asleep.
When she woke, bright sunlight was streaming in the window—sunlight that helped banish all the strange and disturbing notions that had been churning around in her head.
She sat up and looked toward the door, then gave a startled exclamation.
Her suitcase and her carry-on, which had been locked in the trunk of the car, were sitting just inside the door. Obviously, while she’d slept, someone had put it there. Janet had said Andre would get them in the morning. So, had he been in her bedroom without her knowing it?
Another thought occurred to her, and she climbed quickly out of bed. The car keys had been in the ignition. Which meant that the trunk might as well have been unlocked. Anyone could have looked through her belongings before they arrived in her room. And the most valuable thing she’d brought along was her computer.
Quickly, she opened the zipper of the carry-on, then breathed out a sigh when she found the laptop still sitting on top of the change of clothing she always brought along on a plane in case her checked luggage was delayed. Sitting next to the carry-on was her purse, and she realized with a start that she’d forgotten all about what might be in there!
First, she thumbed through her wallet. As far as she could tell, no money or credit cards were missing. Her cell phone was also in an inside pocket along with the silver honey bear charm Trevor had given her to tease her about her sweet tooth.
Satisfied that she hadn’t been robbed, she got out toilet articles, clean underwear, and casual top and slacks, then locked the bedroom door before changing her clothing.
###
Andre stretched out his long legs under the kitchen table, trying to appear relaxed. When Janet turned from the stove, she gave him a sympathetic look.
“It’s good you got her suitcases.”
“I knew she’d want her things.”
“Yes.”
The conversation ground to a halt. Andre fiddled with the cutlery in front of him on the table, then put down the spoon he was turning in his hand.
“You’re nervous,” Janet said.
“Why not? I wouldn’t say we had a very calm night.”
Janet nodded. “I’d like to choke Yvonne. Too bad you can’t do something to shoo her away.”
He sighed. “Yes, too bad she’s put a protective charm around her skinny body and her blighted soul.”
“She thinks her reasons for being here are valid,” Janet reminded him.
“Yes,” he admitted, then fell silent again. After several moments he cleared his throat. “What did you think of Morgan Kirkland?”
“She’s pretty. And strong. She’s not easily spooked, I think.”
“Let’s hope not.”
He was about to say something more when the sound of footsteps in the doorway made his head jerk up, and the woman he had been waiting for stepped into the room.
Her gaze swung from him to Janet and back again. “Don’t let me interrupt your conversation.”
“You’re not interrupting anything. Not really,” he said.
###
Morgan stifled the urge to fold her arms across her chest. They had been talking about her. She’d heard that much. But they’d stopped as soon as they’d become aware of her.
Well, it wasn’t exactly surprising that she’d cut off the conversation. Talking about your houseguests wasn’t polite. At least in front of the guest.
But really, nerves had made her voice come out more sharply than she’d intended. It wasn’t just from the conversation she’d interrupted. It was seeing Andre sitting there at the kitchen table looking so much like the Andre in the dream that she couldn’t tell them apart, except for his modern clothing.
She’d been kissing the man in the dream. A lot more than kissing. He’d stroked her breasts, pulled her on top of his body, made her . . ..
She cut off that thought. But she couldn’t prevent the feelings that went with the dream. Linette had been in love with Andre, so in love that she was willing to jeopardize her future for the pleasure of making love with him.
Those weren’t her feelings, she told herself. They belonged to another woman. She pulled herself up short. Linette wasn’t real. Morgan couldn’t blame Linette. The dream had come from somewhere in her subconscious. From when Andre had rescued her from the flood and held her close?
Unable to move forward, she stayed where she was in the doorway. She wanted to keep her distance from Andre. She didn’t want to feel anything for him or get him mixed up with the man in the dream.
“Come sit down,” he said in the deep voice that was his