Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(47)

Noelle sprang to her feet, then squeezed past Meridith. The fact that she didn’t argue was proof something was up.

She couldn’t believe Jake had let Noelle into his room. It was beyond inappropriate. She knew she should confront him, but she had no desire to get into it now. Or ever.

Jake stood, looking too attractive in his white T-shirt and bare feet. “I need to change.”

Meridith headed back the way she’d come. Why had Noelle been in there? And why had she looked so . . . caught?

Meridith could hear her trotting down the back steps, setting off a cacophony of squeaks and groans on the old stairway. She had been smiling when Meridith entered Jake’s room, a rare occurrence, especially lately.

Meridith’s feet faltered on the first step. Of course. Noelle had a crush.

The child was going to get her heart broken—the last thing she needed. And Jake should know better. Surely he could read a girl’s signals. She was sure he had plenty of them tossed his way—she’d seen it herself, with that server at the Atlantic Café.

But what if . . . what if he was . . . some kind of . . . ?

No, not Jake. He wasn’t a pedophile.

But what if . . . ?

She recalled an article that had appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last year. The manager of one of her restaurants convicted of child molestation. He’d have been the last person she’d have suspected of such a horrible crime.

She stopped midway down the steps. She couldn’t take any chances with Noelle. She didn’t want to confront Jake, but this was nothing to be careless about. She had to lay down some rules. And get him out of the house as soon as he finished the fuse box, which she hoped would be soon.

She drew a lungful of oxygen and released it through her mouth. Just get it over with. For Noelle’s sake. Turning purposefully on the stair, she retraced her steps.

When she reached Jake’s room, he was shutting the door, wearing only his pants and his leather corded necklace.

Meridith’s eyes fell to the floor. Her face was hot, and she knew her cheeks were blooming with high color. Great.

“Need something?”

“It can wait until you’re—” She waved her hand in the general direction of his chest.

He opened the door fully and strutted back into his room, snagging his shirt from the dresser. He shrugged back into it.

Meridith stayed in the doorway. She crossed her arms. “I came back to ask why Noelle was in your room.”

Jake leaned against the windowsill. “Think she just needed to talk.”

“Odd that she chose you.” With him silhouetted against the window she couldn’t read his face.

“Thanks.”

“You know what I mean.”

“She lost her parents. She doesn’t seem to have many people to confide in.”

She tried not to take offense, but what was she, chopped liver? “I think there’s more than that.” She wished he’d step away from that window.

“What do you mean?”

Was he really so oblivious? “Surely you see it’s inappropriate to have her in your bedroom.”

He came off the sill, seemed to stretch taller and broader. “You are not thinking I’m some kind of—” He struggled for words.

She didn’t have to see his face. The anger was right there in his voice. “She’s a child.”

His anger eased her mind, and she went back to her first response. “It’s not unusual for a girl to develop a crush on an older man. I don’t want Noelle getting hurt. She’s been hurt enough.”

“The last thing I’d do is hurt that child. You’re worried about nothing. She just needed to talk.”

He seemed sincere. Now that he’d stepped away from the window she could see he was making eye contact with her. He looked as serious as she’d ever seen him.

“Nonetheless, Jake, I can’t have her coming in—”

“I won’t let her in here again. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking.”

He had been helpful and honest so far. She had no reason not to trust him.

“Just be careful not to give her special attention. I don’t want her misreading your signals and getting confused.”

He held up a palm. “I understand.”

“Just so we’re clear.” She gave him a final nod and retreated, glad that part was over. Now she just had to deal with Noelle.

The girl was not going to like Meridith prying around her private life. But maybe Meridith could use this as a chance to bond with her. Maybe, if what Jake said was true, she did need someone to talk to. Maybe Meridith could be that person. If Noelle would only give her a chance.

Meridith checked on Max and Ben on her way to the sink. They were rolling on the ground with Piper, who wasn’t letting loose of the Frisbee. At least they’d changed from their church clothes.

It was only when she saw Noelle standing by the open dishwasher that she realized the girl was still in her dress. “You should probably change out of your pretty dress.”

Noelle looked down as if just realizing she was still wearing it.

“On second thought, how about if you unload and I load?”

Noelle shrugged and began removing glass cereal bowls, stacking them on the counter.

Meridith turned on the tap and waited for the water to warm. When it did, she began scrubbing the dirtiest dishes and filling them with water to soak.