Looking For You All My Life Part 15

her. ''Audrey said you were putting your feet up in here, but

it looks to me like you're thick in the middle of work."

"Not really. I'm just daydreaming mostly. Come on in."

She rose from her desk, suddenly feeling slightly awkward

and self-conscious and wishing she'd gone upstairs to

I! freshen up a bit. Jed looked extra handsome in a neatly

pressed khaki shirt, topped with a muted-toned woven vest.

Although she knew he hadn't a vain bone in his body, he

always had such a sense of style about him.

"Nice fire," he commented, sinking down into the couch

and sighing with deep satisfaction. "This room's become a

very inviting place. Quite a difference from when you first

moved in here."

She laughed. "That's for sure. In fact, I was just thinking

that it's become my favorite room in the whole house. I sup-

pose that means I better get to work on the others."

"Plenty of time for that." He sat up and looked at her.

"Sometimes I think you never give yourself a break."

"You should talk, Mr. Whitewater. You're one of the

hardest-working people I know."

He smiled. "Ah, so it seems. But what you don't realize

is that I always take time to refresh myself."

"You do?"

He nodded. "Yes, it's something I learned from my father.

He always took time to walk in the woods, to enjoy nature

and relax. I remember how he'd tell me that life wasn't

worth living if all you did was work."

"Your father sounds as if he was a very wise man.

L".

30Melody Carlson

"He was." Jed leaned into the back of the couch,

stretching his long legs toward the fireplace, then turned and

looked into Maggie's eyes. "So how are you doing?"

She allowed herself to return his gaze, almost becoming

lost in the dark pools of his eyes before she answered, "I'm

okay, I guess."

His brow lifted. "You guess?"

"Well, I'm working on a story that's troubling me a

little." She waved her hand. "But we don't need to talk about

work-"

"No, I'd like to hear. What is it?"

She sat up straighter and began to explain about the

Westerly property, eager to hear what Jed would think of the

whole thing.

He shook his head. "Poor Mr. Westerly."

"I know," she agreed. "And he's such a dear man. I just

hate seeing him hurt like this. I wonder if there's anything to

be done."

"Perhaps when the old guy hears the truth, he can con-

sult with his attorney and possibly get out of the sale."