Brenda Coulter At His Command (pdf)

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She could hear the deep rumble of his voice through the
door, but she couldn t tell whether he was talking to someone
in person or on the phone. She guessed it must be the latter,
since Lexi hadn t indicated he was with a client.
Come in, Jake called in response to Maddie s timid knock.
She opened the door just enough to poke her head in. Jake,
I m sorry to bother you, but Lexi says you found my watch.
Oh! His handsome face flushed. Yes. Come in. I have
it right here.
Thank you, Maddie whispered, addressing the Lord
rather than Jake, although she supposed Jake deserved some
gratitude, also.
He d risen when she d opened the door; now he bent over
his cluttered desk, looking flustered as he shifted piles of
papers in an apparent search for the watch.
Gloria found it, he said. I was planning to call you, but
I got busy and forgot. I m sorry. He straightened, and for a
moment simply allowed his gaze to wander over the mass
of books and file folders as though he expected to locate the
watch using X-ray vision. Suddenly he sprang forward and
lifted a stack of papers from the top-right corner of the desk.
84 At His Command
And there it was, the gleaming gold symbol of a brother s
love. Jake tossed the papers aside and reached for it.
Maddie s eager hand closed around her treasure an instant
before Jake got there, so his hand landed on top of hers with
a soft smack. She expected him to behave as though he d just
touched a hot stove, but he didn t move, and the warmth of
his palm against the back of her hand sent a little thrill shiv-
ering through Maddie. Slowly raising her eyes to his face,
she found him looking almost comically perplexed.
His gaze shifted to her mouth. When his Adam s apple
moved convulsively, Maddie realized with a shock that
Travis had been right: not all of Jake s feelings for her were
brotherly. She was unable to prevent a small, triumphant
smile from curving her lips.
Jake blinked, and when he slid his hand off Maddie s, his
deep, dark-brown eyes were as enigmatic as ever. I m sorry.
It was inexcusable of me to forget I had your watch.
You re forgiven. She expelled a small happy sigh. I m
just so relieved that you found it. It was my last gift from
Just in time, she stopped herself from mentioning Noah s
name. The last thing she wanted right now was to provoke
Jake into repeating the harsh words he d spoken at the
general s house.
Flustered, she busied herself inspecting her most prized
possession. One of the small pins that joined the watch and
band had slipped out, but that would be a quick, inexpen-
sive repair.
Yoo-hoo! Jake? Did you forget somebody? A woman s
muffled but plainly amused voice came from beneath a pile
of papers on the desk.
Jake shifted a few things, uncovering his telephone,
Brenda Coulter 85
which he had apparently left on speaker. He leaned his palms
on the desk and sighed. Sorry, Mama.
Maddie hid a smile.
Sounds like somebody s there with you, his mother
said. We ll talk later.
No, it s all right. Hunched over the desk, Jake raised his
eyes to Maddie s face and seemed to hesitate. Finish telling
me about the car.
Maddie wondered why he didn t tell his mother who was
in the office with him. She d met Mrs. Hopkins at Noah s
funeral, at Rita s, and then three or four more times when Jake
had been in the hospital and Maddie had attempted to visit
him. It had been Jake s mother who had explained in the
kindest way possible that her son didn t want to see anyone.
So Maddie was no stranger to Jake s mother, and she was a
little hurt that Jake hadn t given her an opportunity to say hello
to the woman who had been like a second mother to Noah.
As Mrs. Hopkins described the problem she was having
with her car s brakes, Maddie lifted her hand in a silent
farewell to Jake and started to back away.
He widened his eyes at her and held up his index finger,
signaling her to wait. I don t want you driving it until I have
a look, he said to his mother as he walked around to the
front of the desk.
I won t do any unnecessary driving, his mother said.
But I have that appointment with Dr. Huang tomorrow at
four. I ll be extra careful.
No, Jake said firmly. I ll take you there. I was planning
to do that, anyway, because I want to ask why he still hasn t
changed your blood-pressure medication.
All right, son. If you re sure.
86 At His Command
And about that other thing. Averting his face from
Maddie, Jake rubbed the back of his neck. Don t forget that
I expect you to call me the very instant you hear anything.
Good news or bad, Mama, you call me.
I said I would. His mother s tone was placating.
It was none of Maddie s business, but Jake was clearly
worried about something. She wouldn t ask about it, but
she could definitely pray that whatever it was would turn out
well for him and his mother.
Since you re taking me to my appointment, Mrs.
Hopkins said, maybe we could have an early dinner at that
new Japanese restaurant.
Jake raised his eyes to the ceiling and grimaced. He looked
so much like a disgusted little boy that Maddie had to press
her fingers over her lips to keep a giggle from escaping.
Japanese food sounds just wonderful, he said in the
same colorless tone in which he might have uttered, I think
I m going to be sick. He closed his eyes. I have to go,
Mama. He waited for her to say goodbye, then leaned over
his desk and ended the connection.
Maddie couldn t help chuckling. Japanese food?
Jake gave her a quelling look. I detest Japanese food.
And she hasn t picked up on that?
Oh, she knows. Jake s eyes followed Tripod as he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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