Page 47 of Close Match
“Everett!” Mom snaps at him. I grin.
This should be weird, but it feels right. Linnie fit into our early-morning routine on the farm quickly. When we explained we rise early, she merely shrugged and said, “I’m normally done with my run by then. It gets too hot in the city otherwise.”
That sends something niggling in the back of my brain that I just can’t let go of. Then again, maybe it’s the sight of her luscious body in tight leggings that reminds me I’d have to be dead not to notice. Her ample breasts have to be suffocating in whatever sports bra she’s wearing under the sweaty, ragged tank that says “Will Dance for Food.”
“How many miles did you get in this morning?” Ev asks as he passes her the carafe of coffee.
I almost choke when she says in a disgusted voice, “Only four. I normally can get in more, but I forgot something.” Jesus, four miles? That’s insane for a new runner around this area. Middleburg is nestled in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and driving in a car is like taking a roller-coaster ride at Disney.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“You’re all insane trying to run up and down mountains.” The table breaks out into gales of laughter.
Ev’s still chuckling when he says, “Not used to our little bumps in the road?”
“Not in the slightest. I thought I was going to have to crawl back up the driveway.” I cough to try to disguise my laughter but fail miserably based on the narrow-eyed glare I’m receiving.
“Let me guess, this is nothing for you?”
I offer her a smile, which, to my surprise, she returns. Maybe her stay with my family won’t be as frustrating as I initially anticipated. “When I was in the Navy, they had us run five miles before breakfast, eat, do maneuvers, and mentally, I’d be praying to God I didn’t puke. Then later, we’d run another five with full gear on.”
Linnie’s chewing, but her gaze is thoughtful. “How long did you serve?”
“About twelve years.”
I’m floored when she says, “Thank you for your service. With everything that happened during the first time we met, I don’t think I said that, and I try to. Since I’ve lived in New York my whole life, my city’s landscape—and I don’t just mean our skyline—was changed after September 11. I hold great admiration for the bravery of our first responders and our armed forces.”
The sincerity behind her words touches me deeply. It doesn’t change anything though, I tell myself firmly. Neither her words nor the way she looks is deterring me from wanting to know all her secrets, but I figure they’ll all come out in due time. Everyone’s does.
“Appreciate that.” As my mother brings over a basket of warmed rolls to the table, I don’t miss her subtle slap to the back of the shoulder.
“Linnie, so if today was a running day, does that mean you’re not going to be working out?” Ev asks, casually. In the weeks since she’s been gone, Ev had contractors turning an unused barn into a blank space that almost resembles a dance studio for reasons he wouldn’t share. “Listen, Monty, women like these kinds of things. They can do yoga and shit. Linnie will love it. In bad weather, your mother can use the space for indoor functions.” He was right. Mom was delighted, but I’m not convinced if this wasn’t something the little bombshell across the table asked her rich daddy for.
She shakes her head. “I’d like to get my bags unpacked, and then I have a few calls to make. I know we talked about renting some space for me to work. A place was recommended in”—her brow furrows—“Ashburn? Does that sound right? They seem to be the right fit for what I need, and the cost is reasonable.”
Huh. Linnie has no idea what Ev did for her. I flick my eyes over to him.
Mom lays her hand on Linnie’s arm. “Why don’t you finish up, get comfortable, and then we’ll give you the tour of the grounds before you get started. How about that?”
Her smile raises the warmth in the room by at least five degrees. “I’d love that, Char. Thank you so much for your hospitality. It truly does mean a great deal.”
Mom squeezes her arm before letting it go. “Good. And then you can tell me if you’ll eat what I have planned for tonight’s dinner or if there’s something else you want me to add on the menu.”
“You’re sweet, but I’m used to making do.”
“Are you like a vegan or something?” Getting narrow-eyed stares from the two people who raised me, I backtrack quickly, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Linnie tips her lips up. “No, but with what I do, I can’t afford to put on more than a few pounds. I have to be very careful about my diet. I can’t overindulge too often, and like I’ve said, I never drink alcohol.”
“Communications jobs are strict about that kind of thing?” I’m confused. I understand the no-alcohol deal is her rule, but the rest seems like a recipe for an HR disaster.
“Let’s just say Linnie’s in the spotlight a lot,” Ev says smoothly. Linnie ducks her head but not before I catch the mischievous smile she shares with her biological father.
There’s so more to this woman. I know it.
I just can’t put my finger on it.
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