by Anna Katmore
“Is it not?” Mockery gleamed from his eyes as he glanced my way. “Then why would you pretend to have a headache and stay in your room, when you could spend the evening dancing with me?” He smiled my favorite lopsided smile.
That smile should be illegal. I threatened to melt next to him.
“I don’t dance,” I muttered, although I yearned to be held by him again. Dancing seemed the best possibility to reach that goal.
“Why not?”
Because I don’t know how. “Because I don’t like it.”
“When have you ever been dancing?”
“Never.” I puckered my lips and focused on my knees, which swayed slightly to the left as the car turned.
“See, you’re flipping the switch off again.” He grabbed my hand once more. This time he didn’t release me when he shifted into a higher gear and sped along the road. His fingers dug into the back of my hand with his squeeze. “Would you consider granting me one dance if I said please?” He waggled his brows and made me laugh.
I swatted his shoulder. “Fine, I’m considering. Now leave me alone.”
Julian nodded, satisfied.
He parked Marie’s car in the garage, then unloaded the boot with the empty basket and the sandy, damp towels. When he reached for my hand next, I was reluctant to take his.
He angled his head. “What’s wrong?”
I sucked in a long breath and released it slowly. “Nothing. I just don’t want them to see—to know we’re—you know.”
Julian arched one brow and studied me. “And by them you mean—”
“The dragon.” I harrumphed. She didn’t approve of Julian and me getting closer, I knew that much. Probably because she still wanted him to herself and hated me like hell.
“I overheard you talking. Twice.” When the scolding I expected from him didn’t come, I continued. “I didn’t mean to. But it was clear you were talking about me, so I couldn’t just walk away. And I know what Charlene thinks of you looking at me.”
His gaze lowered to the basket in his hand. “You heard that, did you?” He sounded more sorry than mad.
I nodded. “She doesn’t like it.”
His gaze met mine, his lips tightening. “Would you believe me if I told you she doesn’t like it for a totally different reason than what you think?”
“I might if you explained,” I suggested.
“I cannot explain.”
Oh, why wasn’t I surprised?
“Julian, you’re one serious riddle to me. For now, I just want to act normal around them. Besides, I don’t feel like answering my aunt’s hopeful questions about whether we’re getting together. Or listen to her romanticize how you and I would be such a lovely couple.” I rolled my eyes.
Realization flashed in his eyes. “She was talking about us the other day?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Afraid?” His forehead creased. “So you don’t want us to be—”
“A couple?” I cut him off. “God no!” The hurt shining in his eyes made me pause. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I hardly know you. And you’re linked to Charlene. And—and this is really not the right place to discuss it.”
Especially not when a twinge of fear was spreading in my chest. Rubbing my throbbing temples, I whirled around and strode toward the door.
A couple—how could he even think that? Just because he kissed me? And oh boy, he could kiss. Butterflies still drifted in my stomach at the mere thought of it.
But that was no reason for a relationship. I wouldn’t let Julian bind me to him. I was free, no ties to anyone. No feelings for anyone. This was the only way to keep safe from getting hurt.
I needed to clear my head and stop thinking about his lips on mine and his arms wrapped around me.
“Jona?”
Julian’s soft voice made me stop before I reached for the door handle. I cast a glance over my shoulder.
He circled me to stand face to face then set the basket and the towels down to take my hands in his. “Don’t waste a minute in your room, if you can be out here celebrating. Life isn’t all that bad if you give it a chance.”
“What makes you say that?” My voice almost cracked. I didn’t understand the tears misting my eyes all of a sudden.
“Because I care about you. And today I saw how much happiness you’re capable of if you allow it to break through your façade.” His forehead touched against mine, and he skimmed tender fingers through my hair as he gazed into my eyes. “You withstood all the blasts in your life. I don’t see why you refuse to take the chances life’s offering now.”
The soft scent emanating from him together with his touch soothed me the way it always did. Without my knowing my arms lifted and wrapped around him. I pressed my cheek against his chest. He hugged me tight and placed a soft kiss on my brow.
“I have a surprise for you if you promise me one dance tonight,” he whispered.
I looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Uh-uh.” He shook his head. “First, you promise.”
I pulled back, staring at his face. It was full of anticipation. “Okay, I promise. Now, what’s the surprise?”
“You’ll find out later.” He grabbed my hand, lifted the basket from the ground, and ignored my protest as he pulled me into the house.
Marie peeked out of the kitchen when the door shut. “You are finally back. Good. I just took the cake out of the oven, and the guests should be arriving soon.” Her glance dropped to our joined hands. She paused, obviously puzzled. Then suddenly her mouth stretched wide.
I jerked my hand out of Julian’s. There was no way I’d give her the chance to make this wrong conclusion in her mind. A hard stare made that point clear.
Marie remained silent while she regarded me with disappointment. Then she sighed and slipped a hand into her pocket. Out came a small yellow note. “There was a call for you today. A police officer.”
My mouth dropped open. I twisted my head to catch Julian’s narrowed gaze on me.
Lifting both hands as if being arrested, I took a defending step back. “I swear, I didn’t do anything wrong! No stealing whatsoever. And how could I, without you noticing, when you’ve been with me all day?”
“Good point.” His expression eased.
My aunt handed me the note. “He said his name was Officer Madison and that you might like to call him back.”
“Quinn?” My friend hadn’t forgotten about me. “He probably wanted to check on me.” I beamed at Julian, who suddenly seemed irritated and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“You can use the phone here if you want to speak to this officer,” Marie offered, although she didn’t seem to quite understand why I was happy about hearing from the police.
“Yeah, thanks. I just want to shower off the salt and sand, and then I’ll call him back.”
With Marie gone, I turned to Julian. “You okay?”
He didn’t seem angry, but my hearing from Quinn obviously bothered him more than I would have thought. Jealous of my policeman friend in London? Quinn was the best friend I could think of, but not once had I felt for him what I felt for Julian.
When Julian heaved a sigh, but remained silent, I rubbed his arm. “Back in London you seemed comfortable with Quinn. I thought you liked him.”
“I do.” He slowly drew nearer until the tip of his nose almost touched mine. “I just don’t like the way you reacted to the news of him calling.”
So he was jealous. I couldn’t bite down a grin. “We’re just friends.” I planted a brief kiss on his cheek and rubbed the damp spot with my thumb. “See you later.”
He strode toward my mother’s room as I leaped up the stairs. With my hand on the rail, I halted and turned. “Julian?”
He pivoted, his brows lifted.
“We’re still on for that dance, aren’t we?” I suddenly felt anything but confident.
His lips curved, he nodded. My heart did a somersault of relief.
After the shower, I went
back down to punch the number from Marie’s note into the phone. With the receiver pressed to my ear, I paced the hallway as far as the cord would allow, waiting for Quinn to answer.
“Hello.”
My heart lifted, and I drew in a breath to greet my friend.
“You’ve reached the voice mail of Quinn Madison. Please leave a message after the tone and I’ll return your call.”
In an instant, my shoulders sagged, my back thumping against the wall behind me. When the long beep rang in my ear, I said, “Hi, Quinn, this is Jona. I heard you called today and I’d have loved to talk to you, but obviously, you have other things—”
A crackling at the other end cut me off. Then Quinn blurted into the speaker. “Hi, Jona! Don’t hang up. I’m here.”
Cheerful warmth filled me. “Hi, Quinn.”
“Hey.” He sounded a lot softer and relieved as he drawled the word. “Sorry, I was just coming in. So, how’re you doing, kiddo?”
“I’m just fine. Who would have ever believed that?” It was hard to speak normally with the broad smile stretching my mouth.
“I did. So, do you like it over there in France?”
“The house and the vineyards are beautiful. You’ve really got to see this. I’ve my own room on the second floor, overlooking the garden and vines. And everyone is really friendly.”
“Sounds great. I knew you would get along well with your family.”
I peeked around the hallway then lowered my voice. “Well, I do try to evade the dragon, but Aunt Marie and her husband are very nice people.”
“That’s good to hear. Now tell me, how often do you think of running away?”
“Never!” I said with feigned shock.
Quinn’s laugh chimed through the line. “Really? And why don’t I believe you?”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Okay, maybe I thought about it once. Or twice. But the situation has changed. If you must know, I think I might even stay until my birthday.”
“I hope you will!” His choice of tone made it clear I shouldn’t even dare to consider otherwise. “But what’s the situation you were talking about? What changed your mind?”
What? Or who? Thinking about Julian spilled the pack of butterflies in my gut once again. As if on cue, said man descended the stairs just then, hand sliding along the rail. My heart thudded against the base of my throat.
“To cut a long story short,” I said into the phone, “I made a friend here.”
“Jules?” A taunting note mixed with Quinn’s cheerful tone.
Julian’s eyes fixed on mine as he came toward me, his chin tilted low. He leaned forward and whispered into my free ear. “Your surprise is in your room.”
“Yes,” I answered Quinn, but my eyes traced Julian walking away to the door. Before he slipped outside, he winked over his shoulder. For a moment, I covered the speaker with my hand, afraid Quinn might hear the hard pounding of my heart through the line.
“I knew you would like him if you gave him a chance,” Quinn said. “He seems like a nice boy.”
“Yeah. And he’s helping me get past my vertigo, which comes in handy considering I do have a balcony attached to my room.”
“Wow. You really seem to be living in a palace over there.”
“Sometimes it feels like it,” I confessed. “There’s also a party on tonight, and I’m supposed to dance, can you believe it?” I snickered at the absurdity of the statement, but eagerly anticipated the moment I would be in Julian’s arms again.
“I’m sure you’ll have fun. I shouldn’t keep you talking too long then. But it was very nice to hear from you.” He paused. “Work has actually become quiet since my favorite criminal abandoned the country. London’s streets aren’t the same without you.” His soft laugh sounded forced.
I swallowed against a tightening throat. “I miss you, too, Quinn. See you in a few weeks.”
“Yeah. Pass my regards on to Jules and your family.”
“Will do. And you say hi to Abe when you see him.” We both laughed then said goodbye, and I hung up. Talking to Quinn made me a little homesick, but there was a good reason keeping me in this country a few weeks longer.
Julian.
And he’d said there was a surprise waiting for me in my room. I dashed upstairs, almost tripping over the last step. The door gave way to my eager push and slammed into the wall. Stumbling inside, I scanned the desk for a package or something out of place on my bed. There was nothing.
Had he just fooled me? Hands on my hips, I whirled on the spot while my narrowed gaze moved over the room.
And then my breath caught in my throat. I staggered a step backward, knocked against the bed, and slumped down on the mattress.
There, hanging on the outside of my wardrobe, was that blasted yellow dress.
HE BETRAYED ME. HOW COULD HE?
AN AWKWARD ME stared back from the full-sized mirror looking like a marigold in a field of green. According to the label on the inside, the bodice and three layers of skirt were Chinese silk. It floated around my knees as I swung my hips from side to side. This had to be the most beautiful piece of cloth in the world. My auburn hair contrasted oddly against the sunshine yellow.
I couldn’t remember what had been on the price tag in the shop, but I assumed Julian had paid a fortune for it. And for just that reason I decided to wear it that night. I didn’t want him to think I was disrespectful or ungrateful. But I didn’t feel wonderful in this dress.
The guests would all gape at me, and there’d be no way to hide in the shadows like I could have done if I wore my usual dark clothes.
Oh God! A shudder made me hug myself.
A deep breath forced my chin up. I could do this. I’d put on a nice smile and walk out into the garden dressed like a marigold. For Julian. And only for tonight.
A knock sounded on my door, and Marie popped her head inside a moment later. She gasped. “Good Lord, Jona. You look beautiful!” My aunt strode toward me to feel the fragile fabric between her fingers. “Is this not the dress we saw in town?”
“Yes. Julian bought it for me,” I said quickly. I hoped she didn’t think I’d stolen it from the shop while she was trying on clothes in the changing cubicle. “I guess he wants me to wear it for the party. But I don’t feel comfortable in it.”
“Oh, that was so nice of him. You absolutely need to wear it, chérie. It fits you perfectly.”
Strangely enough, it did. He’d picked the right size. The dress hugged my body as though it was custom-made.
“And if it was a present from Julian, he might be very upset if you are not going to wear it.”
I sighed. “I guess I have no choice then.”
“Now, come quick. Most of the guests have arrived.”
I looked out the open window. “They’re here already? I don’t hear anyone down in the garden.”
“Because we decided to celebrate in the vineyard. There is more room for the band and the tables.”
“Oh.” A band? Just for a small get-together with a few friends? I directed a questioning glance at her. But she only waved her hand to hurry me on, so I slipped into my boots.
“Good Lord, no, Jona! You will not wear those with this beautiful dress.” Marie’s accusing finger pointed at my raggedy Martens.
“I don’t have any other shoes. And I can hardly walk barefoot, can I?”
“You wait here. I will be back in one second.” As she swirled out of my room, I could only stare after her in wonder. She appeared again with a pair of white sandals clasped to her chest.
She presented them to me. The light in her eyes infected me with her enthusiasm. “Try these.”
I took the shoes from her, sat on the edge of my bed, and buckled the straps around my ankles. Taking a few daring steps across the room, I realized they were the perfect size. Their short, broad heel clacked on the parquet, making me feel like I was running down a catwalk.
“Thank you,” I said to Marie, who clapped her hands together without tak
ing her eyes off my feet.
She ushered me out of the room and downstairs, where she fetched a cake covered with a plastic container. My ankles wobbled a bit on the stroll across the garden and down the rows of vines.
Some three hundred feet away, where the paths between the yards crossed, a handful of long tables were set up. People gathered in the clearing in the middle. Some were seated, others stood in groups of twos or threes. The sun was setting over the lush vineyards, but lanterns of various shapes and colors bathed the place with soft lights.
As we drew closer, I even made out what Marie had referred to as the band. It was Albert with an accordion strapped to his chest and two other men flanking him. One played the guitar and the other, with long dark hair, held an accordion with buttons instead of keys like a piano. Several couples boogied to their merry song on the square dance floor made of simple wooden boards.
A call from one of the guests nearby stopped Marie and me. We both turned in the direction of a tall man, who carried a toddler on his arm. The little girl wore green flap trousers and fixed me with her round, deep brown eyes. One arm wrapped around the neck of the man who carried her, she twisted a curl of her white-blonde hair around her small finger.
“Bonsoir, Pasqual,” my aunt greeted the man, who cast an intrigued glance at me. He only looked away when Marie stood on her toes to kiss him and the girl on their cheeks.
Holding the cake in one hand, Marie shoved me forward with the other. “C’est ma niece. Jona. Elle est la fille de Charlene.”
And it had begun already. Even though her words were Greek to me, I was sure I’d be shown around all night as the newly discovered daughter.
“This is my cousin, Pasqual, and his daughter, Claire,” she then said to me.
Waving at the child, I gave in to my aunt’s push and stepped toward them. “Hi.”
Pasqual shook my hand with a firm grip. “Bonsoir, Jona. Je suis heureux de vous recontrer.”
Yeah, whatever. I smiled politely but kept my mouth sealed while Marie spoke. An awkward tension gripped me. I scanned the crowd for Julian, hoping I could use him as an excuse to leave Marie’s side. Hands laced behind my back, I only tilted my head first, but when I couldn’t find him, I pivoted on the spot.
