Abandon the Dark. Marta Perry

law firms in New York or Los Angeles for him. Everything he wanted was right here, where nobody cared if he drove a battered old pickup or spent his fall Saturdays playing touch football or relaxed with a beer at the local sports bar. And it made him proud, though he wouldn’t openly admit it, to be in partnership with someone as respected as his dad.

      He’d only made one unscheduled detour on his life plan, and it still left a bitter taste in his mouth when he thought of it. That had been the only time he’d acted impulsively in his adult life, and he’d definitely lived to regret it.

      No more mistakes of that sort for him. When he decided it was time to marry and start a family, he’d find someone who wanted what he did out of life.

      He passed Meredith King’s place and started up the walk to Rebecca Stoltzfus’s house. What would Lainey Colton think of that peaceful Main Street scene he’d just been appreciating? She’d probably find it boring, he supposed. She’d be used to a bit more excitement in her life.

      He tapped on the front door, but no sound came from inside. He knocked again, louder. Her rental car was still in the driveway. He hadn’t missed her, then. Why wasn’t she answering?

      Finally he heard footsteps on the stairs. The door swung open. He blinked.

      He’d clearly caught Lainey before she was ready to face the day. Her black hair hung in wild ringlets past her shoulders, and he had to reject the impulse to touch it to see if it would curl around his fingers. Don’t go there, he ordered himself. She wore an over-size tie-dyed T-shirt and a pair of yoga pants so fitted they showed every curve. He forced his gaze back to her face.

      “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have come by so early. I wanted to catch you before you left for the hospital.”

      “What time is it?” Her voice sounded blurred with sleep, but there were dark circles under her eyes.

      He glanced at his watch. “Just after nine.”

      She groaned, turning away but leaving the door open. He took that as an invitation and stepped inside, closing it behind him.

      “Coffee,” she muttered, heading for the kitchen.

      He followed, finding her staring at the old-fashioned percolator on the gas range with what he thought was loathing.

      “I’ll fix the coffee.” He pulled out a kitchen chair for her. “It’s the least I can do after getting you up.”

      She didn’t argue, but her expression said that letting him make the coffee was the lesser of two evils. “I suppose you think it’s a crime to sleep late.”

      “Nope. Do it myself on Saturdays.” He measured out the coffee. Luckily he’d spent enough time at the family hunting cabin to know his way around a gas range. “You must still be tired from your trip.”

      She nodded, and then rubbed the back of her neck as if it ached. “That, and the fact that I got very little sleep last night.”

      “Not used to the quiet?” He adjusted the flame under the coffeepot and then sat down across from her.

      “Actually, I find the lack of traffic noises very soothing. I just had a bad dream or two, that’s all.”

      “About your aunt?” He wouldn’t have thought she was the kind of person who’d let a nightmare keep her awake.

      “No.” She clipped off the word, closing the door on that conversation. “I’m sure you had a reason other than making coffee for stopping by at this hour. Did you talk to my aunt’s brother-in-law?”

      He nodded. At least telling her about his visit to Zeb would let him lead up to what he wanted to say.

      “I went by the farm after supper last night. I figured there was no point in going any earlier if I wanted a quiet conversation.”

      “And was it? Quiet, I mean. Zeb impressed me as the kind of person likely to shout.” The drowsy look was gone from Lainey’s face, and she seemed ready to do battle. Zeb must have really annoyed her yesterday.

      “Yes, well, he can be a bit...dictatorial. His point is that his brother was the one who bought the land, and that he, Zeb, certainly is in a better position to understand about the property than...than someone from outside.”

      “Putting it in polite terms, are you?” Her eyebrows lifted.

      He grinned. “Something like that. And I can understand his feelings, but as I explained to him, it wouldn’t be proper for him to have the power of attorney, given that he has financial interests of his own.”

      Zeb hadn’t responded to that line of reasoning very well.

      “Did he accept that?” The aroma of coffee brewing seemed to distract Lainey, and she glanced toward the stove.

      “Not entirely,” he hedged. “I’ll talk to him again.” When Zeb had had time to cool off. “He’ll come around.”

      Lainey’s gaze fixed on his face again, her eyes so deep a blue that they looked almost black. It seemed to him there was a question in them.

      “You’re going to a lot of trouble over my great-aunt’s situation,” she said.

      It was the last comment he expected. “No more than I would for any of my clients.” He hesitated a moment, not sure what she was driving at. “I suppose, in an urban area, a law firm tends to be more impersonal. It’s tough for me to stand on ceremony with people who’ve known me since I was delivering their newspapers. Besides, Rebecca is a special person.”

      Apparently he’d hit the right note, because she smiled. It was tinged with a little sorrow, maybe, but a smile none the less. “Yes, she is.”

      He smiled back at her, and their gazes seemed to catch and tangle. He was suddenly aware of how pale and delicate her skin was, startlingly framed by that blue-black hair. Aware of how close she was, with only the small table separating them. Of the soft curve of her lips—

      He leaned back, breaking off the gaze. Whoa. Back off. That was definitely not the way he should be thinking of Lainey.

      Jake cleared his throat, hoping his momentary lapse hadn’t been too visible.

      Lainey rose abruptly, turning toward the stove and reaching for the coffeepot, as if she didn’t want him to see her expression.

      “I...I actually came over to ask you something.” Since she didn’t turn, he plunged ahead. “Have you come to a decision about whether or not to take on this responsibility?”

      Lainey turned to face him, her expression guarded. “Can I have a bit more time? I’d like to see how Aunt Rebecca is this afternoon and talk with her doctors before I come to a conclusion. I didn’t have an opportunity to meet with them yesterday.”

      “Yes, of course. That’s fine. Only...” He wasn’t sure how to say it, but he knew it had to be said.

      “Only what?” Her tone had an edge to it.

      “If you do decide not to accept the power of attorney, there are some formalities to go through,” he said carefully. “It would be helpful to come to an agreement with the other relatives as to who would take on the job.”

      “I understand that.” She all but tapped her foot with impatience.

      “You realize it’s important that you not just...take off.”

      Her lips pinched together; her eyes narrowed. “No, I won’t just take off, as you put it. What do you take me for?” She made an abrupt, slicing motion with her hand. “No, don’t bother to answer that question. It’s pretty obvious what you think of me.” She spun away from him, bracing her hands on the countertop. “Thanks for making the coffee. You can find your own way out, I’m sure.”

      Jake opened his mouth to offer an explanation, an apology, but the set of her shoulders and the rigidity of her back dissuaded him. That hadn’t turned out well, had it? Still,