Her eyes widened. “You’re deliberately giving curt answers to my questions.”
Jack’s grin broke free. “Am I?”
“Oh!” Audra spun on her heels and marched away, kicking up gravel behind her.
Jack’s shoulders shook with humor. He felt lighter than he’d felt in years. It was as though in the three days that Audra had been on the property, her presence was healing him, removing the scars of fear, grief, and bitterness that his daughter’s death and his ex-wife’s betrayal had left behind. She’d ripped open the lid of his coffin and was breathing life back into him.
Jack returned to his hammering. Maybe he shouldn’t have been such a jerk to Audra. He’d had fun, though. But if he’d answered her questions, perhaps she’d have answered his.
What was she doing here?
What was she working on?
Why had she chosen to travel under such an obvious pseudonym? She’d have called less attention to herself by using her real name.
Audra wasn’t on her porch that afternoon. Jack didn’t pretend not to be disappointed. Then he heard the music. He slowed his footsteps on the graveled path that led to her front steps.
A soft, tentative voice drew him up the stairs. He stood beside the front window and listened to the voice tell him about broken promises, lost time, and the crushing weight of other people’s expectations.
The music stopped. “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!” Pure frustration powered the exclamations.
After a brief silence, Audra picked up the song from the beginning. The uncertain chords of an acoustic guitar accompanied the lyrics. Indistinct humming filled the open spaces when she ran out of words.
Jack cocked his head. It wasn’t her best work. After he’d seen the article on her Grammy wins, he’d found her work on the Internet and played a few of the music videos. The songs were strong, memorable, and entertaining. It wasn’t just the vocal talent of the popular artists who showcased the songs; it was Audra’s abilities as a songwriter.
Her voice was soft and uncertain right now, but he heard its underlying appeal. Had she recorded any of her own work? Would she ever consider it?
His knuckles rapped on Audra’s front door. Jack froze. Why had he done that? He hadn’t intended to let her know he was there. The cabin became still. The silence penetrated the thick wooden door. Jack stepped back, debating the wisdom of leaving.
“Who is it?” Audra’s tone was gruff bravado.
He couldn’t resist a smile. “Jack.”
Another brief silence. Jack sensed rather than heard her footsteps carrying her toward him.
The door opened just a crack, as though Audra wanted to verify his identity.
Jack held her cautious gaze. “Bears don’t knock.”
Audra gave him a sarcastic look before joining him on the porch. “Considering the similarities in your appearance, I’m surprised you do.” She softened the gibe with a cheeky grin.
“I was housebroken years ago.” Jack deadpanned his response.
“That’s a relief.” Audra pulled the front door closed.
She was still teasing him. How long had it been since someone had done that? How long had it been since he’d wanted to tease someone back? About as long as it had been since someone had made him laugh, long before Zoey’s death.
Audra strolled past him to the porch’s railing and looked up at the cloudless blue sky. “It’s so beautiful here.”
“Yes, it is.” His gaze traveled up from her bare feet and long shapely legs to her gold linen shorts and hot pink T-shirt. She looked as bright and warm as the day.
“And quiet. Except for the crickets that come out at night.” Audra glanced over her left shoulder. “Were you creeping around in the woods again?”
He ignored her question. “I heard your music. It was good.”
Audra sighed. “No, it wasn’t.”
“I wouldn’t say it was good if I didn’t think it was.”