Handsome As Sin

Rose glared harder. “You can always find another job. Hey!” she called out, turning in the direction of the bar. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Ellie followed Rose’s angry gaze and found Jake on his hands and knees, crawling between the bar stools.

Jake looked over and Ellie was amazed at the mild annoyance she saw in his eyes. “I’m looking for my penny.”

“To hell with your penny,” Rose said as she stomped over to the man. “Is it worth a fortune? Is that it?”

Jake shrugged and said, “Not really.”

“Then get up off my floor and get out of my place.”

“As soon as I find my penny.”

Without taking her eyes off the man, Rose said, “I’ll give you exactly two seconds to get out of here, or I’m calling the cops and having you arrested for attempted robbery.”

“You don’t seem to understand,” Jake said in a calm but firm voice. “I need that penny.”

“And I needed my Christmas tree. Out.”

“It will just take—”

“Josh,” Rose called, “see this jerk out.” Rose stepped back to allow an eager Josh access to Jake. “Consider your penny—if there ever was one—partial payment for the damage you did.”

The two men squared off, and for a brief second Ellie was afraid another fight might break out. “Here,” Ellie said as she handed her nephew to Josh. “You hold Chad and I’ll see Mr. Devereaux out.”

There was a faintly amused light in his eyes as she took hold of his sleeve. “What about my penny?” he asked.

Guiding him toward the door, Ellie grabbed his hat off the table and thrust it against his stomach. It was a mistake. Brushing her fingers against the solid muscle at his waist caused a tiny tingle of awareness to spread from her hand to her arm, before shooting down her spine. “I’ll look for your penny tomorrow. The weather is getting worse and I have to get Josh home. I hardly think now is the appropriate time to argue over a penny. Besides, you just destroyed several of Rose’s most prized possessions. If you don’t get out of here, she’ll have you in jail so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

When they reached the door, Jake turned, and his eyes met and held hers. “Are you always the peacemaker?”

Ellie schooled herself not to react to the low, seductive quality of his voice. “I’m the middle child. I learned the fine art of mediation before I learned my alphabet.”

Shaking his head, he sighed. The action caused a wave of warm, mint-scented breath to wash across her uplifted face. “And here I was hoping you were trying to tell me you liked me.”

Ellie blinked. “I’d like you gone.”

“Here,” he said as he pulled a book of matches from the pocket of his jacket. “I’m staying at the Manor House. Call me tomorrow when you find my penny.”

Ellie accepted the matchbook, knowing full well she wasn’t going to call him. Every instinct in her body told her Jake Devereaux wasn’t the kind of man a sane woman called.

She locked the door and slipped the matchbook into her pocket. Rose still looked despondent, Josh was apparently still fuming and, for some unknown reason, Beth’s bottom lip was thrust out in a pout.

“Shall we?” Ellie suggested.

“Sled!” Chad yelled excitedly, throwing himself toward Rose. “Sled!”

“I know,” Rose said as she took the little boy from Josh. “We’ll go now.”

“Now,” Chad parroted.

Rose looked out the window and Ellie read the frown on her face. The reason for the deep lines became apparent as soon as she turned. Jake Devereaux was standing on the porch, just staring.

“I’m calling the cops,” Rose decided.

“Sled!” Chad argued, kicking his feet. “Go now!”

“I’ll be happy to take him home,” Ellie suggested.

“You’re taking me home,” Josh reminded her.

Beth stepped up and tried to loop her arm through his. “I can drop you off.”

“Forget it,” Rose said, sighing. “The alarm’s on. He can stand out there in the snow until his nose freezes off. Let’s just get out of here before we get snowed in for the night.”

The group shuffled out of the bar, leaving Jake with his nose pressed against the frosted glass. Ellie half expected him to appear at the back door and found herself oddly disappointed when he failed to appear.

After a quick round of good-byes, Ellie settled behind the wheel of her rented car. Josh slid in beside her, blowing air into his cupped hands.

“Gloves help,” she suggested with a wry smile.

“I usually manage to find someplace warm to stick my hands.”

“One more crack like that and I’ll be happy to tell you where to stick them.”

Josh raised his hands, palms out. “You can’t fault a guy for trying.”

“Yes,” she promised him. “I can.”

Ellie had just pulled onto the main street when Josh asked, “Is that what your little vacation is all about? You having difficulty with your love life?”

She shrugged. “Not trouble, exactly.”

“That’s not the impression I got when that gorilla showed up.”

“Mike is having a hard time dealing with rejection.”

“Not used to being the dumpee?”

She glanced over at him, smiling. “He’s probably no better at it than you are.”

“I’ve never been dumped.” Josh blew on his fingernails and buffed them theatrically.

“There’s a first time for everything,” she warned.

“Not for this kid,” he answered. “I let them know right up front that I’m not into ‘happily ever after.’”

“You know something,” Ellie said as she carefully slowed for a traffic light. “Susan was right, you are slime.”