by Lowe, Fiona
She shrugged. “Even so, he didn’t have to go along with it.”
The snake struck. “You might think you know my father, but you don’t.”
“I know the side I see, and I think that it’s different from what you see.”
“Damn straight.” He could picture his evening vanishing into an argument which he did not want so he immediately changed tack. “Why are we talking about my father when we could be making out?”
“Because maybe you need to talk about him.”
Like hell I do. “So tell me, Annika, how’s the painting coming along?”
She tensed in his arms.
Bingo. Her reaction was exactly as he’d expected. Although he knew she’d duck the question and change the subject, it made him sad. Annika had a huge amount of talent and she was hiding from it.
She smiled at him brightly. “Did I tell you I’ve got two companies coming up next week to tour the warehouses? I snagged one with my mass mail-outs and just after the town meeting today, Ellery called me with another. Just think, Whitetail might be in the middle of a bidding war and how good would that be for the town?”
“That would be great for the town.” And he spoke the truth. It would indeed be great for the town but he wasn’t so sure it would be great for Annika.
“So we’ve both had a good week.”
He gazed down at her. “I know the perfect way to end it.”
“Do you now?” Her eyes glowed and she rose on her toes, pressing her lips to his. He immediately tightened his arms around her and lost himself in her softness, taste and heat.
Annika sighed into Finn’s mouth as she relinquished control of the kiss and allowed him to take charge. She opened up to the wonder he sent surging through her body. His tongue took a long, slow and tantalizing journey, exploring every nook and crevice until she was weak with longing.
He finally raised his head and with a thick voice filled with desire said, “Can you climb the tree house steps in that dress?”
“If I can’t, I’ll take it off.”
He groaned softly. “You’re every man’s fantasy.”
She laughed, hugging the compliment to herself. “I aim to please.” Already shoeless, she accepted a boost from Finn and started climbing. Ten steps later she was standing in the penthouse of all tree houses, complete with a balcony.
Finn arrived behind her, immediately opened an old tin box, pulled out a flashlight and switched it on. She saw a small cooler, some candles and a box of matches. The hiss of the match filled the air with a puff of sulfur and then by flickering light she saw masses of cushions.
Surprise and gratitude filled her. First a lovely evening where he’d been amazingly attentive, followed by a dusk walk along the lake, which was her favorite time of day apart from sunrise, and now all this. He’d set up a romantic space in the canopy of an ancient tree. “How did you manage all this?”
“I had help. Logan hauled the cushions.”
“Logan knows that we’re...?”
“God, no, he’s eight.”
For the first time, she glimpsed brotherly affection on his face.
“My half brother is all Callahan. I told him I wanted to sleep over in the tree house just like when I was a kid. Of course I hadn’t thought that through very well because he wanted to come too. So to cut a long story short, Logan and I are going kayaking together tomorrow and sometime soon, I’m spending a night here with him. That kid drives a hard bargain.”
Her heart quivered. Finn, who’d started the summer avoiding his little half brother, had now cut a deal with Logan just for her. “You really are a Boy Scout.”
He grinned. “Being Prepared is far more useful than your 4-H stuff.”
“Is that so?” She hooked her hands around his waistband and unhooked the fastener on his pants. “So you don’t want me to pledge my hands to larger service.”
He gazed down at her with the flicker of light reflected in his eyes and spoke softly. “I want all of you.”
He kissed her gently as if she was porcelain and would shatter under his touch, and then, unlike every other time they’d had sex, he undressed her slowly without any trace of urgency. He slid her dress off her shoulders, unhooked her bra and drew it reverently down her arms, and then he stared at her in the candlelight. “I never get tired of looking at you.”
She’d never felt so treasured. She reached her arms up around his neck and he caught her around her waist and laid her down on the makeshift bed. He used his body to worship her and it was only when she was racing toward her third release and begging him by name, that he entered her. Hard and sleek, he eased into her so slowly that it was sheer torture and she sunk her fingers into his shoulders, demanding in a whispered scream that he fill her hard, and fill her now. Only then did he oblige and she cried out in sheer relief that he was finally hers.
“Annika.” He gasped her name as drove into her.
Her body shuddered around him, gripping him tightly as his rhythm swept her up and took her soaring with him. She shattered into a thousand pieces of utter bliss.
Finally, when her breathing had slowed and the fragments of herself had reassembled, she realized that her heart was missing one piece—the part she’d given to him.
Somehow she managed to swallow her cry of shocked surprise and dismay. She’d thought she was so clever and so safe with this affair. She thought she’d protected herself completely but it was all just smoke and mirrors. She had no protection at all—her barricades were trampled and her moat completely drained. She loved him. She loved the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, and how he teased her about her clumsiness but caught her when she stumbled. She loved how he lay in bed with her nestled in his arms and talked about his work but also took the time to ask about hers. She foolishly and unwisely loved him with every breath she took.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she did the only thing she could. She kissed him.
Chapter Fifteen
Bridey had the feeling she was floating outside her normal world—an observer of her own life except she didn’t recognize much of it. Kathleen had come for dinner, which wasn’t unexpected because the party was being thrown specially for Hank’s parents, but what stunned her was the fact her mother hadn’t left the moment it was polite to do so. Sure, Kathleen had mostly chatted with Finn and Annika and the Neiquests, but she’d also passed pleasantries with Sean and Dana. Used to seeing Kathleen with shoulder-squaring tension, Bridey was disconcerted to find her mother almost relaxed. She’d even had a sit-down game of catch with Logan before excusing herself when the dancing started.
“Bridey, that was my foot.” Hank’s hand tightened on her waist as he steadied her.
“Sorry. I was thinking about Mom.”
“Yours or mine?” He spun her out.
“Mine.” She wished the band would play a slow number so she could snuggle up to Hank. “I think her being at Kylemore might have actually helped her and Dad a little bit.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Yes, but I never thought it would happen.” Not that her parents were doing more than circling each other politely but it was better than what used to happen. She thought of Marion and Bob whose affection for each other was in sharp contrast to her parents. “When did you find out your parents were coming up?”
“When they arrived at the plant.” He dipped her and pulled her back, giving her a smile. “They’re so
excited about this weekend that they’re like two kids at a theme park. It was really nice of your father to do this.”
She danced out and came in again, her back snuggling against his front. “It was, but I was hoping we could steal tonight just for us at the Whitetail Motel or B and B.”
He twirled her around and his face wore a slight frown. “This party’s for us and my parents so they can celebrate our engagement. We can hardly disappear.”
But what about us? We haven’t had sex in weeks. She ran her hand up into the back of his hair which she knew in the past had made him kiss her. “What if we left at midnight and were back by six? No one would even miss us.”
He shook his head. “Your father’s organized a dawn fishing trip.”
She couldn’t believe it. “Why did Daddy have to choose this summer to take up fishing?”
But if she expected Hank to show any signs of frustration that yet again they were going to have to sleep in separate rooms, he didn’t. Instead he just laughed and kept dancing.
But her enjoyment had lost its gloss. She stopped abruptly and pulled away before walking back to the table where the Neiquests sat with her father and Dana. Hank followed her with an audible sigh and when he’d seated her, he took the chair next to hers and slung his arm over the back of her chair. She leaned into him and he absently pressed a kiss onto her hair as if she was a child. Bridey wanted to shake him. She wanted to tell him that she was right here, an adult, and his for the taking, but the seeds of doubt yelled, “He’s getting cold feet.”
Bob slapped Hank jovially on the shoulder. “Well, son, you’ve fallen on your feet here.”
“Dad, I think you’ve probably done enough celebrating,” Hank said mildly, and poured his father a glass of water.
Bob just grinned and leaned forward. “Bridey, my dear, Marion and I are thrilled Hank finally got around to popping the question.”
Hank shifted in his seat and a chill darted through Bridey.
“Oh, yes.” Marion beamed. “And we’re even more thrilled that you said yes. We’ve been hoping for a while now, but you know Hank. He has to consider something from every angle and he won’t be rushed.”
Sean laughed and squeezed Dana’s hand with affection. “That will temper the Callahan tendency to make snap decisions.”
Bridey sat up straight, rigid with anxiety. “I don’t make snap decisions.”
This time Hank laughed. “What would you call the doughnut maker you had to have and is now waiting to go to a thrift store?”
Dana smiled. “But the one time she used it, the doughnuts were very good.”
Bridey threw a grateful look at her stepmother. “See, you can’t argue that.”
“And we can hardly accuse you of snap decisions about the wedding,” Sean teased. “At last count she had seven different wedding favors she couldn’t decide between and fourteen dresses.”
“Seeing we’re talking about the wedding, and they don’t come cheap,” Bob said, “Marion and I would like to make a contribution.”
Sean waved his hand. “That’s very kind, Bob, but not at all necessary.”
Marion reached over and put her hand on Bridey’s. “We got sidetracked by the tour of the house and never did have that chat about the wedding. We’d like to offer you our garden.”
The Neiquests’ garden was beautiful but the unanticipated gesture caught Bridey by surprise, and she was slow to form a response.
Hank sighed. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. Bridey wants a big wedding.”
“Well, darling, we had one hundred thirty people for your sister and it wasn’t a crush.”
“Try triple that.” Hank poured himself a drink.
“Four hundred people?” Marion asked faintly.
Bridey finally found her voice. “It’s important that our wedding be a statement. Your offer’s very thoughtful, Marion, thank you, but we’ve already paid a deposit on a venue.”
Sean winked. “I think I paid four holding deposits, Baby-girl, because you couldn’t decide.”
Marion and Bob exchanged a glance and then both of them stared at her with expressions of slight injury as if she’d somehow kept a secret from them.
Marion took in a breath and with a tight smile said, “So where are you two getting married?”
Bridey waited for Hank to tell his parents but a beat extended into two and then morphed into an awkward silence. Her heart hammered faster. Why wasn’t he saying anything? He knew exactly where they were getting married. He’d texted, Okay. Her future in-laws started frowning and she couldn’t stand being thought to be the “bad guy” who’d withheld information so she blurted out, “The InterContinental.”
Marion blinked.
“It’s going to be wonderful. Perfect in fact,” Bridey rushed on, determined to convince everyone that her vision for the wedding was exactly what she and Hank needed to start their life together. To cement their relationship. To avoid a divorce. “The theme’s traditional Old World elegance. Masses of white roses, tulips and gardenias, chandeliers, tall silver candelabras with cascading floral centerpieces and tall white candles, gold charger plates on ivory damask cloths, tulle and gossamer on the ceiling and walls, a string quartet for the ceremony and a big band for the reception.”
Marion looked slightly stunned but patted her hand. “It all sounds very...romantic, dear.”
Bridey relaxed. “Thank you. I think so and the men will wear black tie and tails and my eight attendants—”
“Eight?” Hank stiffened against her.
“Yes. Eight.” The words shot out between tight lips. “I did tell you this.”
His sober gaze held hers. “I didn’t think you were serious.”
Bob laughed and slapped Hank’s shoulder. “Just as well this extravaganza’s a year away. You’re going to need all that time to rustle up a few more groomsmen, son.”
“I think Hank’s just learning that weddings are for the bride.” Sean raised his glass to Hank in a gesture of camaraderie.
Everyone laughed and Hank’s mouth tweaked up tightly on one side but he didn’t join in the laughter.
Bridey felt his reproach rip into her like the barbs of an arrow.
Dana’s gaze flitted between her and Hank and she said in a calm voice, “There’s plenty of time for both of you to discuss all the details in private.”
But he doesn’t want to. He didn’t even tell his parents where we’re getting married.
Bridey spun her engagement ring as her unspoken words shrieked in her head, deafening her. Panic swamped her—clogging her throat and making it hard to breathe. She tried to push it down. Tried to push away the fact that Hank’s interest in their wedding was zero and that probably meant he was gearing up to end their engagement. She wouldn’t let that happen. If she got him to agree to the wedding plans now, then that was a sign he was still going to marry her.
Her hand hit the table making the glasses rattle. “Actually, once I’m back at school, there won’t be any time which is why,” she heard her voice rising and she was powerless to stop it, “we must make decisions now.”
This time no one laughed. An uncomfortable silence settled over everyone and neither her parents nor the Neiquests looked at her.
Hank shot to his feet. “Dana, Sean, thank you for a lovely evening. Mom, Dad, we’ll see you in the morning.” He turned to her, his face stiff and
thunderous, and he extended his hand. “Bridey, let’s take a walk.”
For the first time ever, Bridey didn’t want to be alone with Hank. Not because she feared this new, angry version of him, but because every single cell in her body feared what he might say.
I don’t want to marry you.
I don’t love you.
Not that she’d heard the words I love you from him very often lately, but she wouldn’t give him the chance to say that he didn’t love her. She refused to take his hand. Instead, she rose as imperiously as Kathleen could, and quietly said her farewells to everyone.
Everyone murmured “good night” and then she felt Hank’s fingers grip her elbow and he steered her silently and determinedly toward the house and directly into the library. This was a side of him she’d never seen before, and his stony face brought all her worst fears to center stage.
“Have you been taking lessons from Sean and Finn?” She shook his arm away as he closed the door firmly behind them.
There was nothing mild about him now and he spread his feet wide, standing like a commanding general in the center of the room. “This nonsense has to stop.”
“What nonsense?” She paced to the window and looked out, not wanting to see the glare of reprimand in his eyes.
“This obsession of yours with the wedding.”
She spun around and threw her hands out wide. “I’m not obsessed.”
“Yes. You. Are.” He ground out the words and they bounced around the room. “From the moment we got engaged you’ve become a different person and you’re behaving like a woman possessed. First it was the engagement party and I let you have your head with that but I watched stunned as you went completely overboard. My God, Bridey, you planned everything down to the last second, including the time it would take for an ice sculpture to melt.”
He didn’t understand. “It’s important that it lasts.” That we last.
