Handsome As Sin
Kelsey Roberts

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Merry Christmas to the heroes in my life: my dad, Conway, who told me I could do anything; my husband, Bob, who told me I could sell a book; my son, Kyle, who told his third-grade class that I had sold a book; and my stepson Eric, who sold his plasma at college to buy my first book.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter One

“Just play along with me,” Ellie whispered to the bartender as she leaned against the bar. Her task was hindered by the rather imposing figure of a man who had occupied the same stool ever since the snow began sticking to the street two hours ago.

Josh gave her a conspiratorial smile and a flirtatious wink. “Anything for a beautiful woman.”

“So I hear,” she mumbled under her breath. She was turning away from the bar when she caught the other man’s gaze.

The tall stranger had eyes the color of rare emeralds. A brilliant, sparkling green that reflected the white light overhead.

Normally friendly and outgoing, Ellie Tanner suddenly found herself without a voice. Actually, she amended, it wasn’t that she’d lost her voice, it was more like a total loss for words. What do you say to a man who is as handsome as sin? A man with a perfect smile and even more perfect dimples?

She didn’t have time to contemplate an answer because Mike Avery, his jacket dusted with a damp layer of fresh snow, burst through the door.

“Show time,” she said, sighing.

After taking a second to brush the flakes off his coat, he shrugged it off and deposited it on one of the hooks on the wall. In keeping with one of his many personality flaws, he didn’t seem to care that a small puddle of water was forming on the polished wood floor.

“Why are you here?” she asked without preamble, crossing her arms in front of her chest. In her peripheral vision, she saw the tall, blond stranger remove his Stetson and place it on the bar next to the penny he’d been playing with for the better part of an hour.

Great! she silently fumed. Nothing like an audience.

Mike stepped forward and attempted to place a kiss on her tightly clamped lips. Ellie turned her head at the last second. Mike had to settle for a brief brush against her cheek.

“Merry Christmas to you, too,” he said.

“It isn’t Christmas yet.”

Mike’s eyes narrowed, but her blatant rebuke didn’t seem to be penetrating his thick skull any better than it had back in New York.

Just then, Josh came out from behind the bar and draped his arm across her shoulder. Ellie derived some small amount of satisfaction as she watched her former boyfriend try not to react.

“Josh Richardson, Mike Avery.”

“Nice to meet you,” Josh greeted, extending his hand. “I didn’t know Ellie had any friends here in Charleston.”

Ellie drew her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from laughing aloud. Aside from being a great bartender and an even more legendary leech, Josh was also a very good actor. No, she corrected when she felt him brush his mouth against her hair, he was an excellent actor.

“What’s going on here?” Beth asked as she came over, an empty tray balanced against her slender hip.

Ellie felt a momentary panic. What if Beth gave them away? The last thing she needed was for this well-meaning waitress to tell Mike the truth.

“Miss?”

Ellie was saved by the handsome man at the bar. His Texas accent and deep, sexy voice could not be ignored, especially by the obviously curious Beth. Somewhat reluctantly, Beth walked over to serve the lone customer waiting out the storm.

“What gives here?” Mike asked, his eyes fixed on Ellie.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she responded, slipping her arm around Josh’s waist.

If it were physically possible, steam would have poured from Mike’s ears. Instead, his face flushed an angry shade of red.

“You’ve been down here less than a week and you’ve already taken up with this guy?” He hooked his thumb in Josh’s direction as if he were insignificant.

“I’m a quick study,” Josh volunteered, baiting the larger man. “And Ellie sure is a beautiful topic to study.”

He was playing it all wrong, she thought to herself as she gently extracted herself from his arm. “Josh, honey,” she purred. “Why don’t you let me explain things to Mike. Besides...” She turned her eyes toward the bar. What she saw there made her heart skip a beat. Mr. Handsome as Sin was watching her with blatant interest. If that sexy half smile was any indication, he was enjoying the show, too. “You promised Rose you’d keep Chad out of the cherries.”

When her pseudoadmirer spotted the two-year-old reaching into the tray of fruits, Josh abandoned her and raced to the end of the bar. Hesitantly, she turned to face the music.

* * *

THE PENNY WAS SMOOTH as he rubbed it between his fingers. Smooth and satisfying. Jake only wished he had had the time to send it to Greenfield before arriving in Charleston. He’d only been in town a couple hours and already his opinion of the city fell well short of positive. Or at least it had until he’d caught his first glimpse of the tall, willowy woman now seated at one of the round tables arranged near the glow of the fireplace.

This was the South, the place where people came to escape the snow-ladened winters up north. Raising his eyes to the large picture window, he felt himself frown as he watched the steady stream of fluttering white flakes floating down from an ominous gray sky.

“I hate the cold,” he grumbled to the bartender as he turned to rest his elbows on the bar, giving him a front-row view of the couple.

“Where’re ya from?”

“Texas,” Jake answered absently, his attention drawn to the woman’s stunning profile. She was certainly something when she was mad. And she was nothing, if not mad. Whatever that muscle-bound jerk was saying to her had the lady seeing red. He could tell by the way her dainty hands were balled into furious little fists. He could also see it in the way her foot nervously tapped against the floor. But mostly he saw it in the flushed expression on her face.

Then he could hear it. Whoever she was, she wasn’t shy about her feelings. Leaning back, he listened.

“...told you that months ago,” she was saying, or rather shouting.

“Ellie, honey, we both know that you overreacted. You know how emotional you can be.”

“Emotional?” she scoffed. “I’m not being emotional. I’m simply telling you I don’t feel any emotions for you.”

“Muscles” made a grab for her hand. She countered the move as easily as she’d deflected his earlier attempt to kiss her. Jake’s admiration for the woman increased with every passing moment.

She wasn’t a classic beauty, he decided. Her features didn’t have the severe angles or the even distribution of perfection. No, this lady’s mouth was slightly off center, her eyes too far apart. But there was an alluring quality to those blue-gray eyes, rimmed in inky lashes. A certain subtle sensuality that he doubted she was even aware of. No, this woman’s charm was understated and natural. It was apparent in the almost regal way she held her head, totally unconcerned with the few strands of raven black hair that had fallen free from the gold barrette. It was apparent in her choice of cosmetics, or lack thereof, he noted when his eyes fixed on her slightly overfull lips. The rosy hue was a gift from nature, just like the long, shapely legs she crossed and uncrossed as she continued her heated conversation.

“...told you not to come.”

Muscles frowned and loosened the knot of his tie where it met his thick neck. “I know you didn’t mean it, Ellie.”

“I always mean what I say, Mike. Your problem is that you don’t listen.”

He liked her accent. It told him she was from someplace up north. Instead of sounding harsh, it held a certain self-assuredness that he saw mirrored in the determined set of her delicate jaw.

“Ellie, I’ve come all this way,” Muscles argued.

“For nothing,” she told him. “I’m here to spend a nice quiet holiday with my family. And you aren’t family.”

“You didn’t feel that way three months ago.”

She blew an exasperated breath toward the bangs that feathered softly above those incredible eyes. Jake found himself enjoying the part of the voyeur. In fact, this was definitely an interesting way to wait out the unexpected snowstorm that had paralyzed the city.

“It’s over, Mike,” she was telling him. “It’s been over and it will continue to be over.”

“Because of him?” Muscles asked, tilting his large head in the direction of the bar.

Something flashed in the woman’s eyes, but it was gone before Jake could put a proper name to it. He was further distracted from the couple when the waitress stomped up to the bar and scooted between two of the stools. She didn’t give Jake a second look, her eyes were biting into the guy behind the bar.

“Need something?” he heard Josh inquire.

“Rose said to cut everyone off. She doesn’t want us serving alcohol when the roads are this bad.”

“Roads...cars,” said the little boy who had been in and out of the restaurant. He struggled to pull himself up onto the seat next to Jake. “I Chad,” he said, offering a toothy grin.

Jake smiled at the little boy, who looked so much like the woman he’d been admiring. “Jake,” he said, extending his hand to the kid.

“Hat,” Chad returned, pointing to the Stetson Jake had placed on the bar.

Seeing the child’s curiosity, he put the penny down and retrieved his hat, balancing it on the little boy’s dark head.

“Hat,” he said again.

“Expensive hat,” Jake told him.

But before he’d gotten the last word out, the child had bounded from the stool and scurried off behind the metal doors that led to the kitchen.

“Don’t worry,” the bartender said. “He’ll bring it back as soon as he shows it to Rose.”

Reluctantly Jake turned away from the couple and looked at the bartender. “Rose?”

“One of the owners. Chad’s folks own the other half.”

“Her?” he asked, indicating Ellie.

The bartender’s grin bordered on wolfish. “Nope, luckily for me, she’s a free agent.”

Jake had to agree. Especially when he turned back and saw that she had gotten to her feet. He placed her body in the delectable category. Curves, but not overdone. The floral-print dress clung to her in all the right places, yet left enough to the imagination to inspire a few fantasies.

“You’re a lucky man,” he said as he turned back to the bar. “She’s a pretty lady.”

After draping the towel over his shoulder, Josh leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the couple. “I can’t believe that loser followed her all the way here from New York.”

“I can,” Jake said under his breath. If she was his lady, he’d definitely keep her within arm’s reach. In fact, he thought, continuing to fantasize as he turned back around, he could think of a whole list of things he’d do if he had a woman like that.

He would not, however, have his hand in a viselike grip on her upper arm. Jake waited, thinking Josh should intercede. Even though the lady was tall, Muscles outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds. He could tell by the wince on her face that he was hurting her.

Sensing the bartender wasn’t going to spring into action, he stepped from the stool, his boots scraping the floor as he calmly sauntered over.

“Afternoon,” he drawled, fixing his eyes on Muscles.

“Yes?” the man returned, clearly irritated by the intrusion. “Do you mind? This is a private conversation.”

Jake hoisted one foot onto the seat of the chair and sighed pensively. “That’s not how I see it. The way you’ve been yelling and carrying on, most everybody here knows the lady doesn’t want you around.”

“I can handle this,” she interrupted, placing her hand against Jake’s forearm.

He made a point of looking at her then. Her eyes were even more blue up close.

“I’m sure you can, ma’am,” he answered easily. “But my mama wouldn’t hold too kindly if I was to let this guy get away with roughing you up that way.”

As if just aware of it, she looked to where Muscles’ thick fingers circled her upper arm. “Let go,” she said in a soft command.

“We need to talk,” Muscles argued. “Alone,” he added with a dismissive glare at Jake.

“Seems to me,” he began slowly, “the lady pretty much said all she needed to say. I believe she gave you your walking papers.”

“Back off,” Muscles warned as an angry red stain seeped up over his collar. “This is between me and my fiancée.”

“Ex-fiancée,” she corrected. “I’m involved with Josh now. Right Josh?” she called across the room.

“Anything you say, sugar,” he answered with a wink.

The other waitress, the one they called Beth, groaned. Jake had to admit he shared the sentiment. The bartender didn’t seem like much of an improvement over this clown.

“You haven’t been here long enough to get involved with anyone,” Muscles argued.

“What can I say?” She sighed heavily as her lashes fluttered over her eyes. “Love at first sight.”

“Which brings me back to my original point, friend,” Jake interjected. “I think the lady has made it pretty clear that you aren’t welcome here.” Jake lowered his leg and took a step so that he was right up in the other man’s face. “I believe she asked you to leave. Now.”

“Josh!” Ellie called, her voice slightly panicked. “I think you’d better get over here.”

The bartender came over and got between the two men. “Rose doesn’t allow fighting. You two have a problem, take it outside.”

“I don’t have a problem,” Jake said. “I was only doing your job.”

Ellie rubbed her hands over her face and said, “Mike, you have to leave. You should never have come here in the first place.”

She watched the indecision on his face and silently prayed he would comply. The last thing she wanted or needed was for this collection of men to start brawling in the middle of her sister-in-law’s restaurant. Dylan would kill her.

“Please, Mike?” she asked in a softer tone.

“For now,” he grunted before turning on his heel and heading for the door. Angrily, he yanked his coat from the hook on the wall, nearly pulling the hook out along with the jacket.

“Be careful,” she called out. “The roads are really slippery.”

Mike’s only response was to slam the door. The action shook the ornaments on the Christmas tree perched in the far corner of the room.

“Thanks,” she said to Josh, then turned her attention to the tall, handsome man.

Having him in such close proximity made her breath catch in her throat. His hair was blond and stylishly long, falling well below the collar of his chambray shirt. She could just make out the impression of the hat she’d seen her nephew Chad race off with a few minutes earlier. But it was his eyes that had stolen the starch from her knees. They were so clear and green that she had the uncomfortable feeling that he could see right into her thoughts.

In order to talk to him, Ellie had to lift her chin. It was an unusual occurrence; at nearly six feet tall, she rarely had to look up to a man. “There wasn’t any need for you to intercede,” she told him firmly but politely.

“I didn’t see it that way,” he drawled in a sexy Southern accent that told her he wasn’t a native of the area. “My mama was real clear on protecting the fairer sex.”

Ellie felt her blood begin to boil and it had nothing to do with his display of even white teeth or those boyishly charming dimples on either side of his mouth. “Josh and I had things under control. Didn’t we, Josh?”

The bartender shrugged. “I could have taken him. No problem.”

The tall man said nothing. He didn’t have to. He had a full vocabulary of eloquent looks that easily communicated his doubts.

Chad came bouncing back into the room then, followed by Rose. The hat was still clutched in the little boy’s chubby fingers. He raced over to the tall man and thrust the hat forward. “Jake’s hat,” he announced.

Rose wasn’t as quick as the small child, possibly because of her stiletto heels, or then again, it might have had something to do with her skintight Lycra pants. Though her choice of clothing was showy, her smile was genuine.

“Are you the one dumb enough to let him get his hands on an expensive thing like this?” Rose asked as she wrestled the hat away from Chad.

“Guilty as charged,” he answered easily. “He’s a cute kid. Really bright.”

Ellie was gaping at the tall man, wondering where on earth the uneducated, good-ol’-boy drawl had gone. He was speaking to Rose in the polished voice of a professional.

“Rose Porter,” she introduced.

“Jake Devereaux,” he said as he shook the woman’s hand.

Then, turning slightly amused eyes on Ellie, he asked, “And you are?”

“Ellie Tanner.”

“And the guy with the neck the same size as his thigh?”

She tried not to smile. “Mike Avery. We work together back in Albany.”

“More than work,” Jake speculated. “I got the impression he wanted you home for the holidays.”

Jake was about six feet four inches of trouble. Ellie sensed it in the same way a small animal senses a predator. He was a lankier, smarter version of Mike, so she decided immediately to nip her own curiosity in the bud. It was fairly easy to accomplish, especially when she looked up and saw the smug look in his emerald eyes.

“Sorry to do this to you, Jake, but I’m closing the Tattoo, so you’ll have to be on your way,” Rose announced. “The roads are only supposed to get worse and I doubt we’ll be inundated with business.”

“We’re closing?” Beth asked. When Rose nodded, the waitress’s lower lip protruded in a definite pout. “But I need the tips. I’ve got a new coat on layaway that I—”

“You shouldn’t buy things you can’t afford,” Rose interrupted. “Besides, take a look outside. I don’t think the good people of Charleston will want to risk life and limb for a plate of grilled sea bass.”

“Hey, Ellie,” Josh began as he placed a hand at her waist. “How about giving me a lift home? I’m no good at driving in the snow.”

“I can take you,” Beth suggested. “You live on my way.”

Josh laughed. “You’re no better at driving in this stuff than I am. I think I’d rather put my life in the hands of a pro.”

“Organize yourselves quickly,” Rose insisted. “I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“What about Chad?” Ellie asked. “You want me to take him with me?”

Rose shook her head. Thanks to an abundance of hair spray, not a single teased curl came free. “The house is less than a mile away and I promised him we’d stop at the toy store to see if they have any sleds. This may be his one and only chance to go sledding.”

“Tell Shelby I’ll be home soon, then. Let’s get our coats,” she suggested. Ellie was careful not to make eye contact with Jake as she led the others toward the kitchen.

The coats were all piled in a small closet near the rear exit. Everyone bundled up, wrapping layer upon layer of mismatched winter gear on their bodies. Ellie smiled but said nothing. She guessed these Southerners would freeze to death inside a week back in Albany. This was a simple snow shower. They were dressing as if Charleston was about to experience a blizzard instead of the predicted inch and a half.

“The front door,” Rose said with a groan as soon as she’d hoisted Chad and his ten pounds of coat, hat, mittens and scarf into her arms. “I forgot to lock it after that Jake fellow.”

“I’ll lock it,” Ellie offered.

“Don’t be long,” Josh purred.

Rose gave him an admonishing look and Beth simply grunted at the lecherous suggestion behind the words.

Thanks to years as a criminologist for the New York State Police, Ellie was quite comfortable walking through a strange place in dim lighting.

There was, however, just enough light spilling through the windows for her to see him well. Too well. Jake Devereaux was behind the bar, with both hands inside the cash register.

Chapter Two

Ellie let out a yell that brought Josh and Beth racing from the kitchen. The next few minutes went by in a flurry of arms, legs, punches and grunts.

Upon seeing the melee, Rose shielded Chad’s face from the violence as the two men tumbled out from behind the bar. The struggle continued as chairs were toppled and tables were upended.

“Watch the tree!” Rose called as the men skittered across the floor, dangerously close.

“Watch his right!” Beth called too late.

They grimaced in unison when Jake’s fist landed solidly against the other man’s cheek.

“Stop it,” Ellie heard Jake exclaim as he dodged blows as effortlessly as a professional. “I can explain.”

“Thief,” Josh growled as he butted Jake with his head.

The two men went sailing backward. Ellie heard Rose exclaim, “Oh my God,” a fraction of a second before the Christmas tree came crashing down.

Glass shattered and several of the lights exploded in a series of multicolored pops.

“Do something,” Beth whined.

Ellie, thinking this was not an appropriate thing for her nephew to see, went into the fray and grabbed Josh by the back of his coat. “Stop this right now,” she insisted as she gave a hard jerk. It wasn’t her strength but probably the fact that her action caused his shirt to act like a noose. Whatever the reason, it earned her Josh’s cooperation. Instinctively she knew Jake wouldn’t continue the fight. With the exception of a few punches meant to deter the aggressor, Jake had gone out of his way to keep from hurting the bartender. Still, seeing his readied stance and balled fists, Ellie had no doubt that this man could pound Josh into a bloody pulp with little or no effort.

“What is going on here?” she demanded as she watched Josh struggle for breath.

Jake tested his jaw by opening and closing his mouth in an exaggerated action. “I was looking for something.”

“Money?” Rose accused, one brow arched toward the mass of lacquered hair.

“My money,” Jake corrected. “I had a special coin with me that he must have—”

“Yeah, right,” Josh grumbled. “And to think I didn’t even charge you for the cup of coffee.”

“Thanks,” Jake answered wryly. “But the point remains that I had this item with me when I came in—”

“And you think that gives you the right to break into my register?” Rose said with a sneer.

“I was out the door before I realized I didn’t have it,” Jake explained. “I thought you all had left so I simply went looking for it on my own.”

“Call the police,” Beth insisted. “He’s probably wanted.”

Jake didn’t even flinch at the suggestion. Instead, he took a moment to pull several strands of tinsel from the front of his jeans. “I can assure you, I am not a thief and I was only looking for something that belonged to me. If you don’t believe me, I suggest you check the amount of cash in the drawer. You’ll probably find that your cash drawer is exactly one cent over.”

“You mean to tell me you were trying to steal a penny?” Ellie asked, astonished.

Rose handed the wide-eyed little boy to Ellie as she went over to the register. After a few minutes she said, “He’s right. Nothing’s missing.”

Again Jake didn’t react in any visible way. His casual, relaxed features piqued her curiosity. Of course, the fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous didn’t help, either.

Remember Mike, she silently admonished. Though New Year’s Day was still two weeks away, Ellie had already made a resolution—no more alpha males. And Jake was nothing if not an alpha. It was apparent from the hard set of his jaw. This man fairly screamed arrogance bred of too much testosterone, and she wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

“So,” Beth began as she dabbed at Josh’s bloodied lip with a napkin. “Are we going to have him arrested?”

Josh shrugged away from Beth. Ellie guessed the action was the result of having so many people witness his thrashing.

“I should,” Rose huffed as she went over to survey the damage that was once her Christmas tree. She sank down to her knees. “Look at this!” she whined. “Do either of you two barbarians have any idea how long it’s taken me to collect these?”

Ellie offered a conciliatory smile. “Maybe we can glue them together.”

Rose grunted in response. “This one,” she said, holding up a fragment depicting part of a nostril, “was painted by a woman Elvis kissed in Germany. I have the certificate of authenticity at home.”

“I’ll be happy to share the cost of replacing what was broken,” Jake offered.

Rose glared at him. The hostility in her eyes reminded Ellie never to get on this woman’s bad side.

“They aren’t replaceable,” Rose said.

“Neither is my penny,” Jake said.

Rose got up slowly, still clutching the small piece of the King’s nose in her hand. “Do you really think an Elvis Presley collectible and a penny are in the same category, Devereaux? We’re talking Elvis here. Much more important than a dead president cast in copper.”

Jake moved then, drawing Ellie’s eyes to the definition of muscles where his well-worn jeans hugged powerful thighs. She shouldn’t be watching his legs, she admonished. Nor should she care that his sheepskin jacket hung from broad, even shoulders. It was as ridiculous as fixating on the fact that he didn’t just walk, no, this man swaggered with a pure male confidence that reminded her of an old movie hero. The kind that breezed into town, saved the day, then disappeared without a backward glance.

“Hot,” Chad said as he wiggled in her arms.

“Yes he is,” Ellie mumbled. “Rose, maybe your daughter-in-law can do something with the pieces. Isn’t she some sort of preservationist?”

“Yes,” Rose answered. “But I don’t think Tory can fix all these in time for the holidays.”

“So buy some new ones,” Josh suggested, a touch of annoyance in his voice.

“You have no appreciation for the King,” Rose said. “If you did, you wouldn’t make such a stupid suggestion.”

“Forgive me,” Josh said on a sigh. “I guess listening to his music hour after hour, night after night, has kinda turned me off the guy.”

Rose glared harder. “You can always find another job. Hey!” she called out, turning in the direction of the bar. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Ellie followed Rose’s angry gaze and found Jake on his hands and knees, crawling between the bar stools.

Jake looked over and Ellie was amazed at the mild annoyance she saw in his eyes. “I’m looking for my penny.”

“To hell with your penny,” Rose said as she stomped over to the man. “Is it worth a fortune? Is that it?”

Jake shrugged and said, “Not really.”

“Then get up off my floor and get out of my place.”

“As soon as I find my penny.”

Without taking her eyes off the man, Rose said, “I’ll give you exactly two seconds to get out of here, or I’m calling the cops and having you arrested for attempted robbery.”

“You don’t seem to understand,” Jake said in a calm but firm voice. “I need that penny.”

“And I needed my Christmas tree. Out.”

“It will just take—”

“Josh,” Rose called, “see this jerk out.” Rose stepped back to allow an eager Josh access to Jake. “Consider your penny—if there ever was one—partial payment for the damage you did.”

The two men squared off, and for a brief second Ellie was afraid another fight might break out. “Here,” Ellie said as she handed her nephew to Josh. “You hold Chad and I’ll see Mr. Devereaux out.”

There was a faintly amused light in his eyes as she took hold of his sleeve. “What about my penny?” he asked.

Guiding him toward the door, Ellie grabbed his hat off the table and thrust it against his stomach. It was a mistake. Brushing her fingers against the solid muscle at his waist caused a tiny tingle of awareness to spread from her hand to her arm, before shooting down her spine. “I’ll look for your penny tomorrow. The weather is getting worse and I have to get Josh home. I hardly think now is the appropriate time to argue over a penny. Besides, you just destroyed several of Rose’s most prized possessions. If you don’t get out of here, she’ll have you in jail so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

When they reached the door, Jake turned, and his eyes met and held hers. “Are you always the peacemaker?”

Ellie schooled herself not to react to the low, seductive quality of his voice. “I’m the middle child. I learned the fine art of mediation before I learned my alphabet.”

Shaking his head, he sighed. The action caused a wave of warm, mint-scented breath to wash across her uplifted face. “And here I was hoping you were trying to tell me you liked me.”

Ellie blinked. “I’d like you gone.”

“Here,” he said as he pulled a book of matches from the pocket of his jacket. “I’m staying at the Manor House. Call me tomorrow when you find my penny.”

Ellie accepted the matchbook, knowing full well she wasn’t going to call him. Every instinct in her body told her Jake Devereaux wasn’t the kind of man a sane woman called.

She locked the door and slipped the matchbook into her pocket. Rose still looked despondent, Josh was apparently still fuming and, for some unknown reason, Beth’s bottom lip was thrust out in a pout.

“Shall we?” Ellie suggested.

“Sled!” Chad yelled excitedly, throwing himself toward Rose. “Sled!”

“I know,” Rose said as she took the little boy from Josh. “We’ll go now.”

“Now,” Chad parroted.

Rose looked out the window and Ellie read the frown on her face. The reason for the deep lines became apparent as soon as she turned. Jake Devereaux was standing on the porch, just staring.

“I’m calling the cops,” Rose decided.

“Sled!” Chad argued, kicking his feet. “Go now!”

“I’ll be happy to take him home,” Ellie suggested.

“You’re taking me home,” Josh reminded her.

Beth stepped up and tried to loop her arm through his. “I can drop you off.”

“Forget it,” Rose said, sighing. “The alarm’s on. He can stand out there in the snow until his nose freezes off. Let’s just get out of here before we get snowed in for the night.”

The group shuffled out of the bar, leaving Jake with his nose pressed against the frosted glass. Ellie half expected him to appear at the back door and found herself oddly disappointed when he failed to appear.

After a quick round of good-byes, Ellie settled behind the wheel of her rented car. Josh slid in beside her, blowing air into his cupped hands.

“Gloves help,” she suggested with a wry smile.

“I usually manage to find someplace warm to stick my hands.”

“One more crack like that and I’ll be happy to tell you where to stick them.”

Josh raised his hands, palms out. “You can’t fault a guy for trying.”

“Yes,” she promised him. “I can.”

Ellie had just pulled onto the main street when Josh asked, “Is that what your little vacation is all about? You having difficulty with your love life?”

She shrugged. “Not trouble, exactly.”

“That’s not the impression I got when that gorilla showed up.”

“Mike is having a hard time dealing with rejection.”

“Not used to being the dumpee?”

She glanced over at him, smiling. “He’s probably no better at it than you are.”

“I’ve never been dumped.” Josh blew on his fingernails and buffed them theatrically.

“There’s a first time for everything,” she warned.

“Not for this kid,” he answered. “I let them know right up front that I’m not into ‘happily ever after.’”

“You know something,” Ellie said as she carefully slowed for a traffic light. “Susan was right, you are slime.”

Josh laughed. “I see our psychic waitress has already given you the word on me.”

“Susan, Rose, Beth, Shelby...”

“I get the picture,” he said.

“But at least you’re honest slime.”

“A regular Boy Scout. Not like that shady Devereaux character.”

Ellie felt her smile slip. “I wonder whether that bit about the penny was real.”

“You think he was really after a penny? Or just there to rip us off?”

“Who knows. But if I had a valuable coin, I sure wouldn’t be stupid enough to lose it in a bar.”

“He didn’t seem like the stupid type,” Josh stated after he told her to make a left turn at the next corner. “That’s why I think all that crap about the coin was a put-on.”

“You’re probably right. I just feel terrible for Rose. Those ornaments looked like they were completely destroyed.”

“Good.”

“Josh!” she admonished. “They meant a lot to her. You should feel terrible since it was partially your fault.”

“My fault? I was only trying to stop that guy from ripping her off.”

“You could have been more careful.”

“I’ll remember that the next time I’m tossing some ugly drunk out of the bar.”

“He wasn’t an ugly drunk.” Where did that come from? she wondered. “Anyway, I think you should try to replace some of the things that were broken.”

“Let him replace them,” Josh grumbled. “Or better still, maybe now we can have a normal Christmas tree.”

“I thought it was kind of unique,” Ellie admitted.

“Right. What about that one that played ‘Blue Christmas’ over and over again?”

“That one was a little hard to take.”

“It didn’t have an Off button,” Josh continued to rant. “What kind of manufacturer makes a musical ornament with no Off button.”

“An Elvis fan.”

“This is it,” Josh said, pointing to a modest apartment building on the left. “Want to come in and see my etchings?”

Ellie groaned. “Keep your etchings to yourself, thank you very much. But I will use your ladies’ room before I head back to Shelby’s.”

“Fine by me. But you enter at your own risk.”

“Lovely,” she mumbled as she cut the engine and got out of the car.

The snow had tapered to little more than flurries. Chad’s dream of sledding didn’t look too good as she followed Josh up the short walkway. She estimated there was less than an inch of total accumulation.

Josh unlocked the door to his ground-level apartment. Ellie immediately noticed two things. First, it was surprisingly neat, except for the clutter of holiday decorations waiting to be hung. Second, the whole place smelled of a rather sweet, almost feminine, floral air freshener.

“First door on the left,” he said as he tossed his coat over one of the boxes.

“I can’t believe you had the audacity to criticize Rose’s tree.”

Josh looked at her with surprise in his eyes. “What?”

“I assume these are for your tree?” She lifted the carefully wrapped strand of lights and allowed them to dangle in the air between them. “Chili-pepper lights?”

“I’ll have you know they are quite in vogue these days.”

“On a silver foil tree?” she asked, glancing at the partially assembled tree near a large window.

“I guess you’d rather have ode to Elvis?”

Ellie shook her head. “I’m a glass-ornament, colored-lights, strings-of-popcorn kind of girl.”

“How boring.”

“It’s better than silver foil,” she taunted as she headed toward the bathroom.

Foil was obviously a passion of Josh’s. The wallpaper in the small powder room was some sort of Grecian motif, a silver background with silhouettes of naked couples in black contrast. Ellie laughed softly. When she heard the thudding sound in the other room she instantly felt guilty. Obviously Josh had heard her snickering at his wallpaper and was letting her know it by banging around in the living room.

Ellie spent a few extra minutes fixing her hair, trying to think of something kind to say. After all, who was she to criticize this man’s decor. Even if it was a bit odd.

“Thanks,” she called as she walked down the hall. She was immediately struck by how cold it was in the apartment. Almost as cold as it was outside.

She walked toward Josh, who was seated on the sofa with his back to her, obviously pouting.

“I’m sorry I snickered at your tree and at your wallpaper,” she began as she continued to approach. She spoke louder to overcome the sound of an approaching emergency vehicle. “It really is a pretty tree and the chili peppers will—”

Ellie stopped in midsentence as she rounded the couch. Josh’s eyes were open wide, bulging. His face was a grotesque contortion, pasty white with blue, swollen lips. The strand of chili-pepper lights was wound tightly around his throat.

Chapter Three

“That siren is the cops.”

Ellie let out a small, frightened noise and her eyes flew to the sound of the newly familiar male voice.

Jake Devereaux dangled in the window frame, one leg in and one leg out. “Unless you want to get caught here with the late Josh, I suggest you come with me.”

The sirens grew louder. “You killed him?” she breathed as her hand clamped over her mouth to stifle a scream.

“Of course I didn’t kill him,” Jake said calmly. “I was under the impression that you did.”

Dropping her hand, she yelled, “Me?” above the siren.

“I was just letting myself in when I heard you come down the hall.” His green eyes scanned the room. “I assume you’re the culprit. I don’t see any other suspects. Do you?”

“I didn’t kill anyone,” she told him.

“If you didn’t, and I didn’t, I suggest we get out of here before the cops arrive.” He held one gloved hand out to her.

“Leave with you?”

“That’s the idea. If you get moving now.”

“But shouldn’t we stay here and tell them—”

“What?” he interrupted impatiently. “That I was breaking in and found him dead? Or that you were the only one here when he died?”

The sirens came to a halt along with her heartbeat. “If we run, we look guilty.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged as he hoisted his leg up onto the windowsill. “But while you’re waiting to bare your soul, think about who might have called the cops.”

“What?”

“Someone called the cops. My guess is that whoever it was wanted them to find you alone with the stiff.”

“Oh, God,” she groaned.

“Last chance,” Jake said as he jumped onto the ground below.

Acting on fear, Ellie went to the window. His large hands circled her waist and he lifted her out and down, placing her softly on the slushy ground. She was only vaguely aware of a faint tearing sound above the loud thunder of footsteps echoing from inside the apartment building.

Soundlessly, Jake closed the window and grabbed her hand. He tugged her in the direction of the woods that lined the south edge of the building. “Where are you taking me?”

“Hush.”

Wet, heavy branches slapped at her cheeks as they trudged over the uneven terrain. The snow had turned to sleet, which pelted the leaves and stung the backs of her exposed hands.

Ellie focused on his shoulders, too stunned and too shocked to do much more than follow. The image of Josh’s face chased her through the woods. It didn’t seem real. There had been no ominous sounds, nothing to alert her that a murder was being committed while she was in the bathroom. It didn’t make any sense. Unless he was the killer.

Ellie stopped suddenly, digging the heels of her half boots into the soaked ground.

Jake turned to her, annoyance shining in his eyes, which were little more than harsh, angry slits. “Why are you stopping? We can’t let them find us out here.”

Ellie made a futile attempt to tug her hand free from his. “I don’t think running is the right thing to do,” she argued. “Especially with you.”

Jake shoved back the brim of his hat. Small pellets of ice showered down on his broad shoulders. “I’m your best hope right now. Unless you have a better plan in mind.”

“And you do?”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “We’ll go through the woods, then double back to my car. Hopefully the cops will think we’re nothing more than a couple of idiots out for a romantic stroll in the snow.”

“That’s your plan?” she scoffed, swatting a strand of limp, wet hair from her face. “We’re soaking wet. We’ll attract their attention in a heartbeat. Cops aren’t stupid, you know.”

“I’m betting they’ll be so engrossed in preserving the crime scene that they won’t even notice us.”

“They will when I get into my car.”

Jake stroked his chin. At least he seemed to be considering her argument. Ellie watched him intently, trying to discern if the man holding her hand could be the killer. Secretly, she wished all murderers had warts and fangs, then they’d be easy to spot. Looking up into his handsome face, she tried to find a clue, something tangible that would tell her whether or not to trust this guy.

All she saw were perfect, chiseled features and the promise of dimples on either side of his mouth. Great, she thought. I’m supposed to be trying to pick up some sixth sense, and all I can do is admire his dimples. Do killers have dimples? she wondered.

“You’ll have to leave your car right where it is,” he said.

“It’s a rental.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “Which they’ll be able to trace, but probably not right away.”

Ellie’s suspicions were growing in leaps and bounds. This man knew as much, if not more, about police procedure than she did. “Are you a cop?” she asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.

He offered a lazy smile. “Hardly.”

“You sound like one. Phrases like ‘preserving the crime scene’ and—”

“I watch a lot of TV,” he said with a shrug. “So,” he began as he eased his hold on her hand. “Are you coming or not?”

Not, the intelligent sphere of her brain answered. Her lips, however, ushered forth the words, “Lead on.”

“Smart girl,” he drawled, taking her hand and pulling her farther into the mossy woods.

Ellie glanced back over her shoulder. She guessed they were about two hundred yards from the building, but she could easily make out the flashes of red and blue lights from the police vehicles. Apparently they had swarmed to the building like ants to a picnic.

“There’s too many of them,” she said.

“Too many what?”

“Officers,” she said as she quickened her pace so that she was at his side.

“The more the merrier,” Jake responded glibly. “Isn’t that what they say?”

“Not if they want to preserve the integrity of the evidence.”

This time it was Jake who stopped suddenly. He looked down at her as the sleet continued to bounce off his Stetson. Some of the tiny ice pellets ricocheted and struck Ellie.

“What do you know about evidence? Don’t tell me you’re a cop?” The last question came out as something of a groan.

“I’m not an officer.”

“But?”

“I’m not,” she told him emphatically before she lowered her eyes.

He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, applying just enough pressure to force her to meet his gaze.

“Then what are you?”

“A tourist?” she suggested. If he was a killer, the last thing she wanted to do was give him a reason to kill her, too. “I’m a scientist.”

His head fell to one side and he regarded her suspiciously for a long second. A definite frown curved the corners of his mouth downward. “You don’t look like a scientist.”

“I left my lab coat at home,” she said. He didn’t look like a killer, either, but then again, neither did Ted Bundy. “I’m freezing,” she told him. “Can we keep going, please?”

Something flashed in those eyes, something so fleeting that Ellie didn’t have the chance to put a name to it. She relaxed a little when he marched on. He probably couldn’t murder her and walk at the same time. Especially not on this icy ground.

Ellie slipped several times, each time clutching Jake’s arm to keep from falling. He seemed to sense whenever she was about to lose her footing, and his reactions were quick and efficient.

They emerged from the woods several blocks north of the apartment building. As soon as they stepped onto the sidewalk, Jake surprised her by draping his arm across her shoulder. His pace slowed as her panic rose.

“Why are we going this way?” she asked. Her eyes fixed on the distant sight of emergency vehicles and police cars blocking the road ahead.

“My car is this way.”

“How will we get past all the cops?” Ellie persisted, trying in vain to shrug off his arm.

“Cooperate, Ellie,” he said, squeezing her shoulder to punctuate the remark. “We’re simply going to wander over to my car. If the cops stop us, I’ll do the talking.”

“Going to confess?” she mumbled under her breath.

The deep, throaty sound of his laughter did strange things to her stomach. Here she was antagonizing a potential killer and all she could do was sit back while her hormones obliterated her common sense.

“Not me,” he said. “How about you? You can always stop and let them know you were alone with Josh when he met his untimely demise.”

“Obviously I wasn’t alone with him,” Ellie snapped. “I didn’t kill him, so someone else had to be in the apartment.”

“And they simply evaporated after the dirty deed?”

Ellie pursed her lips and concentrated. Nothing came to mind. Nothing except the obvious. “You were in the apartment.”

“Half in,” he corrected. “I was just entering when you came down the hall.”

“Then the killer must have used the front door, since you had the window all tied up.”

She saw him shake his head. “I was watching the front door.”

Ellie stopped walking and gaped up at him. “How long were you there?”

“Same as you and the bartender. I followed you from The Rose Tattoo.”

She tried not to let the sudden infusion of fear show on her face. “Why did you follow me?”

“Actually, I was following the penny.”

Ellie blinked.

“The 1955 Ben Franklin,” he prompted. “The bartender had to have it. No one else was anywhere near me when I was in the restaurant.”

She was barely aware of the sound of approaching footsteps as she tried furiously to sort through the bits and pieces fragmented in her mind. There was the fight. There was Jake’s obvious fixation with the stupid penny. There was the fact that he had followed them. There was the fact that she had seen no one else. There was—

“I’m Officer Sonnenmark,” a young, thin blond man in uniform said.

Ellie, startled by the sudden appearance of the policeman, instinctively pressed herself against Jake. She swallowed hard, trying, on the one hand, to keep from blurting out her suspicions. On the other hand, she was trying not to react to the solid, warm outline of his body where it touched her own. Shock, she decided. She had to be in shock; it was the only explanation for her juvenile and erratic, not to mention illegal, behavior for the past several minutes.

“Unusual weather,” Jake drawled, tipping his hat like the perfect Texas gentleman. “Something happen?” he continued with an innocent tone that could have earned him an Academy Award.

Officer Sonnenmark nodded, his boyish face completely devoid of emotion. “Y’all live around here?” Thankfully, the question was delivered to Jake.

“Nope,” Jake drawled. “We wanted to get a little inland, you know. Take a walk in the snow without having to fight the breeze off the harbor. It sure was pretty, but I’m afraid my blood just isn’t thick enough to stand the cold.”

Sonnenmark nodded and smiled down at Ellie. “Your husband may be romantic, but you look about frozen to death.”

“You’d think he was trying to kill me,” Ellie said through a fake smile. “I’m soaked through to the skin. I’ve been telling him for the past hour that I’ve had enough of this wilderness hike.”

“Now, dear,” Jake began as his gloved fingertips bit into the flesh of her upper arm. “You know I would never do anything to hurt you. I just thought a little walk would be invigorating. And a nice break from the kids.”

“Y’all got kids?” Sonnenmark asked.

“Six,” Jake replied without missing a beat. “All boys.”

“Hell,” the officer said, giving Jake an admiration-filled punch on the arm. “Since you got six kids at home, I guess any excuse to get out of the house works.”

“Any excuse,” Ellie repeated as she glared up at Jake’s relaxed jawline.

“What kind of trouble did you have?”

The officer bent forward, lowering his voice to an almost conspiratorial tone. “Murder. Guy in that apartment building there. Richardson was his name. You folks didn’t happen to see—”

“Naw,” Jake drawled. “We didn’t see anything. Didn’t even hear a gunshot.”

The officer leaned even closer. “No gunshot to hear. The poor guy was strangled with his own damned Christmas decorations.” Then, as if suddenly remembering Ellie was present, his face colored slightly. “Sorry, ma’am. Excuse my language.” He touched his fingers to the edge of the plastic covering the brim of his police hat.

“I’d appreciate it if you would be so kind as to excuse us. I’m freezing,” Ellie said to the officer.

Jake wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her against him and placing an unanticipated kiss against her cheek. The frozen skin tingled and warmed almost immediately, and it was everything Ellie could do to keep from shoving him away.

“I’d best get her home and warm her up,” Jake told the officer, none-too-subtly hinting at just how he expected to accomplish the task.

“Sure thing,” the officer said. “Your kids are probably ready for supper, anyway.”

“Exactly,” Ellie said with a nod. Then, glaring up at Jake, she added, “We wouldn’t want the little darlings to go hungry, would we?”

His green eyes darkened slightly. “No one should go hungry,” he fairly purred against her ear.

“What was that for?” she demanded in a harsh whisper as soon as the officer was out of earshot.

“I was ad-libbing,” he answered as he allowed his hand to fall away from her shoulder.

Ellie told herself that the sudden chill was the result of the dropping temperature. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that he was no longer touching her. After all, she didn’t want him to touch her, not with the same hands that in all likelihood had killed poor Josh.

Jake led her to a sleek Mercedes and held open the door. The interior smelled of leather and it had the feel of newness. It also had the feel of money. As her eyes scanned the elaborate collection of controls on the dashboard, she decided the car must have cost as much as her annual salary.

“Lead on.” He mimicked her earlier words as he slid behind the wheel and started the engine.

Drawing her bottom lip between her teeth, Ellie’s brain worked at warp speed. “Uh...you need to head back in the direction of The Rose Tattoo.”

Misty rain accompanied the dusk as he drove back toward town. Ellie cautiously watched him out of the corner of her eye. How could someone so gorgeous be a killer? she wondered. Just her luck. The first really attractive man she meets turns out to be a thief at the very best, a killer at the very worst.

“Still trying to figure out how I did it?”

Ellie’s mouth opened but nothing came out.

He smiled then, an action that she felt all the way down to her toes. The effect was from more than just the attractive combination of dimples and even, white teeth. There was something almost hypnotic in the simple action, something that seemed to draw her to this man like the proverbial moth. Only with this man, Ellie knew with relative certainty that she’d be consumed by the flames.

“I was thinking about the murder,” she hedged.

He nodded, apparently unfazed by the whole situation. “Whoever it was obviously wanted to make sure you were caught at the scene.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t have any enemies.”

“Really?” One pale brow arched high on his forehead. “What about that guy at the bar? The one with no neck.”

“Mike has a neck,” she insisted.

“The size of a tree trunk.”

“He works out.”

“With a bottle of steroids?”

“No,” she told him on an exasperated breath. “He has a very stressful job. He works out to release some of the stress.”

“What does he do?”

“He’s a detective.”

Jake let out a low whistle. “So that’s how you know so much about police work.”

“Pretty much,” she said, lowering her eyes to study her hands. “Mike investigates murders, he doesn’t commit them.”

“Unless maybe he bought that little scene you staged with the bartender?”

Ellie shifted in the bucket seat, angling herself so that she could glare at his profile. “That’s crazy. Mike is not the violent type.”

“Really?” Jake asked, almost taunting her as he abruptly swerved over to the curb and threw the car in park. “Then what are these?”

Taking one of her arms, Jake pulled it free of her coat and rolled up her sleeve. Even in the dim light of early evening, she could easily make out the small, roundish bruises where Mike had gripped her arm.

“He doesn’t always realize his own strength,” she said.

Tossing her arm down in obvious disgust, Jake said, “Right. Have you always made excuses for him? Is that why your relationship with that Neanderthal ended?”

Ellie didn’t bother to fix her sleeve, but simply stuffed her balled fist through the armhole of her coat and stiffened in the seat. “My relationship with Mike is hardly any of your business.”

“Excuse me,” Jake grumbled as he pulled back onto the road.

For several minutes the only conversation consisted of Ellie’s minimal directions to take a left or a right. The tension inside the passenger compartment was as thick as the fog slowly settling over the city.

“Turn here,” Ellie instructed. “Stop at the third house.”

“Nice neighborhood.”

“I’ll be sure to tell my brother and his wife that you approve.”

Jake eased the car to a halt in front of the empty driveway. Ellie swallowed her trepidation as she reached for the door handle.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in for a cup of coffee?”

She met his slightly amused eyes. “No. If you can afford to buy a Mercedes, I’d say you can afford to buy your own coffee.”

“Tea?”

“No.”

“Brandy?”

“No.”

“Maybe I could use—”

“No.” Ellie got out of the car and slammed the door before he could think of any other idiotic pretexts under which she would let him inside. It wasn’t that she was inhospitable, she was simply protecting her family.

Calmly she strolled up the flagstone walkway, silently praying the whole way.

She reached the front door and pressed the bell. Her heart was racing as she waited, knowing full well that Jake was still parked at the curb.

The porch light came on and the door opened a small crack. Ellie tilted her head and spoke to the portion of the face visible through the small opening.

“Mrs. Baxter, it’s me, Ellie Tanner, from over on Chestnut Street. Dylan’s sister.”

Chapter Four

The white-haired woman’s face registered surprised recognition as the door was unlatched and pulled completely open.

“What are you doing out in this weather?” she chided. “And you’re soaked through to the bone.”

“I had some trouble with my car,” Ellie explained as she slipped inside the house. It smelled of buttery baked goods and freshly ground cinnamon. “Rentals,” she added with a shrug.

“Do you need to call for a tow?”

Ellie glanced over her shoulder and saw Jake still parked at the curb. She could hear the hum of the idling engine. Knowing she couldn’t very well let him discover where she really lived, Ellie smiled as she reached for the door. “I’m letting in a terrible draft.”

Mrs. Baxter looked at her with kind, gentle eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she began. “How rude of me. Come into the kitchen. I’ve had the oven going since early morning. We’ll have you toasty in no time.”

With one last, satisfied glance back, Ellie closed the door and followed the gracious older woman down a hallway filled with mementos of a full and happy life. There were photos of her children from birth through college, and of the newest generation of Baxters. It reminded Ellie of her own mother’s house.

“I don’t want to impose,” she told the other woman. “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I cut through your house, just to get out of the cold for a while.”

Mrs. Baxter ushered her into a large kitchen. The round table was covered with a variety of tins, partially filled with delicious-smelling goodies.

“Gifts,” she explained as she wiped her hands on the front of her well-worn apron. “With Mr. Baxter’s surgery this year, I’m a little behind on my baking.”

“I’m sure your family will understand.”

“These aren’t for family,” she said. “I send a little something to the ladies I used to work with.”

Ellie took in a deep breath. Listening to Mrs. Baxter, being in this kitchen, was almost enough to make her forget the horrible image of Josh on the sofa.

“Have you been retired long?”

Mrs. Baxter placed her hands on her ample hips and nodded. “It was way back during the war. We all worked at the base, assembling military equipment for the boys in Europe.”

“You were like Rosie the Riveter?” Ellie asked.

“You bet,” Mrs. Baxter answered. There was a definite pride in her wistful expression. “Worked eight-, sometimes ten-hour shifts. By the time Mr. Baxter came home, I had enough saved to buy this house.”

“What a great story,” Ellie said.

In response to a chime from the stove, Mrs. Baxter donned padded mitts and turned her attention to the oven. “It was different back then,” she said. “We women didn’t have as many choices as you gals do today, but at least we had security. We knew that when we got married, it would be till the death. My one son is on his third wife. Doesn’t have a clue what the word commitment means.”

“I know the type,” Ellie lamented as she carefully sat on the edge of one of the chairs, trying not to get the cushion wet.

“I take it you aren’t married?”

“No.”

“Do you want to be?”

Ellie smiled at the woman’s candor. “Yes. I’m just afraid I’ll choose the wrong guy. So far, I have a track record of nothing but losers. Sometimes I think I’m wearing some sort of invisible sign that only jerks can see—Date Her, She’s Desperate.”

Mrs. Baxter’s laugh was soft and very reassuring. It reminded Ellie so much of her own mother’s laugh that she felt a small pang of homesickness.

“The right man will come along eventually. Patience, my dear.”

“Will he be wearing a sign?” Ellie asked.

“Most definitely.” Mrs. Baxter waved her spatula dramatically as she spoke. “I believe in fate,” she said, her expression distant and contented. “I knew the first time I laid eyes on Mr. Baxter that he was the man for me.”

“Love at first sight?”

“Hardly,” Mrs. Baxter snorted. “He was coming out of a club—one of those dance clubs we had in the old days—falling down drunk.”

“And you fell in love?”

“Actually, he fell on me.”

Ellie smiled.

“Even though he reeked of whiskey, one feel of those strong shoulders and I was gone.”

The memory of Jake’s strong, muscled body flashed in her mind. Ellie shook her head, hoping to rid herself of such outrageous thoughts.

“Well,” Ellie began as she rose slowly. “I had better be on my way. Shelby is probably frantic by now.”

Mrs. Baxter went to the window, shoving back the dainty lace curtains before she said, “I think you’re a little late, my dear.”

Ellie hurried to the window. Even in the shadows of early evening she had no trouble making out the insignia on the car parked in front of her brother and sister-in-law’s home.

“Looks like she’s already called the police.”

Closing her eyes for a brief second, Ellie sucked in a breath. Now what? she wondered. How am I going to talk my way out of this?

“You’d best hurry along,” Mrs. Baxter was saying. “Shelby must be worried sick if she’s already alerted the authorities. I suppose it has something to do with what happened to poor little Chad a while back. Kidnapping is the sort of thing that stays with a mother always, you know. I guess it’s only natural for Shelby to react quickly when a family member is missing.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Ellie admitted. Great, she silently castigated as she let herself out the back door. “I’ve left the scene of a murder,” she grumbled as she worked her way toward the house. “I’ve probably assisted a murderer in making his escape. And now I’ve probably scared Shelby half out of her mind. If the cops don’t kill me, Dylan absolutely will.”

Every light in the house was on, which pretty much eliminated the possibility of sneaking in the back way. No, Ellie acknowledged as she shifted her handbag to the opposite shoulder, there was nothing to do but walk in the front door and hope she could explain her behavior in a calm, rational way.

Sucking in a deep breath, she lifted the drenched hem of her skirt and gingerly maneuvered up the icy steps. She was frantically running various excuses through her mind when the door suddenly flew open.

She was greeted by a pair of glaring green eyes. “Well it’s about damn time,” Rose yelled. “Shelby’s been frantic, especially since the cops arrived.”

Ellie lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry she called the police,” she tried again.

“Get in out of the cold,” Rose grumbled, reaching out and grabbing a handful of Ellie’s damp sweater. “And she didn’t call the cops. They showed up because of the murder.”

Ellie, paralyzed by fear, looked into the hallway, fully expecting a whole battalion of officers to be waiting there, handcuffs dangling from their eager fingers.

“Why are they here?” she asked.

“Josh,” Rose answered, her voice softer and with just a trace of sadness.

Ellie’s eyes darted into the living room. Spotting the two uniformed men with Shelby, she felt her heart pound urgently.

As nonchalantly as possible, she positioned herself so that Rose stood between her and the officers. Placing her arm around the shorter woman, who was reciting the facts of the case, Ellie managed to get to the foot of the stairs without attracting the attention of the police.

Leaving Rose with a saddened, slightly perturbed look on her face, Ellie dashed up the stairs. She raced past her nephew, who was sitting in the middle of his room, apparently playing with one of his small toys. Cushioning the sound of her footsteps, Ellie moved past her sleeping niece, into the guest room. Wasting no time, she peeled away the layers of wet clothing, balled them up and tossed them in the back of the closet. As a forensic scientist, she knew better then to leave the clothes in plain view. There was no way for her to know how many fibers or other trace elements she had picked up during her short stay in Josh’s apartment. She could dispose of them later, when the house wasn’t crawling with police.

“Blast,” she cursed as she hopped and danced her way into her jeans. She cursed again when she heard the soft rapping at her door. “Just a second,” she called as she yanked a sweatshirt over her head.

“The police want to talk to you,” Shelby said in that soft, feminine drawl.

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