sat on the same wooden table. The jar was different, but the rocks were the same smooth circular stones he’d collected from the lake as a child. He opened the top and plunged his hand into the center. The small plastic baggie rustled against his fingers and he pulled it out. The key remained inside.
Troy stepped up to the back door and tried the lock. The key turned easily and the door swung open. He glanced inside, amazed at the transformation. The whole place had been redone. The new state-of-the-art kitchen had dark brown granite countertops, oak cabinets and stainless steel appliances. His uncle had gone all out. Troy opened the front door for Julie, who still waited by the car.
“I guess you found the key,” she said, limping toward him.
He liked her tenacity. Liked the fact that she didn’t want to be coddled. She hated the crutches and would rather suffer some extra aches and pains instead of deal with them. Of course he’d never seen anyone with less ability when it came to crutches. The thought made him smile.
“Found it.” He held it up, then slipped it in his pocket before helping her up the three steps onto the porch.
She walked inside and stopped as she looked around. A giant double-sided stone fireplace created a centerpiece in the middle of the huge great room. “Wow. Nice.”
“This used to be the majority of the place,” Troy said. “The whole back end and left side is the new addition.” He shook his head, amazed at the change. “I’ll get the bags.” He headed for the door.
“I’m going to look around,” Julie said.
Troy brought in the groceries first, then came back with their bags and set them in the master bedroom. Another bedroom had been added on with the renovation of the back of the house, but the bunk beds held zero appeal, and who was he kidding anyway when it came to his sleeping arrangements where Julie was concerned? He didn’t know what the hell was happening between them, but damn if he wanted to see it end.
He found Julie putting away their groceries. With hardly any makeup, she looked like a million bucks. Her tan cargo pants allowed room for the bandage on her thigh, but the hip-hugging fit showed off her slim waist. The sweater she wore gave her a farm girl innocence that cut straight to his gut.
“Okay,” she said. “We’re here. Are you going to give your uncle a call or are we keeping him in the dark too?”
“I didn’t want you to tell anyone, and I hadn’t planned on it either. Let’s wait a couple of days and see how I feel.”
“Spoken like a true bodyguard.” She folded the last bag and set it atop the others. “Now what?”
He could think of a few things, but he wanted to check out the premises. No one knew where they were, but if one of those ladies in the market realized who Julie was and put two and two together, he needed options.
Of course he also needed to tell her the truth about himself. It was bound to come out eventually and now that they were off the road and he had her alone, he could explain things better. Make her understand how he never intended to deceive her. But first things first.
“Now, I walk around and see what else is new here. You can watch television. Take a nap. Take a bath...” The memories of their tub time filled his brain with all sorts of ideas and watching her flush made him want to sweep her off her feet and go for a replay, except her stitches made that impossible.
“I’d rather go with you,” she said, shifting on her feet. She needed to get off her bad leg.
“You sure? Maybe you should park it on the sofa. I’ll find your books and scripts and bring them over.”
She cocked her head to the side, studying him in that way she did that made him feel exposed, as if she saw straight through him. Something weighed on her mind. Probably the same thing that weighed on his.
The phone in the kitchen rang and Julie jumped a mile at the high pitch. She slapped a hand over her heart. “Who could be calling?” she asked.
“I have no idea.” Troy let the answering machine in the corner of the countertop do its job. A familiar voice came over the line.
“Troy, are you there? Pick up the phone if you are.