Grand Passion

not accustomed to love, she reminded herself. There had been no way of knowing how he would react to being told that he was loved.
    Cleo tortured herself on the altar of perhaps .
    Perhaps being loved made Max feel trapped. Perhaps he did not want that kind of pressure. Perhaps he was ambivalent about being the one who was loved. Perhaps all he really wanted was to belong to the Robbins' Nest Inn family. Perhaps he only wanted Cleo because she could give him a home.
    Perhaps he didn't really love her at all in the way she wanted to be loved.
    Perhaps she had been the one who had screwed up tonight.
    Cleo rested her chin on her updrawn knees. “What do you want to do?”
    “I don't know. I've felt like this once or twice before in my life. There was trouble every time.” Max turned away from the window. “I think I'll give O'Reilly a call.”
    “Now?” Cleo squinted at the clock. She was so relieved that he didn't seem to be dwelling on her unwelcome declaration of love that she had trouble following the conversation. “It's two in the morning.”
    “I know.” Max reached for the phone, apparently having no trouble seeing its dark shape in the shadows. He picked up the receiver and then froze.
    “Max?”
    He put the receiver slowly back into the cradle and stared out across the cove. “Christ.”
    “Max, what is it?” Cleo scrambled out of bed and went to stand beside him. She squinted when she saw the strange orange glow in the distance. “What on earth is that?”
    “Cosmic Harmony,” Max said. “It's on fire.” He turned abruptly away from the desk.
    “Oh, my God.” Panic welled up in Cleo. “Andromeda and Daystar and the others will be asleep. We've got to get to them.” She whirled around, scrabbling about frantically for her glasses.
    “Calm down, Cleo.” Max was halfway across the room, heading toward the closet. “First, make sure the fire department is on its way.”
    “Yes. Yes, of course.” Cleo grabbed the phone and realized she couldn't see well enough to punch out the emergency number. She fumbled with the light switch and finally found it. She pushed her glasses onto her nose with shaking fingers and stabbed at the phone.
    “Forget it,” Max said as he pulled on his shirt. “They've already got the word. Hear the sirens?”
    Cleo listened to the shrill howl in the distance. “Thank God. Max, we've got to get over there.”
    “I'll go. You stay here.” Max was already dressed. He yanked up his zipper.
    “No, I'll come with you.” She grabbed her jeans.
    Max looked at her, eyes grim. “I want you to stay here.”
    “Why?”
    “Because something is wrong.”
    “I know something is wrong. Cosmic Harmony is on fire.” Cleo had her jeans on and was frantically trying to button her shirt. She realized she was shaking so much that she could barely find the buttonholes.
    Max unlocked his leather carryall and removed an object from inside. Cleo froze when she saw that it was a revolver.
    “Where did you get that?” she whispered as she watched him load it.
    “I've been keeping it handy since that day someone stalked you in the fog.” Max looked up. “Don't worry, I'll get rid of it when this is all over. I don't want to keep a gun in the house any more than you do.”
    “Oh, Max.” Cleo shivered.
    He moved to stand in front of her. He caught hold of her shoulder with one hand. “Listen to me, Cleo. I want you to stay here at the inn. Do you understand me? You'll be safe here. There are people downstairs. George is here. Sylvia is in her room. There are plenty of lights on in the place. I want you here .”
    She stared at him, momentarily stunned by the implications of what he was saying. “You're worried about me? But it's Cosmic Harmony that's in trouble.”
    “I don't like this, Cleo. A fire at Cosmic Harmony at this particular time is too damn weird. I want you where I know you'll be safe while I check out what's happening on the other side of the cove.” He released her and went to the door.
    “But, Max…” Cleo raced after him.
    “Stay here, Cleo.” Max opened the door.
    She instinctively reacted to the command in his voice. For an instant she was immobilized. By the time she could move a few seconds later, Max was already out in the hall. He closed the door in her face.
    She heard the familiar squeak of the hall floorboard, and then he was gone.
    Cleo made up her mind. She would go downstairs and awaken Sylvia. Together they could discuss the wisdom of