Because You're Mine

by Colleen Coble

  His father sent a glare his way. “Talk to your lawyer first, Jesse.”

  “It will only take a few minutes,” Adams said.

  Jesse didn’t understand any of this, but he was tired of arguing about it. He stood. “Let’s get it done.”

  He ignored his father’s objections and followed the detective to the front yard, where he got in the van and followed the officer to the police station. An impassive female officer in the lab swabbed his mouth and had him sign a release form. He jogged back to the van and pointed it back toward Blackwater Hall. The thought of facing Alanna and the rest of them made his mouth go dry, but he was embarrassed about the way he had left.

  Lights blazed from the mansion when he parked the van and got out. Something slithered by the pond, then he heard a splash. Probably a gator. The grass was wet and slick from the rain as he jogged across the yard to the porch. The peachy scent of the flowers by the steps contrasted with the fecund aroma of earth and leaf mold.

  The air was alive with small sounds: the hoot of an owl, the cacophony from frogs and crickets, the splash of living things in the pond. And out beyond those sounds, the gentle swell of waves from the Atlantic as they played a melody on the sea grass.

  The sounds should have been pleasant, but the place gave him the creeps. There was an air of desolation and danger about the estate. Did Alanna like it out here in the wilderness? She didn’t seem the type to enjoy such isolation.

  He rang the bell, and Grady let him in. He managed a smile when the other man welcomed him, then followed him to the dining room where the rest of the house’s occupants were gathered. They hadn’t filled their plates yet, and all of them turned to stare when he entered the room.

  The light from the candles reflected off their eyes and made him feel he was surrounded by hostile glares. He blinked and the paranoid sensation went away. His steps clattered loudly on the wood floor until he reached the Oriental rug. He found Alanna’s bright hair in what seemed a sea of people.

  Maybe it had been a mistake to come back here. The more he was around Alanna, the more Liam seemed to take over. The smart thing to do might be to run from this place and forget all about Alanna. But when she turned those green eyes on him, his will to flee drained away.

  She glanced up at him, then turned back to talk to Barry. He’d hoped to exchange a glance with her. For something in her eyes to confirm their connection.

  “You okay?” Ciara whispered. “We were worried.”

  He took a seat between her and Alanna. “Fine. I went by my parents’ house for a few minutes.”

  How did he even try to explain what was happening to him? It sounded so crazy.

  The aroma of fried chicken and gravy made him suddenly ravenous. He took some chicken from the plate that Alanna passed to him on his other side then handed it to Ciara. Both women were staring at him as if trying to see inside his soul.

  He put down his fork. “What?”

  Alanna’s green eyes probed his face. “I’ve been pacing the floor since you left. I don’t understand how you could know these things and do the things you’re doing unless it’s like you said. Is Liam in there with you?”

  At last they weren’t dismissing his fears. “I think he is. And I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “Maybe an exorcism?” Ciara suggested. “This whole thing is brutal. And it scares me.”

  “I could talk to the priest.” Jesse stared at Alanna. “But I don’t much like what I’ve learned about myself. I don’t want to go back to being the man I was before the explosion. You didn’t like me, did you?

  She shook her head. “But you were Liam’s friend, so I wanted to.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “I have to fix this somehow.”

  Was exorcism the answer? And did he even want Liam gone? At least the Jesse he was today made Alanna’s eyes light up, just a little bit. He wasn’t stupid, and he’d noticed the way she looked at him earlier. If there was a chance she might fall for him, he’d rather keep Liam’s spirit around.

  Twenty-Seven

  Alanna’s head throbbed, but she didn’t dare take anything for it because of the baby. The evening couldn’t be over too soon for her. Being around Jesse was torture. Everything in her was drawn to him now, and it felt off and strange when she’d disliked him for so long. But there were too many instances of Liam’s influence to ignore now.

  Exorcism. The very word brought a shudder down her spine. Wasn’t that more about demons? Liam was no demon, so how could that help? Besides, she’d lost Liam once. She didn’t want to lose the small piece of him that seemed to be residing in Jesse.

  She rose and went outside to stand on the porch in the twilight. Bugs hummed in her ears, and the thick scent of the marsh swirled around her. The door creaked behind her, and she turned to see that Jesse had followed her.

  “Are you all right?”

  She shrugged. “I’m gobsmacked. I don’t know what to make of all this.”

  He stepped close enough that his shoulders brushed hers. For an instant, she wanted to turn and bury her face in his shirt. Clenching her hands into fists, she stood her ground. “What are you going to do?”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  She turned her head and stared up at him. The porch light haloed his head with light. “You’re so much like Liam now. It’s like I can’t stop looking.”

  “I don’t want you to. I can be Liam. I don’t have to try the whole exorcism thing. We can just get in my car and go away.”

  Her mouth went dry at the thought, and everything in her wanted to do as he said. But there was no going back, was there? “I’m married to Barry.”

  “The marriage hasn’t even been consummated, has it?”

  She shook her head and heat swept over her face. “You know why I married him.”

  “Liam is your real husband, and if he’s here with me, then we belong together.”

  His persuasive words penetrated deep into her soul. She missed Liam so much. She stepped away. Before he could tempt her even more, she turned and rushed back into the house. Inside the foyer, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, then went to find her mates in the dining room.

  She found Ena laughing and talking to Grady. At least they were having a good time. They brushed past her and went out to the front porch together. Fiona and Ciara headed to the parlor still talking to Barry about the schedule for the upcoming tour. Richard and Patricia strolled after them discussing protecting the seashore. Richard was doing most of the talking.

  She glanced across the table and found Patricia staring at her. A shudder worked its way up her spine at the coldness of her mother-in-law’s glare. Alanna recalled the expression of fear on Patricia’s face when she saw Maire. Was there any connection between the women?

  She was alone with Patricia so maybe she could get to the truth. “Patricia, I’d like to be friends. I know we got off to a bad start. Can we begin again?”

  The woman stood to clear the table as if she hadn’t heard, though the clink of tableware against china wasn’t loud enough to drown out Alanna’s words. “Patricia?” Alanna moved closer, then stopped when the woman raised narrowed eyes to lock with hers. “Why do you hate me?” she whispered.

  “You will hurt my son,” Patricia said. “Leave now before it’s too late.”

  “I am not going to hurt Barry.” But if she left with Jesse, there was no doubt it would hurt Barry.

  Patricia put down the plates with a clatter. “Barry deserves better than you can give him. Let’s drop the pretense. You know I hate you. I know you hate me. The most we can hope for is that you’ll come to your senses and leave before Barry is hurt. I’m going to do all I can to see that happen. You’re just like your sister.”

  “My sister?” Alanna put her hand over her mouth and stared at Patricia.

  Patricia took a step back. “I meant your mother. It was obvious from meeting her that she has no morals. And neither do you, or you wouldn’t have married a man
you didn’t love. You’re using Barry, and I’m not going to allow it.” She picked up the stack of plates and stormed off to the kitchen. “If you knew more about Barry and what he needed, you would never have married him.”

  But Alanna wasn’t thinking about Barry. Had Patricia met Neila? Alanna believed that her mother-in-law feared something. What? How could Maire or Neila hurt her? She claimed not to have met Maire before today, but the fear had been obvious from the moment Patricia laid eyes on Maire. None of it was making any sense. Tomorrow she would go see her great-grandfather at the Travellers’ village and see if she could understand this.

  In no mood to talk to anyone, she went up the steps to her room though it was only eight o’clock. She paced the floor, then decided to go up to the ballroom and play her fiddle. The music would sooth her agitation and maybe even blunt her desire to go find Jesse.

  The lights were off in the hall outside her bedroom door. She tried to turn them on, but nothing happened. Maybe the switch on the other end would work. The second floor was quiet except for the sound of her footsteps along the corridor. Running her hand along the plaster wall, she felt her way in the darkness until her fingers touched the light button. She pushed it, and light flooded the hall. She made her way through the labyrinth of hallways to the locked door where she paused.

  It was so strange how Barry didn’t want anyone in there. His mother had said if she knew him better, she wouldn’t have married him. Staring at the door, she swallowed hard. Could there be information about all of this mess behind that door? She’d begun to fear Barry just a little, but it would take more information before she could turn her back on him. She twisted the knob, but the door was still locked. She took a bobby pin from the side of her hair where she’d pulled it back. After straightening it out, she leaned over and inserted it into the lock. Turning the pin this way and that, she tried to get the lock to open, but it held fast.

  She was going to have to get the key. Maybe it was in Barry’s room. She retraced her steps and stood at the top of the stairs. Barry’s voice came from the living room. He was talking about the upcoming concert in Beaufort. She moved to his bedroom, pushed open the door, and turned on the lamp at the dresser. The austerity struck her again. It was like a monk’s cell.

  She glanced around. Every table was bare except for the lamp and medicine bottles. Her husband was the neatest guy she’d ever met. She stepped to the dresser and slid open the top drawer. Underwear lay in neat rows. She found socks in the next drawer and T-shirts in the bottom one. No keys.

  Moving to the bedside stand, she checked the top drawer. A couple of books, nail clippers, some tie clips, and an old high school class ring lay inside. Still no keys. And there was no other easy place to look. No, wait, the closet. She stepped to the closet and opened the door. His clothing hung neatly inside.

  A set of keys swung from a hook on the door, and Alanna lifted them. She’d have to move fast. He might come up any time. She turned off the light and hurried down the hall to the locked door. There were six keys on the ring. The first three didn’t fit, but the fourth one clicked home. She checked the doorknob. It was unlocked.

  Her pulse galloped in her chest. She didn’t know what Barry would do if he found her inside. She wasn’t even sure why she wanted to see what the room held, but her curiosity was strong.

  She opened the door. Her hand felt the wall for the switch. Before she could turn on the light, she heard steps coming up the stairway. It was too late to go in. Pulling the door shut, she quickly locked it. She turned and started back to her room. When she rounded the corner, she saw Barry turning toward his room. He mustn’t find out his keys were missing. She clasped them tightly in her fist.

  “Barry,” she called.

  He turned with a smile. “What are you doing, sugar?”

  “I thought I might play my fiddle, but I heard you coming up.” Was she sweating? Her forehead felt damp, and she was sure he could see the guilt on her face. “Were you looking for me?”

  “I was going to work for a while before I went to bed. Did you need me for something?”

  “I’m fine.” She hesitated. “Though it’s kind of dark and I had trouble with the lights. Would you mind getting my fiddle for me from the ballroom?”

  “Anything for you.” He touched his lips to her forehead in a lingering caress. “I’ll be right back.”

  Once his footsteps faded, she dashed to his room and hung the keys back on their hook without turning on the light. She returned to the hall and waited for Barry to return.

  He came back with the fiddle and her bow in his hand. His smile brightened when he saw her, and she called herself every name she could think of for betraying his trust. What kind of wife sneaked around behind her husband’s back? She should just ask him to let her go into the room with him.

  “Thanks.” She took the fiddle and bow. “I’d like to spend a little time with you. Can I come with you to your office?”

  His smile faded. “I don’t think so, sugar.” His hand caressed her curls. “I don’t have to work tonight. What would you like to do? We’d talked about dinner out, but your mother showing up messed up our plans.” His eyes darkened.

  Now she’d done it. He hoped for more than she was ready to give, especially after the things she’d seen and heard from Jesse today. And he wanted answers about her past. “How about a walk?” she suggested.

  “You haven’t had enough adventures in the dark yet? It’s really not safe.”

  “You’ll be with me.” She couldn’t bear to see his expression when she told him about her past.

  “If you insist.” He took her arm. “You’d better spray on insect repellant.”

  They went down the steps to the entry and past the voices in the parlor. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. A walk in the moonlight might give him romantic notions. They paused to apply repellant, then stepped out into the moist night air. The moon was bright tonight, glimmering on the waves across the sea grass. She smelled salt in the breeze blowing from the east.

  “Careful of the potholes.” He took her hand. “Oh, and I heard from the attorney I hired. He got the hearing in Ireland moved back three months, so Thomas will have no power over you by the time it comes. Your citizenship is coming through next week. It’s over.”

  “Oh, Barry!” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “It’s wonderful, you are!”

  He pulled her closer, and his lips found hers. The intensity of his ardor repulsed her, and she pulled away with a laugh, then stepped into the swath of moonlight. “It’s not as dark as I thought,” she said. The attraction she’d felt for him was missing tonight. She wanted to be with Jesse, not her own husband. The realization was daunting.

  “Want to see Pete?” he asked.

  “Why do you like that gator? He scares me.”

  “We won’t get close.” He led her nearer to the pond.

  She heard a low growl, then a splash, and stepped closer to Barry. “You be keeping him away from me.” Her gaze probed the bushes for Prince. She hadn’t seen him all day.

  Barry laughed. “Just watch yourself around him, and it’s okay. Stay back though. He’s used to me bringing him something to eat, and he might get aggressive when he finds out I have nothing.”

  Off to her right, she heard a soft sound. Was that mewing? “I think I hear a kitten.” She tugged her hand from his and started in that direction. If Barry had thrown another cat to the gator, she was leaving.

  Barry called after her, but she continued on her mission. “Here, kitty kitty.” The mewing intensified and led her to the tiny cat. Kneeling, she reached out and touched the kitten which immediately moved closer to her. She picked it up. “It’s pure white.”

  “It probably has fleas.” Barry’s voice held distaste.

  “I’ll give her a bath.”

  “You can’t possibly know its sex.”

  “It’s so small, I just know.” She glanced around in the dark. “Are there more? Where are your siblings, your
mama?” The cat mewed in her arms, a plaintive sound as if it were answering her.

  “You should let it go.”

  “I can feel her ribs. Poor little thing. I’m going to get her some milk.”

  “Alanna.” Barry’s voice was stern.

  Her arms tightened around the kitten. “I’ll keep her out of your way. She can stay in my room. I’ll put her food and litter box in there too. You won’t even know she’s in the house.”

  She took off for the house without waiting for him to muster another argument. Whatever it took, she was keeping this kitten. She went up the porch and into the house. At least he wasn’t coming after her.

  Jesse’s head turned as she went past the doorway into the parlor. “Is that a kitten?”

  He was the only one in the parlor. The others must have gone on to bed. At least she didn’t have to explain the cat’s presence to Patricia. “Yes, she’s starving. I was about to get her some food.”

  “She’s cute.” He followed her to the kitchen and went to the refrigerator. “How about some chicken? She’d like that.”

  “Cut it into small pieces.” She watched him do as she asked.

  What would he do if she stepped closer and ran her fingers through the curls at the nape of his neck the way she used to with Liam? Would she see Liam in his eyes when he turned to look at her? She yanked her thoughts back.

  He brought the chicken on a paper plate he found in the cupboard. “Here you go.” He set it on the floor.

  The kitten went to the food as soon as he put it down. “I’m saying it’s a girl, but I don’t know for sure.”

  “We can find out.” He scooped up the kitten and turned it over. The cat howled in indignation as he probed. “It’s a girl.”

  “How do you know?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s a girl.” He set the kitten on the floor and she went back to eating the chicken in dainty bites.

  Alanna watched the hollow sides heave as the small cat ate. “She was starving. Barry thought she might belong to someone, but I think she’s a stray. Hattie says they come and go.”