The Tycoon and the Townie

Kate chuckled in spite of herself. “That’s right, dear. This is the real me. Or maybe it’s Jo-Jo who’s the real me. After a day like this one, I’m not so sure.”

“And do you believe in mermaids?”

A warning flickered in Kate’s mind. “I believe in the gift of imagination,” she said, tucking the afghan around Ellen’s bare chest and shoulders. “Hang on a sec, and I’ll see if Flannery’s found you some dry clothes. Then you can pet Mehitabel while I call your—”

The rap at the door was fierce and urgent. Kate froze, her mouth suddenly dry, her pulse jumping like a beached pompano. There was no need to wonder who was outside, or to question what was going through his mind. Any way you looked at it, the next few minutes were not bound to be pleasant.

Steeling herself for the confrontation to come, Kate squared her shoulders and marched across the room to answer the door.

Kate’s house had not been difficult to find. Jeff remembered it, in fact, from the summers of his boyhood—a lowslung structure that clung to the rim of the beach, its clapboard exterior so weathered that the house looked more like an outsize hunk of driftwood than a dwelling place. An elderly man had lived here back then, Jeff recalled, a salty, reclusive old codger he’d often seen shuffling along the edge of the tide with his two mongrel dogs.

But never mind the past—it was Kate Valera who lived here now. Through the drizzling curtain of rain, he could see her Jeep parked in the makeshift carport. He could see the faint glow of light through curtained windows—and as he raised his hand to knock again, Jeff could only hope to heaven she would know something about Ellen.

The door opened before his knuckles could strike again. The woman who stood before him, haloed by the lamplight behind her, was even smaller than he remembered. Her damp, reddish curls spilled around a sharp little fox face that seemed to be mostly eyes. Her hands tugged nervously at the sash of a thick green bathrobe that looked about four sizes too big for her.

“Ellen’s here,” she said calmly. “Come on in.”

Jeff stepped across the threshold, dimly aware of the light and warmth that enfolded him as he did so. Relief jellied his knees as he spotted his daughter huddled in the corner of a flowered sofa, her arms embracing an immense, mustard-colored cat.

Fear dissolved into anger as he took a step toward her. “Young lady, do you have any idea what—”

“Please don’t be mad, Daddy.” Her sad-eyed gaze tore at his heart. “It’s so lonesome in the house. There’s nobody there but grown-ups. I just wanted to play with Flannery for a little while.”

“And how did you know where to find Flannery?” Jeff demanded, but more gently this time. He knew how much his daughter needed a friend her own age. He’d seen it that afternoon, from the window.

“I can answer your question,” Kate said. “Flannery drew her a map.”

“So, Ellen just showed up on your doorstep in the rain?”

“Of course she did.” Kate glared at him as if he’d just accused her of kidnapping. “I was about to phone your house when you knocked.” She walked away a few steps, then turned to face him again. “And now that your daughter’s safely found, I suppose you’ll both be going.”

Jeff’s eyes measured her where she stood, poised like a gazelle beside an open cabinet that overflowed with books. Her small, square chin was thrust defiantly upward. Her eyes blazed wounded pride. Still hugging the cat, Ellen watched them in expectant silence.

No, Jeff realized, he couldn’t be so monstrous as to grab his daughter and walk out. He couldn’t do that to Ellen. He couldn’t do it to Kate—or to himself.

“I—uh—think we need to talk,” he muttered, suddenly aware that his clothes were dripping water onto her faded Persian rug.

“All right.” Her body relaxed but her eyes remained guarded. “Flannery, dear, I know you’re listening.”

The child materialized from the hallway.

“Take Ellen to your bedroom for a little while, okay? And make sure you get her into something dry.”

“Yes!” Flannery’s grin lit the room like a flash bulb. “Come on, Ellen!” she exclaimed, bounding over to the couch. “You can wear my purple sweats, and I’ll show you my sea glass collection!”

“Cool!” Ellen struggled off the sofa, clutching the afghan to her chest. “Can we take Mehitabel with us?”

“Sure.” Flannery scooped up the cat. The placid creature hung over her arm like a limp Salvador Dali watch as the little girls scampered down the hallway, leaving the two grown-ups alone.

“Uh—can I make you some hot tea?” Kate spoke almost too swiftly as she scrambled to fill the awkward silence.

“No, that’s all right.” Jeff’s gaze explored the room, taking in the lush, green jumble of houseplants, the seashells and driftwood, the varicolored cushions and worn, mismatched furniture, all of which blended, somehow, into an ambiance of cozy warmth. Outside, cold, gray rain lashed the roof and battered the windowpanes. Inside, the whole room seemed to glow.

Well, we can sit down, at least,” she said, settling onto a low ottoman. The neck of her robe had fallen open to reveal the luminous curve of her throat. Her skin was delicately freckled, like tiny dots of cinnamon sprinkled on rich cream. Jeff battled the ridiculous urge to bend over and taste her.

“I—my clothes are pretty wet,” he muttered.

“Oh, sit down. You can’t do anything to that couch that hasn’t been done a hundred times before.”

Jeff moved the cushions aside and lowered himself onto the threadbare upholstery. “Sorry about that I drove over here, but before that, I was running along the beach like a wild man. I was afraid Ellen had tried to go back out to the rocks.”

“You must have been frantic.” Her aquamarine eyes were cautious.

“Out of my mind is more like it. Ellen’s never done anything like this before. If she hadn’t been here—”