Water Witch (23 page)

He wanted to laugh out loud. God, how long had it been since he had enjoyed anything as much as she was enjoying those bagpipes? For a moment, Gram and the pile of work on his desk were forgotten as he stuck his hands in his pockets, ambled a little closer, and stood watching her. The fog began to dissipate as the sun rose higher in the sky and heated the air with its warm rays. It almost seemed as if she were cranking up the sun and banishing the mist.

After several minutes she must have sensed his presence, for the mouthpiece dropped from her mouth and the melody died with a discordant whine as she turned toward him. At first she looked startled, then her face lit with a smile wide enough to burn off the morning fog. That smile slammed into his gut like a left jab.

“Good morning,” she said. “I was afraid you were a fisherman who’d come to grouse at me about scaring off the fish.”

Even her voice intrigued him. It was deep, husky, with a little catch that made him think of the hoarseness of someone who’d just awakened or was recovering from laryngitis.

“And what makes you think I’m not?” He moved closer, noticing as he neared how tall she was. He was six-foot-two and she was no more than four or five inches shorter.

Her eyes crinkled and her dimpled chin lifted as she laughed. “The fishermen around here don’t wear silk ties.” Her eyebrows, dark and slightly unruly, rose as she looked down. “Or Ferragamo loafers. If you’re going to walk on the jetties, you’d be wise to get some rubber soles. You’re gonna bust your butt in those.”

“I don’t have any other shoes with me,” he said, smiling and looking into her open, animated face.

“Then go barefoot. It’s safer, believe me.”

Her eyes were as intriguing as her voice. They were a dancing kaleidoscope of blue, green, gold, and brown, and her dark lashes were thick and curly. A faint sprinkle of freckles across her nose told him she wore no makeup. But she needed none. Her cheeks were naturally blushed; her mouth was wide and her lips, pressed together in what he suspected was a perennial expression of amusement, were full and eminently kissable.

In fact, Daniel could think of nothing he’d like more at this very moment than to see if they tasted like strawberries.

A funny little flush rippled over Tess Cameron as she stared up at the man who stood only inches away from her. For a moment she’d had the oddest feeling that he, a perfect stranger, was going to kiss her. It should have frightened her—for all she knew he could be some kind of pervert who stalked unsuspecting women—but it didn’t.

She knew intuitively that she could trust him. Tess could tell a lot about people from their eyes. His were nice, a soft grayish blue that sparkled with his smile, and bespoke a man who was sincere and caring. Someone of substance.

He had a strong face with a high-bridged nose and ruggedly sculpted cheekbones and jaw. He exuded an almost palpable aura of quiet strength and determination. And he was tall enough for her to look up to. He was attractive. Definitely attractive.

No, she wasn’t frightened of him, Tess thought as she looked into the gaze that sent another ripple darting through her awareness. What made her nervous was that she had the strongest urge to lift her face to encourage his kiss or to run her fingers through the thick mane of hair on his head that almost begged to be ruffled. This was crazy. Absolutely crazy. Totally alien to her previous experience. What was going on?

She tried to look away, but it was impossible. In the depths of those eyes that held hers with such a riveting intensity, she detected a hint of lingering sadness, or something akin to sadness, that grabbed at her heart and made her want to comfort him.

Ah, that was it. Something in her nature could home in on troubled people like a radar device. Her instinct to mother the world. Relieved once she could label her reaction, Tess took a step back. She couldn’t explain the wobble in her knees, so she ignored it and glanced at the big wristwatch on her arm. “Oops, I’d better get going.”

He seemed reluctant to let her go. “I was hoping you’d play some more. You’re quite good.”

She laughed again. “I wish you’d tell Angus that. He says I wiggle too much to ever be a proper piper.”

“Angus?”

“Angus McFarland, my teacher. He plays with the Houston Symphony. I drive up a couple of times a month for lessons.”

“He plays the bagpipe with the symphony?”

Eyes shining with amusement, she said, “No, he plays the flute. But he’s wonderful on the bagpipe.” She glanced at her watch again. “Listen, it’s been great talking to you, but I’ve really got to go.” She fluttered her fingers at him and took off up the pier with the bagpipe tucked under one arm. “Be careful with those shoes,” she called over her shoulder.

Grinning in spite of himself, Daniel stood and watched her long-legged stride as she disappeared into a lingering patch of fog. Was she for real? Then he started. “Hey, wait,” he shouted. His shoes slipped as he hurried to catch up to her.

“Whoa there.” As she reached out to steady him, she slipped herself. When they regained their footing, they found that both of his arms were around her, one of her arms around him, and the bagpipe crushed between them. Slowly she raised her gaze to his, and once more her knees started doing peculiar things. As she stood penned within the power and warmth of his arms, looking up at the marvelous planes of his face, her heartbeat seemed to develop an extra pitty-pat. And it was so loud she was sure he could hear it.

She managed to smile. “You almost landed on your keester.”

“Thanks. I thought I was a goner for sure.”

He laughed, showing beautiful, even teeth, and her knees grew even more wobbly. Why had she ever thought the reaction he aroused in her was maternal? Those were sexual signals she’d been receiving. Loud and clear.

She had to leave before she did or said something stupid like: Want to come to my place and see my etchings? He was, after all, a total stranger. Tess knew most of the people in town, and if he’d been one of them, she would have noticed him. He was probably a weekend tourist—though it wasn’t yet tourist season—who would be gone tomorrow. He was probably married, anyway. It was beginning to seem as if all the good ones in her age group were either married or gay.

She tried to make her feet move, but they just didn’t seem to want to obey. His eyes scanned her face and he said softly, “I think you’re the woman I’m looking for.”

Her eyes widened. “I am?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

He nodded and was lowering his face to hers when he caught himself and stiffened. He seemed to shift gears as he dropped his arms and cleared his throat. “Are you Tess Cameron?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Yes . . .” Her answer was tentative. She narrowed her eyes. “How did you know?”

“I was looking for my grandmother, and the man repairing the furnace said I might find you here.”

Tess pursed her lips in amusement. “Do I look like your grandmother?”

He laughed and shook his head. “Hardly. My grandmother is only about so high.” He held his hand level with Tess’s shoulder. “And her name is Martha Craven. She’s supposed to be living at Heritage House, but I understand she moved out.”

“Ohhh, I see. You’re Aunt Martha’s grandson.” Tess knew all about Martha Craven’s grandsons, and neither of them was married. Or gay. “We love having her with us. She’s a sweetheart. You must be either Danny or Teddy.” She cocked her head. “I’d guess Danny.”

He winced. “Daniel Friday. Or Dan. I haven’t been called ‘Danny’ by anyone but my grandmother since I was ten years old.”

“Dan Friday it is.” She smiled and offered her hand. She noticed his hand was warm as he took hers. A good hand. Strong, like the rest of him, but with long fingers more suited to an artist than to a businessman. “How wonderful to have a name like Friday. It’s always been my favorite day of the week. I used to spend most of my time wishing for Friday.”

“And now?”

She laughed. “Now it’s always Friday.”

He smiled and his eyes shone with genuine pleasure as his gaze met hers. “Must be nice.”

“It is. I’m sorry your grandmother isn’t here. Hook drove her and Aunt Olivia over to Hodges Gardens. I’m sure she wouldn’t have gone if she’d known you were coming.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. When are they expected back?” Twin lines deepened between his eyebrows. “We have some important family business to discuss, but I need to return to Pittsburgh as soon as possible.”

When he mentioned Pittsburgh, his whole manner changed. His warm smile had faded into a sort of a supercilious semi-scowl that reminded her of a preacher who’d suddenly discovered he was enjoying himself at a strip show. And, for the first time, Tess noticed that his thick mane of hair was brushed back from a forehead that had far too many lines for someone she knew to be only in his late thirties. He seemed tense. His grandmother said he worked too hard and worried too much. From everything Aunt Martha had told her about his behavior, Tess knew that Daniel Friday desperately needed to learn how to cut loose, enjoy life, smell a few roses.

She sighed. Too bad he lived in Pittsburgh. She wouldn’t have minded taking him on as a project and tutoring him in the finer points of elementary rose smelling. No, she thought with a smug inner grin, she wouldn’t have minded at all. Daniel Friday had real potential.

“I think they plan to be back this evening, but with those two, you never can tell,” Tess said. “They may decide to stop at Delta Downs to check out Pirate’s Pleasure.”

“Delta Downs? Is that what I think it is?”

“It’s a racetrack in Louisiana, just across the state line.”

He scowled. “My God, what business does an eighty-year-old woman have at a racetrack? And can you tell me why the hell she moved out of that very exclusive retirement home that she was so anxious to move to, or why she now wants to buy an RV?”

“An RV?” Tess bit back a chuckle. “It must be for the top secret project.”

“Top secret project? What top secret project? Has Gram become senile?”

Tess burst out laughing. “Far from it. She and Aunt Olivia are both in full possession of all their faculties and having the time of their lives. They were girlhood friends, you know. I can see I need to explain a few things to you, but I’ve got to get the Mermaidmobile stocked so Becky can go out on her rounds.”

  “Mermaidmobile? Who’s Becky?”

“She manages Mermaid, a frozen yogurt shop downtown, but she had an important errand to run this morning, so I promised to have the delivery wagon ready when she got back. It seems that all the employees picked today to have emergencies, and I’m elected to help out.” She chewed on her lip for a moment, then said, “I feel just awful about not being able to entertain you until Aunt Olivia and your grandmother get home. Any other day, it wouldn’t be a problem, but—”

“Don’t concern yourself.” He answered politely, but he was frowning. “I’ll find a hotel room until—”

“Don’t be silly.” She hooked his arm with hers and took off at a fast clip up the pier. When they were on the boulevard, she said, “You’ll go to our place and make yourself at home until you can see your grandmother. Do you have a car?” He nodded. “Ivan should be back from fishing soon, and he would love to try one of his new masterpieces on you for lunch. I think we’re into shrimp dishes now.”

“Who’s Ivan?” Daniel asked. “The cook?”

Tess pursed her lips to keep from laughing. Ivan would pop a blood vessel if he knew someone had referred to him as a “cook.” Cocking her head, Tess pondered the question. “No, not exactly. How do I explain Ivan Petkov?”

“Petkov? Is he Russian?”

Tess shook her head. “Bulgarian originally. American now. He’s a friend of Aunt Olivia’s, though for thirty years, he’s been trying to make her more than a friend. He’s an internationally-known chef who comes to visit now and then, sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a few years.”

“Years?”

Tess laughed at his incredulous expression. “Sometimes.”

“How long has this visit been?”

“Almost two years so far. He came when my aunt fell and broke her hip. Ivan and I arrived the same day. After she recovered, he stayed on to write a cookbook.”

“And you?”

She shrugged. “I just stayed.”

She strode toward her car, a creamy-yellow junkyard hybrid she called Buttercup. As she tossed her bagpipe in the back seat, she saw Dan do a double take, and she smiled. Buttercup affected a lot of people that way—it was a great advertisement for Custom Conversions, the body shop and garage she owned with Luis Garza.

He frowned at the front of the car, walked around and frowned at the rear. “What is this thing?”

She patted the fender. “Buttercup is a Custom Conversion. Pretty, isn’t she? Before Luis found her at the junkyard and fixed her up, she was a rusty green Volkswagen beetle. After he overhauled the engine, he added a scaled-down Rolls-Royce grille, a continental tire kit to the back, wire wheels, and” —she brandished her hand in an exaggerated presentation—”voila . . . a new incarnation.”

“Interesting,” Daniel said.

As her eyes slid over the conservative navy blazer, the gray slacks, and the correct silk tie, Tess fought a smile. Although he reminded her a little of a young Clint Eastwood before he lost his hair, she knew he was no “Dirty Harry.” Daniel Friday’s image was corporate establishment to the core. What had happened to the sexy, playful man she had glimpsed earlier? It was somewhere under all that Armani baloney. He needed loosening up in a bad way. And she was just the person to tweak his buttoned-down sensibilities.