Garden of Dreams (8 page)

Nina stared until it finally sank in that she was talking to the world's best con man. She'd heard all about the fast-talking salesmen who talked lonely old ladies into parting with their life savings. They drove through here with regularity. She'd just never encountered one before.

She felt a certain amount of admiration for the way he carried off the act. He came in here wearing little more than jeans and underwear, with next to no money, no credit cards, no insurance, in a battered pickup truck, and he had the incredible gall to claim he'd help her build a multimillion-dollar botanical center. She'd always liked the movie The Music Man. Come to think of it, except for the deep tan and straight hair, JD Smith held a certain resemblance to Robert Preston.

She grinned at the thought. “You should sell used cars,” she informed him with amusement. “I haven't heard a line that big since I bought the Toyota. I want the thousand dollars rent up front, Mr. Smith. And I want reassurance that the boy's mother knows he's all right. I want her address, too, in case the cops pick you up and the boy is stranded. I don't want him handed to Social Services if I can prevent it.”

He looked startled and suddenly wary. She couldn't blame him. She knew she looked like a pushover. She had this dumb- blonde face, and her lack of stature compounded the childlike impression. She supposed if she wore three-inch heels and grew her hair out and wore it in a bun she might garner some respect, but she had this dread of turning into her aunt.

She couldn't really fear him when he stood there, balancing against her worktable with his one good foot, a huge white bandage covering the gash on his forehead. He looked like a war veteran. She doubted if he could top the lies her students came up with when they missed class or didn't do their homework. Kids were smooth, but she could see through them. Just as she'd seen through this one.

“I'll give you the address and phone number if you promise not to use them except in an emergency,” he said cautiously.

Nina nodded agreement. “I'd suggest you hire a lawyer if you want custody of the boy, but that's your business and none of mine.”

For a moment, she thought she almost saw a glimmer of respect behind his eyes, but then he picked up his spiel again, and she nodded impatiently, waiting for him to go away so she could work.

“I'll get you the rent today. I'll see how damaged the computers are first. Once I have this program under control, I can begin on your idea for the garden, so start putting your facts together. You'll need aerial photographs and copies of your deeds, I suspect. I can arrange for that as soon as I get a computer up and running. Be detailed and don't overlook anything. If you're not a landscape professional, you should start considering who else you want on the project. I'd suggest drawing on local people, maybe professors from the regional university.”

Perhaps her tapping toe gave him some indication that she wasn't listening. JD stopped; then a dangerous light gleamed in his eye. Nina wasn't prepared for the strong hands suddenly clasping her waist. Before she could even consider screaming, he kissed her cheek.

“Thank you, you're a lifesaver,” he murmured.

“Nina!” Dottie's shrill voice carried faintly through the thick air. “Nina, I saw your car. Are you in the greenhouse, dear?”

Dazed, amazed, Nina pushed away and stared at the terrifying whirlwind who had just swept into her life. She backed away, as if he might reach out and sweep her up again. She knew she should say something. She knew she should stop this right now.

Instead, she took to her heels and ran out of the greenhouse as if the hounds of hell chased after her.

JD followed her progress with equal amazement. He knew he didn't understand women, but more often than not, they ran after him like lemmings to water. He'd never had one actually run from him. Then again, he'd never had a pixie turn him into a toad before, and that was precisely what he felt like now as he hobbled after her. One big ugly
horny
toad.

“My, my, you look flushed, dear.” Dottie clasped and unclasped her flower basket handle. She wore a loose flowered cotton dress over her slightly humped and thickened figure. A sound pair of SAS brogans completed her gardening ensemble. “It's much too warm for working in that greenhouse.” Her eyes widened as she peered over Nina's shoulder.

Nina didn't turn around to see what prompted her curiosity. Catching Dottie firmly by the elbow, she steered her toward the rose beds. “The heat is opening the blooms too quickly. I'll fetch a bucket of water. You'll need to immerse the roses as soon as you pick them. I have some gorgeous Oriental lilies that might fill out the bouquets, and we can snip some of those feathery ferns you like. If you see anything else that will work, just holler. You know Aunt Hattie likes sharing her garden.”

Dottie kept glancing over her shoulder. “Dear...,” she said nervously, “there's a man back there. I think he's coming this way.”

Drat the man. She'd thought she'd made it perfectly clear that she didn't want his company. How in the name of heaven could she face him in front of Dottie? The dear old lady would have talk all over the town, not from anything she knew but just from her dreamy speculations. And Nina really didn't think she could face him without turning red under any conditions.

Weren't computer people supposed to be antisocial nerds or something? The computer part must be one more lie, Nina decided as JD propped a hand on her shoulder. She didn't believe for a moment he needed the support for his lame foot. She wanted to glare at him, but she still couldn't look at him. She wished him away, but the silence was growing a little thin as Dottie stared at JD, and he waited expectantly for introductions. If he dared to try selling Dottie a new roof or something, she'd throw him in jail herself.

“Dottie, this is John David Smith, the man whose truck was knocked off the road yesterday. JD, Dottie Henson, from our church. She makes the most delightful bouquets.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma'am.” Clenching the walking stick in one hand, he took Dottie's with the other. The old lady's eyes lit as if she'd just walked into a ballroom.

“My, oh, my, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith. Will you be staying in Madrid long? We'd love having you at church Sunday.”

Nina felt a certain satisfaction in the way JD began a hasty back step. Men of his ilk and churches did not go hand in hand.

“Miss Toon has graciously agreed to let my brother and me rent some rooms until our truck is fixed. We'll see what our plans are by Sunday.”

Dottie's eyes grew even wider as JD made his farewells and limped up the walk to the house. When he was safely inside, she turned expectantly to Nina. “My, he's a handsome rogue, isn't he? Are you sure you know what you're doing, dear?”

Remembering that kiss, Nina didn't think she had any idea at all what she was doing. But she fully intended to correct that situation shortly. She might be backward around men. She might not speak her mind as often as she should. But that didn't mean she didn't have a mind at all. JD Whatever-his-name-was would get a piece of it as soon as she summoned the courage.

* * *

Jackie had sprawled across the spacious couch and turned on the TV by the time JD returned to the house.

“There's no cable,” he complained. “She doesn't have any video games. What am I going to do all day around here?”

“Make your bed. Wash your dishes. Offer to mow the lawn or whatever manly task needs doing. Once I see what condition the computers are in, I'll take you down to the lake, and we'll see what's happening there. Get off your butt and do something useful in the meantime.”

“You sound just like Mom,” Jackie grumbled as he flicked off the TV. “Do this, do that,” he mimicked. “This is supposed to be a vacation. I shouldn't have to do anything.”

“Five-year-olds don't do anything. No one said you get a free ride for life.” JD circled the front room, checking for electric sockets. He found a tangle of extension cords plugged into an ancient ungrounded socket behind the couch. Swearing at the fire hazard, he located an even older single-socket outlet behind the TV. Wondering if he could trade his rent payment in exchange for updating the wiring, he limped toward the room he'd slept in last night.

At one time the wide room with big front windows had probably served as a dining room, but illness must have made it difficult for the absent Aunt Hattie to climb up and down the stairs. Apparently her illness had required electrical appliances of some sort. He found new outlets along one wall that might support at least one of the systems.

“Whatcha gonna do if the computers are broke?” Jackie inquired, following him rather than going about his chores.

“Turn the air blue,” JD answered idly, looking around for surfaces he could rearrange.

Jackie grimaced. “Do you think she's got a lawn tractor for the lawn? I could do that.”

A lawn tractor, the adult equivalent of a child's toy. JD didn't think his landlady would much appreciate a kid playing with it if she had one, but the kid should do something useful, and the boy could learn. This father business was a definite strain on the mental muscles, but he couldn't think of any way of denying him. JD wished he'd had a good example to follow, but all he could muster was a stern look. “Go make your bed and wash your dishes first. Then ask Miss Toon if she wants her lawn mowed.”

Gloomily, he figured he should feel guilty at letting Nina decide what to do with the kid, but she apparently didn't have the same problem as he did in dealing with teenagers. As Jackie wandered off, JD began arranging the furniture to suit himself.

By the time Nina returned, he had his main hard drive up and running. He'd rerouted the network to his own private telephone number since he couldn't find any local access. Then he'd e-mailed Jimmy to call Nancy. Jimmy could trace the e-mail if he wanted, but JD didn't have a problem with that. He and Jimmy had built the business together. They had an equal interest in protecting the banking program. His partner could play ignorant marketing director for all it was worth should anyone question him.

Satisfied that he'd done all he could in that quarter, JD concentrated on the best way to make the money transfer from his bank account without anyone tracing it. If he could set up a local bank account...

His skin prickled. A breath of fresh air mixed with the fragrance of roses permeated the room. He never noticed such things. His secretary frequently walked through his office, rearranged his desk, and filed correspondence without once disturbing his train of thought.

Frowning, he concentrated on the monitor, but even though he'd focused his thoughts two thousand miles away, JD knew the exact moment the pixie alighted. He felt her furious vibrations before he even lifted his head.

“My services are not included in the rent,” she informed him in ominous tones.

Maybe if he didn't look up, he wouldn't have to acknowledge that curious statement. Perhaps he could pretend he was lost in thought. JD rested his chin on his hand and stared at the computer screen, but he had the overwhelming notion she would take his head off in about two seconds. Reluctantly, he glanced in her direction.

“Jackie and I can fix our own meals,” he answered politely, still slightly bewildered about what answer she expected. “We can make our own beds and clean up after ourselves, if that's what you mean. I'm certain you have enough to do without keeping up with us.”

Nina stared at her uninvited houseguest in confusion. The motorcycle lord of earlier had donned a pair of horn-rimmed glasses that made him look like an absentminded professor. He'd even covered the T-shirt with a blue denim shirt, apparently for easier access to the assortment of pens and pencils he kept in the shirt pockets. The bottom of one pocket had already absorbed black and green ink stains. The disheveled lock of hair once again fell over his bandage. He looked far different from the smooth-talking con man who'd appeared back in the greenhouse. Did this man have an evil twin brother or just two personalities? Or had her imagination just gotten the better of her again?

It had taken Nina this long to gather the courage to come in here and make that statement about her services. She'd practiced for a good five minutes. Now he looked at her as if she'd lost her mind and talked about cooking and cleaning. She didn't give a good flying damn about cooking and cleaning.

“Fine,” she stormed, incoherently as usual. “You do that. You can take care of
all
your own personal services. Just leave me out of it. Are we completely clear on that?”

He stared at her. Could he have forgotten that kiss in the greenhouse already? Her cheeks flamed at the thought. She'd not thought of anything else this last hour.

Preferring not to remind him, she stalked out, leaving him thinking what he would. Living with a man would be pure hell, she could tell already. But she damned well needed that rent money so she could fight the phone company.

Fascinated, JD watched the pixie flap her irate wings and flee; then reluctantly he stared at his computer screen without comprehension. Personal services? Is that what she called a little kiss? Other women would have been charmed. This one called it “personal services”? He grunted and returned to his work. He'd never understand women if he lived for a thousand years.