“Amazing but true.” She stepped inside. “Great house. Did you build it?”
“A few years ago.”
“With Rayanne?” she asked before she could stop herself.
“No. I sold that house.”
Because of the memories? Probably, she thought, telling herself not to ask questions if she didn’t want to hear the answers.
“Come on in,” he said, motioning her to the left.
The entryway was large and open, with a two-story ceiling and dark wood floors. She crossed the space and entered a huge living room with a fireplace at one end and a view of the mountains through big windows.
The furniture was masculine but comfortable, the artwork conservative. Rugs covered enough of the hardwood floor that sound didn’t echo. On the far side was an opening to a dining room.
He led the way into the kitchen which was filled with cherry cabinets, miles of granite and large south-facing windows. Two bar stools had been pulled up to the counter. There was a bottle of red wine and two glasses, along with a plate of appetizers. Delicious scents of garlic and spices drifted from one of the two stainless steel ovens.
“I’m impressed,” she said.
“Don’t be. I know a great caterer. I call, food arrives, I heat it.”
He waited until she took one of the seats before reaching for the wine.
“The perfect bachelor lifestyle?” she asked.
“Some days.” He opened the bottle with an easy, practiced motion. “You’re not married, either. Want to talk about it?”
She took the glass of wine he offered and shook her head. “Not really.”
“Because of the guy or because we should stick to safer topics?”
“I think safer topics are a better idea,” she answered cautiously.
“You sound wary.”
“I’m prepared to practice my duck-and-cover skills.”
He gave her a smile. “Because I may start using you as target practice again?”
“Absolutely.”
The bar was high enough that with her sitting and him standing, they were practically at eye level. She could see all the shades of brown that made up his irises, the long, thick lashes that took her three coats of mascara to achieve. If she inhaled deeply, she would catch the scent of soap and man. A scent she remembered, even now.
“Tonight we’ve called a truce,” he declared, touching his glass to hers. “Remember?”
“And I can trust you?”
The smile turned into the slow, sexy grin she remembered. The one that made her think about how long it had been since she’d had a man in her bed. No, not a man, she corrected herself.
They might have been young, but he’d still been a whole lot more than her first time. He’d been her best time. He’d made love with a combination of affection and tenderness no one else had matched. He’d made her believe that anything was possible.
And then he’d broken her heart.
“A truce,” she agreed, knowing that having loved Ethan once, she would always be vulnerable to him. She had to stay strong to protect herself and Tyler.
He moved to the other side of the counter and pushed the plate of food toward her.
“How’s it going with Roy’s kids?” he asked.
“So far, so good. I’ve got them fed and feeling safe, so that’s half the battle.” She leaned toward him. “They survived on their own for nearly three months. Roy’s wife left them one hundred dollars and took off. I want to report her to the police, but I need to talk to Roy first. Find out what he wants.”
Ethan looked stunned. “She abandoned two kids?”
“Walked out and never came back. The money ran out, the utilities got turned off. Melissa’s been stealing what they needed to survive.”
“No one noticed?” he asked. “No one called social services?”
Liz thought about her own childhood. “You’d be amazed at how many kids slip through the cracks. I’m going to see Roy tomorrow. I wanted to go there while the girls are still in school.” She glanced at him. “Would you mind taking Tyler? I don’t think he’s ready to see Folsom Prison.”
“Sure. Bring him by the office.”
“Thanks.”
“What’s going to happen to the girls?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m hoping Roy has a plan. If he doesn’t, my family just got bigger.”
“You’d take them?”
She nodded slowly, thinking if there wasn’t anyone else, she didn’t have much choice. She knew nothing about teenage girls, except she’d once been one. She hoped that was going to be enough.
“That’s a lot to take on,” he said.
“You’d do the same for one of your brothers or sisters.”
“Probably. If Mom didn’t take them first.”
“She is a tiger.” Liz did her best to keep her tone light.
“You’ll like her a lot more when you get to know her.”
“Something else to look forward to,” Liz murmured, hoping she wouldn’t be in town long enough for any of Ethan’s family to be an issue.
“Having Roy’s kids in your life would change everything,” he told her.
“I know. I’m still kind of in denial. Better to wait and see what happens than start any planning now. If the arrangement
She looked up and saw him staring at her. “What?”
“Just waiting for you to admit you were killing me over and over again in your books.”
She shrugged, trying not to smile. Or be happy that he’d obviously read her books. “You should be flattered. You’re a recurring character in a successful series of books.”
“I’m a dead body. Not much to be flattered about.”
“You always get a name and a history.”
“Along with a very graphic description of my death.”
This time she did smile. “You’re a tough guy. You can handle it.”
He smiled back. “I’m hoping to persuade you to move on to another victim.”
“The writing muse is a tricky thing.”
He leaned against the counter. “You don’t believe in muses.”
“How do you know?”
“You wouldn’t give up that much power to a force you couldn’t control.”
He was right, but it startled her that he had figured it out. No doubt their pesky past was to blame. Before she could figure out what to say, the oven timer dinged.
Saved by the bell had never sounded so good.
THEY MADE IT THROUGH DINNER talking about safer topics. The catered food was excellent, the wine good enough that she didn’t protest when he refilled her glass twice. The result was a pleasantly full feeling combined with a slight buzz. Liz wasn’t drunk, but she was glad she was walking rather than driving home.
“Does the town look different to you?” Ethan asked when they’d finished eating. It had grown dark outside. A cool breeze drifted in through the open windows.
“There’s been a lot of growth,” she said, turning her glass slowly. “Those new houses out by the golf course. When I left, I’m not sure they’d even broken ground on the lots. There are a few new businesses. Daisy’s place is now the Fox and Hound.”
“Daisy’s place has been five different restaurants in the past ten years. No one knows why-it’s a good location. Lots of foot traffic.”
