THE RESTAURANT WAS trendy-an upscale Tex-Mex with comfortable seating and great margaritas. Skye clutched hers in an effort to keep from downing it in a single gulp.
“You all right?” T.J. asked.
“Not really,” she admitted. “I don’t think this was a good idea.”
“The restaurant?”
“The date.”
“Oh. Because I’ve already bored you so much you’re ready to chew your arm off in an effort to escape?”
Three hours ago, she’d had the hideous run-in with Mitch. She was dealing with her half brother trying to destroy her life’s work, her ex-boyfriend thinking he was the father of her child, and lots of unresolved feelings for said ex-boyfriend. While a perfectly nice man had asked her to dinner, all she could think was that she wanted him to be someone else.
“You haven’t bored me.”
“Give it time.”
She tried to smile. “It’s not you. I’m not ready for this. The whole boy-girl thing.”
“Dating?”
“Yeah. Dating.”
“It’s been a couple of years since your husband died.”
“Meaning I should be ready to move on? I know. I am. Ray isn’t what makes this awkward. My life is…complicated.”
“You have a crush on a woman?”
She laughed. “No, but thanks for asking.”
He leaned forward. “Then what? I’ve told you I think you’re beautiful. God knows I’m a hell of a guy. Rich, handsome, charming. What’s not to like?”
“Modest. You left out modest.”
“I like to leave people with something to discover on their own.”
She looked into his blue eyes and wished she felt something. A spark. A whisper. Anything. He was as handsome as he’d claimed, so why couldn’t she seem to notice?
“If you’re worried about getting back into dating, don’t sweat it,” he said. “It’s like riding a bike. We ask each other questions, have a conversation, I pay for dinner, you let me kiss you, we call it a night.”
Kissing? She wasn’t ready for that. At least not with anyone who wasn’t Mitch. “You make it sound simple.”
“It is. Tell you what. If you start to lose your way, let me know and I’ll help you find it.”
Why couldn’t Mitch be like this? Fun. Easy to be with. He had been, all those years ago. Everything was different now.
“Stay,” he said, lightly touching the back of her hand. “At least through appetizers. I want to get the avocado egg rolls and if the plate comes with just me sitting here, everyone will feel sorry for me.”
“Okay. I’ll stay.”
“Good. Just so you know. No matter how much you pressure me, we’re not having sex tonight. I’m serious. Even if you beg, I’m not giving in. It’s just the kind of guy I am.”
Some of her tension eased. “I can live with that.”
He winced. “Couldn’t you at least pretend to be disappointed?”
“I am, on the inside.”
“I wish that were true. Now, let’s begin that conversation. We’ll talk about me because it’s one of my favorite topics.”
“I’m dying to know everything.”
“I grew up in the area. In fact I went to high school with your sister Lexi.”
“I think I knew that.”
“We dated. Twice. I tried to get to first base and she tried to make me a eunuch.”
Skye laughed. “She’s a Titan. You have to respect that.”
“I did. I played football where I was so good I was practically a god. We probably know a lot of the same people.” He named a few. She recognized some, not others.
“Oh, yeah, Mitch Cassidy. Isn’t his place next to Glory’s Gate? He was in my class.”
She did her best not to react to the words. “I knew Mitch. We, ah, dated for a while. Years ago. Before I got married. Obviously it was before. Dating during would have been so awkward.”
T.J. leaned back in his chair. “The ex, huh? Was it serious?”
Skye took a drink of her margarita and hoped she could pull off sounding casual. “At the time, but we were both really young.”
T.J.’s gaze didn’t waver. “It must have been right before he went into the navy.”
“It was.”
“You know he’s back.”
She forced a smile. “Yes. We’ve run into each other. He was wounded but he seems to be doing better now.”
“Anything I should know about you and Mitch?” he asked.
“Not at all. That was over a long time ago.”
“Good. Because I’d like you to give me a chance, Skye. I think we could have fun together.”
Her stomach lurched and not in a good way. The tequila sat uneasily and she couldn’t imagine keeping food down. Still, none of her reaction was T.J.’s fault. If Mitch hadn’t come back she would be enjoying her date. So she was going to fake it until it was real. Or something like that.
“I think we could, too,” she said, and raised her glass. “Here’s to finding out.”
MITCH HAD NEVER been inside Glory’s Gate before. He’d been in the barns-they’d been a favorite place for Skye and him to meet when they’d been dating. He knew how to ride in by darkness and escape undetected. But he’d never walked up the front steps like someone who had been invited.
Too little too late, he thought, pausing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Are you all right?” Fidela asked, hovering at his side. She held a brightly colored bag in one hand-a bag containing birthday gifts for Erin.
He could see Fidela wanted to offer help but didn’t dare. It hadn’t taken her long to figure out his temper was something to be avoided and all too close to the surface these days. There were moments, flashes in time, when he saw what he’d become and didn’t like the result. But mostly he was pissed at the world and didn’t care who knew.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, clenching his teeth and taking the first step.
The pain was manageable, but it promised to grow. He worked steadily, climbing the stairs, focusing only on the step in front of him, ignoring those left and those behind. By the time he reached the top, he’d broken out into a sweat and felt nauseous. He knew the latter was the result of the fire burning in his leg and that it would soon fade.
What mattered was showing up. His last encounter with Skye-when she’d thrown the milk shake at him-had reminded him of his purpose. To take her down in every way possible. Being at Erin’s birthday party was the next step in his plan.
They moved toward the big front door. Fidela stayed by his side, not touching, but willing him along. He could feel her love and concern and took strength from it. Then the door opened and Erin rushed out.
She wore jeans and a pink shirt. A tiara proclaiming Birthday Princess sat on her head. A purple boa was draped around her shoulders.
“You came!” she crowed in delight. “I knew you would and you did, you came!”
She rushed at Fidela and hugged her tight, then turned on him and did the same.
She was small and slight and possibly his child. Emotions rushed through him, moving too fast for him to identify them. Still, he knew having a daughter would change everything. It would define him and give him purpose. Being her father mattered.
But before he could get caught up in the moment, Erin stepped back and grinned.
“There’s lots of food. All my favorites and some stuff Mom said we had to have for the grown-ups. And the cake is so big!” She clapped her hands together. “Come see.” She hugged him again. “You came.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
She gazed up at him. “You’re my hero.”
His throat tightened. “Yeah, well, um, happy birthday, kid.”
She grabbed his hand and Fidela’s, and pulled them both into the house. They moved through a foyer the size of a grocery store. He had a brief impression of soaring ceilings, a circular staircase and a grand piano before Erin led them into a nearly normal-size space with a few couches, a Happy Birthday, Erin sign on one wall and balloons tied to nearly everything that didn’t move.
There were probably thirty people in the room, but Mitch had no trouble spotting Skye. It was as if everyone else was in black and white and she was the only one in color.
She stood talking to her sisters. The Titan girls, he thought, remembering how guys had talked about them in high school. They had been considered the ideal women, then-something to be achieved-yet they were all different. Lexi, the cool blond beauty. Izzy, the wild one with a smile that warned she didn’t take prisoners, and Skye. Skye who radiated sex with every move, every word. Even now, despite everything, he wanted to drag her into some dark room and have his way with her. He wanted it so hot and so fast that neither of them could catch their breath. He wanted to take her and make her beg. He wanted-
A tall, blond man walked up to the sisters. He was familiar enough for Mitch to realize he knew him.
It took a second for the memory to fall into place. T. J. Boone. They’d gone to high school together, played football on the same team. Until he saw T.J. put his hand on the small of Skye’s back, Mitch had always liked the guy.
Now Skye looked at T.J. and smiled. The smile burned in Mitch’s gut. Lexi said something then excused herself. Izzy watched the two of them before shaking her head and walking away. Before Mitch could decide what he was going to do, someone joined him.
“You’ve spent a lot of your life wanting what you can’t have.”
Mitch turned and saw Jed Titan.
“I’ll welcome the soldier but warn the man that Skye isn’t for him.” Jed shrugged. “It’s just the way it is around here. She’s a Titan. However much you want her, you couldn’t have her before and you sure as hell can’t now. Not with that.” He jerked his head toward Mitch’s missing leg.
The insults didn’t matter. Mitch had never been afraid of Jed Titan, had never felt his power the way others had.
“I see you’re still a pompous old man with delusions of influence and intimidation. But guess what? I know fifty ways to kill you and not leave a mark.”
Jed sipped his drink. “Probably, but that’s the difference between us, Mitch. You wouldn’t kill me because I haven’t done anything to deserve it. I prefer to take care of my opponents before they cross the line. It ensures I win.”
“Well-meaning advice? That’s not like you.”
Jed smiled. “Despite you trying to marry my daughter before, I’ve always liked you, Mitch. You have backbone and guts. You weren’t well-connected enough to be a contender but so few are. I heard you served our country well. Let me be clear though. You stand in the way of what I want and I’ll reduce you and everything you love to a pile of rocks.”
Mitch chuckled for the first time in days. “You don’t scare me.”
“I don’t have to. Look around. I have it all, Mitch. Money, power, three beautiful daughters. Skye married Ray for me nine years ago and she’s going to marry T.J. now. They’ll make beautiful babies, don’t you think?”
Mitch couldn’t help looking at Skye, who still stood talking to T.J. “She wouldn’t do that,” he said, but even he didn’t believe the words.
“Oh, I think she will and if you know her at all, you’ll think so, too. Skye’s a very dutiful daughter. She’ll do what I say. You know I’m right.” Jed patted him on the shoulder. “Welcome home, son. Welcome home.”
Mitch watched the old man walk away. He told himself that Jed was wrong about all of it. That Skye was stronger than that and could make decisions for herself. Then he returned his gaze to her and T.J. and knew he was fooling himself.
THE PARTY WENT well into the evening. Erin fell asleep on the sofa around eight-thirty and the last of the adults left shortly after ten.
Skye stood in the center of the kitchen and told herself she would tackle the mess in the morning. It wasn’t going anywhere and what she didn’t get cleared up would be handled by the daily staff who would return to work on Monday morning.
Izzy appeared with a bowl of tortilla chips in one hand and salsa in the other. “You have got to give me this recipe,” she said as she set the bowls on the coffee table and dipped a chip. “It’s my favorite.”
“You plan to make salsa?” Skye asked with a laugh. “Oh, please.”
“There’s no cooking involved. Just chopping and stirring. I can chop and stir.”
“With someone supervising.”
“It could happen.”
Skye shook her head. “Right. I’ll get the recipe and you can fix it for us.”
“Deal.”
Skye collected a few glasses. Now that Izzy had come into the room, she felt the need to keep busy. Things still weren’t totally right between them.
“T.J. had fun,” her sister said, dipping a second chip.
“Yes, he did. I was surprised that he came,” Skye admitted. She hadn’t invited him, so it must have been Jed’s doing. “Erin likes him.” Not as much as she liked Mitch, but then T.J. didn’t have hero status.
“T.J. can be charming,” Izzy said, following Skye into the kitchen. “How was your date?”
“Nice.”
“Nice bad or nice I’m-going-to-see-him-again.”
“We’re going to keep seeing each other.” She set the glasses on the counter, then turned to face her sister. “Let me guess. You want to warn me that he’s just in it for what he can get. That he’s asked you out as well and you’re the one he’s really interested in. You’re fun and I’m duty. The only way I can get a guy is if my father buys him.”
Izzy pressed her lips together. “I’m not saying a man wouldn’t want you,” she began.
Skye groaned. “Izzy, come on. Isn’t it possible T.J. likes me?”
“Do you like him?”
“I don’t know. He’s…fun. I enjoyed being with him more than I thought.” He wasn’t complicated. She could look at him without wanting to take her clothes off. She could look at him without feeling an emotional longing that left her weak.
“And it doesn’t bother you that he’s dating both of us?”
Skye squared her shoulders. “No,” she lied.
“You don’t think he’s in any way playing us?”
“I think you’re upset that he wants to go out with me. I think you can’t believe he could possibly be interested in me so you’re throwing yourself in the middle of this. You have to be the special one all the time. It’s all about you.”
Izzy folded her arms over her chest. “I was trying to be nice,” she said, obviously angry and hurt. “I was worried about you because I care about you. You don’t date a lot and I do. I have more experience at this. But fine. Think I’m so truly horrible that I can’t let my own sister be happy with a guy. Think that I need it to be all about me. But when I’m right about T.J., and I will be, you’ll be the one apologizing to me.”
Izzy stalked out of the kitchen.
Skye stood by the sink, feeling sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to fight with her sister. It wasn’t right. But Izzy had always been the one guys went for. Her appeal to men defined her. So to have Skye steal some of the spotlight, even on such a tiny scale, had to bother her.
She left the kitchen and started toward the stairs. Her father called her.
“The party went well,” Jed said, coming out of his study. “You and T.J. got along.”
“Not even subtle, Dad,” she said. “He’s a nice man and we’ve been on one date. We’re not engaged.” Nor were they likely to be, she thought, knowing she didn’t need any more heartache in her life. There had been enough already. And falling in love was only an invitation for more.
“No one’s talking about you getting engaged,” he said.
“Not in public, but we all know you have big plans to sell me again.”
“Harsh language, baby girl. I’m only looking out for you.”
If only that were true, she thought.
“Are you?” she asked. “Then you won’t mind telling me what T.J. has that you want so badly?”
Her father’s easy smile faded and his expression tightened. “Be careful, Skye. There are consequences for screwing with me.”
His cold voice combined with the threatening words drained all the strength and will from her. She could barely remain standing. Even after he returned to his study, she felt weak and afraid.
Without wanting to, she remembered being ten years old. It had been a good day, a happy day. The sun was bright. That’s what she recalled. The play of sunlight on the bathroom tiles.
Every day when she got home from school, she raced upstairs to her mother’s rooms. Only her. Izzy stayed in the kitchen with the housekeeper, but Skye flew into Pru’s room.
“I’m home, Mom,” she called. “Did you miss me?”
Pru would be on the bed or in the chair in the corner. She would always look up and smile and say she’d missed Skye more than anything. Even on the dark days when the smiles didn’t seem right, she said the words as if she meant them. As if she loved Skye more than anything.
But on that last day, Pru hadn’t been in her usual places. And deep inside, Skye had known something was scary wrong.
She’d walked into the bathroom. The first thing she saw was light on the tiles. Then she saw the letter…addressed to her. She’d picked it up and read.
He doesn’t love me, Skye. Jed doesn’t love me. No matter what I do or how I try, he doesn’t love me at all.
That was it. Those few words. Skye had read them again and again, not understanding but getting more scared by the minute.
It was only then she noticed the sweet sickly smell of blood in the room. Terrified but unable not to look, she approached the bathtub.
Pru lay inside, fully dressed and covered with blood. She’d slit both her wrists. Her face was so peaceful-that had been Skye’s last thought before she’d started to scream.