Page 42 of For the Love of Lilah
“Actually, I’m thinking of buying it. C.C.’s in the market for a family car, so...”
“So you’re going to buy yourself a snappy little toy.”
“I know it’s not my usual style,” he began.
“I wasn’t going to say that.” Her brows drew together as she studied his face. Something was going on in that complicated mind of his. “I was going to say good for you. I’m glad you’re giving yourself a break.” She hopped in and stretched. Her lifted hand reached for his, but he only gave it a light squeeze, then released it. Telling herself she was being oversensitive, she fixed a smile in place. “So, how about that drive? I was thinking we could cruise down the coast.”
“I’m a little tired.” He hated lying, but he needed to get back to talk to Trent and Sloan, to feed the new description to the police. “Can I have a rain check?”
“Sure.” She managed to keep her smile in place. He was so polite, so distant. Wanting some echo of their previous intimacy, she put a hand over his when he slipped into the car beside her. “I’m always up for a nap. Your room or mine?”
“I’m not... I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
His hand was tense over the gearshift, and his fingers made no move to link with hers. He wouldn’t even look at her, hadn’t really looked at her, she realized, since she’d crossed the lot.
“I see.” She lifted her hand from his and let it fall in her lap. “Under the circumstances, I’m sure you’re right.”
“Lilah—”
“What?”
No, he decided. He needed to do this his way. “Nothing.” Reaching for the keys, he switched on the ignition.
They didn’t speak on the way home. Max continued to convince himself that lying to her was the best way. Maybe she was miffed because he’d put off the drive, but he’d make it up to her. He just had to keep out of her way until he’d handled a few details. In any case his mind was crowded with possibilities that he needed time and space to work through. If Caufield and Hawkins were both still on the island, both of them bold enough to stroll through the village, did that mean they had found something useful in the papers? Were they still looking? Had they, as he had, dipped into the resources at the library to find out more?
They knew he was alive now. Would they manage to connect him with the Calhouns? If they considered him a liability, would his relationship with Lilah put her in danger?
That was a risk he couldn’t afford to take.
He turned up the winding road that brought the peak of The Towers into view.
“I may have to go back to New York sooner than I expected,” he said, thinking out loud.
To keep from protesting, she pressed her lips tight. “Really?”
He glanced over, cleared his throat. “Yes... ah, business. I could continue to do my research from there.”
“That’s very considerate of you, Professor. I’m sure you’d hate to leave a job half-done. And you wouldn’t have any awkward relationships to interfere.”
His mind was already focused on what needed to be done, and he made an absent sound of agreement.
By the time they pulled up at The Towers, Lilah had managed to turn the hurt into anger. He didn’t want to be with her, and by his attitude it was plain he regretted that they’d ever been together. Fine. She wasn’t about to sit around and sulk because some highbrow college professor wasn’t interested in her.
She resisted slamming the car door, barely resisted biting his hand off at the wrist when he set it on her shoulder. “Maybe we can drive down the coast tomorrow.”
She glanced at his hand, then at his face. “Don’t hold your breath.”
He jammed his hands into his pockets as she strolled up the steps. Definitely miffed, he thought.
By the time he had relayed his information to the other men and had fought his way through the pecking order at the police station, he really was tired. It might have been tension or the fact that he’d only had a couple hours’ sleep the night before, but he gave in, stretched across his bed and tuned out until dinner.
Feeling better, he wandered downstairs. He thought about finding Lilah, asking her to walk in the gardens after the meal. Or maybe they’d take a drive after all, in the moonlight. It hadn’t been a very big lie, and now that he’d unburdened himself to the police, he wouldn’t have to dwell on it. In any case, if he decided it was best to leave, he might not have another evening with her.
Yes, a drive. Maybe he could ask her if she’d consider visiting him in New York—or just going away for a weekend somewhere. It didn’t have to end, not if he started taking those careful steps.
He strolled into the parlor, found it empty and strolled out again. Just the two of them, watching the moon on the water, maybe pulling over to walk along the beach. He could begin to court her properly. He imagined she’d be amused by the term, but it was what he wanted to do.
He followed the sound of a piano into the music room. Suzanna was alone, playing for herself. The music seemed to match the expression in her eyes. There was a sadness in them, too deep for anyone else to feel. But when she saw him, she stopped and smiled.
