wife and office manager. Something struck her as odd.
For a man who didn’t seem to have any more political interest than the norm, why would Michael contribute so much money to Daniel’s campaign? And why in three large increments? Before Laurie could find any reasonable explanation, Cole’s red vintage truck pulled into the drive.
She slipped the checks back into the envelope and braced herself for the morning after.
The morning after what? They certainly hadn’t slept together, although her mind had played and replayed the possibility all night long. They’d only danced.
But they’d held each other close, and the memory of the deep, hungry kiss they’d shared the night before had haunted her sleep. Just the thought of that kiss caused her cheeks to warm as though they’d committed an intimate act.
The knob turned, the back door swung open and a pretty blond child entered the kitchen. Round, blue-rimmed glasses framed expressive blue eyes. A splattering of freckles covered a turned-up nose.
Cole’s daughter, Laurie assumed. She smiled at the little girl.
When she spotted Laurie, she stopped in midstep. Her eyes brightened, and her mouth opened. “Who are you?”
“Hello,” Laurie said, unsure of what else to tell the child. Her eyes instantly sought Cole’s.
“This is my daughter, Beth,” Cole said to Laurie. Then he turned to the child. “This is Laurie. She’s a friend of Aunt Kerri-Leigh.”
And what am I to you? Laurie wanted to ask. Instead, she faced the child and extended her hand in greeting, offering the little girl the same respect and formality Laurie had always received when she’d been introduced to Aunt Caroline’s friends. “I’m happy to meet you, Beth.”
The child took Laurie’s hand and giggled. “I’m glad to meet you, too.”
“Why don’t you unpack your bags and put the laundry in the hamper,” Cole told Beth. “Consuela will be here tomorrow afternoon, and she’ll start the laundry.”
Consuela? Laurie couldn’t hide a grin of her own. So, Cole had a housekeeper. She’d guessed a woman had been responsible for the tidy home, but she just hadn’t known who.
Beth skipped off, long blond curls bouncing along behind her, and left Laurie and Cole alone in the kitchen.
Laurie faced him awkwardly. “I suppose I’d better think about heading back to town.”
“With or without your car?”
For a moment she’d forgotten Kerri-Leigh had the Expedition. “Can you give me a ride to the nearest bus depot? That’s where your sister said she’d park my car.”
“Sure,” Cole said. “But that’s in Clayton, twenty miles from here. I’ve got an appointment I need to take care of in Tannen. Can we make it later this evening?”
“I’m in no hurry to get my car. But if you don’t mind taking me with you to Tannen, I have a few things to do myself.” She didn’t tell him about her plan to find Carla’s Crazy Curl. Or her intent to change her hairstyle.
“Sure, you can ride with me. I’ll be a few hours, though. Do you think you can keep yourself busy in a backwoods community that long?”
Laurie hid a grin and shrugged. “I’ll think of it as an adventure.”
Cole chuckled. “I’ve got some chores to do around here. How about if we leave about noon?”
“All right.” Laurie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and wondered what Cole would say when he saw what she planned to have done to her hair. But she supposed it really didn’t matter. It wasn’t as though she and Cole had any kind of real friendship. Besides, she wouldn’t be around much longer.
She felt a brief moment of sadness, and tried to understand why. Did she mourn leaving a life of obscurity, or did she dread returning to face the problems of her past?
“Beth!” Cole called. “Do you want to go out in the pasture with me?”
The little girl came bounding back into the kitchen. “Is the lady going, too?”
“Not into the pasture,” Cole said. “It’s muddy. But you can put on some old clothes and—”
Beth slid up next to Laurie. “I’ll stay with the lady.”
“Not without asking her permission,” he said.
Big blue eyes, appearing larger through round lenses, pleaded for permission. “Can I stay with you, Laurie?”
“Certainly.” Laurie glanced at Cole. “If it’s all right with your dad.”
“It’s okay with me,” he said.
Beth clapped her hands in excitement. “Maybe we can make cookies. I like to make cookies!”
“Beth,” Cole admonished. “She doesn’t have to entertain you.”
“Oh, on the contrary,” Laurie said with a broad smile. “I think Beth will do the entertaining.”
“All right, then.” Cole turned toward the door. “I’ll be back in the time it takes to make a dozen cookies or answer a hundred questions—whichever comes first.”
Laurie laughed. “Either option is fine with me.”
“Or we can play,” Beth suggested. “I’ll get some toys.”
Cole shook his head while reaching for the back-door knob. “I hope she doesn’t drive you crazy. She can play and talk for hours on end.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Laurie said. All she needed to do was make a quick phone call to Aunt Caroline. Then she’d be happy to do whatever Beth wanted to do: play house, bake cookies or chat away for hours. She actually looked forward to spending time with the little girl.
When Cole had gone outside, and Beth into her room for some dolls to help make cookies, Laurie picked up the telephone and dialed her aunt’s number.
The maid answered the phone. “No, Mrs. Taylor isn’t at home. May I tell her who’s calling?”
“It’s Lauren,” she said, a bit surprised the older woman hadn’t recognized her voice. “Tell her not to worry about me. I’m spending some time alone, and I’ll call her later.”
Before the woman could answer, the phone line crackled with static.
“Goodbye,” Laurie said, assuming her message had gone through. She hung up the telephone, just as Beth raced back into the room with an armload of baby dolls.
“This is Mary,” Beth said, propping a dolly on the table. “And this is Susan. She has a cold.” Beth introduced each one. “Josie, Christie. And this one is Margo. She’s my favorite because Pammy gave her to me for my birthday.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Laurie said, taking each small hand into hers.
