“And that makes you angry. You seem to be angry with him most of the time.” His gaze shifted back to her. “Why?”
“Personal reasons that I have no intention of discussing with you,” she said firmly. “There’s such a thing as allowing people to maintain their privacy. I gave you what you wanted from me today, now drop it.”
“Okay.” He was smiling mischievously at her. “I’ll figure it out.”
She was afraid he would, but she hoped it wouldn’t be for another few years. “But, truth or fantasy, all this talk about Caleb’s family has nothing to do with you. I only told you what you wanted to know about Caleb because it always seemed you wanted to find out everything concerning him. The only important thing you have to remember is that Caleb regards you as his friend.”
“I know he does, Jane.” His smile faded as he added absently, “But maybe that’s not the most important thing.”
“It’s all we’re going to discuss at the moment,” she said firmly as she stood up and pulled him to his feet. “It’s time we left to go meet your mom and dad. Stop frowning, you know we’re going to have a fantastic time.”
“I was just thinking…” There was a sudden bounce in his step as he moved quickly toward the door. “Of course we are. Being with Mom and Dad always makes everything wonderful…”
Chapter
2
Castle TeaRoom
Wales
4:40 P.M.
Come with us,” Eve Duncan urged Jane after they’d finished tea. “You’re not making sense.” She slipped her arm affectionately around Jane’s waist as she walked with her through the lobby to where Joe and Michael were waiting in the parking lot. “I fully agree with Michael that there’s no earthly reason why you shouldn’t just jump in the car and head back to London with us.” She made a face. “He said you gave him some story about how you needed to give us time to be with him. Ridiculous.”
“No, it isn’t,” Jane said cheerfully. “You only had two days with him when you visited right after all the smoke and furor settled down in Maldara. You wouldn’t let me opt out then, but you have to do it now.” Her smile faded. “Look, I adore Michael. But he’s a very special child and you’ve had an almost psychic connection with him since the day he was born. I know what you’re doing with the reconstruction of those children in Maldara is necessary, but the separation has been hard on all three of you during these weeks. You need this time alone together.”
“We need you, too.”
“But that’s different. I had you to myself all those years before Michael was born.” She added softly, “Wonderful, wonderful years. It’s Michael’s turn now.”
“You always did think you had to take care of everyone in the family.” Eve sighed and shook her head as she gazed at Jane’s expression. “You’re not going to change your mind?”
“It’s only one day. I’ll see you at my apartment at noon tomorrow. Maybe we’ll go to the zoo or something. Then Monday morning, Michael and I will take you to the airport and come back here to the castle and do some more digging. It will work out fine.”
“Stubborn.” Eve wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know why you won’t—”
Jane’s phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. “Lisa Ridondo.” She frowned. “That’s weird. I haven’t talked to her for months. There might be a problem. If you don’t mind, I’ll take this and tell her I’ll call her back.”
Eve nodded. “Go ahead, talk to her. I’ll wait.” She grinned. “From what I remember about Lisa, she was always unique, but very interesting.” Her smile faded. “And absolutely adored her brother, Caleb.” She dropped down in a chair in the lobby of the tearoom and waved her hand. “Take your time.”
“Thanks.” Jane was already turning away and accessing the call. “Lisa? I haven’t heard from you for a while. How are you doing?”
“Well enough,” Lisa said. “It took you long enough to answer the phone. I was feeling a bit rejected.” She added ruefully, “Of course, I could be getting a little paranoid. Caleb has been tutoring me on how actions reap consequences. I was afraid I was getting the same treatment from you.”
“I don’t know what on earth you mean.” Jane hesitated, then added, “And it’s not likely that Caleb and I would get together on any course of action. I’m sure he told you that we’re not seeing each other any longer.”
“He did.” She added fiercely, “I thought you were incredibly stupid. What woman wouldn’t want Caleb? He’s fantastic.”
“Then he’ll have no trouble finding someone less stupid than me to agree with you. But no one can say you’re unbiased, can they? Did you want anything else, Lisa? Eve is waiting for me to get off the phone.”
“Eve? Tell her I said hi. She’s very cool.”
“She likes you, too. But the word she used was ‘unique.’”
Lisa chuckled. “She’s right. I’m glad she appreciates that. What are you doing with Eve?”
“Having tea at Kendrick Castle in Wales. Michael and I are at a dig while Eve and Joe are in Africa. They have to go back there on Monday, but we’re having a great time while they’re here.”
“Then everything is okay with you?”
“Of course. As I said, we’re having a great time.” She paused. “Why did you phone, Lisa? Something gone wrong in your world? May I help?”
“No.” Silence. “And now you’re making me feel guilty. I was just mulling over something Caleb said and thought I’d phone and tell you that I really do like you and I only thought it was for the best.” She added defiantly, “And it might have been. But I’m sorry if you might think it wasn’t exactly what I should have done.” She let out her breath in a sigh of relief. “And now I’ve got that out and I’ll hang up.”
“What?” Jane was trying to decipher the pieces of the bewildering statement. “I have no idea what you meant by all that. Would you care to explain?”
“No, not particularly.” Lisa suddenly laughed. “I got the satisfaction of offering an apology without being heaped with blame. I feel better. And I’m still pissed off at you about Caleb, so I don’t really want you to feel better. I figure we’re through here.” She hesitated. “After you tell me if everything seems well with Caleb?”
“I wouldn’t know. It sounds as if you might.” But she couldn’t leave it with that if this bewildering call from Lisa had anything to do with Caleb. He was Lisa’s entire world. “I’m sure he’s fine. I’ve never seen a time when Caleb wasn’t fine and in complete control of everything around him. I’m certain you haven’t, either.” She turned back toward Eve. “I have to go now, Lisa. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
“I will. I’m working on it.” Her voice was cheerful again. “Goodbye, Jane.” She cut the connection.
“Sorry, Eve.” Jane slipped her phone in her pocket. “It didn’t seem to be anything important.” She frowned. “Or maybe it was. Sometimes it’s hard to interpret Lisa. I believe there was an apology involved somewhere along the way, and I have no idea why she would feel it necessary.” She shook her head wryly. “For such a brilliant woman, she can be very convoluted.”
“Woman,” Eve repeated and shook her head. “I always remember her as the teenager whose life you saved all those years ago. It’s difficult to think of her as a grown-up.”
“Sometimes it’s difficult for her, too,” Jane said dryly. “And it’s not as if she wasn’t there to help me later when I was in trouble. I would have died in that desert if Lisa hadn’t stepped in. Tit for tat. I definitely considered the score even by the time she took off and decided to go climb some mountain in Chile.”
“Maybe not quite so even,” Eve said quietly. “As I recall, your trouble all had to do with Caleb, and Lisa would have done anything for him regardless of whether you were involved. Has that changed?”
She shook her head. “He’s everything to her. She skips all around the world learning skills and getting involved in all kinds of causes, but they always keep in touch.”
She frowned as she suddenly remembered Lisa’s last question about Caleb. “I’m sure that wouldn’t have changed. They take care of each other.”
“Relationships do change.” Eve glanced away from her. “Michael told me that Caleb didn’t come down to the dig a few weeks ago as you said he would.”
“Once everything quieted down in Maldara and you told me there was no longer a threat, he wasn’t needed. So I called and told Caleb not to come.” She stared Eve in the eye. “I didn’t lie to you. I know you feel safer about Michael when he’s with Caleb. Who wouldn’t? Caleb is fairly fantastic as far as the protective factor is concerned. He’s the Hunter, the man every agency and organization tries to hire when they come up with zeros. I would have brought him here if it was necessary.”
“I know you would,” Eve said. “But you were relieved not to have to do it, weren’t you?” She answered herself. “Of course you were. Caleb can be very…difficult. But he’s also completely charismatic. You’ve always had a love-hate relationship with him.” She hesitated. “You’ve been in and out of each other’s lives for years. Lately I thought that there was something very…strong. I admit I believed that you had a chance of working it out. It must have taken a lot for you to give him his walking papers.”
“You might say that.” Even though Caleb sometimes pretended as if their breakup had never happened, Jane thought wearily. “But I assure you that he took it very well. When I told him I wasn’t going to see him again, that it wasn’t working for me, he didn’t even try to argue with me. He just smiled and said he understood and would give me a little time.”
“And did he?”
“Yes. I saw him very seldom after that, and never alone. Though he’d occasionally drop in at one of my gallery exhibits.” But she’d always been aware that he was somewhere out there, waiting. And the nights after he’d found a reason to see her, as he had at that gallery exhibit, she’d lie in bed burning, aching, remembering what it had been like to have him in her body. She could feel that burning now just at the memory. Lord, she didn’t really want to talk about Caleb right now, but this was Eve and she wouldn’t shut her out of anything. Eve wouldn’t have mentioned Caleb if she hadn’t been concerned about her. “I admit he has a tendency to drive me crazy,” she said lightly. “Let’s just say we don’t want the same things in life. The sex was great, he’s super intelligent, he’s amusing, but I was never sure how he actually felt about me. He certainly never told me, he never mentioned anything beyond what we were together in that moment. No future, very little past, just the present.” She shrugged. “I always felt as if I were caught in a whirlpool and I never knew where it was going to take me. Or where he wanted it to take me. And being around him was so intense on so many levels, it got so that I wasn’t certain if I really cared what he felt for me.” Her lips suddenly tightened. “But I do care. I’ve seen what you and Joe have. I can’t live with the way Caleb makes me—” She broke off and then said, “It’s just better if we keep distance between us.” She smiled. “And it isn’t usually hard to do. My work keeps me very busy. And some government agency or mega corporation is always begging Caleb to go on the hunt for some scumbag no one else can bring down. So don’t worry about me.” They’d reached the car, and she smiled at Joe as he turned toward them. “Sorry I kept Eve. I had to take a call.” She gave him a hug and a kiss before he got in the driver’s seat. “Bye, Joe. Enjoy your evening.” She glanced teasingly at Michael in the backseat. “If you can manage to do it. Michael’s been saying that he’ll have no trouble beating you at chess now that he’s had all that practice every evening with me.”
“I’ll manage to survive.” Joe grinned. “If I have trouble, I’ll just start teaching him the Chinese board game Go. That should keep his ego in check.”
“Go?” Michael leaned eagerly forward, his arms draped on the back of the front seat. “I’ve heard it’s super complicated. Why don’t we start out with that one?”
Jane groaned as she reached over and gave Michael a hug. “I don’t know if I’m up to a complicated Chinese entry into our game nights. Go back to chess, Joe.”
“Too late,” Michael said with satisfaction. “Either come with us or you’re toast for the next week or so.”
“Well, you seem to be cheerful enough about it,” Jane said. Come to think of it, he had perked up and been cheerful for the few hours they’d been at the tearoom, she thought. “I detest blackmail. I believe I’ll leave your chastening up to your dad.” She tilted her head and asked softly, “Everything okay, Michael?”
He nodded. “It’s going to be all right now.” He smiled slyly. “Until we come back and I start beating you at Go.”
“Brat.” She kissed the top of his head and took a step back. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
She stood watching them drive out of the parking lot and then up the road.
It had been a lovely tea and she had been with the people she loved on a great sunny day. What could be better? Except for that rather weird call from Lisa, there had been nothing disturbing since she’d walked into this charming tearoom. But even that call had not been so much disturbing as confusing. And Michael had evidently jettisoned that peculiar mood that he’d been in since the moment she’d opened her eyes this morning. That was important as well. Now to get back to the castle and start working on those sketches that she’d told Michael she was going to do for Lady Kendrick.
She got into her car, backed out of the parking spot, and headed back toward the castle a few miles down the road.
And screeched to a stop just before she reached the castle gates.
Dammit!
Seth Caleb got out of his silver Range Rover, parked on the side of the road opposite the front gates, and strolled across the road toward her. “You look wonderful,” he said quietly. “I always liked you in teal. It sets fire to your hair. That’s a nice little tearoom up the road. I assume you’ve been having tea with Eve and Joe?”
“Yes, I have.” Caleb was wearing black jeans and a casual navy-colored shirt, and he looked just the same as the last time she’d seen him. Of course he did, she thought impatiently as she braced herself. It hadn’t been more than a few months since he’d dropped into the gallery for her last showing. And the moment he’d entered the door, she’d been aware of him. How could she help it? She was always aware of him. During the months they had been lovers, he’d somehow tuned her every physical and mental response to know him, need him. And even though he’d deliberately stayed in the background that day, he’d attracted his usual attention from the other art patrons. But then he was always high-impact and totally magnetic. The strand of dark hair falling over his forehead, the slight brush of silver at his temples, the full sensuous lips, and just the hint of an indentation in his chin. Still, it was more the high intensity that seemed to burn inside him that caught and held attention. She could feel that intensity now…Her hands clenched on the steering wheel. “What the hell are you doing here, Caleb?”
“I’ve come for a visit.” He smiled as he strolled around her car and leaned to look in the driver’s window at her. “You promised me one a few weeks ago and then reneged. That wasn’t fair, Jane. I was disappointed.”
“I told you it was no longer necessary.” He was too close. She could feel the heat his body was emitting. And that clean, smoky spice scent that always clung to him was drifting to her. “I sent you an email thanking you for agreeing to help, but things worked out very well for Michael without you. We didn’t need you.”
“Oh, I understood that. But emails can be so cold.” He added solemnly, “Though I did appreciate that you added the thanks. That made it a little warmer.” He opened the car door for her. “But I was looking forward to seeing Michael again. It’s been a long time since you had him in London for a visit. After thinking about it, I decided I wasn’t willing to give that up.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make.” She didn’t get out of the car. “And Michael is on his way to London right now
with Eve and Joe. If you really want to see him, perhaps we can arrange another time and place.”
“But not if you have your way,” he said softly. “Right, Jane?”
She met his eyes. “Not if I have my way. I’ve said what I wanted to say. And I don’t believe you missed Michael that much, Caleb.”
“You should.” He grinned. “I’m telling the truth. Just not all the truth.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the car. “But that’s going to change right now. Come for a drive with me and I’ll tell you why I’m not going to let you send me away this time.”
She hadn’t wanted him to touch her. She could feel the pulse in her wrist pounding. “I don’t want to go for a drive with you.”
“But you’d like it less if I drove into the castle campgrounds and forced a discussion there. That’s your territory, where you feel safe. You don’t want me invading it.”
Lord, that was true. “I don’t have to have either,” she said coolly as she tried to jerk her wrist away from him. “Back off, Caleb.”
“Yes, you do. Pick and choose.” He added coaxingly, “Because Michael will be disappointed when he calls me back later and I have to tell him that you tossed me out and you’re alone here. He wouldn’t understand.”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “I’m the one who doesn’t understand. Why should he call you?”
“He didn’t want you to be alone. And he wanted to be sure everything would work out to his satisfaction. Haven’t you found that Michael can be very thorough?”
“Yes,” she said absently. Then the anger sparked as she thought she understood. “None of this makes sense. Did you call him, Caleb?”
“I really like the boy, and I wouldn’t involve him in our business unless I was forced.” His hand tightened on her wrist. “But then I might use any means necessary. However, that time hasn’t come. I was surprised when Michael called me a couple of hours ago and asked me to come and keep you company this evening. He appeared to be quite determined about it.”
The Persuasion Page 4