Sanctuary

his now tepid coffee to cool his throat. “Most likely you’d have changed your mind somewhere along the way. Then where would I be?”
    She sniffled. “Maybe I wouldn’t have. Sex is easy. It’s the rest that messes things up.”
    “Tell me about it.” When he offered her the coffee, she managed to smile and shake her head.
    “I hate iced coffee. I only drank it to seduce you.”
    “Nice touch. You want to tell me about your fight with Giff?”
    “Doesn’t matter.” Misery settled over her so heavily she rose and paced, hoping to shake it off. “He doesn’t care about me, doesn’t care what I do or who I’m with. He couldn’t even spare an hour of his precious time for me today.”
    “Sweetheart, he’s crazy about you.”
    She let out a quick laugh. “Being crazy about somebody’s easy too.”
    “Not always. Not when you’re trying to make it all work.”
    Lips pursed, she looked back at him. “Do you really have feelings for Jo?”
    “Apparently.”
    “She’s not easy about anything.”
    “I’m finding that out.”
    “Are you sleeping with her?”
    “Lexy—”
    “Not yet,” she decided and her lips curved. “And it’s making you twitchy.” She came back, sat on the edge of the table. “Want some tips?”
    “I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to discuss ...” He trailed off, then simply abandoned dignity. “What kind of tips?”
    “She likes to be in charge, in control of things, you know? It’s how she works, how she lives. And always, she keeps that little space, that maneuvering room between herself and someone else.”
    He found himself smiling again, and liking Alexa Hathaway even more. “She’d never guess how well you know her.”
    “Most people underestimate me,” Lexy said with a shrug. “And mostly I let them. But I figure you did me a good turn today, so I’ll do you a good turn back. Don’t let her maneuver too much. When the time comes, you sweep her away, Nathan. I don’t think anybody’s ever swept Jo Ellen away, and it’s just what she needs.”
    She gave him a long, measuring, and very female look, then smirked. “I figure you can handle that part just fine. And I also figure you’re smart enough not to tell her what went on around here.”
    “Not in this lifetime.”
    Then the sassy look faded. “Find out what’s wrong with her, Nathan.”
    “Wrong?”
    “Something’s eating at her, and whatever it is, she came here to get away from it. But she isn’t getting away from it. The first week or so she was here, she’d cry in her sleep, or pace the floor half the night. And now and then there’s a look in her eye, like she’s afraid. Jo’s never afraid.”
    “Have you talked to her?”
    “Me?” She laughed again. “Jo wouldn’t talk to me about anything important. I’m the silly little sister.”
    “There’s nothing silly about you, Lexy. And I, for one, don’t underestimate you.”
    Touched, she leaned over and kissed him. “I guess that makes us friends.”
    “I’d like to think so. Giff’s a very lucky man.”
    “Only if I decide to give him a second chance.” She tossed her head and rose. “Maybe I will—after he crawls some and begs a lot.”
    “As a friend, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to Giff either. He’d feel really bad about pounding me.”
    “Oh, I won’t name names.” She sauntered to the door, glanced back. “But I think you’d handle yourself, Nathan. I do believe you’d handle yourself just fine. ’Bye now.”
    Alone, Nathan rubbed his eyes, his heart, then his stomach. Handling that one, he thought, would be a real challenge. And he wished Giff the very best of luck.
     
     
    JO was just loading the picnic hamper when Lexy strolled into the kitchen. Her camera bag sat on the counter, carefully packed. Her tripod leaned against it.
    “Going on a picnic?” Lexy asked airily.
    “I want to shoot some pictures on the north end, thought I’d make an afternoon of it.”
    “All by yourself?”
    “No.” Jo tucked the wine she’d decided on into the basket. “Nathan’s going along.”
    “Nathan?” Lexy hitched herself up on the counter to sit, chose a glossy green apple out of the stoneware fruit bowl. “Why, isn’t that a coincidence.” Smiling, Lexy polished the apple on her blouse, just between her breasts.
    “Is it?”
    “I just came from his place.”
    “Oh?” Though her back went stiff, Jo managed to keep her tone casual.
    “Mmm-hmm.” Enjoying dancing