“See ya.” The phone clicked in her ear and she felt more off balance than she’d been before she called.
The next three hours passed in a whirlwind of foot traffic and strangers. Rhett never stopped home, but the house was a hive of activity.
The usual furniture was moved into positions that weren’t functional for daily living. Sofas were steam cleaned and carpets were shampooed. There seemed a constant hum of machines running, as snow blowers tidied the walkways outside and catering companies built tents that extended off the back of the kitchen.
She and Addison escaped to her grandmother’s. For the chaos of the big house to bring more peace and quiet than the mayor’s mansion, proved how crazy things were.
The kids played with Addison as Gran sat in her chair stringing cranberries for the front porch garland. Pop snored in the recliner by the TV.
“They play nicely together,” Gran commented, smiling at the children.
“They should. They’re all the same age.”
“I suppose they’ll all go through school together. Just think, Addison could end up married to one of them.”
Skylar grinned. Her grandmother had a romantic soul.
A car pulled up in the driveway and she went to the window to check who it was. “It’s Uncle Colin.”
“Oh, he’s delivering the desserts I ordered from the school fundraiser. Be a dear and help him unload them. They’ll need to go in the big freezer in the shed.”
Skylar pulled on her coat and met her uncle out front.
“Skylar, what are you doing here?”
“We’re just visiting. The kids are playing. Gran wants me to help you put the food in the big freezer.”
She gave him a hand carrying the boxes. The shed was fairly tidy, but the freezer was packed with meat. They would have to reorganize if they wanted everything to fit.
“So, how’s it going up at the mayor’s place?”
Despite the cold air, her cheeks burned. “It’s amazing.”
Colin glanced at her and paused. “That great?”
Of all her uncles, Colin was her favorite, and she trusted him. “Rhett and I have really connected.”
He frowned and stood up from where he’d been hunched over the opening of the freezer chest. “Rhett?”
She nodded. “Mr. Buchanan.”
“You two are on a first name basis?”
They were on more than that. She couldn’t hide her grin. “He’s very…” She didn’t want to get ahead of herself. “I like him a lot.”
He lifted a box that looked to hold a frozen pie and slid it into the freezer. “Skylar, keep in mind that Mr. Buchanan is a lot older than you.”
“I’m not a kid anymore, Colin.”
“It’s Uncle Colin. And you’re more than a decade younger than your boss.”
Actually, he was fifteen years her senior, but that didn’t matter. They were both adults. “I don’t need a lecture. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
She bristled. “I thought you would be happy that I’m figuring things out.”
“It’s supposed to be a job, Skylar. I want to see you succeed. I want to see you get the experience you need to someday have your own preschool like we’ve discussed. I don’t want to see you make mistakes early in your career that do long-term damage to your reputation. You need to keep it professional. I would hope that the mayor understands that, even if you don’t.”
Stunned that he could cut her down so quickly, it took everything inside of her not to stagger back.
He sighed. “I’m only telling you this because I care about you, Sky, and I want to see you make good decisions.”
Her jaw hardened. “Were you making good decisions when you stole your brother’s girlfriend?”
His sharp blue stare turned to ice. “What did you just say to me?”
They all heard the stories. She had been young when Uncle Braydon brought Aunt Sammy home from school. Skylar still remembered everyone talking about his new girlfriend, but Uncle Colin had changed that in a matter of weeks.
Adrenaline shook her body as she held his stare. “I told you something personal because I trusted I could talk to you without judgement. But you’re being a hypocrite. I’m not doing anything wrong. He’s not married or dating anyone else. And I haven’t promised my life to someone or something. So at least I have that going for me.” She turned on her heel and stalked out of the shed.
“Skylar!”
She shook her head, furious with herself for sharing with him. He made her feel naive and stupid, like she’d done something terribly wrong—like she was just a dumb kid.
She didn’t take off her coat when she returned to the house. “Addison, come on. We have to get going.”
“But I don’t want to leave.”
“We have to.”
“I wanna stay—”
“Addison, I said we’re leaving.”
Her grandmother frowned. “Is everything all right, love?”
God, she couldn’t keep it together, and she didn’t have the courage to make eye contact. “Everything’s fine. I forgot about something I need to do.”
“Well, you come back whenever you want. The kids like when you two visit.”
“We will.”
She rushed Addison out of the house just as Colin was closing up the shed.
“Come on. Into your seat.” She quickly buckled her inside the car and shut the door.
Her uncle hovered a few feet away. “Skylar, I’m only trying to give you some good advice. You’re my niece. It’s my job to look out for you.”
She sniffled and shook her head. “Look out for me…” she mumbled. “That’s what this family does. They say they’re looking out, but really, they’re just passing judgement, meddling where they don’t belong, and gossiping. You’re no better than the rest of them.” She briefly met his stare and saw her words struck a nerve. “I don’t need you looking out for me. I needed a friend.”
He caught her arm and startled her. “I am your friend. I’m here. I’m sorry. Don’t ever think you can’t talk to me if you feel like you’re in trouble.”
She jerked her arm away and broke his grip. “Why do men always assume if a girl shares something personal, she must need some sort of saving?”
She climbed into her car and backed out of the driveway, losing the battle against her tears before she made it off the mountain.
Skylar’s professor finally got back to her, but she was more confused than ever. He said she failed the exam because she left a page blank. A page that happened to have several valuable essay questions on it.
She was a mess when she emailed him back, only maintaining a shred of calm by telling herself there was a solution for every problem. If she explained it was a mistake, a decent professor would give her a chance to make up the work.
Unfortunately, he already had.
She blinked stupidly at his response, feeling like she was suffering some sort of amnesia. He said he emailed her shortly after she submitted the exam, informing her that several questions were blank. He even gave her until the following Monday to resubmit the remainder of the test, but she never responded and he had no choice but to grade it as is.
At this point, it was too late to make any changes. Grades were calculated.
She never saw any such email. She was certain of it. But when she went through her inbox, sorting her archives, deleted messages, and spam, she found it.
Her heart sank, much like her grade. He’d given her a second chance and she’d somehow missed it. There would be no coming back from this. She was screwed.
“Skylar, why are you crying?” The angelic voice penetrated her meltdown.
She shut her laptop and tried to smile, but it was no use. “Because life is hard.”
Addison gave her a hug. Skylar held her little body close, breathing in her sweet, youthful scent and pressing her lips to her silken hair.
Thank God the gala was tonight, because she di
dn’t feel like seeing anyone. “What do you say we order a pizza, make some popcorn, put on our PJs, and make a fort in my bedroom so we can watch Christmas movies all night?”
“Yeah!”
It was still early, so they were able to sneak into the kitchen just before things got really hectic. Strangers wandered through the house, and she hated feeling on display.
She and Addison filled a laundry basket with drinks, snacks, crayons, and everything they could possibly need to make it through the night, including a small television from one of the other guestrooms.
When the pizza came, they carried it up to Skylar’s bedroom and taped a sign on the door.
GIRLS ONLY! SLEEPOVER IN PROGRESS. NO BOYS ALLOWED!
17
“Erin, where are Skylar and Addison?”
His assistant looked up from her clipboard and hesitated a moment before answering. “They’re on the third floor and asked not to be disturbed.”
He frowned. It was almost Addy’s bedtime. “Skylar’s not attending the gala?”
“Sorry. She asked if she could pass. She said she hates these things.”
“It’s art…” he muttered but supposed that might not hold any appeal for some.
Who was he kidding? It was a fundraiser. She was a young woman. Of course, she wouldn’t think campaign parties were fun. Even he got bored with them.
Caterers bustled through the kitchen, and he took that as his cue to head upstairs to shower and dress. Erin seemed to have everything covered.
He spotted a sign taped to Skylar’s door and grinned when he read it. Their party would probably be more fun than hanging out with a bunch of stuffy art connoisseurs.
Once dressed, he sent her a text telling her he’d see her after the party. She didn’t reply, which was strange because she usually got right back to him.
When he returned to the first floor, he took in the total transformation of the house from the lighting to the formal holiday decorations to the makeover of their family tree. He frowned, looking for traces of Addison’s winter artwork and toys. Where were the telltale signs of Skylar nearby?
Artificial walls had been erected with gallery lighting to showcase the thousands of dollars’ worth of artwork on display. Dealers and artists inspected and debated the placement of each masterpiece before the guests arrived.
Erin was once again in the kitchen, but she’d changed into a formfitting gray dress. Rhett helped himself to a glass of water, feeling slightly claustrophobic around so many changes to his home.
“How’s it going?” he asked, surveying all the scribbled notes on Erin’s clipboard.
She smiled up at him. “We’re right on schedule. The guests should start arriving in a few minutes, and the harpist is about to begin. You should eat something now, before you’re monopolized for the rest of the night.”
He glanced at the chaffing dishes lined along the counter. Sirloin, prime rib, and hickory smoked ham steamed from carving stations about to be wheeled out, but all he wanted was one of Skylar’s PB and J sandwiches.
He wished she would have reconsidered attending the party. While it might be a silly fundraiser, the art was interesting and a portion of the proceeds went to the art program at the community college where she’d earned her associate’s. He hoped she might attend simply because she was an alumna.
Even in her absence, she remained on his mind. Every time he took in a beautiful work of art, he questioned if it would be something she’d like.
She once made a comment that the house needed more personal touches. Perhaps he would buy something from the auction, but he wanted to pick something she’d like.
When the guests arrived, he was cornered, just as Erin predicted. He’d learned long ago to simply go with the flow at these events. He smiled and nodded and laughed at all the right places, but the charade struck him as especially artificial and hollow tonight.
He’d been so full of laughter recently, he often found himself staring into space and smiling, simply remembering something funny Addison had done or something sweet Skylar had said. Nothing anyone said to him tonight seemed to reach or register in his heart. He missed his girls.
One of the artists had the last name McCullough, and that caught his eye. His work was charcoal realism and it was incredibly lifelike.
“What do you think?” a man with jet black hair and startling blue eyes asked, joining Rhett as he stared at the portrait of an older woman cradling a baby.
“Are you the artist?”
“I’m the messenger. The art comes to me, and I put it to paper, but I never take credit for the design.”
Rhett grinned, liking his explanation. “I think it’s strikingly realistic. Who is she?”
“My mother. She’s holding my newest nephew.”
If this man was one of Skylar’s uncles, that would make the woman her grandmother. From everything she said about her and the many times she and Addison visited, he knew they were very close.
The portrait showed time in the most delicate fashion, evident in the space between generations. He could feel the woman’s affection for the child in her arms. He wondered what it might feel like to receive such unconditional love, wondered if anyone ever held him in such a way.
“How much is it?”
“Fourteen hundred or highest offer.”
Rhett went to the ballot and filled out a slip of paper for three thousand dollars. He folded his bid and dropped it into the secret box.
He wanted the work of art because he thought Skylar might appreciate it, but he also wanted it because the subject matter was riveting. Unconditional love always fascinated him, as it was something he’d never experienced firsthand.
But that was exactly what the portrait conveyed. And when he stared at the woman holding the baby, he felt her unreserved affection somehow.
Constituents kept him locked in conversations for most of the night, and Erin kept him hydrated. The musicians played classic cocktail music and, despite the confusion with the venue, the house seemed to be working out just fine.
They were at the halfway point of the evening when a commotion caught his attention at the front door. Erin squared off with a dark-haired man dressed in street clothes, demanding entry.
“Excuse me,” Rhett said, slipping out of a conversation to investigate.
Several heads turned as the situation and the man’s voice escalated.
“Sir, you’ll have to step outside,” Erin said. “This is a private event.”
“I’m not leaving until I see the mayor!” the man barked.
Rhett rushed over, as did the McCullough artist he’d been speaking with earlier. He would not allow anyone to disrespect his staff in such a way. “What’s going on?”
“You,” the man growled.
“Ant, what are you doing here?” the McCullough artist asked, apparently familiar with the crazed intruder.
The best option, with so many watching, seemed to be to diffuse the situation and move them outside. Rhett kept his voice calm and placed a casual hand on the man’s shoulder. “Let’s take this outside so we’re not disrupting others.”
The man flung his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
Rhett paused and scowled, sure he hadn’t seen this man before in his life. “Do I know you?” There was something familiar about him, but he couldn’t place his face.
“I’m Anthony Marcelli.”
Understanding registered and Rhett lowered his head. “Ah. Nice to meet you, Mr. Marcelli. How about we go to my study where we can speak privately?”
“You’re all about keeping things private, aren’t you?” The man’s fists locked at his side and his neck pulsed with thick veins. “Afraid people might actually learn who you really are?”
“All right, that’s enough,” Erin interjected, but the man stepped forward and spoke over her.
“Did you touch her?”
The room silenced, and Rhett drew in a slow breath. “This is the last time I’m offering you a
choice. You’re welcome to speak privately in my study, or you can leave.”
The McCullough artist was now scowling as well. “Who did he touch?”
“I didn’t touch anyone!” Rhett snapped, but that wasn’t necessarily true.
“Skylar!” Marcelli barked. “You took advantage of her! What kind of man does that?”
“What?” The McCullough man turned and scowled like a crazed, blue-eyed devil. “You put your hands on my little niece?”
Rhett held up his hands. “Hold on. I didn’t take advantage of—”
“She’s half your age!” Skylar’s father glared like a homicidal man on a mission.
Rhett’s jaw locked. Now they were just throwing out lies.
Eavesdroppers gasped and crowded closer. Sweat gathered beneath Rhett’s collar. Even Erin was glaring at him. He felt cornered and unfairly judged.
“This is neither the time nor the place—”
“How about you answer the fucking question?” the artist snapped. “Or I can let my brother-in-law beat it out of you.”
This was insane. These men were acting like Neanderthals. This was a formal event, not a truck pull. “Gentlemen, I’m afraid my patience has run out, and it’s time for you to leave. Both of you.”
“She’s a kid!” Marcelli snapped, bearing his teeth.
Rhett balked, unable to let that one go. “She’s twenty-one—”
The right hook came out of nowhere, and white light exploded behind his eyes, momentarily blinding him. Voices erupted as he staggered back, falling into the crowd, only to be pushed back toward the man who just hit him.
Several other men raced forward and absolute mayhem broke out. Shoulders were shoved, voices raised, accusations were hurled, and reputations were burned to ash, all due to a father’s irrational and misplaced concern.
“Enough!” Rhett barked and the room silenced. A swipe of his thumb over his throbbing lip revealed a smear of blood. “This is insane!”
Anthony Marcelli charged forward, but another guest caught his shoulder. He squared off with Rhett, until his glare lifted to something beyond the crowd.
Rhett turned, following his gaze to the top of the stairs and his heart sank when he saw Skylar standing there in her pajamas, a look of confused horror on her face.
Pining For You: Jasper Falls Page 18
