped her arms around his neck. Niles couldn’t believe it, and the way Blue rested his big head on the woman’s shoulder ensured there would be a lot of conversation about this stunt later.
“Let’s go,” Gib said. He snatched up his jacket from the arm of a couch and tossed Jan her raincoat. “Get away from that thing. He looks wild to me.”
Jan kissed the top of Blue’s head and the dog managed to look blissful. He licked Jan’s hand.
Gib already had the front door open and he hurried Jan onto the porch. “We’ll be in touch,” he told Leigh. “Think about all of this and you’ll know what you have to do,” he said significantly.
The door closed and they were gone, just like that. Only a couple of minutes passed before the engine of the Hills’ car sprang to life and their tires spurted gravel on the way up the hill and away from the house.
“I am so sorry,” Leigh said. She frowned miserably. “Gib can be difficult but I didn’t expect that.”
Diplomacy demanded he say little or nothing. Niles opted for nothing, just a sympathetic downward tilt of the lips.
“Could you stay and let us drink this brandy finally?” she said. “Or is it too late?”
Nine-thirty was early but he didn’t say that. “Maybe you need to be alone. You’ve just been through a lot.” He wanted to ask to see the photo but restrained himself.
“So has my sister,” she said quietly. “But there’s only so much I can do about that now.”
He nodded.
“Forget I said that. It’s none of my business. Jan surely thinks you’re something, Blue.” She rubbed between his ears. “So do I. You make me feel safe. I guess to know you is to love you.”
Great. “Are you having a good time, Sean?”
“You should be glad she feels good around me, boss. That could be really good for you. Her sister’s cute.”
“She’s married.”
“Yup. Dammit. She’s Leigh’s twin. How much do you bet she’s got the same blood?”
“Blue and I should get out of here,” Niles said to Leigh. “I’ve got an early job tomorrow.” That was true.
The disappointment in her expression didn’t hurt his feelings. Before he considered what he was doing, he had touched her temple and let his fingertips travel down the side of her face. “You handled everything really well tonight. Thanks for dinner.”
“It was a horrible evening.” She touched her face where he had stroked it. “I won’t blame you for never speaking to me again.”
“I’d blame me.” There were things a man didn’t forget, including the way it felt to kiss a woman with soft, full lips. He wanted to kiss Leigh. “Now lock this door.”
“Thanks,” she said, and he herded Blue out into the cold night.
He felt and heard her come after him and turned back. “What is it? You okay?” Before he had t
ime to take a second step in her direction, Leigh barreled into him. Niles caught her against him. “Are you frightened?”
“This feels strange, but it feels right, too,” Leigh said. “We haven’t known each other long but you make me sure I’m safe, and I know I’ve got a friend who’ll be there for me.”
Standing on tiptoe, she kissed his jaw and wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around his neck.
This was as close to walking a tightrope as Niles ever hoped to come. A man could hear what he wanted to hear in a woman’s words. Misinterpretation would be a deadly mistake.
“I like being here for you. Remember, all you have to do is call, as the song goes.” He laughed but the sound was hollow.
Her upturned face seemed all eyes. She looked at him as if she were taking a picture for her memory. Then she smiled slowly.
He kissed her on those soft, upturned lips; he couldn’t help it. And as his tingling skin met hers his own mouth started to open. His arms did their own thing, closing around her tightly, but carefully.
Even through layers of clothing he could feel her breasts against him. Could he risk letting her know he wanted to make love to her?
Not until she knew what he was, dammit.
It was too soon.
He took his mouth from hers, then landed a small, hard, rapid kiss, a severing kiss, and he spun her away from him. “I want to hear you lock that door.”
chapter SIXTEEN
CONFUSION SHOULDN’T feel so good.
The door was locked according to orders but Leigh couldn’t move away yet. She settled her hands on the wooden panels, cold all the way through from having been open to the weather, and set her mind to sorting out her impressions of Niles. Of Niles and the way he did or didn’t feel about her.
The kiss wasn’t really over when he drew away.
Leigh’s heart beat hard. She hadn’t wanted him to stop.
Neither had he. Everything about him had let her know he wanted much more but was holding back. She faced the room. The man was a mystery and although she didn’t like playing games, she thought she could get addicted to sorting out the puzzle that was Niles Latimer.
He was trying to give her more time to decide what she wanted, she was almost sure of it. The big question was, how did she let him know without pushing? They seemed to have a lot in common, one thing being that they were super-sensitive about other people’s feelings.
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