Heartsong (7 page)

“Of course. He never could keep a secret for long,” Skye said, returning the affectionate hug. She stepped back and carefully studied the happiness in Peggy’s eyes. “You show already.”

Peggy’s hand automatically rested against her flat stomach as her gaze swept downward. “Do you really think so?” she asked.

“Not there, silly,” Skye chided. “It’s that radiant gleam.”

“I know, I know. I don’t think I’ve been more pleased about anything in my life. What are we doing standing here? Let’s go into the kitchen. I’m baking cookies. Chocolate chip—your favorite.”

“These smell good. Mind if I help myself?” She didn’t bother to wait for permission but bit into the melting morsel, savoring the chocolate flavor.

Peggy pulled another sheet from the oven and carefully lifted the cookies with her
spatula onto a waiting rack. “This is the last of the batch. Let’s have some tea; I picked up a new flavor at the store the other day. How does cherry almond sound?” Stretching her petite frame to reach the top cupboard, Peggy brought down her china cups. “Only the best for us,” she declared.

The aroma of the tea pervaded the room as they chatted.

“It’s so good to see you, Skye. How have you been?”

“I should be asking you that question. How are you feeling?” Although her attention was directed to Peggy, her fingers were making lazy circles around the rim of her teacup. “You’re taking good care of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Heavens, yes! Oh, Skye, the Lord is so good. I’m still having trouble believing I’m really pregnant, after all these years.” Some of the enthusiasm left Peggy’s eyes. “Now, if only Brad could find a job.”

“Speaking of my dear brother, where is he?”

“He told me he was going to help a friend move, but I know differently.” Peggy shifted uneasily. “He’s out again looking for a job, any job. With a baby on the way Brad feels such a sense of urgency.” Her fingers tugged nervously on her bottom lip. “I guess I do too. My moods swing from elation and ecstasy to doubt and worry.”

Skye had the same feelings herself. Although very pleased for her brother and his family, she couldn’t chase away a sense of unease. She realized her family was in God’s hands, but reminding Peggy of this sounded trite and overused.

“Do you remember the Joyce Landorf series we saw at church last year?” Skye asked.

Peggy nodded.

“I guess this is what she meant by being stuck in a waiting room.”

“Yes, with both exits covered.”

It was Skye’s turn to smile. “You know, I’d do anything in the world to help you.”

“We know, Skye, and thanks, but Brad’s pride is at stake now. You’ve done too much already.”

Skye studied her sister-in-law seriously. “Don’t let pride get in your way, Peg.”

She paused, searching Skye’s face. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”

Taken aback by Peggy’s directness, Skye flushed slightly and lowered her gaze. “What makes you say that?” she said, trying hard to hide any telltale inflection of surprise in her voice.

“You look, well …” Again Peggy hesitated, as if searching for the right word. “Happier … brighter, as if some spark has been ignited again. Brad mentioned
something, too. He said you’d obviously been dating someone because you closed up like a clam the minute he asked about it.”

“I guess you could say I’ve met someone,” Skye admitted reluctantly.

“And?” Peggy probed.

“It’s someone from the hospital. He was in a car accident and has a broken arm. It was in traction for a while, but he’s been discharged now.”

Peggy’s eyes rounded at the information and twinkled with delight.

“It’s no big deal, Peggy. Honest,” Skye stressed. “I enjoyed his company, but it’s not what you think. He’s from LA and has returned home.”

“Is he handsome?”

Skye tilted her head thoughtfully and shrugged noncommittally. “I’d say he was, but not strikingly so.” Unconsciously she stiffened; this was dangerous territory. Her own feelings for Jordan were a mystery. How could she explain them to another?

Peggy seemed to understand her indecision and smiled in return. “Anytime you show this much interest in a man, I can’t help getting excited. I don’t mean to pry, but honestly, Skye, Glen’s been gone a long time. Too many years for you to continue on the way you have been.”

A guarded expression came over Skye’s face. Glen’s name was rarely mentioned. Brad and Peggy had always been sensitive to her grief. “What are you saying?” she asked brusquely.

Peggy sighed, almost as if she were unwilling to continue. “You’ve been living your life in a shell. For eight years there hasn’t been anything or anyone who has been able to bring you back to reality, and it’s time you realized that.”

It was unlike Peggy to be so blunt. “That’s not true,” Skye said defensively, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck bristling. “Glen and I shared something unique. Our life together would have been very special, but for you to insist I’ve built a wall around myself is totally false.” She paused, gathering the strength of conviction. “I have to think very hard to clearly remember what Glen even looked like.”

Peggy was watching Skye with concern. “We seem to have gotten off the track, haven’t we?”

Swallowing determinedly at the tight lump in her throat, Skye gave a wavering smile. “We certainly have. I came to congratulate you and discuss Janey’s birthday present. I bought her a shell necklace, but how would you and Brad feel if I got her a puppy?”

“A puppy?” Peggy echoed, sounding aghast.

“Sally’s dog recently had a litter, and she’s offered me first choice. You
remember Sally, my friend from St. John’s.”

“Of course.” Peggy’s eyebrows arched thoughtfully. “You know, it might not be a bad idea. With the baby coming it could be just the thing for Janey. I’ll talk to Brad.”

The remainder of the visit was strained, with both women pretending an ease neither felt. Skye left shortly afterward.

Confused and unsettled, Skye drove home in a thoughtful mood. How could Peggy have been so blunt? Skye had worked hard to overcome her grief. It was true that for a while she had lost her will to live. Something deep within her had died with Glen. But she was a free spirit now, free to love and be loved. Hadn’t she always been? Peggy had never hurt her this way before. It was true Skye seldom dated anyone for long, but that wasn’t because she was carrying a torch for Glen. There were very few men who interested her. Certainly all the dates Sally had arranged over the years should prove that to her sister-in-law. Nonetheless Peggy’s attitude stung.

About a mile from home the car coughed and sputtered. Skye tensed. “Not again,” she said, groaning inwardly. Suddenly the buzzer to her seat belt began to hiss, although it was connected. The radio began making eerie, high-pitched screeches, fading in and out. She had purposely turned it off in order to think. Quickly she pulled her small Ford to the curb before it gave one final cough and died.

“Blast it.” Her hand banged the steering wheel impatiently. First Peggy’s comment and now this! She tried turning the ignition key but was met with silence.

“I can’t believe it!” She opened her car door, climbed out, and in a burst of frustration slammed the door shut. She didn’t even bother to look under the hood, knowing it was useless for her to try to figure out what was wrong.

It began to rain about halfway home, an angry torrent that added fuel to her bad mood. She was drenched by the time she arrived at her apartment building. Heavy drops of rain ran off her hair and face as she paused to unlock her door.

John Dirkson stuck his head out of his apartment and greeted her with a flashy grin. “I see you got yourself all wet and cold. I’m perfectly willing to warm you up,” he offered, with all the subtlety of a serpent.

“Oh, shut up, John,” Skye stormed, and shut her door in his surprised face.

No more than two minutes later her doorbell rang impatiently.

Stamping her foot irritably, she turned off the bathwater. Luckily she hadn’t gotten around to undressing.

“Don’t hassle me, John, I’m in no mood to—” She stopped dead in midsentence. It was Jordan. What was he doing here? Oh, no, not him. Why hadn’t he returned to LA? Why didn’t he just get out of her life?

“Do I detect a note of anger?” he asked, amused, letting himself in.

Skye gave a short sarcastic laugh. “Angry? Me? That’s my problem: I don’t have the common sense to get good and mad every now and then. People think they can take advantage of me, that I won’t fight back. They think of me as Holly Holiness.”

Irrationally she paced the floor, waving her hands.

“A Pollyanna?” Jordan inserted.

“Exactly!” She stopped and looked at him momentarily. “I’m as even-tempered and coolheaded as the next person. But I’ll only be driven so far.”

The amusement left Jordan’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“You know what my problem is?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “I never let loose. I let people walk all over me. Well, I’m good and loose now,” she said as she continued pacing. “I don’t smoke. I don’t swear. I’ve never marched in a protest rally. I didn’t even burn my bra when it was the popular thing to do.” She stopped to take a quick breath. “Well, I’ve had just about as much as I’m going to take.”

“Skye?”

She ignored him.

“Skye?” He spoke louder.

“I’m taking the mechanic to court. I’ll sue him for every penny. He’ll …”

She didn’t get the opportunity to finish. Jordan swiftly caught her arm and pulled her flush against him. Before she could protest, his mouth captured hers.

Taken completely by surprise, Skye felt the anger drain away, replaced by a budding awareness. She was frightened that she should respond to him like this, all consideration of her anger and her plight erased by a single action.

She broke the contact, raising her questioning eyes to his. His look trapped her, warm and sensual. Slowly his hand slid over her back, drawing her closer to him.

Taking an uneven breath in confusion, Skye made a feeble attempt to break away. Undaunted, he continued the gentle caress, slowly drawing her into his protective embrace. When he lowered his mouth to hers, her lips parted in anticipation.

Why does it have to be him?
her mind questioned unreasonably. His very touch seemed to bring her suddenly back to life. She was caught in the sensual awareness and yet felt frightened and unsure. If this continued, Jordan Kiley could easily become a weakness she might not be able to overcome. Forcefully she tore her lips from his and, taking a deep breath, struggled to regain her bearings.

“Jordan, please, this is important,” she insisted.

“I know,” he said, his voice thick and husky as he explored the side of her neck.

“Please, stop.” She was breathless yet fervent. “Kissing me isn’t going to fix my
car.”

He straightened, his mouth curving into smiling grooves. “Ah, but my arm aches considerably less.”

She broke contact, moving purposefully away from him. “I … I think aspirin would work far more effectively.”

He shrugged, his glance focusing on her lips as if to say it wasn’t aspirin he was interested in.

Her pique rose. “Darn it, Jordan Kiley, don’t look at me like that. I’m stuck with a useless piece of junk, and you want to play spin the bottle.”

Promptly he pulled her back into his arms and placed a quick kiss upon her unsuspecting lips. “Settle down, or I’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”

She stared up at him wordlessly, swallowing tightly.

“Now, what’s wrong with your car?”

She couldn’t answer. Her heart was hammering so wildly, it made clear thinking impossible. She lowered her head, not wanting Jordan to see the effect he had on her.

His free hand gently lifted her face. “Your car?”

“It’s not running again.” Her voice didn’t sound right, even to herself. “It stalled last week, and I couldn’t get it started. I phoned the car dealership where I’d bought it, and they put a new battery in. The mechanic said since the car is three years old, that probably was the problem.”

“Who’s the mechanic?”

“George somebody. He works for Olsen Ford, where I bought the car.”

“And?”

“Well, it died again the other day, and this George said it needed a new alteration.”

“Alternator,” Jordan supplied with a grin.

“Whatever!” she said irritably. “Anyway, the car did it again today. That’s why I’m drenched. I had to leave it and walk home.”

A flickering light of anger entered his eyes. “I’ll handle it for you.”

“No,” she challenged sharply. “It’s going to give me a great deal of pleasure to talk to these people.”

A light rap on her door stiffened her instinctively. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

A tall, well-dressed man of towering bulk greeted her.

“Jordan here?” He placed heavy emphasis on
Jordan
, his expression alive with amusement.

“Bill.” The name was spoken with no welcome as Jordan moved toward the man.
“I said I’d only be a minute.”

The huge man shrugged. “I got tired of waiting” was the only excuse he offered. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

“Bill Malloy, Skye Garvin.” The introduction was issued grudgingly.

Bill Malloy smiled warmly at Skye, and his strong hand closed firmly over hers. “You’re everything Jordan said and more.” He released her hand slowly. His eyes, trapping hers, possessed a mocking gleam.

“Weren’t we on our way to a meeting?” Jordan asked curtly.

“We were.” Bill smiled. “I know how Dan hates to be kept waiting.”

“Then let’s get moving.” Jordan’s voice sounded thin and brittle.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Skye.” Jordan’s friend’s gaze continued to hold hers.

“Yes,” she said in some confusion. Her attention darted from one man to the other. Bill was finding something highly amusing, but what? Jordan was recognizably upset. His lips were firmly compressed, as if he was holding his anger tightly in check.

“I’ll phone you,” he promised Skye, ushering his friend out the door. Gently his hand touched her cheek.

Skye watched them go, thoroughly bewildered. Jordan had never mentioned why he’d stopped by. Although he hadn’t said he was returning to LA, Skye had gotten the impression he was. She honestly hadn’t expected to see him again.