I sidled away from the two men, giving them more space, but Dayne kept a firm hold on my hand, refusing to let me go. I looked up into his usually beautiful face and saw the stony mask that now glared at the strange man, daring him to disagree. I half expected Dayne’s hair to stand on end like an angry dog defending a juicy bone.
It was obvious they weren’t friends, but something was there, a connection between them that was deeper than some random altercation. The way they looked at each other was familiar, staring with the same icy glare— a look that was much too harsh for strangers, and much too serious to be fighting over dancing with someone as insignificant as me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, and it was one of those moments that was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving me to wonder if I had imagined it.
I was sure the entire festival was staring at us, having been brought to a standstill by the violence threatening to erupt between them. But as my body returned to normal and I began to look around the crowd I noticed that no one was looking.
“My mistake,” the stranger said, raising his hands apologetically before he disappeared into the crowd.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, I allowed my eyes to drift up to Dayne’s face. He looked at me for the briefest second and then his body snapped to attention. His hand shot out to the side while his other hand reached around my waist and pulled me against him. It was totally old-fashioned dancing, even I knew that, and I began to pull away. I barely knew how to dance in a simple back and forth circle. There was no way I could dance in the formal way I was pretty sure Dayne had been taught since he was a little boy. After all, he was practically Irish royalty—castle and all.
His hand around my waist held me with a lion’s grip, despite my resistance, and he reached down for my hand. We waited as he counted the beats, and in an instant we were off, twirling around the romantically lit dance floor like an amusement park ride. My body was totally in his control. I had never learned to dance like this, but Dayne managed to make my awkward and uncoordinated feet move like a ballroom pro.
My eyes stayed level with his chest, marveling at the situation I was in, reveling at the feel of his touch, so gentle but firm at my waist. On a few occasions, I peeked through my lashes at his chiseled expression. Why did he seem so mad?
“Did you know that guy?” I finally managed to ask, unsure how words were able to form in my mind and actually make it out of my mouth. Being this close to Dayne normally tied my tongue and made me feel like a babbling idiot. He didn’t look at me or say a word. He continued staring over my head at the dancers twirling past us so I assumed he hadn’t heard me over the music.
If everything hadn’t happened so quickly, I am sure I would have found a way to blush every shade of Valentine’s Day red and run away. But I didn’t. If it had been any other guy, I would have been totally weirded out. But it was Dayne, and I had literally dreamed about being in his arms for weeks. Now I was, and I had never felt more like Cinderella dancing under the stars with her fairytale prince.
My body was alive, electric at his touch, swirling in the breeze blowing in off the Atlantic. I was aware of every part of him that touched every part of me. His hand over mine was strong, but soft, perfectly warm, but not sweaty. My arm stretched up and rested on his shoulder. His muscles twitched with every new step and turn, the heat of his skin radiating through the thin cotton shirt warming my hand. Our hips pressed together every now and then as his hand guided me through the dance steps like he was reading my mind.
As our bodies swayed expertly together, a smile spread across my lips. I still didn’t have a clue why Dayne wouldn’t want me dancing with that other guy, but I didn’t really care. I was in his arms, and I was falling more in love with him with every turn—if that was even possible.
“I don’t have to know a guy like that to know you have no business dancing with him,” he finally said just as I forgot about my question.
“What do you mean?” I asked totally confused by his answer.
“Listen, Faye. The locals around here learn early. We don’t mix with the tourists. You’re so young and innocent. You don’t have a clue what a guy like that has on his mind. You’re an easy target, and for some reason your new friends failed to let you in on the joke.” I blushed, remembering April had tried to stop me and I hadn’t listened. But why should he care? I certainly wasn’t Dayne’s friend.
“I’m eighteen, and I know enough to take care of myself,” I said, suddenly angry with him for making me feel like an immature fool. “And my friends would have danced with him too!” I was lying, but I didn’t care. He made me mad, and my voice was harsh enough to let him know. I flinched at the tone. I’d never argued with anyone ever before, and now I was sticking up for myself with Dayne?
But it didn’t make sense that he was suddenly concerned with my well-being. Especially, when I was finally about to have some fun for a change. I tried to pull away from him, but he held my waist like a vice grip.
“Oh, really? Then why haven’t they?”
“Because he just got here. I ran into him, and he asked me to dance.”
“He’s been here all night. He asked that girl that always talks to me to dance five minutes ago.”
“Well, Tara…” I emphasized her name to try and shame him, “…Probably said no because she was waiting to dance with you. But apparently you only want to dance when you are ruining someone else’s fun,” I argued like a pouty little child. I couldn’t believe I had felt sorry for him at the beginning of the night. He wasn’t some injured little bird that had fallen from the nest. He was a grown man who knew exactly what he was doing. What I couldn’t understand was why he cared enough about what I was or wasn’t doing to act like this.
“I’m sorry. I thought I was helping you.”
“Why do you even care?” I asked with a fire in my voice I’d only ever used with unruly horses before that moment.
The music stopped and he released his grip around my waist. His hand still held mine, and as mad as I was, I didn’t pull it away. We stood inches apart, neither of us moving, his head turned down to mine as the other dancers began to file past us. He opened his mouth to say something and his body leaned into mine like he was about to whisper a secret.
That’s when the room went electric, as if some live wire tethered my body to his. Every nerve ending I possessed stood at attention, reaching out to him, wanting to touch him. He lingered close enough to tickle my ear with every breath. Finally, he shook his head and stiffened straight again, breaking the spell. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and clinched his jaw in restraint.
Even though I was trying really hard to hate him at that moment, I found myself wishing he would kiss me. My eyes left his and focused on his lips. All I wanted at that moment was to reach up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his.
“I guess I don’t care,” he finally said and disappeared into the crowd.
An exhale of disappointed desperation fell from my open mouth as his words sank into my weary brain. Of course he didn’t want me. Of course he didn’t care. Who was I to someone like him?
“What was that? Looks like Dayne DeLaney may have turned into a brand new man.” April appeared by my side, and it took me a minute to gather my thoughts enough to answer her.
“I’m not sure.” I stared at the ground where he had stood like a dejected loser.
“I think Dayne was afraid someone else was about to steal his thunder. Maybe he was jealous that someone was dancing with you?”
“Definitely not jealous. I think he just wanted to be sure I would show up for work in the morning and not run off with some handsome stranger,” I said with a laugh, trying to dismiss what had just happened.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him dance with anyone in a long time. I’m sure Tara is green right now!”
I shook my head and laughed. There is no way anyone would be jealous of my dance with Dayne if they knew the truth of what had happened on that floor. Sure,
I had gotten to dance with him. I had finally found myself in the arms I dreamed about almost every night. But none of that was worth having to face the fact that my dreams would never be reality where Dayne was concerned.
“Come on, let’s dance!” April shouted over the music that had started up again. She took my arm and began spinning around the dance floor.
April’s fun was infectious, and I had no problem forgetting what had just happened as I tried to keep up with her. It seemed like the entire town was on that tiny little floor, crammed together like toes in too small shoes. Sweaty and happy, we danced and sang at the top of our lungs. After a few songs I had forgotten all about the horrible encounter with Dayne. I was too busy trying to learn all the Irish dances April was leading me through. She was a really good teacher, and I was surprised to learn I wasn’t such a bad student either. I pushed the memory of Dayne to the very back of my mind along with all the other things I forced myself to forget.
I bounced along with the crowd. April held one hand, and when I saw Rose’s familiar face pass by she grabbed my other hand. Even Phin was dancing. He hugged a beer mug closely to his chest so no one would bump into it as he leapt around the floor like a crazy person.
The sweaty saltiness of the happy riot around me filled my nostrils until the ocean breeze blew and sent it swirling away, bringing much needed relief to the dancers who were hot at work in their efforts on the floor. The makeshift wooden square that had been laid on the freshly cut grass to offer an even place to dance groaned under the weight of its labor and begged for relief, but the lively festival patrons weren’t done yet. The band played for another hour, until they announced the final song and were met with disapproving grumbles from all around. Boos quickly changed to cheers when the band played the first few strings of an old Irish favorite.
I held Phin’s hand on one side, and Rose’s on the other. We were in our own little circle, whirling around the floor at a dizzying speed.
Rose looked at me with the tender smile I thought only a mother could give. Phin was in rare form after sampling all the free stout he could and we continued our little revel until the last note was played. We collapsed in a big group hug, arms thrown around each other, gasping for breath.
“My sweet Faye, you will never know how happy we are to have you here with us,” Rose whispered in my ear.
Standing there with the two people who probably loved me most in the world, I finally felt like I was home. Even if I was thousands of miles away from my life, I knew my trip to Ireland was going to change that life forever.
Rose pulled away from me and wiped a tear. “Come on, let’s go home.”
I nodded my head and wrapped my arm around Rose as everyone began to leave the dance floor. April was talking to Norah and Alana and I waved goodbye. April put her hand up to the side of her face; pinkie finger and thumb extended to her mouth and ear in the universal “call me” sign. I nodded my head and turned back to Rose.
We were heading for the exit when Christine caught my eye. Her back was to the wall of the tent and a familiar head of dark curly hair leaned into her, resting his hand easily on her shoulder. She was totally enraptured in whatever he was saying, and I chuckled to myself thinking I knew how she felt. I hadn’t even been able to speak when he looked at me with those crystal blue eyes. I could see the sweet blush of innocence on Christine’s face and jealousy punched at my stomach. That could have been me if Dayne hadn’t interrupted us.
He leaned closer and whispered something in her ear. She blushed even redder and the familiar sweet smile spread wider across her face. I wasn’t the only one who saw her. Alana and Norah were watching from a few feet away, obviously jealous of Christine, too. I realized Christine needed him more than I did. I smiled and waved goodbye to her, but she didn’t even know I was there. Someone is going to get kissed tonight! I thought and smiled to myself as we left the festival.
Cotton was waiting on the porch when we got home.
He let out a tiny little bark of welcome and wagged his tail so hard his entire body swayed in the dim porch light when I called out to him from the truck. Looking at me with the same pitiful eyes so full of devoted admiration I couldn’t help but beg Rose to let him stay again.
Of course, she agreed—he was that cute—and such a welcome companion after my confusing night. I found myself talking to him like he was a person as I made our bed on the couch—Rose’s only dog-in-the-house rule— and just when I thought I was crazy, I turned to find him looking at me like a trained psychologist. He snuggled beside me, and my weary limbs were asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I was dreaming about the dance. How much fun I’d had the night before. I swirled around that little dance floor like a spinning top, my feet keeping rhythm with the band in my head. First with April, then with Rose and finally with Phin.
I was dancing with Phin in my dream when I started to wake and my world went black and white.
Phin left my arms, and morphed into a black a white photo in the center of my tunnel vision. He was young, not the crippled older man I’d always known. By his side stood a beautiful young woman with long brown hair. A woman who definitely wasn’t Rose. What?
I bolted upright on the couch, slapping my hands over my face and shaking my head back and forth to make it go away. An old picture...so what? I was sure Phin had tons of girlfriends in his day. The warm spot where Cotton had slept all night was ice cold. He was gone, and in the gray mist of dawn I looked around to find what had woken me.
A breeze blew in from the garden window Rose always left opened. No doubt Cotton had escaped through there.
A knock, loud and impatient against the heavy wooden front door, startled me. Rose and Phin shuffled around with muffled voices in their bedroom. The knock must’ve woken me. Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, I stumbled to the door and pulled it open.
It was barely light outside, the gray fog sitting heavily on the ground. A uniformed guard stood on the porch when I finally answered his knock, his cruiser’s engine humming from the dirt road out front.
“Sorry to bother you so early, ma’am, but we are investigating a missing persons report. Have you seen this girl?” I was still trying to forget the image of Phin’s photo when he held out another one to me. I rubbed at my eyes and yawned, stalling for time while I put my mind in order. Recognition sparked in my brain when I took the photo in my hand.
Christine.
“Yeah. That’s Christine. I sat with her at the dance last night.” My brow creased and Rose walked up behind me, rubbing my arms, looking over my shoulder.
She gasped and covered her mouth with a trembling hand when she recognized her best friend’s daughter smiling in the tiny school photo I held.
“Bradley, what’s going on?” Rose held the door open, inviting the officer in.
“Didn’t come home from the dance last night.” He wiped his feet and stepped over the threshold. “Mary and Bill found a note saying she eloped. Seems really out of character for her. We started looking for her just before the sun came up.”
“Oh...Oh, that’s not good. I have to call Mary.” Rose shook her head and walked to the hall, supporting herself on the furniture as she passed.
“Was Christine acting strangely last night?” The officer questioned.
“Not that I know of. I don’t know her that well. She seemed really nice and sweet.” I rubbed my hand over my forehead, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
“And when did you last see her?”
“When we were leaving. She was talking to this guy.” I closed my eyes, trying to remember.
“Would you be able to give a description of him?” The officer asked before I could finish my sentence.
“Yeah, he was, um…tall? Dark curly hair, blue eyes. You might want to check with April. She saw him, too.” I shook my head and crossed my arms against the cool morning air wafting in through the door. “She’s really gone?” I asked without really expecting an answer as
I concentrated on the misty cloud my breath created in the chilly air.
“April Kelley? He scribbled a note in his book.
“Um-hum,” I nodded.
“Thank you for your time. If you remember anything else, call me.” He handed me a card. Phin shuffled into the den and tripped over the coat rack when he saw the officer.
“Bradley? I didn’t do it, I promise.” Phin was already defending himself.
“Morning, Phin. Actually not here for you today.” He tipped his hat and left.
“What’d you do, Faye?” Phin had a devious look on his face, surprised that I had the cops calling on me, and eager to hear a good story.
“It’s not me. It’s Christine, Mary’s daughter? She’s missing.” I walked back to the couch and sat down. The color drained from Phin’s face and for a moment he stared at nothing in particular with blank horror. His eyes looked far away, like he wasn’t thinking about Christine at all.
“Huh.” He finally managed to snap out of whatever memory had stolen his thoughts, scratched his head and shuffled toward the coffee.
“I’m going over there.” Rose appeared in the doorway, her face pinched into a tight frown of worry after talking to Mary. She eyed Phin with wary concern when he propped against the counter and blew at the piping hot coffee in his hand.
“Ah, she’ll turn up. Probably have a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly!” Phin managed a laugh, but it was easy to see the atmosphere had become electric with something unspoken between Rose and Phin.
“I don’t think she’s that kind of girl,” I said wide eyed, unable to believe he could be so dismissive about her disappearance. Secretly? I hoped he was right. That certainly was a better alternative to the thoughts that were swirling in my mind, everything except the baby part.
I didn’t know Christine that well, but it didn’t make sense to me that a girl who had never kissed a boy would run off with a stranger she had just met. I sure hoped she had. I’d seen enough Cold Case Files to know just how horribly this could end.
Heir of Earth (Forgotten Gods) Page 13
