“Probably not to the chicken, but it could make a difference in whether we survive this meal.”
“We can always go back to the frozen dinners. I bought most of them last week.” He paused thoughtfully. “Except for those Salisbury steak things. They’ve probably been there longer. Tony said if I ever made him eat another one he’d report me to his grandmother for feeding him sawdust.”
The comment earned a full-blown, dazzling smile and Nick felt as though he’d been granted an award. Whatever nervousness Dana had been feeling seemed to be disappearing now that she had familiar tasks to do. She moved around the kitchen efficiently, asking for pans and utensils as she needed them. In less than half an hour, there were delicious aromas wafting from the stove.
“What are you making?”
“Coq au vin. Now,” she said, “if you’ll point out the dishes and silverware, I’ll set the table.”
“No, you won’t. That’s Tony’s job. We’ll take our tour now and send him in.”
Nick anxiously watched the play of expressions on Dana’s face as he led her through the downstairs of the house. For a man who’d never given a hang what anyone thought, he desperately wanted her approval. The realization surprised him. He held his breath until she exclaimed over the gleaming wide-plank wooden floors, the antiques that he and Ginny had chosen with such care, the huge fireplace that was cold now but had warmed many a winter night. The beveled mirror in a huge oak cabinet caught the sparkle in Dana’s huge brown eyes as she ran her fingers lovingly over the intricate carving.
As they wandered, Missy, a haughty Siamese cat that belonged to no one but deigned to live with Nick, regarded them cautiously from her perch on the windowsill. Finally, she stood up and stretched lazily. To Nick’s astonishment, the cat then jumped down and rubbed her head on Dana’s ankle. Dana knelt down and scratched the cat under her chin, setting off a loud purring.
“That’s amazing,” Nick said. “Missy is not fond of people. She loved Ginny, but she barely tolerates me and Tony. Usually she ignores strangers.”
“Perhaps she’s just very selective,” Dana retorted with a lift of one brow. “A wise woman is always discriminating.”
“Is there a message in there for me?”
“Possibly.” There was a surprising twinkle in her eyes when she said it.
“You wouldn’t be trying to warn me away, would you?” he inquired lightly. “Because if you are, let me tell you something: I don’t give up easily on the things I value.”
Dana swallowed nervously, but it was the only hint she gave of her nervousness. She met his gaze steadily as she gracefully stood up after giving Missy a final pat.
Tension filled the air with an unending silence that strummed across Nick’s nerves. Flames curled inside and sent heat surging through him. Desire swept over him with a power that was virtually irresistible. For the first time in years he recalled the intensity of unfulfilled passion, the need that could drive all other thoughts from your mind. He gazed at Dana and felt that aching need. Dana, so determinedly prim and proper in her severely tailored brown skirt and plain beige silk blouse, was every inch a classy lady, but she stirred a restless, wild yearning inside him.
It was Dana who broke the nerve-racking silence.
“You can’t lose what you don’t have,” she said very, very quietly before moving on to the next room. Left off balance by the comment, Nick stayed behind for several minutes trying to gather his wits and calm his racing pulse.
By the time they found Tony, it was time to serve dinner. There was no time for a complete tour of the bedrooms. It was probably just as well, Nick told himself. The sight of Dana standing anywhere near his bed might have driven him to madness.
What caused this odd, insistent pull he felt toward her? Certainly it was more than her luxuriant hair and wide eyes, more than her long-limbed grace. Was it the vulnerability that lurked beneath the surface? Or was it as elusive as the sense that, for whatever reason, she was forbidden, out of reach? He’d been with her twice now, but he knew little more about her than the facts she’d put on her résumé. She talked, even joked, but revealed nothing. He wanted much more. He wanted to know what went on in her head, what made her laugh and why she cried. He wanted to discover everything there was to know about Dana Brantley.
Most infuriating of all to a man of his methodical, cautious ways, he didn’t know why.
During dinner, Tony chattered away, basking in Dana’s quiet attention, and Nick tried to puzzle out the attraction. Soon though, the talk and laughter drew him in and he left the answers for another day.
Saturday. Only five days and he would have another chance to discover the mysterious allure she held for him. Five days that, in his sudden impatience, yawned before him like an eternity.
Chapter 3
Dana spent the rest of the week thinking up excuses to get her out of Saturday night’s date. None was as irrefutable—or as factual—as simply telling Nick quite firmly: I don’t want to go. Unfortunately, each time she looked into Tony’s excited eyes, she couldn’t get those harsh words past her lips.
She searched for a word to describe the tumult she’d felt after her visit to Nick’s place. Disquieting. That was it. Nick had been a gentleman, the perfect host. On the surface their conversational banter had been light, but there had been sensual undercurrents so swift that at times she had felt she’d be caught up and swept away. Nick’s brand of gentle attentiveness spun a dangerous web that could hold the most unwilling woman captive until the seduction was complete.
Yet he’d never touched her, except for that one electrifying instant when she’d been accidentally trapped between him and the refrigerator. She’d anticipated something more when he walked her to her car, and her heart had thundered in her chest. But he’d simply held open the car door, then closed it gently behind her. Only his lazy, lingering gaze had seared her and made her blood run hot.
That heated examination was enough to get the message across with provocative clarity. Nick had more in mind for the two of them. He was only biding his time. The thought scared the daylights out of her. She’d been so sure she had built an impenetrable wall around her emotions, but in Nick’s presence that wall was tumbling down. She didn’t know quite how she’d ever build it up again.
On Friday she sat on her front porch rocking until long past midnight. Usually listening to the silence and counting the stars scattered across the velvet blanket of darkness soothed her. Every night since she’d come to River Glen, the flower-scented breeze had caressed her so gently that her muscles relaxed and she felt tension ease away. But tonight there was no magic. Cars filled with rowdy teenagers split the silence and clouds covered the stars. The humid night air was as still as death and, in her distraught, churning state of mind, just as ominous.
As a result, she was as nervous and tense when she went in to bed as she had been when she’d first settled into the rocker seeking comfort and an escape from her troubling thoughts. She tried reading, but the words swam before her exhausted eyes. When she turned out the light, she lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, first counting sheep, then going over the titles of her favorite books, then counting sheep again.
Although she waged an intense battle to keep the prospect of tomorrow’s date out of her mind, it was always there, lurking about the fringes of her thoughts.
It’s only one evening, she reminded herself. Tony will be there. So will half the town, for that matter.
But even one evening in the company of a man with a surprising power to unnerve her was too much. It loomed before her as an endless ordeal to be gotten through, even though it would drain whatever supreme courage she could still muster from her worn-down defenses. Nick was constantly at the center of her thoughts, and in these thoughts his casual touches branded her in a way that awed and frightened her at the same time.
In reality, he was doing nothing but flirting with her. But how long would it be before those touches became intense, demanding? How long before the
pressure would start and the torment would curl inside her like a vicious serpent waiting to strike?
Finally exhaustion claimed her and she fell into a restless, uneasy slumber. Considering her state of mind, it wasn’t surprising that she awoke in the middle of the night screaming, her throat hoarse, her whole body trembling and covered with sweat. She sat up in bed shaking, clutching the covers around her, staring blindly into the darkness for the threat that had seemed so real, so familiar. At last, still shivering but convinced it had been only a dream, she reached for the light by her bed to banish the last of the shadows. Her hand was shaking and tears streamed down her face unchecked.
Oh, God, please, when will it end? When will I be free of the memories?
Tonight was the first time in months the nightmare had returned. In her relief, she had even deluded herself that her bad dreams were a thing of the past, that they’d been left behind in a Manhattan skyscraper. She should have known that horror didn’t die so easily. Perhaps it was simply because for the first time in months, she had failed to leave a night-light burning, something to keep away the ghosts that haunted her. She vowed never to make that mistake again.
It was hours before she slept again and noon before she woke. Six hours before Nick and Tony were due. Six hours to be gotten through with nerves stretched taut, her mind restless. More than once she reached for the phone to call Nick and cancel, but each time she hung it back up, labeling herself a coward.
It was her first date since Sam, and first times were always the hardest. After tonight, she hoped the jitters would go away, although with Nick Verone, it was quite possible—likely, in fact—that they’d only become worse.
“I can’t do it,” she muttered at last. “I can’t go, if I’m going to jump like a frightened, inexperienced schoolgirl every time the man gets within an inch of me.”
This time when she picked up the phone, her hand was steady, her determination intact. The resonant sound of Nick’s voice seemed to set off distantly remembered echoes along her spine, but she managed to sound calm and relatively sure of herself when she greeted him.
“Nick, there’s a problem.” She hesitated, then hurried on. “I really don’t think I’ll be able to go with you tonight after all.”
“Why?”
“I’m not feeling very well.” That, at least, was no lie, but she discovered she was holding her breath as she awaited his reply.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and she could hear the genuine regret, the stirring of compassion. He didn’t for a single instant suspect her of lying. “Is it the flu? Do you need something from the pharmacy? I could run by the grocery store and pick up some soup or something if you need it.”
His unquestioning concern immediately filled her with shame. She swallowed the guilty lump in her throat. “No, it’s not the flu,” she admitted, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at herself in the mirror over the phone table. “I just had a bad night last night. I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Is that all?” Nick’s relief was evident. “Then take a quick nap. It’s only five o’clock now. I’ll give you an extra half hour. We won’t pick you up until six-thirty. We’ll still have plenty of time.”
“No, really.” She rushed through the words. “I won’t be very good company. I appreciate your asking. Maybe another time.”
“Now you listen to me,” he said, his voice dropping to its sexiest pitch, sliding over her persuasively. “This won’t be a late night. I promise. Getting out will probably make you feel better. You’ll forget whatever was on your mind, meet some new people, and tonight you’ll catch up on your sleep.”
Dana could almost envision him nodding his head decisively as he added, “No doubt about it. This is exactly what you need. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“But, Nick—”
“No buts. You’re coming with us. If you’re not ready when we get there, we’ll wait. And what about Tony?” he continued. “You don’t want to disappoint him, do you?”
Dana felt the pressure build, but oddly she was almost relieved that Nick wasn’t listening to her ridiculous excuses. She had blown this single date out of proportion. Nick was right about her getting out and meeting new people. Maybe it would be the best thing for her to do. Besides, he wasn’t about to let up now that he had her on the ropes. She sighed and conceded defeat. “You really don’t care what kind of sneaky, rotten tactics you use, do you?”
Nick merely chuckled at her grumbling. “Well, he would be disappointed, wouldn’t he? That’s the unvarnished truth. I was just trying to point that out to you before you made a dreadful mistake that would make you feel guilty for the rest of your life.”
“Precisely. You knew it would work, unless I was on my deathbed, right?”
She could practically visualize Nick’s satisfied grin. “It was worth a shot,” he agreed. “Did it work?”
“It worked. Make it six-thirty. The idea of a nap sounds wonderful.”
“See you then,” he said cheerfully. “Sleep well.”
“Sleep well,” she mimicked when she’d replaced the receiver. Blast the man! The only way she’d sleep now would be to get this evening over with. So instead of lying down, she went to the tomato garden and furiously uprooted every weed she could spot. If she was going to have a temper tantrum, it might as well serve a useful purpose. The tantrum felt good, even if it was misdirected. She could just imagine what the townsfolk would say if she pulled the hairs from Nick Verone’s overconfident head just as enthusiastically.
An hour later, after a soothing bubble bath, she dressed with unusual care, wanting to find exactly the right look for her first social appearance in River Glen. The fact that she was making it on the arm of the town’s most eligible bachelor should have given her self-confidence. Instead, it made her quake.
Barbecue and bingo hardly called for a silk dress, but jeans were much too casual. She finally settled for a pale blue sleeveless cotton dress that bared the slightly golden tan of her arms but not much else. Its full skirt swirled about her legs. She wore low-heeled sandals, though she had a feeling three-inch heels might improve her confidence. Then she thought of all the times she’d dressed regally in New York and realized the clothes had made no difference at all.
This time she heard Nick’s car drive up before she saw him. She’d been pacing from room to room, refusing to sit out on the porch, where it might seem she was waiting for him. Nick called through the screen door in back, rather than knocking, and the sound of his low drawl sent a shiver down her spine. Did she feel dread? Anticipation? Did she even know anymore?
When she came to the door his gaze swept over her appreciatively, then returned to linger on her face. A slow smile lit his rugged features, making him even more handsome.
“Yet another personality,” he muttered cryptically.
Dana gave him a puzzled glance. “What does that mean?”
“Last Saturday you could have been a farmer, all covered with dirt and sweat.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Sounds attractive. I’m surprised you asked me out.”
A teasing glint appeared in his tawny eyes. “I knew you’d clean up good. Monday proved it. You could have been working on Wall Street instead of our library in that outfit. The only thing missing was the briefcase.”
“And now?”
“I’m not sure. I only wish we were going square dancing, so that skirt could fly up and—”
“Never mind,” she interrupted quickly. “I get the idea.”
“I hope so,” he said so softly it raised goose bumps on her arms. Unfortunately, her reaction was all too visible and Nick was rogue enough to take pleasure in it. He shot a very confident grin her way.
It was going to be a very long evening.
Despite his compliments and light flirting, Nick had noticed something else when Dana greeted him, something he politely didn’t mention. The woman was exhausted. That story she’d spun on the phone to try to get out of their date hadn’t
been as manufactured as it had sounded. Underneath the skillful makeup, her complexion was ashen and there were deep, dark smudges under her eyes. Something was clearly troubling her, but he doubted if she’d bring it up and he had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate it if he did.
At Gracie’s, where the tablecloths were plastic and the saltshakers were clogged because of the humidity, huge fans whirred overhead to stir the unseasonably sultry air. As they entered, every head in the place turned curiously to study the three of them with unabashed interest. Dana flinched imperceptibly under the scrutiny, but Nick caught her discomfort and they hurried straight to a table, rather than lingering to exchange greetings. He told himself there would be time enough for introductions at the fire station.
“So, what’s it gonna be, Nick?” Carla Redding asked, stepping up to the table and leaning down just enough to display her ample cleavage.
Nick grinned at her and never once let his gaze wander lower than her round, rosy-cheeked face. “Are you trying to hustle us out of here in a hurry tonight, so you can pick up more tips? We haven’t even seen the menu.”
Carla straightened up and tugged a pencil out from behind her ear. “Menu hasn’t changed in ten years, as you know perfectly well, since you eat here at least twice a week.”
“But we have a newcomer with us tonight. This is Dana Brantley, the new librarian. Dana, meet Carla Redding. She owns this place.”
“But I thought this was Gracie’s,” she said, as Nick chuckled at Dana’s obvious confusion.
Carla grinned. “It was Gracie’s when I bought it ten years ago. Saw no need to change it. Just mixes people up. You need to see a menu, honey?”
“Nick claims you have the best barbecue around, so I suppose I ought to have that.”
“Good choice,” Nick said. “We’ll have four barbecue sandwiches.” He glanced at Tony, who seemed to be growing at the rate of an inch a day lately. “Nope. Better make that five. Some coleslaw, french fries and how about some apple pie? Did you do any baking today?”
Edge of Forever Page 4
