Her body still hummed with the need he’d aroused in her.
What a fool she’d made of herself. The other night she’d made him promise that he wouldn’t kiss her again, and then today she’d practically begged him to. Maybe not in words, but in her actions. She’d actually been flirting with him, for heaven’s sake. She’d just gotten so caught up in the moment, she’d forgotten everything but Gabe.
She still wasn’t certain if she was relieved or disappointed that he’d backed off, but she was certain that it was for the best.
You’re going to have to trust someone, he’d told her.
How she wanted to. There were times she was so tired of running, of being afraid. Gabe would help her, she knew he would.
Could she ask?
No. She couldn’t drag him into this. The last person who’d tried to help her had ended up with a broken arm for his efforts, and Melanie wouldn’t risk Gabe, or any of his family, being harmed because of her.
She knew it was time for her and Kevin to leave. Past time. Not only because she’d been in one place for too long, but because the tension between her and Gabe had become unbearable. The strain of being in the same house with him day after day, sharing breakfast and an occasional lunch, being so close, it was wearing her down. She wasn’t certain she could be strong for very much longer, didn’t think she could resist him and what he offered.
“Melanie?”
She glanced up, realized that Cara had been talking to her. “What?”
Cara lifted one brow, then gave her a knowing smile. “Thinking about Gabe?”
“Gabe?” She had to clear her throat. “What do you mean?”
“Every time my brother is in the same room you are, or even in the vicinity, you get a certain look in your eyes. Plus you blush or get flustered if I even say his name.” Cara folded her arms and leaned back against the dresser. “So come on, Mel, tell Sister Cara all about it.”
Good grief, Melanie thought, here she’d been teasing Gabe about “the look” in Sheila’s eyes, and now Cara was pointing out that same look was in her eyes.
And she had been thinking about Gabe.
“There’s nothing to tell.” Turning her attention to the jewelry, Melanie straightened the thin gold chain of a cross necklace, then fussed with a pair of early Victorian earrings. “Gabe is busy working on the house, and I’ve been rushing to get everything cataloged and ready for the auction. Which reminds me, have you received any RSVP’s yet?”
“The phone lines at the center were jammed today with affirmatives. I’ll give you a list tomorrow. And don’t try to change the subject.”
Cara leaned forward and whispered, “Come on, Melanie. It’s my big brother we’re talking about. I figure since he stuck his nose into every tiny corner of my private life up until the day I got married, and still does whenever he gets the chance, I have a right to be nosy in return. I know he’s interested in you, so are you interested right back?”
“I—well—”
“Aha, you see?” Cara cocked her head and smiled. “You’re blushing. So what’s up with you two?”
“There’s nothing up,” she said and nearly choked on the last word. Something most certainly had been “up” between them a little while ago. “We’re…just friends, that’s all.”
Cara laughed. “I’ve never seen Gabe look at any woman the way he looks at you. I assure you, ‘friend’ is not what he’s thinking.”
Melanie felt as if flames of fire were dancing across her face. “Cara, I don’t, it isn’t—”
Oh, God. Cara was right, Melanie thought with a silent groan. She did get flustered and blush if the subject was Gabe. How pathetic. She had to get a grip on herself. Stop acting like a schoolgirl and be sensible, logical. Mature.
She drew in a slow breath and faced Cara. “I am…attracted to Gabe,” she admitted, pleased with herself that her voice didn’t quiver. “But I’m not looking for a relationship right now, physical or otherwise. It would be much too complicated.”
“Complicated is Gabe’s middle name,” Cara said with a grin. “And you don’t have to be looking, honey. These things find you just like a Stealth fighter. Sneak right in under the radar and wham! You’re a goner. Sometime I’ll tell you about Ian and me.”
Something told Melanie it would be a fascinating story. One she would never hear. “Cara,” she said quietly, “I’m going to finish up in the last room tonight, then I’m leaving in the morning.”
“Oh, Melanie.” Cara sighed. “You can’t leave. Stay. Let us help you. You’d be surprised what the Sinclairs and Shawnessys can accomplish when they set their minds to something. And Gabe would die before he’d let anyone hurt someone he cared about.”
Cara’s words sent an icy shiver up Melanie’s spine. The thought of anything happening to Gabe, to Cara or Ian, or any of the Sinclairs, terrified Melanie. If she stayed here, she had a horrible feeling that something bad would happen.
Not wanting Cara to see the tears building in her eyes, Melanie leaned forward and hugged her. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for all you’ve done for me and Kevin.”
“Don’t be silly. If it hadn’t been for you, I probably would have sold that lamp downstairs for fifty bucks.” Cara sniffed, and her voice was raspy. “Where will you go? How will I know that you and Kevin are all right?”
“We’ll be fine,” Melanie assured her, though she wasn’t so certain herself. “I promise I’ll call you when I settle in somewhere.”
Cara sighed. “I’ll always be here for you and Kevin, no matter what. If you ever need anything, anything at all, call me or Gabe.”
“Thank you.”
They were both sniffing now. Cara pulled away, blinking back her tears. “Okay, how about this. There’s a magician coming into the center tonight to perform for the children, then cake and ice cream after his act. Why don’t you and Kevin come?”
Melanie shook her head, felt the heaviness in her chest. “I have one more room to catalog—Mildred’s bedroom. I decided to save hers for last.”
“Then let Ian and me take Kevin,” Cara said. “He’ll love the show and being with the other kids. And we’d love to spend a little more time with him before you go. We don’t want him to forget us.”
The idea of letting Kevin out of her sight terrified Melanie, but she knew that Cara was right. Before their world had been turned upside down, Kevin had loved playing with the other children at his preschool. He’d been only with her for the past several weeks and other adults, and she knew he was bored. He seemed all right now, but today, after he’d woken up from his nap, he’d been unusually cranky.
She trusted Cara and Ian implicitly. If anything, he would probably be safer with them. Vincent might enjoy intimidating women and men smaller and weaker than himself, but face-to-face with a large, strong man like Ian, he would be a coward.
But Vincent hadn’t found her here, she was certain of that. He would have had several opportunities to confront her when she’d been alone, and she knew he wouldn’t have waited. He wasn’t the patient type.
How could she say no to Cara? Kevin would love a magic show. And Melanie also knew that she’d be able to finish her work more quickly without Kevin under her feet.
She sucked in a deep breath, then nodded. “All right, but, Cara, please…well, I know that—”
“Stop worrying. We won’t let him out of our sight for a second.” Cara hugged her quickly. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go tell Kevin.”
Her insides shaking, Melanie leaned back against the dresser. Of course he would be fine. Cara was right. She had to stop worrying.
Outside, she heard the hum of the paint sprayer. She moved to the window and saw Russell, the foreman spraying a fresh coat of blue on the downstairs level. Even with the window closed, she could smell the paint and cleaners they used. The house was going to be beautiful when they finished, and she felt another pang of regret that she wouldn’t be here to see it.
She started to turn away w
hen she noticed Gabe and Ian standing under a large oak several yards away from the house. Gabe had his back to her, and Ian, his arms folded, leaned against the tree trunk. Ian’s head was bent, but even from here she could see the frown on his face.
“Mommy! I’m going to a magic show!”
Kevin ran into the room and hugged her, nearly knocking her over in his excitement. His cheeks were flushed, his blue eyes bright with pleasure.
“I know, sweetie, isn’t that wonderful?” She bent down and hugged him back, praying that she’d made the right decision.
“You’re asking a lot, Gabe.”
Gabe looked at his brother-in-law and nodded. “I know that, believe me, I know it. But no one has the resources you do, Ian. I need to know who this woman is, and what she’s running from. You could find out.”
“I left the agency when I married your sister. I’m a civilian now.”
“You still have connections. You know who to ask.”
Ian sighed. “Gabe, she doesn’t want anyone to know about her life, doesn’t want our help. What right do we have to interfere?”
Gabe thought of Melanie and Kevin, wandering from town to town, maybe not knowing where they would eat or sleep next. And worse, the thought of someone hurting her or Kevin, made his chest tighten.
“You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” Gabe said evenly.
“You haven’t known her that long.”
Gabe shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I have to do this, with or without your help.”
Ian studied Gabe for a long moment. “Does she feel the same way about you?”
“I don’t know what I’m feeling, dammit. And I sure as hell don’t know what she’s thinking. All I know is that she plans on leaving any day now, and I won’t ever see her or Kevin again. I won’t know where they are, if they’re all right.”
He raked both hands through his hair and started to pace. “I can’t accept that, Ian. I won’t. I’m not going to turn my back on this anymore.”
And besides, he thought, she was leaving anyway. What did he have to lose?
“Look.” Gabe stopped, put his hands on his hips. “When Cara was in trouble and you knew someone was trying to kill her, you called me and told me to watch her for you, even though you knew that she would be furious with you for interfering.”
Ian pressed his lips tightly together. “That was different.”
“The hell it was. Cara was stubborn and independent and wanted to do everything her way. You made a decision not to let her and you were right. Well, dammit, I’m making that same decision now with Melanie, and I know I’m right, too.”
Ian dropped his head back and groaned. “You Sinclairs have got to be the most mule-headed bunch I’ve ever met.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me?”
Ian blew out a breath. “Yeah, I’ll help you. But be warned, buddy. You might not like what I find.”
“I’m sure I won’t.” Gabe glanced back at the house, watched as the two women walked out onto the front porch, then repeated quietly, “I’m sure I won’t.”
Melanie thought that the best word to describe Mildred Witherspoon’s bedroom was somber. The quilt on her four-poster walnut bed was hand-sewn with shades of brown and green, the walls were faded gray and the old, braided oval rug a blend of dull, drab colors.
It was true that the house in general wasn’t exactly what anyone would call bright and cheerful, but it almost seemed as if the old woman had intentionally robbed this particular room—her bedroom—of any life.
Melanie thought of the conversations she’d had with the elderly woman. She hadn’t seemed as unpleasant as Gabe had suggested. There’d been something in the woman’s voice, a loneliness, that had touched Melanie. And though it had only been on the phone, they’d had a friendship, of sorts, with Mildred always remembering to ask about Kevin. Melanie was sorry she’d never had the chance to meet the woman.
Melanie glanced at her watch. It was only six o’clock. Cara and Ian had left with Kevin maybe twenty minutes ago, and they wouldn’t be back until close to ten. So long, she thought, and felt the hitch in her chest. They hadn’t been away from each other for weeks now, and while she knew it was good for both of them, she still missed him. She still worried.
The house was so quiet. A sad, lonely quiet. The painters had left an hour ago, and Gabe had left shortly after that. It was silly, but she’d been disappointed when he’d said goodbye to her and Kevin and driven off. She’d almost done something extremely foolish and asked him to stay and have dinner with her, but thank goodness she’d caught herself before the words had come out. She knew that for the two of them to be alone here would be a mistake. A big mistake.
Melanie opened the door of the closet, and the scent of cedar and old leather wafted out. She stepped inside, surprised that the closet was so large, then pulled the chain for the overhead lamp. Light spilled over all the neatly hung clothes. It seemed that the lack of color extended to Mildred’s wardrobe, as well, Melanie noted. Long, matronly dresses, all blacks and grays, burgundies and dark greens, filled the hangers. Shoes sat primly on the hardwood floor, hat boxes were piled on the upper shelves and cardboard boxes of all sizes completely filled one wall.
This shouldn’t take long at all, Melanie thought. Maybe an hour at the most. She felt gritty from the day and decided she’d take a quick shower before she finished up in here.
And then she’d have a long night ahead of her.
Alone.
The sun had sunk below the horizon and dusk edged into darkness by the time Gabe drove back to the Witherspoon house. The air was comfortably warm, and an evening breeze carried the scent of freshly plowed earth from a neighboring farm.
Gabe stepped out of his truck, listened to the sound of the cornstalks swaying in the breeze and the music of a nearby whippoorwill. He glanced at the big oak beside the garage and could picture a tire swing on one massive limb, or a tree house, like the one he and his dad had built when he was ten.
He smiled at the memory, remembering all those great summer nights he’d slept up in the rough plywood structure with his brothers when they were all little. Or when he’d gotten older and sneaked a pack of cigarettes up there. His dad had caught him and insisted he smoke the whole pack, inhaling, of course. Gabe winced at that memory. He hadn’t gotten past six cigarettes before he’d thrown up. That had been the end of smoking for him. His dad had ruled with a firm hand, but a loving one.
He missed his parents terribly, but he knew how lucky he was to have his brothers and sister. He’d never felt the need for more, had decided long ago that raising one family was enough.
So then why was he thinking about tire swings and tree houses?
With a sigh, he glanced at the house, saw that it was dark, but knew that Melanie was inside. He also knew that Kevin had gone with Cara and Ian, and that they wouldn’t be back until later. Which was exactly the reason he’d left earlier. He’d told himself that he was going to the tavern tonight. It was Saturday night. There was a big game on the sports network, and Reese usually had a friendly, late-night poker game going after he closed up the tavern. If he decided to drink too much—and he just might—then he’d crash there.
He’d told himself all through his shower and then while he’d gotten dressed that he wasn’t going back to the Witherspoon house tonight. What was the point? He was already twisted up like a pretzel, why subject himself to more frustration?
The Witherspoon house wasn’t on the way from his apartment to the tavern, so how the hell had he ended up over here, and why had he turned down the driveway? he thought in disgust.
And why had he already parked his pickup and walked into the house?
Dammit, anyway. The woman made him crazy.
“Melanie?” he called out quietly, not wanting to startle her.
He listened for her to reply, but all he heard was quiet. He’d expected her to be in the kitchen, but realized that with Kevin gone, she probably wo
uldn’t prepare a meal.
Maybe she’d come to the tavern with him, he thought and made his way up the stairs. Or there was the steak and seafood place just outside of town, that was a nice place, with tablecloths and candles and quiet music. But he only had on jeans and a black T-shirt, probably not the right attire for—
What the hell was he thinking?
He wasn’t going to ask her anywhere, he thought with a scowl. He’d just check on her, make sure she was all right, and then he’d leave.
So where the hell was she?
“Melanie?”
He stood at the bottom of the stairs. The house was nearly dark, yet he saw no light from any of the bedrooms. Maybe she’d fallen asleep. Lord knew she worked hard enough. The woman never stopped, and she had a four-year-old to care for, as well.
He called to her again, but still no answer. A tiny knot of worry twisted in his stomach. She could be sick. Or maybe she hurt herself. Or maybe someone—
Oh, God.
He took the stairs three at a time. “Melanie!”
“I’m back here,” came her muffled reply.
Relief pounded through Gabe, and he moved to the last bedroom. A sliver of light poured into the dark bedroom from the closet. He peeked in the closet and saw her sitting on the floor, her legs folded under her. She’d changed into soft gray sweatpants and a tank top, and she’d piled her hair on top of her head.
She looked up at him and frowned.
“You scared me. Why were you yelling like that?”
She was surrounded by ledgers of some kind, he noticed, and a large cardboard box beside her held several more. His heart was still pounding, but he leaned casually against the closet doorjamb. “What’cha doing?”
Her frown disappeared, and she beamed at him. “Oh, Gabe, you won’t believe this. It’s so amazing.”
“What?” He pushed away from the doorjamb and hunkered down beside her. She smelled like soap and flowers, and he resisted the urge to lean closer and take a deep breath of her.
“Mildred’s diaries.” She gestured toward the cardboard box. “From the time she was fourteen up until the night she died. After I found all these, I checked her nightstand and found the most current journal in the drawer.”
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