“We’re not going up to your cabin?”
“No. I need to get up early tomorrow and head into town to do some shopping. Besides, it’s supposed to snow tonight.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Take my word for it. There’ll be fresh snow on the ground by morning.”
Pat held his hands up, admitting defeat. Aelissm admired his easy-going nature, the way he seemed to take things in stride. She wouldn’t be too surprised if he’d enjoy being snowed in up at the cabin. The thought brought a mischievous grin to her face. It might be quite pleasant to be snowed in with a man like Patrick O’Neil. She quelled the thought in a moment. He was here because her uncle had sent him. Aelissm contained her resentment and stubbornly refused to think about it.
She showed him around, led him out through the den and then pointed out the refrigerator in the back room that was packed full with goodies.
“Help yourself,” she told him.
Aeli grabbed a couple of extra blankets and pillows from the cupboard in the hallway and dropped them on the hideaway, which she’d pulled out and mostly gotten ready this morning. Then she went back to the den and stoked the fire while Pat ducked into the bathroom. She sat on the floor in front of the wood stove with one leg tucked beneath her and an arm wrapped around the other with the poker held loosely in her hand. She stared into the merrily dancing flames, her mind mercifully devoid of all fears and worries.
There was nothing like wood heat, she thought. It warmed thoroughly to the bone and left a snug feeling of safety that no amount of natural gas or propane or electric heat could give. She could feel it on her face, dry and comforting.
“There’s nothing quite like wood heat, is there?”
His voice startled her and she glanced over her shoulder to find Pat standing in the doorway to the den. He’d taken off his coat, which was folded over his arm, and Aeli tilted her head, riveted. His jeans, worn soft, fit his tall body wondrously, just tight enough to give Aelissm a taste. The dark blue sweater he wore, with its mock turtleneck, fit him just as well. The flickering light and shadow outlined his features exquisitely; the broad, strong shoulders, the sculpted chest and flat stomach, the long, firm legs. There was a light smile on his face, and in the glow of the fire, he was devastatingly handsome with features that were both smooth and masculine. Bryce, even at his best, would have paled in comparison. Aelissm wondered if she was seeing more than Pat’s face. He was a decent person with a good heart, as Uncle Bill had told her more than once in mentioning his favorite detective. The honesty that shone through the weariness in his eyes led Aeli to the same conclusion. Bryce, as she’d learned, hadn’t been so benevolent.
“Have a seat,” she offered.
Pat stretched out beside her, his posture relaxed and open. She was acutely aware of how intimate the situation was and how completely unconscious. Pat wasn’t trying to make a move on her; he was just sitting in front of a fire with his boss’s niece. What disturbed her more was how easy and natural it would be to rest her head on his shoulder.
She resisted the urge and pulled her other knee up and draped her arms around her legs. She had met Pat barely more than two hours ago. There was no way in hell she was going to let herself fall into anything just yet. Even if Pat seemed so gentle and honorable. Bryce had been a gallant gentleman, too, at first. Even Adam had been a funny, loveable companion until that night. Aelissm shuddered.
“So,” Pat said, as if he sensed her uneasiness. “Tell me about your friend June. Bill said you two have known each since you were five.”
Aelissm smiled, grateful for the diversion. “Yep. We’ve been friends for almost twenty years now. Wow. Uncle Bill and June’s step-dad introduced us when Dan started dating June’s mom.”
“That wouldn’t happen to be Dan Blue would it? Your uncle’s buddy from the navy?”
“That’s the one.”
“I’ve never met him, but Bill talks about him a lot. He sounds like a good guy.”
“He is. Unk wouldn’t be friends with someone who isn’t.”
Pat gave a sniff of laughter. “No, he wouldn’t. Doesn’t June live up by your parents’ cabin?”
“Just a couple hundred yards over from it. My parents invited her to spend two weeks with us up here one summer and she fell in love with the place. My grandparents let her build her cabin up on their property.”
“It’s always nice to have a good friend around when times get a little rough.”
“Don’t I know it. It’s been fun, the two of us together on the mountain again.” She paused and found herself smiling. “I’m really glad I came back.”
Pat nodded, but didn’t say anything else. They sat for a while, enjoying a contented quiet that was only interrupted by the occasional pop from the fire. Aelissm found herself wanting to explain about Bryce and Adam, but not in the context of what Pat would want to know for his role as her guardian. She felt the need to explain why she’d fallen for Bryce in the first place. But why should she have to explain anything? People make mistakes.
“We should probably get some sleep,” she said after a moment. “Hope you don’t mind being dragged around tomorrow.”
“Not at all. Do you mind if I call Bill? I should probably check in.”
“Help yourself. Phone’s in the living room. G’night.”
She tossed another log in the stove, poked at it until it suited her, then shut the door and closed the dampers for the night. Pat followed her out, bid her goodnight at her bedroom door, and headed for the living room. Her guest spoke quietly, but the thin walls made it easy for her to hear every word he said. The conversation was short, but Aelissm was curiously pleased by Pat’s glowing compliments of Northstar. Even more unaccountable, she enjoyed the smooth timbre of his voice and she was disappointed when he bid her uncle farewell. The floorboards of the hallway creaked as he walked back to the den and she thought she heard him whisper good night to her as he passed her door.
As she lay in the bed, curled beneath the thick blankets, she listened to the soft pops of the fire, then the creaks of the hideaway’s springs as Pat shifted into a comfortable position. Those sounds, signs of something as simple as a man preparing for sleep, made Aelissm sigh with relief. For the first time since Adam had called three nights ago, she felt safe. Maybe Uncle Bill was right. Maybe sending Pat was a good idea, if only for her peace of mind.
Too bad Pat had been uprooted from his life to give her that. Then again, maybe he needed the break as much as she needed to be herself again. Uncle Bill had asked her to make sure Pat relaxed while he was in Northstar. What exactly had happened, Aelissm hadn’t a clue, but Pat had been working too hard to get past it and that was enough to tell her that Northstar was probably the best place he could have come to get away. Aeli knew it from the weariness about him, the kind of exhaustion a good night’s sleep couldn’t cure. The only things that could help him were relaxation, good company and fresh mountain air, all of which were abundant in Northstar.
Chapter Three
AELISSM THRASHED AWAKE, feeling his hands gripping her arms, smashing her breasts, digging into her thighs. Terror dragged clammy fingertips over her skin and she shuddered against the threatening promise that echoed in her head as she struggled free from the nightmare. Her chest heaved and cold sweat trickled down her spine. She felt his touch, but she shouldn’t be able to. Bryce was dead. She hugged herself and rocked, trying to slow her thumping heart. It refused to obey and continued to pound erratically in her chest. The image of Bryce’s apartment, writhing in candlelight and shadow, was imprinted vividly in her mind’s eye. That apartment—part of his attempt to make his own way without his parents’ money—had been more comfortable and welcoming to her than the Ellingtons’ opulent mansion… until that night. That night, it had turned sinister and become as welcoming as a grave.
Just a bad dream, she told herself.
She glanced around the dark room, comforted by the warmth of her blankets and the quiet dark
. Very slowly, the nightmare faded away, and she sank back on the bed with her hand covering her eyes. She reminded herself that she was safe in her grandparents’ house in Northstar. Her uncle’s detective was sleeping out on the hideaway. There was nothing to be worried about, nothing to fear.
Except that Adam had called her twice now.
She glanced at her tiny battery-powered alarm clock. There was still an hour left until she had to get up, but sleep was long gone, so she flipped the covers back and climbed out of bed. She went into the den and opened the door of the woodstove. There were just a few coals left, but she tossed in a few slender logs and blew on it until flames were once again devouring the wood. Closing her eyes, she begged the fire to warm away the stubborn grip of her nightmare. After a few minutes, she glanced toward the hideaway. Pat lay on his back still peacefully asleep with his head turned to the side. His body was outlined beneath the blankets and Aelissm felt her pulse quicken. She squatted in front of the fire for a moment longer, fascinated by him and intrigued that she could no longer feel Bryce’s hands on her.
Finally, she shut the stove door and opened the dampers, then headed toward the bathroom, closed the door and turned on the shower. Stripping out of her well-worn flannel and boxer shorts, she climbed under the steaming water. It felt so good on her clammy skin and she let the few remaining chills drain away with it. Her mind drifted back to last night, when she’d sat in front of the fire with Pat for those brief moments. Had they not just met last night, it might have turned into something more romantic. And she probably would have enjoyed every moment of it. With a smile on her face, Aelissm squeezed some vanilla-scented body wash onto a washcloth and scrubbed her skin until it felt like silk again. Then she washed her hair and stepped out of the shower, much revived.
Walking to the front door, she flipped on the porch light. Her lips lifted in amusement. As she’d predicted last night, there was an inch of fresh snow glittering on the porch. More still fell from the sky, twirling and glinting in the light. She strode down the hallway and stood in the doorway to the den, silently daring Pat to wake and see her, still damp from her shower, hidden from his eyes by only a towel. She even went so far as to check the fire again, but still he slept. A little disappointed and shocked by her behavior, she went back to her room and dressed in a sinfully soft, cream-colored sweater, jeans, and thick socks. She finished the outfit with her lightweight snow boots and tried to figure out what had gotten in to her.
She pushed the question aside and set about her morning chores. First, she fed her grandparents’ cat, then washed up the few dishes she’d used for breakfast yesterday morning. Lastly, she passed through the den out to her grandmother’s little greenhouse to water the plants. She had worked her way through half of them when her alarm went off. She dashed into her room to shut it off, and went back to the greenhouse. Moments later, the creak of the hideaway told her that Pat was at last awake. The bathroom door closed and the shower turned on.
She finished watering the plants and headed back into the house. Just as she stepped through the doorway between the den and the trailer, the bathroom door opened and she froze in mid-step with her mouth hanging open. Droplets of water glistened on Pat’s skin and ran in rivulets down his well-toned chest. Their eyes met and for a long, trembling moment, it seemed like time had stopped. Aelissm couldn’t move, could barely breathe. All she could think was, Wow. Her fingers itched to touch him and her lips longed to kiss away the water. The desire racing through her veins stunned her and even if she had wanted to avert her eyes, she couldn’t.
“I didn’t know you were up yet,” Pat said, his voice disconcertingly soft.
“Yeah…. I’ve been up for an hour or so.”
“Ah.”
She noticed how Pat’s eyes glanced over her and thought she saw a glimmer of appreciation in them.
“Hungry?”
“What?” he asked, startled.
A little distracted, are we? she wondered, pleased. “Can I make you breakfast?”
“That sounds wonderful. Thanks.”
Aelissm smirked. So he hadn’t caught her in a towel, but the other way around was just as good or better. There was a noticeable spring in her step as she walked into the kitchen and pulled out some eggs and bacon. Compared to Pat’s delectable physique, Bryce had been on the skinny side. While she waited for the bacon to fry, she sat down at the kitchen table and flipped through the most recent issue of the Smithsonian, though it was difficult to focus on what she was reading. Then the bacon was done, so she fried the eggs. By the time she’d finished those and popped the bread in the toaster, Pat came down the hall. He was wearing jeans and a sweater—green this time. His face was clean-shaven and his dark auburn hair was almost dry.
“I got caught up in front of the fire again,” he remarked when he caught her staring. “I put another log on. Hope you don’t mind.”
She shook her head, looking away to hide the blush that tickled her cheeks. “No, that’s fine. Breakfast is ready.”
She pulled two plates and glasses out of the cupboard, then dug two forks out of the silverware drawer. She opened the fridge and hooked the handle of the orange juice bottle with the pinky finger of the same hand that expertly balanced the plates, glasses and forks. When she turned around, she nearly dropped it all. Pat stood just inches from her and had he not reached out to take the glasses, they likely would have crashed to the linoleum.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He smiled. “Can I give you a hand?”
“Sure. Grab the bacon and eggs and the toast, if you would.”
“Hey, it’s been a long time since I waited tables,” he replied. “I doubt I could grab all that in one trip.”
“I didn’t say you had to.”
He laughed and the rich sound brought a smile to her face. It was going to be an interesting time while Pat was in Northstar, if this morning was any indication, and Aelissm’s irritation with Uncle Bill was quickly fading.
“Smithsonian, huh?” Pat asked.
“Yep. And National Geographic. Grandma subscribes and I like to come down and read them. It’s our bonding time.”
Pat smiled. “Bill hasn’t told me too much else about you, beyond what I needed to know and that you’re an accomplished craftswoman. So I have to ask… and I apologize if you take offense. How ever did you come to have such an unusual name?”
“Aelissm is Double Dutch for Melissa.”
“Double Dutch?”
“It’s one of those playground languages, like Pig Latin. Only, in Double Dutch, you switch the first and last letters. Melissa becomes Aelissm. Get it?”
“I think so. But why Melissa?”
“My mother’s best friend in grade school was Melissa. And my mother’s favorite flower is Alyssum, so my name was the best of two worlds. It made school very interesting.”
“I can imagine your teachers had a hard time pronouncing it. And the other kids must have given you hell.”
“Not too bad. I kept to myself mostly. What about you? Any interesting tidbits about your name?”
“My Grandpa O’Neil was Patrick. ‘A good Irish name,’ he always said. And my middle name, Antony, is my mother’s father’s name. Nothing as fun as yours, though I did get called Fat Pat a little more often than I would have liked.”
“But there’s nothing fat about you.”
He smiled sheepishly. “I was about as scrawny as they come back then, too.”
Aelissm realized they were still standing in the kitchen with their breakfast precariously balanced. She laughed and sat at the table in her customary chair by the window. Pat took the chair across the table from her, with his back to the stove.
“Is it… snowing?” he asked, staring over her shoulder out the window.
“Yes, it is.”
He shook his head, but he smiled in apparent amusement, and started in on breakfast. Aelissm smirked. No, he definitely wasn’t the city boy she’d been expecting. This mig
ht be fun.
* * *
Pat settled the bags of groceries in the back of Aelissm’s truck and returned the cart. When he arrived back at the truck, Aelissm had already started it and the heater was blasting hot air in wonderful contrast to the cold and wind-blown snow flurries. The snow here was so different from what he was used to. The flakes were tiny and dry and drifted across the road in white, writhing snakes. Aelissm had told him that spring snows were usually heavier and wetter, like Washington, but with the temperature hovering around fifteen degrees, the moisture had been sucked out of the air.
He studied Aelissm discreetly as she drove. Occasionally, she muttered a curse under her breath about idiot drivers, but mostly, she remained silent. She seemed so at home here in this sparsely populated corner of Montana that he wondered what had ever drawn her to Seattle. It didn’t suit what he knew of her and though he’d barely known her more than fourteen hours—much of which had been spent in sleep—he decided that she couldn’t have been happy in the city. Remembering the light smile he’d seen on her face last night, in the firelight, he was sure of it. There was an innocence about her that Seattle and even Bryce’s assault and death had not touched. She was undoubtedly a survivor, otherwise the city would have eaten her for a light, midday snack, but….
Pat stared out the window at the white hills half-hidden by curtains of falling snow. What had drawn him to Seattle? To be fair, he had gone to pursue a career in the Seattle Police Department, to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. The ceaseless buzz of humanity had certainly never really appealed to him. His fonder memories came from the town of North Bend, several miles inland from Seattle on I-90, where he’d spent most of his life enjoying the quiet shadow of the Cascade Mountains.
“Earth to Pat.”
Mountain Angel (Northstar Angels, Book One) Page 4
