Southern Seduction

by Brenda Jernigan

  Millie Anne stopped talking as she soaped Brooke’s hair.

  “And?” Brooke urged.

  Millie Anne giggled. “He told his mother dat nothin’ would be touched in dat room ‘til he said so. They was into a big argument. Mammy said that you could hear him shoutin’ clean out in de kitchen.”

  Brooke’s heart swelled at the notion of her husband taking up for her. Perhaps he did love her after all. “Well, it’s nice to know that Travis stood up to her,” Brooke said, gasping as water tumbled over her head and down her face.

  “Master Travis has always stood his ground except where Miz Hesione is concerned.”

  Brooke’s happiness plummeted at the mention of the other woman. Had Travis gone back to Hesione? Brooke couldn’t bring herself to think about it right now, much less ask. She would know when she saw him. Perhaps she’d just imagined their time together as something it wasn’t.

  Millie Anne held up a towel so Brooke could step out. She wrapped the towel around her.

  “What are you goin’ to do now dat you’re home, Miz Brooke?”

  “I’m going to a party,” Brooke said with a smile. “I want you to sweep my hair up in a fabulous ‘do. I’m going to dress in that red velvet gown over there, and then I’m going to a Christmas party to greet the guest I didn’t invite.”

  “Lordy,” Millie Anne said. “You is goin’ to cause a ruckus. I wish I could see all der faces when you walk in. Yes, ma’am. Brooke Hammond back from de dead. Dat is goin’ to be a site to see.” Millie giggled.

  “You mean Brooke Montgomery,” Brooke reminded her.

  Once her toilet was complete, Brooke was more than eager to go home. Millie Anne packed what few things she’d brought while Brooke made preparations to leave the hotel.

  Mr. Jeffries had hired a coach for her, so it was waiting by the time she was ready to leave. She settled back into the seat, wondering what would happen tonight. Mr. Jeffries had gone ahead to the party and wouldn’t tell anyone that he’d seen her. That way he would be able to gauge everyone’s reactions upon seeing Brooke’s return from the dead.

  “You nervous, Miz Brooke?”

  “Yes, I am,” she admitted. “I’ve been dead for over a month, so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to act.” She was glad that she invited Millie Anne to ride inside with her. It gave Brooke some much needed company.

  Millie Anne giggled. “Well, one t’ing is sure, you don’t look dead. You look real pretty.”

  “Thank you,” Brooke said. She’d chosen this gown because it had been made especially for her when she was trying to grab the attention of a Russian prince.

  The fabric was soft velvet and the color was vermillion which flattered her skin and added color to her face.

  The full skirt emphasized her tiny waist. The shoulder seams drooped downward, showing off her creamy white skin. The bodice was cut low and came to a vee in the front, where a cluster of small diamonds had been sewn into the shape of a large diamond. The cut of the gown made Brooke’s neck look long and graceful.

  Brooke didn't know exactly what would happen tonight, but she wanted to look her best.

  Finally, the coach pulled up in front of her home. She drew in a long, calming breath. Now it was time to get some answers.

  Margaret was very pleased with the way the house had been decorated for Christmas. There had been far too many sad faces around this house. She thought that everyone needed to get over the fact that Brooke was not returning, especially Travis.

  Margaret scanned the room for her son. She spotted him in a small group, but she could tell by his stance that he really wasn't paying attention to any of them. He seemed to be ignoring Hesione, who stood next to him. Margaret shook her head.

  She made her way over to her son. The musicians had just begun a waltz. "The music is so lovely, son,” Margaret said. “Why don't you invite Hesione to dance, so our guests can see us enjoying the holiday season?”

  Travis stared uncomprehendingly at her a long moment, but then Hesione touched his arm, and he seemed to understand what was expected. He took the girl into his arms and they stepped out onto the dance floor.

  "Don't they make a lovely couple?" Margaret commented to Julia Ross, who was standing next to her.

  "Yes, they do, my dear," Julia agreed. "Do you think they will renew their engagement now that . . . well, you know."

  "I hope so,” Margaret said, nodding. “Of course, Travis will have to allow the proper mourning time to pass, but then I'm sure he'll come around."

  Thomas, Moss Grove’s the butler, answered the door. He took one look at Brooke and jumped back, his eyes wide as he said in a cracked voice, “You’s dead.”

  After Brooke assured Thomas that she wasn’t a ghost, she handed him her cloak, then made her way to the ballroom. Brooke paused at the entrance to the hall so she could take in the beautiful decorations all around her. Margaret had outdone herself. The house was beautiful.

  Speaking of her mother-in-law, Brooke spotted her across the room. She looked very happy -- that wasn't a good sign. When Brooke saw where the woman had trained her gaze, she knew why.

  Travis was holding Hesione in his arms. Brooke’s stomach twisted. Hesione was beautiful with her dark hair and complexion.

  How could he? Brooke fumed. But then, she reminded herself they were only dancing.

  She had to admit that Travis looked splendid in his magnificent, black evening clothes. Would he be happy to see her? Or had he already turned his attention back to Hesione?

  Taking a deep breath, Brooke stepped into the room, hearing a collective gasp as the guests and relatives recognized her. When a frail, elderly woman fainted, a hush slid over the crowd. The music stopped, one instrument at a time as the musicians realized that something was wrong.

  Brooke held her head high and tilted her chin up. Her heart thumped wildly as she waited for her husband to see her.

  When the music stopped, Travis jerked around to see what had caused the interruption. He followed the staring eyes of his guests until he focused on what they had seen.

  No. It couldn’t be, he thought. I’ve made my peace with this. Surely, it was Brooke’s ghost come to haunt him and keep him away for Hesione. Certain that she would disappear as quickly as she had appeared, Travis stared at her in disbelief.

  If anything, the image grew stronger. Could it be? Was she truly here?

  Brooke easily recognized the longing in Travis’s eyes for what she hoped was real surprise.

  He dropped his arms from Hesione and started for Brooke. He took several steps and stopped for a moment as if he still wasn’t sure she was there. Her heart soared precariously. The ache she saw deep in his eyes made her want to cry.

  Brooke wanted to go to him, to run to him, but she needed to be certain he still wanted her. She stood her ground and watched as the sea of people parted to let Travis through.

  Travis’s gazed remained riveted on her as he made his way toward her. Her pride demanded that she didn't look away, but her emotions were so strong that her heart beat madly and she didn’t want to allow anyone to see her vulnerability.

  What if Travis was unhappy to see her?

  Brooke couldn't breathe nor could she move. She had missed this man more than words could say. She had found something special and perfect about him almost from the very beginning, even when they argued.

  Finally, Travis was there, standing in front of her. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through her. She loved him. And she could see clearly in his eyes that he felt the same.

  Still doubts nagged at he. What would she do if it was Travis who had tried to kill her?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Travis’s legs felt as if they were made of lead as he made his way toward Brooke.

  Could his mind be playing tricks on him?

  Brooke was dead. Everyone told him she was, so how could she be here?

  He fully expected to reach her side only to find that she’d never been there at all. Even so, he
did not allow that idea to stop him as he pushed his way through the crowd. He didn’t see his aunts or cousins. All he saw was Brooke.

  My God she was stunning and provocative in that, bright red dress. Except for being a little pale, she appeared fine -- certainly not dead.

  So, if she wasn’t dead, and was here, alive and well, where had she been all this time?

  And why had she put him through this living hell?

  By the time Travis reached her, his thoughts were in a confused whirlwind, swirling with too many unanswered questions. Brooke lifted her eyes to meet his, and he saw love. God help him, his heart soared. Suddenly, all his unanswered questions didn’t matter much.

  Travis wrapped his arms around his wife and held her to him. The feel of her in his arms was exquisite, wonderful. Nothing could compare with how he felt at this moment.

  Brooke was alive!

  Travis had to keep telling himself that he wasn’t dreaming, and that she was actually alive and here in his arms. He wasn’t sure how everything had happened, and he didn’t really care. All that mattered was Brooke.

  When the guests started murmuring again, or maybe Travis finally remembered that they were in the ballroom, he found his voice. “Let’s go somewhere we can be alone and talk,” he whispered into Brooke’s ear.

  Brooke nodded and tried to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow. Yes, Travis had opened his arms to her, but she had expected more. A kiss, a simple “I missed you, my love, would have been nice, and the words, “I love you,” even better. How did he truly feel about her return?

  Keeping a hand on her waist, Travis released her from his embrace and turned toward the crowd. “Please, enjoy the party, and excuse us for a moment,” he said to the gathered guests. Then he motioned for the music to begin again. As they ensemble’s playing resumed, so did the whispers of the guests.

  Before they could make their exit, someone called excitedly, “Brooke. Brooke!”

  She turned to see Eliza running toward her. The young girl flung her arms around Brooke in a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re alive. Welcome home,” she said, grinning ear to ear.

  “It is nice to see you, too, Eliza. You’re looking very pretty, I might add.” Brooke smiled at the child while, at the same time, trying not to show how anxious she was to talk to Travis. “We’ll catch up later, I promise,” she told her. “I must have a moment to speak with my husband.”

  Eliza nodded before leaving them.

  Finally, Brooke and Travis were out of the crowded ballroom. They strode, hand in hand, down the carpeted marble hallway, straight to Travis’s study. He held the door for Brooke, and she swept past him and in to the room.

  Once the door was closed, she turned to face Travis. For an awkward moment, they just stood, silently staring at each other. Neither of them able to find the correct words. Did he wish that she’d never returned? Brooke wondered as the moments stretched farther and farther apart.

  Finally, Travis broke the silence by saying, “I--I thought you were dead,” he said, his voice breaking.

  Brooke saw the heart-rending tenderness of his gaze, and she wanted to go to him, to throw herself in his arms and pretend the last month and a half had not occurred. But it had.

  What happened to the levelheaded young woman she used to be? The one who threw caution to the wind and could walk away from any situation?

  Now all she wanted was Travis.

  Brooke fought hard against the tears that threatened to fall. Instead of weeping, she answered him. “It’s a miracle that I’m alive.”

  Travis took a deep breath and ran a shaky hand through his hair. She could see he was struggling with himself. “I want to hold you,” he said, tenderly, and Brooke felt the old familiar butterflies in her stomach . . . the ones only Travis could produce. But she sensed something strange in him, as well.

  “I’ve missed you so much and --” He held up his hand. She could see he was fighting her because he didn’t trust her. “At the same time, I see you are well, and I wonder why you have put me thought this hell.”

  At those casually tossed out words something in Brooke snapped. Travis thought she’d left him. Of all the nerve! “Put you through?” Brooke repeated, her irritation growing. “Put you through?” she repeated, still unable to believe what she was hearing. “Wait just a minute! You think I’ve been gone on purpose?”

  “At first, I thought you might have jumped, but I see that wasn’t the case. What else should I think?” he told her. As he stared at her, his jaw tightened. “I just want to know how you managed to disappear and why?”

  The only good thing coming out of this conversation was Brooke now knew that Travis hadn’t pushed her. No one could act this stupid. Yet, his accusing gaze was riveted on her and that only added fuel to the fire building in her.

  “You might try saying . . . ‘ was worried about you, darling,’” she said in a sugar-sweet voice, then added, “Not tell me that I’ve put you through hell,” Brooke’s voice grew louder. “What in the hell do you think I’ve been through?”

  Travis lashed back. “What am I supposed to think? After not one word from you, you then show up dressed like a queen.” He swept a hand toward her. “Do I have to remind you that you confessed to be a courtesan the night before you left me? For all I know you could have taken up your old profession.”

  Seething, Brooke took a step closer and slapped Travis hard across the face. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite satisfy her, so she drew back to hit him again. This time, however, he caught her arm.

  Travis jerked her up against him and she felt the strength in every inch of his muscular body, rigid with anger.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned.

  “Damn you,” Brooke hissed. “And to think ...” she never finished her sentence. She could feel Travis’s uneven breathing on her cheek as he held her close, but he didn’t attempt to kiss her. Instead he asked her in a strange sounding voice, “Why did you come back?”

  She shoved him and he let her go. All she could think was that she wanted to hurt him like he was hurting her now, so she said the first thing that came to her mind, “For Moss Grove, of course.”

  Something in Travis snapped. A ragged sigh escaped from him as he faced the truth. Yesterday, he’d given anything to have her back, and now he seemed to be doing his best to drive her away. What was the matter with him? Was he doing it on purpose?

  She was so radiantly beautiful and so damn head-strong that a man would have to be mad to want to live with her. From the moment she had hurtled into his life he knew Brooke could only be a handful of trouble. She needed someone who could match wits with her. And he was that man. “Is that the only reason?” he asked.

  Travis watched Brooke struggle with her emotions and then in a voice raw with emotion she said, “There was one more reason.”

  Travis took a step closer and whispered, “And that would be?”

  “You. I came back for you,” she admitted.

  He reached for her and she took the few steps into his arms. His demanding lips caressed hers. It had been much too long since he held her. He kissed her until she melted in his arms and he knew she was surrendering to him.

  What was it about this one woman? She turned his life upside down, and made passion explode within him with nothing more than a look. Yet no matter what she’d done, he could not let her go.

  “I’ve missed you,” he whispered achingly. “More than I ever through possible.”

  Brooke’s heart swelled at the tenderness she heard in his voice. Perhaps, at long last, she had found happiness. “Are you ready to listen?”

  Drawing back slightly, Travis nodded.

  Brooke really didn’t want to step out of his arms, but she needed to so that she could think clearly while she told him what had really happened to her. “Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you everything. The first part being that I was pushed off the boat,” she told him then watched his features carefully. To her great
relief, she saw genuine surprise.

  Travis sat back against the corner of the sofa. “You didn’t trip and fall?” he asked.

  “No. I had just spoken to your mother or, you might say, argued with her. When she left, I turned around to get my wits about me and that was when someone shoved me over.”

  “That’s hard to believe.”

  “Travis,” Brooke said sharply. “Do you think I’d make something like that up?”

  “Well no. But my mother said you were talking to a man. Who was it? Maybe he was the one. If so, he’ll soon be a dead man.”

  Brooke took a deep breath. How low would that woman stoop? “To put it very bluntly -- your mother is a liar.”

  "So it would seem,” Travis agreed. “Why would she so blatantly lie?"

  "Because she doesn't want me for a daughter-in-law."

  "So you think that she pushed you? I know my mother can be difficult, but --"

  "I have no idea who did it," Brooke told him, but didn't add that she had once thought Travis had been the one. "I only know I ended up in the water."

  "And?"

  "I managed to get out of my dress so it wouldn't drag me under and cause me to drown. However, when I went over the rail, I must have hit my head. The next thing I remember I was waking up with the river people who'd fished me out of the water. I had no memory when I woke up."

  "Do you know how far-fetched that sounds?" Travis asked.

  Brooke stiffened. Here she was trying to be truthful and tell him everything, and he sat there doubting her. "I assure you that it's true," she snapped.

  Travis pushed himself up off the couch. "I need a drink. Would you like one?"

  "Well, at least you've learned some manners," she commented wryly, referring to their very first encounter.

  He was irritating her by being quiet. Brooke knew that what she’d told him was hard to believe, and she could probably show him the knot on her head as proof. But if they were going to have any kind of marriage, he was going to have to learn how to trust her. He was going to have to take her word for what had happened.