“They who? And why would they have a field day?”
She flashed him another placating smile. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
Of course she wasn’t. This was too weird. He was the naked stranger in her house, yet he was the one asking all of the questions. Though she seemed to have a pretty good idea of who he was. “Maybe I should call Clare,” he said.
“Maybe you should put your clothes on first.”
Yeah, that would probably be a good idea. He just hoped she wasn’t expecting to watch him.
“Go on up to Clare’s room, and for the love of all that is holy, take the blanket with you. My heart isn’t what it used to be.”
Somehow he doubted that. Despite her age, she looked strong as an ox. Sturdy, yet refined. And as much as he appreciated the offer of privacy—and oh, did he appreciate it—he wasn’t so sure Clare would appreciate him using her bedroom. He’d gone up there the other night to tease her, but this was different. It felt like an invasion of privacy to be in there when she wasn’t around. If he was going to make this relationship work, he had to respect Clare’s boundaries. “Would it be all right if I just use a bathroom down here? I don’t want to invade Clare’s space.”
His request seemed to surprise Kay, and he was betting it earned him a few brownie points, too.
“That’s awfully thoughtful of you. There’s a half bath just off the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” He grabbed his clothes and his phone and with the blanket tucked firmly around his midsection, he hightailed it to the bathroom. Once he was in there, there was no hurry, but he threw his clothes on as quickly as possible. So fast he was pretty sure he put his boxers and socks on inside out.
When he was dressed he checked his phone, surprised to find that it was almost four o’clock. He’d slept for nearly eight hours. Far more than his typical five or six. And it was a deep restful kind of sleep that usually evaded him.
Must have been the sex.
He dialed Clare, and she answered her phone saying, “You had better not be snooping.”
He smiled and shook his head. “Houston, we have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You know how you thought your aunt was still out of town?”
“Uh-oh.”
Uh-oh was right. “Yeah, well, she’s not. She’s here.”
He could feel her cringe over the phone line. “Tell me you weren’t still on the couch.”
“I wish I could.”
“Naked?”
“As the day I was born.”
She made a noise and it took a second for him to realize what he was hearing. “Oh, my God, are you laughing?”
“No, of course not,” she said, clearing her throat. “She’s not holding you at gunpoint, is she?”
He knew she had guns! “Not yet, and frankly, she’s scary enough without one.”
“Yeah, she can be,” Clare said, and he could hear the mirth in her voice. Was she enjoying this?
“This isn’t funny. Stop laughing.”
“I’m sorry, but the mental picture...”
Okay, maybe it was a little funny. “I take it my name has come up before.”
There was a slight pause, as if she were choosing her words carefully. “A time or two, yes.”
“You don’t seem too upset that our secret is out.”
“Aunt Kay won’t tell anyone. I trust her absolutely.”
“She said that you were right, they would have a field day. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Long story,” she said. “And I’m sorry she walked in on you like that. I really had no idea she would be home early.”
“Are you coming back?”
“Not for another hour or so. I’m volunteering at the free clinic.”
“So basically I’m on my own?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“You promise she’s not going to hurt me?”
“If it makes you feel better, she’s never actually shot anyone.”
Oh, yeah, that made him feel so much better.
“However...” she said.
“What?”
“She might give you a hard time.”
“Might? She already did!”
“Well, it’s probably not over yet. Aunt Kay is very protective of me.”
Swell.
“Did you see Ja—I mean Maddie?” he asked her. “I didn’t get a page so I’m assuming things are good.”
“I did see her, and she’s doing really well. Logan and Hadley were there with Maggie. She’s so much bigger and healthier, it’s hard to imagine that they’re the same age.”
“Maddie will catch up.”
“I’m going to miss her, but I know this is for the best. And I’m so glad to know that she has family.”
“Did Logan say if he was able to contact his brother?”
“They left messages for him but so far they haven’t heard back. Won’t he be surprised to find out that not only is he a father, but to twins no less.”
“And one with special needs. He’ll have his hands full.”
“Hold on a sec,” Clare said, and he heard her talking to someone, then she was back. “Parker, I have to go. Can I call you later?”
He was hoping she would. “Of course.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you then. And, Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“Good luck.”
She seemed to be enjoying this a little too much.
He hung up and stuck his phone in his pocket, then folded the blanket he’d been wearing and opened the door. Clare’s aunt was standing in the kitchen, sipping on a bottle of beer. She gestured to an open bottle in front of a bar stool at the kitchen island and said, “Have a seat, Parker.”
“I
