settled into the overstuffed chair by the window.
“Oh, yes!“ For the first time that morning Emelina knew a burst of genuine enthusiasm. “When are we going?“ She
quickly poured out his coffee.
“Around sunset, I think, so we won’t have to use flashlights. They might draw attention if someone should
happen to notice the light in a vacant house.“ He accepted the mug she handed to him and sipped cautiously. His
eyes narrowed as he swallowed. “You were right,“ he told her dryly.
Her brow went up as she sank into the seat across from him. “About my coffee? I warned you.“ She took another
taste of her powerful brew.
“I can see why you’ve been walking into town for a cup every morning!“
“If you don’t like my coffee, you’re free to leave,“ Emelina pointed out testily.
“I wouldn’t think of being so rude,“ he retorted manfully. “But tomorrow morning you must allow me to take you
back into town or make a pot myself!“
For some reason Emelina’s sense of humor asserted itself. “Love me, love my coffee,“ she taunted lightly, blue
green eyes laughing at him.
“I thought the phrase was ‘love me, love my dog,’“ he tossed back easily, but there was a gleam in his eyes.
“Not a chance.“ She flicked a wary glance at the quiet Doberman. “Dogs like that weren’t made to be loved.“
Emelina’s momentary humor faded as she continued to stare at Xerxes, who lifted his head to stare back. “They’re bred
for savagery. Trained to be guard dogs, sometimes killers.“
“I don’t think you fully understand Xerxes. Or me.“
Whatever Emelina might have said to mat was forestalled by Xerxes, who, aware mat attention was on him, got
lithely to his feet and padded across the room to thrust his head into Emelina’s lap. Intelligent brown eyes met hers
pleadingly. There wasn’t anything she could do except reluctantly pat the animal.
“If I learned to tolerate your coffee, could you learn to tolerate my dog?“ Julian inquired a little too softly, watching
her intently.
“We’ve already struck one bargain between us, Julian. Let’s leave it at that.“ Emelina downed the last of her own
coffee and leaped to her feet to get some more.
He didn’t stay long. Perhaps he was afraid of wearing out his welcome, Emelina thought dully as she watched
Julian and the Doberman head back down the street. She ought to be happy to see the last of him for the day, but
somehow when he left her cottage he managed to take the excitement and warmth out of the old place. It was an
excitement and warmth he had brought with him, she realized with an uncomfortable sense of wonder.
When Julian returned it was almost sunset. He was wearing a pair of jeans and an old flannel shirt and he’d left
Xerxes behind. “I don’t think we’ll be needing him,“ he told Emelina as she came down the step to meet him. “He’d
only be in the way on a venture like this. Besides, he’d probably leave paw prints in the dust on the floor.“ He scanned
her jeans and close-fitting sweater approvingly.
“What about us? Won’t we leave tracks, too?“ Emelina walked quickly beside him, frowning intently into the
distance.
“We’ll be careful. With any luck the place will be furnished with a lot of old throw rugs like our cottages are. They
won’t show footprints. I hope.“
Emelina chewed on her lower lip. “Julian, do you think it’s safe to be doing this?“
“Safer than it was for you to be doing it alone at midnight!“ he growled feelingly. “You were an idiot to go down
there alone that night, you know,“ he continued matter-of-factly. “Anyone could have spotted your flashlight and
followed you!“
“Someone did,“ she pointed out wryly.
He shot her a quick glance. “Be grateful it was I,“ he told her repressively.
She had the distinct impression she had managed to annoy Julian. For some perverse reason that thought served
to lift her spirits. Or perhaps it was
“Oh, yes!“ For the first time that morning Emelina knew a burst of genuine enthusiasm. “When are we going?“ She
quickly poured out his coffee.
“Around sunset, I think, so we won’t have to use flashlights. They might draw attention if someone should
happen to notice the light in a vacant house.“ He accepted the mug she handed to him and sipped cautiously. His
eyes narrowed as he swallowed. “You were right,“ he told her dryly.
Her brow went up as she sank into the seat across from him. “About my coffee? I warned you.“ She took another
taste of her powerful brew.
“I can see why you’ve been walking into town for a cup every morning!“
“If you don’t like my coffee, you’re free to leave,“ Emelina pointed out testily.
“I wouldn’t think of being so rude,“ he retorted manfully. “But tomorrow morning you must allow me to take you
back into town or make a pot myself!“
For some reason Emelina’s sense of humor asserted itself. “Love me, love my coffee,“ she taunted lightly, blue
green eyes laughing at him.
“I thought the phrase was ‘love me, love my dog,’“ he tossed back easily, but there was a gleam in his eyes.
“Not a chance.“ She flicked a wary glance at the quiet Doberman. “Dogs like that weren’t made to be loved.“
Emelina’s momentary humor faded as she continued to stare at Xerxes, who lifted his head to stare back. “They’re bred
for savagery. Trained to be guard dogs, sometimes killers.“
“I don’t think you fully understand Xerxes. Or me.“
Whatever Emelina might have said to mat was forestalled by Xerxes, who, aware mat attention was on him, got
lithely to his feet and padded across the room to thrust his head into Emelina’s lap. Intelligent brown eyes met hers
pleadingly. There wasn’t anything she could do except reluctantly pat the animal.
“If I learned to tolerate your coffee, could you learn to tolerate my dog?“ Julian inquired a little too softly, watching
her intently.
“We’ve already struck one bargain between us, Julian. Let’s leave it at that.“ Emelina downed the last of her own
coffee and leaped to her feet to get some more.
He didn’t stay long. Perhaps he was afraid of wearing out his welcome, Emelina thought dully as she watched
Julian and the Doberman head back down the street. She ought to be happy to see the last of him for the day, but
somehow when he left her cottage he managed to take the excitement and warmth out of the old place. It was an
excitement and warmth he had brought with him, she realized with an uncomfortable sense of wonder.
When Julian returned it was almost sunset. He was wearing a pair of jeans and an old flannel shirt and he’d left
Xerxes behind. “I don’t think we’ll be needing him,“ he told Emelina as she came down the step to meet him. “He’d
only be in the way on a venture like this. Besides, he’d probably leave paw prints in the dust on the floor.“ He scanned
her jeans and close-fitting sweater approvingly.
“What about us? Won’t we leave tracks, too?“ Emelina walked quickly beside him, frowning intently into the
distance.
“We’ll be careful. With any luck the place will be furnished with a lot of old throw rugs like our cottages are. They
won’t show footprints. I hope.“
Emelina chewed on her lower lip. “Julian, do you think it’s safe to be doing this?“
“Safer than it was for you to be doing it alone at midnight!“ he growled feelingly. “You were an idiot to go down
there alone that night, you know,“ he continued matter-of-factly. “Anyone could have spotted your flashlight and
followed you!“
“Someone did,“ she pointed out wryly.
He shot her a quick glance. “Be grateful it was I,“ he told her repressively.
She had the distinct impression she had managed to annoy Julian. For some perverse reason that thought served
to lift her spirits. Or perhaps it was
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