“Yes?” The copper doorknob bore into Jack’s palm.
She offered him a Books & Bakery plastic bag. “Megan McCloud asked me to give these to you. They’re the books you ordered.”
“Thanks.” Jack took the heavy package from her. He didn’t mean to look at her shapely calves, rounded hips, trim waist, and full breasts. It just happened. He swallowed. “Anything else?”
“Am I the only guest here?” She folded her arms under her chest, drawing his attention back to her cleavage.
Jack’s palm slipped on the doorknob. “Yes.”
He shouldn’t have agreed to let Benita’s friend stay here. She had to leave. Something about her was having an effect on everything in him.
Audra’s gaze drifted from him to the lawn beyond his porch. “I hadn’t realized the cabins would be so isolated.”
He clung to the doorknob. “They are.”
She returned her attention to him. “You really aren’t much of a talker.”
Why did she keep saying that? What did she want from him? Jack’s attention was drawn to her ebony hair and its explosion of curls. He’d bet the cabins they’d feel like warm silk between his fingers. His grip tightened on the doorknob.
Audra continued. “Have you ever gone fishing?”
Jack gave himself a mental shake. What had she asked him? Something about fishing? “Yes.”
Her expression brightened. “I’ve never been. Could you teach me?”
“No.” The word shot from his lips with the desperation of a man trying to keep himself afloat on turbulent waters.
The light in her champagne eyes dimmed. “I’d really like to learn. I don’t spend much time outside the city. Actually, I don’t spend any time outside the city. I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity. You know, to go fishing, hiking, sailing. But I need someone to show me how.”
“No.” He couldn’t spend that much time alone with her. She was a danger to his way of living. He’d cut himself off from people and caring. Caring hurt.
“Why not?” The disappointment in her catlike eyes almost persuaded him to change his mind.
Jack was stoic. “Is there anything else?”
Audra searched his eyes. She seemed about to say something. Jack braced himself against her appeal.
“No, thank you.” She turned and walked away.
He closed the door, working his numbed hand from its knob. Why can’t people leave me alone?
In his younger years—before his wife and daughter—he wouldn’t miss an opportunity to get to know a beautiful woman. But his circumstances had changed. Now he didn’t want to get close to anyone ever again. He’d been hurt before. Badly. He didn’t want to go through that again. But his cabin guest was drawing him like the proverbial moth to a very seductive flame. How close could he get before he caught fire?
“What name did you pick?” The clicking of Benita’s computer keyboard accompanied her voice down the airwaves to Audra’s cell phone. It was Saturday evening and Benita was still working.
“Penny Lane.” Audra leaned forward to rest her guitar on the oak coffee table in front of her.
Silence descended. Even the constant click of Benita’s keyboard hung suspended. Had she lost the call?
“‘Penny Lane’?” Benita’s voice was thick with disdain. “Was that the best you could do?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“The residents of Trinity Falls aren’t stupid.” Benita exhaled a heavy breath.
Audra imagined her manager ripping her fingers through her short, straight hair. “I never said they were.”
She rose from the sofa, offended. “If you think you could have come up with a better name, you should have.”