Sanctuary

that. But you might want to finish up quick, fast, and in a hurry. Guess who came in on the late ferry?”
    “Brad Pitt.”
    “Don’t I wish? But you might like this better. Nathan Delaney just walked in the kitchen, big as life and twice as handsome. And he’s looking for you.”
    Jo lifted a fist to her heart and firmly shoved it back in place. “Tell him I’m busy.”
    “I already gave him the cold shoulder for you, sugar. Told him I didn’t see why you should drop what you were doing and come running just because he blew back onto Desire like an ill wind.”
    Jo found her lips curving in appreciation. She could easily visualize the scene, with Lexy playing the chilly Southern Belle to the hilt. “I appreciate it.”
    “But I have to tell you—oh, open this door, Jo. I’m tired of talking through it.”
    Because Lexy had just climbed to the top of Jo’s most favored list, she obliged, snicking open the lock, and opening the door enough that she could lean on the jamb.
    “I’d appreciate it if you’d tell him I’m not interested in adjusting my schedule to suit his whims.”
    “I will. That’s nicely put. But Jo, he looks so windblown and sexy and on the edge of something.” Lexy rolled her eyes in pure female appreciation. “It gave my heart a nice flutter just to look at him.”
    “Well, you can just stop fluttering. Whose side are you on?”
    “Yours, honey lamb, absolutely one hundred percent.” She kissed Jo’s cheek to prove it. “He has to be punished, no doubt about it. And if you need some advice on how to go about it, I’m more than happy to give you some ideas.”
    “I’ve got plenty of my own, thanks.” But she rolled her shoulders to ease the tension. “Tell him I have no desire to see or speak to him, and that I expect to be busy with a great many more important matters than him for quite some time.”
    “I wish you’d tell him that yourself, just that way. I believe you’ve got a real knack for this.” Lexy’s grin spread wide as she wound a lock of hair around her finger. “I’ll go down and tell him, then I’ll come back up here and tell you what he has to say to that.”
    “This isn’t high school.”
    “No, it’s more interesting and more fun. Oh, I know you’re scalded good and proper, Jo.” She patted her sister’s cheek. “I’d be as spitting mad as a stomped-on cat myself. But just think how satisfying it’s going to be when he crawls. Don’t you take him back until he does. And he comes up with at least two bouquets of flowers and a nice, expensive present. It should be jewelry.”
    Jo’s humor made a rapid return. “Lexy, you’re a manipulative and materialistic woman.”
    “And proud of it, honey. You listen to your baby sister and you’ll end up owning that man. Now I figure he’s been down there waiting and sweating long enough for the next slap.” She rubbed her hands together. “I’ll make it count for you, don’t you worry.”
    Jo stayed leaning against the doorjamb as Lexy flounced away. “I bet you will,” she murmured. “And I’ll owe you big for it.”
    Satisfied, Jo turned back into the darkroom. She tidied her workbench, rearranged her bottles of chemicals, then put them back in their original positions. She examined her nails and wondered if she should let Lexy give her a manicure after all.
    When she heard the footsteps, she turned toward the door, prepared to hear Lexy’s report. When Nathan filled the doorway, his temper shot straight into hers.
    “I need you to come with me.” His voice was clipped and anything but apologetic.
    “I believe you were informed I’m busy. And you haven’t been invited into this room.”
    “Save it, Scarlett.” He grabbed her hand and pulled. When her free one reared back, whipped forward, and cracked hard across his face, he narrowed his eyes and nodded. “Fine, we do it the hard way.”
    The room turned upside down so rapidly she didn’t even get out the curse burning on her tongue. He was halfway out of the room with her slung over his shoulder before she got past the shock enough to fight.
    “Get your goddamn belly-crawling Yankee bastard hands off me.” She punched at his back, furious that she couldn’t manage a full swing.
    “You think you can send your sister to brush me off? In a pig’s eye.” He shoved open the door with his shoulder and started down the narrow stairway. “I’ve been traveling the whole fucking day to get here, and you’ll have the