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an authentic, pioneer log cabin. They bought it, dis-
mantled it, moved it to this location and reassembled
it. They even have the loft intact, where some of the
original family must have slept."
"I'm glad you brought me here," she managed to
say. "Thank you."
In the car she could pretend she wasn't with Dane,
had even managed to sleep for a while in order to
shorten the time they had to talk. But in the soft
lamplight of the restaurant she was forced to look at
what her heart had never forgotten.
If possible, Dane had grown more handsome since
she'd seen him last. At thirty-seven, his thick, black
hair was beginning to show flecks of silver around his
ears. It was still hard for her to believe that he had re-
mained single. Any eligible woman in the vicinity of
Mason County could scarcely be unaware of his at-
tractiveness.
Perhaps he preferred to play the field. The only
thing she knew for sure was that he didn't want her.
He'd made that extremely clear five years ago and she
would do well to remember that. She wasn't looking
forward to spending any time around him, but at least
she had managed to develop some pride. She never
intended for him to know how much he had hurt her.
He was her brother's partner. That's all he was.
That's all he would ever be. His rejection of her had
left permanent scars on her heart. He would never get
a chance to hurt her again.
"I intend to go to Monterrey," she said after Char-
lotte had served their meal and left the room once
more.
Dane's head jerked up. "The hell you are. Why?"
She had known he wouldn't approve, but Felicia
had long since given up trying to gain Dane's ap-
proval. "To find Adam."
"You've got to be out of your mind. Authorities
from two countries have been searching. What makes
you think you can do any better?"
"I don't. I just know that I can't sit by and wait. I
have to do something."
"It's too dangerous," he stated in a flat tone.
"People go down there all the time. There's noth-
ing dangerous about it."
"Even though Adam might argue the point?" he
asked grimly.
She didn't need to be reminded. Perhaps it was
dangerous, but that wasn't going to deter her. She
continued to eat, determined not to let him upset her.
"What do you think?" Dane asked a few minutes
later.
"About what?"
He motioned to her plate. "The food."
"Oh! It's marvelous. They have a great cook."
"Yes. Charlotte's daughter."
"She doesn't look old enough to have a grown
daughter."
Dane grinned. "You should tell her that. It would
make her day."
Felicia was aware of how easily Dane fell into the
familiar banter they had shared when she'd lived at
home. He seemed so relaxed around her, but, then,
why shouldn't he be? His feelings had never been in-
volved. She'd just been too young to understand that
a man can be physically aroused by a woman without
loving her or wanting a permanent relationship.
If nothing else, she'd learned that lesson well while
living in L.A. Her friends couldn't understand why she
didn't date. She had tried and was appalled by the up-
wardly mobile young men who expected instant grat-
ification from the woman they deigned to invite to
dinner.
She hadn't known how to deal with them without
feeling foolish, so she stopped accepting invitations.
Felicia felt sure Dane never lacked for feminine
companionship.
The rain had slackened some by the time they left,
but the wind was cold. Los Angeles had caused Feli-
cia to forget what a cold winter could feel like. At least
it hadn't gotten cold enough to snow.
"You aren't serious about going to Mexico, are
you?" Dane asked once they pulled up in front of the
house. He turned in the seat, his arm sliding along the
back so that his hand was almost touching her shoul-
der.
"Yes. I'm very serious."
"What about your job?"
"What about it?"
"How much time will they allow you to take off?"
"I explained that it was a family emergency and that
I would be in touch. My assistant can handle the rou-
tine things. If not, she's to call me."
"But how will she find you if you're off beating the
bushes in Mexico?"
"Why don't you let me worry about that? Why all
this sudden concern about my career, Dane?"
"It isn't sudden. I've always been interested in your
career."
"Of course you have."
"Whatever happened to your plans to become a
writer?"
"I am a writer."
"Then I should say a rich and famous one?"
"I enjoy what I do and I make all the money I need.
I get enough recognition of my skills to be content."
"Quite a change."
"Not really. I got over most of those silly dreams
before I ever left high school."
"You never bothered to tell Adam," he pointed out
thoughtfully.
"Oh, he never paid any attention to my fantasies."
"Don't be so sure. He talked about you often, you
know. He was so proud that you finished college,
when he didn't. That you had the dreams and ambi- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]