Scrambled eggs with body, thick bacon, home made juice, strong coffee and buttery toast. Had she found culinary heaven? “This is great!” She beamed at Mrs. Brown who was obviously pleased with her houseguest’s compliments.
Feeling refreshed, Daisy couldn’t resist trying to find out a little more about the habits of Nicholas Underwood. “So Mrs. B., does Nick often leave you to entertain his women guests?”
Mary laughed heartily and pulled out a chair to sit down. “You’re not very subtle, Miss Daisy, but that’s okay. I like people who are direct. No. To tell you the truth, you’re the first woman Mr. Nick has brought home since his divorce. I was shocked to learn this morning that a female was in the house.”
“Well,” Daisy said, avoiding eye contact. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the emergency.”
“Right. Sure.” Mrs. Brown shrugged. “Believe what you want. It was just a matter of time. Mr. Nick has sense enough to hold on to something special when he sees it.”
“How do you know he thinks I’m special?”
“He bounces.”
“He what?”
“He bounces when he walks. The man hasn’t done that in years.”
Daisy shook her head, trying to understand. “Maybe it’s the horses. Or a new canoe idea. Or maybe he just decided to bounce.”
“He scares the bejeebers out of you, doesn’t he?”
Gulping the remainder of her orange juice, Daisy nodded.
“For whatever it’s worth, Mr. Nick is the kindest white man I’ve ever known. He could have let me go at any time. And where would this old woman go? I’ve outlived most of my friends. We had a son, but he was killed in Vietnam.”
“I’m sorry.” Daisy placed a hand on the older woman’s arm.
“Yeah, well. It happened. Long time ago. But...anyway, Mr. Nick kept me on.”
“You seem to like him a lot.”
Mary gave Daisy her broadest smile. “Oh yeah. He makes sure I get to church on Sunday. He does much of the grocery shopping anymore. But he can be cantankerous at times, but then I just pay him back.”
“Now, I am curious. How do you pay him back?”
“I dress up in the white nanny outfit I used to wear in the old days. I’ve done it a few times when he’s had guests over. It embarrasses him to no end. Threatens to burn the damn clothes. Says it makes me look like his slave and him some kind of master. It’s always worth a chuckle or two, and then he’s over nice for a while.”
Daisy convulsed with laughter. She could easily imagine Nick straightening his glasses, running his hands through his hair, pacing about and ordering his housekeeper not to look like a slave. And she likely just stood in one place and listened politely with no intent to heed his orders. Nick had difficulty with women who didn’t follow orders easily.
“So you will go to the hospital?”
“Yes, my sister may be waking from the drugs.”
“You’ll be back?”
“Yes, I have to work things out with Nick. I’m perfectly safe in my own place.”
“Maybe not.”
“What has Nick told you?”
“Don’t be cross with him. He only told me enough so I would call the police if a Mr. Reggie Lassiter shows up on our doorstep.”
Daisy’s shoulders sagged. “I hope my coming here hasn’t put you in danger, too. Nick wasn’t supposed to find out about my family.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Mrs. Brown replied, “It don’t matter. I’ve probably seen worse than your brother-in-law. And Nick would’ve found out sooner or later. It won’t matter to him.”
“It does to me.”
“Shouldn’t. You’re strong. You’ve got street sense, girl. You can handle whatever comes your way. Even Nicholas Underwood.”
“How can you tell?” Daisy wanted to believe.
“Your eyes. You have honest eyes that see much. And the way you carry yourself. Like a cat ready to pounce or flee, depending on what she sees.”
Laughing, Daisy said, “I hope you’re right. You sure pay a lot of attention to how people walk.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve spent many more years than you watching and scheming to protect myself and what’s mine.”
“So your sister didn’t come around today?”
Daisy shook her head at Nick, who sat beside her on the leather couch before a small fire in the marble fireplace. It was unseasonably cool, and the fire warmed her chilled bones. She’d just returned to the Kenwood house after spending the day being sentry at her sister’s bedside.
“No. Doctor Anderson thinks maybe tomorrow, but it’s hard to predict.” Daisy tucked a leg under a thigh and rocked forward. “He says she’s resting comfortably and healing and that’s what’s important.”
“Any sign of Reggie?”
“Hardly,” she replied, placing a hand on his arm. “I don’t think we’ll see his face until his nose recovers.”
Nick grunted. “Just don’t count on it. He’s going to be a problem.”
“He always has been.”
“Did you meet Mrs. B.?”
Daisy brightened. “Oh yes, early this morning. Well, not so early, I’m afraid. She’s quite the woman. Sounds like she came with the house.”
“She did. The seller almost made it a condition of the contract. Keeping her on was one of the best choices I ever made. This place functions because she knows what to do. I dread thinking of the day when she won’t be around any longer.”
Gazing at the fire, Daisy nodded. “We seemed to hit it off right away. So you don’t bring women here.”
“Ms. B. also likes to gab.” Nick patted Daisy’s thigh. “Yes, you’re the first woman to sleep in my bed since I split with my ex.”
“So why me?”
“Can’t explain that entirely. You delight me in ways I never dreamed off. Maybe it’s your youthful enthusiasm.”
“Did you take advantage of my vulnerability yesterday to bring me here?” Daisy eyed Nick without accusing.
Taking a deep breath before responding, Nick replied, “Yeah, I imagine I did a little. I’ve wanted to bring you here for a while now. But you seemed so put off by my money, I waited. With your safety in question, it was a no-brainer. Oh, you could have gone to the Travers farm, but that’s a long commute. I could have put you in a hotel, but bringing you to my home seemed right at the moment. I hope it doesn’t bother you too much.”
“Oh, I’m adjusting; maybe too well. It’s a beautiful house. I love the hardwood floors and the French doors and the built in cupboards. It’s so spacious a person could get lost here. And Mrs. Brown is a real card. And it’s good to know more about who you are.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it. Then you’ll stay.”
Daisy crossed her arms. “Only until my sister can get on her feet. I’ll need to be with her as she recovers. Then I’ll go back to my place. I admit that Reggie unsettled me yesterday, and I do like your support, but eventually I have to stand on my own.” A harshness had crept into her voice that she couldn’t explain.
Nick slid his glasses up his nose and glanced over at the fire. “That’s good enough for now. Let’s take it a day at a time and see what develops.”
Daisy snuggled into his outstretched arm. It was going to be difficult to keep her guard up—her emotional guard. She could get used to his lifestyle and his constant presence if she wasn’t careful. And then what would she do when he was ready to move on to some other woman, or to some other toy? Wasn’t that how Mrs. Brown described the horses? His latest toys?
At nine-thirty the next morning, Maxine opened her eyes for the first time since arriving at the hospital. Slowly she focused on Daisy and whispered, “Hi, baby.”
Daisy nodded, forcing back tears. “Hi there yourself, big sister. It’s been a while.”
“How long?”
“Three and a half days. The nurse told me to press the button when you came around.”
“Where?”
Daisy cringed at Maxine’s d
ry whisper. “You’re at Cook County in the ICU. Doctor Anderson says you’re coming along nicely.”
Maxine winced. “So much for him.”
“Well, well our patient has decided to join us. That’s good. My name is Rebecca. I’m your nurse.” Rebecca checked various monitors. “How do you feel?”
“Like shit!”
Rebecca chuckled. “I bet.” She looked toward Daisy. “Everything checks out okay. I’ll let the doctor know that she’s come around. It’s okay to stay for a while, but don’t tax her by getting her to talk much.”
“No problem. It’s just such a relief to see her eyelids open and shut.”
“Maxine can have small sips of water when she wants. She’ll need your help. Her throat is terribly dry from the tubes.” The nurse looked at the chart again and scribbled a note. “I’ll be in and out, and the doctor will be by later.”
Daisy nodded and directed her attention back to her sister. She looked a mess. Her face was laced with bruises and her left arm was in a cast. And she looked tired, so tired. “Don’t try to talk,” Daisy said. “You need to sleep so you can heal.”
Maxine’s eyes widened. “Sorry,” she groaned. “You should be working.”
“Work is taking care of itself. For now, you’re the top priority. Would you like a sip of water?”
Maxine nodded.
“Let’s see if we can do this.” Daisy held the cup with the bent straw. With effort, Maxine opened her lips. She took three small swallows and pushed the cup away. Daisy placed it back on the stand.
“Know what you’re thinking.” Maxine whispered, closing her eyes. “What?”
“He didn’t do it.”
“Who?”
“Reggie.”
Daisy tightened her grip on the bed rail. She wasn’t about to tell Maxine Reggie had attacked her in the waiting room while his wife was just holding on. “You can tell me about it later.”
“Won’t be different then.” Maxine coughed and gagged. Daisy wiped her mouth with a tissue. “Was hit by a car. Never stopped.”
With mouth agape, Daisy was at least pleased that her sister’s eyes remained shut. Obviously, Reggie had never had an opportunity to tell Maxine their cover story.
Shaking her head at the half broken woman, Daisy feared there was nothing Reggie Lassiter could do to her or anyone else that would force Maxine to turn him in to the cops. Unlike the common wisdom regarding alcoholics, Maxine apparently had no bottom. Or if she did, it was nowhere in sight.
Chapter Twelve
Cornered. For two weeks Daisy shuffled her feelings regarding Nick as if they were a deck of cards. There were moments, like when he held her in the middle of the night after an upsetting dream, when her heart burst with an emotion she feared naming. And at other times, she wanted to scream bloody hell when he assumed he knew what she wanted.
If only he would listen. If only she could be clear. If only she could be clear with herself.
She was sending him confusing signals, but she couldn’t help it. He was driving her nuts. She didn’t want to break off their relationship, yet she desperately needed some breathing space. Getting back to her own apartment had to be a priority or she would go crazy.
The rope she held between her fingers went slack. Startled, Daisy let out a groan. “I’m sorry, young man. You’re right. I wasn’t paying attention.” Hip sixty-four didn’t answer; he calmly stood and stared at the woman standing in the middle of the round pen hanging on to the end of his lead rope.
She had been lunging the yearling outside the barn at the Travers farm, investigating how much the colt knew about voice commands and how well he paid attention to what his handler desired. Daisy snorted. He was paying more attention than she was. Damn, they had to agree on giving the horse a name fairly soon. She was tired of calling him Hip sixty-four.
Tired. That about summed up her life. Too much Maxine. Too much Nick. Too little Daisy.
She walked toward the yearling, who stretched out his neck for a treat. “Not now,” she said. “I know it was my fault, but I can’t reward you for stopping on your own and wheeling to face me.
“You have the glossiest coat I’ve ever seen.” Daisy ran a hand along the yearling’s spine and then lifted his tail. At first the animal stiffened, but then he relaxed, accepting her touch. After she’d run her hands along his belly and up and down each leg, she stood and reached into her pocket. “Good,” she praised, letting the chestnut take a treat from the palm of her hand. “You’re going to be easy to handle. Easier than some other males in my life.”
She hadn’t seen Reggie since the debacle at the hospital. Maxine had been home for a week and was managing, but according to her, she hadn’t seen Reggie either. Daisy didn’t know whether to believe her sister or not, but she could at least hope Reggie had finally fallen down a manhole.
It would likely be another month before Maxine could return to work. Daisy shook her head. She’d had no choice but to give her sister money this time. What was the alternative? Maybe that was why Reggie wasn’t showing up. Maybe he realized she’d be an easier touch to pay her sister’s way if he wasn’t around. It might be worth taking Maxine on as a dependent, if that meant Reggie would stay out of their lives.
She knew that wasn’t possible. She sighed. Reggie’s nose for money was too good for that to happen. He knew about Nick, and he knew Nick had money. That was enough to keep him on her scent. She just hoped the hatred he harbored for Nick wouldn’t outweigh Reggie’s greed. If he hurt Nick, he’d run the risk of cutting off the money train.
Daisy shivered. There was no doubt in her mind that Reggie was holed up somewhere devising a plan to separate Nick Underwood from as many dollars as possible. And Reggie would see her as the key to his plan.
Hip sixty-four butted Daisy with his head, knocking her off balance. She straightened and pulled on the lead rope. “Okay, you’re right. I better put you back in the paddock if I can’t pay better attention than this.”
“So how’s it feel working with a three hundred thousand dollar Keeneland purchase?” Cassie asked, walking down the steps from her porch toward Daisy, who was stowing gear in her pick-up.
“Humbling,” Daisy acknowledged. “Whoever prepared him for the sale did a nice job. That young fellow has the smoothest trot. The way he holds his head, you know he knows he’s something special.”
“We’ll have to wait and see about how special. A lot of things can happen between here and the track. Do you want some coffee?”
Daisy removed her working gloves and shook her head. “No, I better be getting back. I’ve got a lot of sorting yet to do.”
Cassie sighed and leaned against the fender of the truck. “Don’t expect we’re talking about odds and ends.”
Giving her friend a faint grin, Daisy replied, “Not hardly. I’ve got to get out of that place, Cassie. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout, and I know you like Nick a lot. But...”
“Listen to me, Daisy. I’ve made it clear to you and to Nick that I will support you no matter what you choose to do. What I think about Nick doesn’t matter. It’s what you think that does.”
“I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I just feel like I’m suffocating. There’s too much clutter in my life. I can’t even find my damn clothes.”
Chuckling, Cassie quipped, “That’s probably a bigger problem for you than for Nick.”
“Right.” She paused and squinted at Cassie. “Do you think he loves me? He says he does.”
“Do you think he does?”
Daisy banged a hand against the pickup door. “You’re answering questions by asking questions. Are you going to be my social worker, my mother or my friend?”
Moving closer to Daisy, Cassie squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I know how you hate that. But I can’t really say. I know Nick thinks he loves you. But does it feel like it to you—not in your head, but in your heart?”
Daisy took a deep breath before answering. “I don’t know. I don�
�t know what I’m feeling anymore. One minute I think I must be in love and the next I think I’m a fool.”
“So we’re really questioning you being in love with him.” Cassie’s lips turned up. “It’s okay to question such an emotion. My goodness, there probably isn’t anything more powerful or far reaching than love.”
“But that’s just it. I don’t even know what love is supposed to feel like.” Daisy sagged until she sat on the running board. “I’m such a mess.”
“No more so than much of the population that struggles with intimacy. Listen, Daisy, I think you were wise to prepare yourself about sexual matters by reading and watching videos, but they probably didn’t do much to teach you about love.”
Daisy scowled. “I’ve only been around one couple who I think is really in love, and that’s you and Clint. Maxine hardly counts. And you guys seemed different. I’m not you, Cass.”
“And you shouldn’t be. You have to be yourself in matters of love, as in working with horses or with anything else. I hope we’ve helped you feel loved, but I expect there remains a large hole for you. Maybe you expect too much of Nick and too little of yourself.”
“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe you expect him to fill that hole by himself. I’m not saying you do, but if that’s what’s happening then you may need to rethink your own role in a love relationship. It takes two people to truly experience a loving relationship.”
“I think I know what you’re getting at.” Daisy closed her eyes and paused. “I’m not sure I’m ready to give as much as he needs, or even as much as I need.”
“And maybe that’s the answer. Maybe you’re not ready. That doesn’t make you the bad guy, nor Nick either for that matter.”
Daisy pushed herself up from the running board and brushed off her jeans. “You may be right, Cass. You’ve given me even more to sort through. Thanks. But I do have to go. Make sure Hip sixty-four doesn’t get into trouble.”
“I’ll do that. Now, you give me a hug before you go. I won’t tell you to stay out of trouble. It seems to be finding you these days without you looking for it.”
Willow Smoke Page 19
