Always in Her Heart

by Marta Perry

  Now that the moment had come, Annie was even more reluctant to leave. She knelt next to the baby. “Give Nan a hug, sweetheart.”

  The feel of the baby’s soft arms around her neck nearly threw her off balance. She didn’t want to leave her. She had to.

  Link held out her coat. She stood, slipping her arms into the sleeves. He settled the coat around her and gave her shoulders a little squeeze, as if he sensed her nerves and wanted to reassure her.

  “Nora knows everything there is to know about taking care of Marcy, and I’ve written the phone numbers down for her.” His grip tightened for an instant. “Everything will be fine.”

  “I know.” She managed to produce a smile. “Thank you again, Nora.”

  Nora waved off her thanks. “You two just go and have a good time.”

  Right, a good time. She let Link take her arm and pilot her out the door and to the car. It wasn’t so easy to have a good time when she felt as if people would be watching their every move.

  Link settled behind the wheel. “You didn’t want to leave her.” He sounded sure.

  “No.”

  They both knew why she didn’t want to leave Marcy. They both knew that if the hearing went against them, she’d be leaving Marcy for good.

  Link let the silence stretch for a few moments as he drove down Main Street and turned onto Lakeside Drive. He gave her a fleeting look, as if measuring her mood.

  “Have you been out to the Lakeside Inn before?”

  He was making conversation, she supposed, in an effort to distract her.

  “I’ve seen it from the outside when Becca showed me around the area.” She had a vague image of a sprawling old-fashioned lodge hovering on the shore of the lake.

  “It’s the only place around that’s big enough for an affair like this.” He leaned forward, pointing through the windshield. “There, you can see it now.”

  The road curved along the lake, and just ahead of them a small headland thrust out into the water. The Lakeside Inn sat at the very end, every window sparkling with white lights.

  “It looks like a fairy-tale castle.”

  Link turned into the lane, and the trees momentarily obscured the inn from view. “Then, you must be Cinderella,” he said, and pulled to a stop in the parking lot.

  The walkway to the inn’s entrance led through a band of trees sparkling with small white lights, and the building itself was even bigger than she’d thought from a distance. Wooden additions flanked a center section of stone, capped by red chimneys and turrets.

  She’d been right. It did look like a castle. And judging by the state of her nerves, she must be facing a dragon.

  Link put his arm around her as they mounted the stone steps. He pulled the massive door open. “You’ll be fine,” he murmured. “Stop worrying.”

  “If I could stop worrying on command, I’d have done it already.”

  He flashed her a grin. “Okay, that was dumb, I admit it. I just want you to relax.”

  She surrendered her coat to Link, and then waited while he took it to the cloakroom. An enormous fire roaring in one of the biggest fireplaces she’d ever seen warmed the lobby in spite of high ceilings and a soaring staircase.

  She heard the murmur of voices and the strains of music in the distance, coming from what must be the dinner dance. Her nerves tightened.

  Link walked toward her across the lobby. He spent so much time in work clothes that his dark suit should have sat uncomfortably on him, but it didn’t. He looked elegant and accomplished, like any successful businessman walking into an event where he knew he’d be welcomed and admired.

  He took her arm. “The Adirondack Room is around the corner. Sounds as if most people are here already.”

  “Does that mean we’re making an entrance?” Her steps slowed involuntarily as they rounded the corner. For a moment they were alone—the lobby out of sight behind them, the ballroom hidden around another corner.

  Link stopped, looking down at her. “Still nervous?”

  “A little,” she admitted. “Everyone’s going to be looking at us. Wondering.”

  His mouth curved in an easy grin, and she realized he was enjoying this. To Link, this night was a challenge, and Link loved challenges.

  “They’re going to be wondering how I managed to snag the prettiest woman in town.”

  She looked up at him, startled, a protest on her lips. She didn’t have a chance to utter it.

  Almost before she realized his intent, he touched her cheek, tilted her face up and kissed her.

  The stone floor was suddenly unsteady, and she put her hands on his arms for balance. He seemed to take that as an invitation, his palms moving on the soft silk as he drew her even closer. His mouth was firm, seeking, and she could no more pull away than she could fly.

  His lips moved to her cheek, and his breath was as ragged as her own. “Maybe we’d better go in before I get carried away,” he murmured.

  She drew back as far as his arms would let her, knowing her cheeks must be fiery. “Maybe so.”

  Maybe we’ve already been carried away.

  He straightened his tie and touched a handkerchief to his lips. Then he held his arm out to her with a brilliant smile. “Ready, Cinderella?”

  Ready or not. She took his arm and let a wave of emotion carry her into the room.

  Link realized he felt unaccountably buoyed by that kiss, as they swept through the doors to the Adirondack Room. Felt, in fact, as if he could lick all comers.

  That certainly hadn’t been in his mind at the moment he’d known he was going to kiss Annie. As they’d approached the room he’d felt the tiniest of movements that would have resulted in her putting her hands behind her back, like that little girl in the photo.

  The impact of her unconscious movement had been powerful. He’d been overwhelmed by the conviction that he couldn’t let her draw back. He couldn’t let her give in to that fear of rejection.

  Did she even realize she did that? He didn’t know, and he was certainly the last person who ought to be taking responsibility for her happiness.

  “Link, it’s beautiful.”

  He looked at her, enjoying her reaction to the room. He’d forgotten how impressed people were the first time they came in, overwhelmed by the wall of glass looking out over the lake, the timbered walls, the immense fireplace. Annie’s eyes were as bright as the candle flames that sparkled on each round, white-linen-covered table.

  He covered her hand with his. “This isn’t going to be hard,” he said softly. “Just enjoy yourself.”

  It wasn’t going to be hard for him, anyway, to show everyone they were a couple—not with the taste of her lips still on his.

  “Is there likely to be a soul here that I know besides you?”

  “Jenna and Pete ought to be around somewhere. They’re saving us seats at their table.” He turned to search the room for them. Instead, he found himself face-to-face with Frank and Julia.

  “Link.” Frank didn’t offer to shake hands with him. “Annie.” He gave her a stiff nod. “I didn’t expect to see the two of you here.”

  “We wouldn’t dream of missing the dinner,” he said smoothly. He slid his arm around Annie’s waist. “After all, this is the first chance I’ve had to introduce my bride to the rest of the business community.”

  “Of course.” Frank smiled, recovering his balance. “You spend so much time out at the project that I don’t think of you as part of the Downtown Business Association.”

  “You don’t build houses by sitting in an office.” Or at least, I don’t. What Frank would do, if he took over Conrad and Morgan, was anyone’s guess. But that wasn’t going to happen. He wouldn’t let it.

  Frank’s smile didn’t falter. “I don’t think a CEO has to get his hands dirty in order to run a company.”

  He resisted the urge to retort that Frank had never done enough work to know what it meant to get his hands dirty. But their cause wouldn’t be served by getting into an argument with Fr
ank in a public place.

  He felt Annie’s tension through the hand he’d rested on her waist. She was probably holding her breath, worrying about what he’d say next.

  “Not everyone would agree with that,” he said easily. “But you’re entitled to your opinion.”

  “You might be surprised at the number of people who agree with me.” Frank slid the dart in with a smile.

  He felt Annie tremble, and anger surged through him. “If you think—”

  Annie grabbed his hand. “Maybe we’d better find our seats, Link.”

  “Yes, of course.” He tamped down his anger with an effort. He wasn’t going to let Frank goad him, remember? He nodded to the two of them. “We’ll see you later, I’m sure.”

  Julia, her mannequin’s smile perfectly in place, turned away as if she hadn’t heard. Frank gave him a look that set alarm bells ringing—the kind of look the cat might give the canary just before he pounced. Frank was just a little too pleased with himself, and that couldn’t be good.

  He steered Annie across the room. He must be catching some of her jitters. He and Annie were going to go into that custody suit and win. He wouldn’t even imagine any other outcome.

  Annie looked up at him, her brown eyes dark with worry. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He drew her a little closer. “Nothing at all is wrong.” He hoped.

  She studied his face for a moment. It must have been convincing, because she nodded.

  “All right.”

  “There’s Jenna and Pete.” He gestured toward a table near the fireplace and held her hand firmly in his as they moved toward it.

  They wanted everyone to see them as happily married. And he wanted her to feel secure.

  But he knew he was kidding himself if he tried to believe that was the only reason he wanted Annie near him.

  By the time dinner was over and the dancing had started, Annie was beginning to relax. This evening was going better than she’d have thought possible a few hours earlier.

  Jenna and her husband, Pete, had been welcoming, introducing them to several other couples. No one had betrayed, by word or glance, that they thought there was anything odd about her and Link’s sudden marriage. If anything, she’d had a sense of support, even belonging, that had made her glad she’d come.

  How much of that sense of belonging had come from Link’s solid presence next to her—from his easy smiles and light touches? He’d made her feel as if this were real.

  Now, dancing close in his arms, she could almost believe it. The music and the soft murmur of voices formed the background. In the foreground was the strength of Link’s arm around her, the warmth of his hand against her back, the touch of his breath across her cheek.

  Did she dare let herself believe that a real relationship was possible between them? She squeezed his shoulder.

  He tilted his head back, looking at her with a lazy smile that was only a few inches from her lips. “What was that for? Did you think I was falling asleep?”

  “Just making sure this is real.” She felt herself flush. She was probably giving herself away again, but if Link didn’t know by now that she had feelings for him, he must be blind and deaf.

  “It’s real,” he said softly against her ear. “I hope you’re enjoying it, because I am.”

  She didn’t want to think or analyze. She just wanted to be here, in this moment, with him.

  The music ended. She didn’t feel as if she could take the step that would put them apart.

  “I don’t want to go back to the table just now,” he murmured. “Let’s take a walk.”

  She nodded.

  Holding her hand, Link led the way through the crowd with such single-minded determination that it seemed to part in front of him. In a moment they were in the hallway, the sounds of the party muting behind them.

  “This way.” He walked quickly around the corner, away from the lobby. They passed a row of faded portraits on the wall, and he led her through another doorway.

  The quiet room had low bookshelves running all the way around under the windows, a corner fireplace and a set of high-backed chairs facing the fire. It looked like the library in an English country house.

  The only trouble was that it was already occupied. An elderly gentleman rose from one of the leather chairs at their entrance.

  “Link.” He held out his hand. “It’s good to see you taking an evening off work.”

  Link’s face softened, and he drew her forward. “Annie, I don’t think you’ve met Doc Adams yet. Doc is one of our board members.”

  She extended her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”

  She found herself scrutinized by a pair of the shrewdest blue eyes she’d ever seen. Doc Adams had a dropping white mustache and bushy white hair, irresistibly reminding her of Samuel Clemens.

  He let out a bark of laughter. “If a pretty girl calls me ‘sir,’ I must be even older than I think. Call me Doc, like everyone else.”

  “Doc,” she corrected. She’d like to resent the man for interrupting her quiet moment with Link, but his good humor was contagious. Even Link seemed relaxed in his presence.

  “I was hoping I’d see you tonight, son.” He put his hand on Link’s shoulder. “Tell me, what’s this board meeting going to be about?”

  Link stared at him blankly. “Board meeting?”

  Doc’s bushy white brows lifted. “So you don’t know about it. I wondered if that was the case—why I wanted to be sure and talk with you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Link’s frown would frighten a lesser man. “We don’t have a board meeting scheduled.”

  “We do now. Frank called one—we all got the notification today. For Tuesday afternoon.”

  “Tuesday?” Annie couldn’t stop the question. “But we have the custody hearing on Wednesday morning.” She looked at Link, knowing her apprehension must be written on her face.

  Link’s face had tightened to a mask. “What’s on the agenda for the meeting?”

  Doc shrugged. “Didn’t say. I hoped you’d know. When I asked Frank, he’d only say it was a matter ‘crucial to the future of the company.”’

  “No.” Link said tersely. “I have no idea what Frank’s up to.”

  But it can’t be good. She finished the thought for him, tension crawling along her nerves. Frank was up to something. The timing couldn’t be a coincidence.

  “Well, forewarned is forearmed, I always say.” Doc clapped him on the shoulder again. “Don’t worry about it, son. It’d take something pretty big to convince me you’re not doing a good job.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Link managed a smile.

  The old man glanced from Link’s face to hers. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone, so you can talk without a fifth wheel getting in the way.”

  “You don’t need to—” Annie began, but he was already out the door.

  Link looked as if he’d been hit by a falling beam.

  “It’ll be all right.” She said the first thing that came to mind, then realized they were words she’d use if Marcy bumped her knee. They hardly applied here.

  He stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “There’s nothing all right about it. Frank wouldn’t call a board meeting for the day before the hearing unless he had some scheme in mind. It can’t be good for us.”

  “But can’t you insist he tell the board what it’s about? Or say it has to be scheduled some other time?”

  His lips drew tight. “According to our rules, any board member can call a meeting at any time he deems it necessary. That was just intended to bypass the necessity of formal meetings, but Frank knows he can do it.”

  She shivered in spite of the warmth of the fire. “There must be something you can do.”

  “I’ll talk to the other board members.” Link turned toward the door and then looked back at her impatiently. “Well, aren’t you coming?”

  Her heart seemed to freeze. Link’s grim face didn’t look anything like that of the man who’d held
her close and whispered in her ear. Their moment of intimacy might never have been.

  She should have known… Everything else paled in comparison to a threat to the company. In Link’s world, nothing else was that important, especially not her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Can’t we just sit down and try to figure this out rationally?”

  Annie frowned at Link, whose pacing threatened to wear a rut in the family room carpet. He’d been this way since they’d learned of Frank’s latest machinations the previous night. It was a wonder he’d been able to sit still through worship that morning.

  He stopped pacing long enough to return her frown. “Sitting and thinking isn’t going to stop Frank. We have to do something.”

  Link’s words reminded her of their quarrel when he’d first proposed marriage as a solution to their problems. The only way Link knew to deal with a difficult situation was to charge right at it.

  “Wearing a hole in the rug won’t stop him, either. We can’t take action unless we know what to do.”

  He stalked to the sofa and sat down, folding his arms. “Okay. Talk.”

  If she’d dreamed, even for a moment, that they could return to what they’d felt when they were dancing the night before, it was time to give up that dream. Link had apparently turned his feelings off as easily as flipping a switch.

  “All right.” Focus on the problem at hand—that was all she could do now. “We agree that the timing of this meeting Frank wants can’t be coincidental. So what could he possibly hope to achieve at the board meeting that might impact the custody hearing?”

  Link still frowned, but at least now the frown was directed not at her but at the situation.

  “I wish I knew. I’ve talked to all three of the other board members. They claim Frank didn’t tell them why he wanted a meeting.”

  “Do you believe them?”

  He seemed to be assessing that. “I believe they’re telling the truth as far as it goes. I suppose it’s possible one of them—Frank’s great-uncle, probably—might have some hint about what’s on Frank’s mind, but if so, nobody’s talking.”

  They couldn’t force the three elderly men to cooperate with them. The board members were even less likely to talk with her, a stranger, than with Link.