“I don’t usually see someone on my property at the crack of dawn putting stakes into the ground.”
“Just following orders.”
“What?”
“You wanted a studio, I’m building you a studio.”
“You said there wasn’t enough time before winter set in. And you needed plans and permits.”
“Well, you admired mine so much, I had the brilliant idea of using those diagrams for this one. That’ll save a lot of time. And I’ve got contacts at the inspector’s office so we can expedite the approval process.” He paused and looked at her as she stood there shivering. “Now don’t rush to thank me,” he said.
She crossed her arms. “It’s not that, I—” She shuddered again as a brisk wind sailed down the tree line. Riggs took off his heavy coat and draped it around her shoulders.
“You know you really shouldn’t be outside in your bare feet.”
“You don’t have to do this, Matthew. I think I’ve intruded on your time and patience enough.”
He shrugged and looked down at the ground, tapping one of the stakes lightly with his foot. “I don’t really mind, Catherine.” He coughed in an embarrassed fashion and looked up at the tree line. “There are a lot worse things than hanging out with a woman like you.” He shot her a quick glance and then looked away.
LuAnn blushed, biting nervously at her bottom lip while Riggs shoved his hands in his pockets and stared off at nothing. The pair unconsciously emulated two teens nervously feeling each other out for that vital first date.
She looked over at the staked-out area. “So, it’ll be just like yours?”
Riggs nodded. “I had the time since you fired me on the fence job.”
“I told you I’d pay you and I meant it.”
“I’m sure you meant it, but I have a policy of not accepting payment for a job I didn’t do. I’m kind of funny that way. Don’t worry, I’ll charge you plenty for this one.”
Riggs once again looked at the surrounding country. “It doesn’t get much prettier than this, I can tell you that. Once I build this thing, you probably won’t want to leave it.”
“That sounds very nice, but hardly realistic.”
He glanced over at her. “I guess you travel a lot. A person in your position.”
“It’s not that. But I do travel a lot.” She added wearily, “Too much.”
Riggs looked around again. “It’s good to see the world. But it’s nice to come home too.”
“You sound like you speak from experience.” She looked at him curiously.
He grinned sheepishly. “Me? I haven’t really been anywhere.”
“But you still like to come home. For some peace?” she said quietly, her big eyes locked on his.
His grin disappeared and he looked at her with renewed respect. “Yes,” he finally said.
“How about some breakfast?”
“I already ate, but thanks.”
“Coffee?” She was balancing on one bare foot and then the other as the cold ate at her skin.
Riggs watched her movements and then said, “I’ll take you up on that one.” Riggs tugged off his work gloves and stuffed them in his pants pocket. He turned around and bent down. “Climb on.”
“Excuse me?”
“Climb on.” He patted his back. “I know I’m not as bulky as your horse but just pretend.”
LuAnn didn’t budge. “I don’t think so.”
Riggs turned and looked at her. “Will you come on? I’m not kidding about the pneumonia. Besides, I do this with billionaires all the time, I’m telling you.”
LuAnn laughed, pulled his coat on all the way, and hoisted herself up piggyback style, wrapping her arms around his neck. He locked his arms around her bare thighs. “Are you sure you’re up to it? It’s a pretty long way and I’m not exactly petite.”
“I think I can manage, just don’t shoot me if I collapse.” They started off.
Halfway there she jabbed him playfully in the sides with her knees.
“What the hell was that for?”
“I’m pretending, just like you said. So giddy-up.”
“Don’t push it,” he groused back and then smiled.
In the woods near the horse barn, Jackson repacked his sound wand and made his way through the woods to his car parked on a side road. He had watched in some amusement as Riggs carried LuAnn back to the house. He had also noted the rough footprint for the structure Riggs was apparently building for her. Considering how she was dressed, Jackson thought it likely that LuAnn and the handsome Riggs would probably be enjoying an intimate moment very shortly. That was good, since it would give her an opportunity to pump him for information. Using the sound wand, he had also recorded Riggs’s voice, an asset that might prove valuable later. He reached his car and drove off.
Riggs sipped on a cup of coffee in the kitchen while LuAnn munched on a piece of buttered toast. She rose and fixed herself another cup of coffee and freshened his.
Riggs couldn’t help but stare when her back was turned. She hadn’t changed her clothes and the clingy robe was making him think about things he probably shouldn’t be. He finally looked away, his face hot.
“If I get another horse, I think I’ll name it after you,” LuAnn said.
“Thanks bunches.” He looked around. “Everybody else still sleeping?”
She put the coffeepot back down and took a moment to sponge up a bit of spillage on the counter. “Sally has the day off. Charlie and Lisa went on a little vacation.”
“Without you?”
She sat back down, her eyes roaming the room before she looked back at him and spoke casually. “I had some things to take care of. I might have to leave for Europe soon. If I do, I’ll meet up with them and then we’ll all go together. Italy is beautiful this time of year. Have you ever been?”
“The only Rome I’ve been to is in New York.”
“In your past life?” She looked at him over the top of her coffee cup.
“There we go with that past life thing again. It’s really not all that exciting.”
“So why not tell me about it then?”
“So what’s the quid pro quo?”
“Ah, I assume you learned that phrase from your attorney ex-wife.”
“Assumptions are dangerous things. I like facts a lot better.”
“So do I. So shower me with them.”
“Why are you so interested in what I did before I came to Charlottesville?”
Because I’m doing my best to keep you alive, and it sickens me every time I think how close you came to being dead because of me. LuAnn struggled to keep her tone at an even level despite that painful reality. “I’m just a naturally curious person.”
“Well, so am I. And I have a hunch your secrets are a lot more interesting than mine.”
She tried her best to look surprised. “I don’t have any secrets.”
He put down his coffee cup. “I can’t believe you can actually say that with a straight face.”
“I have a lot of money. Some people would like to take it away from me any way they can. That doesn’t exactly qualify for shocker status.”
“So, you’ve concluded the guy in the Honda was a potential kidnapper.”
“Maybe.”
“Funny kidnapper.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about it. The guy looked like a college professor. He rented a place in the area and furnished it. When he attempted to ‘kidnap’ you he wasn’t even wearing a mask. And when I showed up on the scene, instead of hightailing it off, he tried to drive right through me even though he had no chance of catching you. And in my experience most kidnappers don’t work solo. Logistically, it’s difficult to go it alone.”