Together Again: Spirit Travel Novel - Book #4 (Romance & Humor - The Vicarage Bench Series) (18 page)

Striding along at the end of his lead as if he owned the world, Buddy behaved impeccably—that is, until he saw the house where they were headed. After that he pulled, gasping and whining. He knew who would be there waiting for him, and he wasn’t disappointed.

The minute they rounded the corner, Troy spied the little golden-haired princess skipping rope.

“Buddy!” She sprinted towards them; the rope lay on the grass forgotten. “Mr. Brennan, you brought him to see me. I’m so glad!” She spoke the truth, if her huge smile and shining eyes were anything to go by.

She looked at Troy, her questioning plea obvious, and his nod became answer enough. Scooping up the bundle of conniptions, she kissed and hugged and laughed. Her delight was reciprocated. Troy stood with his hands on his hips, waiting, enjoying every minute of the exuberant, mutual love affair in front of him.

Finally, Amy tucked the pup’s body under her chin, and with a sigh he nestled right in. Eyes, the colour of amber, golden brown centres encircled by flashes of emeralds and lighter greens, pleaded with Troy. He knew what she wanted before she asked.

“Sweetheart, could you look after Buddy for me while I speak with your mother? I have an appointment with her, and I’d appreciate it if you could take him for a walk or play with him a bit. He doesn’t get to play very often, and puppies need good times, too.”

“You did name him Buddy. Your friend liked my suggestion?”

“My friend knew as soon as she heard it that the name suited him perfectly. Even he likes it.” Troy gently grasped the pup’s muzzle and shook it. “Since I started calling him by that name, he comes every time. When I tried Jehoshaphat, he just ignored me.”

Amy burst into giggles. “I don’t blame him.”

“Okay, you’re right. It wasn’t so great. Then I tried Beelzebub… Why are you laughing? Beelzebub is a great name for him—it’s a devil’s name.” Her peals of delighted chortles banished his mock gruffness and started the smile. The one every female he’d ever known couldn’t resist. She couldn’t, either. She threw herself into his arms, an expression of her delight, and he scooped her up, doggie and all.

She smelt wonderful, like sunshine and flowers—and everything a single man yearns to one day have for his very own.

“I hate to infringe on this happy reunion, but I do believe we have an appointment. Mr. Brennan, I presume?”

Troy slowly lowered his precious cargo and turned to see the woman he’d gambled his future on. He knew she was slender from the video he’d watched over and over, as well as from the glimpse he’d had of her a few days ago in town. But face-to-face created a whole different impression.

She was beautifully delicate, with eyes the same colour as her daughter’s, only a whole lot bigger, more skilfully accentuated, more intense. Her earlier blondeness was mysteriously gone. Enlivened now to naturally reddish tones, her hair emerged as a striking mass of curls the wind loved. He wondered what it would look like without the yellow ribbon restraining the hotchpotch of wildness.

As a backdrop, the day’s bright rays cast a radiance of gold all around her, which stopped him dead while he looked his fill. The flowing yellow sundress, fused to every luscious curve, added to the vision of a woman loved by the sun.

She stared back, surveying him from top to bottom. A smile emerged and lit her delicate features until every inch of her face became engulfed by it. He’d never seen anyone beam with such radiance, as if happiness shone from within.

His first instinct was to hold out his arms.
What the hell…?

Hypnotized, he drowned in her spell while everything else faded. Even time seemed to stand still. Finally, seeming to tear her gaze from his, she twisted towards her daughter and spoke. “Amy, darling, don’t… ahh hog the dog. I want my share.”

“Funny, Mum.” The sprite made a face, then skipped over to her mother and passed on the wiggling bundle. “Isn’t he just like I described? Do you think I could keep him? Mr. Brennan, you did tell me you needed to find Buddy a good home. Remember?”

Ellie lifted the pup and became instantly adored. She turned away, and Troy heard her whispering but couldn’t make out anything she said. The frenzied whining and tail-wagging indicated Buddy loved whatever nonsense she was sharing. He’d found another favourite person.

“If I could keep him, he’d be my playmate while you’re working, Mum. You wouldn’t have to feel bad for leaving me alone so much.”

Troy hid his grin. It was obvious the little minx would use any ammunition in her arsenal. He remembered from his childhood that guilt—always a good weapon and understood by most children—worked miracles.

“I’ll think about it, Amy, love, but for now I must take Mr. Brennan away. I’m sure he’ll let you look after Buddy while we’re having our meeting.” An eyebrow the exact colour of her hair arched as she looked his way. She waited and waited, hummed, and waited even longer.

A tiny hand snuck into his and the tug of small fingers brought him back to the moment. “Sure, whatever. I’m your guy.”

“My daughter wants your dog, Troy. I’m not sure she meant for you to be part of the package.” Her teasing struck a chord. His name had come out so smoothly it went unnoticed.

Troy ducked down to be on the same level as the child who—without any shyness—snaked her arms around his neck. She gave him the same adoring look as she had given to Buddy earlier. His heart slid open and in she went. Another person to care for.

“Little one, he’s yours with my blessings—if your mom agrees.” He added the last bit when he heard the throat clearing that was meant for him to hear.

He stood. His hand slyly rubbed the kiss the little heart-stopper had left on his cheek before hurrying away with her precious bundle.

“Troy…” The woman caught herself, coughed, and readjusted her tone. “Mr. Brennan, how very kind of you. Amy adores animals, and she’s wanted a pet for years. I’d love to have a dog, but I’m afraid that, because of my mother’s allergies, it hasn’t been possible. But I do believe our living accommodations will be changing soon and should remove that particular problem. Can I ask you to hold onto the puppy for another week or so until my arrangements are complete?”

“Please, go ahead and call me Troy. And sure, it’s no problem, Ellie. I can hold onto the little fellow for a while longer.” He flashed the grin he’d perfected in years of effective use and watched as the strangely devious look she wore deepened.

What the hell was that all about?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

While Troy inspected her office, Dani took a moment to gather herself. She hid her face behind trembling fingers and shielded her eyes. How could he not have recognized her? For heaven’s sake, she’d all but jumped into his arms. Disappointment raged, curdling her zeal for this meeting.

She watched him inspect her room and tried to see it through his eyes. The white walls and carpeting made the small office appear larger. Clutter loomed everywhere, but in an organized fashion. Reference books piled on the side of her large worktable battled with mounds of loose papers for supremacy. The very latest in typewriters, its importance defined by being set on its own matching side-section, mocked an older model now relegated to a corner on the floor. The businesslike black leather chair looked huge, but the plush cushioning allowed her to snuggle in any way she wanted—sometimes sprawling, sometimes sitting correctly, and many times curled in a ball while hugging his picture and crying.

Only two items decorated the walls: one, a beautiful enlarged photograph of Amy as a small toddler frolicking in a field of daisies; the other a print of Monet’s most famous painting,
Water Lilies
. Three inches of whiter wall showed around the second image, an obvious inconsistency. It indicated that another, larger frame had hung there recently.

The gigantic picture window she faced—detailed with twelve-inch grids—overlooked the tidy gardens at the back of the house, where multiple fruit trees and a luxurious meadow lay. This vision compelled the eye and enhanced the room, a world to gaze at while the wheels turned, the ideas flowed and words became a story.

If the far wall cupboards hadn’t been left open showing the numerous shelves stocked from top to bottom with books, books, and more books, the space would have seemed almost barren.

Dani regretted that he’d caught her at the end of her most recent project and therefore at a time when the whirlwind seemed the worst. In another few days, with the manuscript finished, her office would undergo its usual thorough cleaning to put it back to perfect order until she started work on the next episode.

She watched his eyes travel around the room and waited uneasily for his verdict. If he didn’t appreciate the understated but alluring beauty of her favourite space, she’d be devastated.

His gaze settled on the panes of gleaming glass. She heard his indrawn breath—and a whispered “Wow!”—and was satisfied. The aesthetic effect of the massive floor-to-ceiling window seemed to have the same sway on him as it did on her.

With a merry smile, she went to the bookcase and slid open a panel where folding chairs were housed. Fetching him a seat took only a minute. When she turned back, she caught him reaching for the copy of her latest novel,
Come Find Me
. The cover, designed to her specifications, had vines of vibrant red roses in the background, and a red-haired woman’s slender body, wearing a gorgeous white gown, illustrated in profile. Dani quickly slipped the novel out of his hands and held it against her chest protectively. He mustn’t read the dedication.

“They accidentally released the book ahead of schedule. I had specified that it not be sent out for sale until later in the month. In fact, I had to ask the local bookstore to clear them from the window until I gave permission for him to sell them. Wanting to take advantage of some upsetting publicity that’s being raging about a silly incident in Chicago, my publisher released the book early despite my explicit instructions.”

“Could I speak to you about that incident? I…”

Her hand, held upwards in his direction, stopped his words. She shook her head to let him know exactly what her intentions were. Body language didn’t need an interpreter; hers came across loud and clear. “No!”

“Why not?”

“Excuse me!”

“Why not, and don’t say, ‘Because I said so.’ Even my mother didn’t stop me with that answer.” He grinned teasingly.

“Because I don’t want to talk about it. Does that satisfy you, Mr. Can’t-take-no-for-an-answer?”

“Were you injured? Is that why you can’t talk about it?”

“No. And I can talk about it if I so choose.”

“So—choose.”

“Why should I?”

“Because people want to know about what happened, what made you take the risks you did, if you were scared—”

“I was terrified.”

“Then why?”

“Because!” The word exploded. “Someone once showed me that you have to help those less fortunate. Even if it means taking the chance of personal injury. It’s up to each and every one of us to help those in trouble.” Ellie’s eyes grew big, and her hands gripped the book she now clutched tightly, her knuckles white. “The girl in the bank—she was such a small girl, helpless. She wet herself. I saw it. I…” The shaking started, building into shudders, and Ellie was forced to drop the book on the chair nearby and put her arms around herself.

“Ellie, I’m sorry. You were right. You don’t have to talk about it. Not now!” Troy’s hand reached toward her, his expression regretful, full of compassion.

“Maybe never.”

“Maybe.” His voice caressed. The look in his gorgeous brown eyes was balm to her bruised and lonely spirit.

Her thoughts wandered as she lost herself in his gaze. He looked haggard and sad, and she knew why. He missed his soul mate, Dani. Missed the very person who stood in front of him except he didn’t know it. He didn’t know her. What a bizarre situation!

Standing near him, she felt drawn in a way she hadn’t expected to feel. It reminded her of when a baby’s gaze is ensnared by its mother’s voice, lured by special ties to the one person in its world who loves it unconditionally.

Earlier, she’d spied on him as he’d played with Amy and Buddy, and it had been all she could do to keep from running to him and saying. “Look at me. God! Troy, please—recognize who I am. I’ve waited forever.” But the moment passed.

After existing without him for ten years, she had her plans firmly set. If he had known her, everything would have fallen into place naturally. But that wasn’t the case. Therefore, she would follow the course she’d already decided on.

Her promise to her uncle that she wouldn’t ever tamper with the proper order had been hard, but necessary. It was now no longer pertinent, but still she needed to use these next few days to her advantage.

Troy had fallen in love with her seventeen-year-old spirit, but she’d grown up. Could she make him fall in love with her all over again, win his heart a second time? His loving her as Dani wasn’t enough for her now, and she sensed it. There were ten years of layers added on and she just wasn’t that girl anymore. She wanted Troy to fall for the woman he saw today.

The problem was that Dani held his heart. And the man was anything but fickle. What in the world was she to do? Not throwing herself into his arms and spilling the whole story, explaining her years of celibacy, loneliness, and heartache, took every ounce of willpower she’d attained over the purgatory of the last ten years. How she did it, she’d never know, but she managed to conquer her vulnerability.

Achieving status and acceptance as a best-selling author had taken a decade of hard work and discipline; however, some were born to write. She fell into that category.

Still, existing for ten years without him in her life had taken so much out of her. It had exhausted her stamina and turned her into a recluse.

Living her romantic experiments through the pages of her steamy novels could no longer be tolerated. She wanted a real man, her dream man—Troy.

He cut into her musings. “Ellie? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Look, why don’t we go ahead and talk about The Gardens and your plans for the care home. After all, it’s why you agreed to see me today.”