Heaven's Gift aka Kiss of an Angel

Amanda's parents' house?'

'No.' Amanda's house. Another shiver cascaded down Caitlan's spine. Holding the two skirts close to her chest, she forgot about the dampness of her jeans and that she needed to change. 'Why do you and Kirk live here?'

Debbie sat down on the edge of the bed. 'About a year and a half after Amanda's death her father died of a heart attack, leaving Amanda's mother all alone. Mrs. Hamilton was so devastated by the loss of Amanda and her husband that she put the place up for sale. She told me the memories were too painful for her to stay, and she wanted to live with her sister in Connecticut.'

Shaking her head, Debbie smoothed her hand over the quilt, a reminiscent smile curving her mouth. 'J.T. went a little crazy when he found out Mrs. Hamilton was going to sell the place, since this property adjoins Rafferty land. J.T. said he didn't want strangers living in Amanda's house. He was only twenty-one at the time, but he worked out a deal with Mrs. Hamilton, and my father co-signed a loan for him. J.T. bought the place.

'Funny thing is, J.T. couldn't bring himself to live here. Even when he married Stacey he still stayed at the main house. When Kirk and I got married he let us take over the payments, and he signed the deed over to us as a wedding gift.'

The depth of J.T.'s love for Amanda astounded Caitlan. 'It doesn't seem to bother J.T. to come here.'

'No, it doesn't,' Debbie agreed. 'I think he just wanted the house to stay in the family, because Amanda was like a part of our family. We were neighbors all our lives. She was J.T.'s girlfriend for years, and my best friend since we were toddlers.' Debbie's gaze skimmed over the clothes she'd just given Caitlan, then lifted back up to Caitlan's face. 'We used to wear each other's clothes all the time, except Amanda was a little shorter and had a cuter shape, much like yourself,' she reflected thoughtfully.

Caitlan fingered the soft chambray material in her arms. 'Well, I appreciate you lending me your clothes.'

'I'm happy to do it.' Hesitating briefly, Debbie glanced covertly at Caitlan, as if sizing her up. Her speculative smile reached her eyes. 'I think you're good for J.T., Caitlan. I know this is presumptuous of me, considering you've only been here a few days, but have you and J.T… I mean, are you and J.T… ' She flushed and pressed her hands to her cheeks. 'Oh, never mind!'

Caitlan laughed softly at Debbie's apparent embarrassment. 'Are you trying to ask if J.T. and I are involved?'

'I know it's none of my business,' Debbie rushed on, the color from her cheeks fading. 'And you don't have to answer, but J.T. has changed in the short time you've been here.'

Caitlan couldn't help wondering about that, even though she had to admit she'd seen a softening in him the last day or so, since the incident at the creek. 'In what way?'

'I noticed the biggest change today.' Debbie shrugged and picked at a piece of lint on the quilt. 'It's the way he watches you. He seems so relaxed and at ease.' She struggled for the right words. 'There isn't that loneliness in his eyes that always makes me ache for him, an emptiness like he's lost a part of himself he can't find. Today, his eyes are clear and his smiles are genuine. You're good for him, Caitlan,' she said softly, earnestly. 'I knew that the first time I saw you and him together.'

Caitlan lifted a brow at Debbie. What was it with his family conspiring to matchmake her and J.T.? 'I care for your brother, but I'll be leaving Idaho soon.' Why did the thought make her feel so forlorn?

'You can always visit, and you might find you like it here.'

Not two days ago she'd heard the same lecture from J.T.'s daughter. 'Have you been talking to Laura?' she teased.

Debbie smiled. 'No. I just know it takes a special kind of woman to adapt to life in the country, and you fit in well. You seem happy here.'

'I am happy here.' And content. Caitlan sensed she belonged here in a way she couldn't fully define; she only knew J.T. was the reason. Then reality put things back into perspective. 'But that doesn't mean I belong here.'

'I wouldn't be so sure about that.' Debbie shook her head, an apologetic look crossing her features. Standing, she grabbed Caitlan's hand and squeezed it affectionately. 'I'm sorry, this is really none of my business, but I know J.T. better than anyone, and it's good to see him so carefree and happy.'

Caitlan backed away subtly, knowing it was best if they let the subject drop. 'Well, I guess I'd better change.'

'Yeah.' Debbie grinned ruefully. 'Sorry; I didn't mean to go on and on. You're very easy to talk to, just like Amanda was. She's been gone sixteen years, but I still miss her friendship.'

Caitlan managed a smile for Debbie's compliment, but couldn't shake off the sensation of being suffocated. Disturbing impressions of Amanda crowded in on her until she wanted to run from this room and out of this house. She needed to change and get outside so she could breath in fresh air and clear her head. 'Where can I change?' she asked, startled by the strangled sound of her voice.

'Go ahead and use my bathroom.' Debbie waved a hand toward a connecting door. 'I'll meet you outside. I'm sure the guys are wondering what happened to us. Maybe if we're real lucky they cleaned up the kitchen, but I won't pin my hopes on that too much.'

Caitlan forced a light laugh and agreed, even though everything in her coiled up as tight as a spring, ready to snap at any given moment. Once Caitlan stepped inside the bathroom, she closed the door and leaned against it, willing her taut body to relax and the images taunting her mind to cease. Gradually, with each slow breath she drew, her throbbing head began to ease.

Pushing off her damp jeans, Caitlan slipped on first the petticoat, and then the matching chambray skirt, vowing that this niggling feeling of hers wouldn't ruin her day.

For the tenth time in the past twenty minutes J.T. glanced toward the slider leading into the house, looking for a sign of Caitlan. Shifting in his plastic lawn chair, he spared a brief look at his watch, then glanced back at the door. He perked up when Debbie passed the window, waved, and mouthed, 'I'll be out in a sec,' then moved on to the kitchen. J.T. waited for a glimpse of Caitlan… and waited and waited. Had he missed her when she'd walked by?

'You lookin' for someone?' Kirk asked from the chair beside him, his tone filled with goading humor.

J.T. pinned him with a quelling look, then turned his attention to the girls playing jump rope over on the slab of pavement. 'Just wondering where the women are.'

Kirk grinned. ' 'Fraid they're talking about you?'

'I'm sure Debbie is. We all know how she loves to gab about my lack of a love life. It's her favorite pastime for anyone who'll listen.'

Kirk stretched lazily and clasped his hands behind his head. 'Well, I do believe they've spent enough time together for Debbie to convince Caitlan she's the perfect woman for you. They should be planning a wedding right about now.'

J.T. scowled, declining to comment.

'So, what is going on between you and Caitlan?'

J.T. wanted to ask his brother-in-law to define 'going on.' Physically, nothing was happening between him and Caitlan-at least not what he'd like to be doing: making slow, deep love to her, losing himself in her gentleness and warmth. Emotionally? Well, that was something he'd rather not discuss. Even he didn't understand the feelings Caitlan evoked in him. He wrote off the chaotic emotions to lust, because wanting Caitlan, naked and in his bed, was becoming a consuming need, blending in with passion and desire.

'Nothing's going on,' J.T. replied, slouching in his chair and squaring an ankle over the opposite knee. 'She'll be going back to Parson's soon.

From what I hear, the bridge should be fully repaired by the end of the week.'

Kirk slanted a look J.T.'s way. 'You know, you could always drive her to the airport and put her on the first flight back to Chicago. She'd be out of your hair within three hours.'

'And ruin her lovely vacation in paradise?' J.T. said dryly.

Kirk laughed, a deep masculine chuckle. Standing, he slapped J.T. on the back. 'Man, you've got it bad for her.'

Watching Kirk walk toward the slider, J.T. searched for a retort to his comment but couldn't come up with anything appropriate. What could he say to something that held too much truth? Caitlan was becoming a fever in his