Man with a Mission by Muriel Jensen

Author:Muriel Jensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

THE FIRST THING Jackie noticed about Hank’s property was the quiet. There were fewer homes on the far side of the lake where his sprawling two-storey split-level was located. The darkness seemed to amplify the silence.

The second thing she noticed was the fragrance. There was little vegetation in early March, but the sharp freshness of winter filled her nostrils and the smell of woodsmoke lingered in the air.

“A couple from Washington, D.C., built this two years ago,” she told him, “as a refuge from their hectic life. He was a senator from the southwest, I think. They weren’t here very long.”

“New Mexico,” he said, “according to my Realtor. He lost big when tech stocks dropped, so they had to sell.”

He took her arm to help her up six steps that led to a broad deck. He pointed to a bare corner of the deck. “First thing I did when I moved in was buy a huge gas grill that goes right there, and a long table with chairs and a big umbrella. Unfortunately, business got really good almost right away, so I didn’t have many opportunities to use them before the snow set in. I’m looking forward to spring and summer.”

“I’d love to cook outside,” Jackie said, huddling into her coat as he unlocked a large front door with a leaded glass window in it. “But our back yard is so small, I have to barbecue on the porch. Since there’s no room to sit there, the girls and I have to run up and down with the plates and the food. Ricky had no patience for it.”

“This deck runs all around the house,” he said, pushing open the door. “And I own five acres on each side of it. Lots of room to eat on the deck while the girls are running around the property, playing with the dog.”

“My girls?” she asked in confusion.

“Of course,” he replied.

“But we don’t have a dog.”

“I know. You should, though.”

She was used to reciting her arguments to the girls. “No one’s home during the day. It wouldn’t be fair. And I couldn’t expect Glory to look after them and a dog.”

“Does she like dogs?”

She hesitated. “I’m not sure. It’s never come up.”

“Just wondering,” he said, pushing her gently into the house. “Jimmy raises Black Labs.”

Whatever Jackie might have replied to that was blocked by a gasp of astonishment when Hank flipped on a light. He walked her into a huge room with hardwood floors and a vaulted ceiling. The walls were painted a warm off-white, and a deep fieldstone fireplace dominated one side of the room. The stone hearth was strewn with colorful cushions and potted plants.

Large sectionals in an oversize green-and-beige check formed a conversation area around the fireplace. Farther into the room, several overstuffed chairs in coordinating fabrics were clustered around a rough-hewn coffee table, and there was a padded oak bench and two chairs that matched it filling up another space by one of a series of long windows.

“The Senate could meet here!” she whispered.

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