could interfere with your work. I told you before when I read your outline, it’s Pulitzer potential. You already have the reputation.”
“It might be wiser to finish the book before we start thinking about Pulitzers. Your shot, Harry,” Jordan reminded him.
Harry made two balls and missed a third. As he shot, he thought over his next words carefully. “Jordan, I had noticed you’d been a bit restless lately. I was going to suggest a vacation when the book was finished.”
Jordan grinned and leaned over the table. He positioned his cue. “Are you trying to protect me from Kasey, Harry?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way—exactly.” Harry blustered and leaned against his stick. “I realize Miss Wyatt is quite attractive, in a rather unusual fashion. She’s also unsettling.”
“ Hmm. Unsettling, ” Jordan murmured. “She does take over. There’s nothing I could do about it if I was sure I wanted to. The one thing I am sure of is that she’s opened a few doors for me I hadn’t known I had closed.”
“You’re not becoming emotionally . . .” Harry searched around for the proper phrase. “Entangled?”
“Am I in love with her?” Jordan frowned. He sunk the nine ball and scratched. “I haven’t the faintest idea. I know I want her.”
“My dear boy,” Harry began, “sex is . . .” He faltered and cleared his throat.
“Yes?” Jordan prompted, failing to suppress a grin.
“A necessary part of life,” Harry finished stiffly.
“Harry, you surprise me.” His grin widened. “Your shot.”
Both men glanced over as the door burst open.
“God, Jordan, you really should post road maps.” Kasey strolled in carrying a thick book. “I’ve never seen so many corridors. Your book, Dr. Rhodes.” She set it on a table and blew her bangs from her eyes. “Have I trod on sacred ground?”
Jordan leaned on his stick. Why was it that a room seemedto come to life when she walked into it? “Would it matter?” he asked her and smiled.
“Of course not. I’m always treading on sacred ground. Can I have a drink?”
“Vermouth? I haven’t stocked tequila down here.”
“Yes, thanks.” She was already involved with a survey of the room.
It was large and open with a gratifying absence of silks or brocades. The wood-planked floor she had imagined in the parlor was in evidence, and there were simple bamboo shades at the windows. It was scrupulously clean, but there were signs of living. A fat candle had been burnt down halfway in its pewter holder. A collection of record albums were stacked on a shelf, one or two of them at odd angles.
“I like this room,” she said and walked to a glass table that held a few pieces of primitive pottery. “Very much,” she added as she turned to accept the glass of vermouth from Jordan. “Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure why her approval pleased him, but he knew it did. She tilted her head as if trying to see him from a new angle.
“This is your room,” she murmured. “Like the study.”
“I suppose you could put it that way.”
“Good.” She sipped at her drink. “I’m beginning to like you, Jordan. I almost wish I didn’t.”
“We seem to have the same problem.”
With a nod, she moved away. “Pool, huh? Don’t let me interrupt you. I’ll just finish my drink before I head back into the maze.” She glanced around the room again. It was the only room in the house, other than the study, where she felt comfortable. “I’d like to talk to you about the book when you’ve finished it, Dr. Rhodes.”
“Of course.” Her smile, he thought, was indeed very appealing. “Perhaps you’d like to join us for a game, Miss Wyatt,” he offered, surprising himself.
“That’s very nice of you.” She smiled again and watched with affection as he straightened his shoulders. “I’m sure you’re betting, though, aren’t you?”
“That’s not necessary,” Harry said.
“Oh, but I wouldn’t want you to change the rules for me.”Kasey
“It might be wiser to finish the book before we start thinking about Pulitzers. Your shot, Harry,” Jordan reminded him.
Harry made two balls and missed a third. As he shot, he thought over his next words carefully. “Jordan, I had noticed you’d been a bit restless lately. I was going to suggest a vacation when the book was finished.”
Jordan grinned and leaned over the table. He positioned his cue. “Are you trying to protect me from Kasey, Harry?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way—exactly.” Harry blustered and leaned against his stick. “I realize Miss Wyatt is quite attractive, in a rather unusual fashion. She’s also unsettling.”
“ Hmm. Unsettling, ” Jordan murmured. “She does take over. There’s nothing I could do about it if I was sure I wanted to. The one thing I am sure of is that she’s opened a few doors for me I hadn’t known I had closed.”
“You’re not becoming emotionally . . .” Harry searched around for the proper phrase. “Entangled?”
“Am I in love with her?” Jordan frowned. He sunk the nine ball and scratched. “I haven’t the faintest idea. I know I want her.”
“My dear boy,” Harry began, “sex is . . .” He faltered and cleared his throat.
“Yes?” Jordan prompted, failing to suppress a grin.
“A necessary part of life,” Harry finished stiffly.
“Harry, you surprise me.” His grin widened. “Your shot.”
Both men glanced over as the door burst open.
“God, Jordan, you really should post road maps.” Kasey strolled in carrying a thick book. “I’ve never seen so many corridors. Your book, Dr. Rhodes.” She set it on a table and blew her bangs from her eyes. “Have I trod on sacred ground?”
Jordan leaned on his stick. Why was it that a room seemedto come to life when she walked into it? “Would it matter?” he asked her and smiled.
“Of course not. I’m always treading on sacred ground. Can I have a drink?”
“Vermouth? I haven’t stocked tequila down here.”
“Yes, thanks.” She was already involved with a survey of the room.
It was large and open with a gratifying absence of silks or brocades. The wood-planked floor she had imagined in the parlor was in evidence, and there were simple bamboo shades at the windows. It was scrupulously clean, but there were signs of living. A fat candle had been burnt down halfway in its pewter holder. A collection of record albums were stacked on a shelf, one or two of them at odd angles.
“I like this room,” she said and walked to a glass table that held a few pieces of primitive pottery. “Very much,” she added as she turned to accept the glass of vermouth from Jordan. “Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure why her approval pleased him, but he knew it did. She tilted her head as if trying to see him from a new angle.
“This is your room,” she murmured. “Like the study.”
“I suppose you could put it that way.”
“Good.” She sipped at her drink. “I’m beginning to like you, Jordan. I almost wish I didn’t.”
“We seem to have the same problem.”
With a nod, she moved away. “Pool, huh? Don’t let me interrupt you. I’ll just finish my drink before I head back into the maze.” She glanced around the room again. It was the only room in the house, other than the study, where she felt comfortable. “I’d like to talk to you about the book when you’ve finished it, Dr. Rhodes.”
“Of course.” Her smile, he thought, was indeed very appealing. “Perhaps you’d like to join us for a game, Miss Wyatt,” he offered, surprising himself.
“That’s very nice of you.” She smiled again and watched with affection as he straightened his shoulders. “I’m sure you’re betting, though, aren’t you?”
“That’s not necessary,” Harry said.
“Oh, but I wouldn’t want you to change the rules for me.”Kasey
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