“Come on,” Silken said again, her voice more insistent this time. “He’s not going to talk. Didn’t you hear him? Let’s go.”
She could see the hesitation on Suave’s face but finally, sensibly, she backed away and turned toward the door. Silken put her arm around her sister and they headed back to the door.
“Wait.”
They both froze then turned as one to stare at the man in the bed. He lifted a shaking hand to point at them.
“Make sure,” he said in a whispered shout, if there was such a thing, “that you give Mrs. Detlef your contact information.”
Silken looked at Suave and Suave looked back at Silken. They both shrugged. What did it matter anymore? He wasn’t talking so his demand didn’t make much sense. Still, just to humor a very sick man, Silken decided to agree.
“We will,” she said, then with Suave in tow she turned back toward the door and went on her way.
CHAPTER TEN
When Max went to see Silken after a silence of almost a month it was a very different woman that he found that day he walked onto the lot of Steady Auto.
He’d called ahead and got Suave on the office phone so he’d asked her to let Silken know he’d be dropping by. He didn’t ask to speak to her. He didn’t want to risk it. Knowing how contrary Silken could be, she would probably say no.
He’d expected to find her with her head stuck under the hood of a car but this time she was sitting on a boulder in the shade of a tree, a somber look on her face. He walked over and stopped right in front of her.
She looked up and gave him a weak smile. “Hi, stranger,” she said, and he could detect no sarcasm, no impudence, no…Silken.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared down at her. “What’s up?”
She shrugged. “Oh, nothing.” Then she shifted over and jerked her head toward the free space on the boulder.
Taking her up on the invitation, he sat down beside her and looked out over the yard, just like she was doing. “I thought you’d be in the garage, working on a car,” he said, his tone casual.
“Suave told me you were coming over so I decided to take a break.”
He looked across at her. “I’m honored.”
She gave a soft laugh. “Don’t feel too honored. I was tired, anyway.”
Max frowned as he took in her face, the lines between her brows, the slight downturn at the corners of her mouth. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Yeah, well…” She looked away like she didn’t want to continue the conversation.
“Silken, talk to me. What’s going on inside that head of yours?” When she just shook her head, looking crestfallen but saying nothing, he reached over and grasped her hand. Something was definitely wrong but she wasn’t talking…and he needed to find out.
“I…it’s nothing.” She shook her head then she bit her lip.
Now he was beginning to get really concerned…and angry. If something was wrong, why the hell was she acting like a clam? “Don’t give me that ‘it’s nothing’ crap. Tell me what’s wrong or else I’ll talk to Suave,” he fixed his narrowed gaze on her, “and I don’t know if you want that.”
She frowned and tried to pull her hand away but he refused to let her go. She wasn’t going to get off that easily, not without him finding out what was wrong. She pulled again and when she saw that he had no intention of releasing her she gave a defeated sigh.
“Are you going to talk?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not here, not now.” She looked around the yard, her gaze bleak, and she was like a little girl lost.
“We’ll talk tonight then. I can come to see you.”
She shook her hear again. “No, not at my place. I don’t want…Suave to know how upset I am. Somewhere else.”
“Do you want to come over to my house?” He asked the question but he really didn’t want to go there, not after what had happened last time.
She shrugged. “I guess so.” Then she looked up at him. “Is Reed still there?”
“No, he’s been back in London two weeks now.” Would that make a difference to her? They’d be all alone at the house. His eyes roamed her face but there was no change there.
“Okay, I’ll come over. Seven o’clock. I’ll talk to you then.”
Before he could say another word she got up and this time when she pulled her hand he let it slide from his grasp. Then he watched as she walked slowly back to the office.
That evening Max prepared a light dinner for two, grilled salmon with wild rice and asparagus. He had no idea how long Silken planned to stay or even if she would accept his offer of dinner. He would just have to be prepared for anything.
A couple of minutes before the seven o’clock hour his doorbell rang and he went to get it. Silken was there, standing at the entrance like last time, but this time she was alone. And this time she looked quiet and subdued and vulnerable.
He gave her a smile. “Come on in,” he said and opened the door wider so she could step past him.
He took her coat then led her down the hallway to the den, the same place where they’d so recently had their tiff. He hated his living room – too huge, formal and cold. He almost smiled to himself, wondering if for her the den brought back memories. It certainly did for him.
She chose to sit in the single-seater La-Z-Boy.
He remained standing by the door. “Would you like us to talk now?” he asked, “or would you like to share dinner with me? I did a little cooking this evening, if you don’t mind trying it out.”
That made her smile. “You? Cook? You actually know how to turn on the stove?”
“Hey, are you challenging me?” he growled, giving her a hearty glare. “We can do a cook-off anytime, anywhere. Just say when.”
“All right, all right, no need to get competitive.” She put up her hands as if in self-defense but she was laughing. It was good to see a real smile back on her face. “You can cook, I believe it.” She slid out of the chair and onto her feet. “And I’d love to share your dinner.” Then she gave him a wry smile. “To tell the truth, I didn’t feel much like eating today but now I’m starving.”