FLOWERS and CAGES

by Mary J. Williams

  Colleen always assumed that if her bank account grew hefty enough, all her doubts would disappear. Money made the world safe. Stable. Secure. What she had learned since meeting Dalton was that, yes, money greased many paths. However, look at the wealthy residents of Midas. She had only a short glimpse at their underbellies, and it wasn't a pretty sight. The push to grasp more never ended. There was always somebody else standing in the spot one coveted. Satisfaction was fleeting for men like Tolliver Cline and Manfred T. Langley. Always wanting more might be keeping them on their toes. But happiness. How was that possible when neither had learned how to appreciate the here and now?

  Had Dalton? Colleen felt compelled to ask.

  "What about now? Do you feel like you've made it?"

  "Artistically? Hell no. We push each other to be better—every day. As musicians. We want our sound to evolve. Stagnation is a death knell for any group. As for the money? I would be lying if I said it wasn't important. My lifestyle is comfortable."

  Looking around, Colleen snickered. The view. The house. The gleaming hardwood floors and luxurious furnishings. She had peeked inside Dalton's closet. It was massive. With all those shoes, it had to be.

  "I can hear that fascinating mind of yours turning." Dalton tugged at a lock of her hair. "Comfort is relative. I turned my nose up at Tolliver Cline and his McMansion. That wasn't fair."

  "Sure it was. Tolliver built his house to impress. To lord it over Judge Langley and the rest of the Midas elite. He called it a home, but it was a show place. Did anybody at that dinner party look happy? No."

  "We might have had something to do with their discomfort. Tolliver is a man used to getting what he wants. His friends are the same. I'm sure it's been awhile since they heard the word no."

  "But you said it in such a colorful manner. Personally, I enjoyed the show—if not the meal."

  "I preferred our picnic by the lake."

  Colleen smiled at the shared memory. "You can still appreciate the simpler things in life."

  "I meant the sex."

  Turning in his arms, Colleen wound her arms around Dalton's neck. "What about the fried chicken?"

  "A distant second." Dalton lifted her into his arms, taking the stairs two at a time. "I love the money, Red. The fame and adulation are great." Pausing by the bed, his took her mouth with his. Sweet and hot. "You aren't for sale."

  From someone else, Colleen might have taken that as a question, not a statement. A hint that maybe—for the right price—she could be bought. Dalton knew the truth. She was with him because of him, not his net worth.

  "I could change my mind—for the right price. What are you offering?" she teased.

  "Hm." Dalton lowered her to the bed. Thoughtfully, he pulled his shirt over his head. "You were impressed by my Porsche."

  Lying back to enjoy the show, Colleen pretended to think about it. Then shook her head. "Nope. What else have you got?"

  "Cash?"

  "Tempting. But no."

  "Name your price."

  Tossing his last piece of clothing onto a chair, Dalton stood before her, gloriously naked and so naturally unselfconscious, it made Colleen's mouth water. Taking her time, she looked him up and down. Head to toe. Pausing in all the interesting places. Of which there were many.

  "I want your most precious possession."

  His grin crooked, Dalton reached for the hem of her dress, disposing of the garment in one smooth movement.

  "And what would that be?" Dalton asked, covering her body with his.

  An image flashed through Colleen's brain. She was a contestant on a game show, excitedly jumping up and down, certain she had the correct answer. Dalton Shaw's most precious possession for all the marbles, Alex. Easy. She didn't have to think twice. What did she want? What would mean the most? What was the one thing he could give her that she would treasure, now and always? It was the one thing she couldn't bring herself to ask for. The only thing she wanted was Dalton's heart. His love.

  Unaware of the serious turn of Colleen's thoughts, Dalton hovered over her, his blue eyes filled with laughter.

  "Have you made up your mind?"

  "You. All I want is you."

  Colleen touched the smooth, freshly shaved skin of Dalton's cheek. If all she could have was his body, she would take it. Placing her hand on his chest, she smiled at the feel of its increased rhythm—the beat. Dalton's heart came with the package. For now, it was hers.

  FIRST THING THE next day, Zoe and Quinn dropped by Dalton's house. He was out for an early morning run when the women arrived. Colleen didn't think anything of it until Quinn casually asked her what she was wearing to the concert.

  "Clothes?" Colleen answered, finding the question a bit perplexing.

  Did Quinn think they were in danger of showing up in the same outfit? Not likely. Colleen shopped bargain basement. Neither Quinn nor Zoe looked as though they could say the same. Casually elegant. That was how she would describe the women. Quinn in jeans and a silk blouse. Zoe in form-fitting teal-colored pants and a dove gray jacket made out of the softest-looking leather Colleen had ever seen.

  "The thing is—" Quinn began only to be interrupted by Zoe.

  "Dalton asked us to suss out if you needed a little boost to your wardrobe."

  Quinn rolled her eyes. "Oh, good Lord."

  Zoe simply shrugged, unconcerned by Quinn's displeasure.

  Colleen frowned. "Why didn't he simply ask me himself?" Since when had Dalton needed help digging for information? His straightforward approach was one of his best qualities.

  "I suppose he didn't want to embarrass you. Dalton mentioned that you pay your own way. Offering to buy you a dress might come under the heading of—"

  "Mooching off your rich boyfriend."

  "That's it." Quinn rounded on Zoe. "You promised to behave. Not every woman is out to take your men's money."

  "My men?" Zoe's blue eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you would like to rephrase that."

  Colleen didn't know what was going on, but she felt as though she had been set down in the middle of a long-standing argument. Fascinated, she waited for Quinn's return volley.

  "Ryder, Ashe, and Dalton? I know the four of you are family. Tight-knit. But families grow, Zoe. You've accepted me."

  Zoe simply raised her eyebrows.

  "Admit it," Quinn laughed.

  "Ryder loves you." There was a small smile on Zoe's lips. "I don't think he's made the worst choice in the world."

  "Practically a declaration of sisterhood." Hugging Zoe, one that was reluctantly returned, Quinn turned her attention back to Colleen. "Now there is Colleen and Dalton."

  "Don't add me to your growing mix." The thought was too tempting and the last thing she wanted to talk about. "More coffee?"

  "You and Dalton? Too soon? I get it." Quinn held up her hands. "We strayed from the point."

  "We?" Zoe sipped at her freshly filled cup of coffee. For the first time, she spoke directly to Colleen. "Do you need a dress or not?"

  "Not."

  "Tonight will be fairly swanky, Colleen. If you're holding back because of my snarky remarks, don't. I was kidding." This time, it was Colleen who raised her eyebrows. Zoe's smile widened. "It is possible that Quinn is right about one thing."

  "Wait." Quinn rummaged through her purse, triumphantly pulling out her phone. "Say that again, I want to set it as your ringtone."

  "The woman likes to push her luck." Zoe chuckled. It was a nice sound, Colleen decided. "Dalton is family. My brother in every way but blood. If I get a bit protective—"

  Quinn snorted. "A bit?"

  Zoe continued as though Quinn hadn't spoken. "It's because we watch out for each other. Are you going to hurt Dalton?"

  "I hope not." Colleen couldn't imagine a scenario where it would happen. However, she wasn't going to make a sweeping declaration. Shit happened. Sometimes life had a way of tossing out unforeseen curveballs. "I would never deliberately hurt Dalto
n. That's all I can promise."

  Zoe held Colleen's gaze for several beats, as though assessing her words. Then, she shrugged. "It's Dalton's money. Let him spend it."

  Hardly an overwhelming endorsement, but from the satisfied expression on Quinn's face, Colleen guessed it was Zoe's version.

  "I honestly don't need a new dress. I do wish Dalton had asked me himself. It would have saved the two of you a trip." Colleen hesitated. "Is tonight really that big of a deal? Dalton said it was a benefit concert."

  "The benefit concert," Quinn stated. Zoe nodded. "This is one of those crossover events. Musicians, actors, authors, directors. And so on. A ton of press. I assume from your expression Dalton didn't tell you any of that."

  "He did not."

  "In his defense, he did think about your dress."

  Quinn had her there. Colleen felt her rising hackles ease back down. It would have been nice if Dalton had been more specific. On the other hand, she hadn't asked. She knew better than to make assumptions. Blaming the whirlwind nature of her trip to California was no excuse. Whatever his intent, Dalton had given her time enough to acclimate—something Colleen was very good at doing.

  "I've seen events like this online and in magazines. I know what women wear." Colleen felt a bit of doubt seep in. "Just to be certain, will you give me your opinions?"

  "I'm certain your dress is fine." Zoe exchanged nods with Quinn. "We would be happy to look if it would make you feel better."

  Colleen started up the stairs, Zoe and Quinn at her heels. "I know the answer is to say I wouldn't want to embarrass Dalton. The truth is, I don't want to embarrass myself."

  "As it should be." Quinn took a seat on the edge of the bed. "Most men could care less what we wear. As long as it comes off at the end of the night."

  Flopping down next to Quinn, a move that seemed incongruous to her elegant appearance, Zoe expertly flipped her hair. "If that is a reference to your sex life, I would rather not know."

  "Poor Zoe. She prefers to think of Ryder as a cloistered monk."

  "He's my brother. I prefer not to think about that aspect of his life at all."

  Leaving them to their slightly heated but easy banter, Colleen moved across the room where a gorgeous antique dresser sat. Dalton had offered her as much space in it as she wanted. Plus, more closet space than she would have known what to do with. In the end, she claimed three roomy drawers.

  Seeing the dress that she had put away only a few days before, Colleen smiled. A present from her mother last Christmas, it wasn't something she ever would have bought for herself. Not that the flowing red jersey knit didn't suit her. It did. The problem wasn't the dress. It was the price. And the fact that Colleen couldn't imagine having a reason to wear it. Sherry's response of, you never know, had become prophetic.

  For once, her mother chose a gift with Colleen's taste in mind—not her own. That old adage that redheads should never wear clothing in the same color spectrum was shot to pieces the second Colleen tried on the crimson dress. Instead of clashing, the bold shade made her hair almost glow and her green eyes pop. The confidence she would feel on Dalton's arm would be worth her mother's inevitable I told you so.

  "It's perfect." Quinn hopped from the bed.

  "It is, isn't it?" Colleen held it under her chin.

  "And soft as butter. Is it cut to your navel? Dalton's tongue will hit the floor when he sees you in this."

  "You have the perfect breasts." Zoe rolled her eyes when Quinn sent her a questioning grin. "God."

  "Did I miss something?" Colleen asked.

  "Go on," Quinn chuckled. "Tell Colleen."

  With a resigned sigh, Zoe crossed her long legs. "There is a story making the rounds questioning my sexuality."

  "So?"

  "Thank you, Colleen. That was my response. I don't care what people think. Gay. Straight. Bi. Does it really matter?"

  "Not to me." Colleen laid the dress on the bed.

  "Quinn doesn't give a flying leap." Zoe stuck her tongue out at her brother's girlfriend. It didn't come off as a childish or silly gesture. Instead, it humanized the other woman, giving Colleen another glimpse past her cool, polished exterior. "She loves that I have become the focus of media attention."

  "And why is that, Zoe?" Quinn crossed her arms, waiting.

  "If I tell Colleen everything, will you and I finally be even?"

  Quinn pondered the question as though it was of extreme importance. Finally, she nodded. "Yes. Clean slate all the way."

  "There was a story a few weeks back," Zoe said, jumping right in.

  "The one planted by Dalton's brother-in-law?"

  "That's the one. I mistakenly blamed Quinn. A fact that she hasn't let me forget. Though I apologized. Profusely."

  "Let's not get carried away." Joining her on the bed, Quinn gave Zoe a friendly bump with her hip. "The only thing Zoe does profusely is play the guitar. Badass is the term used by the guys in the band."

  Zoe shrugged off Quinn's words, but the pleasure in her blue eyes was obvious. Colleen didn't blame her. Badass guitar player? Who wouldn't be happy with such an assessment?

  "You were with Dalton in Midas." Zoe's gaze turned serious. "He downplayed his trip. Was it as innocuous as he led us to believe?"

  The question made Colleen pause. There was something Dalton didn't know. Something he couldn't have shared with his friends. She wanted to tell Zoe and Quinn about Collier's visit to the garage. It would have felt good to get it off her chest. The problem was, she couldn't expect them to keep her secret. It wouldn't be fair to ask. Dalton wasn't going back. Judge Langley couldn't hurt him. He was out of Tolliver Cline's reach.

  Dalton shared what he wanted to share. It wasn't up to her to elaborate. In the end, Colleen decided to adopt the theory that what happened in Midas should stay in Midas.

  "Dalton gave it to you straight. Midas no longer has a hold on him."

  That seemed to satisfy Quinn. Zoe was harder to read, but she let it go. That left Colleen to think about the evening ahead. Dress, shoes, makeup, hair. She wasn't worried about any of that. Landing on her face in front of all those people? That would be difficult to live down.

  With a sigh, Colleen decided to stop thinking about what could go wrong and relax. All she had to do was smile and hold onto Dalton. She knew he wouldn't let her fall.

  HOW MANY PEOPLE had the opportunity to walk an honest to goodness Hollywood red carpet? The flashing lights. The screaming fans. The glitz and glamor. Colleen had seen the highlights. Hundreds. Thousands of times. It wasn't something she thought of after the fact or dreamed of attending. Moments like these were otherworldly. She couldn't relate. Why would it occur to her that someday, she would be the one strutting her stuff in front of members of the press from all over the world? Yet, here she was. Colleen McNamara. Humble mechanic.

  "So much for stage fright." Dalton tightened his grip on her hand. "You look like you were born posing for the camera."

  "It's easy. I've decided to embrace the moment." Colleen paused when a photographer shouted Dalton's name. "You're the talent. I'm the eye candy. When these pictures hit the internet, my mother is going to have bragging rights at the beauty salon for the next six months."

  "Never mind the internet. Try magazines and newspapers."

  "People? Entertainment Weekly?"

  "At the very least," Dalton nodded.

  "Did I say six months?" Colleen flashed her best, I'm with the band, smile. "My mother will work this for at least a year."

  Though Colleen enjoyed herself immensely, it wasn't what she had expected when Dalton mentioned a benefit. The Ryder Hart Band equaled rock and roll. In her mind, that meant t-shirts, jeans, and suspicious-smelling puffs of smoke. Woodstock. Monterey. What she found was more upscale.

  That morning, Quinn and Zoe had given her a bit of a heads-up. They tried to prepare her. Colleen quickly discovered the red carpet and all the glitz were things one had to experience to tr
uly understand. This was a moment she wanted to savor. She wanted to see everything. Take little snapshots in her mind. Tonight was once in a lifetime. Colleen was determined to enjoy every second. Especially the man next to her.

  "Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?"

  Dalton shook his head when the usher holding the door for them snorted, trying unsuccessfully to contain a laugh.

  "That is supposed to be my line, Red."

  "You told me. Four times."

  "And you mentioned that I looked mighty fine in my tuxedo. Handsome was the word you used in the car." Dalton lightly flicked a finger under her chin. "Remember it the next time anybody is in earshot."

  "Handsome. Gorgeous. Both apply." Colleen needlessly fussed with Dalton's tie. It gave her an excuse to stare into his deep blue eyes. When he rested his hands on her hips, she smiled. "You look as good in clothes as out of them. Not all men can say that."

  "Right back at you." Dalton's gaze dipped to the plunging neckline of her dress. "How am I supposed to keep my eyes off you? Long, bare legs and all that creamy skin?" His roaming finger stopped between the base of Colleen's neck and the swell of her breasts.

  Colleen had watched video after video of Dalton playing the drums. His skill and concentration had left her breathless.

  "Once you're on stage, you won't know I'm around."

  "Not likely, Red."

  Dalton kissed her ever so lightly. It was a moment. The kind she would never forget. By the way he looked at her, Colleen was certain he felt the same. Together, they inhaled. Deeply.

  "Time to get changed, lover boy." Ryder slapped Dalton on the back. "We open and close this shindig. You can canoodle with Colleen at the after party."

  "What about you and me?" Quinn, stunning in a form-fitting yellow sheath, tugged on Ryder's hand.

  "Canoodle. Snuggle. Smooch. Name it. I'm there."

  "Oh, for crying out loud." Zoe exchanged looks with Ashe. "Would you give these two a move-it-along kick in the ass? I would do it, but this dress won't let me lift my foot that high."