Page 4 of Singing For His Kiss

CHAPTER TWO

The car turned into a long, curving driveway. Elegant, well-tended hedges trimmed the decorative charcoal-coloured concrete. Small spotlights lined the driveway. The house the driveway led to looked like some sort of display home that could be advertised in an exclusive architectural magazine. The way James had said ‘home’ didn’t quite make it sound like…this. This house was the type of mansion she drooled over online. She never thought she’d come close to actually being inside something like this.

At the beach, James had settled Madeline and herself on the back seat of his car. He’d pulled a blanket out of the boot and wrapped them both in it, surprising Elizabeth with his thoughtfulness. Madeline had cuddled easily into Elizabeth’s side. Surely, a child would want her mother after her experience and not settle for a stranger. At first she’d been tentative about putting her arm around the child, then Madeline sighed and closed her eyes and she’d tucked her in close, wondering at her complete trust.

James turned the heat to maximum and let it blast on full after it had warmed up. He’d put the dog in the front seat, and Elizabeth had cringed at his sandy, wet paws on the expensive leather. Now the car smelt of wet dog and sea water; not good in a car as luxurious as this, but it didn’t seem to worry James at all. He either didn’t mind the mess or was too rich to care; she wasn’t sure which.

Toto jumped up on the inside windowsill of the car, tongue lolling from the corner of his mouth as the house came into view. It was three stories of solid brickwork and talented architecture. A front door was settled beneath a canopy that doubled as a large carport. Situated on either side of the structure was a series of floor to ceiling windows that spilled light onto the shrubs outside. The second floor was a replica of the ground floor, the difference being that each pair of windows shared a balcony framed with exquisite ironwork. The third floor was similar, except the windows were smaller and had quaint white shutters that framed each window. It was sleek and modern and friendly all at once. No mean feat, considering the size of the structure.

James pulled the car to a smooth stop beneath the cover just as thunder cracked and the sky exploded in a deluge of rain. The front door opened, and a short, plump woman was silhouetted against the light from inside. Maybe Madeline’s mother? Elizabeth squinted at the form but couldn’t distinguish any features.

James leapt from the car and bundled Madeline from the backseat. Elizabeth helped unfold the child into his arms, her muscles groaning with the effort. In the short time she’d sat, she’d stiffened right up. Maybe the swim had taken more out of her than she thought. Or maybe it had been the fifteen hours she’d spent cramped in a bus seat, hoping she’d made a clean getaway. Either way, it was an effort to move.

James headed straight for the door. She heard the woman utter a sound of shock and James’ masculine answering tones. Toto slipped between the front seats and out of Elizabeth’s door, nudging her leg as he passed. The woman grabbed the dog by the collar as it tried to bolt through the open door. “Into the laundry with you, you naughty dog.” Elizabeth detected an Italian accent as she disappeared into the house with the animal.

Coming here really wasn’t a good idea, not now that she knew what ‘here’ looked like. She was sure the inside would be as imposing as the outside. Trepidation itched her insides.

She really should have just walked into the town and put up with cold, wet clothes. They would have been more comfortable than the unease that wove through her stomach.

“Elizabeth, please come in.”

Her name on his lips sounded like warm honey. She couldn’t help noticing his hair tufting all about in a mess from the wind and rain. Tense lines framed his eyes and mouth, but that was to be expected given his daughter had nearly drowned. That wasn’t all that captured her attention. That was harder to put her finger on. Maybe it was the way he regarded her, like she was a wild colt ready to bolt, or the patience he exuded waiting for her.

Maybe it was the tiredness in his gaze that said nothing could surprise him. She understood that. Maybe it was that understanding that allowed her to take a step towards him, where her entire mind screamed at her to turn around and get the hell away.

She wasn’t prepared for the small shiver that tingled her spine at his gaze. She quickly dismissed the unwanted response. She’d just spent fifteen hours on a bus running from a bad decision. She didn’t need another one.

However, the only thing James had asked of her on the short distance driving here was her name, then he’d lapsed into silence. The situation hadn’t called for small talk, which was good. She didn’t think she’d had it in her for small talk at the moment.

But she was cold. And she was hungry, so maybe she should just take advantage of the situation. Besides, he was waiting for her with a cold child in his arms. If that hadn’t been enough to change her mind, the ear-splitting explosion of thunder and solid sheet of cold rain sealed her decision. The storm had arrived.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and hurried up the steps. “Go in. Get Madeline dry and warm.”

The woman hustled back down the massive hallway towards them, brushing off her hands, her appearance surprising Elizabeth. She certainly wasn’t James’ wife, not unless he went for mature-aged, matronly Italian grandmothers. Her olive complexion sported pleasant lines around kind eyes and streaks of grey in her otherwise black hair. At the moment, it was in a tidy bun at the top of her head. She was nicely proportioned in the way that made people think of grandmothers, food, and comfort.

“Mrs. D’llessio, could you please show Elizabeth to the guest quarters and make sure she has fresh towels for a shower? Can you also please arrange to launder her clothing?”

James Rhyder was all business. Judging by the request, Mrs. D’llessio was the housekeeper. Judging by the luxury, it looked as though he could afford one. The woman’s worried brown eyes rested on Elizabeth, then back to Madeline.

“I’ll take care of Madeline while you help Elizabeth. Come to me when Elizabeth is settled,” he said.

The thought of being so close to taking a hot shower made Elizabeth’s mouth salivate. Her jeans were just about frozen to her legs, and the heavy seams held moisture in uncomfortable places. Her bra seemed glued to her chest like a cold sponge, and her T-shirt was damp enough to warrant the spread of goose bumps over her skin. She itched to take off the sodden clothes and treat her body to some warmth.

“Of course!”

“Please, Elizabeth, go with Mrs. D’llessio and make yourself comfortable.”

His eyes settled back to her. The light from the hallway reflected in their depths. They were dark, as though all the colour had bled from the iris and all that remained was the pupil.

“I’ve got clothes in my bag. And please. I can do my own washing, thank you for the offer.” No one had done her washing since she was ten years old. Besides, she wasn’t going to be here long enough for it to be washed and dried.

“They’re wet and full of the ocean. They’ll smell if you don’t clean them right away. Mrs. D’llessio will wash them along with the rest of our clothes. It’s the least we can do.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, her grip tightening on the strap of her bag. “I’ll get to a laundromat.”

“Tsk, it is nothing. I will do it now. There is time for a shower and eating. Believe me, I know my clothes.” Mrs. D’llessio’s eyes had that tenacious look in them. Elizabeth knew she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

And she only had a few clothes with her, the jeans she wore were one of only two, and she was already down a coat. She sighed, nodding reluctantly, then looked at the housekeeper and grimaced. “I’m so sorry to ask you to do this, but I would be grateful.”

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