Сьюзен Мэллери - Holly And Mistletoe

“I offered to cook him something, and he said yes.”

Louise shook her head. “He’s the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. You’re welcome to him.” She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out two steaks.

Holly eyed the meat. “Can he really eat that much?”

Louise grinned. “Only one of them is for him. The other is for you. I heard your stomach growling. You’ve been at work all day, haven’t you? Barely stopped for lunch.”

Holly thought of the half sandwich she’d never had time to get back to. It had been a busy afternoon. Still, she would much rather be busy and go without food than sit alone in an empty store, wishing for customers.

Before she could comment, Louise continued, “I know what it’s like to be young. Thinking about everything but being healthy.” She opened the refrigerator and pointed to the bottom bin. “There’s plenty of fresh vegetables. He likes them steamed. Of course, not when I steam them.”

“Why doesn’t he like you?” Holly asked.

The housekeeper shrugged. She crossed the worn linoleum floor and grabbed a denim jacket hanging from a hook by the back door. “I don’t know. He’s always been this way. I’ve been working on and off for the Haynes family for years. There’s four brothers, five if you count Austin, who isn’t technically family but might as well be. I’ve helped when they’ve had new babies, cooked for the bachelors, nursed them through illness—” she tilted her head toward the study “—and injury.” She smiled. “They’re a wonderful group of people. Except that one.”

“Then why are you here?”

Louise slipped on her jacket. There was a backpack on a second hook. She reached for that and slung it over her shoulder. “Because I care about the family. I told them I would look after him, and the good Lord willing, I’ll survive. But that Jordan has a chip on his shoulder. Don’t ask me why. He’s never said, and I haven’t bothered to ask. Maybe I will one of these days.”

Louise opened the back door. “My class starts at seven. I’ll be home around ten-thirty.”

“Oh, I’ll be long gone,” Holly said. “I’m just going to cook his dinner, then leave.”

“I appreciate this. I would have gone to my class no matter what, but I would have spent the whole time feeling guilty.” Louise gave a quick grin, then left.

Holly turned to the old-fashioned kitchen and realized she hadn’t asked where anything was. She was going to have to fumble around to find pots and pans. She didn’t really mind. She was in one of the beautiful Victorian mansions she’d admired since coming to town. Jordan Haynes might not get along with his housekeeper, but Holly thought he was nice. Best of all, she was taking the first step in repaying her debt to him.

Jordan watched Holly carrying in a laden tray. She’d found an apron and slipped it over the white frilly blouse and long, soft-looking blue skirt she wore. Her wide eyes shone with excitement, and her mouth quivered on the verge of smiling.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

He inhaled the savory aroma of steak, baked potato and broccoli. “Starved.”

She set the tray on the table he’d pulled next to the bed. Like the bed, the table had been rented from a hospital-supply center. He’d figured if he had to be restricted for a couple of weeks, he might as well be comfortable. The table slid around easily and could be raised and lowered to fit across his bed.

Holly reached for the bed controls. “Can you sit up a little more? It will be easier to eat.”

“Sure.”

She worked the controls like an expert. Next she raised the table two inches and slid it close. She unfolded a napkin and handed it to him. She played nurse very well. Interesting.

He glanced at the tray and saw it was set with two plates. “Thanks for joining me,” he said. “Sometimes I get tired of eating alone.”

Holly sank into the chair next to him. “I’m glad you don’t mind. Louise suggested I join you. I was going to ask, but…” Her voice trailed off.

The all-business persona faded as quickly as it had arrived. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, as if she didn’t dare stare directly. Quite a contrast of personalities. Deliberate or unconscious? Then he reminded himself he’d spent nearly three days staring at the same four walls. His family had stopped by to visit, but it wasn’t enough to fill the hours. He didn’t care if Holly was a serial killer. He was grateful for her company, whatever her motives.

She took her plate and set it on her lap. He cut a piece of steak and tasted it. The meat was cooked perfectly.

“Great,” he said when he’d swallowed, then leaned back. “So, Holly Garrett, cat owner, how’d you find me?”

“I went to the fire station. I thought I could leave the cookies with one of the men there and they would deliver them.”

“Fat chance. They would have been devoured in thirty seconds.”

She smiled. “That’s what the captain on duty told me. He gave me your address. I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine. Glenwood is a small town. Everyone knows everyone. That’s why I moved back.”

“Where did you move from?”

“Sacramento. I’d grown up in Glenwood. When I decided to become a fire fighter, I left.”

She cut some broccoli and speared it with her fork. “Don’t they have a training academy here?”

“The county does. But that wasn’t the problem. My father was the sheriff. His father was a cop, all my uncles are cops. I’m one of four boys, and the other three are all cops.”

“You were expected to be a policeman, too.” It wasn’t a question.

“Exactly.” He remembered the fights he’d had with his old man. His brothers had teased him about his choice, but they’d supported his decision. Not Earl Haynes. His father had threatened to disown him. By that time Jordan hadn’t cared much about his father’s opinion. Not after everything the old man had done.

Holly tilted her head slightly. “Are you happy with what you do?”

“Yes. But I didn’t like being away from my brothers and their families. So I put in an application here. When a position for fire captain opened up, I got the job.” He grinned. “One of my brothers, Travis, is the sheriff. He never said anything, but I suspect he put in a good word for me.”

Holly laughed softly. The sweet sound penetrated his chest and, for a moment, thawed some of the cold he felt there. Then the laughter faded, and her eyes darkened with an emotion he could only label as sadness.

Don’t be a fool, Haynes, he told himself. He didn’t know this woman well enough to be reading her emotions.

“Your family sounds wonderful,” Holly said, the tone of her voice confirming his guess. “I can understand why you would move back to be near them. How long have you been here?”

“About six months.”

“That’s when I got here, too.”

“What brought you to Glenwood? It’s not exactly a bustling metropolis.”

“My mother and I inherited a store.”

So she wasn’t a nurse. “Which one?”

“An antique store across from the park. Now it’s called A Victorian Parlor.”

He remembered seeing the shop after it had opened. “When I’m feeling better, I’m going to be working on restoring this old place. Maybe I should come by.”

“Definitely.” She leaned forward. “The store specializes in Victorian pieces, with a whole section on restoration. There are books of wallpaper, both reproductions of old prints, as well as Victorian inspired. I can order fixtures, faucets, even disguised switch covers. As far as the restoration books go, a few are for sale, but mostly I loan them out. That’s one of the things I like about Glenwood. There are so many old homes that people are restoring.”

She hung on to her plate with one hand and gestured with the other. Enthusiasm filled her voice.

“You like your work,” he said.

“I love it.”

“Then I’ll come into the store and get your help.”

“I’d like that.”

Their eyes met. She bit her lower lip and turned away. Jordan studied her. Part of him wanted her to be as shy and innocent as she seemed; another part of him hoped it was an act. If she was playing a role, then he wouldn’t like her—and that would be easier for him. Mostly because he didn’t want to admit being attracted to Holly Garrett.

“I remember that place being empty for a long time. When did you and your mother inherit the store?”

“My mom’s aunt passed away about five years ago. She’s the one who left it to us.” She toyed with the last piece of steak, then pushed it away and set the plate on the floor. “My mother was ill for several years. She had breast cancer that kept coming back. We talked about the antique store. It was our joint dream.” Holly leaned back in the chair and folded her hands on her lap. “After she died three years ago, I paid off the rest of the medical bills, then saved money. When I had enough, I moved up here.”

She told the story simply. Jordan knew there were many details she’d left out. He wondered about family. Was she an only child? Where was her father in all this? But he didn’t like questions, and he wasn’t about to force her to answer his. At least part of the mystery was explained. If her mother had been ill for a long time, Holly would have become familiar with hospitals. No wonder she could do a great nurse imitation.

“Do you like owning your own business?” he asked.

“I love it. When I was still in high school, I had a part-time job working in an antique store. After I graduated, I worked there full-time. I know a lot about antiques, restoration. One day I want to buy an old place like this and restore it from the ground up.”

“Two of my brothers have houses like this. Travis has finished his. Kyle and Sandy are still wrestling with plumbing upgrades. When I’m up and around, I can show you the houses if you’d like.”

“That would be wonderful. What are you going to do with this house?”

“I’m not sure. In some of the rooms I’m stripping paint off the original molding. You wouldn’t believe what people do to beautiful wood.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve seen some horrible things. It should be illegal.” She moved her chair a little closer to his bed. “Once I went to an estate sale. A woman had covered every piece of furniture with gold paint. It was appalling.”

Holly continued with her story, but Jordan was having trouble concentrating. He stared at her face. When she’d visited him in the hospital, he’d noticed her freckles and the fact that she didn’t wear much makeup. Today was the same. Her lashes were darkened with mascara, but other than that, she was as clean scrubbed as a ten-year-old.

He watched her full lips move as she spoke. Enthusiasm made her eyes sparkle. Her arms moved, and with them, her body. His gaze was drawn to her chest. She was definitely this side of curvy. Her breasts would spill out of his hands, but he didn’t think he would mind all that much.

He fought down a grin. His family and friends considered him reclusive and brooding. Occasionally he bordered on surly. So what the hell was this woman doing in his house? And why was he so pleased to be in her company?

“When you’re ready to strip wallpaper, let me know,” she said. “I have a steamer that works like magic.” She glanced at the high ceilings. “Even with that, in some of the rooms it’s going to take days.”

“I’ll get my brothers to help me,” he said. “I’ve helped them enough times.”

“You’re one of four, right?”