Again (20 page)

“Grow the hell up, Brandi,” she spat out softly.
 
Eryn slowly slid the window closed and rolled down the blinds, then padded quietly to the bed and crawled back under the covers.

She pressed her fingers to her eyes, squeezing them tight.
 
In the morning she would finish editing Troy’s pictures.
 
After that she’d let him know there would be no more photographs.
 
She had to, if she was to make everyone happy again.
 
If that was even possible!
 
Why did things have to be so complicated?
 
She shivered in spite of the warm night and moved closer to Bryce.
 
His breathing remained deep.
 
She pressed her back to his and hugged her pillow hard against her chest.

Tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes, slow and hot.
 
She felt so lost, so defeated.
 
Beside her Bryce was quiet and his steady breathing infuriated her.
 
Damn you, Bryce! Why won’t you take my side on this?

It was after midnight by the time she heard the cars start up and drive away.
 
She pulled the covers over her head and finally drifted off to sleep.

She walked slowly on a long stretch of white sand.
 
It was quiet here. Serene. The ocean was calm with the waves gently rolling onto the shore, leaving whispering secrets in the sand.
 
A lone figure stood on the edge of the water farther down the beach, hands in pockets, looking out at the ocean, looking for something or someone.
 
His black pants and white shirt billowed in unison and his hair was swept back by the ocean breeze.
 
Her heart quickened.
 
She had found him!
 
Or did he find her?
 
In a moment she was standing beside him and without a word he took her in his arms and held her close.
 
She felt comfort there as she buried her head on his shoulder.
 
She knew he understood her.
 
She closed her eyes, feeling protected and secure.
 
She had no desire to leave.
 
Ever.
 
She was home.

≈

Eryn woke up gradually the next morning, savoring the peacefulness that blanketed her.
 
The dreams were becoming more and more real.
 
She could feel his arms around her, feel her cheek against his chest.

She tried to make sense of it.
 
These dreams were a part of her now, connecting her to a past with this man.
 
Memories of long ago intertwined with her present in one continuous strand of events.
 
When she was dreaming, it was just the two of them.
 
With him, she felt whole.
 
No words needed to pass between them.
 
Though he was quite possibly the most beautiful man she has ever seen, the attraction went beyond the physical.
 
It was as though their souls blended.
   
One half of a whole.
 
Twin souls.

The sheets next to her were cool now, the heat of Bryce’s body long gone.
 
But it didn’t matter anymore.
 
She was tired of his distrust.
 
Tired of the distance he put between the two of them.
 
It doesn’t matter how much she tried, because he certainly wasn’t.

She drew a long breath and let it out quickly.
 
She had some very unpleasant business to take care of today.
 
She pressed her hands to her face, slowly drawing them across her eyes and to her temples and rubbing them in anticipation of a headache that undoubtedly would attack soon.
 
How was she going to tell Troy she was dropping him as a client?

She dragged herself out of bed, shuffled out of the room and went downstairs, letting her feet land with a thud on each stair.

Once in her office she found Troy’s phone number and picked up the phone.
 
She hesitated with every number she touched, wondering what she was going to say.
 
She pushed the last number and held her breath.

Each passing ring upped the notch of tension in her neck.
 
Would he understand?
 
Would he try to convince her to stay on as his photographer?
 
Probably.
 
When the ringing stopped and his recorded message began, she let out her breath, relieved.
 

“You chicken,” she muttered and then said out loud, “Hi, Troy.
 
This is Eryn.
 
I have a few pictures left to edit and then I’ll get them to you right away.”
 
She bit her lip before going on.
 
“I need to cancel next week’s session…and I can’t reschedule.
 
I’m sorry for the short notice.”
 
She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers.
 
There was nothing more she could say.
 
“Goodbye, Troy.”
 

She hung up.
 
She just knew that her message wasn’t going to be well-received.

Chapter 20

The darkened room lit up briefly as lightning slashed through the night sky, illuminating the heavy drops of rain that splattered down upon the soaked ground.  Galen breathed in the moist air.  In spite of the disturbance outside, he had never felt more at peace.  Of late Catherine had seemed more open and more responsive to him.  She was less reserved and smiled more these days past.  He joined her on frequent rides over the hillside or shared a meal at the cliffs, and evenings passed quietly in the great hall reading poetry or telling stories.

He was able to dismiss his haunting vision of the merchant kissing Catherine’s hand, now that he realized his concern was for naught.
 
He had seen Catherine and Emelie ride fiercely out of the gates the morning after they dined with Lord Oakley, and thinking perhaps Catherine was upset by the events of the evening, he had followed them when they did not return right away.  He had stood in the shelter of the trees beyond the port and watched with growing unease as Catherine - his Catherine! - and the handsome merchant stood too close together and exchanged words he could not hear.  Jealousy had raged within him, but when he saw no response from Catherine, Galen quelled his desire to challenge the man. 

Now he laughed out loud, relieved that his fears were unfounded.  Catherine was his and always had been, he thought.  She just needed more time.
 
He straightened his tunic and smoothed back his hair.

There was a frantic knock and the door flung open before Galen could move.

“Oh, Galen!”  Sara closed the door, and stared at him, her eyes wide.

Sara had become dramatic of late, he mused, and this could very well be another performance.
 
Still, he was compelled to ask.  “What is it, Sara?”
 

She threw herself in his arms.  “Galen, I was so scared!”  She clung tightly to his waist, her face pressed to his chest.

Wary now, he reached behind his back and released her grip.  Though she held tightly, she was no match for his strength.
 
He distanced himself from her, eyeing her closely.

“What frightened you?”

“There was a noise beyond my wardrobe.
 
It was a horrible scratching noise!”

He rolled his eyes.
 
“Tis likely nothing more than rats you heard scurrying about, Sara,” he said, trying to hide his annoyance.

Hands clasped tightly together, she gazed at him from beneath her eyelashes.  “Do you really think so?”

A crack of light, followed by a thunderous boom, shook the air.

With a shriek, Sara flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him once again.  “Please hold me, Galen.”
 
She looked up at him through fluttering eyelashes, lips slightly parted.

A poor performance after all, Galen thought.  Sara was anything but a frightened girl.  In fact, he had never known her to be afraid of anything.  What was she playing at?

He pushed her away from him and said as softly as his mood would allow, “I am not a pawn in whatever game this is, Sara.
 
You know where my heart lies.
 
I will always be true to your sister.”
 
He scowled at her.
 
“You would do well to remember that.”

Her thin hands dragged across her face, wiping away tears that were not there.  “Think you that she pines for you?”
 
Her voice turned soft as she reached out to touch his arm.
 
“You speak of loyalty, but that is a word Catherine does not understand, not as I do.”

Galen flinched, drawing his arm back.
 
“And you know of this word, Sara?” he said with disbelief.

She added, softer yet, “I would pledge my life and my body to you, Galen.”
 
Stepping closer, she whispered.
 
“Let me show you.”

His gray eyes turned stone cold.
 
“You show your loyalty by trying to seduce me?”

Sara squared her shoulders and stepped back.
 
“She plays you for the fool, Galen.
 
You did not see the way they looked at each other!”

“They?”
 
Galen growled.
 
“What do you mean?”

“The merchant,” she spat out.
 
“The captain of
La Helena.
”

Galen grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around.
 
“I will not discuss this with you, Sara.”
 
He thrust her towards the door.
 
“Go join the others in the hall.
 
I will be down shortly.”

He quickly closed the door, but not before he saw the look of satisfaction on her face.
 
Leaning hard on one hand against the door, he closed his eyes firmly against the doubt, which like a faint mist, settled in the corners of his mind and in his heart.
 
Could he believe Sara’s words?
 
No, he thought firmly.
 
Sara was a manipulative little chit and what she said could only have been born from the resentment she seemed to have toward Catherine.
 

Galen pushed himself away from the door, shoving his hand through his hair.
 
Catherine held his heart.
 
There would never be another woman for him, and he was fair certain she now felt the same.
 
He swung the door open and made his way to the great hall.
 
He would see her tonight and show her how much he cared.

≈

Catherine stood at the entrance to the hall, smiling at the gaiety within.  This night was in honor of the people of the village.
 
Her suggestion to hold such a gathering had been met with some hesitation by her father and Galen, but she had persisted.
 
She insisted the villagers should reap the benefits of their lord’s generosity, if only for one night.
 

The hearth was filled with cut wood, the flame within blazing tall, chasing away the dampness with its heat and light.  She looked around the great hall, satisfied to see that tonight they were as one.
 
After such a dreary day of constant rain, a night of festivities would lift everyone’s spirits.

Her father and Galen had already seated themselves at the high table and were flanked by the knights who had pledged themselves to her father.  Galen sat with quiet reserve among the others, who laughed and raised their tankards in unison, clearly enjoying one another’s company.

Catherine’s gaze fell upon Galen.
 
This evening he had taken much care with his appearance, perhaps more than usual, she thought.
 
His chosen color of deep blue did well to contrast with his golden hair that hung loosely about his shoulders.  She could find no fault in him.  The fault truly was with her.  How could she fail to be stirred by a man such as he?  He gave her his heart and soul as well as his protection.  His kisses had lost their hesitancy and grown more daring, more passionate lately, but still they could not rouse a flame within her.  Each time when she pulled away, could he not feel dissatisfaction?  Though she enjoyed being in his arms, she knew she failed to return as much passion as he gave.

As if sensing her, Galen’s watchful eyes roamed the room and when they lit upon Catherine, he transformed.
 
His eyes shone and his face relaxed.  He rose quickly and crossed the room, his eyes focused only on her.

“Catherine, you look beautiful tonight.”  He took her hands in his and lightly kissed her forehead.  “Come.
 
Allow me to escort you.”  He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led her to the table, seating her next to her father.  Galen joined in more fully now with the conversation before them.  His smile reached his eyes, as it always did when she was by his side.