Naturally Naughty - Leslie Kelly [46]
He shook his head. “No, I don’t remember her at all. But I know the two of you lived here, in these houses. Is she going to stay here with you?”
“No. Her mom owns some other property around here. Cassie’s staying at Aunt Flo’s other place up on Lilac Hill.”
Jack raised a questioning brow.
“Aunt Flo had a lot of admirers in this town. Male admirers. A couple of them liked to give her presents.”
He understood. “Someone gave her a house on Lilac Hill?” At her nod, he whistled. “Some present. Who was it?”
“Mr. Miller, the banker.”
A grin tickled the corners of Jack’s lips. “He was old as dirt when I was born.”
“Flo’s not age discriminatory.”
“He was a widower with no family for as long as I can remember.” Jack thought about it. “I’m glad your aunt gave him a little bit of happiness. He was a nice old guy. You know he lived only two doors down from us.”
Her chuckle was decidedly wicked. “There goes the neighborhood.”
Knowing how his mother and sister felt about the Tremaine family, he had to wonder why he hadn’t heard anything about this latest insult upon the glory that was Winfield.
“So, Cassie stays on the hill and you’re staying here.”
“Right. Is there a problem?”
“I’m wondering why you’re not staying there with her.”
“Let’s just say the snob set’s not exactly my cup of tea.”
“But they are your cousin’s?”
Kate shrugged. “Cassie fits in anywhere. She’s very successful. You’ll probably recognize her when you see her.”
“Why?”
“She’s a lingerie model. Poses in sexy underclothes for catalogs that pretend they’re for women, but which men swipe from their wives and hide in the bathroom to look at.”
He shrugged. “And you’re a super successful store owner who makes front-page news. Sounds like both of you got away from here and made good.” He glanced around the room. “I’m sure you have more expensive tastes these days, too.”
“This is fine for me.” She raised a hand, gesturing to the small room. “Part of Cassie’s reason for staying up there was out of her innate need to be as outrageous as possible.”
“I somehow think your cousin hasn’t cornered the market on being outrageous in your family.”
Rolling her eyes, she sat on the floor, draping her arms on her upraised knees. “No, I’m the smart, quiet, sweet one.” She sounded thoroughly disgusted.
He couldn’t help it—he let out a loud bark of laughter. Her glare told him she didn’t appreciate his amusement.
“Honey, I can think of a lot of words to describe you, but something as insipid as sweet definitely isn’t on the list.”
She frowned at him. “You’re saying I’m not sweet?”
“No, you’re definitely not sweet, Kate.” Stepping across the room, he bent to sit directly in front of her. “Smart, yes. Quiet—well, only in the way that smart people are because they’re always thinking. Deciding their course of action before they act on it. Like you did at the theater.”
Her jaw tightened. “Get back to the part where you tell me why I’m not a nice person.”
He wagged an index finger at her. “Uh-uh, I didn’t say you’re not a nice person. You’re a fascinating, charming, nice woman, Kate. But not anything as simple as sweet. There are such depths to you….” He stared intently at her face, losing himself again in those dark brown eyes, wondering what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers. “I’d like to know what makes you tick,” he admitted softly.
Color rose in her cheeks and her lips parted. He’d gone too far, treaded back into personal, intimate territory. He backpedaled. “So, tell me, why do you think you’re sweet and quiet?”
“Because my family has told me I am for twenty-eight years.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Cassie was the wild, tempestuous child. I was the sweet, good girl. The little ballerina, the straight-A student.”
“I imagine you got quite a reaction with your store.”
“My mother left during the grand opening reception. Never came back again until after I started sending her copies of my bank statements.” She paused. “Of course, my aunt Flo sent a huge bouquet