Christmas In Whitehorn Part 2

"Is it big?"

"Twenty-four pounds.Maybe next week I'll make up a dish of enchiladas and bring them when I visit you."

"I'd like that." He leaned close. "Who will be at dinner tomorrow?"

Oh, there was a subject she wasn't excited about. "The party is shrinking," she complained, trying to ignore the sense of panic inside. "My friend Millie and her children won't be there. They're going home to spend the holiday with her family. And another couple has decided they would rather be alone." Now it was just two other people, plus Mark. She'd been hoping for more of a crowd. "My next-door neighbor is coming. His name is Mark and he works for the sheriff's office."

Dirk looked impressed. "Is he nice?"

"He's quiet," she said, not sure she would ever use the word "nice" to describe Mark Kincaid. "He used to live inNew York City. He was a detective."

Dirk frowned. "He must know a lot of bad people. I wouldn't like that."

"Me, either."

Someone at a nearby table called for her and Dirk to join them to play a game. Darcy stayed long enough to eat dinner with her brother and to admire his tidy packing job. She left shortly before eight, promising to come back after his trip so she could hear about everything.

On the drive home toWhitehorn , she played the radio and tried not to think about the following day. She was foolishly nervous at the thought of spending a couple of hours in the presence of Mark Kincaid. If only Dirk was going to be there. Not only would she enjoy spending the time with her brother, he would be a perfect buffer betweenherself and Mark. Of course, if Mark came to Thanksgiving while her brother was in residence, she wouldn't have a Mark Kincaid problem. In the past five years she hadn't met a single man who hadn't turned tail and run when he'd found out that she was Dirk's only relative, and therefore physically and financially responsible for him.

So there was no point in getting all hot and bothered about her new neighbor. They didn't have a relationship and they weren't going to have one.This, despite her attraction to the man. Besides, it wasn't as if she even remembered how to do the whole man-woman thing.

The dark highway stretched out in front of her. Past the light of her headlights, she saw nothing but a few stars glittering in the sky. Tonight the emptiness made her feel sad and lonely. Most of the time she was able to keep busy enough not to notice that she didn't have any close friends, let alone romantic entanglements.

It would be nice to have an understanding with someone who cared about her romantically.Or even s.e.xually. Sometimes her body ached with longing. She hadn't been on a real date in five years. Not that tomorrow was a date. She'd invited her neighbor over for Thanksgiving dinner. The event didn't have any emotional significance. If she thought it did, she was only fooling herself.

Unable to think of an excuse not to come, Mark rang Darcy's doorbell promptly at four. He'd checked his pager three times that day to make sure it was working. Unfortunately, no crime spree had occurred in the sleepy town ofWhitehornand he hadn't been called in to work. So here he was, carrying a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers. He felt like an idiot.

Darcy opened the door. Her hair was its usual disarray of curls. Color stained her cheeks and she started babbling the second she saw him.

"I'm so sorry, Mark. I didn't plan this, but I don't know that you're going to believe me. It's just one of those things. Who could have guessed that theWilsonswould rather spend the day alone?Like she can even cook. Oh, but I don't mean that in a bad way. I mean I like her and all, it's just they're not here. And I already told you about Millie and her kids. Then Margaret ended up getting called in to work. I mean she's a nurse, so what could she say but yes, and Betty got a cold and feels awful. Plus she didn't want to spread around her germs. So I couldn't exactly force any of them, could I?"

She looked both chagrined and cautiously hopeful. Mark shivered. He'd crossed the distance between the two apartments without bothering to pull on a coat. He wore slacks and a long sleeved shirt and the temperature outside couldn't be above twenty.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, "but could we straighten it out inside?"

"What?" She stared at him. "Oh! You must be freezing. Come on in."

She held the door open wide,then took the wine and flowers he offered. She gazed at the yellow roses and orange Gerber daises as if she'd never seen them before.

"You brought me flowers," she murmured, inhaling the scent of the blooms. "Wow. That's so nice." She stared at him as if he'd just created fire. "I mean really nice."

He bit back a statement that he wasn't the least bit nice. "I thought maybe for the table."

"Of course.They're perfect."

She led the way into the dining room. He noticed the large table had only two place settings. Her incoherent conversation re- played in his brain.

"No one else will be here for dinner?" he asked.

She shook her head as she reached for a vase in the hutch against the far wall. "No. Sorry. I didn't plan this. I hope you believe me."

She glanced over her shoulder as if expecting him to explode with rage. Mark thought about the alternative to eating dinner with just Darcy and that was eating dinner with her and half a dozen people he didn't know. People who would want to ask questions.

"I'm not a real social guy. It doesn't matter."

She set the wine on the table,then clutched the flowers and the vase to her chest."Really? I didn't want you to think I'd set this up on purpose."

Her meaning was slow to sink in. Set up as in ... synapses fired in his brain.As in a date.

His gaze settled on her as he took in her appearance. Instead of her usual waitress uniform, she wore a bright blue sweater and black slacks. Both emphasized her curves. She might not be tall, but she had all the right parts in the perfect proportions. He avoided staring at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s because they'd gotten him into trouble the last time he'd been in her house. Of course, admiring her legs wasn't much safer. Maybe he should keep his attention on her face.

"I promise not to think the worst of you without more evidence," he said seriously.

She grinned. "Good. Then would you mind opening the wine? Oh, and I hope you're hungry, because I expect you to eat your half of the turkey."

"You first."

He grabbed the wine and followed her into the kitchen. The scent of cooking turkey mingled with other smells. There were three pots bubbling on the stove and the microwave beeped impatiently.

"Gla.s.ses are in there," she said, pointing to a cupboard by the tile and oak table.

She turned her attention to the stove, lifting covers and stirring, all the while muttering under her breath. He didn't know if she was talking to herself or the food, then decided it didn't matter. Women in the kitchen were a mystery he'd never solved. They moved with an easy grace he could never imagine duplicating. Perhaps because he hadn't seen it a great deal while growing up. His mother had never been much for cooking, and his sister was too busy being queen of the rodeo to bother with meal preparation.

"It all smells good," he said as he poured the wine.

She took the gla.s.s he offered and leaned against the counter. "I'm not expecting a crisis." Laughter brightened her eyes. "That's not to say I haven't had them in the past, before I knew what I was doing. However I've learned from my mistakes."

He put the open bottle on the counter. "What kind of mistakes."

"Oh, little things like not realizing that a turkey takes several days to thaw. That was beforeI special-ordered a fresh one. So I tried cooking it while still frozen." She winced. "Which meant it took hours and all that nasty stuff they put on the inside like the neck and heart cooked with it. You wouldn't believe the smell. We had to go out that Thanksgiving. And let me tell you, there's not a whole lot open. Then there was the time I was really in a hurry and accidentally put salt in to thicken the gravy instead of flour. There were some gagging sounds around the table that night!"

"When did you start cooking?"

"About five years ago."

"What inspired you?"

"We all have to grow up some time." She shrugged. "Five years ago, I doubt I could have boiled water without instructions. Since then I've read and practiced. Working in restaurants allowed me to observe different techniques. I found out I really like baking." She motioned to the pies cooling on the table. "I madethose myself, this morning."

There were three pies, including one pumpkin. "Do I have to eat half of those, too?"

"Maybe.We'll see how you do on the turkey." She put her wine on the counter and returned her attention to the stove. "I've started selling my baked goods around town. I might have a shot at a contract with the Hip Hop Cafe. They're handing out samples to see if people like my stuff."

"So that wasyour pumpkin bread I tried on Monday."

"Yes. And you liked it.Even though you make such a fuss about eating vegetables at breakfast."

"It's not natural."

"Do we have to have the omelette conversation again?"

"Not if you don't want to."

She opened the oven and poked at the turkey. "He's nearly ready." When she closed the door, she straightened. "You'll be pleased to know there's nothing unnatural about our meal this evening."

"I was afraid of that."

"Why?"

"You're into health foods. I'm nervous about your choice of ingredients."

She laughed."Tofu surprise in the stuffing?"

"Exactly."

She planted her hands on her hips. "What is it about men andtofu. You're all deathly afraid women are plotting to get you to eat it."

"Aren't you?"

"Maybe," she admitted.

Mark found himself chuckling. The action felt awkward and unfamiliar. He'd worried about spending time with Darcy, but she was surprisingly easy to be with.And easy on the eye. When she returned her attention to the stove, he found his gaze lingering on the curve of her rear. He reminded himself that attraction was dangerous. Life was better when he didn't feel anything. How many times did he have to get shot before he learned his lesson?

"Is it snowing?" she asked.

"Not yet, but it was pretty gray this afternoon. It's supposed to snow tonight."

"Good. I like holidays with snow. Oh. Isn't there a football game on thisafternoon. Do you want to go watch it?"

"Contrary to popular opinion, Iam ca-pable of going an entire day without viewing a sporting event."

She looked at him in mock amazement."Really? How do you do it? Deep breathing exercises?"

"Tremendous willpower."

"I'm very impressed." She carried a pot over to the sink and drained it. "While you're not watching football, would you mind taking our little friend out of theoven. He should be done."

Mark set down his wine, then carried the turkey over to the table. Darcy wrapped the bird in foil, explaining that it had to rest before carving. He didn't think it had been especially active before now, but what did he know about turkey cooking?

She had him mash the potatoes while she made the gravy since when did gravynot come out of a can then she expertly carved several slices from the impressive bird and quickly put all the dishes on the table.

They sat across from each other. Mark had a moment of awkwardness the situation was too intimate for his liking. Instinctively he went into detective mode, finding safety in asking questions.

"How long have you lived inWhitehorn ?" he asked as she pa.s.sed him the platter of turkey.

"Since early June," she said. "Before that I lived inArizonafor a few years and before that,Chicago."

"Is that where you're from?"

"Yes. I grew up in a wealthy suburb you've probably never heard of, where my most complex decision was which invitation to accept to the prom. The boy's coolness was, of course, the deciding factor."

She was teasing but also telling the truth, he thought. Funny, she didn't look like the idle princess type. "You were one of the popular girls?"

"Even a cheerleader.I wince at the memory of my shallow existence." She pa.s.sed him a green bean ca.s.serole, followed by a dish of yams. "I went off to college without a clue as to what I wanted to be when I grew up. Of course, I don't think I actually wanted to be an adult. I kept switching majors and playing rather than studying. I nearly accepted a marriage proposal rather than choose a direction for my studies."

Her blue eyes darkened with the memories. "Not my finest hour."

He had a hard time reconciling her story with the woman in front of him. "What happened?"

She took a bite of turkey and chewed. When she'd swallowed, she said, "My parents died in a car crash. I was unprepared, to say the least." Shehesitated, as if there was more she was going to say.

Mark waited. The detective in him wanted to push for information, but he reminded himself that he was a guest in her home and it was a holiday.

"This is really good," he said when he'd tasted the turkey.

"Thanks."

"How old were you when your parents died?"

"Twenty, but ignorant, if you know what I mean. In addition to dealing with the shock of losing them at once, I had the horror of getting calls from their attorney, who wan-ted to explain things to me."

She sighed softly at the memory. "My parents left a pile of bills. Apparently they'd been separated for a couple of years but hadn't wanted me to know. My dad had a penthouse in the city, we all had new cars. By the time everything was paid off, there wasn't much left. I had to drop out of school." She stabbed at her mashed potatoes.

"The sad part is, I could have handled the news of their pending divorce if they'd bothered to tell me. At least we could have had an honest conversation before they died. Plus it turned out most of my friends were more interested in my lack of social standing and financial resources than in staying loyal. I grew up fast. By the time the dust settled, I was ready to take care of myself."

She had an open face, he thought, watching her. Every emotion flashed across her eyes. She would be a lousy poker player.

"You seem to have done a good job," he said.

"Thanks. I tried."

He touched the dining room table. "This looks old. Is it a family antique you managed to salvage?"

She laughed. "I'm sure it's someone's but not mine. I bought it a couple of years ago at a garage sale. The hutch came with it." She grinned. "These days, I live for a good bargain. You should see me at the half- yearly sales. I'm formidable."

"Sounds like it. Do you miss being rich?"

"Who wouldn't?" She scooped up a forkful of stuffing. "But I like who I am now a whole lot more than I liked who I was before. I consider that a plus."

She was a pint-size bundle of trouble, he thought grimly.Pretty, s.e.xy, single and appealing. Why had he ever accepted her invitation?

"What brings you toWhitehorn ?" he asked. "It's a long way fromArizona."

For the first time that evening, she avoided his gaze. "I wanted to experience "big sky country," she said breezily. "You know the myth of the Old West. I just sort of found my way here."

Mark's chest tightened. She was lying. He would bet his life on it.Which meant there was something she didn't want him to know. Like Sylvia, she was a woman with secrets and off-limits to him.