For the next week, she tried to stay too busy to think about him. In her spare time she read "The Lonely Hills." Elizabeth Cade was a lonely woman - lonely and unhappy. Cynthia closed the book and gazed out the window. Why didn't his mother see the beauty of the ranch? She crossed to the window and stood watching another majestic sunset.
Vaguely she heard Cade close his book and cross the room. He stood beside her and they both watched Mother Nature's display in rapt silence. Finally she spoke.
"It's so beautiful. Don't you think?"
"Yes." Something about his tone made her glance up and she caught him watching her instead of the sunset. He reached out and took one of her curls in his hand. "Just like burnished copper."
She smiled up at him shyly. "I was talking about the sunset."
His eyes crinkled and a smile played at the corners of his mouth. She was flirting with him and he knew it. She could see it in his eyes.
She tugged the curl from his hand and turned to the old piano as a diversion tactic.
"Did your mother play?"
He nodded. "Do you?"
She laughed softly. "Chop sticks."
A brow quirked and he motioned to the bench. "Have a seat. Let's play a duet, then."
She made her way clumsily through one episode and then watched as his long fingers moved gracefully over the keys. The tune was haunting and yet somehow soothing. He coaxed one melody after another from the old piano until finally he folded the lid down.
"That's enough. I don't want to bore you to death. It's getting late."
"I'm not bored, but it is getting late."
"And tomorrow is a long day. I'm trying to get everything caught up so I can spend a little time with Claudette."
"Are you beginning to looking forward to seeing her?"
He shook his head and ran his fingers along the rich top of the piano. "No."
"But she's your sister. You must have had some good times."
"Not really." He stretched. "See you in the morning."
She watched his tall figure move gracefully down the hall, forcing unwelcome warmth to crawl up her neck. Some people lived their entire lives without ever being close to anyone. Maybe he simply wasn't capable of having a relationship deeper than surface friendship. At any rate, it was none of her business. A fact he had made abundantly clear.
When Claudette arrived, the room was finished and the house in order. Cade answered the door and ushered his sister into the family room where Cynthia was doing some last minute dusting. She glanced up as they entered - and then stared.