by Siobhan Muir
Squaring his shoulders and schooling his expression to show bland amusement, he opened the door to his bar and strode inside. It was going to be a long day, but one thought cheered him as he returned to the posturing females inside. He’d see Julianna at the party on Friday before everyone else arrived. His smile broadened as he faced the wolves in the bar.
Chapter Three:
Party Politics
Julianna sighed as she parked her car in front of the Lightfoots’ house. It had been a long week getting used to her dad’s absence in the house, and she relished the distraction. She stepped out onto the drive and handed the valet her keys. The young man stared at her car, took the keys almost reverently from her hand, and carefully got into the Camaro as if she was suddenly his hero. He nodded to her before he slowly drove off to find a parking place. She shook her head with bemusement. The Lightfoots needed a valet for their party? How big was this shindig going to be?
Taking a deep breath, she moved toward the house along the front walk. The yard looked just as immaculate as she remembered. Sheesh, not even the weeds dared mar the perfection of the flowerbeds!
Deep breath, Julianna. It’ll be fine. She followed her own advice as she smoothed the flared skirt of her iridescent, peacock green halter dress and pushed the tendrils of loose hair behind her ears. Scents of hot pavement and cool grass filled her nose, and she concentrated on slowing her breathing as she marched to the front door.
This will be a cinch, her Sister stated.
Yeah, right.
One of the double doors opened at her knock to reveal a woman dressed in a maid’s uniform. She gave Julianna a sharp once-over before saying, “I’m sorry, the party doesn’t start for another hour, miss.”
“Uh, yes, I was invited by Mr. Jeff Lightfoot to meet the family before the party started. My name is Julianna Morris,” she blurted out, hoping her voice hadn’t become shrill in her nervousness.
Instead of turning up her nose in disdain, the woman’s expression shifted and she offered Julianna a warm smile. “Of course, Ms. Morris. Please come in. The family is expecting you.”
She stepped back, allowing Julianna to enter. As Julianna passed, she caught something teasingly familiar in the other woman’s scent. She frowned and tried to remember where she’d smelled it before.
“If you’ll just follow me, Miss Tawny instructed me to bring you to her as soon as you arrived.”
“Yes, thank you,” Julianna replied with bewilderment, wondering how she’d become an honored personage in such a short time.
She followed the woman through the house to the backyard, still puzzling over the familiar scent. The Lightfoots had a huge amount of land around their house. Forest hemmed in their yard at the foothills of the mountains and the trees seemed to go on for miles and miles. In the open space before the trees, large white tents stood strung with lights like fireflies on tethers. Julianna stared, entranced.
Tables arranged with at least ten place settings each filled the space beneath the tents, with two long buffet tables set to one side, holding Bunsen burners and rectangular brackets. Serving staff briskly set the tables and arranged dinnerware and centerpieces.
Julianna scanned the people around her with her eyes and nose. She caught scents of food mixed with the distinct musk of predator, but she couldn’t pinpoint a single animal beneath the softly glowing shrouds. Tawny appeared out of the crowd of servers, her crimson dress glowing like the flames of a phoenix against their black and white uniforms. Her sandy blond hair was drawn up onto her head with a complex series of clips and diamond dangle earrings fell from her ears. Julianna envied her effortless beauty.
“Miss Tawny, Mistress Julianna Morris has arrived.”
Tawny turned, and her face creased into a warm smile.
“Welcome, Mistress Morris.” Julianna couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, Lindsey.” The serving woman nodded and left. “I’m so glad you’re here! I haven’t seen you in ages, and you looked so sad and lost at the funeral. My heart nearly bled for you.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad Jeff invited you tonight. It’s such a special occasion, and it wouldn’t be right to do it without you, even if you haven’t been in town long.”
Julianna just stared at Tawny, unease sliding through her. Special occasion?
“Now,” the youngest Lightfoot went on without noticing Julianna’s confusion, “you look beautiful. Did anyone tell you? Like a princess already, and you haven’t even gone through the ceremony. You’ll wow them all, sure enough.”
Ceremony? There’s going to be a ceremony?
“There!” Tawny put the finishing touches on the last vase and brushed her hands of pollen. “Let’s get these flowers deposited on each table and then you can come in and have a bracing cup of tea with the family before the festivities start.”
Julianna took the small vases of gold and white flowers that Tawny thrust into her hands and followed her around to the remaining tables without centerpieces. Tawny chattered on about all the people who’d be there tonight and all the families hoping to get in bed with the Lightfoots because of the succession. She remarked how most of the candidates were as snotty as rich society princesses who thought themselves above all the rest of the pack but were nothing but a bunch of weak puppies if you asked her. Julianna said nothing, figuring it was wiser to stay silent than look the fool. It sounded like a betrothal party for some sort of European royalty, but they were in the middle of Bum Fuck Nowhere, Nevada, and there was no such thing as royalty out there. Succession, society princesses? What is she talking about?
Tawny stopped talking long enough to survey her handiwork. The tables gleamed beautifully in the soft lights of the tents. The flowers offered gentle spots of color in an otherwise gauzy white world.
“All done. Come on, Miss Morris, let’s go inside and relax before the rest of the pack gets here. I’m sure we could use just a little down time before we have to play this game tonight.”
Julianna paused and cleared her throat. “I think I’m a little confused. Jeff didn’t say anything about a ceremony. I thought it was going to be a casual party.”
At Tawny’s frown, she added hastily, “I’m just asking because I’m worried that I’m under-dressed.”
Tawny’s expression cleared immediately, and she shook her head. “No, no, you look fine. Great, in fact. That shade of green looks fabulous on you, and your hair is perfect. The tendrils next to your face are pure genius.”
Julianna gave a half-shrug, but her stomach still clenched in worry. “Thanks. My mom helped me do it.”
“You look lovely. Come on, let’s not keep Dad waiting.”
Julianna nodded, trying to keep her disquiet off her face. Dear God, there’s going to be some sort of ceremony. I hope I won’t be part of it. I’ll just try to stay out of everyone’s way until after dinner and then slip out the first chance I get. It’ll be okay. It’ll be fine.
But it didn’t feel fine. She’d missed something important in Jeff’s invitation. Her Sister agreed, and Julianna felt her stir with anticipation. Clamping her jaws together tightly, Julianna followed Tawny through the house and hoped she could keep up her cool façade.
Tawny led her to a sitting room at the back of the large house overlooking the tents. The décor had a western motif. Wallpaper with vertical gold stripes on a deep rosy pink covered the top half of the room and the bottom half was painted a solid lighter rose. A crenulated oak board polished to a high shine separated the colors. The furniture looked like it’d come from a late nineteenth century Old West hotel, and the lampshades sported fringe. Any paintings or photographs in the room wore ornate wooden frames, some oval in shape, and all the chairs had footstools in front of them. The room felt warm and well loved for all its eccentric furnishings, and Julianna hesitantly stepped across the threshold, concerned she may not be welcome.
Richard Lightfoot sat in one of the wing-backed chairs, sipping something out of a brandy snifter. Tho
ugh he wore a relaxed expression, Julianna felt his dominance and leadership immediately. A Stetson sat on the decorative table beside him, but it may as well have been a crown. His attention adhered to Tawny as she entered the room, her eyes downcast and her demeanor submissive.
Julianna froze in surprise when Tawny leaned in to her father’s space and nuzzled him along his jawline. Richard’s expression softened, and he rested one hand on his daughter’s shoulder, then trailed it down to her wrist, squeezing gently. Tawny’s tension evaporated, and she turned to face the doorway. Richard’s gaze followed hers, and he inhaled sharply, but his expression flattened. Julianna’s unease ramped up, but her breath froze in her lungs at the sight of his son reclining on the sateen couch.
Jeff looked like he’d just stepped out of the wealthy elite of the 1920s, wearing spats, a waistcoat, and a flat hat on his head, but his scent was pure heaven.
Mountain morning, he smells like a mountain morning. Julianna’s heart pounded in her chest and thundered in her ears. Why does he smell so good? Terence never smelled that good, ever.
Because this male is your Mate! It’s time to claim him, her Sister pointed out.
She bit back the urge to snarl and simply reveled in the excitement of being close to Jeff. He was the most beautiful thing she’d seen in a very long time, and her body responded to her attraction by creaming her panties.
Everyone’s gaze zeroed in on her as if a claxon had sounded, Jeff rocketing to his feet like he’d been bitten on the ass by a horsefly. His eyes turned to burnished gold, and his expression turned predatory as his shoulders straightened. Richard’s eyes narrowed, and he looked back and forth between his son and Julianna as if trying to decipher a hidden message. Tawny gasped in delight and clapped her hands, breaking the spell between Julianna and Jeff like a popped balloon.
“Welcome, Ms. Morris,” Richard’s baritone boomed out then, amusement hidden beneath the formality. “We’re glad to see you.” Was he laughing at her or at Jeff?
“I’m honored to be invited,” she admitted. She dipped her head in acknowledgement of his greeting, but part of her wondered why they were so formal. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to Callowwood. I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome.”
She stiffened when Richard rolled to his feet and reached for her hand to lay a kiss lightly on her knuckles. She thought she heard Jeff groan from behind his dad, and Richard released her hand immediately, taking a short step back.
“You’re more than welcome in our home,” Tawny exclaimed with surprise as she strode to Julianna’s side, dropping her head again in that curiously submissive gesture. Her eyes flicked to Richard, who nodded slightly, and Tawny took Julianna’s hand. “We’re so glad you came early. It’s been a long time, and we didn’t get to know you as well as we wanted before you left. Come on, sit down. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Please.” Julianna let herself be seated on the sateen couch. Warmth left from Jeff’s body seeped into her rear when she settled, and his scent enfolded her. She wanted to shiver with delight, but she contented herself in leaning back with just a little wiggle.
Jeff caught her movement, and his smile increased in intensity. “I’m glad you could come. Are you feeling better than you were at the funeral?”
I’ll always feel better when I’m around you. Sheesh, I gotta get a hold of these hormones!
“Yes, thanks for asking. It’s mostly relief that Dad isn’t suffering anymore, but the grief kind of creeps up on me when I least expect it. I think it hits Mom more often, but she’s used to having Dad around, and I’ve been gone a long time.”
“Indeed you have, Ms. Morris,” Richard agreed as he relaxed back into his chair, watching her keenly. “Jeff mentioned you moved to Reno after you left Callowwood.”
Julianna raised her eyebrows and glanced at Jeff, who smiled ruefully. Had she told him she’d gone to Reno after graduation? She didn’t recall saying anything about her past. Jeff did say her dad had bragged to him about her education. Had Gerry said anything about Fresno and Terence?
Tawny handed her a cup and saucer, the fragrant tea filling her nose with the scent of jasmine. She immediately relaxed and nodded her thanks. Tawny blushed with pleasure and found a seat in a decorative chair, folding herself into it with the grace of a geisha. Julianna felt a twinge of envy.
“Yes, the University of Nevada, Reno was my first choice for college.” It was also as far away as she could get from Callowwood and still be in the mountains of Nevada. “Particularly because the program offered pre-college courses in the summer for better placement in the fall.”
“Is that why you left right after graduation?” Jeff asked, his head cocked to one side. He’d sat down on the other end of the couch, and she could feel his heat caressing her across the space between them.
“Yes, I needed all the help I could get with tuition and their summer ‘work-for-school’ program provided a tuition waiver in exchange for learning a marketable skill.” Julianna ducked her head guiltily and focused on her tea. The tuition waiver had helped, but her motivation had been to escape from Jeff.
“I can imagine,” Richard remarked mildly, but his eyes assessed her much more intently. “What marketable skills did you learn, Ms. Morris?”
“I took leadership and management classes, thinking I’d eventually go into the casino business and manage the staff of a hotel, but business management wasn’t my cup of tea, and while it did help me pay for school, it just made me antsy for something else.” She shrugged. “I felt a little adrift, so I took as many classes in as many subjects as I could to see if there was anything I liked.”
“You didn’t like leadership or management?” Richard’s voice was sharp.
Julianna felt the warning underlying his words. She stifled a frown. What is that about?
“I liked aspects of it, but I’m really more of a team player than a lone leader. I prefer to be ‘second-in-command’, sharing the responsibility but not the one to make executive decisions. I liked working with a partner rather than doing it all myself.”
Jeff shared a look with his dad that made ice run down her back. Was her answer wrong? She’d told the truth. Why am I worried if I answered wrong or right? When did this become an entrance interview? She shrugged her disquiet away and sipped her tea.
“What did you finally settle on studying?” Jeff’s voice was reserved.
“I chose Native American anthropology, particularly the Nations historically found within Nevada’s boundaries. Most of what UNR taught undergrads was general anthro, but I managed to find an older professor close to retirement who had made his career in the oral traditions of the Nations around our country. He was willing to take me on as his research assistant, even though I wasn’t a graduate student. I was second author on the book about the myths and traditions of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute Nations.”
“That sounds interesting,” Richard mused, dismissive. “I assume you graduated?”
Was he just humoring her? She raised her chin with indignation as anger blossomed but clamped down on her temper in the face of his disinterest. “Yes, I did, summa cum laude, actually.”
“Wow,” Jeff murmured with appreciation, and pleasure eroded some of her anger. “That’s great. What did you do after you graduated from UNR?”
“I worked in the casinos while I figured out what I was going to do next. I took the opportunity to learn tai chi, how to hang-glide, play pool, and play the Irish Tam.”
“That’s quite a list. Did you learn anything useful?” Richard tilted his head and rested it on his fist as if bored.
Julianna flattened her lips before she said something stupid. What was the old man’s problem? Did he think women should just stay home and mind children? Or was he maligning her selection of activities? Who the hell was he to criticize her choices in life? It was her life, dammit!
Deep breath, stay calm. Don’t insult the “big man” in his own home. Just find the right words to tell h
im he’s being a shit and do it with a smile. She thought hard before she responded.
“Yes, I did,” she said with a tight smile. “I found almost everything taught me patience, persistence, and cadence. None of them were easy to learn, and all of them took discipline and focus. I’d say those two things were the most important.”
Richard rubbed his chin thoughtfully with one finger, a half-smile curling his lips. Julianna had the sudden realization she’d passed some kind of test or at least the first hurdle. She almost frowned, but she forced her muscles to remain still. She glanced at Jeff, and his smile matched his father’s. Did he know what was going on?
Who am I kidding? Of course he knows what’s going on…at least, I hope he does. Does everyone meeting this family need to have an entrance interview?
“Have you been in Reno this whole time?” Tawny asked hesitantly into the charged silence.
Julianna wanted to squirm and hide, but she raised her gaze to Jeff’s sister.
“No, I got married in Reno then moved to Fresno so my husband and I could both go to graduate school.”
Jeff sat up straight, and Richard’s chin lifted as the tension in the room ramped up with suppressed fury. “You’re married?”
“I was,” she emphasized, raising her eyebrows. Why was he so upset? If he’d just acknowledged her all those years earlier, he could have been her husband.
“What does that mean?” he demanded, anger filtering into his scent.
“It means I divorced the bastard when he decided I’d served my purpose in getting him tenure because he appeared settled, married. Once he’d gotten established, he traded me in for a younger model. Several, in fact.”
Tawny gasped, outraged, and her brother growled like a furious dog. Only Richard remained unmoved. Julianna still felt the anger and betrayal like fiery brands searing her flesh, but now was not the time to wallow in them. She just shrugged, refusing to waste more energy on the past.
“I can’t understand infidelity,” Jeff snapped.
