His initial reaction was to storm back into the bedroom and demand that she return the items, but he knew she’d deny taking anything. She was a pro. A grifter. No, he needed to outsmart her. Beat her at her own game.
Even if that meant breaking her heart.
Chapter Six
Alice lay on the bed and wondered what just happened? Jack wanted to make love to her. She didn’t doubt that, but something had made him withdraw. Could it be that he still didn’t trust her? When was he going to move beyond all that?
Her lips still tingled from his kisses, and her skin burned from his touch. She wanted him so badly her body ached. So this is love? Agony and ecstasy all rolled into one. She’d never felt this part of love before…the physical part. After all, when she’d been engaged to Tom, good girls didn’t do things like that. They saved themselves for marriage. And he’d been taken from her before… She stopped herself from traveling down that road again. It was Tom’s doing that she’d been given this miracle. He wanted her to experience love again, so she’d better not dwell on the past, especially since she didn’t have much time left.
She buttoned her blouse, then sat up, her hair falling around her shoulders in tangles. She must look a mess. As she went over to the dresser and grabbed a brush, the front door closed. Jack had left. Her ragged emotions turned to hurt…and anger. How dare he do that to her? Walk out like that, with little to no explanation, when she’d been ready to give herself to him. Well, next time, if there was one, it would take a lot more than a kiss to get her back into bed.
She brushed her hair into a ponytail, not caring that she yanked through the snarls as she did so. These feelings were foreign to her. She wished she had someone to talk to. Someone to help her sort them out. Her gaze scanned the room, hoping to see the flutter of gossamer wings, but the angel didn’t appear, and she was left to simmer alone.
A short while later, she went into the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea, hoping a cup would help her relax. While she waited for the water to boil, the telephone rang. There was no one she wanted to talk to, unless it was Jack calling to apologize for his running out on her.
She picked up after four rings.
“Hi, Ally. It’s Ross. I was wondering, if you don’t have any plans for Christmas, would you have dinner with me? I really enjoyed your company this afternoon and would love to see you again.”
She couldn’t help but be flattered by his invitation. After all, he was a very attractive man. A man who didn’t judge her like Jack did. It was just too bad she didn’t get that tingle of excitement for Ross like she did for Jack. Her initial reaction was to turn him down, but then a wild thought occurred to her. Why not see if she could make Jack jealous? A little bit of competition just might be what was needed to make him realize how much he cared for her. “Why don’t you come here, Ross? Christmas dinner is always better at home than in a restaurant.”
“I’d love to. Thanks.”
“It’s the big blue Victorian at 117 Main Street. Be here at two thirty.” Ally hung up the phone with a smile on her face. Tomorrow should prove very interesting.
* * *
“Baby, we’re still in the game.” Daryn picked Cassie up and swung her around the hotel room.
A smile of delight curved her full lips. “So she took the bait?”
“Hook, line, and sinker. Now all I have to do is reel her in.”
“What’s my part tomorrow?” she asked eagerly.
Her role was to stay far away from Ally. He couldn’t run the risk that her temper would get the best of her and she’d say something she shouldn’t. Or that she’d steal something else from the house. She’d nearly ruined everything as it was. He wasn’t about to give her another chance to mess things up. “I think it’s best if I do this phase alone.” He put her down, and she dug her heels into the carpet.
“Really? You think so? And you came to that conclusion without consulting me?” There was no missing how her mood had veered sharply to anger.
“Look, I can see where this conversation is heading, and I’m not going there. I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Then maybe you should have talked to me first before you decided how things would work. I thought we were partners. And partners discuss everything,” she spat.
“I do discuss everything with you. Most of the time.”
“Well, most of the time isn’t good enough. If you can’t commit to me one hundred percent, I’m done.” She left him standing in the middle of the room and snatched her purse from the bed. “I’m outta here. You can do this one alone and all the rest too, for all I care.”
“Whoa.” He grabbed her arm before she reached the door. “You’re not going anywhere. I need you.”
“Need isn’t enough.”
“I want you.” He spun her around so that she faced him. “I love you.” Before she could say a word, he brought his mouth down on hers.
She resisted at first but opened her mouth to his persistent kisses and relaxed against him. He ran his hands down her voluptuous body. A heat raged through him, but this wasn’t the time to let his lower region do his thinking. No, he had to use his head. He had to make her understand why he needed to spend time alone with Ally. There had to be a large amount of money in that house, and he was going to do whatever it took to find it. If Cassie went with him, he’d never be able to do that.
“Listen, babe. This has to be done my way, not because I don’t value your input, but this can be a big score, and we can’t blow it. I can get the job done fast; then we can get out of this town. But you’ve got to trust me.” He held her gaze and looked deep into her eyes.
“Ahhh, I don’t know. You haven’t given me many reasons to believe you, let alone trust you. And with another woman…a good-looking one too. I’m not stupid.”
“I know that. But you have to let the past go and believe me when I tell you tomorrow is strictly business. I don’t feel anything for Ally. She’s just a means to an end. A very lucrative end. And one that could put some diamonds here.” He touched her earlobe; then he lifted her ring finger on her left hand and kissed it.
A soft gasp escaped her. “A-are you sa-saying what I th-think you are?”
He hadn’t planned to propose. It just sort of slipped out of his mouth, yet he wasn’t sorry that he had. If it meant keeping Cassie, it’d be worth it. Besides, he wasn’t getting any younger. He might have had his one-night stands, but Cassie had his heart. Always would. Why not take the plunge and make their relationship permanent?
He put his arms around her waist. “So whaddya say? Will you have me for your husband?”
Her vivid eyes opened wide and brimmed with emotion. “Are you kidding? Yes! Yes! Of course. I can’t believe you just asked me to marry you.”
“Believe it, baby. We’re partners in every way. And if things go according to plan, you’ll have a ring by the New Year.”
She held up her hand and studied her fingers. “A big round sparkly one that people will stare at with envy.”
“Only the best for my girl.” He walked her toward the bed. Tonight they had lots to celebrate.
* * *
Jack wrapped Alice’s yellow-and-white-striped apron around his waist, then tied it snugly behind his back. He always wore it when he cooked dinner for her. Alice thought he looked cute, but after last night, he wasn’t sure Ally would mimic her aunt’s sentiments. He opened the oven door to peek at the turkey roasting inside.
“How’s it look?”
He started when Ally came up behind him. She peered over his shoulder. Her hair brushed his neck, and her warm breath tickled his ear. A fire shot through him as hot as the oven, and it disgusted him that he still had such a hard time resisting her. After discovering the statue missing last night, he’d dialed the police three times but had hung up each time before getting an answer. He had no proof that she’d done anything wrong, so what would he say? That he suspected she was a grifter? Where was the evidence? He couldn’t prove th
at she’d stolen the tin angel and the statue. He couldn’t prove that Alice wasn’t staying in upstate New York. All he could do for now was stay on guard, watch her closely, and hope that she would make a mistake that would give him the proof he needed. As long as his emotions didn’t get the best of him.
“We should be ready to eat in about an hour.” He closed the oven door and turned to face her.
She tugged on the apron. “I like this on you. You look cute.”
Her choice of words made him raise his brows in surprise. If he didn’t know better, he’d think it was Alice here in the kitchen with him. “Thank you. Alice always thought so too.”
She looked away, and a warning signal shot through him. Had she done something she regretted?
“You should stick around here after Alice gets back. Get to know her better.” He kissed the side of her neck, inhaling the citrus aroma of her perfume. “Get to know me better.”
“That I’d like, but I’m afraid I’ll have to get home. Work and all…” She still avoided his gaze.
There was more to her not wanting to extend her stay here than she was letting on. “Something’s been bothering me since last night,” he said, watching her closely.
Her cheeks reddened. “Obviously. You left just as we were about to make love…”
A painful knot twisted inside him. He’d hurt her…and owed her an explanation, but what was he going to say? Last night I didn’t want to break your heart. Now I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary for Alice’s sake. Instead, he draped his arm across her shoulders and simply said, “I’m sorry. That’ll never happen again.”
He walked with her into the foyer, stopping at the marble table. “Alice kept a statue of Venus, right here.” He pointed to the spot where the statue used to sit. “And now it’s gone. Do you know what might have happened to it?”
“No.” The color drained from her face, and her eyes glazed with tears.
A heaviness centered in his chest. She’d taken it, just as he’d feared. Guilt was written all over her, and the tears were because she’d been caught. He needed to press her. Get her to confess. “What do you suppose happened to it? It was here just the other day.”
“I know. I don’t know how it could be gone.” Her lips trembled.
His instinct was to take her in his arms, but he couldn’t do that. He had to remain detached. “Where could it be, then?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. I need to find it, though. It was a gift from my moth—Alice’s mother.”
She ran into the parlor and stood in front of the Christmas tree, mumbling under her breath. Something weird was going on. She’d almost said it was a gift from her mother, before correcting herself and saying Alice’s. And not too long ago, she’d almost referred to Jasper as her cat. On top of everything else, could she be delusional too?
He put his arms around her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. “It’s okay,” he whispered against her hair. “Relax. We’ll find it. A statue can’t just disappear into thin air.” He would deal with the missing Venus later. This obviously wasn’t the time to press her.
She sucked in a deep breath, then said, “You’re right. It’s got to be around here somewhere. Besides, I’m not going to let it spoil the holiday.” A slight smile curved her luscious lips as she left his arms and reached under the Christmas tree for a small red foil box, then pressed it into his palm.
She had to have gotten it at Miller’s, where he’d gotten hers, and that could mean only one thing. Expensive. “Ally, you really shouldn’t have—”
“Don’t be silly,” she interrupted. “As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it for you. Besides, we’re friends, and friends exchange Christmas gifts.”
He tore open the wrapping. Inside he found a black velvet box similar to the one he’d given her, only this one was larger, quite a bit so. He sighed inwardly. Just how much money had she spent? He opened the box. A glistening gold key chain with a treble clef charm shone brightly against the black satin lining.
For a moment he didn’t know what to say. This had to have cost a lot more than the charm he’d given to her. It was so much larger. Guilt pressed hard against his chest. You didn’t just give a gift like this unless the person meant something special. She really did care for him. But where did she get the money for such a gift? Was fashion merchandising that lucrative? Or maybe she’d come into money by some other means…by stealing from the unsuspecting elderly.
Oh no, Alice please don’t tell me you kept your life’s savings stuffed in shoeboxes in yourcloset. When she’d told him a few months ago that was where she hid her money, he’d made her promise to consider putting it in the bank, but he knew how stubborn she could be. Ally was watching him closely, so he forced a smile.
“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” she asked
“No, no. I love it. It’s beautiful, but way too expensive. I can’t accept it.” He held it out to her.
Her lovely gray eyes clouded over and turned dark with disappointment. She pushed his hand away. “Nonsense. Money doesn’t matter to me. Besides, I haven’t got much else to spend it on anyway.”
What an odd thing to say! Especially coming from a beautiful young woman with a keen eye for fashion. She must have noticed his furrowed brow, for she offered up an explanation.
“I live at home with my parents, remember. I have very little in expenses, so I can be extravagant sometimes. Please don’t make me feel bad about this.”
The sincerity in her voice struck him. Boy, she was good. Much better than he’d thought. She could lie without batting an eye. Well, there was only one thing for him to do—up his game.
“Thank you.” He spun her into his arms, crushing her to him, then he pressed his mouth to hers. Last night he’d gone home before things went too far, but he wasn’t going to think twice about making love to her today. He wasn’t above using sex as a weapon, if that would get her to tell him the truth. However, the loud buzz of the kitchen timer indicated it wasn’t going to be now.
* * *
Alice stood in the parlor and stared at the Christmas tree while Jack put the finishing touches on dinner. She didn’t doubt that he was very attracted to her, but he was still suspicious of her—probably even more so since discovering her Venus statue missing. And rightly so. What in the world could have happened to it?
“I’m only waiting on you.”
She spun around at the sound of his voice. He took hold of her hand and led her from the room. The aromas coming from the kitchen made her mouth water, but he pulled her past, stopping at the dining room.
“I hope you don’t mind eating in here.”
The table was set with her finest china. A bottle of wine served as the centerpiece, and, adding to the ambiance, “White Christmas” played on the stereo.
“Mind? You’re amazing, Jack. I love it.”
“Good. I did it all for you.”
He took her in his arms and danced with her. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, moving effortlessly to his lead. The telephone’s ringing broke the magic.
“Maybe it’s Alice calling to say Merry Christmas.” There was no mistaking the hopeful gleam in his eyes.
“Maybe.” She headed for the foyer with a feeling of dread. Whoever it was would no doubt put a damper on her day.
She lifted the receiver reluctantly, wishing she could just let the phone keep ringing. “Hello.”
“Is this Alice’s niece?”
She knew the caller immediately. Pastor Riley! Her heart thundered against the wall of her chest. “Yes.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner, but I’ve been meaning to call, and it keeps slipping my mind, so I figured I’d better do it now before I forget again. How’s Alice? Is she enjoying New York?”
“Yes.”
“Good to hear… Good to hear… Every year she volunteers at our rummage sale at the church. It’s the one time she gets out with people, and since she’s not here, I w
as hoping you’d fill in.”
Alice squeezed her eyes shut. They always held the rummage sale the Saturday after Christmas. That was tomorrow. No, no, no. She couldn’t. Everyone at church knew her.
“I know it’s short notice,” the pastor continued, “but even just an hour or two would help us tremendously. We’re shorthanded.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think—”
“Now don’t say no. You’re probably afraid you’ll feel awkward not knowing anyone, but that’s not the case. Jack’ll be there. He signed up a while back.”
“Jack?”
“What about me?” He came up from behind her and put his arms around her waist.
She wondered how long he’d been standing there. She hadn’t heard him approach.
“Is that Alice?” he asked, putting his ear next to the phone. “Merry Christmas.”
Alice clamped her hand over the receiver. “It’s not Alice. It’s Pastor Riley. He’s calling about the rummage sale.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s tomorrow. You’ve got to come. It’ll be fun, and you’ll get to meet lots of great people.”
“I-I wouldn’t know what to do. I’d feel out of place.”
“Don’t be silly. I won’t take no for an answer.” He slipped the phone out of her hand and spoke into the mouthpiece. “Merry Christmas, Pastor. Ally will be there. She’s coming with me.”
Jack hung up the phone and spun her around to face him. “Good thing the pastor called. I’d forgotten I was scheduled to work. Guess I had other things on my mind.” He grinned and kissed her cheek.
In spite of her misery, she forced a smile. It would only make matters worse if Jack knew how much she dreaded going. She wouldn’t worry about the rummage sale now. She’d push those thoughts to the back of her mind and try to concentrate on having a wonderful day with Jack. She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She brought her mouth up to meet his, letting his intoxicating kisses erase her worry. She lost herself in his embrace and relaxed against him, savoring the feel of his strong arms around her waist and his thigh against hers. He undid the buttons on her blouse, and the soft material fell open, exposing her bra. He ran his fingers over the lacy material, and her nipples hardened at his touch. Forget dinner. And forget her hurt and anger from last night. She wouldn’t mind at all if he wanted to make love to her right now.
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