Page 65 of Deception

“You okay?” Clayton asked softly when he returned.

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “I was surprised to see Steven and Terri.”

“I wondered if you knew they were coming by.”

“No. I should have asked how they found out.”

“It was on the evening news,” Nadine said as she stepped inside the kitchen. “And the pastor at the mission said he would take some of the food. He’ll be here shortly.”

“Good. I hate to see it all go to waste.”

Clayton sat across from her while Nadine boxed up food. “You look beat. Why don’t you get some rest?”

She shook her head and glanced at her watch. “I’ll have to wait on my father. And now the pastor.”

“Did your dad say when he would arrive?” Clayton asked.

Madison didn’t miss the way Nadine’s lips pressed together. “He said seven, but knowing him, he’ll work until at least five, which should put him in Natchez between seven thirty and eight.”

“That soon?” Nadine murmured. “I’ll be in my apartment if you need me. Are you still staying with me?”

Madison checked her watch. How did it get to be seven? “No, but thank you.” She did not want to leave her father alone to prowl around her grandfather’s house.

She hugged Nadine. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d do just fine, chère,” she said, returning her hug.

Once they were alone, Clayton said, “You want me to stay until your dad gets here?”

“I’m sure you have a life.” It surprised her she didn’t want him to leave.

“Not so much. Ava and my sister are busy tonight, and other than getting in a run, I’m free.”

“No hot date?” Madison clamped her lips together. What was she thinking? But unless she was mistaken, Clayton had been about to kiss her when the car backfired at the park. She couldn’t deny the way her heart raced now as she waited to know whether he was dating anyone.

He was staring at his hands folded on the table. “I don’t date. I made a commitment a while back not to trifle with a woman’s affections.” He raised his head, and their gazes collided. “At least, I try not to.”

Her heart thudded in her chest. Had he been trifling with her affections this afternoon? Then a thought made her smile. “Have you been reading Regency romances?”

He burst out laughing. “No. I’m just not quite sure how to put something like that into words. I thought it sounded pretty good myself.”

“You’re not ever getting married?”

“Didn’t say that, just not playing the field like I used to. How about you? Are you dating anyone?”

“Absolutely not.”

A grin spread across his face. “That’s mighty definite.”

“I think it’s high time you got interested in someone and settled down.”Her grandfather’s words the last time she saw him stabbed her heart.

Heat flooded her face. What was she doing laughing and flirting with Clayton like nothing was wrong?

36

The front doorbell rang, and her heart sank. If it was her father, he was early. It was probably another dish. Neither of which she wanted to deal with right now.

“You want me to get it?”

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