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‘We had dozens of those last summer, but Mrs Parker saw them off. It’s hard to commit a crime in a community that knows what you’re planning to eat for supper.’
As Lexi’s figure grew smaller, and then vanished from sight, Jenna felt a moment of panic. Catching his eye, she gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘Yes, I know—I’m overreacting. It’s hard to forget this isn’t London. You must think I’m crazy. I think I’m crazy!’
‘That isn’t what I’m thinking.’
‘It would be if you knew what was going through my mind. It’s taking all my will-power not to charge after her and follow her up that hill.’
His gaze shifted from her face to where Lexi had disappeared. ‘I don’t know much about teenagers, but at a guess I’d say that probably isn’t the best idea.’
‘Well, I’d have to be discreet, of course.’ She made a joke of it. ‘I’d probably start by sprinting up the hill and then drop to my stomach and crawl so that she couldn’t see me.’
‘You’re going to have a hell of a job beating off an axe-wielding murderer if you’re crawling on your stomach.’
‘Never underestimate a mother protecting her young.’
‘I’ll remember that.’ He had a deep voice. Deep and male, with a slightly husky timbre that made her think things she hadn’t thought for a long time.
Jenna breathed in slowly and stared at the ridge, trying not to think about his voice. ‘I can’t believe she made it up there so quickly. Lexi isn’t really into exercise. It’s amazing what the lure of a mobile phone signal can do to cure teenage lethargy. I hope she’ll be OK.’
Ryan turned to her, and she noticed that the passing hours had darkened his jaw again. ‘She’s crossed the only road and she’s still alive. She’ll be fine. I’m not so sure about you.’
Her gaze met his and their eyes held.
The rhythm of her heart altered and the oxygen was sucked from the air. The world shrank to this one place—this one man.
Everything else was forgotten.
Mesmerised by those blue eyes, Jenna felt her body come to life, like the slow, sensual unfolding of a bud under the heat of the sun. Not the sultry, languid heat of summer sunshine but the fierce, rapacious scorch of sexual awareness. Like a volcano too long dormant after centuries of sleep, it exploded violently—blowing the lid on everything she believed herself to be. Excitement ripped through her like a consuming, ravenous fire, and in her newly sensitised state she found staring longingly at the firm lines of his mouth.
If she wanted to kiss him, she could…
She was a free woman now.
The shriek of a seagull brought her to her senses and Jenna took a step backwards.
What on earth was she thinking? If she did something crazy, like kissing him, he’d fire her from her job, Lexi would have a nervous breakdown, and she’d be more of an emotional wreck than she was already. And anyway, if she hadn’t been able to trust someone she’d known for fifteen years, what chance was there with someone she’d known for fifteen minutes?
Jenna straightened her shoulders. ‘You’re right. I worry far too much about her. I intend to work on that this summer. I’m hoping it will be easier here.’ Unfortunately her bright, businesslike tone did nothing to dissipate the strange turbulence inside her. She needed to be on her own, so that she could undo whatever she’d just done to herself by looking at him. And she was sure he was desperate to escape from her, albeit for different reasons.
‘Thanks so much for the lift, Dr McKinley. I’m sorry to hold you up.’
‘You’re not holding me up.’ Instead of leaving, as she’d expected, he walked back towards the house. ‘Do you have any caffeine?’
Pulling herself together, Jenna followed him. ‘Pardon?’
‘Caffeine. I’m feeling tired, and there’s still most of the day to get through.’ Suppressing a yawn, he walked through to the kitchen without asking for directions or permission. ‘I need coffee. Strong coffee.’
‘I thought you’d need to dash off somewhere—lunch, house-calls…’ She had thought he’d be anxious to escape from her—the desperate divorcee…
‘We try not to do too much dashing on Glenmore.’ Concentration on his face, he pulled open a cupboard and rummaged through the contents. ‘It’s bad for the heart. Which do you prefer? Tea or coffee?’
‘Either. I mean—I haven’t had time to shop.’
‘The kitchen should be stocked.’
‘Oh.’ Jenna was about to ask who could possibly have stocked the kitchen when the phone rang. She jumped. ‘Who on earth can that be?’
‘Why don’t you answer it and see? Phone’s in the hall.’
