“Any way is fine,” she said and shot directly toward the coffeepot.
“Then I guess this morning I’ll make them scrambled.” As he grabbed a few eggs out of the fridge, she poured her coffee and then sank down at the table.
He shot her a glance as he poured his egg mixture into the awaiting skillet. She appeared to be staring blankly down into her coffee cup. He decided the next conversation needed to come from her and he just had to wait for it.
Within minutes he had plates on the table for the two of them along with a bowl of scrambled eggs, a platter of strips of bacon and a smaller plate of several pieces of buttered toast.
“Thank you, Brad. This all looks wonderful.” She curled her fingers around the coffee cup. “In case you hadn’t already noticed, I’m really not much of a morning person.”
He smiled at her. “By using my great powers of deduction, I kind of figured that when you stared into your coffee cup like you expected the brew to reach up and shake you awake.”
She returned his smile. She looked so pretty with the color of her blouse making her eyes appear even more blue. It was then he realized she wore no makeup and still looked gorgeous. Her skin was clear and beautiful and her eyelashes were long and thick.
“I’m usually not ready to engage with anyone until I’ve had two cups of coffee.”
“Then I feel very privileged. You’ve only had one cup and yet you’re being nice to me.”
She laughed. “It’s hard to be mad at a man who knows how to do crispy bacon right.”
“There’s nothing I hate more than limp, undercooked bacon,” he replied.
“That makes two of us,” she agreed.
They each filled their plates and began eating. “Unfortunately, it’s supposed to rain all day, so I thought we’d just kind of relax today. Maybe it will clear up tomorrow and we can go out and do a little walking.”
“I hate that it’s going to rain again, but there’s no way I intend to just hang out and relax,” she replied.
“Then what do you want to do?”
“Are you kidding? Look around us. I’m going to clean. I intend to attack every single one of the horrifying cobwebs in this place just for starters.”
He laughed and looked around the room. “That could be an all-day job for us.”
“I’m definitely ready to get to work...as soon as I have my second cup of coffee.”
He placed two more strips of bacon on his plate and then gazed at her. “Thanks for being a good sport about this place. I had no idea it had fallen into such disrepair. I’m sure when you stepped in here last night you wanted to turn around and run away and I would have been tempted to run with you.”
“I’m not going to lie, that thought did cross my mind, but then I realized you have me out here in the middle of nowhere and I wouldn’t know where to run to.” She got up from the table and poured herself another cup of coffee and then returned to the chair. “Besides, at least the bed mattress is good and we can clean dirty and make the best of things.”
“Then you slept well?” he asked and tried not to think about how miserable his night had been on the uncomfortable sofa.
“Despite my long nap in the car, I slept like a baby. What about you?”
“I slept okay.” There was no way he’d admit to her that the sofa was an instrument of torture and he’d much rather be sharing the bed with her.
Criminy, even thinking about being next to her under the sheets filled him with a heat that was difficult to ignore. He had to remember that he wasn’t here to romance Simone. He was here to protect her from any and all harm.
When they were finished with breakfast, she insisted she’d do the cleanup. While she did that, Brad stepped outside to check things out before the dark clouds unleashed their fury.
The outside air felt heavy with the scent of wet earth and impending rain. The nearby river roared with swollen waters from the rain that had already fallen.
He walked around the cabin, checking windows and making sure there was no way for anyone to easily break in. Even though only a couple of law enforcement officials knew he’d brought Simone here, he was very aware that leaks could happen and there was no guarantee that Rob Garner had no idea where they were.
He was satisfied that the cabin windows were in relatively good shape and he saw no indication of anyone lurking nearby. He knew there were other cabins in the area. From the back of Glen’s cabin, he could see another one tucked away in the woods, but he didn’t think anyone was staying there.
As he headed back inside, the rain began to fall. He was surprised to see that Simone had changed into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. On the table, she’d gathered cleaning supplies that she’d obviously found somewhere.
“Wow, bleach...furniture polish...glass cleaner and a bag full of cleaning rags, you found the mother lode. But it doesn’t look like you found any cobweb cleaner,” he said teasingly.
She gestured to a broom leaning again the wall. “That is the ultimate cobweb cleaner.”
“Then let’s get started.”
For the next hour and a half, he attacked the cobwebs that clung in the corners while she cleaned the wooden walls with the lemon furniture cleaner. The rain pitter-pattered at the windows, creating a cozy feeling inside the cabin. As they worked, they talked about their childhoods. She shared some of the funny stories about growing up with her sisters, and he shared a little bit about life with his father. They took a break for a quick lunch of sandwiches and then returned to their cleaning.
Despite the odor of the lemon polish and the faint mustiness of the cabin, the scent of her perfume permeated the air. He wondered if he’d find the source of it behind her ears or down the side of her throat. Or maybe she had dabbed it on between her breasts, where it drifted up and out to torment him.
“I’m going into the bedroom to tackle the cobwebs in there,” he said, feeling as if he just needed to get away, to gain a little distance from her for just a few minutes.
“Knock yourself out,” she replied.
The minute he stepped into the bedroom, he realized it was a mistake. The scent of her was even stronger in here, and as he stared at the neatly made bed, all he could think of was the two of them beneath the sheets making love to the steady beat of the rain against the window.
He attacked the cobwebs more forcefully than necessary. He jabbed the broom into one of the corners, inwardly cursing himself. He was a professional, not some horny teenager. Yet something about Simone shot his testosterone skyrocketing. He felt like a horny teenager whenever he was around her.
In short order he had all the corners of the ceilings clean. He left the bedroom to find her seated at the kitchen table. “Ah, has the cleaning warrior pooped out?”
“No, actually I think we got everything,” she said. “I’m not sure how we’re going to clean all the rags I went through. They’re all pretty dirty.”
“At least the dirt is now on the rags and not on the walls anymore. There’s a little general store not far from here with a couple of washers and dryers inside. At least they were there the last time I was here with Glen. We can plan a day to go there and do the laundry,” he replied.
“Sounds like a plan.” She got up from the table. “And now I need a shower.” She grabbed the bottle of bleach. “I’ll be back,” she said and then disappeared into the bathroom.
He remained at the table and tried not to think when minutes later he heard the sound of the shower water running. If he were to let his mind wander, then he would imagine her naked and that was exactly what he shouldn’t think about.
Instead, he got up and headed to the refrigerator. Before he’d cooked breakfast, he’d pulled out of the freezer a couple of nice pork chops for dinner that evening.
After she’d gone to bed the night before, he had unloaded more of the supplies and put them away
. He’d left a lot of the canned goods in the car, knowing there wasn’t room for everything in the few cabinets.
He knew by her own admission that she didn’t cook. So, he knew he’d probably be in charge of cooking the meals, and that was okay with him as long as she wasn’t expecting anything gourmet.
Once he had in his mind what he was making for supper, he turned and headed for the coffee table. It had a drawer in it and at one time Glen had kept a deck of cards and a chess set there. Brad hoped they were still there. With no television and with the rain still falling, they needed something to do to pass the time. He breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered the items were still there. Now hopefully she’d be up to passing the time by playing cards and chess.
A half an hour later she walked out of the bathroom clad in a pair of navy jogging pants and a light blue T-shirt. She looked pretty, relaxed and refreshed.
“How was the shower?” he asked.
“Surprisingly good,” she replied and sank down on the sofa. “I was expecting a cool drizzle, but it was nice and warm and had a good spray.”
“That’s good because in just a few minutes I need to take a shower.” Although he probably needed to make it a very cold one to douse the fire of desire she stirred in him. “I just wanted to talk to you about dinner. I figured I’d make us pork chops with baked potatoes and a salad.”
“That sounds perfect to me,” she agreed.
“And I found a deck of cards and a chess set in the coffee table drawer. Do you play chess?”
“I know how to, but it’s been years since I’ve played.” She looked toward the window, where the rain was still coming down at a steady pace, and then she gazed back at him. “Do you play?”
“I’m the same. It’s been a long time since I played, but hopefully playing will help us pass the time here,” he replied.
“Have you checked in with anyone? Has there been any news at all?”
She looked at him hopefully and he knew she was talking about her father’s case and not wanting to know about world news. He wished he had something good to tell her, but he didn’t.
“Unfortunately, there is none. I hope you know that you can’t contact anyone in your family while we’re here.”
“I figured that out all by myself,” she replied. “There’s no need for you to tell me what to do or not do when it’s obvious.”
He looked at her in surprise. Why was she suddenly having attitude with him right now? “I apologize. I didn’t mean to come off as condescending. And I think now is a good time for me to go take my shower.”
She was silent as he got what he needed from his opened suitcase in the corner of the room and then went into the bathroom. He hoped she wasn’t going to be a moody type of woman. The last thing he wanted to do was spend his time trying to figure out what he’d done to offend her. That would definitely make their time together here miserable.
* * *
A stab of guilt shot through Simone as she stared at the closed bathroom door. She’d been rude to him, and he hadn’t deserved it. But she was so attracted to him she felt like she needed to put a little distance between them.
Watching his muscles work beneath his T-shirt as he’d held the broom overhead and stretched to reach the cobwebs had heated her in a way she hadn’t been heated for a long time. Working next to him, she had smelled the faint scent of his cologne and even that had stirred her.
He seemed to be a nice guy, but he could never be her guy and being a little bitchy with him was the only way she knew how to deal with her emotions where he was concerned.
This whole setup felt far too intimate and too cozy and domestic and she didn’t want her crazy desire for him to make her make a mistake where Brad was concerned. And hooking up with him would be a big mistake. She had a feeling it would be a hot, delicious memory...something she’d never forget, but a mistake nevertheless.
She was ready for love in her life, not an affair with a man who couldn’t be available for her in the future. Therefore, Brad was off-limits...not that he’d made any kind of an advance toward her.
Once he got out of the shower and was dressed in jeans and a brown polo shirt, the tension between them was definitely awkward. He went directly to the refrigerator and began to gather the items to cook for dinner.
Neither of them spoke and the silence weighed heavy as it lingered. This wasn’t what she wanted, either. This time together was going to be absolutely miserable if the tension lingered for too long.
“I’m sorry I kind of snapped at you,” she said, finally breaking the long silence.
He flashed her an easy smile. “That’s okay. We’re in close quarters and I’m sure there’s going to be times when we’ll get on each other’s nerves.”
She moved from the sofa to the kitchen table. She almost wished he would hold a grudge against her, but she was also grateful he hadn’t.
She watched as he placed the pork chops in a baking pan and then seasoned them on either side. “You look very relaxed in the kitchen,” she observed.
“When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking for my father,” he replied. “I took over the job after my mother’s death.”
“Then you were very young to take on that kind of responsibility.” She remembered him telling her that his mother had passed away when he was twelve. At that age she was still playing with fashion dolls and just being a kid.
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” he replied. “I cooked all the meals because not only did I need to eat, but I knew my dad needed to eat, too, and he wasn’t capable of taking care of me or himself. I cooked and cleaned, and I took over paying the bills, something my mother had done.”
“That must have been really tough,” she replied.
“I didn’t think it was tough at the time when I was doing it. I considered it a way to show my father how much I loved him.”
She couldn’t imagine being a young boy whose mother had been murdered and who had taken over all the responsibilities of running a household. He must have been a very strong boy to step into the role of parent.
“So, now that you’re older, are you looking for a woman to cook and clean for you?” she asked lightly.
He laughed. “I’m not really looking for a woman at all. If one happens to find me and she can deal with my crazy work hours, then she wouldn’t even need to cook.” He scrubbed down two potatoes, wrapped them in foil and then popped them into the oven.
“I’ve pretty much given up on marriage at this point in my life,” he added. “If it happens...fine, but I’ll be okay if it doesn’t happen.”
“Don’t you want children?” she asked.
“Sure, if one day I found that woman, then I wouldn’t mind having a couple of kids.”
“I want it all,” she said. “I’d like to find a wonderful man who respects me as his equal, a man who loves me to distraction. I want the white picket fence and a couple of babies that will play with my sisters’ children and keep the family strong. I want what my mother and father had.”
She was shocked to feel a sudden rise of emotion as thoughts of her father and mother’s marriage filled her head. They had loved each other deeply and it had been obvious to everyone around them.
She swallowed hard against the grief, not wanting it to grip hold of her. “I know my mother envisioned growing old with my father. It stinks that some punk kids stole that away from her.”
“It definitely stinks,” he agreed. “Whenever there’s a murder, there are far more victims than just the person who is killed. It’s a ripple effect that affects so many people.”
He slid the pork chops into the oven and then leaned against the counter, his gaze appearing a bit reflective. “That’s the part of my job that’s so difficult, seeing so many people as they grieve.”
“I imagine that can be a bit depressing over
time.” She couldn’t imagine having the job that he did, especially speaking to the family members of victims of horrendous crimes.
“It can be, but getting murderers off the streets is what I love doing. I can’t imagine doing anything else. By the way, do you know anything about guns?”
She blinked at the sudden change of subject. “It’s been a while, but I used to date somebody who enjoyed them and I went to a shooting range with him and shot at targets a few times... Why?”
“I brought an extra gun with me and I’d like you to keep it with you at all times. Could you shoot somebody who was threatening you?”
She frowned thoughtfully. “If I feared for my life, I could absolutely shoot somebody,” she replied.
“Good answer,” he said with a smile. “So, after we eat, I’ll give you the gun so you can familiarize yourself with it.”
They continued to talk about his job throughout dinner. He told her about some of the strangest cases he’d worked and they talked about the psychology of some of the most famous serial killers.
The meal was delicious and she found the conversation both fascinating and stimulating. Rain still pattered against the windows, and with the coming of night, a cold chill had filled the air.
“Is it possible to turn on the heat?” she asked after she’d washed the dishes and they had settled in side by side on the sofa.
“There is no heat to turn on, but I can certainly build a fire to take away the chill,” he said. He got up and moved to the stack of wood next to the fireplace. “Thank goodness we have plenty of wood, kindling and old newspapers here.”
“I hope there’s a lighter there, too, unless you’re going to impress me by rubbing two sticks together to make a fire,” she said lightly.
He turned and showed her the torch lighter in his hand. “I could rub sticks together and totally impress you, but I think just for tonight I’ll use this.”
Harlequin Romantic Suspense July 2021 Box Set Page 10