Birthright by Nora Roberts Page B

different from unfriendly. But rude was rude, and his grandfather was very fond of her.
    “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve got some things on my mind.”
    “It shows.” She took another step, then turned back quickly. “Is something wrong with Roger? I’d have heard if—”
    “He’s fine. He’s just fine. Got a thing for him, do you?”
    “A huge thing. I’m crazy about him. Did he tell you how we met?”
    “No.”
    She paused, then laughed. “Okay, don’t nag, I’ll tell you. I wandered into the bookstore a few days after moving here. I was setting up my practice, I’d put my son in day care, and I couldn’t seem to hold two thoughts together. So I went for a walk and ended up in your grandfather’s place. He asked me if he could help me with anything. And I burst into tears. Just stood there, sobbing hysterically. He came around the counter, put his arms around me and let me cry all over him. A complete stranger who was having an emotional breakdown in his place of business.
    “I’ve been in love with him ever since.”
    “That’s just like him. He’s good with strays.” Doug winced. “No offense.”
    “None taken. I wasn’t a stray. I knew where I was, how I’d gotten there and where I needed to go. But at that moment it was all so huge, so heavy, so horrible. And Roger held on to me, and mopped me up. Even when I tried to apologize, he put the Closed sign on the door, took me into the back room. He made tea and he let me tell him everything I was feeling. Things I didn’t even know I was feeling and had never been able to say to anyone else. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for Roger.”
    She paused again. “Even marry you, which is what he’d like. So watch yourself.”
    “Jesus.” Instinctively, he took a step in retreat. “What am I supposed to say to that?”
    “You could ask me to dinner. It’d be nice to have a meal or two together before we start planning the wedding.” The look on his face was so perfect, so priceless, so utterly filled with male horror, she laughed until her sides ached.
    “Relax, Doug, I haven’t started buying place settings. Yet. I just thought it fair to tell you, if you haven’t figured it out, that Roger’s got this fantasy in his mind about youand me. He loves us, so he figures we’re perfect for each other.”
    He considered. “Nothing I say at this point could possibly be the right thing to say. I’m shutting up.”
    “Just as well, I’m running behind. And I want a quick look at the progress before I head back to the office.” She started toward the fence, glanced back with a brilliant smile. “Why don’t you meet me for dinner tonight? The Old Antietam Inn. Seven o’clock?”
    “I don’t think—”
    “Scared?”
    “Hell, no, I’m not scared. It’s just—”
    “Seven o’clock. My treat.”
    He jiggled the car keys still in his pocket and frowned after her. “You always this pushy?”
    “Yes,” she called back. “Yes, I am.”
    M oments after Lana got back to her office, Callie walked into it. Ignoring the assistant at the desk in the outer office, Callie looked straight through the connecting doorway to Lana’s.
    “I need to talk to you.”
    “Sure. Lisa? Put off making that call for me until I’m done with Dr. Dunbrook. Come on in, Callie. Have a seat. Want something cold?”
    “No. No, thanks.” She shut the door at her back.
    The office was small, and pretty, tidy, female as a parlor.
    The window behind the fancy little desk looked over a park. Which told Callie however low the real estate market in a town this size, Lana Campbell had enough money for a prime spot, and the good taste to use it stylishly.
    It didn’t tell her Lana was a good lawyer.
    “Where’d you study?” Callie demanded.
    Lana took a seat, leaned back. “Undergraduate work at Michigan State. I transferred to University of Maryland after I met my husband. He was a Marylander. I got my law degree there, as he did.”
    “Why did you