Dreams Don't Wait (Contemporary romance) (11 page)

While the shadow of his touch warmed her face, his smile kindled a blaze somewhere near her heart. She smiled back. "You're a devil, Lincoln Stewart."

Linc noticed that she didn't deny being a liar, which made him oddly lighthearted. "And you, Evangeline North, are one of the most refreshing women I've ever met." He restrained himself from touching her again. "Now shall we go see the cabin?"

* * *

As they approached the cabin, Cal called out from ahead. "I'm going to take Jen to the point, Mom. She wants to do some crab-hunting. I'll be back in a minute."

She smiled, waved at them both, and was delighted when Jenny waved back. Every crack in the child's reserve toward her was like a surprise gift, making her feel warm and accepted. Not good, she told herself, taking the first of three steps to the cabin's porch. It wouldn't do to get caught in Jenny's charming web any more than her father's.

Linc's hand was on her back as he followed her to the door, his gesture courtly as he opened the door and nodded briskly for her to go ahead of him.

Evan stepped across the threshold and gasped in amazement—and delight. The cabin was transformed. The old logs gleamed golden under fresh coats of lacquer. The floor, now solid and strong under her feet, was refinished. Two large oval area carpets in varying shades of rust and blue covered the dark shine of its planking. The kitchen area boasted shiny new appliances and warm pine cupboards. The bathroom was completely refurbished. Linc's renovations went well beyond making the space livable. The cabin was filled with country warmth and cottage charm.

She turned shocked eyes to him, to find him watching her reaction with undisguised interest.

"This is amazing. I'm... speechless."

"For once." His mouth quirked upward.

Evan smiled, but didn't answer. Instead she walked toward the stone fireplace, running her hand along the back of a rust-colored love seat as she did so. It was either new or freshly upholstered; a matching wing-back chair sat opposite. Their scale was perfect for the small cabin. Bookshelves lined the fireplace wall. She touched them and looked back at Linc.

"As I said, I'm speechless."

"You like it, then?"

She shook her head, then lowered it.

"You don't like it?"

"No. I—" She lifted her face to his. He'd see the shine of tears in her eyes, but she didn't care. "I love it. I adore it. I'm
mad
for it. This is going to be the best year of our lives, Cal's and mine. Absolutely the best." She touched his arm. "Saying thank you doesn't seem enough. It's beyond beautiful, and the first real home Cal and I have ever had. I'm grateful." She smiled, squeezed his arm, glanced up at him—and withdrew her hand.

Linc watched her carefully. For the briefest moment he thought she was going to kiss him, give him one of those perfunctory appreciative pecks that great-aunts give to young relatives. At first the thought annoyed him; then it warmed him when he realized why she hesitated. She knows damn well she—or maybe you—wouldn't want to stop, and the kind of appreciation we really want from each other, we'd only be able to find in a bed.

His thought the perfect lead-in, he said, "Let's take a look at the bedrooms. Cal's isn't quite finished. I'm adding a new window there and enlarging the closet, so it's still a bit of a mess, but yours is done."

He opened the door, and Evan looked inside, and for what seemed a very long moment made no sound. Finally, she sighed deeply.

"Oh, my God. What can I say?" Her eyes scanned the room—the brass bed with dark rose linens, the rocking chair, the pine chest at the foot of the bed, new casement windows with fringed pull-down blinds.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at him. "I'm not going to cry, but damned if I don't feel like it. You've performed a miracle—and in only two weeks. I can't believe it."

He leaned in the doorway. "I had help."

"Caressa?" she asked.

"She sent that talented but, rather dramatic assistant of hers over. She wandered around, tsk-tsked, a couple of times, and came back with a plan and color scheme. All the time proclaiming she really didn't
do
cabin kitsch. Whatever the hell that is. Caressa picked the furniture. It came yesterday."

"She didn't say a word."

"She wanted to surprise you."

She looked at him, her voice concerned. "The thing is, do
you
like it? I mean I'm only going to be here for a year." Her eyes widened in a look of nervous suspicion. "You didn't do this just... for me, did you?"

He watched her face turn pink. "I told you. I paid a lot for this place, and I want it in top condition. I have an investment to protect." The instant he said the words, he knew he was lying. Consciously or unconsciously, he
had
done it for her, because the truth was, his investment would have been better served if he'd bulldozed the place. The revelation didn't please him, and he frowned.

Evan's face went from pale pink to a full blush. "Right," she mumbled, standing awkwardly beside the bed. She shot him a glance as she smoothed the bed linens. "I wonder what's keeping the kids."

And I wonder how I'm going to keep my hands off you.
If he was going to live by his words in the library, he'd better start working at it. Pulling his eyes from her, he said, "They're probably still at the beach. If you're finished here, we should get back. I've got a briefcase to sort through and a couple of letters to write."

She nodded.

He took another good look around the cabin on the way out. "If you like, you can move in this weekend. I'll be entertaining this Saturday. It will probably be quieter away from the main house."

At the bottom of the stairs, she again touched his arm. He looked down into the warmth of her smile. "Thank you, for the cabin... for everything."

This time he nodded.

God, he loved her easy smile.

* * *

When Linc said he was entertaining, it was no intimate dinner for eight. It was an extravaganza. Close to a hundred people made up the guest list. And by Friday afternoon Maud was asea in a storm of preparation, while making it seem effortless. The effort was beyond Evan's understanding. It was entertaining on a lavish scale with which she was completely unfamiliar. She doubted she even knew a hundred people she could invite to a party, and smiling wryly as she glanced at Maud's endless lists, she decided to keep it that way.

She was on her way to the cabin with the last of her things when she passed Maud in the kitchen. Tonight she and Cal would sleep in their own place, and she couldn't wait. While Linc had kept his word, and his distance, it was increasingly uncomfortable being here. He'd been home all week, only leaving today for a quick business trip to Vancouver. He was due back tomorrow on the afternoon ferry. By then she'd be safely ensconced in her new home.

"Almost finished the move?" Maud nodded at the clothes in Evan's hands.

"Yup. A few cosmetics and I'm done. How about you? Are you beginning to see daylight?"

Maud smiled, put down her pen, and took off her reading glasses. "Almost, but right now I'm in desperate need of coffee. You?"

Evan draped the clothes she was carrying across the back of a chair. "Sounds good. I'll get it." She poured two mugs and joined Maud at the round kitchen table.

"What time do the caterers come tomorrow?" Evan asked.

"Let's see." Maud put her glasses back on and consulted a list. "Housecleaning service at eight-thirty, windows at ten..." She scanned farther down the list "Here it is. One-thirty. Same time as the gardener."

"Sounds like you have a
very
busy day tomorrow."

"A piece of cake," she said. "As long as I don't lose these." She waved a sheaf of lists. "Oh, and I fixed a plate for Cal when he comes home after work tonight. I know he plans to go straight to the cabin, but he should eat. Do you want to take it with you, or shall I keep it here for him?"

Evan put down her coffee. "That makes it official—you're the world's biggest softie." She grinned. "Keep it here. He can eat it when he comes to get his things, but if you keep feeding that teenage hollow leg of his like you do, I warn you, you'll never get rid of him."

"That's fine by me—and Jenny. We're both a little in love with him, you know."

"Only
a little? "

Maud laughed and sipped her coffee. The radio played softly in the background as silence settled between them.

"I'm glad things worked out between you and Linc, Evan. And I'm glad you're staying on."

Evan looked up from her coffee. She'd never said a word to Maud about... the thing... between her and Linc.

"You needn't look so surprised. I'd have to live in the broom closet not to see the tension between the two of you."

Uncomfortable now, Evan rubbed a finger along the rim of her coffee mug. She considered denying it, but it wasn't possible. Lies and evasions didn't belong in a conversation with Maud. When she said nothing, Maud reached over and touched her hand.

"It's all right, dear. I know," she said.

"Maud, I—"

"If I were thirty years younger, I'd be falling in love with him myself." That bomb dropped, Maud calmly sipped her coffee.

Evan glanced quickly around the room as if to ensure there was no one listening. "Maud! Why on earth would you say a thing like that?"

"Because it's true?" Maud tilted her head.

"But it's not true. Not true at all."

"No?"

"You've completely misread the situation."

"Then what exactly
is
the situation?" Maud gave her a benign look.

"You see, Linc and I don't—that is, I want to—and Linc wants— There was this, uh, misunderstanding... and well, I thought—" She stopped abruptly.

"Yes?" Maud prodded in silken innocence.

Evan took a deep breath and calmed herself. "The thing is I
am not
in love with Linc."

"I didn't say you were."

"But that's exactly what you said."

"I said you were
falling,
dear. And you are. You just haven't admitted it yet. Although I have no idea why. Linc's perfect for you, and you're perfect for him. And Jenny adores you." Maud picked up her coffee cup and took it to the sink.

"I'd like to know what's in that coffee you're drinking? Jenny barely tolerates me, and you know it."

"Really?" Maud came back to the table and sat down. "So whose lap was she sitting on before dinner tonight, telling us that outrageous story about her mythical dog? And who
just had
to put her to bed tonight, and who is she making cookies with tomorrow morning?"

Okay, so her relationship with Jenny had improved, but it was a long way from adoration. Jenny still balked at doing what she was told. And if Jenny did have affection for her, it had evolved reluctantly, as had her own growing attachment to Linc's blond and precocious daughter.
Damn! She didn't need this, any of it.
Jenny was four years old. She'd need years of care, a mother's devotion. Evan couldn't give her those years.
Wouldn't give her those years.

"It's true, and you know it. You've been tough on her, but she loves you anyway. Even Linc's noticed."

This was news.
"He has?"

"He said just the other day that you and Cal have been a good influence on her."

Influence,
he'd called it. Evan cringed, knowing full well that if Linc had witnessed the strained confrontations she'd had with his daughter, he'd be outraged. And she'd be out. She was positive, when it came to his precious Jenny, Linc's opinions about a firm hand hadn't changed.

"There's no need to frown. It's all quite wonderful. Of course, it will take Lincoln time to admit his feelings. I'm afraid he finds it difficult since—"

Evan stood abruptly. "I'm going to the cabin now. If you need any help, give me a call. But be warned I haven't had much experience preparing buffets for Victoria's finest, unless, of course, they'd be impressed with cheese and crackers."

Maud watched her stalk to the door. "Evan," she called, her voiced holding an edge of authority.

Evan hesitated, one hand on the doorknob. "Uh-huh?" she said, determinedly noncommittal.

"Linc is falling, too, dear. I know him. All it would take would be a few soft words."

"Maud—" Evan snapped her mouth shut. "I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

Chapter 6