Kaleidoscope Eyes (29 page)

Amberly’s fidgeting stilled, and soon her breathing was deep and even. Bree cuddled her daughter close.

Mark and Annie couldn’t have been more right. This was exactly what she needed.

Annie sat on top of the picnic table, sketch pad in her lap, pencil flying as she transferred images of Jayce and Kodi from reality to the paper.

Good thing Jayce had asked to stay with her over the weekend. He was the perfect model for helping her get body positions and movement down before she tried to create them in glass. It was one thing to look. at photos and books and another entirely to watch the way someone moved, the interplay of bone and muscle, the flow of athletic grace.

Jayce waved at her, and Annie nodded, unwilling to stop the sketching, even as he trotted toward her, Kodi at his side. She’d filled several pages already, but she needed more. Serafina’s window was coming together, piece by piece. But there was still so much to do. So much to figure out. Too much of the pattern, the images, were vague impressions in her mind. She needed to get as much as she could out of her head and down on paper.

“Drink break,” Jayce gasped.

She realized he was dripping sweat and jumped off the picnic table. “Oh, Jayce, I’m so sorry!”

He swiped an arm across his wet brow. “Not to worry, Auntie A. Buy me a mondo Dr. Pepper and I’ll forgive you.”

“Deal.” She gathered her sketch pad and pencils and slipped them into the backpack as Jayce clipped Kodi’s leash in place. “And do me a favor?”

Her nephew grinned at her. “Sure. What?”

She hiked the backpack onto one shoulder. “Don’t tell your folks I almost ran you into the ground at the dog park, okay?”

Jayce’s blue eyes sparkled. “Well, I don’t know … ”

“I’ll buy you a burger and fries to go with your pop.”

Ah, nothing like food to bribe a teenage boy. Jayce licked his lips. “Toss in a chocolate sundae, and you’ve got a deal.”

“Done.”

“You know what?” Jayce led Kodi from the dog park and fell into step beside Annie.

“What’s that?”

His grin spread from ear to ear. “I’d have settled for just the burger and fries.”

“Yeah? Well,
you
know what?”

“What?”

She poked him with her elbow. “I’d have bought you
two
burgers and
four
sundaes to duck another lecture from your dad.”

Jayce raised his gaze to the skies. “Now she tells me!”

“Live and learn, grasshopper.” She tossed an arm around his shoulders. “Never give in too soon.”

TWENTY-EIGHT        

H
e watched them, excitement curling deep in his gut.

He’d been right. Right to come here. Right to come after her.

She was the one. The one he’d been searching for. The one who would make everything right again.

The only question now was how …

How to get to her. She was surrounded by family at all times. Protected, as one so precious should be. But that wouldn’t stop him.

He had to have her. And have her he would.

The notes had set the stage. Now that he’d found his star, all he had to do was put his plan into action. Tomorrow.

“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow … ”

He could hardly wait.

TWENTY-NINE        

O
CTOBER
13

8:30 a.m.

He had to tell Annie the truth.

Jed hated the idea with every ounce of his being. Would sell everything he possessed to not do it. He’d sat here in the restaurant, mainlining coffee, for the last two hours, trying to devise a way out of it.

All of which told him he had to do it.

Not because of any supposed guilt. Not because it was, in some biblical sense, the right thing to do. But because he cared about Annie. More than he’d imagined possible after knowing her for so short a time. It was as though everything inside him had been waiting for her to bring it to life. Pushy, demanding, impossible life.

He slurped another swallow of coffee, not caring that it nearly scalded his tongue, then focused on the TV above the bar. An old black and white western was on. Jed had never really liked those old movies, but suddenly he was nearly overcome with a longing for life that simple. A life where there were no grays and the good guys and bad guys were clearly delineated.

What part would you play in such a world? Certainly not one of the good guys.
Jed swirled the coffee in his mug.

No. Certainly not.

He’d never considered himself a bad guy before. He’d always been sure his hat was pure white. But now … well, there was no other way to see it.

He was covered in black. What had he
done
to himself?

No, that wasn’t right. He hadn’t done this. Annie had. She’d ruined everything.

He’d been so content alone. So sure utter avoidance was the safest way to deal with the roiling waters of relationships—waters that upended his parents’ marriage, drowning it in churning anger and hurt.

And now? He couldn’t close his eyes without seeing her face. Couldn’t listen to music without hearing the melody of her laughter. As for fathoming one more day—let alone an entire future—alone, without her?

Yeah. Right.

So quit whining about it, Curry. Work through it What are your options?

Options. Okay. As he saw it, he had two: Walk away before he got in too deep. Or tell her the truth.

If he took the first option, Silas would never let him forget how he’d wasted his time and the backers’ money His career would suffer. The show would suffer.

Jed plunked his coffee mug back on the table with a bang. Who was he kidding?
He’d
suffer. Before he got in too deep? He was there, man. And beyond. He was so deep he’d never get out. Forget option one.

Which left him where he was about two pots of coffee ago: He had to tell Annie the truth. Best case scenario, she’d understand. She was a loving, giving woman. She’d see he had no choice. He needed her for the show, and the only way that would happen was to get her to trust him. So he’d come to her, pretended to be someone he wasn’t, lied to her, deceived her …

Jed rubbed his throbbing temples. Oh, man. This was not going to be pretty.

“Got a headache?”

He glanced up to find Andy standing beside the table. Jed pushed out a chair with his foot. “Take a load off.” He nodded toward the TV “Your favorite kind of show is on.”

Andy turned. “Westerns? Outstanding!” He grabbed the chair and shifted it to the side so he could watch the TV then laid a tape on the table and eyed Jed as he sat down. “You were up early.”

Jed leaned forward to stare into his mug. People read tea leaves, right? Maybe he could read the coffee grounds to find out what he should do. “I had a lot on my mind.”

Andy didn’t comment. Just perused the menu, signaled the waiter, and ordered the “Hungry Man’s Feast”: pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon, OJ, and coffee. “Oh, and can I have one of those big cinnamon rolls too, please?”

Jed grimaced as the waiter walked away “How can you eat all of that?”

“How can you not?” Andy pulled one of the empty chairs close and propped his feet on it. “I take it you’re not eating?”

The grimace deepened. “I’m not hungry.”

“Uh-huh. I’ve heard a first course of crow can do that to a man.”

Jed didn’t dignify that with a response.

“So what’s up?”

He met Andy’s assessing gaze. “Don’t you want to watch your western?”

“I’ve seen this one before. Now spill. What’s up?”

“Anyone ever tell you you’re too perceptive by half?”

“Yeah. You.”

The waiter returned to fill Andy’s coffee mug. Andy stopped him when the cup was half full. “We’ll need more creamer too.”

The waiter glanced at the table, then moved the little pitcher of cream in front of Andy—who upended half the cream into his mug, then set it down. “Like I said, we’ll need more.”

With wide-eyed assent, the waiter moved away as Andy lifted the sugar and sent a stream chasing after the creamer. He stirred the concoction, then took a long, appreciative drink. “Ah.” He smacked his lips. “Perfect.”

Jed cocked his head. “No actual coffee beans were injured in the creation of this drink.”

“Hey, it’s better than the sludge you call coffee.”

“If you say so.”

“I do, and you know I’m always right. Speaking of which … ” He nudged the tape he’d set on the table toward Jed.

“What’s this?”

“Something I put together for you.” Andy’s eyes stayed fixed on him. “Something you need to watch.”

Jed set the tape beside his coffee mug. “Sure. I’ll get to it soon.”

“Get to it now.”

He frowned. “It’s that important?”

Andy didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. Jed saw the answer in his steady stare.

It was that important.

“Okay, let me finish my coffee, and I’ll go back to the room and check it out.”

That must have satisfied Andy, because he turned his focus to the TV Good. Jed didn’t feel like answering any more questions.

“You’re going to tell her, aren’t you?”

Jed opened his mouth to tell Andy to mind his own stinkin’ business, but something entirely different came out: “I’ve got to. It’s gonna drive me nuts if I don’t.”

“Good.”

“That it’s driving me crazy?”

Andy inclined his head, though his gaze was fixed on the TV
“Yeah, that too. Proves there’s hope for yo—”

Jed jumped when Andy’s hand shot out and grabbed, his arm. “What are you
doing?”
He tried to pry Andy’s hand loose, but the younger man’s grip just tightened.

“Jed!”

“Will you let go of me?”

“
Jed
, look!”

He turned to glance up at the TV and froze.

Annie.

Annie was on the TV And Kodi.

Andy scrambled for the TV remote, leaning on the bar as he turned up the volume just in time to catch Jed’s voice.

“… most riveting episode
of Everyday Heroes
yet. Don’t miss it.”

Stark realization sapped the color from his face. Jed could feel it just drain away as he stared at the screen. Though the commercial had ended, he couldn’t look away.

“Oh man … ”

Andy’s groan echoed the sick feeling coursing through Jed. “They used it. I can’t believe they used it.”

“Of course, they used it!” Andy punched the TV off and dropped the remote on the bar. “I
told
you not to send that to Silas. Any executive producer worth his salt would do exactly what Silas did.
Use
it! What are we going to do now? They’re advertising a show we haven’t filmed yet!”

Jed reached numb fingers into his shirt pocket and tugged his cell phone free. He hit speed dial and waited. Silas answered after the first ring. Jed didn’t even say it was him. He just blurted the only thing he could think of to say.

“Silas, are you out of your freakin’ mind?”

“Jed, my boy! I take it you’ve seen the ad, eh?”

“Silas—”

“We’re getting great reactions so far. The execs figure we’ll pull some serious demographics. Well done, boy. Well done!”

“No! Not well done!”

“Now, don’t start doubting yourself. Believe me, I’ve learned
to trust those instincts of yours. You were right on the money—and the network execs have cleared a spot just for your show during sweeps week.”