“A peach.”
“Will...”
“Delicious.”
“Will!” Jared sensed his friend’s eyes on Grace’s breasts. When Will turned to smile at him, his tongue flicked out to lick his lower lip. Jared jerked hard on his friend’s arm pulling him toward the gardens that lined the palazzo.
Dragging him along a path that led toward the ocean, Jared used every obscenity he knew to describe what he thought of Will’s perusal of his date.
“Whoa, old man. I didn’t know the peach...I mean, Grace, was off limits. You should have told me.” He yanked his arm from Jared’s grip and stumbled slightly.
“You should have known. You’re not that oiled,” Jared growled. “And while we’re on the subject, asshole, how would you like me to ogle Agnes like that? Is she off limits?”
Will grabbed Jared by the lapels of his jacket. “Don’t even joke about that, Jared. I’ll kill you, I swear to God I will!”
Large and muscular, Will had handled himself well on several occasions, even when half drunk. Jared didn’t relish having his dinner jacket spoiled but felt it might be worth it.
Will’s deadly threat was met by Jared’s icy calm. Will removed his hands from the lapels he had crushed.
Jared hissed, “You know how I feel about Agnes, you fool. Why can’t you get it in your head that it’s you she wants? She loves your sorry ass. Why, I don’t know.”
Will sank onto a weathered bench on the gravel path, his head in his palms, rubbing his forehead. “What is she doing with someone like me?”
An emotional gate opened, anguish apparent in Will’s thick voice. “She’s going to leave me, Jare.”
“Do you know that for sure?”
Will nodded. “She only stayed this long because of the kids. She was ashamed to go back to her parents and tell them she’s going to divorce the horse’s ass they begged her not to marry.”
Will blinked back the emotion filling his eyes. Jared shoved a hand into his pocket. His patience was wearing thin. “They were right,” he spat out.
“What?”
“You are a horse’s ass.”
Will sprang to his feet, his fists clenched at his sides and snarled. “It’s easy for you. You have money and looks and that goddamn way about you!” He ran his hand through his dark hair. “Hell, don’t you think I see how women look at you? Like they’re ready to slide off their chairs in anticipation. I’ve seen it in Agnes’s eyes, and it makes me damn well furious!”
Jared spoke softly, his words barely audible over the thunder of the waves against the shoreline. “She won’t betray you, Will.”
Jared didn’t want to tell his friend that he and Agnes had hashed over the attraction they felt for each other. Agnes knew she had married the perfect man for her, but when Will became withdrawn and sullen she’d fancied herself in love with Jared, until she realized her unhappy marriage had made her seek out his comfort, his friendship. They had an understanding now. So he would try reason first. Then, if that didn’t work, he would pound Will into the ground.
Will choked on his words, “Sometimes...I wish she would...so...so this could be over. I love her so much.”
“No, you don’t,” Jared said with disgust.
Will’s head jerked up. “What do you mean? Of course I do! I love her!”
“You don’t treat someone you love the way you treat Agnes.”
Jared turned on his heels and walked away, leaving his friend to the sound of the waves. When had he become such an expert on love? From where he sat, love only made a man miserable. Just look at Will and Agnes. He wanted no part of it. In truth, the silly emotion probably didn’t even exist.
How had his life gotten so damned complicated? Walking back to the party, Jared realized that before he met Grace this conversation would have been somewhat different. Will would have ogled his date. Jared would have called him a few choice names and told him to try his luck, and they both would have had a good laugh.
But Grace was off limits. When had that happened? When had he started thinking of her as his own? As belonging to him and only him?
And where was she, anyway?
He spotted Agnes, but not Grace. He grabbed another glass of champagne and made his way around the edge of the crowd.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Grace strolled around the pulsating crowd. The sights and sounds were mesmerizing, and her body swayed to the syncopated rhythm, her fingers tapping on the side of the champagne glass. Then she spotted Adam.
The lively music disappeared, the dancers and the gaiety evaporated as if she had entered a vacuum and time moved in slow motion.
She could see his mouth moving, articulating speech, and silent laughter spilled from his lips as his head tilted back. Grace’s body stiffened and her heart beat wildly. The glass slipped from her hand and bounced on the grass, the contents splashing her silk stockings. Her breath came in short gulps, while a sickening knot formed in her stomach.
A young pretty woman perched on his knee, her short chiffon skirt billowing up to reveal a rolled stocking. In an intimate manner, his hand rested on the rounded part of her thigh. The woman’s arm crooked around his neck and her hand cupped his cheek. She said something into his ear and then pulled his head toward her for a kiss.
In that moment before their lips met, he glanced fleetingly in Grace’s direction and his eyes locked on her, first only in interest, then fixed as realization dawned.
Pulling out of the embrace, he rose to his feet, upsetting the young woman, who almost toppled over backward. He came toward Grace with long deliberate strides, his unruly golden locks slicked back now, his lips curled in that familiar wicked grin that revealed his straight white teeth. Grace observed his approach as if seeing him for the first time.
He hadn’t changed much.
He was still beautiful, still sensual, and desirable. What had she expected? That without her he would degenerate into a pathetic excuse for a man?
She watched him come toward her with an odd combination of wonder and cold uneasiness. She braced herself for the affectionate assault that was his way.
“My God! Grace!” He picked her up and twirled her around twice before setting her down again. “I can’t believe my eyes! My sweet, lovely, beautiful Grace.”
Grace flinched at the sound of his voice. It had been two years, but she hadn’t forgotten the husky sound of it. She looked into familiar deep brown eyes, a hint of gold around the edges.
Strong hands pulled her forward, kissing her forehead. He put an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the dance floor and down a gravel path toward the ocean.
It had always been this way with Adam, Grace remembered. His personality overwhelming, his appetites and desires taking precedence over all others. In truth, no one ever objected, that she could remember. People gravitated toward him, craving his acceptance. Somehow it had always seemed ludicrous to deny him. Maybe those who allowed him this control did so because they knew he needed it as he did the very air he breathed.
An icy sensation shot out of nowhere. Until a moment ago, she’d been feeling relatively comfortable, safe. Part of her wanted to explore the feelings exploding within her, and the other part wanted only to escape.
Stopping on the path, he turned to her. His glittering eyes scanned her face. “You were made for moonlight and candles, Grace. You are still incredibly beautiful. I thought I would never see you again.”
“I see you haven’t lost your touch, Adam.”
He lowered his hands and shoved one into his pocket. “I deserve that, and more. I never tried to apologize because I figured you wouldn’t listen.”
“You were right,” Grace said dryly.
“Will you allow me to apologize now?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“For heaven’s sake, Adam! I found you with...” No, she would call it what it was. “I found you fornicating with my maid of honor, my best friend! I...we...the entire weddi
ng party, walked in on you in the library of the people who were going to lend us their home for our wedding! Can you really explain that away, Adam?” She pushed at him. His eyes expressed surprise, then something else. Annoyance?
“Yes. It was inexcusable, but at the time, I was...” He stopped to run his hand over his slicked hair. “I was nervous, getting cold feet. And you... Well, you’re so much better than I am. I didn’t know if I could... I wanted to, but, hell! Grace, I made a terrible mistake.”
He grabbed her shoulders. “Please forgive me and give me another chance. I promise you won’t be sorry. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” He bent his face to kiss her, taking her mouth roughly, but after a moment, he softened the embrace.
Grace leaned into him, not in passion, but in exhaustion. Mentally, she couldn’t stand one more assault on her emotions. She felt as though if she broke a fingernail, she would crumble. She dropped her head to his shoulder. “I’ll forgive you, Adam, but I’ll not give you another chance. That’s not what you want.”
She took a step back from the embrace and said in an even voice, “You want me to adore you again, to trust you with my heart and soul, yet you’ve never considered anyone other than yourself in any decision you ever made. Your desires, your needs are your only concerns. You’re weak in all the ways that matter. Your code of honor is nonexistent. It’s impossible for you to love me, Adam, for you will always love yourself more.”
The moment stretched long. Adam stared at her with an unreadable expression. The only sound was that of water crashing into white foam. Then he raised a hand to her cheek, cupping it gently as his eyes skimmed the features of her face. His thumb traced the line of her jaw and rubbed lightly over her lips. Then his hands fell limply to his sides. Turning abruptly, he took another path toward the ocean.
Grace drew a deep, cleansing breath. The ocean breeze cooled her heated flesh. Evident by his initial glibness, Adam would never understand the pain he’d inflicted by his betrayal, a physical pain so intense she would, given the choice, rather cut off an arm than go through it again.
He simply didn’t understand that some deeds were so hurtful mere words couldn’t erase them. He cared about her, maybe even still loved her, but she would never be enough. He would always need other women to bolster his self-confidence and meet his needs.
Wearily, she tried to remember why she’d been attracted to him. She recalled he had been charming, wonderful company and made her feel as if she were the only woman who mattered. She foolishly believed every lie, every deception, when all he wanted was to turn her into one of his adoring fans. Though still incredibly handsome, he’d lost his appeal because he had lost her respect.
He’d embarrassed her—no, embarrassed himself—and humiliated her. She no longer found anything in his character to admire. His selfish actions had revealed his true character.
At that moment, she realized with startling clarity that during Adam’s kiss one love had finally vanished and another had taken its place: She loved Jared. She wanted his kisses, his embrace.
And his love, she thought sadly. Suddenly, the night’s breeze was no longer refreshing. She shivered.
A few feet from where she stood, a shadow shifted and then rose from a bench on the path. “I’m sorry, Grace. I tried not to eavesdrop, but I didn’t know how to extricate myself gracefully.”
As Will began to rise from the bench, a muted popping sound came from somewhere behind her. Grace felt a slicing pain across her right shoulder. Will’s body slammed violently back against the bench, then slumped forward.
Grace caught him before he fell to the gravel path, dead weight in her arms. “Will! Will, what’s wrong?” She was vaguely aware of something wet and sticky on her arm, and then her shoulder began to burn like the devil.
She saw Will’s eyes roll back in his head. “Will! Stay with me! Will—Will!” When she lowered him onto the bench, Will’s jacket opened. In the moonlight, Grace watched in horror as a dark circular stain spread on the left side of his white shirt.
She gasped, “You’re bleeding! Oh, my God! Will, stay still.” She pressed her hand on the wound, wondering how she could minister to him and still call for help above the din of the ocean and the raucous music.
As if in answer to her prayer, Jared appeared from nowhere and assessed the situation quickly. “We need to get him to a hospital. There’s one about three miles from here. Can you keep your hand on the wound, Grace, while I carry him?”
Grace nodded numbly. Jared picked his friend up with little effort. They skirted the lawn around the house and found Henry parked near the entrance, anticipating his employer’s usual preference to leave a party early.
Will moaned as Jared set him gently on the seat.
“What about Agnes?” Grace asked. “I should go back...” Suddenly she felt very woozy and the lights were dimming...or was it the moon? And where was she, anyway?
Grace’s eyelids fluttered then drooped as she fainted. Jared reached for her just as she fell, sweeping her legs from under her and placing her gently on the seat opposite Will. A dark trail started from her shoulder and wound a path down her arm. Jared knelt between them on the floor of the vehicle.
“St. Francis Memorial. And step on it, Henry!”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jared sat on the hard wooden bench of St. Francis Memorial Hospital’s waiting room, his head buried in his hands.
Henry had been dispatched to bring Agnes to the hospital. When she arrived, the anguish visible on her face swept to relief as Jared informed her Will was in surgery but his chances were very good. The bullet had missed the heart and lung, and now, with penicillin, chances of dying from infection were slim.
Together they waited for the results. He held Agnes as she wept and poured out all her fear, anger, and the frustrated love she felt for her husband. Several hours later, when Will returned from surgery, Agnes went to his side. The surgery had been successful, but recovery would be slow.
Grace had been taken to a room where her arm was treated, a superficial wound that had bled profusely but was not life threatening. She had been given something for pain and a sedative. When she woke up, she could be taken home, the doctor had said.
Jared ran his fingers through his hair. He had failed to protect her. In his self-involvement, he’d failed to see anything outside of his own lust.
He had hesitated to follow her when she left the crowded party. Jealousy had clouded his judgment and almost cost Grace her life, as well as allowing Will’s injury.
Only he knew the seriousness of the situation they were in, and he’d told no one except Sallie and Donagon. He arrogantly had decided he would handle the problem, not the police. How cocksure he’d been. She had refused his protection, and when he forced it upon her, he had ultimately failed her.
He’d been searching the partygoers, trying to locate Grace, becoming slightly uneasy at her absence. She wasn’t with Agnes or on the dance floor.
When he spotted her across the lawn, he paused to admire her silhouette, revealed by the bright lights. Through the delicate chiffon fabric of her dress and slip, he could see the shape of her legs all the way to her beautifully curved derriere. Her foot tapped out the rhythm of the song and she swayed to the lively music.
Then her head turned to the right and her body stiffened noticeably. The champagne glass slipped from her hand and bounced on the lawn. Jared had started toward her when he saw a tall, blond man approaching like a predator setting sights on a bit of prey. Jared quickened his steps but stopped abruptly when the man picked Grace up and twirled her around, then bent to kiss her.
He couldn’t read Grace’s expression, but he wasn’t prepared for the flash of searing jealousy that rocked him to his core. With hands clenched into fists at his sides, he watched numbly as the man led Grace from the lawn down a path to the ocean, one arm around her shoulder.
Grace must have known him well to go off with him like that, Jared reasoned. H
e shoved one hand into his pocket and stared after them. Jealousy and rage clouded his judgment, though he knew very well he had no exclusive rights. He’d been careful not to make promises and could expect none in return. He felt desire for her and a sense to make sure she came to no harm, yet the idea of sharing her with another man twisted his gut into knots. He spun on his heel, made his way to the bar, and ordered a whiskey neat.
What did he want with a woman like Grace, anyway? He swirled the amber liquid in the glass. Sure, he admired her spunk and courage, but she was too inexperienced to give him the pleasure he expected in a bed partner. He could have her—and then what would he do with her?
He should leave her to her friend or whoever the hell he was. Had he been her former lover? The thought of the blond-haired man with his hands all over Grace clawed at his insides.
Scowling, he tossed the whiskey down.
He’d slammed the glass on the bar and stormed off to find her, thinking she’d best have a good reason for wandering off like that.
When he found her, she stood alone on the path in the moonlight. The man was gone, and Jared felt an unnerving wave of relief. The tightness in his chest began to ease, and then she turned as if someone had spoken to her, and Jared could see a dark form rising from the bench behind her. He heard the popping sound over his right shoulder, recognizing it as the sound of a gun with a silencer, followed by the sound of underbrush being crushed beneath retreating steps in the darkness.
Grace had reached out to grasp the man falling to the gravel path.
“Mr. de Warre?”
Jared lifted his head from his hands.
“Mr. de Warre?” the nurse said gently, “I believe Miss Hathaway is ready to go home.”
****
Though Jared assured Grace that Will would recover, she insisted on seeing him for herself. She spent considerable time giving comfort to Agnes before she allowed herself to be taken to Ravenhall.
Jared helped her climb the staircase to the second floor. She hesitated a few steps from the top, and thinking she might topple backward, he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
Rags to Rubies Page 16
