His Touch. Mary Baxter Lynn

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ later, Brant was inside the Nash house, sitting at the kitchen table watching Veronica whip up a bowl of chicken salad for sandwiches. A tray of cheese and fruit was already on the table, along with three choices of bread.

      “As you guessed, Thurmon had to run to the office and handle a problem,” she said, turning and smiling at him.

      “Figures.”

      “You of all people should understand that,” she said, adding to her smile.

      “It’s been a long time, but yeah, I understand. It goes with the territory.”

      “I’m still not used to it, though. I don’t think I’ll ever be.”

      “But you’ve hung in.”

      She obviously picked up on the bitterness in his tone, because her animated features sobered. “Are you still smarting from Marsha’s betrayal?”

      “No. We should never have married to begin with. The part I regret is Elliot.”

      “Have you spoken to him yet, let him know you’re in town?”

      He heaved a sigh. “I almost called a few minutes ago, but I didn’t know if he was in school or not.”

      “I don’t think it’s quite out yet, but close. Anyway, you’ll have plenty of time now that you’re back for a while.” She paused. “Which brings us to the reason you’re sitting here. How did your meeting with Jessica go?”

      Brant didn’t flinch, though he picked up on the anxious note in her voice. “It didn’t.”

      “What does that mean?” Veronica’s voice rose a level.

      “I don’t think your friend was impressed with me.”

      “That’s crazy. You’re the best at this kind of thing.”

      “You’ll have to take that up with her.”

      “Exactly what did she say?”

      “That she’d call me. I told her she had twenty-four hours to make up her mind. But I think it’s already made up.”

      “Oh dear,” Veronica said, gnawing on her lower lip. “You can’t desert her, Brant. You just can’t.”

      “Hey, she’s the one who’s making that call, not me. I asked some questions she didn’t want to answer, and that seemed to be that.”

      “She’s a very private person. Her job forces her to be.”

      “I can respect that, but at the same time, when your life’s in danger, you have to make adjustments.” He toyed with a fork. “She apparently hasn’t reached that conclusion yet. Until she does…” He let his voice trail off, but Veronica got his drift.

      “I’m really worried about her. She’s so damned independent, yet she misses depending on Porter.”

      “What happened to him?”

      “He died of a heart attack. He was twenty-five years older than she was. I know what you’re thinking, but it worked for them.”

      “Whatever.”

      

      Veronica eased down in the chair across from him. “Promise me you won’t give up. Not until I’ve talked to her again, anyway. Thurmon, too.”

      Brant blew out his breath. He hated feeling trapped in the middle of a situation he couldn’t control. Granted, he wanted to help his friends, to do right by them. At the same time, he had to look out for his own best interest.

      And watching over Jessica Kincaid was not in his best interest. Still, he had given her a deadline, and he intended to honor that. “All I can promise is to wait for her call.”

      Veronica toyed with her lip. “She can be really stubborn.”

      “If I get the green light, I’ll do my best.”

      “Fair enough,” Veronica said, looking slightly relieved. “Maybe she’ll come to her senses.”

      He doubted that, but he kept his mouth shut.

      Five

      “Sure you don’t want me to bunk on the sofa?”

      “Thanks again, Tony, but no.” Jessica softened her words with a smile. “You escorted me this evening and made sure I got home. That’s more than enough.”

      He made his familiar hand gesture. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you need me or the police, don’t hesitate to call. There are a lot of officers who are still backing you.”

      Jessica’s features turned pensive. “I wish I could be sure of that. Sometimes I feel like daggers are being thrown at me. Sort of paranoid, I know, but—” She broke off with a small shrug.

      “Trust me,” Tony said in an adamant tone, “that’s not the case. You did the right thing. Don’t forget that.”

      “Thanks for those encouraging words.” Jessica smiled. “I needed them. Thanks again, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

      “I’m not leaving until I check the house.”

      A few minutes later Jessica bolted the door behind Tony and headed to her bedroom for a quick shower. She’d had a soaking bath before going to the art exhibit, but for some unexplainable reason, she felt the need for a hot shower. Maybe it would calm her fractured nerves.

      She hadn’t said anything to Tony, but during her meanderings through the exhibit she’d felt certain she was being followed, as if evil eyes and footsteps followed every step she took. Of course, she hadn’t been able to spot anyone who appeared out of the ordinary. But that hadn’t meant anything; when it came to stalkers, she would be easy to fool.

      All the more reason why you need protection, she told herself.

      Thrusting that unwanted thought aside, Jessica peeled off her silk black dress and hung it up. That was when the phone rang. She froze, chills running through her. But after checking the caller ID, she breathed a relief of sorts.

      It was her stepson. Since it was late, his calling couldn’t be good news. This wasn’t the first time he’d pulled such a stunt, either. “Hello, Roy,” she said as pleasantly as possible.

      “Where have you been?”

      Jessica squelched her tart reply, not up to having a verbal slinging match with him. She already had too much friction and discord in her life to add him to the list. “At a charity function, doing my job.”

      “Look, I want to come over.”

      “Now?”

      “Yes, now.”

      “No, Roy, you can’t. It’s too late.”

СКАЧАТЬ