Love by Degree

  “Sorry, Ellen.” Derek looked up with a frown. “I’ve already made plans with Michelle.”

  “I’m getting together with a bunch of guys at the gym,” Pat informed her. “Throw a few baskets.”

  “And I told my mom I’d be home for dinner.”

  Some of the excitement drained from her, but she put on a brave front. “No problem. We’ll do it another night.”

  “I’ll go.”

  The small group whirled around, shocked to discover Reed standing there, framed in the living-room doorway.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Reed,” Ellen burst out, astonished. “When did you get here?” The instant she’d finished speaking, she realized how stupid the question was. He’d just walked in the back door.

  With a grin, he checked his wristwatch. “About fifteen seconds ago.”

  “How was the trip?” Derek asked.

  “Did you drive straight through?” Pat asked, then said, “I don’t suppose you had a chance to see the Lakers play, did you?”

  “You must be exhausted,” Ellen murmured, noting how tired his eyes looked.

  As his smiling gaze met hers, the fine laugh lines that fanned out from his eyes became more pronounced. “I’m hungry and tired. Didn’t I just hear you offer to buy me pizza?”

  “Ellen got a B-minus on her crazy algebra paper,” Monte said with pride.

  Rolling her eyes playfully toward the ceiling, Ellen laughed. “Who would have guessed it—I’m a mathematical genius!”

  “So that’s the reason for this dinner. I thought you might have won the lottery.”

  He was more deeply tanned than Ellen remembered. Handsome. Vital. And incredibly male. He seemed glad to be home, she thought. Not a hint of hostility showed in the eyes that smiled back at her.

  “No such luck.”

  Derek made a show of glancing at his watch. “I gotta go or I’ll be late picking up Michelle. It’s good to see you, Reed.”

  “Yeah, welcome home,” Pat said, reaching for his basketball. “I’ll see you later.”

  Reed raised his right hand in salute and picked up his suitcase, then headed up the wide stairs. “Give me fifteen minutes to shower and I’ll meet you down here.”

  The minute Reed’s back was turned, Monte placed his hand over his heart and batted his lashes wildly as he mouthed something about love, true love. Ellen practically threw him out of the house, slamming the door after him.

  At the top of the stairs, Reed turned and glanced down at her. “What was that all about?”

  Ellen leaned against the closed door, one hand covering her mouth to smother her giggles. But the laughter drained from her as she looked at his puzzled face, and she slowly straightened. She cleared her throat. “Nothing. Did you want me to order pizza? Or do you want to go out?”

  “Whatever you prefer.”

  “If you leave it up to me, my choice would be to get away from these four walls.”

  “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

  Ellen suppressed a shudder at the thought of what would’ve happened had Reed caught a glimpse of Monte’s antics. She herself handled the boys’ teasing with good-natured indulgence, but she was fairly sure that Reed would take offense at their nonsense. And heaven forbid that Danielle should ever catch a hint of what was going on—not that anything was going on.

  With her thoughts becoming more muddled every minute, Ellen made her way to the third floor to change into a pair of gray tailored pants and a frilly pale blue silk blouse. One glance in the mirror and she sadly shook her head. They were only going out for pizza—there was no need to wear anything so elaborate. Hurriedly, she changed into dark brown cords and a turtleneck sweater the color of summer wheat. Then she ran a brush through her short curls and freshened her lipstick.

  When Ellen returned to the living room, Reed was already waiting for her. “You’re sure you don’t mind going out?” she asked again.

  “Are you dodging your pizza offer?”

  He was so serious that Ellen couldn’t help laughing. “Not at all.”

  “Good. I hope you like spicy sausage with lots of olives.”

  “Love it.”

  His hand rested on her shoulder. “And a cold beer.”

  “This is sounding better all the time.” Ellen would have guessed that Reed was the type of man who drank martinis or expensive cocktails. In some ways, he was completely down-to-earth and in others, surprisingly complex. Perceptive, unpretentious and unpredictable—she knew that much about him, but she didn’t expect to understand him anytime soon.

  Reed helped her into his pickup, which was parked in the driveway. The evening sky was already dark and Ellen regretted not having brought her coat.

  “Cold?” Reed asked her when they stopped at a red light.

  “Only a little.”

  He adjusted the switches for the heater and soon a rush of warm air filled the cab. Reed chatted easily, telling her about his project in California and explaining why his work demanded so much travel. “That’s changing now.”

  “Oh?” She couldn’t restrain a little shiver of gladness at his announcement. “Will you be coming home more often?”

  “Not for another three or four months. I’m up for promotion and then I’ll be able to pick and choose my assignments more carefully. Over the past four years, I’ve traveled enough to last me a lifetime.”

  “Then it’s true that there’s no place like home.”

  “Be it ever so humble,” he added with a chuckle.

  “I don’t exactly consider a three-storey, twenty-room turn-of-the-century mansion all that humble.”

  “Throw in four college students and you’ll quickly discover how unassuming it can become.”

  “Oh?”

  “You like that word, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she agreed, her mouth curving into a lazy smile. “It’s amazing how much you can say with that one little sound.”

  Reed exited the freeway close to the Seattle Center and continued north. At her questioning glance, he explained, “The best pizza in Seattle is made at a small place near the Center. You don’t mind coming this far, do you?”

  “Of course not. I’ll travel a whole lot farther than this for a good pizza.” Suddenly slouching forward, she dropped her forehead into her hand. “Oh, no. It’s happening.”

  “What is?”

  “I’m beginning to sound like Monte.”

  They both laughed. It felt so good to be sitting there with Reed, sharing an easy, relaxed companionship, that Ellen could almost forget about Danielle. Almost, but not quite.

  Although Ellen had said she’d pay for the pizza, Reed insisted on picking up the tab. They sat across from each other at a narrow booth in the corner of the semidarkened room. A lighted red candle in a glass bowl flickered on the table between them and Ellen decided this was the perfect atmosphere. The old-fashioned jukebox blared out the latest country hits, drowning out the possibility of any audible conversation, but that seemed just as well since she was feeling strangely tongue-tied.

  When their number was called, Reed slid from the booth and returned a minute later with two frothy beers in ice-cold mugs and a huge steaming pizza.

  “I hope you don’t expect us to eat all this?” Ellen said, shouting above the music. The pizza certainly smelled enticing, but Ellen doubted she’d manage to eat more than two or three pieces.

  “We’ll put a dent in it, anyway,” Reed said, resuming his seat. “I bought the largest, figuring the boys would enjoy the leftovers.”

  “You’re a terrific older brother.”

  The song on the jukebox was fading into silence at last.

  “There are times I’d like to shake some sense into Derek, though,” Reed said.

  Ellen looked down at the spicy pizza and put a small slice on her plate. Strings of melted cheese still linked the piece to the rest of the pie. She pulled them loose and licked her fingers. “I can imagine how you felt when you discovered that Derek had a
ccidentally-on-purpose forgotten to tell you about renting out rooms.”

  Reed shrugged noncommittally. “I was thinking more about the time he let you climb on top of the roof,” he muttered.

  “He didn’t let me, I went all by myself.”

  “But you won’t do it again. Right?”

  “Right.” Ellen nodded reluctantly. Behind Reed’s slow smiles and easy banter, she recognized his unrelenting male pride. “You still haven’t forgiven me for that, have you?”

  “Not you. Derek.”

  “I think this is one of those subjects on which we should agree to disagree.”

  “Have you heard from your mother?” Reed asked, apparently just as willing to change the subject.

  “Yes. She’s emailed me several times. She seems very happy and after a day or two, I discovered I couldn’t be more pleased for her. She deserves a lot of contentment.”

  “I knew you’d realize that.” Warmth briefly showed in his green eyes.

  “I felt a lot better after talking to you. I was surprised when Mom announced her marriage, but I shouldn’t have been. The signs were there all along. I suppose once the three of us kids were gone, she felt free to remarry. And I suppose she thought that presenting it to the family as a fait accompli would make it easier for all of us.”

  There was a comfortable silence as they finished eating. The pizza was thick with sausage and cheese, and Ellen placed her hands on her stomach after leisurely eating two narrow pieces. “I’m stuffed,” she declared, leaning back. “But you’re right, this has got to be the best pizza in town.”

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  Reed brought over a carry-out box and Ellen carefully put the leftovers inside.

  “How about a movie?” he asked once they were in the car park.

  Astounded, Ellen darted him a sideways glance, but his features were unreadable. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked you if I was.”

  “But you must be exhausted.” Ellen guessed he’d probably spent most of the day driving.

  “A little,” he admitted.

  Her frown deepened. Suddenly, it no longer seemed right for them to be together—because of Danielle. The problem was that Ellen had been so pleased to see him that she hadn’t stopped to think about the consequences of their going out together. “Thanks anyway, but it’s been a long week. I think I’ll call it a night.”

  When they reached the house, Reed parked on the street rather than the driveway. The light from the stars and the silvery moon penetrated the branches that hung overhead and created shadows on his face. Neither of them seemed eager to leave the warm cab of the pickup truck. The mood was intimate and Ellen didn’t want to disturb this moment of tranquillity. Lowering her gaze, she admitted to herself how attracted she was to Reed and how much she liked him. She admitted, too, that it was wrong for her to feel this way about him.

  “You’re quiet all of a sudden.”

  Ellen’s smile was decidedly forced. She turned toward him to apologise for putting a damper on their evening, but the words never left her lips. Instead, her eyes met his. Paralyzed, she stared at Reed, fighting to disguise the intense attraction she felt for him. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to lean toward him and brush her lips against his. She could smell the woodsy scent of his aftershave and could almost taste his mouth on hers. With determination, she pulled her gaze away and reached for the door, like a drowning person grasping a life preserver.

  She was on the front porch by the time Reed joined her. Her fingers shook as she inserted the key in the lock.

  “Ellen.” He spoke her name softly and placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “I don’t know why we went out tonight.” Her voice was high and strained as she drew free of his touch. “We shouldn’t have been together.”

  In response, Reed mockingly lifted one eyebrow. “I believe it was you who asked me.”

  “Be serious, will you,” she snapped irritably and shoved open the door.

  Reed slammed it shut behind him and followed her into the kitchen. He set the pizza on the counter, then turned to face her. “What the hell do you mean? I was being serious.”

  “You shouldn’t have been with me tonight.”

  “Why not?”

  “Where’s Danielle? I’m not the one who’s been patiently waiting around for you. She is. You had no business taking me out to dinner and then suggesting a movie. You’re my landlord, not my boyfriend.”

  “Let’s get two things straight here. First, what’s between Danielle and me is none of your business. And second, you invited me out. Remember?”

  “But … it wasn’t like that and you know it.”

  “Besides, I thought you said you were far too old for boyfriends.” She detected an undertone of amusement in his voice.

  Confused, Ellen marched into the living room and immediately busied herself straightening magazines. Reed charged in after her, leaving the kitchen door swinging in his wake. Clutching a sofa pillow, she searched for some witty retort. Naturally, whenever she needed a clever comeback, her mind was a total blank.

  “You’re making a joke out of everything,” she told him, angry that her voice was shaking. “And I don’t like that. If you want to play games, do it with someone other than me.”

  “Ellen, listen—”

  The phone rang and she jerked her attention to the hallway.

  “I didn’t mean—” Reed paused and raked his fingers through his hair. The phone pealed a second time. “Go ahead and answer that.”

  She hurried away, relieved to interrupt this disturbing conversation. “Hello.” Her voice sounded breathless, as though she’d raced down the stairs.

  “Ellen? This is Charlie. I got a message that you phoned.”

  For one crazy instant, Ellen forgot why she’d wanted to talk to Charlie. “I phoned? Oh, right. Remember that algebra paper I was struggling with? Well, I got it back today.”

  “How’d you do?”

  A little of the surprised pleasure returned. “I still can’t believe it. I got a B-minus. My simple paper about the wonders of the number nine received one of the highest marks in the class. I’m still in shock.”

  Charlie’s delighted chuckle came over the wire. “This calls for a celebration. How about if we go out tomorrow night? Dinner, drinks, the works.”

  Ellen almost regretted the impulse to contact Charlie. She sincerely liked him, and she hated the thought of stringing him along or taking advantage of his attraction to her. “Nothing so elaborate. Chinese food and a movie would be great.”

  “You let me worry about that. Just be ready by seven.”

  “Charlie”

  “No arguing. I’ll see you at seven.”

  By the time Ellen got off the phone, Reed was nowhere to be seen. Nor was he around the following afternoon. The boys didn’t comment and she couldn’t very well ask about him without arousing their suspicions. As it was, the less she mentioned Reed around them, the better. The boys had obviously read more into the letter, phone call and dinner than Reed had intended. But she couldn’t blame them; she’d read enough into it herself to be frightened by what was happening between them. He’d almost kissed her when he’d parked in front of the house. And she’d wanted him to—that was what disturbed her most. But if she allowed her emotions to get involved, she knew that someone would probably end up being hurt. And the most likely someone was Ellen herself.

  Besides, if Reed was attracted to Danielle’s sleek elegance, then he would hardly be interested in her own more homespun qualities.

  A few minutes before seven, Ellen was ready for her evening with Charlie. She stood before the downstairs hallway mirror to put the finishing touches on her appearance, fastening her gold earrings and straightening the single chain necklace.

  “Where’s Reed been today?” Pat inquired of no one in particular.

  “His sports car is gone,” Monte said, munching on a chocolate bar.
“I noticed it wasn’t in the garage when I took out the garbage.”

  Slowly Ellen sauntered into the living room. She didn’t want to appear too curious, but at the same time, she was definitely interested in the conversation.

  She had flopped into a chair and picked up a two-month-old magazine before she noticed all three boys staring at her.

  “What are you looking at me for?”

  “We thought you might know something.”

  “About what?” she asked, playing dumb.

  “Reed,” all three said simultaneously.

  “Why should I know anything?” Her gaze flittered from them to the magazine and back again.

  “You went out with him last night.”

  “We didn’t go out the way you’re implying.”

  Pat pointed an accusing finger at her. “The two of you were alone together, and both of you have been acting weird ever since.”

  “And I say the three of you have overactive imaginations.”

  “All I know is that Reed was like a wounded bear this morning,” Derek volunteered.

  “Everyone’s entitled to an off day.” Hoping to give a casual impression, she leafed through the magazine, idly fanning the pages with her thumb.

  “That might explain Reed. But what about you?”

  “Me?”

  “For the first time since you moved in, you weren’t downstairs until after ten.”

  “I slept in. Is that a crime?”

  “It just might be. You and Reed are both acting really strange. It’s like the two of you are avoiding each other and we want to know why.”

  “It’s your imagination. Believe me, if there was anything to tell you, I would.”

  “Sure, you would,” Derek mocked.

  From the corner of her eye, Ellen saw Charlie’s car pull up in front of the house. Releasing a sigh of relief, she quickly stood and gave the boys a falsely bright smile. “If you’ll excuse me, my date has arrived.”

  “Should we tell Reed you’re out with Charlie if he wants to know where you are?” Monte looked uncomfortable asking the question.

  “Of course. Besides, he probably already knows. He’s free to see anyone he wants and so am I. For that matter, so are you.” She whirled around and made her way to the front door, pulling it open before Charlie even got a chance to ring the doorbell.