Two of my brothers have houses like this. Travis has finished his. Kyle and Sandy are still wrestling with plumbing upgrades. When Im up and around, I can show you the houses if youd like.
That would be wonderful. What are you going to do with this house?
Im not sure. In some of the rooms Im stripping paint off the original molding. You wouldnt believe what people do to beautiful wood.
Tell me about it. Ive seen some horrible things. It should be illegal. She moved her chair a little closer to his bed. Once I went to an estate sale. A woman had covered every piece of furniture with gold paint. It was appalling.
Holly continued with her story, but Jordan was having trouble concentrating. He stared at her face. When shed visited him in the hospital, hed noticed her freckles and the fact that she didnt wear much makeup. Today was the same. Her lashes were darkened with mascara, but other than that, she was as clean scrubbed as a ten-year-old.
He watched her full lips move as she spoke. Enthusiasm made her eyes sparkle. Her arms moved, and with them, her body. His gaze was drawn to her chest. She was definitely this side of curvy. Her breasts would spill out of his hands, but he didnt think he would mind all that much.
He fought down a grin. His family and friends considered him reclusive and brooding. Occasionally he bordered on surly. So what the hell was this woman doing in his house? And why was he so pleased to be in her company?
When youre ready to strip wallpaper, let me know, she said. I have a steamer that works like magic. She glanced at the high ceilings. Even with that, in some of the rooms its going to take days.
Ill get my brothers to help me, he said. Ive helped them enough times.
Youre one of four, right?
He nodded.
Thats nice. She sighed. I always wanted a big family, but it was just my mom and me.
Holly was alone. Jordan didnt know what that felt like. Many times he found himself standing on the outside of family activities. Watching rather than participating. But that was about him, not about the family. He always had a place to go where he was welcome. He couldnt imagine a world where no one cared about him.
Theres no husband lurking in the background? Or a jealous boyfriend? Im not in a position to have to defend myself.
She blushed. Hardly. I havent really had time for that sort of thing.
What sort of thing had she had time for?
Leave it alone, Haynes, he told himself. She wasnt the woman for him. Hed wondered if the innocent act was real. Now he had a bad feeling it was. Wholesome. Just as hed first thought.
How old are you? he asked.
Twenty-eight.
Twenty-eight and never been kissed. He pushed the rolling table to one side. That was unlikely. Holly had been kissed. How could she look the way she did and not have been kissed? She probably had a trail of men drooling after her everywhere she went.
Have you met a lot of people in Glenwood? he asked. He meant men, of course, but asking that directly would be rude. Not to mention the fact that it would imply an interest he didnt have.
Liar, a voice in his head yelled. He ignored it.
Some. People who come into my store are nice. I know my landlord, of course. Ive made a couple of friends.
She looked away from him as he spoke, and he knew in that instant she was lying. She hadnt made a lot of friends, but she didnt want him feeling sorry for her.
He thought about the women his brothers had married. All of them were terrific and friendly. He had a feeling if he mentioned Holly to them, they would take her under their wings and draw her into the group. Or at least help her feel less alone. But Holly might not want him interfering.
Before he could ask or offer, she rose and collected their dinner plates. Would you like some coffee? she asked.
That would be great. Oh, and some of those cookies you brought.
She gave him a quick smile, then headed out of the room. He watched the sway of her hips as she walked, and felt a stirring deep inside. He ignored it, just as he ignored the flicker of interest and the sensation of being intrigued. It had been a long time since a woman had caught his attention.
He reminded himself there was a price to be paid for getting involved. A price for caring. He wasnt willing to pay that again. But that wasnt what this was about. Holly was keeping him company. Nothing more. Soon she would leave, and he wouldnt have to see her again. Bad enough to risk getting involved with any woman. Worse to risk the heart of an innocent.
Chapter Three
Holly brought in coffee and a plate of cookies. While shed been in the kitchen, shed removed her apron. Jordan tried to ignore her curves and his bodys natural reaction to them. Aside from the fact that they were strangers, he was in no condition to act on any impulses, however pleasant the fantasy.
I didnt know how you liked it, she said as she set the tray on the table across his bed. Theres milk and sugar. She motioned to the small containers next to the plate of cookies.
Black is fine.
She picked up her cup, added milk, stirred, then took her seat. How do you feel? she asked.
He shrugged, then grimaced as muscles in his back protested. Like I was thrown off the side of a building.
Instead of smiling, she grew solemn with concern. Im so sorry.
Its not your fault.
Yes, it is. She leaned toward him and placed her cup on the table. I shouldnt have asked you to go back and rescue Mistletoe. When I think about it now She swallowed. Her blue eyes darkened with an emotion he couldnt read. You could have been killed.
I wouldnt have gone in if Id been in that much danger.
Really?
He nodded. I like what I do for a living, but I dont have a death wish.
She gave him a faint smile. Shes all I have left from my mother. Mistletoe was a gift to me the Christmas before Mom died. Im very grateful for what you did. Her voice was husky.
Somehow, in all the moving around, her chair had slid closer to the bed. Now, if she leaned forward as she was doing now, her hands rested on the edge of the mattress. A single strand of blond hair hung down by her cheek. The wisp brushed against her skin, but she didnt seem to notice. His gut clenched as he wondered if she was going to cry. He freely admitted he was a typical male, completely knocked off balance by female tears.
Just doing my job, he said lightly.
She responded with a smile. What made you want to do that rather than become a police officer like the rest of your family?
He pushed the controls and lowered the bed a little, then tucked one hand behind his head. When I was about eight or nine, a house in the neighborhood caught fire. I watched the fire department at work. Id never really understood what my father and uncles did. I knew from television they were supposed to catch the bad guys, but Glenwood isnt a hotbed of criminal activity. The sheriffs department acts more as a deterrent than a crime-solving organization. But I could see what the fire fighters did, and I was impressed. That stayed with me.
He reached for his coffee. That wasnt the only reason. Growing up, hed also watched his old man. By the time he was twelve, he knew he didnt want to be anything like his father. Earl Haynes had a reputation for being a ladies man.