dogs took universal exception.
“You’re almost late.” Adam managed to make himself heard through all the yapping.
Leonie started and looked to her left. He had commandeered a table against the wall. There was a vacant chair at the table, and Adam’s arm rested across the back of it. Her heart leaped, then sank. So much for her resolution to avoid him for the next month by taking classes at the crafts mall.
He wore khakis and a white knit shirt that set off his tanned skin, giving him the look of a dedicated sportsman. Since the class was composed of fifteen middle-aged and elderly women, a man like Adam Silverthorne attracted great interest among the budding rock-painters present. Leonie couldn’t blame them. Adam was definitely worth a second look.
Leonie pulled Butch aside when a Chihuahua lunged at him from beneath a table. This was no time to quibble about seating arrangements. She hastened toward Adam, towing Butch along behind her. To his credit, Butch ignored the Chihuahua with enormous dignity.
Adam beckoned. “I saved you a seat.”
Leonie hoped the joyous flutter of her insides wasn’t visible on her face. “Were the woodworking classes filled up?”
“I decided I was destined to be a great painter at birth. Unfortunately, my parents put me in summer sports clubs rather than painting classes, so I never had the chance to realize my full potential.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she took the chair he courteously held for her. “Same here. I spent my summers at the swimming pool. My parents were determined that I was going to learn how to swim and how to save lives.”
Why had she said that? He was almost certain to invite her to go for a swim with him on the grounds that he needed a certified life-saver in the water with him. Reminding herself that Zara, also, was certified in life-saving, Leonie tried to relax.
That proved impossible. Adam sat so close, the fresh, spicy scent of his aftershave enticed her senses. She even fancied she could feel the heat and strength of his arm where it lay across the back of her chair.
“Well?” Adam said, lifting his dark brows. “Did you have any more incidents last night after I left?”
“Incidents?” She frowned in an effort to concentrate on his words. “You mean did the peeping Tom come back? Not that I know of. I pulled the curtains and went to bed.”
“Good for you.”
She pretended to busy herself seeing to Butch’s comfort so she wouldn’t glare at Adam. No doubt, he meant to be complimentary, but she knew very well when a man was making light of her concerns. Adam might be the most impressive man she’d ever met, but he wasn’t getting away with that.
“I’ve said something?” he asked, after an interval.
Leonie glanced his way briefly then transferred her attention pointedly to the art supplies before her. “I hope not. Men who make fun of me get black moustaches painted on their faces.”
“You think I’m making fun of you?” He looked chagrinned, to his credit. “Nothing of the sort. But you have to admit, it’s a lot more likely that somebody was just walking by on the shore last night and happened to look in your window at the same moment you saw him.”
Leonie decided to say nothing of her constant feeling of being under surveillance that morning. After all, that was why she was here, so that unnamed people spying on Zara would have someone to watch. Above all, she could not blow Zara’s cover.
She just wished being spied on didn’t give her such an uncomfortable feeling.
“You’re probably right.” She directed his gaze to the art supplies and resolved to say nothing more to Adam about being watched. “Look at this. Black is the only paint available. I thought we were going to paint flowers.”
Adam gave the supplies a cursory glance. “The teacher probably doesn’t want us to get too carried away by our new abilities.”
Leonie smothered laughter. “Maybe you’re right. Although I don’t know
“You’re almost late.” Adam managed to make himself heard through all the yapping.
Leonie started and looked to her left. He had commandeered a table against the wall. There was a vacant chair at the table, and Adam’s arm rested across the back of it. Her heart leaped, then sank. So much for her resolution to avoid him for the next month by taking classes at the crafts mall.
He wore khakis and a white knit shirt that set off his tanned skin, giving him the look of a dedicated sportsman. Since the class was composed of fifteen middle-aged and elderly women, a man like Adam Silverthorne attracted great interest among the budding rock-painters present. Leonie couldn’t blame them. Adam was definitely worth a second look.
Leonie pulled Butch aside when a Chihuahua lunged at him from beneath a table. This was no time to quibble about seating arrangements. She hastened toward Adam, towing Butch along behind her. To his credit, Butch ignored the Chihuahua with enormous dignity.
Adam beckoned. “I saved you a seat.”
Leonie hoped the joyous flutter of her insides wasn’t visible on her face. “Were the woodworking classes filled up?”
“I decided I was destined to be a great painter at birth. Unfortunately, my parents put me in summer sports clubs rather than painting classes, so I never had the chance to realize my full potential.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she took the chair he courteously held for her. “Same here. I spent my summers at the swimming pool. My parents were determined that I was going to learn how to swim and how to save lives.”
Why had she said that? He was almost certain to invite her to go for a swim with him on the grounds that he needed a certified life-saver in the water with him. Reminding herself that Zara, also, was certified in life-saving, Leonie tried to relax.
That proved impossible. Adam sat so close, the fresh, spicy scent of his aftershave enticed her senses. She even fancied she could feel the heat and strength of his arm where it lay across the back of her chair.
“Well?” Adam said, lifting his dark brows. “Did you have any more incidents last night after I left?”
“Incidents?” She frowned in an effort to concentrate on his words. “You mean did the peeping Tom come back? Not that I know of. I pulled the curtains and went to bed.”
“Good for you.”
She pretended to busy herself seeing to Butch’s comfort so she wouldn’t glare at Adam. No doubt, he meant to be complimentary, but she knew very well when a man was making light of her concerns. Adam might be the most impressive man she’d ever met, but he wasn’t getting away with that.
“I’ve said something?” he asked, after an interval.
Leonie glanced his way briefly then transferred her attention pointedly to the art supplies before her. “I hope not. Men who make fun of me get black moustaches painted on their faces.”
“You think I’m making fun of you?” He looked chagrinned, to his credit. “Nothing of the sort. But you have to admit, it’s a lot more likely that somebody was just walking by on the shore last night and happened to look in your window at the same moment you saw him.”
Leonie decided to say nothing of her constant feeling of being under surveillance that morning. After all, that was why she was here, so that unnamed people spying on Zara would have someone to watch. Above all, she could not blow Zara’s cover.
She just wished being spied on didn’t give her such an uncomfortable feeling.
“You’re probably right.” She directed his gaze to the art supplies and resolved to say nothing more to Adam about being watched. “Look at this. Black is the only paint available. I thought we were going to paint flowers.”
Adam gave the supplies a cursory glance. “The teacher probably doesn’t want us to get too carried away by our new abilities.”
Leonie smothered laughter. “Maybe you’re right. Although I don’t know
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