Come Gentle the Dawn by Lindsay McKenna Page A

time Jeff reached out and touched her arm or shoulder. Brie didn’t seem to mind it, but Linc did. She and Jeff sounded like the best of friends, and Linc’s scowl deepened.
    “Listen, Jeff, I’ve got a favor to ask of you,” Brie said, gently placing Homely Homer in her cage.
    “Name it. I’m yours forever anyway.”
    “You’ve got problems then. Seriously…”
    Jeff grinned lopsidedly and rocked on his heels, his hands resting on his narrow hips. “I’m always serious where you’re concerned, Brie. You know that.”
    “Oh, go practice those lines on the women you’re stalking, and not on me!”
    He had the good grace to blush slightly. “I’m still too chicken to go after Elaine down at the FM’s office. Gotta keep polishing my lines until they sound genuine and not like a line,” he complained.
    Brie rested her hand on Jeff’s shoulder, giving him a playful shake. “I’m sure Linc can help you in that department. Listen, I want you to take Linc around Canton and help him find an apartment or house this afternoon. Will you do that for me? I’ve got a lot of paperwork to catch up on here while you’re gone.”
    Jeff cast Linc a conspiratorial look. “Now we’ve got her where we want her,” he said in a dramatic stage whisper.
    “What are you mumbling about, Jeff?” she demanded, placing the lid on the baby-food jar.
    “Linc, tell Brie that if she doesn’t have her world-famous chicken barbecue ready tonight when we get back, we aren’t going anywhere. We’ll just sit here underfoot all day and drive her buggy.”
    Brie groaned. “Jeff!”
    “I want an apartment, not chicken barbecue.”
    “Man, do you have lousy taste. Anyway,” Jeff said archly, centering all his attention on Brie, “no chicken barbecue, no driver for Linc.”
    “Laughlin, you’re such a—”
    “Yeah, I know. And you love me anyway, don’t you?”
    With a shake of her head, Brie slipped past him. “All right! You’re such an arm twister, Laughlin.”
    Jeff leaned against the doorjamb, watching her move down the hall. He turned to Linc, a loose smile on his face. “I’ll tell you what, Linc. You got the best person in the world to train you. Brie is one of a kind. She’s special. Actually, I’m envious you’re getting her for a partner and I’m not.”
    Linc remained sitting lazily on the desk, hands resting against his thighs. “Luck of the draw, I guess,” he said in a neutral tone. Brie reappeared, drying her hands on a towel. It struck him deeply how domesticated she really was, and that knowledge sent a ribbon of warmth through him.
    “Hey, Brie, what happened to your bedroom door?” Jeff asked. “Did you run into it last night?”
    Brie froze, all the happiness slipping from her eyes, her face draining of color. She flashed a pleading look at Linc.
    “When we got home last night it was stuck shut,” Linc lied in an off-the-cuff tone, rising to his feet. “I used a little too much force unsticking it and nearly took it off the bottom hinge.”
    Jeff nodded, standing. “This is an old house. I told Brie one day it would start shifting on its foundation and then the windows and doors would start jamming.”
    Linc saw relief flood Brie’s waxen features. Obviously, Jeff knew nothing of her emotional problems from the explosion. He reached out, guiding Jeff out of the room and away from the sore spot of conversation. Brie didn’t need any more stress than was already hanging over her head like a scimitar. “Look, there’s the Sunday paper on top of that rolltop desk in the living room. Would you mind getting it for me?” Linc asked Jeff.
    “Sure. Tell you what. My pickup is parked out front. I’ll get the paper and meet you out there so we can start your house hunt.” Jeff leaned over, kissing Brie’s cheek. “See you later, doll face.”
    Brie barely nodded, her dark eyes centered on Linc as they stood in the dim hall. How easily Linc had lied for her benefit. And if she hadn’t known it