Torchlight (21 page)

Miles’s arrival came as a relief to Julia. His presence would force a decision and end her agony of having to choose between him and Trevor. Trevor. She had admitted her feelings to herself at last.
But I can’t really choose between a man who is committed to me and one who could disappear at the drop of a hat. Trevor hasn’t said anything to make me believe he’d ever stay.
She pushed the memories of his touch and words at the clinic out of her mind.

Miles walked up behind Julia as she washed dishes at the sink, and he pulled her into his arms. His touch was warm, comforting. “I’ve come to a decision about moving. Have you also come to a decision, my love?”

His choice of words made Julia wince, and she grabbed another pot to scrub. She forced a smile and looked at Miles calmly. “Getting very close. How ’bout I tell you over dinner?”

“Fine. Can I help you?”

“No thanks. I’ve got it.”

“Should you even be on that leg?”

“I’m fine, Miles.”

“Well then, do you mind if I look around at the progress you’ve made?”

“Go ahead. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

While Miles observed the work that had been done downstairs, Ben worked with Trevor in the attic. Fishing had remained fairly stable, but Ben wanted to start picking up extra work before the season ended. Working at Torchlight meant making some extra money to put toward Mike’s college fund.

Trevor carefully cut a length of thick pink insulation and placed it in between the empty framework of the roof. When it caught on
a nail and ripped, he groaned and kicked a beam in irritation.

“What’s eating you?” Ben asked.

Trevor paused, then knelt beside his friend. “I’m sorry. I hate working with this stuff, and I’m on edge already.”

“Beckley’s back, huh?”

Trevor’s eyes met Ben’s in surprise. The man understood, even though they had never talked about his relationship with Julia.

Trevor looked at the floor. “It’s eatin’ me alive.”

“I sort of know what you’re going through. I’m so torn up over Tara I can barely sleep. One part of me wants to go propose to her right now. The other part holds me in place. I don’t ever want to mourn another wife. I couldn’t take it.”

Trevor placed an encouraging hand on Ben’s shoulder. “So we’re in the same spot, eh? I thought I was the only one too chicken to confess.”

“Confess?” Miles questioned, his head just rising through the attic door. He climbed all the way up and brushed off his fine suit in distaste. “Now what would you working boys be talking about?”

He looked directly at Trevor. His eyes held none of the congeniality that his voice bespoke.

Trevor stood and nodded once. “Beckley,” he said without warmth. He never took his eyes from the newcomer’s.

Ben stood beside him. Miles looked to him. “Name’s Miles Beckley. And you are?”

“Ben DeBois.” He held out his hand, and Miles shook it firmly.

“Well, Ben, I think your friend and I have something to discuss. Would you mind?”

“I think I’ll go grab a soda. Want one, Trev?”

“No thanks.”

Miles and Trevor stared at each other until Ben descended the attic stairs and was out of earshot.

“Now, Kenbridge. I’m thinking there’s a change in Julia I don’t like. She’s more distant than usual. I believe you might be trying to get between us. And I think I arrived just in time to hear something about you ‘confessing.’ What exactly did you mean?”

“None of your business.”

Miles pulled his lips together tightly. “I think it is. Your confession wouldn’t involve my Julia, would it?”

“Maybe.” Trevor inched toward Miles, silently daring him to make a move.

“I told you to stay away from her.”

“And I decided to ignore your advice.”

“I won’t tolerate any meddling by some lowlife, bloodsucking wanderer. You’re not good enough for her.”

Trevor laughed without smiling. “And you are? You are the most shallow, superficial loser I’ve ever met. You’ve been away too long, Miles.” He let Miles draw his own conclusions as to his meaning. Given his rival’s jealous nature, he hoped the hook would sink deep.

It did. Miles’s fist came from nowhere and landed squarely on Trevor’s jaw, sending him flying backward into a bale of insulation.

Trevor bounced up and went after Miles in a fury. Ducking a wild punch, he landed his own fist to Miles’s gut and then hit him in the face with his knee. He’d learned to defend himself in more than a decade of traveling.

Miles paused to catch his breath, then came after Trevor again,
tackling and throwing him onto the rotten boards. With their combined weight and momentum, the wood gave way, and the two fell through the old plaster ceiling of the northwest bedroom with a great crash.

They both rolled, coughing after impact and gasping for air in the dust-filled room. Trevor rubbed his shoulder painfully as Miles stood.

“What is going on?”
Julia asked, furious as she looked from the men to the hole in the ceiling.

M
iles pointed down at Trevor. “That man implied you two had something going on! Of course I went after him!”

“You did
what?
” she asked Trevor.

He was troubled. How could he explain without implicating her, yet remain truthful? There was something between them. Surely she knew it as well as he did. But he hadn’t meant to force the issue. Miles had just driven him crazy with his superior attitude and ways. Trevor took a deep breath. “I can see why he thought what he did, but I certainly didn’t intend to give him the
wrong
idea.”

“What idea did you intend to give him?”

Trevor swallowed, dreading her reaction. “That you and I had been developing more than a friendship.”

“There you have it!” Miles said proudly as Ben peeked around the corner.

“Now wait a minute—,” Trevor began.

“You actually led my boyfriend to believe that we were having an affair?”

He stood his ground. “Aren’t we? Of sorts?”

“What does that make me look like?” she seethed.

“Well, how do you explain it? How many times have we been close to kissing? It has to have passed through your thoughts too—”

“I thought you were more honorable than this!”

“There, you see, darling—”

“And
you!
Miles, I thought you were beyond actually getting into a fistfight with someone. You can’t be totally innocent in this. You come here to tell me you’re moving to Boston, and while I’m still digesting the news, you take on my general contractor and break through a bedroom ceiling within fifteen minutes after arriving. I can’t have you around if this is how you act. I need this house
repaired
, not torn apart.”

“Julia, I’m—,” Trevor tried again.

“Don’t! Don’t either of you talk to me!” She stormed out of the bedroom on her crutches. “Ben, make sure they don’t tear each other apart,” she directed from the hall.

Their friend nodded and tried not to laugh as he looked at his plaster-covered, dumbfounded charges.

Early the next morning the buzz of the doorbell pulled Julia away from her private thoughts. She moved to answer it, knowing it would be Miles. She had sent him away the night before, too weary to deal with him or Trevor.
I don’t feel up to it this morning either.
It was drizzling outside, matching her mood.
I just want to be alone. What had Trevor been thinking? An affair? Maybe an emotional affair, but he was just as responsible. And it was idle flirting. Nothing had come of it. Why bring my almost-fiancé into it?

Miles stood on the porch, dripping wet. He gave her a winning smile.

“Come in,” she offered grudgingly.

He wiped off his coat and hair, scuffed his boots on the mat, and entered. He looked down at her sorrowfully. “I came with a peace offering.” Reaching under his trench coat, he pulled a golden kitten
from a large pocket. “She’s for you.” The animal mewed pitifully at the loss of Miles’s body heat.

“Miles! She’s darling.” Julia took the kitten from his hand and cradled her against her chest.

“Julia, I was way out of line last night. I’m sorry. Something about Trevor makes me crazy. I don’t know why I let him get to me.”

They stood in the entryway awkwardly. She looked down at the kitten, who was digging her claws into her sweater, pulling herself up to rest under Julia’s chin. Julia sighed. “Here, take the cat. I can’t manage her and my crutches. Let’s get a cup of tea and talk.”

His face lit up with hope. “Right behind you.”

Miles’s thoughtfulness softened Julia’s heart a bit. The spontaneity of the gesture surprised and delighted her. They sat in the kitchen, where Miles insisted on fixing tea for both of them. The kitten purred in her lap as Julia watched him work methodically.

Miles carefully placed their cups on the table, then sat beside Julia and took her hand. “Julia, I hope you don’t make your decision based on my behavior yesterday. I swear to you, I don’t know what came over me. It won’t happen again.”

She removed her hand and touched his face gently. “Let’s forget it ever happened, Miles. Just give me a little more time.”

“How much more, Julia? Shouldn’t we get on with this? I want you as my wife. I want to know I can count on that.”

I know. I want someone I can count on too.
Hadn’t Trevor betrayed her? Hadn’t Miles moved to protect her honor?

Julia looked down at the tiny kitten sleeping in her lap.
But hadn’t Trevor merely stated the obvious? The truth of the matter?
“One more week. I promise I’ll answer you then.”

Two days later, Trevor and Julia still had not spoken. After Miles left, Trevor swallowed his pride and went to her.

“Look, Julia, it was wrong of me to bait Miles,” he said.
How can you choose him over me? You should hear how he talks about you! You’re more than a trophy to be won!

“That’s it?”

Trevor stilled his desire to voice his excuses. “That’s it.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Why did you bait him?”

“I don’t like him. He doesn’t like me. There was bound to be a pretty big confrontation sooner or later.”
Because I love you.

“How old are you? Fourteen? I thought you were smarter than that. You goaded him just for the sport of it.”

He looked away.

“Please get to work on the new bedroom walls today. I want them completed by next week so we’ll be on schedule.” Her tone was icy.

“They’ll be done,” he said.

Miles appeared that following weekend, in very different style. He was extremely happy, having just secured his position in Boston and an agreement to work halftime from home—which he assumed would be Torchlight. For once, he was not wearing a business suit. Most surprising of all was his mode of transportation: a red pickup.

“Testing it out,” he explained as she came out to the porch to greet him. “Maybe I can afford one for you and one for me now that
I have the new job.” Miles picked Julia up, hugging her and gently swinging her around in a circle. “How’s the leg?”

“Hopefully healing. The cast is coming off soon. I can’t wait.”

“It must be tough getting around this old place while partially incapacitated. Still, it seems as if you’re managing all right.”

“Thanks to Trevor,” she said quietly. Seeing his frown, she changed the subject quickly. “Miles, you look great,” she said, admiring his jeans, boots, and long-sleeved cotton shirt.

“Yeah, well, I thought I’d try and look the part since I was coming for your big answer after you put me off last weekend. Thought I’d really try and fit into your dream this time.”

“I don’t know what to say …”

“Don’t say anything unless it’s a yes … Let’s go inside and decide what we can do around here for fun, with you in that cast.”

She had never seen Miles so happy, so excited.
Maybe he’s finally coming around. Maybe I’ve been right all along. Maybe he is the best man for me. Look how he’s trying.
She remembered how she’d felt when she first fell in love with Miles.

He stood behind her and embraced her warmly, kissing her from her neck to her cheek. She giggled and nudged him away, finding his high mood contagious. “I’ve missed you,” he growled.