The Girl From Summer Hill (Summer Hill 1)

“I’m no actress. All the passion I put into the lines came from my anger at Tate Landers.” She turned to Jack. “Do you know what he was doing in my bedroom?”

“I have no idea.” He wasn’t being entirely truthful.

She dropped two stainless bowls into a drawer, making a clatter. “I think he undressed, because his shirt was hanging off the porch roof. All day I was dreading what I’d find up there when I got home.”

“And?” Jack asked.

“My pajamas were on the floor, and everything on my dresser had been rearranged. It’s as though he went through all my things.” She looked at Jack. “There was a peacock feather sticking out from under the bed. Bright green with an eye on it. Finding that in my bedroom was really creepy! Tomorrow Josh is going to put some dead bolts on my doors, and I’ll have to close all the windows and lock them.”

Jack was frowning. “None of this sounds like Tate.”

“I guess we can never see the truth about our friends.” She went back to cleaning.

“Casey,” Jack said tentatively, “I think I should say something about Devlin Haines.”

It didn’t take much to know what he was going to say. “Do you know the man personally or have you just heard what Landers says about his ex-brother-in-law?” Her eyes were challenging his.

“Just what I’ve been told,” Jack said. He put his drink up to his mouth and said nothing more.

Casey took a breath. “That’s enough about me. You seemed really taken with Gizzy.”

Jack looked down at his drink. “She’s nice, very sweet. She makes me feel like I should put on armor and protect her.”

“Um…Jack…” Casey leaned across the island toward him. “Maybe you know that Gizzy is my half sister. We share some things, but we’re also very different.”

“What does that mean?”

“Gizzy is as beautiful as a spring day, I’ll give you that. Men follow her wherever she goes.”

Jack didn’t seem to notice that she hadn’t answered his question. “I heard that her dad is tough on men who try to date her. But I understand. She needs to be protected.”

“Actually, Reverend Nolan tries to protect the men.”

“Oh, no.” Jack groaned. “Tell me she’s not insane. In the last two years every girlfriend I’ve had has been crazy. One danced for three days with no sleep, then spent six days in bed saying she hated life, then she got up and did it all over again. And if you tell the press that, I’ll sue you.”

“No, Gizzy isn’t crazy. She’s quite sane. I don’t know how to explain. You know how movie princesses used to stand around and wait for a man to rescue them? But now they grab a sword and fight their own way out?”

“Yes, but that’s good. In my last movie the girl saved me twice.”

“I loved that part. Was that really you climbing up that wall and later hanging from the helicopter? Did you dive into the ocean from that cliff?”

“All me. I was told the insurance guy fainted at the dive, but I did it anyway.”

“Then you’ll be fine with Gizzy. Now, I don’t mean to run you out, but I need to shower and change. I have a date tonight.”

Jack stood up. For a moment, he looked like he might say something else, but he didn’t. “That’s great. He’s a lucky man.”

“Thanks,” Casey said.

Jack started for the door, but then he turned and kissed Casey’s cheek.

“That’ll get you squab for dinner tomorrow night.”

“What’s that steak two people share?”

“Chateaubriand,” she said.

“Keep that in mind. I’ll tell you when I need it.”