Island of Flowers

by Nora Roberts

  “I’m sorry.” She managed a smile and lifted her shoulders with the apology. “I’d have to be very angry to do that, especially here. The nuns frown on displays of temper.”

  “Cap wants you to come home.”

  Laine’s smile faded at his quiet words. He watched her eyes go bleak before she shook her head and moved to the window. “This is my home.”

  “Your home’s in Kauai. Cap wants you back. Is it fair to him to lose you twice?”

  “Is it fair to ask me to turn my back on my own life and return?” she countered, trying to block out the pain his words were causing. “Don’t talk to me about fair, Dillon.”

  “Look, be as bitter as you want about me. I deserve it. Cap doesn’t. How do you think he feels knowing what your childhood was like?”

  “You told him?” She whirled around, and for the first time since he had come into the room, Dillon saw her mask of control slip. “You had no right …”

  “I had every right,” he interrupted. “Just as Cap had every right to know. Laine, listen to me.” She had started to turn away, but his words and quiet tone halted her. “He loves you. He never stopped, not all those years. I guess that’s why I reacted to you the way I did.” With an impatient sound, he ran his hands through his hair again. “For fifteen years, loving you hurt him.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” she tossed back. “Why must he be hurt more?”

  “Laine, the few days you were with him gave him back his daughter. He didn’t ask why you never answered his letters, he never accused you of any of the things I did.” He shut his eyes briefly, and again she noticed fatigue. “He loved you without needing explanations or apologies. It would have been wrong to prolong the lies. When he found you’d left, he wanted to come to France himself to bring you back. I asked him to let me come alone because I knew it was my fault that you left.”

  “There’s no blame, Dillon.” With a sigh, Laine slipped the locket into her blazer pocket. “Perhaps you were right to tell Cap. Perhaps it’s cleaner. I’ll write him myself tonight; it was wrong of me to leave without seeing him. Knowing that he is really my father again is the greatest gift I’ve ever had. I don’t want either one of you to think that my living in France means I hold any resentment. I very much hope that Cap visits me soon. Perhaps you’d carry a note back for me.”

  Dillon’s eyes darkened. His voice was tight with anger when he spoke. “He isn’t going to like knowing you’re buried in this school.”

  Laine turned away from him and faced the window.

  “I’m not buried, Dillon. The school is my home and my job.”

  “And your escape?” he demanded impatiently, then swore as he saw her stiffen. He began to pace again. “I’m sorry, that was a cheap shot.”

  “No more apologies, Dillon. I don’t believe the floors can stand the wear.”

  He stopped his pacing and studied her. Her back was still to him, but he could just see the line of her chin against the pale cap of curls. In the trim navy blazer and white pleated skirt, she looked more student than teacher. He began to speak in a lighter tone. “Listen, Duchess, I’m going to stay around for a couple of days, play tourist. How about showing me around? I could use someone who speaks the language.”

  Laine shut her eyes, thinking of what a few days in his company would mean. There was no point in prolonging the pain. “I’m sorry, Dillon, I’d love to take you around, but I haven’t the time at the moment. My work here has backed up since I took the time off to visit Kauai.”

  “You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not trying to do that, Dillon.” Laine turned, with an apologetic smile. “Another time, perhaps.”

  “I haven’t got another time. I’m trying my best to do this right, but I’m not sure of my moves. I’ve never dealt with a woman like you before. All the rules are different.” She saw, with curiosity, that his usual confidence had vanished. He took a step toward her, stopped, then walked to the blackboard. For some moments, he studied the conjugation of several French verbs. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  “No, Dillon, I …” He whirled around so swiftly, Laine swallowed the rest of her words.

  “If you won’t even have dinner with me, how the devil am I supposed to talk you into coming home so I can struggle through this courting routine? Any fool could see I’m no good at this sort of thing. I’ve already made a mess of it. I don’t know how much longer I can stand here and be reasonably coherent. I love you, Laine, and it’s driving me crazy. Come back to Kauai so we can be married.”

  Stunned into speechlessness, Laine stared at him. “Dillon,” she began, “did you say you love me?”

  “Yes, I said I love you. Do you want to hear it again?” His hands descended to her shoulders, his lips to her hair. “I love you so much I’m barely able to do simple things like eat and sleep for thinking of you. I keep remembering how you looked with a shell held to your ear. You stood there with the water running from your hair, and your eyes the color of the sky and the sea, and I fell completely in love with you. I tried not to believe it, but I lost ground every time you got near me. When you left, it was like losing part of myself. I’m not complete anymore without you.”

  “Dillon.” His name was only a whisper.

  “I swore I wasn’t going to put any pressure on you.” She felt his brow lower to the crown of her head. “I wasn’t going to say all these things to you at once like this. I’ll give you whatever you need, the flowers, the candlelight. You’d be surprised how conventional I can be when it’s necessary. Just come back with me, Laine. I’ll give you some time before I start pressuring you to marry me.”

  “No.” She shook her head, then took a deep breath. “I won’t come back with you unless you marry me first.”

  “Listen.” Dillon tightened his grip, then with a groan of pleasure lowered his mouth to hers. “You drive a hard bargain,” he murmured as he tasted her lips. As if starved for the flavor, he lingered over the kiss.

  “I’m not going to give you the opportunity to change your mind.” Lifting her arms, Laine circled his neck, then laid her cheek against his. “You can give me the flowers and candlelight after we’re married.”

  “Duchess, you’ve got a deal. I’ll have you married to me before you realize what you’re getting into. Some people might tell you I have a few faults—such as, I occasionally lose my temper—”

  “Really?” Laine lifted an incredulous face. “I’ve never known anyone more mild and even-tempered. However—” she trailed her finger down his throat and toyed with the top button of his shirt “—I suppose I should confess that I am by nature very jealous. It’s just something I can’t control. And if I ever see another woman dance the hula especially for you, I shall probably throw her off the nearest cliff!”

  “Would you?” Dillon gave a self-satisfied masculine grin as he framed her face in his hands. “Then I think Miri should start teaching you as soon as we get back. I warn you, I plan to sit in on every lesson.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be a quick learner.” Rising to her toes, Laine pulled him closer. “But right now there are things I would rather learn. Kiss me again, Dillon!”

  * * * * *