by Melissa Good
He was, in Andy’s estimation, a half-assed jerkwad with more breeding than sense, and they’d never gotten along. He poked Ceci gently and jerked his chin towards her brother. “Here comes a man with a bee in his britches,” he muttered.
Ceci watched Charles approach and a tiny, vindictive grin briefly creased her face. “Hope it stings him right in the behind.”
“Wall, I kin think of some better places but he ain’t got none,”
Andrew drawled, as Charles reached them, his twin right behind him.
“’Lo, Charles, Carolyn.”
Charles stopped and inhaled, his lips twisting grimly. “Andrew. This is quite a surprise.”
“Ah bet.”
Ceci eased between them. “Sorry, Chucky. I didn’t really have time to prepare you. Things have been happening pretty quickly.” She glanced behind him. “Hi, Cary.”
“Cec,” her sister murmured. “Hello, Andrew.” She gave her brother-in-law a guarded look.
“Ms. Roberts.” A gallery aide came up looking a little agitated.
“Could you come into the display room, please? The press would like to speak with you.”
Ceci hesitated. “I—”
“G’wan.” Andrew gave her a little nudge. “Give me a chance to catch your kin up here.”
Cecilia gave him a look, recognizing the deliberate, slight exaggeration of his usual drawl for what it was. “I’ll be right back.” She curled a hand briefly around his wrist and squeezed it, then followed the aide out, leaving Andrew with her brother and sister in a silent tableau.
A SOFT KNOCK at the door brought Dar’s head up and she paused in her work. “Yeah?”
Maríana stuck her head in and smiled. “Got a minute?”
Dar leaned back and rubbed her eyes. “Sure. C’mon in.”
The Personnel VP entered and closed the door. She crossed the carpeted floor and seated herself in one of Dar’s visitor chairs. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad.” Dar folded her hands. “We got most of the new boxes in place and I think we’re going to start testing next week. It’s going a lot smoother than I’d planned for. Nice, for a change.”
“Good to hear.” Mari nodded. “Listen. Duks and I and Mark and Barbara were planning on taking a ride up to the fair tonight. You and Kerry interested?”
The Youth Fair. Dar was surprised at her tickling of interest. “I don’t know. Hang on.” She pressed the intercom. “Hey, Kerry?”
“Yeesss?” The blonde woman’s voice sounded a touch smug and def-Eye of the Storm 197
initely pleased.
“You up for the Youth Fair?”
A puzzled silence. “I didn’t know you were into cows, Dar. Or is this a continuance of yesterday’s conversation?”
Maríana clapped a hand over her mouth and turned pink from laughter.
Dar sighed. “You haven’t been to a youth fair down here, I take it.”
She played with a pen. “Few ducks, few chickens, few rabbits. Mostly rides and the midway.”
“Oh.” Kerry fell silent for a moment. “Okay. Sure. That sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll win you a huge stuffed pig or something.”
“I’d better drive, then, because you, me, and a stuffed pig aren’t going to fit in your car,” Dar advised her dryly. “Mari’s doing the invite.
It’s us, her and Dukky, and Mark and Barb.” She grinned. “You can finally challenge Mark to that slingshot competition.” She waited for Kerry to stop laughing. “Okay. See you later.” Dar lifted an eyebrow at Mari. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Good.” Mari clasped her hands around one knee. “Actually, I didn’t come here to ask that. I just finished going over the review you did for Kerry.” Dar tilted her head in inquiry. “And I wanted to come over here and talk to you about it.”
“Problem?”
“No. Just the opposite.” Mari shook her head. “It was a very well balanced, well thought out review, that seemed objective, and professional.”
She paused. “Did you get someone to ghost write it? I’ve been reading reviews from you for five years, Dar. They don’t usually look like that.”
Dar doodled on her scratch pad. “No. I just wanted to be very careful. I know there’s a built in prejudice there and I bent over backwards to be as fair as I possibly could.” Finding negatives, she reflected, had been the most difficult part. No one was perfect, but she tended to mentally down-play Kerry’s faults to an almost ludicrous point, and that wasn’t fair to either of them professionally. Her biggest issue with her assistant was that Kerry tended to get totally involved in the details of a project and sometimes she lost sight of the big picture.
That was something, Dar was sure, that would correct itself with experience, as Kerry learned to watch the impact of her actions on a wider scope. But it had caused a few near misses, and she’d had to bring Kerry in the last time, and sit her down, and give her a lecture.
She wondered who that lecture had stung more.
“Well, you certainly did that. I was very impressed. Good job.” Mari smiled. “Now. Do you want to give it to her, or do you want me to?”
Dar took a breath. “I’ll do it.” She met Mari’s eyes. “But she’s up for a salary action. I’d rather you handled the details of that.” A faint smile twisted her lips.
Mari chuckled. “All right. Good point. But give me a guideline. What do you think she’s worth?”
Blue eyes caught hers, as quiet and serious as she’d ever seen them.
198 Melissa Good
“The company couldn’t afford what I think she’s worth,” Dar replied calmly. “That’s why I’m asking you to work it out.” She flipped her pencil over. “I’m going to talk to her about that open position we have when I give her the eval. I think with some guidance she’d do all right there.”
Mari considered the statement. “We could probably post it and get someone with more experience, but Kerry’s got two things going for her.
One, she knows how we work, and two, she can work with you.” She gave Dar a frank look. “And of the two, the second is what would concern me the most bringing in an outsider.”
Dar propped her chin up on one fist. “Am I such a problem?” She asked, plaintively.
“Dar, don’t even go there. You know we’re friends, but you also know perfectly well that you’re one of the hardest people in the entire corporation to work with.” Mari smiled to take the sting out of her words.
“Although you have mellowed out a whole lot in the last few months.”
“I don’t think I have,” Dar disagreed. “It’s just that Kerry’s taken off so much of the bullshit from my shoulders. I don’t have to be an asshole nearly as often to get things done.” She pointed a finger at Mari. “But I haven’t forgotten how.”
“Warning taken.” Mari stood and brushed her slacks off. “Have we gotten rid of our Houston pest? You know he was busting my chops to get your personnel file.” She smirked. “I just loved pulling out my three hundred and seventy two page personnel directive handbook and quot-ing the privacy regulations to him.”
“Yeah, for now.” Dar leaned back and stifled a yawn. “But I’ve got the feeling he’ll be back. He gave me the creeps. He’s not going to stop until he causes major league trouble, I think.” She got up and checked her watch. “I’m going to get some coffee. Interested?”
Mari nodded. “Sure. That stomach bug clear up all right for you?”
Dar shrugged as they headed towards the door. “Yeah, pretty much.” She held the door for Mari and followed her out. “Glad it wasn’t contagious.”
Chapter
Twenty-two
ANDREW RESISTED THE impulse to put his hands in his pockets and merely clasped them in front of him as he returned the veiled, hostile stares from Ceci’s siblings. “Nice weather,” he drawled, deliberately drawing out the words and injecting as much Southern as he possibly could into his voice and still get the words out around his tongue.
“And here I thought
we were rid of you,” Charles stated. “But just like a bad Rembrandt, here you are.”
“Naice t’see you too, Chuckie. That a new suit?” Andrew let the hostility roll off him without any trouble, having spent far too much time in his life facing people trying to kill him.
Charles glanced around, then indicated a small door. “I’ve got something to say to you.” He turned and walked towards the side room, fully expecting Andrew to follow. With a sigh and a small shake of his head, the navy officer did.
Charles closed the door behind them and walked across the tiny room, which featured a table, a chair and a lamp set over the table, clearing a space for examining art or other objects. “I’m not going to waste any time.”
“Good t’hear.” Andrew settled against the wall.
“If you think you’re going to just waltz back into my sister’s life, you’ve got another thing coming.” Charles turned and folded his arms.
“I’m not going to allow that.”
“And jest what are you gonna to do t’stop me?” Andy inquired mildly. “Seven years and you still ain’t got the sense God gave a ground-hog, d’you? It ain’t your choice, Chuck. Never was, never will be. It’s hers, and she’s done made it.” He paused. “Again.”
“You going to take and drag her out into the streets again?” the man taunted. “Can’t you see she’s better off here?”
Andy studied him. “Nope.”
“You always were a selfish pig.”
“If’n you think she is better off, then you’ve got a set of twisted ideas, cause what I see is a lonely woman half crazed needing someone t’care for her.”
“She’s perfectly happy here,” Charles shot back. “She’s got family and friends and a decent place to live for a change.”
200 Melissa Good
“She tell you that?”
“What?”
“She’s happy?” Andy pushed off the wall and eased towards him.
“Dj’a ever ask her?”
“She’s my sister. I know she is,” Charles answered. “That’s why I took that notification they sent last year and burned it.”
Andrew’s dark brows snapped together and he moved his head forward, his eyes narrowing. “What?”
“Oh, sure. That notice the damn Navy sent. That you’d been found? I burned it,” Charles taunted. “It came to our place and you bet I grabbed it and had my self a little party making sure my sister never saw a word of it.”
Big hands flexed. “You done that.” Andy’s breathing slowed and deepened. “Here, I was thinking she’d done tossed it away.” His voice was almost an offhand murmur.
“I wasn’t going to let her fall back in that trap.” Charles laughed.
“She’s better off out of that hell and out of your life and away from that perverted kid you forced on her.”
“Charles?” Andy said slowly, “Y’all better shut up now.”
“I’ve just started,” the man shot back. “Disgusting. She shows up for a funeral with her little tart in tow, I about died of—blck.” The room whirled as he was picked up and slammed onto his back on the table.
“Gchk.”
Hands twisted in his shirt collar and air cut off abruptly. He struggled, as he looked up into a pair of blue eyes so cold, they were almost colorless. Andrew’s face had settled into stillness, save for a feral twitch running up and down either side of his nose, matching the flaring nostrils. “Now,” his voice was much lower and deeper, “y’all are gonna shut up.”
Charles’ chest hurt and he fought to drag air into his lungs.
“Or I’m going to pull yer haid right off yer body and stuff it up your rear end.” Andy leaned on him, sending pain up and down his body. “Do you understand me, boy?”
Hysterical, he nodded, and the grip relaxed, just a little. Just enough for him to suck in a tiny bit of air.
“Ah do not like you,” Andrew enunciated very carefully. “Ah have never liked you, but I put up with you cause you just happened to share the same mamma and pappa as my wife.” He leaned closer. “But ah will not put up with you bad mouthing mah family. You understand me, boy?” He leaned closer. “Or I will surely kill you.”
Charles started shaking.
“If you ever try to get between Ceci and me again, I will rip you apart.” He paused. “And if you ever speak about mah daughter like that again, I will make you a eunuch in under five seconds.” Andrew lifted him up and threw him against the wall. Then he pounced across the floor and grabbed him as he rebounded and shoved him up and held him. “Are we real straight on that, Mister?”
Eye of the Storm 201
“You’re crazy,” Charles croaked.
“No, sir.” Andrew shook his head. “Ah am a very angry man, who knows how to kill people right well.” His eyes bored into the shorter man’s. “If you have any smarts at all, you will just say ‘yes, sir’ and shut up.”
Ceci’s brother stared at him for a long, hateful moment, then lowered his eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Andrew held him a second more then released his grip and stepped back, standing alert and balanced on the balls of his feet as Charles slowly twitched at his clothing and gathered the shreds of his composure.
“We’re done now.” Andy turned and walked to the door. He put his hand on the knob before turning and facing his adversary. “Asshole.” He opened the door, walked through it, and closed it behind him firmly. Ceci was just coming back and she headed his way, a concerned look on her face. “Ready to see yer pictures?”
“Sure.” Cecilia glanced at the door. “Everything okay?”
“Yer brother and I just cleared the air a little,” Andy reassured her.
“C’mon.”
She tucked her hand around his arm and paced lightly at his side, watching the signs of rage slowly fade. “Andy?”
“Mmm?” His eyes blinked, then met hers.
“You didn’t break anything, did you?”
His lips quirked faintly. “No, ma’am, I did not.”
Ceci exhaled. “All right. Come on. I think they’ve got those little stuffed chicken things you like on the buffet.”
Andy relaxed, releasing the last of his anger out to the ether. No sense in holding it, anyway. He gazed fondly down at his wife. “You looking to spoil me, pretty lady?”
He got a much missed elfin smile for that. “You betcha.” Ceci steered him towards a cluster of people around a large canvas. “See what you think of this one.”
Several faces turned as they came up, staring curiously at Andrew.
“Cec? Who’s your friend?” one of the art gallery’s directors called out, too far to read the nameplate on Andy’s uniform.
“This is my husband,” Cecilia answered, enjoying the surprised looks. “Andrew Roberts.” She started introductions as the crowd closed in, chattering in question.
KERRY STOOD, SOBERLY regarding her reflection in the mirror.
She was dressed in her underwear and laid out neatly on the counter was her little leather outfit, draping saucily over the edge in a fall of slinky hide.
“Well.” She met the sea green eyes gazing back at her. “I could pretend I was going as Pocahontas.” She paused. “The blonde hair’s a little off, but I think I may have a feather around here someehere.”
With a sigh, she finally picked up the skirt and wrapped it around 202 Melissa Good her waist, adjusting the fit with the convenient Velcro closures. “What on earth did they do before Velcro, Chino? I can’t imagine it.”
“Grufw.” The Labrador was curled up on the bed, watching her with interest, tired out after a long afternoon’s run Kerry had just finished up with.
“It’s pretty, huh?” She fingered the leather belt, intricately tooled and stained in several colors, with a knotwork design. The skirt itself was a very soft rusty tan leather, so thin it draped over her hips and thighs almost like cloth. “O…kay.” Kerry picked up the top next and studied it.
“Hmm. A leather sports bra. This is going to be dif
ferent.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she removed her regular bra and slipped the leather one on. She fiddled with the fastenings in back then brought the straps around to her front and adjusted them. With faint trepidation, she lifted her eyes to the reflection and chewed her lip at what she saw.
God, there was a lot of her showing. She spared a moment of intense gratitude for the months in the gym, as she twisted her body a little and watched the muscles move just under her tan. “See what she meant about needing to work out to wear this one,” she murmured. “What do you think, Chino?”
“Gorgeous.”
Kerry’s brain almost exploded, then she realized the voice was Dar’s and coming from the door. “Jesus.” She covered her eyes as a laugh escaped. “I thought the dog answered me.”
“Woof,” Dar replied, easing the rest of the way into the room, still dressed in her workout shorts and cutoff shirt. “Mmm. I like it.” She studied Kerry approvingly. “You definitely look natural in that.”
“Natural?” Kerry put her hands on her hips. “Dar, it’s a leather bikini. Don’t tell me I look natural in a leather bikini, please, because my brain will dribble out my ears just at the thought.”
“But you do,” Dar objected gently. “Stand up straight.”
With a sigh, Kerry did so, letting her hands drop to her thighs. In reflex, she lifted her head and chin as Dar adjusted the straps on her top, the feel of the light fingertips on her bare back striking a chord of faint familiarity. “I look like a fake Native American.”
“Nah.” Dar pulled her pale hair back and held it. “How ’bout we put a leather holder on this and you can put on some of that old jewelry in Aunt May’s trunk. You’ll look great, Ker. Honest.” She peeked over Kerry’s shoulder and examined the mirror’s reflection, as Kerry lifted her eyes and met her gaze in it. “What’s wrong?”
Kerry’s lips tightened, then relaxed. “Sometimes I look in this mirror and I have no idea who that person looking back at me is.” She gave a slight shake of her head and lifted her hands a trifle, then let them drop.
