Call It Destiny

swallowed. „I understand.“

7

    He looked so good coming toward her through the rain. Heather’s heart turned over as she took in the sight of Jake dodging quickly around the small rivulets of water that were already beginning to run over the unabsorbent ground. He was still wearing jeans and low-cut desert boots. The shirt was fresh, though; a dark, long-sleeved one with the collar open. His teak-shaded hair was very wet by the time he reached the rickety porch, and Heather watched longingly through the window as he ran a hand through it.
    She saw him glance at the unfamiliar car in the drive and when he turned to pound on the door his eyes were cool and wary. A month ago Heather knew she would not have been able to interpret that gaze beyond those limits.
    But his lifted hand paused and fell back to his side as he caught sight of her staring at him through the broken glass, and Heather was suddenly certain she could read a lot more than remote caution in him. There was determination and concern and a familiar intentness that told her as well as any words that he had come to take her home.
    „Heather, for God’s sake, let me in. It’s pouring out here in case you haven’t noticed.“
    She turned away from the window, her limbs feeling as though they were weighted with lead. The expression on Rick’s face was chillingly sardonic, but there was an underlying nervous tension in him that made her doubly wary. She saw him stuff the gun under a couch cushion and then fling himself casually down beside it.
    „Let the man inside, babe. Let’s see how good an actress you turned out to be. There was always a bit of the dramatic in you, wasn’t there?“ He patted the cushion that shielded the gun. „And just in case you aren’t up to academy level today, I’ll have this little backup waiting.“
    Her heart pounding, Heather opened the door, stepping back silently as Jake came into the room. His eyes went fleetingly over her mask of a face and then he focused on Rick Monroe.
    „What are you doing here, Jake?“ Heather wrapped her arms across her breasts in an unconscious hug similar to the one she often used when under great stress. The last time she had braced herself like this was when Jake had confronted her in the motel room in Tucson.
    „I should think the answer to that question is obvious.“ Jake flicked a sidelong glance at her, dark brows forming a near-solid line over his narrowed eyes. „I came to take you back.“
    He must never know just how badly she wanted to go with him. Grimly Heather drew a breath and gathered her courage. Jake’s life depended on how well she handled the next few minutes. Above all else she must keep him safe. She might be able to take care of Monroe on her own because of their relationship so many years ago, but Jake wouldn’t have a chance against Rick’s gun.
    „Then I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time, Jake.“ She flashed a meaningful glance at Monroe. „As you can see, I’ve got company.“
    Monroe gave Jake a challenging look. „Why don’t you tell your visitor who I am, babe?“
    „Jake, this is Rick Monroe.“ If Jake recognized the name, and she knew he must have, he gave no sign. Desperately Heather sought for the next words. „Rick and I are old friends.“ She tried to stress the word friends in a way that would imply a double meaning.
    „I see.“ Jake stared at the other man, every line in his lean frame hard and poised as if to attack. „You didn’t mention you expected to have old friends visiting up here with you, Heather.“
    Heather’s mouth went dry. Jake was frighteningly angry. She knew it as plainly as if he’d threatened violence. But for some reason she didn’t think Rick Monroe sensed the other man’s fury.
    „Rick and I used to spend a lot of time up here at this old cabin,“ she said hastily, knowing she had to get him out of here for his sake.
    „A lot of time,“ Rick concurred. „A lot of interesting time. We didn’t especially appreciate visitors then and we don’t like ‘em any better now, do we, babe?“
    „No. No, we don’t. Jake, I told you in Tucson that everything was over between us. Why did you follow me? Can’t you see that it makes things a little awkward, to say the least?“
    Jake swung around to confront her, turning his back to Monroe. „Suppose you explain this awkward little situation a bit more clearly,“ he bit out. „I’d like to hear the details.“
    Heather lifted her head