"He's the original absentminded professor.He may be a certified genius but he doesn't know the first damn thing about women. All a pretty woman has to do is smile at him and he's head over heels in love he explained in an exasperated tone." One date, and he proposes! You've no idea of how many times I've had to save his neck from scheming females.'"
"My sister is no scheming female," I argued back "Well, of course you'd defend her," he countered "Isn't it possible that your brother may at last have met the right person? A truly good person?
Your brother and my sister are very much in love. Anyone who saw them together for two seconds could see that," I stated quietly.
He swallowed hard and looked away, crossing his arms over his chest-trying to get his hot temper under control, I hoped. His silence encouraged me to speak further in Faith and Will's defense.
"You ought to see them together. They're a perfect match. Faith is a wild life photographer. She's an extraordinary person, honestly. She's beautiful, talented, absolutely charming," I rhapsodized about my sister. "But I honestly thought she'd never find anyone to really suit her," I confessed.
"She's always been just so...unconventional. Then along came Will. You know what they say, There's a lid for every pot. Even the bent one, I added with a laugh.
"I never heard that one, Brian said in a hard tight voice. "Must be a local tidbit of wisdom."
I ignored his tone and kept right on going Well, they met on some bird migration study, I believe. Faith was hired by the university to take photo's. It was love at first sight to hear them tell it. They'd be pertecty happy to ive out in the woods, tracking down yellow-bellied sapsuckers for the rest of their Iiving days..."
When he finally looked up his dark glance chilled her. "There's only one sucker in this fairy tale and that's my brother. Love at first sight, he echoed with disgust. "The first sight of his bank statement, I have no doubt."
I felt herself freeze with indignation. How dare he insult and accuse her sister! There was nonreasoning with him. The man was plainly paranoid. Just because he had an unhappy experience in the past, he clearly thought every woman in the world had a deceitful, mercenary heart and dishonest intentions. Why, my sister couldn't care less about money. She was the most unmaterialistic person I had ever known. As long as she had her favorite camera and plenty of film, Faith could be content to live in a tent, with no more than the barest necessities.
"I won't hear you speak about my sister that way.
One more word in that direction and you are out of here, pal," I warned. I don't care if you drown out there," I said, glancing out the window.
He stared down briefly and shook his head. Was he finally giving up? I certainly hoped so.
"So, they're married by now, you say? he asked.
That was their plan. And you have absolutely no idea of where they were headed? You couldn't even venture a guess?"
I bit down on her lip and shook my head in the universal signal for an emphatic negative reply.
"Not a single, solitary, minuscule clue!" I managed through gritted teeth.
He caught my gaze and held it for what seemed to me an incredibly long time. His eyes were shiny, ebony pools. His mouth was hard and tight I remembered how last night that same mouth felt so warm and soft against my own. I remembered too well. And just as quickly, stopped myself. "Why did he have to be so infernally stubborn- and just as appealing all at the same time?
Maybe the university where Will teaches would know," Brian murmured, finally looking away.
"I doubt it. Your brother seemed determined to keep their plans a secret."
"A secret from me, you mean," He added.
I did not reply. I crossed her arms over My chest and glanced sideways at him. Never say die, that had to be his motto, I decided. He was so intense-the most intense, emotional man she ever met. For an instant, I allowed myself to wonder if those same traits carried through with Brian Adams as a lover. If the kiss they'd shared last night was any sample, the answer had to be resoundingly in the affirmative.
Not that it mattered to me, one way or the other. Now that he knew the truth, he'd be off in no time she expected, either trying to track down the newlyweds like a bloodhound on a fresh scent, or high-luxurious life in New York City. It might be years until they met again, despite the family connection For some strange reason I didn't like the idea
of that. I'd never met a man who had caused me so much aggravation in such a short time. But still, as I regarded Brian's dark head, bent in dejec-tion while he sat and considered his next move, my heart went out to him. As the oldest, I too felt a duty to look out for my younger sister, even though they were both adults now. I understood his protective feelings for Will. more than he realized. He just didn't want Will to make a mistake, that much was plain to see. Of course, there was no way Brian or anyone else for that matter could presume to make those kinds of decisions for Will Adams. If Will and Faith had indeed made a mistake-which I certainly did not think was true-only time would tell, and they would have to sort out the consequences on their own.
"Brian? Noah's thin voice called down to them. "Are you coming? I' ve cleaned up all the cages."
Brian lifted his head. I imagined that right now, he was in no mood to humor my son, and his calm, friendly answer surprised me.
"I'll be right up, Noah." He rose and combed his thick hair back with his fingers "I'm going up see Noah' s pets, he said without looking at me You really don't have to right now. I mean, you don't feel like it, Noah will understand," I replied.
"I promised him," he replied evenly as he walked past me. Besides, I never met a three legged hamster named Harry before. I was rather looking forward to it."
I suppressed a smile. "Would you like me to make any calls for you?
I'Il take care of it later, thank you."
He strode out of the room, his broad shoulders
squared, his chin lifted at a defiant angle. He'd been beaten, but not dishonored, I thought as I began to clear the table
And maybe Will had been right about his brother Brian had a temper...but he wasn't so bad once you got to know him.