What's Cooking? (17 page)

"You're giving me too much credit. 1 haven't understood much since the day we met."

She stared after him as he rode off with Melanie. She could relate to his confusion. She was pretty bewildered herself. But one thing seemed clear enough. Neither of them was rattled enough to run.

Inside, Maggie found Ashley at the kitchen table. A kettle of water was already boiling. Apparently Ashley had guessed that Maggie had a lot of questions that weren't going to wait til! morning.

"Where's Rick?" Ashley asked.

"He went with Melanie to get his car. Then he's heading back to the B and B "

Ashley nodded. "Just as well. I have a lot of questions about what you've gotten yourself into with him "

"Save 'em," Maggie ordered as she plunked a box of tea bags on the table, then poured them each a cup of boiling water. "I'm going first."

Ashley gave her a startled look. "You have questions for me?"

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"A ton of them, in fact, starting with why you're here."

"I came to check on you, of course."

She uttered the words in a way that would have convinced most people. Maggie wasn't buying it. "And?" she prodded. "That might have been part of what brought you down here, but there's more to it."

"What makes you think that?" Ashley retorted defensively. She was suddenly looking everywhere except into Maggie's eyes.

"Oh, I don't know," Maggie said. "Maybe the fact that you got drunk tonight."

"Don't be ridiculous," Ashley iaid indignantly. "I am not drunk. I'm under a little stress. I had a couple of glasses of wine to relax. People do it all the time. It's no big deal."

"It is when it's you. You don't unwind with alcohol. You go to the gym."

"Yes, well, the gym wasn't working for me," Ashley snapped. "Stop bugging me. Don't make me sorry I came."

"1 can't give you sympathy if I don't know what's going on," Maggie told her more gently.

"I don't want sympathy. I want you to leave, me alone. I can handle this."

"Whatever this is," Maggie said sarcastically. "Sorry. No can do. You wouldn't leave me alone if you thought I was in trouble, would you?" She paused, then feigned a sudden awakening. "Oh, wait, that's why you claim to be here, because I'm in trouble."

"Well, aren't you?"

"No, and we're not going down that road right now. Are Mom and Dad okay?"

"Never better," Ashley said, looking perplexed by Maggie's abrupt change of topic.

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"And Jo's okay?"

"Our little sister is perfectly fine."

"Your love life go south?"

"Who has time for a love life?" Ashley responded wryly.

"Okay, that leaves work," Maggie surmised. "Has something gone wrong with a case?"

For an instant Ashley looked disconcerted, as if she hadn't expected Maggie to come up with that one, when the truth was that it was the most obvious one of all. Work was all Ashley ever worried about.

"I'm just a little concerned about a case," Ashley said, which in her world was tantamount to admitting she was terrified.

"Aren't you prepared?"

Ashley gave her a derisive look. "I'm always prepared."

"Then why are you worried?"

"Honestly, I can't get into it."

"It's not as if I'll blab to anyone."

"I know, but it would violate all sorts of confidentiality stuff if I talked to you about this. Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine. I just needed to get away for a couple of days to clear my head and make sure I'm ready to go into court next week."

"You're going to knock their socks off," Maggie reassured her. "You always do."

Ashley gave her a weak smile. "I wonder if that's always such a good thing?"

"Meaning?"

"Nothing. Don't mind me." She stood up, leaned down and gave Maggie a kiss on her forehead. "Thanks for the pep talk. I'm going to bed. I love you."

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"Love you, too," Maggie replied, staring after her, her heart aching. Something was obviously tormenting Ashley about this case. The fact that she'd even come to Virginia days before trial spoke volumes. But Maggie knew better than to think her sister would open up any more than she had.

She wished there was something she could do, but in an odd way, maybe she had. She'd given Ashley a chance to obsess over the relationship Maggie was having with Rick. Maybe that was just the distraction her sister needed.

If so, Maggie would just have to put up with all the annoying questions for another day or two. She just had to pray that Rick would be equally resilient and understanding.

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Would you mind going out to the orchard on your own this morning?" Maggie asked, when Rick called first thing in the morning.

"Be still my heart," he said with exaggerated shock. "I surely must be imagining things. Maggie D'Angelo, the ultimate control freak, is actually giving up a chance to supervise my work?"

"Very funny. I want to spend some more time with Ashley."

Rick instantly caught the somber note in her voice. "Did you make any progress with her last night? Did she open up after I left?"

Maggie sighed wearily. "Not much. I just know it has to do with work, but that was pretty much a given. Beyond that, she won't talk about it."

"And you think she will today?"

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"Probably not, but I have to give it another try. How about meeting us for lunch at the cafe in Irvington?"

"Sure. That'll work, if you can make it a late lunch, say, around one."

"Perfect."

"Good luck with Ashley. She's lucky to have you."

Maggie laughed. "She'd probably disagree. She's not used to being on the receiving end of so many probing questions."

"Good at dishing it out, not so good at taking it?" he said. "I can hardly wait to see if you're still speaking to each other by lunchtime. See you."

After he'd hung up, he realized he was relieved to have the morning to himself. He could use some time to absorb all these new feelings he was starting to have about her, about being drawn into her loving, if somewhat complicated, family.

Turning off the highway onto the winding driveway that cut through acres of apple trees heavy with fruit, he felt almost as if he were coming home. It was an odd sensation, one he'd certainly never experienced going back to any of the increasingly decrepit places he'd shared with his mother. In fact the only sensation he had to compare it to was the way it felt walking into Rose Cottage and finding Maggie waiting for him with a warm smile and a seductive glint in her eyes.

What the devil was wrong with him lately? He didn't do the home-and-hearth thing. So why was he suddenly going all soft at the sight of a rambling farmhouse or at the prospect of seeing a couple of old-timers he'd known only a few days? Did it have something to do with the stability they represented? Did he envy them for hav-

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ing lived in the same place all these years, while he'd been like a rolling stone, always on the move?

Or was it the love he truly envied? Were they the reason he was looking at his relationship with Maggie as something other than his usual lighthearted fling? No, he'd been thinking along those lines when he'd come to Virginia chasing after her. He'd just been fighting the implication of his determination to find her. He'd deliberately blamed it on the challenge she represented, rather than on the growing need he felt to be with her.

He was still sitting in the car pondering that when a sharp rap on the window startled him. He looked up to see Matthew staring at him, his expression quizzical.

"You okay, son?"

Son! How often had he subconsciously longed for someone to call him that with so much caring in his voice? That it was Matthew Keller, a virtual stranger, who imbued the word with its first real meaning for him made Rick smile. "Never better," he said. "Just woolgathering, I guess." He got out of the car and reached back inside for his camera and lighting equipment.

Matthew took a few pieces out of his hands, all the while studying him intently. "This woolgathering, does it have anything to do with the fact that Maggie's not with you? You two have a fight?"

"Not at all, though I ought to be mad as heck at her for nearly destroying my car last night." He told Matthew the story about her ill-advised attempt to drive her sister home. "Thankfully they never got out of the driveway," he said, summing up.

"Good thing one of those girls has some sense," Max said. "Not surprised to hear it's Melanie, either. She's

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been a real good influence for Mike and little Jessie. That child sure did need a mama's touch. Sally says she actually sits still for Sunday school now. Used to be she was hell on wheels, if you'll pardon my language."

He gave Rick a sly look. "I imagine Maggie could help a man settle down the same way, once she put her mind to it."

Rick frowned at him. "Don't start meddling in my life, old man," he said without rancor. Truthfully, it was kind of nice to have someone who gave a damn about his happiness.

"Someone needs to talk sense to you," Matthew said, undaunted. "Sally and I think you two are wasting time, when it's obvious to anyone how crazy in love you are."

"I don't know where you got that idea," Rick said, still determined to cling to the illusion that what he and Maggie had was just another fling. "I don't know the first thing about love."

Matthew chuckled. "Maybe that explains why you can't recognize it when it smacks you square in the face."

Rick flatly refused to go one step further down that road with Matthew, even though he'd been wrestling with precisely that issue only moments before.

"You going to help me get set up down in the orchard this morning or are you going to go on and on about something that's none of your business?" he asked irritably.

Matthew surveyed him with undisguised amusement. "Lucky for you, I can do both. Sally will be along in a bit, too. She has a few opinions she'd like to share."

Rick groaned. "Just what I need."

"I know you're being sarcastic, son, but it seems to me it is what you need, a little wisdom from some

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folks who've seen a thing or two. Love's rare enough. It ought not to be squandered when it does come along."

"I'll keep that in mind," Rick promised. "If you'll drop the subject."

Matthew studied him intently, then nodded. "I'll leave it alone for now," he said. A glint of pure mischief sparkled in his eyes. "Can't speak for Sally, though. The woman has a mind of her own. Says whatever's on it, too. She's a lot like your Maggie, as a matter of fact."

"She is not my Maggie," Rick protested halfheartedly.

"Which just proves what a fool you are," Matthew scolded, striding past him with the gait of a much younger man. "In my day, I'd have made damn sure she was mine by now."

Rick watched him go with a mix of relief and admiration. He was having enough trouble balancing what his heart and body apparently wanted with what his head told him made sense. He didn't need a sentimental old man?or his outspoken wife?making the waters any murkier than they already were.

Maggie's gaze kept drifting toward the door of the cafe. Rick was late. She wasn't all that surprised, since he tended to lose track of time when he was working, but it was apparent Ashley was turning this into another black mark against him. She probably had them all listed in her day planner, ready to cite at the first opportunity. So far this morning, though, Maggie hadn't given her a minute to head down that particular road.

"He'll be here," Maggie finally said defensively, even though Ashley hadn't uttered a word.

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"Whatever you say. I think we should go ahead and order, though."

Maggie was smart enough to figure out the unspoken message, that they might starve to death if they went on waiting for a man who most likely wasn't going to show up. "You order, if you're hungry. I'll wait a few more minutes."

"You could call him," Ashley suggested. "See if he's on his way at least."

"He said he'd be here," Maggie said. "If he is still at the orchard, it's because he's still working. Interrupting him will only make him later."

"Up to you," her sister said, beckoning to the waitress. "Could I get a chef's salad, please? Ranch dressing on the side. And more iced tea when you have a minute."

"Sure thing." The waitress glanced at Maggie. "You ready to order?"

"I'm going to wait a few more minutes. We're still expecting someone. I would like more tea, though."

"I'll bring that in a sec," the waitress promised. "And if you're waiting for that drop-dead gorgeous photographer with the fancy sports car, he just pulled into a space down the block." She sighed dramatically. "What I wouldn't give to have a man like that coming in here for me."

Ignoring the wistfulness in the woman's voice, Maggie peered out the window. Sure enough, Rick was heading their way. Undeniable relief spread through her. Now maybe Ashley would quit with the pitying looks. Heck, maybe her own stomach would stop tying itself into knots.

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"Sorry, I'm late," Rick apologized, sliding into the booth next to Maggie. He gave her thigh a surreptitious squeeze under the table. "Matthew and Sally were very chatty this morning."

"Oh? What was on their minds?"

He grinned at her. "You and me."

"Oh, no," Maggie said with a groan. "How bad was it?"

"Depends on how you feel about being called a damn fool as many times as I was," he said. "They think I'm wasting too much time. I have a hunch if we said the word, Sally could have our wedding planned by August."

Maggie felt her cheeks flooding with heat.

"Really?" Ashley said, looking fascinated. She shoved aside the salad the waitress had just brought and planted her elbows on the table, her steady gaze on Rick's face. "What did you say to all this unsolicited interference?"

"I told them to mind their own business." He shrugged. "They declined. It took a while to hear them out."