by Judi Nolan
Kate found the path to Spencer's house easily enough, a well-worn trail that snaked up the hill through the stands of moon shadowed trees. A cheeky pair of tiny birds with beautifully fanned tail feathers flew down to accompany her, chattering and darting overhead as she hurried along.
The path finally ended in extensively fenced paddocks. In the moonlit darkness she could see horses inside the enclosures. A few whickered softly as she hurried along the path that skirted the paddocks.
The house itself looked to be quite old. It stood on an up-land of flat ground. Built of mellow, honey colored stone, single storied, sprawling and solid, it appeared to be part of the landscape around it. Kate was enchanted. She'd had been expecting something plainer, perhaps more masculine and functional. Her footfalls echoed on weathered planking as she stepped up onto the wide, elegant veranda that embraced the house. Somewhere beyond the house a night bird called, a sad and lonely sound.
Lobo lay sprawled across the front door mat, his head on his paws. He rolled his eyes as Kate stepped cautiously around him, but he didn't move. The front door jerked open as she reached up to knock.
"You really were in the bath. Damn, I'm sorry about that." Spencer's gaze flicked over her damp hair. He stood in the doorway, wearing jeans and a black cotton shirt. His face looked tired and drawn. "Thank you for coming at such short notice. I really appreciate your helping out like this."
There were faint shadows beneath his eyes, no longer shielded by his glasses. His dark hair was again disordered, as if he'd been running his fingers through it. The stark look of strain and worry in his expression made Kate's heart contract with concern.
That odd shiver rippled once more through her senses, stirring up doubts. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth. Now that she was here, she really felt like running away again. She was becoming too deeply involved with this man and his son and there could be absolutely no future in it.
Don't be stupid, it's an emergency. She forced her thoughts away from the need to comfort Spencer and back onto the practical reasons for her arrival.
"It's the least I could do," she said, slipping off her sandals.
Spencer stood back. Lobo got up, stretched and yawned before following them inside.
Kate looked around. "Where is your aunt? Can I do anything for her?"
"She's resting." Spencer's mouth turned down. "There's nothing more we can do. I have her lying down with a blanket and a pillow on the back seat of my truck. She hates ambulances and she won't listen to reason."
He shook his head. "She insists she's fine. I'm afraid Greek women are taught to suffer in silence and Alexia is a very stubborn old woman. She's still trying to get up and walk away. I finally persuaded her to take some analgesic and lie down."
Looking into his face, Kate could see that same inflexible streak reflected in his angry eyes and set expression. For a moment he appeared to be overwhelmingly Greek. An arrogantly stubborn and dominating man determined to have his own inflexible way in everything, despite anyone's objections.
The thought sent an unwelcome ripple of awareness feathering down her spine. Another very good reason why she should be backing well away from this troubled situation right now. This man would always demand what he wanted and she had no way to give.
She took an involuntary step backwards. "But, you think there's something more she's not telling you?"
"Yes. She's trying to hide it, but I know she's in considerable pain. At first I thought she'd fractured her hip."
"How did it happen?"
Spencer led the way further into the house. "She tripped over the cat as she was cleaning up after making dinner. Despite her protests, I've examined her thoroughly and there's extensive bruising over her hip, so we really ought to exclude a possible fracture. And having lost consciousness, she needs to be on neuro observation for the next twenty four hours."
"Of course, hospital rest is the only choice for her. If she stayed here, she's likely to do more damage to her hip by attempting to handle her normal routine. Can you convince her to stay in hospital?"
"Alexia thinks I'm making too much of this. She'll fight me all the way." Spencer's mouth drew tight. "But, I'll win in the end. I have to."
"Good luck," Kate offered tightly. "Let me know if there's anything more I can do."
Despite her resolve to keep away from this man, she had to curb the desire to reach out and touch him. Sooth the lines of worry from his creased forehead, put her arms around him and assure him everything would be all right.
Instead she pushed her hands behind her back, out of temptation's way. The desire to run and the need to stay set up a painful pounding within her chest.
Spencer grimaced. "I just need to get through tonight. Then I can reassess things in the morning. Taking Jamie to the hospital isn't an option. He has a dislike of such places and he's been upset enough already. I rang around and got nobody, so I was at my wit's end. Until I thought of you."
His stormy blue eyes studied her upturned face. "I'm grateful you came. I really won't forget it."
"It's fine, really." Kate somehow managed the lie. Feeling her cheeks beginning to heat, she licked at her lips, stepping quickly away from his overwhelming nearness. She didn't want his gratitude; it drew then inexorably closer together onto dangerous ground.
"Where's Jamie?" She moved quickly away towards the open doorway of a large, comfortable looking lounge.
"In his room. He should be in bed asleep, but he's too upset. I'll call him before I go. I'll be as quick as I can. But Alexia will put up a good fight to come straight home. It could take a while to convince her she must remain in hospital, stay in bed and let other people take care of her for a change."
"Take as long as you need." She quickly turned back to him. "Jamie and I will be fine. I'll keep him occupied by getting him to show me where everything is. Don't worry."
"He's had something to eat." He told her. "If I'm held up, just pick a bedroom. There's plenty to choose from."
No way! Kate caught her breath.
She wasn't planning on sleeping over. She couldn't allow herself to become involved in Spencer's personal life. But then she hadn't planned on being here at all.
She pushed her hands into the pockets of her jeans. She'd made the commitment to stay as long as Spencer and his son needed her. And she couldn't back out now when Jamie's small boy's world had been tipped upside down.
She shrugged. "Then, I guess, if I'm still here in the morning, I can make us breakfast. You'll have enough to worry about."
"I'll try and be back early enough for you to go home." Spencer ran a hand up around the back of his neck. "I don't want to keep you up. You have another full day ahead of you tomorrow." He gave an impatient roll of his shoulders. "I must get going. I'll tie the dog up and fetch Jamie."
Kate stared after him as he hurried away down the wide hallway towards the back of the house, taking Lobo with him. She wondered if he was saying he didn't want her there for breakfast. It left her with an oddly hollow feeling inside.
Foolishness, she thought, shaking her head.
The lounge was a wide, airy room with a huge open fireplace. One wall was dedicated to photographs and prints of horses. Drawn by curiosity, she moved over to study them. They were mainly pictures of thoroughbreds, and there were many champions. She shook her head. Another side to the distracting puzzle Spencer Stelanos was turning out to be.
"Jamie has homework." Spencer reappeared with his son close behind him. "Some reading he needs to complete but he was too upset to do it before. It's in here." He dropped a brightly colored cloth bag onto the nearest chair. "He can show you."
"I'm sure we can manage that." Kate assured him. "Hello, Jamie."
"Hi." The boy nodded, clutching his father's hand.
Spencer went down on one knee beside the child. "I have to go. I need to get Alexia to the hospital. Kate has come over to stay with you. I'll be home as quickly as I can."
"You'll make Thea Alexia
get well again?" Jamie's little hand settled on his father's broad shoulder. "Then she can come home?"
"I think I can manage that." Spencer gave his son a quick hug before he straightened again. "Now, look after Kate. She'll need your help to find her way around."
"Go on, we can manage." Kate encouraged him, seeing him linger in the doorway. She could do without his watchful presence.
"Thanks," he replied, before heading quickly out of the room.
Kate looked after him for a moment, before dropping her eyes to his son's worried face. "All this excitement has made me hungry. How about if we find some of those cookies you said you liked?" She remained where she was, allowing the boy to make his own decisions.
"Thea Alexia doesn't let me have any cookies." His dark eyes regarded her solemnly.
"I see. Well, we don't want to break any of your aunt's rules. How about when you went over to Elle's? You said she let you have cookies sometimes."
"Yes," Jamie replied doubtfully, his small face frowning. "But, this isn't Auntie Elle's house. This is my house."
His words of small boy logic encouraged a fresh smile onto her lips. Her feeling of tension melted away. It was going to be all right. She could manage one night.
"Then, I think we might pretend. But just for tonight." She tilted her head. "I don't think it would hurt if we played a little game."
"Okay." Jamie nodded slowly. "Auntie Ellie used to let me camp out in her lounge sometimes too. Can we camp out tonight?"
"Camping out sounds like fun." Kate swallowed against the sudden lump settling in her throat.
Jamie looked sweet and adorable as he caught his bottom lip between his small teeth. It was all she could do not to sweep him up into her arms and hug him. But that level of caring made her feel too vulnerable. "How about we go on a kitchen raid first? We'll need some milk. If we're having cookies."
"I like strawberry milk." Jamie's dark eyes rounded. He moved forward to take Kate's outstretched hand. "Then we have to read my book. Papa said so. It's my homework."
"I think we can fit some reading in after our raid." Kate curled her fingers around his small hand. "We can camp out in the middle of the lounge and then you can read to me."
"You have to say all the big words." He led her into a large, well appointed kitchen. "Then I get to say them after you."
"I think I can manage a few big words."
She looked around the huge kitchen. The large rust colored slate tiles patterning the floor were cool beneath her bare feet. Pots and pans gleamed brightly from their various hooks around the walls. The wide windowsill overlooking the extensive gardens at the back of the house was filled with pots and tubs containing many different kinds of fragrant herbs.
There was a warm Mediterranean charm about the whole room, but her sense of welcome was fleeting. For a brief moment she felt almost as if she belonged here. But within a heartbeat her ancient jeans and old sweat top began to make her feel like an intruder against the determined order and neatness of the room.
She grimaced at the confusing idea. She was here to help. To keep one small boy's thoughts off his own troubles. Too bad if she didn't quite match the elegant décor.
"Okay. You'll have to help me, Jamie. Where do you think those cookies could be hidden?"
"We don't have any cookies," he told her with a frown. "Thea Alexia says they're bad for my teeth."
"What, truly you don't have any cookies?" She stared down at him. "Surely a growing boy like you loves cookies?"
"Yes, but, only at Auntie Elle's."
His logic was impeccable, she thought wryly.
An idea crept into her mind. A thought that she should have banished immediately, leave well enough alone. But an underlying sense of justice asserted itself.
"Did I ever tell you that I'm the best cookie maker in the whole world?"
"No..." Jamie replied slowly, his wide dark eyes fixed doubtfully on her face. "Are you?"
"Would I lie to you?" She raised her eyebrows. "I think it's about time you found out just how good I am. Come on, before your Papa comes home and catches us out in our plans and makes a scene. We've got a lot of work to do tonight."
Before she lost her nerve all together.
CHAPTER FIVE
Spencer stepped out of his four wheel drive and stretched his body towards the full moon before opening the back door to a silent house. Weariness weighed down heavily on every one of his limbs.
The night had been very long with Alexia fighting him all the way. And she'd come close to winning. His aunt had been more resistant to remaining in hospital that he'd expected. It had taken a great deal of precious time to convince her to stay and allow herself be taken care of. It had also taken all his energy.
Thankfully the x-rays of her hip had shown no evidence of fractures. But there was severe bruising and she'd also sustained a mild concussion from hitting her head.
He was aware it was now well after four in the morning. He hoped Kate had enough sense to put Jamie to bed and get some sleep herself. The thought that she could still be out of bed—waiting for him to come home—stirred something within him he was not going to acknowledge, let alone identify.
He reminded himself that theirs needed to be a professional relationship. Pure and simple. It was safer that way.
Any personal relationship was the last thing he needed to get involved in. Even if it had been over three years since he'd been out on a date. Been close to a woman in any truly intimate sense, shared his innermost thoughts or feelings.
"Don't even go there." He blew a long sigh towards the ceiling. "It wouldn't work."
He still had Jamie to consider. His son must come first in his life, always. But the boy also needed a mother, a woman much younger than Alexia who could care for him as he grew into a man. But no woman he knew would want a marriage that Spencer needed, one kept strictly on a business footing instead of a warm intimate joining of two people who would share everything.
A woman who would want a relationship like that simply didn't exist. But the need remained like an unanswered question in the back of his mind. What if…
His mouth thinned as he considered Kate's unusual facial likeness to his ex-wife. He'd loved Katerina once with all his heart. Past tense, but forgetting what they'd had together wasn't easy. Maybe the faded memory of that love explained his new state of turmoil, this odd need to seek out Kate Martin's company and care what she thought of him. The temptation to mold their mutual awareness into something they could work on together was a disruptive distraction.
His past was stirring to life every time he looked at Kate and felt something he didn't want to acknowledge. She stirred his body in disturbing ways he had thought were long dormant.
"Or maybe you're too tired to make sense of anything right now." Flexing his shoulders, he decided on strong black coffee. Opening the door to the kitchen, he crossed the room, switching on the light above the sink, before reaching for the kettle.
Something out of the ordinary caught and arrested his attention. The room was filled with the mouth-watering scents of fresh baking. He inhaled deeply, savoring the delicious smell.
He looked around the room. His aunt took fierce pride in keeping her kitchen in strictly regimented order. Everything had its assigned place.
Now, the sweetly scented room possessed the rakish air of general disorder and upheaval. Things had been moved and three trays of freshly baked cookies took pride of place on the large island dominating the middle of the room.
"What on earth...?" He felt his jaw loosen.
The cookies looked dark and rich. Chocolate chip, his favorite and Jamie's. Someone had been very busy. His lips snapped shut. It didn't take a rocket scientist to work out exactly who.
Turning away, he filled the kettle and plugged it in. He cast another glance at the trays of tempting cookies. His stomach felt hollow. Realizing he hadn't eaten his evening meal, he reached for one biscuit, ate it quickly, before snagging a second.
&nb
sp; Biting into it, he closed his eyes. Any woman who could cook like this…Kate's baking was sinful and heavenly.
The kettle boiled and switched itself off. He made the coffee one handed, while devouring another two cookies with the other. It had been a long time since he'd tasted anything as delicious. Even Kris's carrot cake took second place to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
Belatedly he wondered where the author of this stunning miracle had gone. He debated which of the six large bedrooms Kate now occupied. The dangerously seductive image speared through his senses with renewed intensity. The thought of her fragrant softness and a wide, comfortable bed sifted through his conscious mind, provoking an unmistakable response.
"Dammit!" he swore, low, hard and savage.
It didn't help. The images kept crowding in, shredding his tight control, making his body ache with rising desire. He stamped down hard on the unfurling sense of need.
It was nothing he couldn't handle. Tomorrow night he would run off his deepening sense of frustration. He'd run the full length of a marathon if necessary. Anything to get by.
His conscience stabbed him. Finishing his coffee in a long swallow, he left the kitchen and went into the lounge.
"What the––?" He stared at the chaotic scene.
Every cushion and pillow in the room had been heaped into the middle of the floor. A cave of sorts had been created with blankets and four dining chairs.
He frowned at the organized disaster. Going down on one knee, he peered into the cave's mouth. Jamie's book bag and a discarded torch guarded the entrance. The soft drift of torchlight illuminated the interior. They'd created a cozy nest inside among the cushions.
The sight of his son, dressed in his favorite pair of action figure pajamas, curled close against Kate's side, hit him low. They were both asleep. Remnants of chocolate chip cookies surrounded his son's mouth. Kate's soft lips also showed traces of their illicit baking spree.
Spencer sat back on his heels. His body surged to attention. They looked so cozy and warm, far too content to disturb. He was seriously tempted to crawl right in there beside them.