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  “You’ve been swimming, I see,” he observed as he crossed the threshold. Almost immediately he noticed their visitor. “Well, hello, Linc,” His quick smile revealed his pleasure at seeing the man. “Have you been here long?”

  “He arrived a few minutes ago,” Joanna answered before Linc could.

  “Yes.” Linc went along with her answer and added a comment of his own. “Joanna has been entertaining me.”

  She knew precisely what he meant by his mocking insinuation and was glad it escaped her uncle. As she became aware of sudden quiet that had fallen, she noticed Reece dart her a sharp glance before his gaze returned to Linc. That’s when she saw what had caught her uncle’s eyes. The front of Linc’s shirt was damp where it had absorbed the moisture from her wet swimsuit. Fortunately her uncle was too tactful to mention it.

  “Was there something special you wanted to see me about?” he asked Linc.

  “No. I just stopped to say hello.” Linc assured him there was no other purpose behind his visit other than a friendly one.

  “Since you’re here, why don’t you stay for dinner?” Reece invited.

  “No thanks.”

  ’That reminds me,” Joanna inserted quickly before her uncle could pursue that topic and possibly change Linc’s mind. “I had lunch with Rachel Parmelee today.”

  It was a subject guaranteed to attract her uncle’s undivided attention. She saw the quick eagerness leap into his expression and light his dark eyes. The mere mention of her name brought an added warmth to his smile.

  “Did you? How was she?” He tried to disguise his avid interest, but wasn’t too successful.

  “Fine.” Joanna paused to add impetus to her next statement. “I invited her to dinner Friday night.” She waited for the rush of elation in his expression but it never came. Instead he became guarded.

  “Did she accept?” he questioned.

  “Yes,” she assured him, pleased with her success. “It took a little persuading, but she finally agreed to come.”

  It was several seconds before Reece said a rather bland, “Good.” It left her slightly stunned. She had expected him to rejoice at the news but he had practically no positive reaction at all. She was too confused to protest when he turned to Linc and asked, “Will you join us for dinner Friday evening to even out the numbers?”

  “It would be my pleasure,” Linc accepted.

  “What time did you tell Rachel?” he inquired with a glance at Joanna.

  “I said dinner would be at seven and for her to come any time before that,” she replied as confusion drew lines in her expression. “I thought you would prefer to contact her and make arrangements to pick her up.”

  “Would you object to bringing Mrs. Parmelee, Linc?” Reece asked.

  Like Joanna, Linc appeared slightly puzzled by the request, too. “If that’s what you want,” he agreed to it.

  “Thank you.”

  There appeared to be a great many unanswered questions in Linc’s eyes when he studied his friend but he didn’t ask one of them. Instead he made his excuse to leave. “I’d better be getting back to the place.”

  “It was good to see you, Linc.” For once her uncle didn’t attempt to persuade him to stay or protest that it was early.

  A fact that didn’t escape Linc’s notice either. “I’ll see you on Friday.” His glance held hers for an instant. “Joanna,” he nodded in her direction before moving toward the front door.

  When it closed behind him, she looked back at her uncle, still puzzled by his behavior. He seemed to deliberately avoid her eyes and assumed a preoccupation that indicated he had a great many important matters on his mind.

  “Would you mind fixing the meal tonight, Joanna?” It was more in the order of a request than a question. “I have some things I must do. I’ll be in the study.”

  As he started to walk away without waiting for a response, she frowned and shook her head. “I don’t understand you,” she declared on a heavy breath of exasperation.

  “Is something wrong?” His arched glance was too smooth.

  “Something is, but I don’t know what,” she admitted and went to the heart of the matter. “Aren’t you glad Rachel is coming for dinner?”

  “Of course.” Again there was an unnatural ease to his reply that completely lacked expression. “Are you upset because I invited Linc? Haven’t the two of you patched up your differences yet?” His tone made it plain that he believed they had.

  Joanna wouldn’t be sidetracked from the real issue. “I don’t care if he comes but I thought you’d welcome the chance to be alone with Rachel.”

  “It was your invitation she accepted, not mine,” he stated.

  That was the crux of the matter. Her mouth dropped open at this discovery her uncle was jealous that she had succeeded where he had failed. He disappeared into the study while she was still trying to find her voice.

  Chapter Eight

  Later on that evening, Joanna had the opportunity to explain to her uncle how the dinner invitation had come about and the reason she had been successful in persuading Rachel Parmelee to come. It had been a very one-sided conversation with Reece offering no comment and asking no questions. When it was over, she wasn’t entirely sure that she had convinced him Rachel Parmelee’s sole reason for accepting was based on a desire to spend the evening with him.

  Ever since, he had been moody and preoccupied most of the time. He wasn’t himself at all. Everything was left up to Joanna. He didn’t offer any suggestions for the menu or help in any of the advance preparations for the meal.

  The spinach salad was in the refrigerator along with the trout in its broiling pan, ready to be slipped under the broiler. The potatoes were baking in the oven and the broccoli sat in its steaming pan on the range, while the peach cobbler cooled on a wire rack. Joanna checked it all one last time before entering the living room where she had set the table, complete with a white linen cloth, candles, and the best glass and silverware she could find.

  The living room was too well lit, so she began a circuit of the room shutting off unnecessary lamps and leaving a strategic few on to create a more intimate atmosphere. The porch door opened and closed. Aware it was her uncle, Joanna didn’t bother to look around.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “There were too many lights on.” She stopped beside the fireplace and a trace of regret flitted across her expression. “It’s a pity it’s July. It would be nice to have a fire blazing away.” Then she turned and smiled quickly. “You look very handsome tonight.”

  Which he did. There was a casual sophistication to his simple attire of a plain silk shirt and dark slacks. It enhanced the silvered darkness of his hair and eyes, the leanness of his build.

  He returned the compliment. “You look very lovely in that dress. Is it new?”

  Reflex caused her to glance at the china blue tunic-style dress of crepe de chine, belted at the waist. It had an understated elegance to its basic style. She smoothed a hand over the practically wrinkle-free material.

  “It’s one I brought with me,” she explained.

  When she looked up, she saw that he had once again become preoccupied. His attention was away from her as his glance skimmed the table set for four.

  “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble he said flatly.

  “Why not? It’s a special occasion,” Joanna insisted.

  He glanced briefly at his gold watch. “She isn’t coming.”

  Reece sounded so positive that, for an instant, Joanna thought Rachel might have telephoned to cancel the invitation, but she hadn’t heard the phone ring. She glanced at the wall clock above the kitchen cupboards, just visible through the archway, and saw it was half past six.

  “The traffic is probably holding them up.” She found an excuse to explain why Rachel Parmelee and Linc hadn’t arrived yet.

  “She won’t come,” he repeated. “You’ll see.” He walked to the window to gaze at the lake, the lowering rays of the sun ref
lecting off its mirror surface.

  Joanna sighed, but didn’t try to argue with him.

  The car traveled at a reduced speed over the rutted gravel road. Rachel Parmelee sat as stiff as a statue in the passenger seat, rarely looking to the right or left. Her hands were clasped tightly on the clutch purse in her lap, the knuckles of her fingers showing white. Tension was written all over her expression.

  “It’s less than a mile now,” Linc informed her.

  On the drive here, they had talked about everything but their destination. The weather had been discussed at great length; this summer’s trade had been compared to last year’s.

  “I shouldn’t have come,” Rachel blurted out the thought that had been on her mind ever since Linc had picked her up. She was embarrassed to discover she’d said it aloud.

  “It’s too late to turn back now,” he replied evenly.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized for her lack of poise. “I must sound like a silly schoolgirl on her first date.” That was the way she felt, painfully nervous and awkward, her stomach churning. It was absurd to be so close to tears.

  “There’s no reason to be nervous.” There was gentle humor in the warm look Linc Wilder gave her. “Reece won’t bite—at least not on the first date.”

  In her present agitation, the remark was hardly laughable. “I can’t help feeling that I’m out of my league,” she sighed. “Here I am in a dress I made myself when he’s used to taking out fashion models in designer clothes.”

  “I have known Reece for ten years. He isn’t the kind of man who judges a person’s worth by the label on their clothes.” He applied the brake and made the turn into the cabin’s driveway.

  Stopping the car, he switched off the engine and glanced at his passenger. She sat frozen in her seat while he climbed out of the car and walked around to open her door. Her hands were like ice when he helped her out of the car and closed the door.

  Inside the cabin, Joanna had heard the car drive in and the first door being slammed shut. She unconsciously held her breath until she heard the second, half-afraid Reece might be right and Rachel Parmelee would back out at the last minute.

  “They have arrived.” She stressed the plural slightly and glanced at her uncle to see his reaction.

  But he continued to stare out the window at the lake. Joanna sighed, wanting to shake him. At the rap on the door, she crossed the room to admit their guests. She pushed open the screen door and smiled warmly.

  “Come in. I see Linc managed to get you here safely,” she said addressing her comments to Rachel and ignoring Linc—on the surface. An inner radar was completely sensitive to his presence. “Was the traffic very heavy?”

  “No.” Even as the widow entered the cabin, her gaze was racing past Joanna.

  A hint of pink appeared in the woman’s cheeks, almost a match to the pale pink dress she was wearing. Joanna stole a look over her shoulder, already guessing the cause for the widow’s faint blush.

  Reece was standing near the center of the living room, waiting to greet their guests. Joanna wished he would smile and get rid of that proudly courteous look.

  “Hello, Reece,” Rachel greeted him in a stilted fashion.

  “Good evening, Rachel,” he responded in a like manner.

  They both sounded so formal that Joanna wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d made a stiff and courtly bow over the widow’s hand. Her mouth tightened.

  “I think it’s going to be cool tonight,” Linc murmured as he paused beside her.

  She flashed him a glance that said she knew exactly what he meant. Although when his hand moved to the hollow of her back to guide her into the room with the others, she felt anything but cool. She shifted away from his touch at the first opportunity.

  “Make yourselves comfortable,” she urged and excused herself. “I have to check on dinner. Why don’t you offer them a drink, Reece?”

  “What would you like?” her uncle inquired of his guests while Joanna retreated to the kitchen and left them to break the ice—literally. “A glass of sherry? Wine?”

  “A glass of sherry, please,” Rachel requested because she’d read in books that’s what real ladies ordered.

  “I’ll have a beer,” Linc said.

  A liquor tray was sitting on one of the tables, complete with decanters, glasses, and an ice bucket. But it included no beer, which Linc had already noted.

  “Fix Rachel’s drink. I know where the beer is kept.” He crossed to the kitchen archway, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

  After pouring the glass of sherry, Reece handed it to Rachel. His dark gaze probed her expression, but it was locked against him—as it always was.

  “You have turned down all of my invitations to dinner. My niece must be more persuasive than I am,” he murmured.

  What could she say? That she had been wrong to accept this one? That would have been too rude. “She is a very lovely girl,” Rachel said as if that explained it and sipped at the sherry.

  Its dryness seemed to cake her tongue, leaving a strong after-taste. It had been a mistake to order it. She should have asked for something she knew she would like instead of attempting to impress Reece. She watched him splash whiskey into a tumbler of ice cubes and wished she could trade with him.

  “Please sit down.” He gestured toward the seat cushion of the sofa while he chose the armchair on its left. There was an aura of worldly authority about him that seemed so natural.

  Rachel tried to emulate his aloof composure as she sank gracefully—or so she hoped—onto the couch. She couldn’t help noticing how well the silk shirt fit the cut of his shoulders. He was so trim and manly that she couldn’t look at him without feeling that wild fluttering in her stomach.

  She had never believed such men truly existed, which was why she couldn’t believe someone like Reece was really interested in her. For all intents and purposes, she had never been out of the Ozarks in her life except for that one trip to Chicago twenty years ago.

  She took another sip of the sherry and almost couldn’t swallow it. She tried to be very casual when she set the glass on the coffee table.

  “Is the sherry too dry?” Reece inquired.

  “It’s fine,” she lied.

  Joanna was slipping a bibbed apron over her head when Linc walked into the kitchen. She glanced at him, sharply curious and suspicious. The lazy flick of his glance sent a rippling warning along her nerve ends. She felt raw and exposed, on edge in his presence.

  “Do you want a beer?” he asked and walked straight to the refrigerator.

  “No thanks.” She tied the apron’s bow at the back of her waist. The pop-top of an aluminum can sounded behind her as she turned on the burner under the pan of broccoli.

  “Rachel made the dress she’s wearing. You might want to compliment her on it,” Linc suggested.

  Joanna glanced to the side where he was standing, a hip leaning against the counter and a can of beer in his hand. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, showing more of his bronzed torso than she felt safe to see.

  “I’ll remember that,” she said stiffly.

  As she removed the potatoes from the oven, she switched the setting to broil for the trout. She was conscious of his eyes following her every move, tracking her like a cat sighting its prey.

  “I never would have guessed you had domestic talents,” Linc remarked.

  “I had a very good teacher,” she tried to keep the irritation out of her voice.

  Tonight was too important for Reece. She didn’t want to ruin it by losing her temper with Linc. It wouldn’t be easy since he had the knack of rubbing her the wrong way. Completely unbidden, the thought came that he also knew how to rub her the right way; his kiss had been proof of that.

  “Who? Your mother?”

  “No—Reece. My mother has difficulty boiling water,” Joanna admitted on a rebellious note.

  Linc made no comment on that, as he straightened from the counter. “It’s getting awfully quiet in the living ro
om. I suggest you serve dinner as soon as possible. It might make up for the lack of conversation.”

  As he left the kitchen to rejoin the couple alone in the living room, Joanna conceded that he did have a point. Silence could become an insurmountable barrier. She remembered too well that Rachel had told her that she ran out of things to say after five minutes and Reece was showing no inclination to use his considerable charm to draw the woman into a conversation. If that trend continued, it would be a long evening.

  Removing the salad plates from the refrigerator, Joanna carried them out to the table. She glanced briefly into the living room where Linc seemed to be carrying the conversation. Her uncle didn’t appear to be following the talk, his gaze continuously roaming over Rachel Par-melee who didn’t look at him at all. When each of the place settings had a salad, Joanna slipped the broiler pan into the oven and took off her apron.

  She entered the living room and paused near the table. “If you would come to the table, we can sit down for dinner.” The seating arrangements were simple, the men and women sitting opposite each other. “That’s a very lovely dress,” she remarked and prompted her uncle, “Isn’t it, Reece?”

  “Yes, it is very lovely. Very becoming on you, Rachel,” he agreed with a display of his old charm.

  The compliment was rewarded by the softening of the woman’s features and the sparkle that brightened her eyes. Joanna thought that at last they were getting somewhere.

  “Did you make it yourself, Rachel?” she asked.

  The widow lowered her gaze to the table as she picked up her salad fork. “Yes, I did.”

  Joanna interpreted the lowered eyes and quiet reply as a display of modesty. A knee nudged her right leg under the table. Since Linc was seated on her right, it had to have been him. But she wasn’t sure if it had been accidental or on purpose. Joanna slid him a glance and was confused by the hard look he was giving her.

  Annoyed, she ignored him to concentrate on Rachel. “You certainly are an excellent seamstress. I wish you had time to give me some sewing lessons.”