Stranger in the Moonlight (17 page)

For a moment they looked at each other and again Kim felt drawn to him. It was as if his body called to hers, as though some electrical charge ran from her to him and back again. She could feel the pull, the tingle, the desire that passed between them.

Of its own will, her body took a step toward him. She wanted him to put his arms around her and kiss her. She saw him look at her lips and his eyes grew darker, warmer, hot even.

But in the next second, he turned away and the moment was gone. “It’s late,” he murmured, “and Joe . . . I’ll see you tomorrow.” In an instant he had left the house.

Kim sat down on a chair. She felt like a balloon that had its knot untied. Deflated. Worse, she felt defeated.

When Travis got
inside the guesthouse, he was shaking. He knew he’d never wanted a woman as much as he did Kim, but the problem was that he cared about her. He didn’t want to hurt her, didn’t want—

He sat down on the side of the bed and punched Penny’s number. “Did I wake you?” he asked.

She hesitated. Never before had Travis been concerned about his secretary’s sleeping habits. “No,” she said, lying.

“Did you find out anything about the caterer?”

“Just his name, but I sent my son to Edilean to see what he could find out.”

“What’s your son look like?”

“What does that matter?” Penny asked.

“There’s a girl, Carla, who works for Kim, and she’s after any half-decent-looking man who comes in the store. She knows something about a missing sapphire ring. I think it’s connected to the caterer and I want to find out about it. Can your son handle that?”

“Easily,” Penny said and seemed to be amused. “What else have you found out?”

“Not much, just that Kim is doing quite well in her little shop.”

“Enough to make this man want it?”

“Yes,” Travis said. They knew a lot about what a person would do to own a lucrative business.

“You don’t think it’s possible that this caterer is actually in love with pretty Kim?”

“He may well be, but let’s just say that if he touches her, I’ll be needing a pair of dueling pistols.”

“Well, well, well,” Penny said.

“How’s it coming with your relatives in Janes Creek?”

“Everyone is happy for the free weekend. But I need to warn you that even your dad might not be able to afford my uncle Bernie’s room service bill.”

“That’s all right. I’m getting used to dealing with relatives. Mom’s new . . .”

“Her what?” Penny asked. She was marveling that they were having a personal conversation that included
her
life.

“The man she’s planning to marry. I’ve been working for him.”

“Good dental?” Penny asked, covering her surprise.

Travis scoffed. “No pay, just advice. Lots of advice.”

“Good or bad?”

“Depends on the outcome, which I don’t know yet. I have to come up with a reason why I should go with Kim to Maryland.”

“You’re asking her permission to go?” Her surprise turned to shock.

“Yes,” Travis said. “I can’t talk anymore. Joe wants me at work at seven
A.M
. tomorrow. I’m attaching steel shelves to brick walls. I can hardly wait.”

“I, uh . . .” Penny didn’t know what to say so she murmured good night and hung up. “I think I like this Edilean,” she said as she got back into bed.

Nine

“So what’s it
like living with him?” Carla asked Kim the next morning. “Great sex, huh? He looks like he’d be fabulous in bed. How’s his endurance? Does he—?”

“Carla!” Kim snapped. “Could you please be a bit more professional?”

“Not getting any, are you? Not with an attitude like that. Saving yourself for Dave? But if you change your mind, I know this perfume you could try that might help. It—”

Kim went into her office and shut the door. She hadn’t seen Travis this morning, as he’d already gone to work at Joe’s new store. He’d left her a funny note on the kitchen counter about how he was looking forward to learning how to drill holes in brick.
They should have turned the bricks on their sides. They already have holes in them,
he’d written, making her smile.

It was nice to start the day with a laugh, but she would have liked to have seen him.

Her cell rang with a number she didn’t know.

“Meet me for lunch?” Travis asked. “Please?”

Instantly, her bad mood lifted. “Where?” She refrained from saying, When? How? Should I bring food? How about a few clarity three diamonds?

“How about Delmonico’s circa 1899?”

“Love it. I’ll get my corset out of storage.”

“Can you put it on all by yourself?”

“I may need help,” Kim said and felt her heart beating in her throat. She loved this teasing!

“I would like to volunteer to help you, but at the present I am a conjoined twin. Joe has attached himself to me. Can you bear to have lunch with the two of us?”

“I’d be honored,” Kim said. “If it’s Joe, he wants to go to Al’s Diner.”

“I’ve seen that place and I’m not sure it’s right. Joe specifically said that he wants al dente pasta and steamed broccoli for lunch. And a tablecloth and—”

“Limoges and Christofle,” Kim finished.

“Exactly! See you at the greaseburger at noon?”

“My arteries are looking forward to it,” Kim said and went back into the shop with a big smile.

Carla looked up as she was putting a tray of bracelets away. “Whatever made you smile like that isn’t half as good as what just happened to
me
.”

“Oh?” Kim asked as she glanced at the trays. The bracelet Travis had admired was gone and so was the ring with the big pink diamond. “Good sale?”

“Tremendous! A man was buying for his mother. He had an eye and picked out the best in the store with hardly a glance. And . . .”

“And what?”

“He asked me to go out with him tonight.”

“Don’t half the men who come in here ask you out?”

“The sleazebags do. And the married losers,” Carla said. “The classy ones like him want
you
.”

Kim was in such a good mood she was willing to listen to Carla, but the door opened and a very handsome man came in. Not as dark as Travis, and he didn’t have that world-weary look that Travis often had, but this man was gorgeous. And the suit he wore must have cost thousands.

He glanced at Kim, gave a quick nod of greeting, then went straight to Carla.

Standing to one side, Kim watched the two of them. They were an incongruous pair. Although Kim had had numerous talks with her about the way she dressed, Carla’s blouse was always opened one button too far, her skirt an inch or two too short, and she wore too much makeup. The man looked like he’d just left an exclusive club, while Carla . . . Well, there was a lot of discrepancy between their looks.

“I think I’ll take the pearl earrings as well,” he said in a smooth, silky voice as he looked at Carla as though he wanted to devour her.

“Sure, Mr. Pendergast,” Carla said.

“I told you to call me Russell,” he said.

“Will do,” Carla said but continued to stand there staring at him.

Kim went to the far counter and got out her best pearl earrings. Since he’d bought two expensive items, she figured they were the earrings he wanted. A curve like a shell, the pearl embraced by it. She put them on the counter, then nudged them along between the two people, who were staring at each other.

The man turned to her, his almost black eyes looking at her with a remarkable intensity, as though he was studying her. If Travis weren’t here now, she thought, she’d look back at this man. But she just smiled at him in a professional way.

“You’re the designer? Kimberly Aldredge?”

“Yes I am.”

“I’m Russell Pendergast. I’m just passing through town and I had no idea there would be a store of such quality here. Your designs are exquisite.”

His voice and pronunciation spoke of a very good education. Like Travis, she thought.

Behind him, Carla was glaring, her eyes threatening that if Kim made a play for the man, blood might be shed.

“Where could I get lunch in the area?” he asked.

“I know some places,” Carla said from behind him. “I get off at one.”

“And what about you, Miss Aldredge? When do you have lunch?”

Kim took a step away from him. As enticing as he was, she wasn’t interested. “I’m meeting friends at the local greasy spoon. I wouldn’t recommend it to an outsider. Excuse me.” She went back into her office.

Interesting, she thought as she picked up her sketchbook and put her mind back on work. Maybe she should make some more designs based on shells. She had to come up with a theme for Neimans, so maybe she’d do something about the sea.

An hour later she left for lunch. Mr. Layton and Travis were already in a booth with their drinks. As soon as he saw her, Travis’s dark eyes lit up in a way that made Kim smile. He stood up, kissed her on the cheek, then let her in first.

“Have any idea what you want for lunch?” Travis asked as he nodded toward Joe. “The old man couldn’t wait so we ordered.”

“Al knows,” she said and waved to the big man they could see in the kitchen. It looked like Travis and Mr. Layton were getting to know each other well.

“No kisses for me?” Mr. Layton asked. “You just pass them out to the young bucks now?”

“Sorry,” Kim said as she stretched across the table to kiss his cheek. She didn’t see Travis as he admired the view of her body. And she didn’t see Mr. Layton give him a look that said Travis owed him one.

“What have you two been doing?” she asked.

“Him nothing; me everything,” Travis said.

She looked at him. His shirt was dirty and there was sawdust on his temple. Reaching up, she brushed it away, then was aware of the way Mr. Layton was staring at them.

Kim moved a bit farther down on the seat. “We had an exciting morning.”

“Better than cutting pieces of lumber to make sawponies?” Travis asked in sarcasm.

“Saw
horses
,” Kim corrected. Mr. Layton’s eyes were twinkling. “You’re being wicked and I’m going to tell Jecca on you.” She looked back at Travis. “A young man came in this morning and bought my three most expensive pieces.”

“Did he?” Travis asked.

“He told Carla they were for his mother. He had on a suit that looks like the one you were wearing when I first saw you.”

“Before I discovered the joys of T-shirts with trucking logos on them?” Travis asked.

Mr. Layton didn’t smile. “What’s his name?”

“Russell Pendergast and he asked Carla out on a date tonight.”

Travis choked on his drink. “Pendergast?”

“Yes, do you know him?”

“Never met the guy,” Travis said and could feel Joe Layton’s eyes boring into him. “What’s he like?”

“Gorgeous,” Kim said. “Smooth. He exudes education and wealth.”

“Does he?” Travis asked in curiosity. “And he bought your most expensive pieces for his mother? Interesting. Where’d he go to school? Maybe I know him.”

“I have no idea. But after his date with Carla I’m sure I’ll hear everything. I can’t really see the two of them together. He—”

“Did he come on to you?” Travis asked, his dark brows in a scowl.

“I don’t think that’s any of your—” Kim began and could feel her temper rising.

“Ah, good!” Joe said loudly. “Our food is here. If you two’d rather fight than eat, let me know so I can sell tickets.”

“There will be no argument,” Kim said. “Russell and I are going out Saturday night.”

“On Saturday you’re going to be in a B&B with your almost fiancé,” Travis said grimly.

“That’s right,” Kim said, smiling at Mr. Layton. “I can’t keep all my men straight.”

“You ought to take young Travis here with you.”

“With me where?” Kim asked.

“Over the weekend,” Joe said.

“Take Travis on my weekend with my boyfriend?” Kim asked. Truthfully, she liked the idea but she wasn’t going to say so. If Dave did propose, Travis’s presence would give her time to think about an answer. And if Dave got too . . . insistent, too whatever, Travis would be there. But she’d eat one of Al’s ’57 burgers and have an immediate coronary before she told him so.