16 Taking Eve (9 page)

“If you’re right.”

A brilliant smile lit his face. “But I usually am, Jane.”

“Arrogant bastard.” She was finding it hard not to smile in return. That wicked magnetism always disarmed her when it should have put up red flags. “And what other wheels did you put in motion to verify that?”

“I made a call and asked one of my associates to burgle your apartment and see if there were any bugs.”

“What? I could have just called and gotten permission from the landlord.”

“It was just as easy my way. And I was in control.”

“By all means, that’s of the utmost importance,” she said dryly.

“It is to me.” His head lifted, and he looked out into the trees. “Control can mean the difference between life and death. It’s something I’ve always had trouble with. But you know that, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

He looked away from the trees to her face. “But I’ve done extraordinarily well with you. You’ve been a great temptation, and I’ve managed to be almost civilized.”

“Almost.”

“That’s all you can expect from me.” His smile deepened. “I’m hoping you’ll learn to appreciate the fact that I could be so much worse … or better. Depending on how you look at it.”

She looked away from him. “I’m not looking at anything that doesn’t concern Toby right now.”

“And quite right. Sorry. One thing seems to lead to another.” He chuckled. “And selfish bastard that I am, it usually ends up back with me. How peculiar.” He shrugged. “I can wait.”

“For me to jump into bed with you?” She looked him directly in the eye. “It’s not going to happen, Caleb.”

He smiled. “It will, you know. I’m working with a handicap, but I can deal with it.”

“What handicap?”

“Well, actually there are several. The most important is who I am and who you are. You have a problem with trust, and no one can say that I’m the steadiest man in the universe.”

She made a rude sound. “You’re as volatile as a runaway comet.”

“Comets usually have a general direction. They can occasionally be deterred, but only by a major force. I have my course set.”

“Prepare to be deterred.” His smile never changed, and she continued impatiently, “Why me, Caleb? You said yourself that we’re not a good match.”

“We could be a fantastic match, just not in the ordinary sense. Why you?” He tilted his head, gazing at her appraisingly. “Besides the fact that you’re beautiful and intelligent and make me hot just looking at you?”

“I’m not that unusual. I’m sure there are other women who have that same effect on you.”

“Lust is definitely a part of my makeup but there are degrees.” He added softly, “And you shoot up and break all the gauges, Jane.”

Heat. Breathlessness. Electricity.

She pulled her gaze away. “You’ll get over it.”

“I’m not sure. Because there’s something else. I don’t know quite what it is, but it holds me. Sometimes I get a glimpse, but then it’s gone. I can’t let you go until I find out what I’m losing.”

“I don’t want to get involved with you, Caleb.”

“I know. Because you think I’m not safe.” His eyes were suddenly glittering with recklessness. “You’re right, I’m not safe. You’d have to watch me all the time. But I’d make it entertaining for you.”

“I’m not that starved for entertainment.”

“I could make you think you were starved. That would make the satisfaction all the more delicious.” He was studying her face. “But I’m going to have to move very slowly. As I said, I’ve never seen anyone more wary of making a commitment. Even one of a purely sexual nature. You couldn’t even make one with Trevor, could you?”

She stiffened. “Trevor? Why are we suddenly talking about Trevor?”

He smiled crookedly. “Because I think a lot about Mark Trevor. I did a little checking when I found myself becoming … drawn to you. I wanted to know with just what I had to contend. The only man who has been important to you was Mark Trevor. He was your lover for a number of years. I was very glad to find out that you’d cast him out of your life.”

“I didn’t cast him out. We just agreed that we weren’t right for each other.”

“I’d bet that you were the one who made the decision. Did he get too close?”

“Stop trying to pry into my business, Caleb. I don’t want to talk about Trevor.”

“Right.” He held up his hands. “Neither do I. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

“And?”

“Guarded but not overly emotional. It’s a response I can handle,” he said. “Now I’m going to skip out of the line of fire and concentrate on your dog and your situation here since that’s all you want from me at present. I’ve probably disturbed you. Why don’t you forget me for a while and go back inside to your Toby. I think I’ll stay out here a bit and commune with nature.”

“Good. But I’m not going to run along because you tell me to do it.” He did disturb her. She couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t. That disquiet was always present, burning low, and she had become almost accustomed to it. Yet she had to admit that she was relieved that he had taken a step back. “I’m not going anywhere until I get you back on track and tell me why you were sure enough that you were right to have someone burgle my apartment. I can almost hear that brain of yours clicking away. You gave me a scenario, now fill it in. Why would anyone go to all that trouble to make sure that I would come here to Summer Island?”

He didn’t speak for a moment, then said slowly, “Maybe it wasn’t that he wanted you to come to Summer Island. Maybe it was that he didn’t want you to go home to Eve.”

She froze. “What are you saying?”

“Coincidences. I always have problems with coincidences. You were planning to go home to visit Eve and Joe. Then suddenly your dog became very ill, and you had to cancel your trip to Eve and bring Toby here. Coincidence?”

“Why would anyone want to stop me from going to see Eve?”

“Inconvenient?”

“Caleb.”

“How do I know? It’s all just a product of my suspicious mind.”

But that product was beginning to scare the hell out of her. “It’s too … Why?”

“We’ll have to find out, won’t we?”

“No, we won’t,” she said harshly. “Because it’s not true. Nothing is wrong with Eve. None of this is going to touch her.”

“I scared you,” he said. “You asked, Jane.”

Yes, she had asked. But she hadn’t thought he would say anything that would involve Eve. “It’s all supposition.”

“I never claimed anything else.”

She drew a shaky breath. “I know.” She pulled out her phone. “But I think I’ll call Eve anyway. I promised I’d call her about Toby.”

He smiled. “That’s right you did.”

She dialed quickly.

Answer, Eve.

One ring.

Two rings.

Eve picked up on the third ring. “Jane?”

Jane felt heady with relief. “Yes. Did I wake you?”

“No, I was awake. I’ve had trouble sleeping tonight. How’s Toby?”

“Better. He’s going to live, Eve.”

“Thank God. What was wrong with him?”

“Poison.”

“What?”

“I know, it’s crazy. Some bastard poisoned him.”

“Who?

“I don’t know yet. The whole thing’s beyond any kind of sanity.” She paused. “How are you? Is everything all right there?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Take care of Toby.”

“If you’re fine, then why are you having trouble sleeping?”

“I should have known that you’d pick up on that. Ben Hudson dropped by unexpectedly.”

“Really? Why? You haven’t seen him since you found Bonnie, have you?”

“No.” She changed the subject. “How long before Toby will be well enough for you to bring him here?”

“I’m hoping only a day or two. He’s getting wonderful help here on the island.”

“Let me know as soon as you know for sure. Now I’m going to call Joe and tell him the good news about Toby. Or maybe not. It’s still the middle of the night, and he has to be in court tomorrow. I’ll phone him first thing in the morning.” Her voice was suddenly tense. “And I may decide not to wait until you come to me. Maybe I’ll hop a plane and check on you and Toby myself. Take care of yourself.” Eve hung up.

Jane slowly pressed the disconnect.

“Okay?” Caleb asked.

She nodded. “She said she was fine.”

“But you don’t believe her?”

“Sure I do.” She was frowning. “But she said something about coming down here to check on Toby and me. And she got off the phone too soon.”

“So?”

“She didn’t want me to ask questions. That bothered me. And what is Ben Hudson doing at the cottage?”

“I might be able to help you if I knew who Ben Hudson was. Is he a threat?”

She shook her head. “No way. It’s just odd that he should turn up tonight.” She turned and started for the door. “I’m going to ask Devon Brady how soon I can transport Toby.”

“And if you don’t get the answer you want?”

She hadn’t known that the answer had already formed in her mind. “I need to get to Eve. I think something is going on with her. I’ll just wait until I’m sure Toby’s stabilized. He may already be there.” She was thinking quickly. “And then I may turn him over to Margaret until I can come back. She’d take good care of him.”

He looked at her in surprise. “You’d trust her with your precious Toby? You just met her.”

“I’d trust her.” She met his gaze. “Will you take me to Eve?”

“That goes without saying.” He bowed mockingly. “I’m at your service. Why else would I be here?”

“I don’t know. I can never quite figure you out, Caleb.”

“But you’re willing to use me. Maybe you even actually trust me a little. Wouldn’t that be interesting?” He gestured with a little shooing motion. “Run along and make your arrangements about Toby. Oh, that’s right, you don’t like me to give you orders.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I’ll just gas up the plane and have it ready to go if you decide that’s your best option.”

“Thanks, Caleb,” she said absently. “Of course it all depends on Toby…”

“No, it depends on Jane MacGuire.” She heard him chuckle as he turned away. “You’ve made up your mind, and you’d find a way to save your Toby and fly to Eve’s rescue no matter what the obstacles.”

“Maybe.” She opened the door. “But Eve said she doesn’t need rescuing.”

“And you hope she’s telling the truth.”

“Eve never lies to me. I just don’t like the poison. I don’t like having to come here instead of going straight to the lake cottage. I don’t like the way she shunted me off that call.” She said over her shoulder, “So I’m going to go and ask her in person why she did it.”

*   *   *

“I’LL BE BACK SOON, BOY.”
Jane’s hand gently stroked Toby’s head. He was still under sedation and didn’t move. But she hoped somehow he might be able to understand her. “We made it through, Toby. We’ve been together so long and it looks like God wants us to stick together for a while longer.” Her voice was unsteady. “Isn’t that great?” She put her cheek on his ruff. He was so soft and silky. “I love you,” she whispered. “I wouldn’t leave you if I didn’t have to do it. But Devon says you’re doing fine, and you’re out of danger. I’m not so sure about Eve. You’ll understand, you love Eve, too.”

“Devon says you’re leaving.”

Jane straightened and turned to see Margaret standing in the doorway. “Yes, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to see you before I left. Devon says that it will take a day or two before Toby will be well enough to travel.” She gave Toby a final pat. “I’ll be back in a few days. Will you take care of him for me?”

Margaret nodded. “I told you that he belonged to me, too, now.” She looked down at Toby. “He’ll be well soon. He has a strong heart. I’ll put him with Monty and Maggie and that will help.” She smiled. “After all, they’re his parents. It’s right that they’re together now.” Her smile faded. “You wouldn’t leave Toby if it wasn’t important. Did you find out who tried to kill him?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Maybe. I just know I have to get to Eve. She adopted me when I was a kid, and I’m uneasy that this may have something to do with her.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m trying to put the pieces together. I was going to see Eve when all this began. She could be the key.”

“You’re worried about her.”

“I love her,” she said simply. “She’s the most important person in my life.”

“That’s … nice,” Margaret’s voice was wistful. “But it’s kind of dangerous, too.”

“What?”

“All your eggs in one basket…” Margaret said vaguely. “You have too much to lose. It’s safer not to narrow down the field.” She tilted her head. “I’d think that you’d be afraid of doing that. It doesn’t seem your style.”

Jane gazed at her in surprise. Margaret and she had spent less than a few hours together and exchanged little conversation. How had Margaret realized that Jane had problems with trust? It should have made her feel uneasy to be so easily read, but somehow it didn’t. “Sometimes you can’t help yourself. People come into your life, and you know that you can’t let them leave again even if there’s a chance that they’ll hurt you. Haven’t you found that, Margaret?”

“Yes, but I try to keep them at a distance … like you, Jane.”

Jane shook her head. “I’ve never seen anyone more open to people than you are.”

Margaret suddenly chuckled. “I said I try, I didn’t say I succeed. I know what’s good for me, I just dive in anyway.” She gave Toby a pat. “Like Toby here. He’d rather take a chance than close himself away from people who might show him affection. That’s why we have to protect him.”

“And who protects you, Margaret?”

“Oh, I have a whole army who take care of that.” She grinned. “And now Toby is enlisted into that army. We understand each other, we belong to the same club. He wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

“If you have to rely on Toby, then you’re in bad shape,” Jane said dryly. “Being a guard dog isn’t his long suit, as you’ve already noted.”

“Everyone protects those they care about.” Margaret met her gaze. “Toby would die for you.”

“He almost did,” Jane said. “There was no reason for that bastard to hurt him. It had to be something to do with me.”

“Or your Eve?”

Jane nodded jerkily. “Or Eve. Thank you for taking care of Toby until I get back.”