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“What the hell,” he said. “You’ve got me. Yes. I’m Nick Gentry. And, look, I know that changes things a little, but—”
“It changes nothing,” she said. “Except that I should tell you that I never saw a movie of yours that I liked.”
Nick felt his jaw drop.
She tossed her head, picked up her suitcase, moved briskly past him and went up the stairs. Halfway up, she stopped and looked back.
Not at him.
At the dog.
“Brutus,” she said in a gentle voice that was completely out of keeping with the reality of what she was like, “do you want to come and keep me company?”
“No,” Nick said sharply.
Too late.
The Newf gave a joyous bark and lunged for the stairs, bounded up them as if he were a puppy instead of an arthritic old man. Lissa Wilde smiled at him when he reached her side, ruffled his ears and said something soft and sweet.
Then she looked at Nick.
There was nothing soft or sweet in that look.
“Just so we have things straight, Mr. Gentry, you can stop worrying.”
“Worrying about what?”
“I don’t know why you’re hiding out in this—this place in the middle of nowhere and, frankly, I don’t care. You want to play at being a cowboy? Fine. Be my guest.”
Taken aback, Nick drew himself up.
“I am not playing at anything. This place is mine. It’s a real working ranch. And I—”
“And you are a real working cowboy. Got it. The point is, your secret’s safe with me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, lady. There is no se—”
“Supper’s at six. I don’t do late kitchen duty. Not in a place like this, so tell your men to be on time if they expect the food to be hot.”
Say something, Nick told himself. For God’s sake, say something! This is your house. She is your guest. Hell. She’s not your guest. She’s your employee, even if it’s only for tonight, so, goddammit, say something!
Too late.
The woman and the dog turned away and climbed the remaining steps to the second story landing. The woman didn’t look back.
The dog did.
For one crazy second, Nick could have sworn the dog was smil
ing.
“Woof,” the dog said softly.
Woman and dog made a left-hand turn.
And then they were gone.
* * *
