Page 46 of Craig

“You’re right. We have to make an effort to be civilized at least.”

She shook her head.

“But I don’t want to talk about my, er, my past. I can’t, at least, not right now. I hope you understand.”

“I’m trying to.” His expression softened.

“How about that pie?”

A smile touched her lips and had his heart warming. “I could use some pie.”

*****

He took her on a tour of the place. With the rain drumming on the roof and with fires blazing in the various fireplaces, he wove his way through the downstairs.

She realized to her surprise that the place was quite large. There was a study/library with floor-to-ceiling books, a small fireplace, desk and chair, and comfortable sofas, tucked beneath a large window overlooking the wooded area.

There was a small parlor with faded antique furnishings, a powder room, and a mud room that led out to the dock where a dinghy and a speedboat bobbed on the surface of the water.

Upstairs there were three bedrooms, charmingly decorated with bold colors. He gave her the largest room.

An old-fashioned, queen-sized bed with an iron headboard dominated the space.

“It has its own bathroom. I’m across the hall.”

“This used to be your parents’ room,” she observed, moving to the mantel where a framed photo of a man and a woman posed, laughing into the camera. The man had sandy brown hair and did not look at all like his son.

The woman had a quiet beauty about her that showed in the smile. The man had his arms wrapped around her from behind.

The woman’s strawberry blonde hair tumbled around a classically beautiful face.

“They looked happy.”

“They were.” He came over to stand next to her and picked up the photo.

“This was taken at their last visit here.” His thumb moved over the image slowly, the grief on his face, making her want to hold him.

“They were happiest here. The manor was a little oppressive. Here they could be themselves and didn’t have my grandfather to deal with.”

“Why didn’t they stay?”

He looked over at her and smiled sadly.

“I remember asking my dad that when he took me fishing one day. He said he had responsibilities. He was vice president of the company, and my mother was in charge of various charities. I had the feeling that they wished they could stay.”

Putting back the frame, he turned to face her.

“I-” Regina stepped back cautiously, cursing herself for her reaction to his nearness.

“Are you afraid of me?” he asked her softly.

“Of course not! Why would I be?”

“That’s a damn good question.” His jade green eyes further unnerved her as he used them to study her face.

With her nerves stretched tight, she was about to make some excuse and walk into the bathroom when he moved. “I’ll get the fire going.”

He turned away from her and had to take several deep silent breaths to keep his rioting desire under control. Her scent filled his nostrils.