“I’m here, big guy,” Kyle said, tossing the duffel bag, which looked exactly like a diaper bag, onto the backseat. “You ready to go?”
“I’m heading over to the conference center now, too,” Mr. Wartman said. “Would one of you like to ride with me?”
“Why don’t you take Meredith with you?” Jessica suggested. “I wanted to talk with Kyle on the way over.”
“Meredith,” he repeated slowly as if he had just figured out the missing word in a long crossword puzzle. “Would you like to ride with me, Meredith?”
Knowing she couldn’t refuse, she slid out of the cab and silently followed him to his black convertible. Her heart was pounding but not too much. She felt foolish that he had seen her on the floor of the truck but not too foolish.
In the past, this would have been a Barbie dream come true, a perfect moment to launch into a flirting campaign. But her sister had drilled into her that flirting was not the best way to get a man’s attention. Meredith had come to realize it wasn’t the most forthright, honest way to get to know someone. Mentally, she agreed with all these concepts.
Still … all Meri’s clever lines gathered in a row in her head and stood at attention. She reviewed the troops and selected the finest. If she were to flirt, she would employ these lines. They would slide in undetected, hit their mark, and not leave a trace of their presence behind. The poor, unsuspecting Mr. Wartman would never know what hit him. But she must not release any of those flirty missiles. She must not.
He opened the door for her, and she slid in gracefully. The sun had been baking the leather seat, and the instant Meredith’s flesh touched it she let out an unplanned, “Yeouch!” She quickly pressed her lips together to silence them. That was definitely not one of the chosen phrases. Who let that renegade loose?
“You okay?”
“Hot seat,” she said with a sheepish grin. She pulled her sunglasses from her shirt pocket and rolled up her white sleeves.
Elegant, that’s the look you’re after here. Grace Kelly in hiking boots. Pay no attention to the third-degree burns on the back side of your thighs. You are as calm and cool as a summer breeze.
Meredith reviewed what she knew about this man as he pulled a pair of sunglasses from the visor. How did he know about the playwright Gabriel Kalen? Kalen had created a screenplay based on one of the classics for which G. H. Terrison Publishing held the rights. That was before Meredith began working for them, but the video sales had hit four million copies in the first year and put G. H. Terrison on the map with their quality children’s products.
She wanted to pepper this mysterious Mr. Wartman with questions but knew it was best to let him go first. No sense scaring him off. She would keep a poker face and let him play the first card.
He came to the end of the driveway, slowly easing over the bump and said, “The conference center is to the left, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Meredith said. “Turn left here.”
He eased onto the uncrowded main road. They drove under the lacy shadows of the great cedars and hemlocks that lined this stretch of country road.
“Sorry about the, ah, mix-up in your room this morning. My mistake.”
“Oh,” Meredith said, glancing at him with controlled calm. So he knows. He’s being awfully gallant about this. “I’m sorry I frightened you.”
He smiled, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the road.
Meredith couldn’t contain herself anymore. Their absurd first encounter was just too funny. She tossed her head back and released her contagious laughter. It filled the silent space between them like a hundred iridescent soap bubbles, each one floating gleefully before popping with a fizz.
He laughed with her. “You’re Shelly’s sister, aren’t you?” he asked after each of the invisible giggle bubbles had disappeared.
“Yes.” She decided to play one of her cards. “And you are …?”
He didn’t fill in the blank with a proper introduction. Instead, he glanced at her, then back at the road, then at her, and again at the road. “What do you know about me?” he asked.
“You sleep with your shoes on,” she said quickly. “Like a horse.”
He laughed again, unaided by her infectious giggle. “What else?”
“Kyle called you Mr. Wartman.”
“Did he? Mr. Wartman, huh?”
“Yep. And that’s it, Mr. Wartman. That’s all I know. Oh, except you flew in from New York last night.”
“And boy, are my arms tired,” he quipped.
Now Meredith laughed on cue.
He looked at her, then back at the road, then back at her.
“What?” Meredith felt unnerved by his glances. She checked all her buttons.
With another glance he raised an eyebrow and said, “You really don’t know who I am, do you?”
“Should I?”
“I’m your sister’s old neighbor,” he said smoothly.
“Ah, the little old neighbor from Pasadena,” said Meri. She invisibly gave herself one “witty” point.
“I remember seeing pictures of you. But you seemed much younger.”
“All Shelly had was our baby pictures, right?”
“There was one of you all in black,” he said. “Your hair was different. You were holding a musical instrument, and you were sitting next to an older gentleman.”
“That was taken about four years ago. The instrument was a flute.”
“Do you still play?”
“Only for fun. That picture was taken at my last recital.”
Then, because there was a pause, she added for flair, “The older gentleman in the picture was my first husband.”
“Really?”
“No.” Meredith laughed. He’s gullible. This is good. “He was my high school band instructor. I don’t know why Shelly likes that picture.”
Meredith just realized she had laid down nearly all her cards and this mystery man sat there still holding almost a full hand. “You’re not Brad, are you?” Meri asked. She remembered hearing about Shelly’s neighbor Brad because he had married Shelly’s former roommate, Alissa, a few months ago. Shelly was in the wedding.
“No, I’m not Brad.”
“You’re the other guy.”
“I’m the other guy.”
Meredith flew through her memory files trying to remember something, anything, about Shelly’s old neighbors. Nothing came to mind. No names, no bits of information. He seemed to be able to read the “vacant” sign across her forehead.
“I can see Shelly had a lot to say about me.”
An uncomfortable wave washed over Meredith. Had Shelly dated this guy, and had it been a bad experience? It would feel awfully strange to show up at Shelly’s with one of her old boyfriends, especially if Meri didn’t even know his name. Apparently, Meredith Jane Graham, the queen of cat-and-mouse games, had met her match.
“Turn left at the next road,” Meri said, suddenly paying attention to where they were. “It’s about a mile and a half from here.”
He turned. The car hummed along. The wind blew through her hair. He smiled a straightforward, closed-lipped smile and said nothing.
Meredith knew they were almost there. She had to play the last of her cards since he was refusing to lay down any of his. “So, do you want me to go around calling you Mr. Wartman all day?”
He glanced at her again and said, “You can call me ‘J.’ ”
“Jay,” she repeated.
He nodded. “Is this the entrance? Nice sign.”
Meredith was filing the info. Jay Wartman. What a horrible name. If I were this guy, I would have changed it long ago.
“Have you been to the waterfall here?” he asked.
“Several times,” Meri said. “It’s beautiful. Jonathan has transformed the whole area so the waterfall feeds into a small lake. They even have a few boats.”
“Really? How’s the lighting?”
“The lighting?”
“Yes. Is there a lot of open space over the lak
e, or does most of the sunlight come through the trees?”
Meri laughed. “I’ve never noticed.”
He parked the car and unplugged the cell phone that had been recharging off the cigarette lighter.
Meredith didn’t know if she should open her door and go her own way or wait around for Jay to say something. To her surprise he reached over and carefully removed something from her hair. He showed her the dead bug he had extracted from her tousled, silky locks.
“The disadvantage of riding in a convertible,” Jay said.
“It was a greater disadvantage to that fellow than it was to me,” Meredith said.
Jay smiled and let a low chuckle rumble from his broad chest. “Do you need to get up to the conference center right away?” he asked. “Or do you have time to show me the way to the waterfall?”
Now Meredith felt they were getting somewhere. “Sure. Let’s go before my sister realizes I’m here and hands me one of her to-do lists.”
“Does she still make people take off their shoes before they come into the house? She was fastidious about that in Pasadena.”
“Not so much anymore,” Meredith said. “She and Jonathan live in a log cabin here on the property, and it’s impossible to keep out the dirt. Especially with Bob Two.”
“Bob Two?” Jay asked, tucking his keys into his jeans pocket.
“He’s their dog. A pathetic cocker spaniel.”
“You don’t like dogs?”
Meredith shook her head. “Too slobbery. Too hairy. Too hyper. Do you like them?”
Jay paused. “No, too eager.”
Slow down, Meri! You’re going to spook him with questions that appear to be fishing for common interests. Let him speak. Play it cool. Don’t give out too much information. Whatever you do, don’t act too eager.
Jay opened his door and popped up the trunk. Meredith opened her own door. She walked around to the back of his car and peered into the trunk. Several black luggage bags were neatly lodged in the space. Jay pulled out a smaller bag and slung it over his shoulder.
Just then Jessica and Kyle pulled up and parked the truck. Kyle walked around to open Jess’s door and then unstrapped Travis.
Jessica came toward them with the wicker picnic basket slung over her arm. “Do you know how to get to the waterfall?” she asked Jay.
“Meredith has agreed to act as tour guide,” he said.
“Why don’t you guys take this with you?” Jessica said, handing them the basket. “It’s just the leftover fruit and muffins from breakfast. I don’t think either of you had time to eat. There are some great picnic spots near the waterfall.”
“Thanks,” Meri said, accepting the outstretched offering. “Tell Shelly I’ll be up to the lodge in a bit.”
Jessica smiled. The scar curled up on her top lip. “Take your time,” she said. “Moments at the waterfall should not be rushed.”
Chapter Four
Meredith and Jay took off down the wooded trail that led to the waterfall. He offered to carry the basket for her, but Meredith said it was no problem. He had his arms full with all his gear, and she could certainly manage a wicker basket.
“Are you planning to take pictures?” she asked as their shoes smashed down the damp carpet of the forest floor. She guessed he was carrying a camera bag.
“Yes,” he said. He stopped at the fork in the trail and pulled a light sensor from his bag of tricks.
“The waterfall is to the right,” Meredith said.
Jay looked up through the tall trees and seemed to be listening to the distant rumbling of the falls. He looked pleased, as if he were shopping for something special and had found it.
Meredith listened. A chorus of birds trilled their morning glories in the treetops. A chattering creature who was too fast for Meredith to track, darted through the foliage.
“It’s pretty here,” Meredith said.
“It’s perfect,” he murmured, still lost in his apparent lighting calculations. “How much does it rain in June?”
“In June? I don’t know.” Meredith laughed. Her sweet, cheery laughter floated easily through the forest air.
Jay turned to look at her. He smiled.
He likes my laugh. This is a good sign.
“You don’t live here, do you?” he asked.
“No.”
It was her turn to withhold information. If he wanted to know where she lived, he could ask. But he didn’t.
“You say the waterfall is to the right?”
“Yes,” Meri said. She noticed that the sun was shining through the branches and reflecting on his hair. He had gorgeous thick hair, a perfect warm shade of sunny golden blond. Maybe she would highlight her hair that way. Of course, she would have to break down and pay someone at a salon to do it if she wanted it to come out right.
Could I be serious about a man who goes to a salon to have his hair colored? Meredith shrugged as they headed down the trail. I don’t see why not. We could make appointments at the same time and go out to lunch afterward. I wonder if he goes to a tanning salon, too.… And what about the gym? He must work out. Look at those shoulders.
They stopped again, and Jay pulled out his photographer’s light sensor.
Man, between the gym, the hair salon, and the tanning booth, when would a guy like this have time to go out with anyone? I wonder if he is dating someone now.
“Is it much farther?” he asked.
“Not much.”
They came to the end of the trail, and he stopped abruptly. Meredith had to admit it was a breathtaking scene. The waterfall was not much more than ten feet high, but it spilled into an idyllic small lake that was surrounded by huge ferns and dark rocks. The lake looked different than it had when Meri first saw it. Jonathan had engineered a major improvement by moving all the boulders out of the lake and expanding the sides so it was almost twice the size it had been originally. An old rowboat, tied to a stake near their feet, bobbed and swayed calmly in the sweet morning sun.
“Perfect,” Jay muttered. He scrambled to pull his camera from the bag. Standing back, he took a long shot, then zoomed the lens in for a close-up of the waterfall.
Lost in his project, Jay began to walk around the lake as if Meri weren’t even there.
She looked for a place to set down the wicker basket, and then, because the boat was so close, she decided to sit in it instead of on the muddy ground. With basket in tow, she stepped carefully into the boat and sat on the backseat.
An edge of the cloth was hanging from the basket. When Meredith peeked inside, she found it was a woven tablecloth. Jessica had packed grapes, strawberries, tangerines, and lemon poppy-seed muffins. Meredith pulled out the cloth, the plates, fruit, and two small bottles of cranberry juice. It was almost as if Jessica had packed this picnic with Meredith and Jay in mind. It made Meredith wonder.
She busily set up the breakfast feast inside the boat. With careful glances every so often, Meredith traced Jay’s path around the lake. He seemed to be looking for a way to get behind the waterfall. Meredith knew it wasn’t possible without getting soaked. Too many large rocks rested in the side of the lake’s bank directly behind the waterfall. Jay seemed to figure this out without drenching himself.
I wonder what the fascination is with this waterfall. He doesn’t look as much like a movie star as I first thought. The actor from Falcon Pointe was taller.
Then, as if he had taken his final measurement, Jay turned his attention to Meredith. From across the lake, he directed his camera toward her and held it still for a moment. She didn’t know if he took her picture or not. The waterfall was too noisy to hear the sound of a shutter click. Nevertheless, she didn’t move when he focused on her. She was a natural in front of the camera and felt at ease stretched out in the sun at the back of the boat.
Go ahead. Take a picture. It has to be better than the one you saw of me at Shelly’s old apartment. What does this mean, Camera Man? Are you intrigued by me? You know I’m intrigued by you, don’t you?
/> Jay hiked back to where she lounged in the docked boat. Tucking his camera into the bag, he made one last light check and then put away his gear. He swung the bag into the boat and followed in a lanky lurch.
“Whoa!” Meredith said, reaching for the precarious feast as it swayed. “Don’t rock the boat, baby.”
“What’s for breakfast?” Jay asked, casually making himself comfortable across from Meredith in the swaying craft.
“Good stuff,” she said, letting go of the plates she had been protecting.
Jay picked up a cluster of grapes and began to pop them into his mouth. “Alissa was right,” he said. “This place is perfect.”
“Perfect as in perfect for a morning picnic?” Meri ventured. “Or perfect as in the perfect location for the next meeting of the Photo Buffs of America Club?”
He smiled. Avoiding her question, Jay held a grape between his thumb and forefinger as if aiming for her mouth. “Can you catch?” he challenged.
Meredith laughed. He laughed. She opened her mouth and tilted her head back. The first grape hit her forehead.
“Can you throw?” she challenged right back.
“Best two out of three,” he said.
With careful aim he shot, and the second one hit the side of her cheek.
“Work with me here,” he said.
Meredith laughed. “If you would throw straight, we wouldn’t be having a problem.”
“Oh, is that what you think? Open up.”
Meredith kept her head down and her lips firmly closed in an act of defiance. “Why should I?” she said through tight lips.
Jay popped the grape in his own mouth and seemed to be thinking. A smile spread up his tanned jawline. “Because if you don’t open up, I’ll tell all your friends what you look like first thing in the morning.”
The vision of her green face and plastic-covered head came instantly to mind. Meredith opened her mouth without a word.
Taking careful aim, Jay launched the grape into the air. With a solid plop, it hit its intended target.
“Yes, score one for the Jakester,” Jay said with a muscle-flexing raised fist.
“The Jakester, huh?” Meredith repeated.