“Well, just think about it. Please.”
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I doubt if I’ll change my mind.” The loud peal of the doorbell saved her, at least temporarily.
Jack handed her a twenty-dollar bill. She left the parlor to answer the front door, paid the pizza deliveryman, and returned carrying their dinner. After setting the box on the coffee table, she went into the kitchen for something to drink. She came back with two glasses of ice water and a stack of napkins tucked under her arm.
She sat down on the edge of the sofa and reached for a slice of pizza. “I’m afraid I’m not being a very good hostess,” she said. “I forgot to bring plates.”
Jack had his pizza slice folded in half. “I’m fine. Just surprised.”
“Surprised?” She took a bite and used her thumb to wipe a bit of sauce from her chin.
“I guess after seeing you use tongs for the marshmallows, I expected you to use a fork with your pizza.”
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “I’m not afraid to get my fingers dirty.”
“I’m glad. I thought women like you were all the same, afraid to enjoy life because they might break a nail or smudge their makeup.”
“What?” She nearly choked on her pizza. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”
He looked at her sheepishly. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just being honest.”
“If insulting me is being honest, then I can do without that kind of honesty.” She ripped a piece of crust from her pizza and bit down hard.
“That wasn’t my intention. My last relationship was a disaster. Forgive me? Friends again?”
Friends? A friend’s not what I need. I need you to fall in love with me. But she couldn’t tell him that. Instead, she said, “Sure. Your comment is long forgotten.”
Jack pushed the pizza box away, then clasped his hand over hers. “Really?” He stared at her, and she knew he was trying to see if she was telling the truth.
“Really.” She squeezed his hand.
He pulled her closer until her leg brushed his thigh. A tingle of excitement coursed through her. He pressed his mouth against hers and with his tongue, he parted her lips. She didn’t resist. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him. She could feel the beating of his heart. If this was how he treated his friends, then she wanted to be his best friend. His lips moved down her throat to the base of her neck, stopping at the spot where her pulse thrummed. She had to bite back a sigh. This was heaven.
The sound of the doorbell jarred her back to reality. Jack looked at her, and the disappointment on his face matched her own.
“Expecting someone?” he asked.
“No.” She tugged on her sweater to adjust the one shoulder that had slipped down, revealing her pink bra strap, then ran her hands over her mussed hair. “I’ve no idea who it could be.” She hoped Jack didn’t pick up on her reluctance to answer the door. Whoever waited outside couldn’t be anyone she wanted to see. “I’m sorry. I’ll be right back and then maybe we could pick up where we left off?”
His brilliant smile was all the answer she needed. As she walked into the foyer, she prayed she’d be able to send this caller away quickly. When she opened the door, a rush of cold air mixed with wet snow stung her face, but that wasn’t what froze her. The sight of Pastor Riley did!
He stared at her in much the same way Doc Brooks had the other night, as if trying to figure out who she was and why she bore such a striking resemblance to Alice.
“I’m Ally. Alice’s niece.” She knew her voice sounded flat, almost annoyed, but she couldn’t help it. She hated to have to lie to another one of her closest friends.
He continued to stare at her, disbelief written all over his wrinkled face.
“My aunt’s away for the holidays. She’s visiting with my dad in upstate New York. She’ll be back after the first of the year.” Alice attempted to close the door, but he stopped it with his hand.
“Not so fast, young lady. I’ve never heard mention of a niece before, and I’ve known Alice for over forty years. If you’re who you say you are, then you won’t mind showing me some identification.”
Part of her wanted to laugh. Part of her wanted to cry. And part of her wanted to hug Pastor Riley because of his concern for her welfare. But she couldn’t do any of those things. What she had to do was get rid of him quickly.
“I’m sorry, but who do you think you are? The police?” she said. “I’m not in the habit of showing anything to strangers.”
“I’m Pastor Riley. Alice is a member of my congregation.” He pushed past her so that he stood in the foyer. “I don’t mean to be rude, miss, but I’m sure you can understand my wanting to be sure Alice is fine. After all, an elderly woman living—”
“Ally? Is everything all right out there?” Jack called from the parlor.
Pastor Riley’s face brightened. “Good. Jack Billings is here. Just the man I need to see.” In a few quick steps, he crossed the foyer and headed toward the parlor.
Alice quickly closed the door, then hurried after him. Her mind was a whirl as she tried to figure out how to handle this situation.
* * *
Jack heard Ally’s light footsteps nearing the parlor. He sat up straight when he heard the familiar voice that could belong to none other than Pastor Riley. His native New Hampshire accent was a dead giveaway. When they appeared in the doorway, he was surprised to see Ally so shaken. Her usually bright complexion had turned pasty as if she’d swallowed something awful. Dots of perspiration beaded her brow line, and she clasped her hands together so tightly her fingers had turned red.
The pastor didn’t look much better. His usual jovial demeanor was uncharacteristically subdued. His bushy white brows were drawn together so that deep furrows lined his forehead. What on earth had happened? He grabbed the cane and sprang to his feet as quickly as his injured ankle would allow. His gaze darted from one to the other, when a thought occurred to him that sent his heart into his throat. Alice! Something terrible had happened to her. His hold on the cane tightened. “What’s going on?” He could barely believe that hollow voice was his own.
“Jack, you must know Pastor Riley. He’s come to call on my aunt.” He waited for Ally to go on, but she paused for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally the pastor spoke. “Jack, Ally here tells me Alice is visiting her brother. Is that true?”
His gaze flicked over Ally, traveling up to her face and holding steady on her gray eyes, imploring him to back her up. “Yes, I believe it is,” he said, but his words were clipped.
The pastor turned to Ally. “Would you mind giving us a minute alone?”
“Of course.” A tiny spot of red marred her lovely mouth from where she must have bitten her lip. She turned on her heel and left them, her footsteps disappearing down the hall.
“Something’s not right, Jack. I can feel it. Did Alice tell you she was going somewhere?” the pastor asked.
He averted his eyes, studying the oriental carpet beneath his feet. “Well, no, not exactly.”
Pastor Riley ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “The girl’s stunning and probably charming as heck too, but I can tell she’s lying. The story she fed me, and obviously you, stinks.”
“Now wait a minute, we don’t know that she hasn’t told us the truth.” Jack spoke with conviction, surprised he was defending her.
The pastor shook his head. “Just the other day, a parishioner came to me for advice. Seems a pair of grifters claiming to be long-lost relatives had bamboozled her grandmother. Before she was on to them, they stole most of her money and quite a few items from her home. I wouldn’t be surprised if this young woman here doesn’t have a partner waiting off in the wings. I think the police should be notified. This could be more serious than just petty theft. Alice could be in danger.”
Jack sank onto the sofa, his stomach clenched tight. This was worse than he’d thought. But he didn’t b
elieve Ally was capable of hurting anyone. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.” He patted the older man’s arm. “I’ll find Alice; you can be sure of that.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will.” But his faded eyes were sad.
Jack knew what he was thinking and refused to let his mind wander to such a dark place. “I will find her. And I will bring her back safe and sound.”
“I know you’ll do everything you can. Let me give you a bit of advice, though. Be careful of that girl.”
He wasn’t the kind of man who let his feelings override common sense. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
The pastor let himself out, insisting Jack stay off his ankle. But the only pain he felt now was in his chest. He needed to think this through thoroughly. Sort out the facts from hearsay. What he did next was of the utmost importance. A wrong move could prove disastrous.
He was glad when Ally didn’t come racing back into the parlor. He needed time alone. Leaning back against the sofa, he clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the Christmas lights twinkling on the tree. His gaze traveled up to the top. The tin angel was missing! Could Ally have taken it? Why? It wasn’t worth much, but its sentimental value was priceless. Alice had told him the tin angel story many times.
His thoughts whirled… Ally… Grifters… He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to erase her exquisite face. “You almost had me fooled,” he whispered. “I will get to the bottom of this, even if it means involving the police.”
* * *
Alice watched as Pastor Riley stepped carefully through the snow. She waited until she heard the low rumble of his car’s engine before letting the thin lace curtain slip through her trembling fingers to fall softly across her bedroom window. She tried to keep control of her emotions, but this miracle transformation had become a nightmare. Pastor Riley didn’t buy one word of her story. She could tell by the way his usually friendly eyes had frosted over when she started to tell her tale of Alice’s trip to upstate New York, and by the time she’d finished, the frown lines on his forehead were so deep they had to be permanent.
A small groan escaped her at the thought of the pastor and Jack discussing her as if she were a criminal. She’d wanted to tiptoe down the hall and listen in on their conversation, but her upbringing wouldn’t allow that, even now, even though her future might very well depend upon it.
She stole a glance in her dresser mirror. Her skin was grayish, and beneath her eyes, purple shadows of worry stood out like an admission of guilt. How had this happened? She wasn’t a dishonest person. This transformation was supposed to bring happiness. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. No matter what Pastor Riley said to Jack, there was no proof her story was a lie, and there was no proof she’d done anything wrong.
She pinched her cheeks, bringing a pink glow to them, then, after running her hands over her hair, she took a quivering step toward the parlor. As she neared the doorway, she cleared her throat, alerting Jack to her arrival.
He looked over at her. Distrust burned in his eyes, and she knew Pastor Riley had gotten him to doubt her story.
Gathering up all her courage, she sat down next to him on the sofa and smiled. “Pastor Riley seems like a very nice man,” she said softly, trying hard to keep her voice steady.
“Very nice. An honest and caring man too.”
The way he said it cut deep into her soul. He thought her a liar, and he was right. Her heart sank. He deserved better. He deserved the truth…but the truth would make her far worse than a liar. Jack would think her insane.
“Pastor Riley cares deeply for Alice,” he continued, “and would do anything to keep her from harm.”
Alice slipped her trembling hands under her knees. “She’s fine, Jack. What’s it going to take to convince you of that? Do you think I’m a criminal? Do you think I’ve done something horrible to her?” The thought that he could actually believe that filled her with anger.
“Of course not, but it does seem odd that she didn’t tell anyone she was taking a trip.”
Alice shot him a fiery look. “Would you like me to call her, so you can talk to her? Would that convince you?” She didn’t know why she’d said that. The words seemed to slip from her tongue as if they had a mind of their own. It must be her anger that fueled her stupidity, because if Jack took her up on her offer, her masquerade was over.
She challenged him with an unwavering stare. “Well,” she goaded, walking over to the telephone.
As she reached for the receiver, he said, “Don’t be silly. I’m not Alice’s keeper, just her friend.”
“Thank you.” She held back a sigh of relief as she joined him on the sofa. However, she kept a reasonable space between them, despite longing to be in his arms as she’d been before Pastor Riley’s untimely interruption. But there was no going back. Jack didn’t trust her. She would have to work harder to gain his confidence.
Chapter Four
Jack watched as Ally left the room in search of blankets and pillows. He was tired. Exhausted, in fact. Besides his throbbing ankle, his head pounded. What was wrong with him? He’d had his chance to talk to Alice, to make sure she was all right, and he’d blown it. Why hadn’t he taken Ally up on her offer? Only an idiot would have missed that opportunity! Had it been her steely stare challenging him to call her a liar that had made him back down? Or was it that he feared she’d never forgive him for not trusting her if she turned out to be innocent of any wrongdoing?
He didn’t know why he cared what she thought of him. Maybe it was because she fascinated him with her sophisticated style and childlike charm. She was unlike any woman he’d ever known, and his attraction to her was becoming painfully hard to resist.
He closed his eyes, remembering the feel of her petal-soft lips against his, her velvety skin beneath his hands. Just the thought of her sent waves of desire flowing through him. If he were reckless, he’d toss caution aside, but he needed to stay with the game plan—make her think he was interested while keeping his heart out of it. If she was indeed one of those grifters, as Pastor Riley seemed to think, he’d have to get to the bottom of her plan and fast. She’d taken Alice’s tin angel and who knew what else.
The sound of her footsteps roused him, and he checked his emotions while he awaited her return.
Ally’s arms were full carrying plaid flannel sheets, a wool blanket, and two pillows. His initial reaction was to help her, but he caught himself before he foolishly leapt to his feet and caused more injury to his ankle.
“Thank you,” he said with a grin.
She smiled back. “You’re welcome.”
He sensed the strain between them lessening, and with it, a weight lifted from his chest.
“Do you think you can manage to move over to the chair so I can make up the sofa?”
Jack reached for the cane. “I might need a little help.”
Ally plopped the bedding down next to him and placed her hand under his elbow to help him to his feet. Her nearness once again stirred his desire. He fought the temptation to take her in his arms. Instead, he let her lead him to the overstuffed chair.
He watched as she tucked the sheet in around the cushions, offering him an enticing view of her very shapely backside. She cast a glance over her shoulder, as if she knew he was watching her.
“Enjoying the view?”
“I can’t help it. I’m male, and you do fill out those jeans very nicely.” She shot him a curt look, but he sensed she was glad he found her so attractive.
She unfolded the blanket, laid it across the sheet, then plumped up the pillows. “Ready?” she asked, lending him her arm.
“You bet.” With the cane and Ally’s help, he hobbled to the makeshift bed.
“Is there anything else you need before I call it a night?”
Just you. “I’m fine. Good night, Ally.”
“Good night, Jack.” She disappeared down the hall, turning out the lights as she went until only the glow from the Christmas tree remained.
He lay there in the near dark until his lids grew heavy. He’d known Ally only a short while, yet at times he felt as if he’d know her much longer, and for some reason it gave him comfort knowing she slept just down the hall.
* * *
Something sharp scratched at Jack’s arm. He forced his tired eyes open and found Jasper sitting beside him on the sofa. The grandfather clock ticking in the parlor’s shadowed corner showed 7:00 a.m.—way too early to rise during Christmas vacation. Jack turned on his side and closed his eyes. But Jasper prowled onto his pillow and let out a series of loud meows.
“Go away, cat,” Jack moaned, although he knew that was highly unlikely. Food was a priority for Jasper, and there was no doubt he wanted it now. Still groggy from a less than restful night, Jack grappled for the cane propped against the sofa.
Wearing only his boxers, he hobbled toward the kitchen, but a goddess in a pink bathrobe cut him off in the foyer.
“Going somewhere?” Ally’s gaze devoured him, widening as it lingered on his naked chest.
He returned her gaze with equal interest. Chestnut hair with glints of gold fell about her shoulders in a wild tumble. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips—rosy and full as if she’d just been kissed. He kept his gaze on her face, trying hard not to lower it to the skin peeking out from her robe, all dewy and soft. Even in a bathrobe, with no makeup on and her hair mussed from sleep, she was one of the most striking women he’d ever seen.
“Looks like you’re an early riser too,” he said.
“Yup. As a matter of fact, I’m usually up even earlier than this.”
Maybe he’d misjudged her. Maybe she wasn’t as high maintenance as he’d thought. Most of the women he’d known, when given the opportunity, would sleep the morning away, using their need for beauty sleep as an excuse. But Ally sure didn’t seem to care about that. And she didn’t seem to mind that he saw her with no makeup and mussed hair. And that pink bathrobe! While she looked adorable, the high-maintenance type wouldn’t be caught dead in it. Could he be wrong about Ally? He gave himself a mental shake. Ridiculous! So what if she didn’t care what she looked like in the morning, she could still be a criminal…a grifter. The thought disturbed him, not only because that could mean she was lying about Alice, but because he genuinely liked her. The vision of her behind bars didn’t sit well with him.
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