reaction to battle encoded DNA-deep, to celebrate life after risking death by joining bodies and celebrating life. She might not be immune to biological imperatives, but it didn’t mean she had to succumb. She’d known she risked much to challenge him—she’d simply mistaken the full extent of the cost.
Cold, rational thought, Jillian. No temper, no passion, no fancies. Admit that he makes your blood sizzle and move on.
Drawing the frayed ends of her control together, Jillian emerged from the shower and heard a knock at the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Alice, the housekeeper. Shall I come back?”
Thank God. A distraction. A human voice. “No, it’s fine, just give me a minute.” Hurriedly, she slipped on a thick terry robe, then walked to the door, toweling her hair. Reaching for the knob, she opened it to a small woman with black, curly hair and a smile.
“I’m sorry if this is a bad time. I came to tidy your rooms.”
“Sure, come in. Will I be in your way?”
“Oh, no. I work around people all the time.” With a cheery smile, the woman set down her carryall and pulled out a rag to start dusting the furniture.
Jillian wasn’t sure what to do with a housekeeper. Stay out of the way? Go back to her business? “Uh...I’ll be in there,” she said, pointing to the bathroom. “Let me know when you need me to move.” Then she paused and held out a hand. “I’m Jillian. You’re...Alice, did you say?”
Nodding, Alice seemed startled, then smiled and shook Jillian’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Jillian.”
Her smile warmed Jillian. Such a little thing, but it made her realize how much she’d missed the little things, small talk, simple, genuine smiles. How did these people stand being cooped up in this place? They might as well be prisoners.
Eager to enjoy more, Jillian didn’t leave but rather, trailed behind Alice.
The woman glanced up. “Can I help you with something?”
“No, I was just—have you worked here long?” Oh, brother. Cullinane’s probably made them all sign some secret pledge not to reveal anything to anyone.
Alice’s smile was strained, and Jillian wondered why. “Three years. It’s a very good job for me. I have four children and no husband to help me.”
“Do you live far away?”
“No, I live on the grounds, in an apartment above the garage.”
“Doesn’t it—don’t you get tired of it?”
Alice looked amused. “Of living in the countryside instead of the dump I could afford in the worst neighborhood in the city?” She shook her head. “No. My children are safe here, and they can attend good schools.” A slight frown crossed her face, then her eyes filled.
“Are you all right?”
Alice shook her head, reaching into her pocket for a tissue and blowing her nose daintily. “I’m sorry. It’s just that...”
“Please,” Jillian gestured to the chair nearby, “please sit down.”
“I shouldn’t— You can’t...”
“Can’t what? Can’t listen?” It was wonderful to think about someone else’s problems instead of her own. “Of course I can, if you’d like to talk.” She tried another tack. “It must be very difficult, being a single parent.”
Alice settled on the edge of the chair, tears spilling over. “Oh, yes. Yes, it is.” She looked stricken. “They’re wonderful children, don’t get me wrong.”
“How many boys and girls?”
Alice brightened. “Two boys, my older one, J.T., is twelve.” A shadow darkened her eyes for a moment. “Adam, my other son, is nine. He looks up to J.T. so much.” Again the sadness. “I have two daughters, Lily, who is seven, and Mary Beth, my little one, just turned five.”
And J.T. is giving you trouble. “A boy of twelve...it must be difficult, having no father to help with him.”
“He’s a good boy, but lately...” Alice shook her head, voice lowering to a whisper. “I thought this place would protect him, but I’m seeing bad things now. He’s hanging around with some
Cold, rational thought, Jillian. No temper, no passion, no fancies. Admit that he makes your blood sizzle and move on.
Drawing the frayed ends of her control together, Jillian emerged from the shower and heard a knock at the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Alice, the housekeeper. Shall I come back?”
Thank God. A distraction. A human voice. “No, it’s fine, just give me a minute.” Hurriedly, she slipped on a thick terry robe, then walked to the door, toweling her hair. Reaching for the knob, she opened it to a small woman with black, curly hair and a smile.
“I’m sorry if this is a bad time. I came to tidy your rooms.”
“Sure, come in. Will I be in your way?”
“Oh, no. I work around people all the time.” With a cheery smile, the woman set down her carryall and pulled out a rag to start dusting the furniture.
Jillian wasn’t sure what to do with a housekeeper. Stay out of the way? Go back to her business? “Uh...I’ll be in there,” she said, pointing to the bathroom. “Let me know when you need me to move.” Then she paused and held out a hand. “I’m Jillian. You’re...Alice, did you say?”
Nodding, Alice seemed startled, then smiled and shook Jillian’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, Jillian.”
Her smile warmed Jillian. Such a little thing, but it made her realize how much she’d missed the little things, small talk, simple, genuine smiles. How did these people stand being cooped up in this place? They might as well be prisoners.
Eager to enjoy more, Jillian didn’t leave but rather, trailed behind Alice.
The woman glanced up. “Can I help you with something?”
“No, I was just—have you worked here long?” Oh, brother. Cullinane’s probably made them all sign some secret pledge not to reveal anything to anyone.
Alice’s smile was strained, and Jillian wondered why. “Three years. It’s a very good job for me. I have four children and no husband to help me.”
“Do you live far away?”
“No, I live on the grounds, in an apartment above the garage.”
“Doesn’t it—don’t you get tired of it?”
Alice looked amused. “Of living in the countryside instead of the dump I could afford in the worst neighborhood in the city?” She shook her head. “No. My children are safe here, and they can attend good schools.” A slight frown crossed her face, then her eyes filled.
“Are you all right?”
Alice shook her head, reaching into her pocket for a tissue and blowing her nose daintily. “I’m sorry. It’s just that...”
“Please,” Jillian gestured to the chair nearby, “please sit down.”
“I shouldn’t— You can’t...”
“Can’t what? Can’t listen?” It was wonderful to think about someone else’s problems instead of her own. “Of course I can, if you’d like to talk.” She tried another tack. “It must be very difficult, being a single parent.”
Alice settled on the edge of the chair, tears spilling over. “Oh, yes. Yes, it is.” She looked stricken. “They’re wonderful children, don’t get me wrong.”
“How many boys and girls?”
Alice brightened. “Two boys, my older one, J.T., is twelve.” A shadow darkened her eyes for a moment. “Adam, my other son, is nine. He looks up to J.T. so much.” Again the sadness. “I have two daughters, Lily, who is seven, and Mary Beth, my little one, just turned five.”
And J.T. is giving you trouble. “A boy of twelve...it must be difficult, having no father to help with him.”
“He’s a good boy, but lately...” Alice shook her head, voice lowering to a whisper. “I thought this place would protect him, but I’m seeing bad things now. He’s hanging around with some
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