“He’s going to come home,” Brynn assured her fiercely, knowing how unfair it would be to his family for him to not return.
Ruth smiled again. “With all your faith in him, how could he dare do anything else? They say that special love often brings a man through a terrible crisis, when otherwise... wen, let’s just say I’m awfully glad he found you.”
Brynn swallowed the truth as Ruth hugged her tightly.
Then Ruth opened the door to the Bronco. After they were buckled in, she turned the key and pointed the four-by-four northward. “Now...we’re doubling our chances. We’ve got lottery tickets to buy.”
Chapter Four
Matt watched the newest MacKenzie with interest. From his vantage point, he could observe Brynn without her knowledge. Not that he’d planned to study her. He had climbed up onto the ledge to check the footing along the path. While he was still there, Brynn had walked out on the huge rear deck that wound around the back of the lodge. Behind her trailed her faithful companions—the neurotic dog and nearly blind cat.
Staring at her, Matt doubted he could have imagined anyone more different from the kind of woman he thought Gregory would have chosen. He still found it hard to believe. Gregory had always gone for slick and sophisticated—the kind of woman who was an asset; one who could do something for Gregory.
Matt loved his brother, but he also knew him. And Gregory was no bleeding heart. He didn’t go for waifish women who looked as though they might bolt at the sight of their own shadows.
Like Brynn.
Although now, alone with her pets, she didn’t look so skittish. Still, it didn’t seem likely that she traveled in the same circles his brother did. Maybe, being a cartoonist, she was accepted on the A-list as an eccentric.
Her oversize tuniclike blouse, pullover sweater, and long, flowing skirt hid any clue as to her body. He suspected she had one, but you wouldn’t know it under those clothes. And Greyory was definitely a body man. In fact, his initial appraisal of women started below the neck. It would be hard to even find Brynn’s neck.
She laughed—a light silvery sound that danced around her as she played with the dog. What did she call him? Lancelot? What kind of name was that for a dog? Matt hoped she didn’t plan to give her children weird names like that. Might as well pin Kick Me signs on them.
The thought of his brother being a father was unsettling. Gregory hadn’t had time or energy for anyone except himself for years. When their father’s health had deteriorated, Gregory hadn’t even considered helping at the resort. As he’d told Matt, it was unfortunate, but he simply didn’t have the time.
It was hard to reconcile that attitude with one that could have changed enough for him to marry a woman like Brynn.
As Matt watched, the ill-named dog jumped up at her, his short legs pawing at her knees, trying to get the toy she was holding just out of reach. With a laugh, she tossed it to him, clearly a game they often played since the dog retrieved the toy and then began another tug-of-war with her.
The cat, meanwhile, lay in the shadow of Brynn’s feet, apparently content to simply be close by. Matt wondered why she hadn’t brought her foulmouthed bird along as well. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the bird waddling through the open doors. Her menagerie was complete.
Matt wondered how Gregory handled her animals. His brother thought all pets were worthless—messy, troublesome, and in the way. Whatever spell Brynn had cast over him had been all-encompassing. And how had she spun this magical hex?
It was difficult to tell much about Brynn with her face hidden behind those mammoth glasses and the wild mop of shiny black hair that almost obscured her features. And any time he got close enough to try and see, she nearly ran. The early-morning light skipped over her face, then gleamed on her hair, unexpectedly casting her in a soft, feminine glow as she continued her carefree laughter.
Matt hadn’t seen her in an unguarded mood before. Relaxed, with no one around but her animals, she acted like a different person. Normally she was so stiff she looked like she’d been dipped in starch. He wondered why.
Of course, having all your in-laws thrust on you at once could be pretty intimidating. Especially his family. Still...there was something. Something else, he guessed. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.
Seeing her stroll to the other end of the deck, Matt took the opportunity to hike back down the path, catching her unaware as she spun around to throw the dog’s toy. Her pale skin was flushed and her huge blue eyes sparkled. For once, her full lips were turned upward in a wide, genuine smile.
Until she spotted him.
Then they formed an “O” of surprise. The dog immediately leaped in front of her, providing a small but determined barrier.
“Hello! I didn’t hear you.” She gestured toward the dog. “I was playing with Lancelot.”
“I know. I was watching.” At her puzzled look, he pointed upward. “From the ledge.”
She cast her startled gaze upward, apparently surprised to see there was a ledge above. “Oh.”
Matt guessed it made her uncomfortable to know he’d been watching. “I climbed up to check the condition of the path. We like to keep our guests in one piece.”
“Of course.” She pushed at her glasses. “You’re sort of a jack-of-all-trades, aren’t you? A little bookkeeping, some garden maintenance. I imagine it keeps you from getting bored before the ski season.”
He repressed a smile. “You could say that.”
She dared a shy smile of her own. “I’ve never skied myself. But it looks so graceful...and beautiful.” Her face pinkened a bit. “But then I guess men don’t like to hear something they do being described as beautiful..”
Actually, it was unexpectedly affecting. “Skiing is beautiful. It won’t cost me my macho image to admit that.”
There was a strange expression in her eyes that flickered, then disappeared. Before he could analyze it, she was backing away, ready to flee again if he guessed right.
Anticipating her move, he reached out and caught her arm. Surprised by the unexpected connection, he let his hand linger, his grip tightening briefly. Seeing an answering light in her eyes, he withdrew his hand abruptly. “Why don’t we have some coffee?” He saw her scramble for excuses, but he planned to derail them all. “I’ll order a carafe out here.”
Brynn tried to protest. “I really should walk Lancelot—”
“He’s already had quite a run out here on the deck.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Have you had breakfast yet?”
She hesitated. “No, but—”
“You can have a light breakfast out here...or join my mother for a more hearty version in the dining room.”
Although there was a crisp chill in the air, they were both dressed warmly and the potbellied stove on the deck warmed the area. He could see the struggle in her eyes. She’d be no poker player; her face was a transparent window.
“Maybe just coffee and a bagel.”
He nodded, pulled out his cell phone and ordered breakfast to be served on the rear deck.
“One of the perks of living in a resort,” she commented, first twisting her hands, then shoving them into her pockets, then withdrawing them to cross them over her arms.
Matt wondered if she was that nervous around all men or just him.
Brynn fiddled with her hands again. “Do you have any news about Gregory?”
Matt frowned. “I just got off the phone a short time ago. They found Gregory’s rental car abandoned about twenty miles out of the city. It was clean, no prints. But no blood or bullet holes either. That reinforces their theory—the kidnappers are only after money so they’re keeping the merchandise in good shape.”
“Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“I’ve been to Washington, rattling every connection we have. I want to go to South America but the State Department said that could hurt Gregory’s chances. The kidnappers will probably want a clean electronic cash transfer. If w
e show up on their doorstep, they could get nervous and hurt Gregory.”
Brynn nodded. “I see.”
Matt laid a hand over hers. “Trust me. We’re doing everything we possibly can to get him home. Dad and I have called every contact we know and then some.”
“And you think Drake Chemical will pay what they ask?”
“If not, the family will raise the money somehow, even if it means mortgaging Eagle Point,” Matt replied grimly.
Brynn’s expression softened. “He’s lucky to have you.”
Glancing up, he caught her gaze. “And you.”
Again, distress clouded her features.
Uncertain how to deal with her, Matt reached down to pet the dog. “How’d you like the trip to town?”
She tilted her head to one side as recognition dawned. “You knew how it was going to be. You set me up!”
He shrugged, not completely able to hide his grin. “There’s nothing quite like a small town.”
“It was like throwing new meat to the lions,” she dissented. “While everyone was very nice, you could tell they were hungry for something...or someone...different. And they had the scent of my trail from the minute we got to town.”
“I didn’t actually call ahead and tell everybody to be on the lookout. But you’ll find that there’s no need. There’s an invisible grapevine that works with a mystique of its own. But then, I guess you won’t actually be spending that much time here once Gregory returns.”
She fumbled again with her hands, finally tucking them at her sides. “No, I guess not.”
“You’re both big-city people. It’s where you belong.”
She studied him. “But you and Gregory come from the same place. Why is it he’s big-city and you’re not?”
“Didn’t you ask him?”
She pushed at her glasses. “Before he was... Before he disappeared, I hadn’t met you. No reason to ask.”
Matt studied her for another moment. “Gregory and I never were much alike, didn’t want the same things, the same places. He dreamed about leaving for bigger places. I dreamed about making this place bigger.”
“This place?” she echoed.
“Eagle Point. The land’s plenty big enough, but the resort can be bigger.”
“Does your family’s land take up quite a few acres?”
So Gregory hadn’t thought enough of the family business to even tell her the rudiments. “More than a few. Why don’t I show you around today? I have trails to check.”
“But I don’t want to be any trouble—or to get in the way.”
“You’re a MacKenzie now. You have a right to be here, to learn about the family legacy.”
“Oh.” Her voice was very small, very subdued.
“You’ll want to wear something rugged, suited to the trails,” he continued.
She glanced down at her silky skirt. “This won’t do?”
“We’ll go part of the way in the truck, part of the way on four-wheelers. It’s not a ride to make in a skirt.”
“I’m not sure I brought anything appropriate,” she demurred. “I guess I won’t be able to come along.”
“I’ll ask Mother to get you something from the gift shop. We have all the basics.”
“But I don’t want to be any—”
“Trouble. I know. You aren’t. You’ll want to see where Gregory grew up—learn a little more about his roots. It doesn’t sound like he filled you in much.”
“Not too much.”
Tracy, one of the girls from the kitchen staff, brought out a tray with the light breakfast Matt had ordered.
“I added some fruit and croissants,” Tracy told them as she unloaded the tray. “And a little bit of smoked salmon. Oh, and some muffins and Canadian bacon. Those bagels looked kind of lonely by themselves.” As she spoke, Tracy placed dishes of whipped honey butter, strawberry preserves, and fresh cream cheese on the table.
“It looks wonderful,” Brynn responded graciously.
Tracy beamed. “I can tell you’ve hardly been eating a thing since—Well, we just want you to be all healthy and rested up.”
“Thanks for your concern, Tracy. I don’t think I’ll go hungry—not with all this delicious food.”
After the girl left, Matt looked at Brynn with growing respect. Most of the women Gregory had dated would have thought nothing of haughtily sending the food back. “It was kind of you to not refuse all the extras.”
Brynn sighed. “I know it’s a plot. I’ll be so ‘healthy’ you won’t be able to pry me through the doorway.”
Matt tried not to grin. “It’s just their way of saying they care.”
Brynn lowered her coffee cup. “I know. I just don’t know why.”
Matt considered her. “Aren’t you used to people showing their concern?”
Brynn shrugged and he could see she was uncomfortable. “I’m used to big cities—living where you don’t even know your neighbors.”
“But your family?”
“Is small,” she replied shortly. “We don’t have an...extended family like you seem to here. In fact, it’s just my mother and me.”
“And Gregory,” he reminded her.
She blinked. “Yes, of course. And Gregory.”
Matt picked up the plate of bagels. “I don’t want to rush you, but we’ve got a resort to check out.”
She accepted a bagel. “I’m really not all that hungry.”
“You wouldn’t want to hurt Tracy’s feelings, would you?”
She lowered the bagel, a smile playing about her lips. “The lure of the outside breakfast was that I didn’t have to eat the lumberjack special.”
He laughed. “Some lumberjack you’d make.” Not asking her permission, he forked a small piece of smoked salmon onto her plate. “And don’t worry. I can handle the croissants and Canadian bacon.”
Brynn took a muffin and delicately separated it into small pieces. “Lancelot can show that he appreciates the breakfast, as well.” The dog still sat protectively at her side.
“I suspect the cat’s going to enjoy the salmon,” Matt guessed
She grinned. “Caught red-handed. I really only want half the bagel with just a touch of cream cheese and a bite of the salmon. And I’d hate to hurt Tracy’s feelings....”
Matt couldn’t resist her grin. “Good excuse for feeding your beasts.”
She gave Lancelot a bite of the muffin before glancing up at Matt in surprise. “It just occurred to me that Lancelot isn’t growling at you.”
“I’m not growling at him, either.”
“You don’t understand. He always responds that way to men. I don’t know why he’s behaving differently with you.”
The dog pawed at her knee and automatically she fed him another bite of muffin.
“He doesn’t seem particularly threatened,” Matt observed, wondering why her dog had such a distaste for men. She didn’t look like the sort of woman who would have a parade of men in her life.
Brynn stroked the dog’s head. “I guess not. Perhaps being away from the city is so different...” She smiled in an abrupt burst of joy. “The unexpected has a way of changing animals, I suppose—and people.”
Matt guessed there was a meaning beneath her words. But at the moment he was more fascinated by the transformation in her face. Somewhere beneath those glasses and all that hair, there was more than he’d expected.
But then she seemed to remember something as she drew back in. “You’re right. I should finish my breakfast.” She plucked the bagel from her plate. “In fact, I’ll take it along with me. I have to find something rugged to wear.”
“I’ll talk to Mother about it. She can find something in the gift shop. There’s no need to rush your breakfast.” But even as he spoke, Matt watched her wrap the bagel in a napkin, along with a bit of the salmon—for the cat, no doubt.
“I do have to get the animals settled in, too,” she replied, rising and edging toward the door.
Matt realized there was no stopping
her. He wondered if she was part sprite. The thought barely surfaced and she’d disappeared, calling to the cat and dog and offering her arm to the bird. Noah’s little helper.
Shaking his head, Matt glanced at all the food left on the table, then back at the spot where Brynn had disappeared. He realized she’d left him a lot to chew on.
BRYNN GLANCED DOUBTFULLY in the mirror atop the oak dresser in her room, wishing for a full-length one so she could see just how the new clothes fit. Ruth MacKenzie had brought jeans that while not tight were certainly more formfitting than the clothes she was accustomed to wearing. And the chambray shirt and cotton-ramie sweater were also very tailored. Feeling like an Eddie Bauer advertisement, she turned again, trying to gauge the allover effect.
But the mirror just wasn’t large enough to give her a true picture. If she’d been more adept, she’d have managed to avoid the entire situation, rather than having to decide if the clothes looked all right But somehow she’d gotten caught up in the conversation with Matt, momentarily forgetting his relation to Gregory. She glanced at the album on the dresser, quickly opening it to the first picture and caressing the familiar face. It wouldn’t do to forget again.
The grandfather clock in the wide hallway outside her room chimed the half hour and Brynn realized she was dawdling. It wasn’t like her to spend so much time on her appearance. She swiped at her hair, the curls springing back seconds later. Grimacing at her reflection, she grabbed her glasses and looked wistfully at the album, knowing she had no time to indulge herself, reluctantly closing the cover.
She paused at the door to look at her pets. “Okay, guys. Behave.” Lancelot thumped his tail, his eyes pleading to be taken. “Next time, Lancelot. I don’t think I can ride one of those all-terrain vehicle things, so I really don’t think I ought to kill us both.”
“Later, baby!” Bossy called out, scratching at the water dish in his cage.
“You too, Bossy.” Petting both Lancelot and Snookems. she slipped out. Since she hadn’t made specific arrangements to meet Matt, she went to the most obvious place—the lobby. But other than the desk clerk and a few guests, it was empty. Mentally, she ticked off the other conspicuous places, then realized she ought to be looking outside instead of inside.
The Accidental Mrs. Mackenzie Page 5
