The Adventurer (16 page)

“Tomorrow, ” Jessica repeated, heading into the living room. “Loveyou. Bye. ” ‘ Clicking the Off switch, she dropped the phone on the coffee table and hurried toward the front door. The bell sounded again. Jessica touched the knob, peered through the peephole and nearly fainted. It was Devon, and he looked like he’d been hit by a truck.

Chapter Eight.

The door cracked open and a startled eyeball peered through the slit.

“My God, Devon! Are you all right? ” “Hmm? ” Devon absently glanced down at his torn jacket and smudged jeans. “I had a flat tire on the freeway so I decided to park in a pool of road grease to fix it. ” “Oh. ” The eye blinked in relief before scanning him warily. ” What are you doing here? ” He puffed his cheeks, considering that to be one hell of a good question. Unfortunately, he didn’t have an acceptable answer. After leaving the restaurant tonight, instinct had driven him to the one person who could offer solace, perhaps even soothe the vague, indefinable ache in his heart.

Obviously he couldn’t admit that. Jessica would think him a nut case.

Devon wasn’t sure that she’d be wrong. So he studied his shoes, rubbed the back of his neck and lied. “I was hoping for a cup of coffee. “

“Coffee? “

“Well… yeah. ” He cleared his throat, feeling stupid. “I guess it’s pretty late, though. For coffee, that is. ” The eye widened. “I mean, the caffeine would probably keep you awake. ” Devon moaned and rubbed his face with his hands. “Look, this was a really bad idea. I shouldn’t have bothered you. ” ‘

“No, iys all right. ” ’”

“It is? ” “Certainly. It’s just that, uh-” The eye darted in panic. “I’m not dressed.

I’ll, uh, be right back. “

The door slammed so quickly that Devon reeled backward and grabbed the jamb to steady himself. A rush of footsteps echoed from inside the apartment, fading away, disappearing for a moment, then hurrying closer. In a moment , the security chain rattled. Jessica, looking flushed and harried, opened the door. “Hi. ” After the breathless greeting, she patted her perfectly groomed hair and stepped back to allow him access. “Come in. ” ‘ He regarded her warily, noting that she was impeccably attired in the tailored navy slacks and creamy cuffed blouse that she’d worn earlier in the day. The outfit was accessorized by a muted print scarf, intricately twisted and held in place by a gold broach pinned at the throat. Since it would have been impossible for her to don such a complex ensemble in less than a minute, the excuse of needing to get dressed seemed a bit lame. Devon peered over her shoulder, half expecting to see a man’s shoe poking out from beneath the sofa. The thought was unnerving. “Are you sure I’m not interrupting anything ?” “Of course not. ” She ducked away to fidget with her hair, then straightened and met his suspicious expression with a guileless smile. “

“Do you still want that coffee or would you rather have tea? “

“Whatever is easiest. ” He entered cautiously and was surprised by his own massive relief at finding nothing more than the usual clutter. After closing the door, Jessica headed to the kitchen, speaking over her shoulder. “Actually, I’m not much of a tea person. I do have decaf, though, if you like it. ” “Decaf is fine, ” he murmured, although he personally despised the stuff.

“In case you’d like to wash up, the bathroom is down the hall. “

A quick inspection of his greasy hands proved that to be an excellent suggestion. After depositing his torn, and now oil-stained Windbreaker on the entry coatrack, he followed her directions and was dismayed to discover a sinkful of soaking panty hose. He instantly dismissed the option of removing the intimate apparel-he wouldn’t want anyone wringing out his jock straps, after all-and was bent over the tub faucet when Jessica skidded into the doorway with a horrified expression. “I’ll, uh-” a red flush crept up her throat as she sidled toward the sink “-just get these out of your way. “

Devon held up his lathered hands and allowed himself an amused grin.

“Don’t bother. Tub water is the same as sink water. Now, if my only option had been the toilet, I might not be as accommodating. ” Obviously mortified, she nonetheless managed to maintain a modicum of dignity. “In that case, I’ll just finish up… in the kitchen. With the coffee. ” Flushing furiously, she spun on her heel and left. Still chuckling, Devon quickly completed his chore and returned to the living room. As he stepped over a pile of partially sorted magazines, he noticed several family photographs displayed on a curio rack. One informal snapshot apparently taken at an amusement park, reflected Jessica as a laughing teenager standing beside a happy,

‘ middleaged couple which he assumed to be her mother and stepfather.

Another picture was of a bright-eyed child of about seven ‘ with sleek blond hair and a grin he’d have recognized anywhere In the photo, little Jessica was proudly displaying a puny trout as if it were a prized marlin. Beside her an immense man-obviously the father whom she’d loved so ‘ dearly-held up a fishing pole and favored the camera with ; ; an infectiously jovial grin. Intrigued, Devon picked up the photograph to examine it more closely. ‘ The kitchen faucet rattled. “I’m surprised to see you, ” Jessica called over the rush of water. “Crandall mentioned that you had a date this evening. ” Devon smiled and returned the photograph to its place beside an untidy stack of credit card receipts. “Just dinner with some old friends. “

“Really?

She sounded so incredulous that he couldn’t help but laugh. “Believe it or not, I really do have friends. “

She peered anxiously around the wall. “

“Of course you do. ! Everyone has friends. I keep forgetting that you grew up in Los Angeles. Were these friends from school? “

“In a sense, I suppose. We met when we were kids. “

Jessica again disappeared into the kitchen. A cupboard door closed and in a minute, a can opener whirred softly.

“It must be difficult to keep in touch since you travel so much. “

“Yes, it is. ” Devon returned the photograph, still bothered by the vague sensation of displacement and loss that had haunted him all evening. Although aware that his relationship with Bobby and Lark had waned over the years, he d always assumed growing apart to be the normal result of growing up. Tonight, however, as his friends chatted about moments that the two of them had shared last month and the month before, Devon had felt a distance between them that he hadn’t noticed before. Perhaps in the past, he simply hadn’t been attuned enough to notice. Or even to care.

But now he did care; he cared deeply.

Difficult to keep in touch.. Jessica had said. Devon clung to that statement, silently agreeing that his career had been the culprit, the root cause of his emotional isolation. Now, as he scrutinized the secret corners of his heart, he realized that he’d repeatedly used that career as a shield, an excuse to alienate himself from the intimacy of family and friends. What he didn’t understand was why.

“Devon? “

Startled, he spun around and stared into Jessica’s concerned face.

“Are you all right? ” she asked.

His smile was tight enough to crack walnuts. “Sure, why not? “

“You seemed to be a million miles away. “

Since there was no accusation in her voice, his smile loosened. “I guess I was. Sorry. ” “You’re entitled. ” She cocked her head prettily. “Is something besides the flat tire upsetting you? ” “No. ” The reply was too fast and sharp to be believed. He sighed and dropped heavily on the sofa. “Nothing gets by you, does it? ” “That nostalgic look in your eye was a dead giveaway. ” She settled beside him, tucking one foot under her knee and turning sideways. “Do you want to talk about it? ” “No. ” He did, of course. Inside him, undefinable sensations pulsed with such power that he feared his chest might explode. He closed his eyes, scouring his lids with his fingertips and trying to get control of the emotional perplexing surge. A soothing warmth touched his thigh. Devorq looked at the slender hand resting above his knee. A tingling sensation seemed to be emanating from her delicate fingers, an electric energy that charged his blood and radiated through every cell in his body. The paradoxical effect was one of calm exhilaration.

“Have you and your father had another argument? ” she asked gently.

Devon’s gaze was riveted on her hand. “We exchanged a few words but no worse than usual. ” ‘

“I’m sorry to hear that. “

Stung by the disappointment in her voice, he suddenly felt compelled to downplay the incident. “It was just a minor disagreement. “

“About what?

“The same thing it’s always been about. His work. ” ‘ Seeming startled by that information, Jessica straightened and retrieved her hand. “I knew Crandall was concerned about the dangers of your career but why would his business cause friction between you? ” “Because it seems to be more important to him than staying alive. ” He avoided her shocked gaze by studying a greasy smear on his jeans pocket. “A heart attack is a warning to slow down. Evidently, my father hasn’t gotten that message. “

“So you believe he’s working too hard? “

“Let’s just say that he thinks the company will collapse if he doesn’t exercise personal control over every detail. ” Jessica considered that for a moment. “Given his recent health problems, I can understand your concern. What really confuses me is why your father’s work habits were such a problem in the past. ” Ordinarily, Devon would have clammed up at this point and manipulated the conversation to a less-painful subject. But there was something about Jessica’s compassionate quest that made him search his own soul for a truth he’d never revealed. What he discovered was as shocking as it was simple.

“I was jealous. “

She repeated the word as though she’d never heard it before , then added,

“But why? “

“Probably because I was a selfish brat. When I was a kid , my father left me with my aunt and spent most of his time overseas. That ticked me off because I wanted all of his attention” He forced a thin smile.

“Sounds pretty shallow, doesn’t it? “

“No, ” she whispered. “It sounds like the normal reaction of a lonely little boy. ” “Hey, wipe that pity off your face. I wasn’t exactly a stoic little soldier. The truth is that I was a hell-raising troublemaker with a smart mouth and a rotten disposition. ” “I don’t doubt that. Children who’ve been starved for affection are frequently hostile. ” The observation was accurate enough to make him squirm. “Look, I’ve got no one to blame but myself. I crossed over the line. “

“How? “

“By turning into a rowdy little street tough. ” For some reason, Devon realized he was oddly comfortable relating sordid details of his past that he hadn’t shared with anyone beyond the Brotherhood. “I started hanging around with a gang of older kids, learning the tricks of the trade. “

“What trade? “

“Stealing cars. ” He grinned at her chagrined frown. “My hero was a tattooed punk who could punch an ignition in less than two seconds. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as talented. I’d been struggling with my first yank for nearly five minutes when the police car pulled up. Three of us got snagged that night. ” ‘

“Oh, good grief. What happened? “

His smile faded. “The usual. We were arrested and hauled into family court. The other kids were given probation and released to their parents but my aunt decided I needed a lesson She declared that I was incorrigible and had me shipped off to a juvenile detention facility. “

Jessica was horrified. “And Crandall allowed that? “

“He’d been out of the country for a couple of months. At first I thought he was in on the deal. Years later I found out that he hadn’t known about it. “

“But how could he not know? Surely the court would have contacted him. “

Devon shrugged. “My aunt shared legal guardianship with my father, supposedly so she could handle medical emergencies and the like. As far as the judge was concerned , that was all the authority she needed to sign me up as a temporary ward of the court. ” Jessica’s response was interrupted by the gurgling hiss of spewing steam, a signal that the coffee was ready. She hesitated then clamped her lips together, excused herself and went into the kitchen. Unfolding his cramped legs, Devon stretched his feet under the iff neck by rolling his head from side to side. The enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted into the room, along with the homey kitchen sounds of cupboard doors and rattling flatware. Lulled by the cozy clamor, he stretched lazily on Jessica’s sofa and decided that under the right circumstances, domesticity did have its rewards. Not for him, of course, although he could certainly understand the appeal. In fact, the idealistic vision of hearth and home was becoming a dangerous enticement for a man who’d deliberately chosen a vagabond life.

“No sugar, no cream, right? “

He sat up as Jessica set two steaming mugs on the coffee table. “

“Right.

Thanks. ” She settled thoughtfully beside him. “How long did you stay in that awful place? ” To postpone a reply, Devon sipped his coffee, barely noticing that it tasted flatter than uncapped soda. Part of him wanted to forget the past and shift the conversational gears toward a more pleasant subject-like the beguiling warmth in her sea-foam green eyes and the saucy spring scent that sweetened the air as she moved. He wanted to tell her how special she was-and how special she made him feel. But the pressure in his chest was rising and the words rushed out on their own. “I spent almost five months at the Hall”

Her eyelids il uttered shut. She touched her throat and swallowed hard.

When she looked at him again, her eyes were bright with empathetic tears.

“You must have felt so abandoned. “

“I, uh-” He paused for another sip of coffee then deliberately placed the mug on the table He had felt abandoned , of course, and betrayed. But there was no sense sniveling about that now. “Like I said, it was my own damned fault.

I needed an attitude adjustment. I got one. Then I got out. “

Jessica wasn’t buying the abbreviated version. “Your father came for you? “

“Yes. “

“But if your aunt never contacted him, how did he finally learn where you were? ” “He got the bills. ” Devon couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice. ” While preparing quarterly reports, the accountant ran across some perplexing invoices from the state. ” “You mean people are actually charged for the privilege of being incarcerated? ” “Under the law, parents are financially responsible for the willful misconduct of minor children. Apparently the court believed that attempted car theft fell into that category. ” Still embarrassed by his youthful stupidity, Devon avoided her gaze and studied a pulled thread on the sofa cushion. ” At any rate, a few weeks at a structured rehabilitation facility costs more than your average luxury sedan, so the invoices definitely got my father’s attention. ” Jessica laid a soft palm on his wrist. “I’m sure Crandall was more upset about what had happened to you than he was about the money. ” Devon wasn’t so certain but kept that thought to himself. Besides, he’d already paid back every penny his father had laid out on the fiasco. It had taken years, of course, but he’d finally wiped the financial slate clean.