She changed into a clean pair of jeans and a taupe colored cotton sweater after putting the hamburgers on the grill. She returned to the kitchen to make a salad and pour glasses of iced tea. With a knock at the kitchen door, Caitlin's heart beat faster. "Come in," she said, refusing to look his way and be drawn to him again. This was a business meeting to unravel the mystery surrounding this man. Anyway, her heart belonged to Garrett. "How did you know to use this entrance?" she said, trying to calm her nerves.
"I heard you singing. You have a beautiful voice." Footsteps moved across the floor, but Caitlin ignored him. She kept busy preparing the meal, but erratic breathing made simple tasks near impossible. Heat rushed to her face with the realization someone heard her sing. She only sang in the kitchen when baking or cooking and never within earshot of anyone. Now he had heard.
"Hope you don't mind the informality," she said, setting the plates on the pine table. Something in his dress and manners showed affluence, though he tried hard to keep it hidden.
"I prefer eating in the kitchen too," he said, smiling at her.
Throughout the meal, she stole glances at him and each time he was watching her. She cleared her throat, pretending it did not bother her, but his nearness proved dangerous. Clues remained missing to show what kind of danger and the magnitude of it.
"This is nice of you. Most people around here treat me like I'm diseased."
"They're protective."
"Sometimes that's not so bad, is it?" he asked taking a drink of iced tea. Caitlin shrugged. "Have you lived here all your life?" he asked, in between bites of hamburger.
"Ten years ago I moved to Richmond, but I came back every weekend. This place will always be home."
"When are you going back?"
"I'm not."
"Aren't you fixing the place to sell it?"
"No. I'm building a camp for kids." She rambled about her ideas, but stopped upon seeing the far-off look in his eyes.
He set the burger down and then took a long drink of iced tea. After he wiped his mouth on his napkin he muttered under his breath, "I never expected this." His face turned white, as if he had seen a ghost. He mumbled to himself and wiped his brow.
"Excuse me?" she said.
"Nothing." He tossed the napkin onto the table. "Listen, thanks for supper." He stood and knocked over the chair. "I just remembered I have something to do," he said as he raced out of the kitchen.