He heard the threat in her voice. Simon wasn’t impressed. Nessa had a long way to go to match Ramona for intimidation.
“I’m no longer your concern, Nessa. I’ll show myself out.”
Simon needed a way to get back into his family’s good graces. Taking his suspicions about Nessa to Darius would be a good start. But could he risk it? What would Nessa do if he told others she’d been the one behind his mayoral bid?
CHAPTER 23
Late Saturday morning, the sound of hammering led Audra to Jack. He stood on the grass as he repaired the railing of another empty rental cabin’s porch. His long, leanly muscled legs extended from a baggy pair of army green shorts. The muscles in his back and shoulders flexed and relaxed under his sweat-soaked gray T-shirt. She was certain he heard her footsteps on the graveled path as she closed the distance between them. But he never turned, never looked up. Audra felt a chill of unease.
“Good morning.” She raised her voice to be heard over his carpentry.
Jack spared her a glance over his shoulder before selecting another nail. “Morning.”
Her brows knitted in a frown. Had she done something wrong?
Jack had stacked boards of cut maple wood beside his feet. His toolbox and a pile of nails were both within easy reach on the porch, but he hadn’t brought any water. Silly man. The air was still and hot. The early August day was far too humid for him to be doing strenuous work without water.
Audra took one of her two bottles of water from her oversized canvas tote bag. She placed the still-cold bottle beside his toolbox, then stepped back. “Did you get my messages yesterday?” She’d left two—perhaps three—on his cell phone.
“Yes.” Jack’s attention shifted to the water bottle, then returned to his repairs.
“I stopped by your cabin yesterday, but you must have been out.” The hammering was starting to strain her nerves. “I was hoping we could spend some time together before I leave next Saturday night.”
Why was he still hammering? Why wouldn’t he look at her while she spoke?
“Been busy.”
A pain pierced her heart like a blade. He’d reverted to the stingy speech he’d used when they first met. “Are you too busy even for our morning run?”
Jack didn’t respond.
Audra checked the time. It was just after ten o’clock in the morning. Vaughn Brooks and the Trinity Falls University concert band expected her at two o’clock for practice. She’d hoped to have lunch with Jack first.
She tried again. “Have I done something to offend you?”
His lengthy pause made her think he was going to ignore her again. “No, you haven’t.”
Audra sighed. “I prefer the unkempt mountain man. He may have looked scary, but at least he was honest. If I haven’t upset you, why are you avoiding me?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Bullshit.” The word whipped out as she lost her patience. Audra had the satisfaction of seeing Jack’s back stiffen. “You’re still jogging in the mornings, aren’t you? You’re still eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve always joined you before. Why can’t I now? Your schedule hasn’t suddenly become so busy that you’d need to change our routine.”
Jack spun to face her. “Change our routine? We don’t have a routine. You’re on vacation. Next Saturday, you’re leaving.”
Audra’s heart raced as she stared into his onyx eyes. “I’m not looking forward to my leaving any more than you are. But I’m here now. Why don’t you want to spend time with me?”
“Can’t you understand I’m busy?” Jack’s words were hard and harsh. He dragged a hand over his hair. “I’m not the one on vacation. I don’t have time to entertain you any longer.”
Audra took a shaky step back, then another. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized I was monopolizing your time. I thought we were enjoying each other’s company.”
Jack steeled himself for the flash of pain that swept in and out of Audra’s gaze. “And now the party’s over. You can get ready to go home.”
“Suppose I want to stay in Trinity Falls, specifically Harmony Cabins, a little longer?” Audra’s voice was soft and gentle, lik
e a tentative caress across his mind.
“What are you saying?” Jack was caught between needing Audra to leave now to get the pain over with and wanting to delay the inevitable.