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“Did you sleep okay? I noticed you stayed downstairs on the couch. You could have used your mom’s room.”
She looked away, busying her hands putting the brush back into her purse. “The couch was fine.”
“Sure there was enough room for all three of you?”
“Three of us?”
“You know. You, Hugh and your little friend?” he asked, wondering what demon made him bring the subject back to what had happened last night when they’d parted.
She laughed softly.
“So what is it with Hugh Jackman? A mouth, like Connery? Dangerous glint in his eye, like Eastwood? Or that schmaltzy chick-flick-time-travel with him and Meg Ryan?”
She shook her head, licking her lips. “Wolverine in X-Men. I just love a lean-looking man who can kick ass.” She shrugged, obviously being honest and not trying to torment him sexually as she had the night before. “What can I say? I like men who can move their bodies gracefully while being seriously dangerous.”
If he were going to pursue a sexual relationship with her—which he absolutely was not, not yet anyway—he’d have contemplated inviting her to one of his Tae Kwon Do classes, which he taught three nights a week. Instead he changed the subject. “So, are you planning to sleep on the floor for weeks?”
She glanced around the empty room. “Some of my aunt’s old furniture is stored in the garage of her new place. My cousin, Cassie, is going to help me load some up and bring it here.”
“Cousin? Your cousin’s back in town, too?”
She shot him a look from half-lowered lashes. “She’s been here in town for several weeks already. Do you know her?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t remember her at all. But I know the two of you lived here, in these houses. Is she going to stay here with you?”
“No. Her mom owns some other property around here. Cassie’s staying at Aunt Flo’s other place up on Lilac Hill.”
Jack raised a questioning brow.
“Aunt Flo had a lot of admirers in this town. Male admirers. A couple of them liked to give her presents.”
He understood. “Someone gave her a house on Lilac Hill?” At her nod, he whistled. “Some present. Who was it?”
“Mr. Miller, the banker.”
A grin tickled the corners of Jack’s lips. “He was old as dirt when I was born.”
“Flo’s not age discriminatory.”
“He was a widower with no family for as long as I can remember.” Jack thought about it. “I’m glad your aunt gave him a little bit of happiness. He was a nice old guy. You know he lived only two doors down from us.”
Her chuckle was decidedly wicked. “There goes the neighborhood.”
Knowing how his mother and sister felt about the Tremaine family, he had to wonder why he hadn’t heard anything about this latest insult upon the glory that was Winfield.
“So, Cassie stays on the hill and you’re staying here.”
“Right. Is there a problem?”
“I’m wondering why you’re not staying there with her.”
“Let’s just say the snob set’s not exactly my cup of tea.”
“But they are your cousin’s?”
Kate shrugged. “Cassie fits in anywhere. She’s very successful. You’ll probably recognize her when you see her.”
“Why?”
“She’s a lingerie model. Poses in sexy underclothes for catalogs that pretend they’re for women, but which men swipe from their wives and hide in the bathroom to look at.”
He shrugged. “And you’re a super successful store owner who makes front-page news. Sounds like both of you got away from here and made good.” He glanced around the room. “I’m sure you have more expensive tastes these days, too.”
“This is fine for me.” She raised a hand, gesturing to the small room. “Part of Cassie’s reason for staying up there was out of her innate need to be as outrageous as possible.”
“I somehow think your cousin hasn’t cornered the market on being outrageous in your family.”
Rolling her eyes, she sat on the floor, draping her arms on her upraised knees. “No, I’m the smart, quiet, sweet one.” She sounded thoroughly disgusted.
