"Summer's my busy season."
She was avoiding Clate's eye, probably being so obviously nonchalant that her brothers would know for sure something was up. Ordinarily she wouldn't have given a damn—or not much of one. But this time she really did have something to hide, not only her tumble of feelings about her Tennessean neighbor but also Hannah's treasure, the disturbing phone calls, more trespassing. Her life was out of control enough without her father and brothers diving into her problems and lecturing her on how she could have avoided them in the first place.
"We made bread this morning in my open-hearth cooking class," she said. "I have a couple of extra loaves. I can bring them out later."
Benjamin smiled. "I'll save you the trip to town and stop by. I haven't been out to your place in a while. Liddy and the boys love your bread."
Piper wasn't fooled. He was coming out to her place to spy on her, just as Andrew had yesterday when he'd delivered the Nashville magazine. "Well, I should be back in a couple hours. Bring the boys by if you want, Liddy, too." There, that'd prove she had nothing to hide. "I should get going. See you guys around."
"You won't stay and have a drink with us?" her father asked.
Not a chance. They'd notice the signs of fatigue and trouble, the way her pulse jumped when she was around Clate. It wasn't that she didn't trust her family or generally lied to them. She simply knew they'd demand explanations where she couldn't give any and offer help where she didn't want to be tempted to take any. This time, she preferred to do without her father or her brothers' advice, interference, opinions on Hannah's mental health or her own, or even their loving support. If they found out about the threatening phone calls, she was doomed. There'd be no peace, no room to maneuver. For Hannah's sake if not her own, she needed that room.
She retreated before she could arouse their suspicions further. Her head was spinning, her pulse racing, her mind a jumble of crazy thoughts and conflicting emotions. A good, long bike ride would help her get a fresh perspective.
She was all the way out to the front porch before she realized someone was behind her. She spun around, almost landing against Clate's rock-hard chest. "Geez, you're light on your feet," she said.
"Not really. You're just preoccupied."
"I admit I'm jumpy."
He frowned, blue eyes narrowed, suspicious. The man definitely had a different view of the world from hers. "You didn't get another phone call, did you?"
She shushed him and whispered, "I don't want my father and brothers to know about the calls. No, I didn't get another one."
"Your father and brothers strike me as solid allies, men I'd want on my side."
"They are on my side. They don't need to know details to be on my side."
He thought that one over with a frown. "I guess there's a certain logic at work there. Not that you asked for my opinion, but I think they have your best interests at heart."
"Of course they do. That's half the problem. Look, I just need to do this thing my way. They don't understand Hannah the way I do."
"They're not attached to her in the same way."
His tone was mild, observational, not critical, but Piper felt herself go on the defensive. "When they're eighty-seven, I hope they have someone who'll put up with their whims instead of a couple of cranks who'll doubt their sanity at every turn." She tightened her hands into fists, became aware of the rocking chairs that Paul and Sally had put out, the flower boxes, the cheerful atmosphere of their inn. Tourist traffic was picking up, the summer season closing in. She glanced at Clate, calmer. "You know, you're not helping matters by following me out."
"Bit protective of you, are the Macintosh men?"
"I'm glad you find my life so entertaining."
"Piper." He leaned toward her, a gleam of amusement in his very blue eyes. "I'm not afraid of them. Or you. Or Hannah and her witchy ways, for that matter. I had a drink with Tuck and your father and brothers. Nothing more."
"You didn't pump them for information?"
"No."
"Did they pump you?"
He grinned. "Of course. And I cooperated, to a degree." At her look of panic, he added, "About my background, not about what you and I did last night."
"Benjamin will probably check for footprints between my house and yours when he stops by, you know. Don't think an afternoon drink has won them over. They're as curious about what brings you to Frye's Cove as anyone. Probably more so."
A cool distance came into his eyes. "I gather few believe my stated reason."