Love's Battle (True Blue Trilogy) (13 page)

Sitting by myself I wondered what the mysterious Hope Howard, by way of my mother had planned. There was only one way to find out and the choice was mine to make. Walk through the open door way into the unknown and find out why I had been brought here. Or walk away.

Never one to turn down a challenge I pushed myself up from my chair, walking into the dim light of Hope’s house and into the unknown.

Here the music was louder, a massive reproduction of Monet’s Women in the Garden decorating the dining room wall to my right. To my left was the kitchen, where vintage cabinets mixed with top of the line stainless steel appliances. Through the kitchen on through the left lay the music room. Pale pink walls and cream colored wood workings framed the room that was dominated by a baby grand piano and life size bust of Venus deMilo. Taking a closer look I found the reason I was here.

Chapter 24

Time To Face The Music

Love

Lost in the music, the weight of Hope’s, clarsach, her Scottish lap harp pressed hard on my thigh. My fingers kissed the strings, the vibrations pulsing through my body. I didn’t need to have my eyes open for my fingers to find purchase on the chords. The words and notes I needed for Forever My Love came like second nature, the Gaelic words rising effortlessly from my breast. I had written this song for Faith back when she was Creideamah and had first met her Ean.

Sitting beside the cold fireplace filled with an urn full of fresh cut tulips, the light warmth of the breeze drifted in through the open windows caressing my bare arms. The sound of Faith’s flute matched those of the harp.

I felt the shift in the air when he walked in. Like static right after the lightning strikes and a half second before the thunder claps. It was tangible in the air. Danton!

It was only the years of ingrained training that kept my hands steady and my voice strong. I kept my eyes shut refusing to drink in the sight of him. Knowing that he was mine, just laying eyes on him, would be my undoing.

I pictured his face in my mind, my fingers aching to feel the touch of his skin a second time, my body yearning to feel the hard plains of his body pressed into my soft curves. Did his body crave the same?

As the song ended, his quiet applause helped me to open my eyes. What I saw took my breath away. He stood there in a white button up shirt, opened at the collar in a pair of thigh hugging blue jeans enveloped in a halo of blue. The most beautiful sight I’d seen in a long time.

My pulse jumped as he neared, began to race when he sat on the loveseat beside me, his face expressionless. My hands, now cast in the same familiar blue hue, faltered on the strings. The longer Danton went without speaking, the tighter my stomach muscles clenched, until I couldn’t take it anymore.

Chapter 25

Crescendo

Danton

“Hello Danton.”

I heard the tiny quiver in her soft voice, the sound affecting me just as much as seeing her did.

I expected to see her, after all she was the hostess’s sister, but I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. There in the muted pink and white music room Love stood out like a brilliant gem, the music she made rivaling that of any holy choir. Like the two times I had seen her before, her body was unnaturally still. Perched on the edge of the armless she occupied, the small harp she played lay in her lap; her back rigid in what I was beginning to think was her natural posture. Her shoulders were once again bare, alluring in their partial nudity. Eyes closed, her hands and mouth were the only parts of her that moved. I hadn’t understood the language she sang in and didn’t need to. The song could be nothing other than one of love. Heartrending, it was my experience that nothing raised you up and tore you back down into a raveling mess like love did. As the song ended, happy again, lovers reunited, my eyes drunk in Love and her beautiful stillness. I couldn’t deny that there was a small part of me that wanted to believe that the fall, the one that came with loving, was worth the pain it entailed.

“Love.” I greeted.

“You, ah. You here with someone?” She asked, her hand coming up to push a strand of loose hair behind her ear, her hands unable to resist fiddling with the large gold earring hanging from her lobe.

It was sadistic of me, I know, to enjoy seeing her so flustered. “Something like that.” I smiled.

Her smile was tight, having visibly dimmed at my announcement. “Oh, well. Good. That’s good. Be sure and grab a plate before you leave. I’ve heard the food’s really good.”

“I’ll do that.” Was it just me, or did she sound a touch miffed at the thought of my being here with someone else. Good. As far as payback went it wasn’t much, but it was a start.

“Better hurry. There’s a well-dressed pack of vultures that’ll beat you to it if you aren’t fast enough.”

A snort came from Love’s side drawing her attention. Immediately covering her mouth Faith hacked out one of the fakest lady like coughs I’ve ever heard, pounding her chest for added authenticity.

“Pardon.” She apologized before staring pointedly out the window.

“Oh,” Love shook her head, remembering herself. “Danton. You remember my sister Faith.”

Of course, the getaway driver.

Turning, Faith greeted me politely, a fading blush on her cheeks. “How do you do?”

“Fine, and you?”

“Good. We’re good.”

“Glad to hear it.”

A not so subtle rapping on the window from Hope ended any other conversation that might have occurred at the moment. Flashing me an apologetic smile Faith picked up her flute beginning a fast paced song that Love had no choice but to concentrate on as she joined her.

Chapter 26

You Drive

Love

Just my luck, the man was here with someone.

It was hard, but somehow I managed to resist the urge to ground my teeth together. I guess the shock of his announcement took care of any violent urges I could have come up with had I had time to plan something.

As it was, my mind was doing a fair bit of work on its own wondering why Danton was here. This was one of Hope’s bi-monthly singles gatherings. If he was one of her clients, then he would have recognized her Saturday at the restaurant, but he didn’t. I looked to Faith for the answer, her lips breaking into a smile as she blew into her flute. The catty grin that said it all. I narrowed my eyes at her, two and two adding up perfectly to four. I knew Hope had given in too easily this morning. Turning back to my harp I blew out a breath of my own, my fingers finding purchase as they flew across the strings needed for the spirited Drops of Brandy.

Using eleven centuries worth of deductive experience I concluded that the whole plan had in fact been devised by Hope and that Faith was just an innocent who had been brought along and corrupted by the deviousness of our sister’s mind. Family! I wanted to shout, but held it in. Just as I held in the evil laugh bubbling up inside. Payback was a bitch and Hope was in for a heavy dose of it. She definitely wouldn’t be liking what I had in mind for her payback.

Revenge would be sweet indeed, once I came up with something that is!

“So, what brings you by?” I asked Danton nearly two hours later, surprised he had stuck around.

My back to him I raided Hope’s kitchen. Starving, I pawed through what was left of the caterer’s offerings. The majority of it was now crumbs. I hadn’t been joking about the vultures.

“I thought you knew.”

Finding a plate I plucked up the last sliver of what had once been a breakfast quiche. “Knew what?”

“Your sister, my mother!”

“Aaah, your mom’s a client.” I guessed, connecting the dots.

“Was.” Danton corrected me. “She re-married two years ago. But truthfully, with her track record, I wouldn’t discount her being one again.”

I quickly swallowed the last of the orange juice washing down the tension filled answer and quiche. “What number?” I wanted to know, casually slipping a crumbled piece of bacon to Alastair under the table.

“Four, not counting my father.”

I nodded, message received. That explained why Danton carried a lot of baggage where the marriage department was concerned. Looks like I have my work was cut out for me. “Did you know?”

“That my mother was using a match maker? Not until we got here. But like I said, with her track record…” He left the thought hanging as he shrugged.

“You figure she could use a little help.” I finished, understanding.

“That’s right.”

I nodded again. Feeling the need to fill the gap of uncomfortable silence I sensed coming, I blurted out a question that had been eating at the back of my mind for days.

“Would you like an apology?” At Danton’s blank look, I hurried to add, “For the wedding? For ambushing you at your office? Take your pick.”

“Would you mean it?”

It was a fair question, one I didn’t have to give any thought to. “Not really.”

“Then no, I don’t want one.”

“Do you need one?” It wasn’t too early to begin healing Danton’s damaged heart.

Slowly he smiled. “I don’t think so.”

I feigned wiping sweat from my brow. “Good, because I really hate saying, ‘I’m sorry’. And I did try. I talked to your cousin, the maid of honor, just a few days before the wedding. I was waiting on her to do the right thing. She didn‘t and I ran out of time.”

“I see.”

As silence fell once again, a thought occurred to me. I looked around. The only people left were my sisters- who were around here somewhere, the caterer’s people, and a scattering of couples on their way out. “Where’s your mom?”

Lifting his head Danton looked around as I had, unsure. “I don’t know,” He took a few steps out the back door, scanned the leftover cars, and shrugged. “Huh!”

“What?”

“I rode with her.”

I didn’t even try to hide the smile that came at the realization that we’d been duped, again. “Looks like you need a ride.”

“Looks like.” He agreed.

It also looked like it would be my turn to repay the favor done by Everett. My compliments went out to Hope, she had planned this ambush well, very well indeed.

“Do you mind waiting while I change?” I asked, looking down at the skirt of my now wrinkled gown. “I can’t drive in this. I promise it won’t take long.”

“No, go on.”

“I’m starving. We could, we could grab something to eat if you like.” It was pushing two o’clock and my breakfast was long gone, the paltry snack only serving to tease my taste buds. “Wendy’s drive thru?” I suggested, doing my best not to pressure Danton into anything.

“Actually, I know a great little place. That is, if you’re free?”

“I’m free.” I nodded, hoping I didn’t sound as desperate as I felt. “Um, I’ll change. Be right back. Allie will keep you company.”

I paced myself until I was out of sight. Then took the stairs as fast as the dress would allow, which wasn’t much.

****

“Hope,” I hissed, walking into her room. “Hope.”

“Why are you whispering?’ Hope’s voice boomed behind me, causing me to jump.

“You know why I’m whispering.” I accused, using the same low voice.

“Well, you don’t need to.” As evidence Hope gestured to the now closed door.

“Oh.” With nothing better to say I turned around. “Unzip me.”

“Going somewhere?”

“As a matter of fact I am. It seems that Danton’s date has left him stranded. I

offered to play Good Samaritan.”

“How nice of you?” Hope replied blandly as I stepped out of one dress and into another.

“I know, isn’t it?”

Hope examined her nails as I redressed. “Are you going to thank me?”

“Sure. Right after I come up with your payment and you follow through.”

“That or you could just name your first kid after me.” Hope offered, trying to weasel her way out of what lay ahead. “Hope DeAngelo has a catchy ring to it.”

“Nice try.” I already had a few names in mind and Hope was not one of them.

“It was worth a shot. But come on, you know you were already trying to figure out another way to meet him. I just saved you the effort.”

Zipping the garment bag closed, I kissed Hope on the cheek. “Of course you did. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.” Hope replied, only slightly mollified.

“How do you feel about bungee jumping?” I asked, as I left the room.

“It’s something only fools do. Why?”

“Hmmm, just a thought. Wondering if you were feeling foolish?” I breezed out of the room whistling. Let her chew on that.

“Hey, you ready?” I asked Danton, walking back into the kitchen.

“Yep.”

Stepping onto the patio I dug my sunglasses and keys out of my purse.

“Since you don’t need an apology and I hate giving them, how I about I make it up to you in another way?”

“What did you have in mind?”

My heart did a double thump as Danton flashed me a sexy smile. Looks like chemistry wouldn’t be problem between us after all. I blushed. “For starters, how about I let you drive?” Clicking the remote to unlock the doors I tossed him the keys, opening the driver’s side door of my Alpha for him.

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope, come on.”

“Ah man, I think I love you.”

Danton didn’t realize how prophetic his words were. “Not yet, but you will.” I whispered, closing the door for him.

Chapter 27

Twenty Questions (More or Less)

Love

One hell of a ride later Danton pulled into the parking lot of a little shanty; a sign out front boasting they were the home of the best blue crabs in the state.

“How do you feel about crabs?” He asked, a grin on his perfect face as he shut off the engine.

“As long as you keep ‘em to yourself I won’t complain. But it sounds like a personal problem, one you might want to see your doctor about.” I teased.

Danton rolled his eyes. “I was talking about the kind you eat.”

“I know.” Shutting the passenger door I held my hands out for the keys, taking the opportunity I closed my hand around his fingers, electricity zinging up my arm, and didn’t let go. His hand felt so good in mine. “I just thought I’d let you know where I stood on the issue, just in case. I mean, don’t take it personally or anything. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.”