FLOWERS and CAGES

by Mary J. Williams

  "Big and bold?"

  "As big and bold as I could find. Not to mention shiny as hell."

  Colleen grinned. "Mom will be over the moon."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  COLLEEN WOKE FROM a deep, dreamless sleep with a smile on her face. The same smile she wore as she dozed—happy and sated. Why did she have to open her eyes? Last night had been magical. There was no way today could possibly live up to such lofty standards. Determined to make perfection last a few moments longer, she snuggled down under the covers.

  "Good morning."

  "It is." Colleen reached for Dalton but found the mattress beside her empty and the sheets disturbingly cold. "I've changed my mind. How can it be good when I'm here, and you aren't?"

  The bed sagged. That was promising.

  "Why don't you come out from under there? I want to ask you a question."

  "Ask away." Colleen lifted one corner of the covers. "Under here. With me."

  "Okay."

  "Why did you get dressed?" She wanted bare skin. Blue jeans and a t-shirt didn't cut it. "I'm not."

  "I had to go out for a few minutes. The world tends to frown on a naked man walking down a public street."

  "The world would change its collective mind once it got a load of you."

  To her chagrin, Dalton stopped her from pushing his shirt up his chest. Instead, he rolled them over until she was on her back, firmly pinned down. Colleen tugged, but Dalton firmly held her wrists over her head.

  "I like this feisty mood," Dalton grinned. "Normally, you're already up and on your way to work."

  Colleen wasn't in the mood to think about work. Not after what happened yesterday. She wasn't going to let anything interfere with her morning happy. Stretching, she blinked the last of the sleep from her eyes, bringing Dalton into focus for the first time.

  "What did you do?"

  "I was wondering when you were going to notice."

  "You shaved!" Colleen pulled her wrists free, reversing their positions. Fascinated, she carefully touched his smooth cheek, as though uncertain it wasn't an illusion. "Why?"

  Watching her closely, Dalton shrugged. "I felt like a change. What do you think?"

  "Did you do this because of me?" Colleen couldn't help but ask. If the answer was yes, it had to mean Dalton meant to stick around a little longer. Otherwise, why bother?

  Dalton nodded, causing Colleen's heartbeat to flutter. Shrugging, he met her gaze. "I don't like hurting you. I know you said the rash was no big deal… Besides, I can always grow it back."

  It was obvious how uncomfortable Dalton was with delving into the implications of his impulsive actions. Colleen was more than satisfied with his answer, so she dropped it, circling back to his initial inquiry.

  "I think you're prettier than I am."

  "Jesus, Colleen. That wasn't exactly the reaction I was hoping for."

  "Just stating the facts," she stated with a teasing smile.

  So smooth, Colleen thought, brushing his chin with her lips. The beard had given Dalton a rakish air. She may have overstated the pretty part. Beautiful. And younger. Almost vulnerable. That she wouldn't tell him. But it made her want to protect him from the evil she knew lurked around the corners of Midas.

  Bonnie's appearance last night reinforced what Colleen had learned from Collier's visit to the garage. Greasing the path to his election was paramount. Irrationally, the Langley family seemed to view Dalton as a major obstacle to that goal. They were loose cannons. Unpredictable.

  How desperate were they? Was Dalton in danger? Were they capable of setting something in motion that would cause him bodily harm? The thought sent a shiver up Colleen's spine.

  "Earth to Colleen." Grinning, Dalton gently tapped the side of her head. "Where did you go?"

  "Deep thoughts about transmissions and fuel injectors." And how to get you out of town as fast as possible. Selfishly, Colleen wanted Dalton to stay. However, a few more days of fun weren't worth keeping him in the Langley's crosshairs. "Dalton—"

  "Put on some clothes." Dalton jumped from the bed, opening the top drawer of her dresser. "Panties. T-shirt. Shorts. That's all you need for now."

  Dalton tossed the bundle onto the bed. Then crossed his arms and waited. Laughing, Colleen shimmied into the underwear.

  "How about a bra?"

  His lips quirked, a small smile forming. Considering, he stared at her chest. "Nope."

  Not the least bit offended, Colleen donned the shirt. The shorts quickly followed. "I'll admit, my assets are less than overflowing, but…"

  "Your assets are perfect." Dalton handed her a pair of flip flops. "But we aren't going far. Indulge my perverse need to know I could slip my hand under your shirt and find nothing but skin."

  "If that's as perverse as you get—"

  Colleen gasped as Dalton unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her until they were eye to eye, feet dangling inches from the floor.

  "This?" his palm cupped her breast—under the t-shirt. "Perverse-lite. There are other things—needs—in my head that would put a red hot blush all over your soft, pretty skin."

  Colleen's eyes widened. She wasn't sure what to say.

  "Surprised?" Dalton asked, his hot breath bathing the curve of her ear.

  "Yes."

  "Scared?"

  That made her pause. Colleen thought about it, rolled it around, then thought some more. She didn't know exactly what Dalton meant. Couldn't know unless he decided to elaborate. But scared?

  "No. I'm not."

  "Maybe I'll tell you about it someday." With a brush of his lips against hers, Dalton set Colleen down. "If you're interested."

  "Maybe I am."

  "Maybe?" Dalton's eyes had darkened from bright to midnight blue.

  Colleen had to admit, she was intrigued. Licking her lips, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

  "Probably."

  "Another time," Dalton nodded.

  As fast as that, he dropped intense for playful. Dalton didn't seem the least bit fazed by the quick change. However, Colleen was a little disoriented. It emphasized what was so easy to forget. She didn't know this man. Deep down, Colleen felt they were connected. She was certain she could trust Dalton. Sharing her body had been a no-brainer. More difficult was remembering how long she had known him. A few days. That was all. There were parts of him she didn't know or understand. The same was true for her. Yet…

  "I've told you things no one else knows."

  Dalton nodded. "Me, too."

  "I shouldn't feel this comfortable with a relative stranger." Colleen shook her head, her gaze puzzled. "Should I?"

  "I clicked with Ryder and Ashe the instant we met." Dalton paused, trying to find the right words. "Musically. Emotionally. The bond formed, then and there. Time and our shared experiences have strengthened it, but we were brothers from the very beginning."

  Colleen understood what Dalton was saying. Hours. Days. Years. That unexplainable connection couldn't be measured by time. She had it with Dalton. When he was back in Los Angeles—hundreds of miles away—it would still exist. Colleen found the thought comforting. And distressing.

  "Come on." Dalton took her hand, pulling her toward the door.

  Laughing at his impatience, Colleen pulled back. "Give me a couple of minutes to wash my face. And take a pee."

  "Fine. But hurry."

  Colleen sped through her usual morning routine. A shower could wait. Brushing her teeth couldn't. While she was at it, she ran a comb through her hair, clipping it back into a modified ponytail, finishing with a dab of lip gloss.

  Waiting by the front door—pacing was more like it—Dalton sent Colleen a quizzical look as she entered the living room.

  "You look the same—but different."

  "I combed my hair."

  "It's more than that." Taking her mouth with his in a long, slow kiss, Dalton pulled away, running his tongue over h
is bottom lip. "Watermelon?"

  "Nice taster." Colleen motioned for Dalton to follow her outside. "Now, what's the big deal? I—"

  "It was delivered this morning. Our band manager, Alden Christopher pulled a few strings with the dealership in Los Angeles."

  A brand new Porsche. The car must have come in from Phoenix. Not a big deal for a big name rock star, but that kind of preferential treatment wasn't an everyday occurrence in Colleen's world. Or every week. Or year.

  Reverentially, Colleen ran her hand over the gleaming finish. Not a speck of dust in sight. The person who delivered the car must have washed and polished it before handing the keys to Dalton. She doubted that he noticed. He would be used to little touches like that. It emphasized in flashing neon how different his world was from hers.

  "You didn't get the same color."

  Placing his hand on the car's surface—almost touching Colleen's—Dalton said casually, "I've grown partial to red."

  There was nothing casual about the butterflies his words caused in Colleen's stomach. They stood next to the vehicle that would carry him out of her life, and he chose this moment to slather on another layer of charm? Jerk.

  "Did you say something?"

  Colleen was certain she hadn't. Has Dalton read her mind? Connected was one thing. Telepathy was a level of togetherness she wasn't certain she was ready to explore. Ever.

  "It's gorgeous."

  Dalton dangled the keys in front of Colleen. "Want to take her for a drive?"

  "Does a bear do his business in the woods?" Practically giddy, Colleen grabbed the keys, then looked at her feet. "It's a stick shift. I need different shoes. And a bra. This t-shirt is practically see-through. If we meet up with someone, I don't feel like giving them a free show."

  "While you're changing, pack a bag."

  That stopped Colleen in her tracks. "Where are we going?"

  "Los Angeles."

  Slowly, Colleen walked back toward Dalton. She must have misheard.

  "Los Angeles, California?"

  "Is there another?" Dalton's lips twitched before morphing into a full-on grin. "You should see your face. Wait." Lickety-split, he pulled out his phone, taking Colleen's picture. "Look. I'd title this one flabbergasted."

  Colleen pushed the phone away. Yes, she looked surprised. Who wouldn't? Dalton Shaw—casual as you please—had just asked her to accompany him to Los Angeles. With no warning. No lead-up. Out of the freaking blue. How else was she supposed to react?

  "It's a little far to go for a test drive."

  "It's September."

  "But it feels like the middle of July. So?" Colleen needed more than a reminder of the changing calendar. She needed details.

  "Let's go inside. Pretty soon, your nose will be as red as the car."

  "A few minutes ago you were all charm. Now you're comparing me to one of Santa's reindeer?"

  "Santa's heroic reindeer." Dalton reminded Colleen, guiding her into the apartment.

  "Never mind." Colleen wasn't in the mood to debate fictional North Pole dwellers. "What do Los Angeles, September, and most importantly, me, have to do with each other?"

  Seating her first, Dalton flopped onto the sofa. "I've done the, remember the bad times tour. For the most part, I would say it was a hit. Not that there weren't a few sour notes. I learned a few things about myself and my sister. I may have changed your mother's opinion of me from bad to good."

  Colleen couldn't argue with that. "She's a sucker for a good present. The earrings you gave her have leapfrogged to the top of her favorites."

  "And I met you. Which, in order of importance, should have been mentioned first."

  "There's that charm again."

  "It isn't deliberate."

  "That's what makes it so lethal."

  Dalton's arm swung around Colleen's shoulders. "Here's the low down. The last thing I said to my friends was, see you in September. We are headlining a benefit concert on Wednesday—which I can't miss. Come with me. Watch the concert. You've never seen us live."

  "My job."

  To be honest, Dole's Auto Repair could sink into the dusty ground for all she cared. Chances were, she had ratcheted her last lug nut at that place. Other than some back salary, Colleen never wanted to see the greasy walls again. She wanted desperately to tell Dalton yes. Just as desperately—illogical as it may be—she grasped at a reason to say no.

  "If you want, you can come back on Thursday. Private jet. Train. Hell, I'll send you by taxi."

  Colleen didn't care about her mode of transportation. If was the first part of Dalton's statement that stuck in her head.

  "If I want to come back?" Did she have a choice?

  "You can stay as long as you want. I wouldn't argue if you never left."

  "Dalton—"

  Pressing his hand to Colleen's lips, Dalton met her gaze. It was hard to read what was going on behind those brilliant blue eyes. "For now, all I'm asking is that you come with me. Think of it as a vacation. When was the last time you took one of those?"

  "I don't know. Maybe never."

  "To say you're overdue puts it mildly."

  "I want to say yes." More than anything.

  "Then it's settled." Dalton gave her a gentle kiss. "We can talk about the rest later."

  It didn't take Colleen long to change her clothes. Or pack the few things she deemed appropriate to wear in Los Angeles. Before heading out, she called her mother, expecting all kinds of arguments on why going away with Dalton was a colossally bad idea. After all, a pair of big, bold, shiny earrings only bought so much goodwill. Leave it to Sherry to surprise her daughter once again. Instead of a lecture, Colleen received a blessing and a bon voyage. Mothers, Colleen shook her head. She would never figure hers out.

  "Ready?" Dalton asked, securing his seatbelt.

  "Let's hit the road."

  Life was filled with unforgettable moments. Colleen had a feeling, when she looked back, this one would rank near the top. She sat behind the wheel of a brand new, fire-engine red Porsche. On her way to Los Angeles. And riding shotgun, Dalton Shaw. Was this actually happening?

  As the sign Colleen had seen so often in her dreams whizzed by, she had her answer. Leaving Midas. Damn straight this was happening. And best of all, she was wide awake, savoring every second.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THE TRIP FROM Midas to Los Angeles flew by. On the day Dalton left for Arizona, all he could think about was coming home. However, from the second they left Midas in their rearview mirror, he wished for time to slow down. All because of Colleen.

  First, watching the enjoyment she received from driving the Porsche was a sight to see. Dalton had never met anyone—man or woman—who appreciated a car's every nuance the way Colleen did. She sighed over the powerful engine. Chuckled as she shifted into high gear, breathing in the smell of expensive leather as the air from the open window blew her hair in every direction.

  Observing her, Dalton was reminded of a drawing he saw in a Paris museum. The subject lay in a pool of water, her long, dark hair swirling in the water. This was similar. With a major difference. The woman in the painting wept. There were no tears for Colleen. Her smile was brighter than the Arizona sun and twice as warm.

  "It's going to take an hour to comb the tangles from my hair," Colleen said, raising her voice over the sound of the wind and the tunes blasting from the radio.

  "Want to close the windows?" Dalton only asked to play along. They both knew the answer.

  "Hell, no." Turning toward Dalton, Colleen tipped her sunglasses down. Her green eyes glowed emerald bright. "Do you know what this feels like?"

  "Tell me."

  "Freedom."

  Dalton didn't know how long they drove in silence. Colleen bopped to some classic rock, he watched Colleen. At some point, with no warning, she rolled up the windows, adjusted the air conditioning, and turned off the radio. That was when time really began to fly. When they started
talking. There was no set topic. It wasn't about gleaning deep insights. Though, in a way, that's exactly what happened.

  "I had sex for the first time on my sixteenth birthday."

  Colleen's hands were busy pulling her hair into a semblance of a ponytail while Dalton steered from the passenger seat. He didn't think anything of it when she told him to grab the wheel. The stretch of road was long, curve-free and there wasn't another vehicle in sight.

  "I beat you by a year."

  "I concede defeat," Colleen laughed, taking back control of the car. "I didn't sleep around, though my reputation says otherwise. And it wasn't about rebellion. Or boredom. I liked sex. The boys I dated made up for lack of skill with youthful vigor. I contributed enthusiasm."

  "Sounds fair." Dalton wasn't jealous. Though he couldn't help envying any boy lucky enough to have known the teenage Colleen.

  "I thought so. Gossip runs rampant in a small town. I wasn't oblivious. My skin wasn't as tough as it is now. But looking back, I wouldn't change a thing."

  "You scared them."

  "How do you mean?" Colleen asked, her expression puzzled.

  "It doesn't matter what century we live in. Girls are expected to act a certain way. You were a confident young woman who unapologetically embraced her sexuality. For those small-minded Midas assholes, you must have been a fucking nightmare."

  "You think so?"

  "I do." Dalton patted her knee. Another plus to Colleen driving. Because she wore shorts, he was able to admire the long expanse of her creamy legs.

  "I like your way of thinking." Colleen's hand covered his, squeezing. "Why the drums?"

  It was a startling turn in the conversation, but Dalton didn't hesitate to answer.

  "It started out as a way to take out my aggression."

  "Were you an angry boy?"

  "I was…" Dalton tried to find the right word. "Frustrated. I never knew my father. My mother lived in her own drug and alcohol-filled world. Maggie was always a handful. I needed an outlet and finding someone to fight was never a problem. We were boys."

  "If you say so." Colleen shook her head with a perplexed smile.