Ewan leaned in toward her and she batted her lashes now and then, lowering her head and offering a shy, even rueful, smile. No doubt about it. Penelope knew how to flirt. Ewan was tall like most of the O’Kelley men, with dark hair and, despite his baby face, looked like he was ready to pounce tonight.
“Who needs another drink?” I said, walking further into the room.
Cullen shifted his gaze up and held my eyes with his own. My heart skipped. I was so happy to have him home again. I tried not to think about the next business trip. There was always one looming off in the distance, threatening to rain on my parade.
“I do. I do,” said Penelope. I carried the wine bottle over to her and topped her up.
Cullen took a long swallow, emptying his beer, and wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling me in. “Would ye be after comin’ out from behind the cooker for a while? Enjoy yerself already. Our guests will never leave if ye don’t quit with the booze and the food.”
I placed the palm of my hand on his cheek and rose up on my toes to kiss him. I could never stop touching him. We’d spent the entire evening before in bed, trying new and exciting variations of the same old dance, only to finish and begin again. That was the upside to all his travel—the insatiable appetite for one another.
“Yes, I’m almost done,” I said, popping a wedge of cheese in my mouth and returning to the kitchen.
My cat sat on the counter, peering out the window. “Daphne, what are you doing up there?”
The timer went off and I pulled the hot tray of appetizers from the stove and set them on top.
“You’re not allowed up there.”
She eyed me warily, licked her paw, and then returned to whatever had held her attention.
I leaned over the sink to join her. The yard was dark and quiet. It was eight p.m. and almost everyone was already here. To the right, the outside light flickered, probably needed a new bulb. I could see our guest’s cars —all except for the ones up close to the house.
“There’s no one there, silly. Get down,” I said, shooing Daphne.
Something moved and caught my eye. It was off to the right, standing amongst the silhouettes of trees and bushes by the drive.
I jerked back in surprise. A figure stood by a tree in the yard, about thirty feet away. The shadows covered him so well that I couldn’t make out any of his features, save his height. He looked to be average, but there was really nothing to compare him to out there. He stood there for just a moment, barely discernible, and then stepped back, disappearing into the shadows cast by trees on the far side of the yard. Whoever it was, Daphne didn’t like him and she usually got along with everyone.
Backing up from the window, I took off the oven mitts and returned them to their hook. I was probably imagining things, but I’d go tell Cullen anyway.
TWENTY-SIX
“A
re you done in there, love?” Cullen called.
“Yes,” I said, returning to the living room. “And you’re cleaning up, ‘cause I’m officially off duty.”
He nuzzled my neck. “Now, now…the dishes will keep til mornin’ when ye’re back on duty.”
I smacked his hard muscled behind. “Very funny.” I turned to look around the room. “Did anyone leave?”
He sat forward, clasping his empty beer bottle loosely between his fingers. “Not that I know of.” He paused to look around the room. “Why?”
“I don’t know. It was probably nothing, but I thought I saw somebody out the window. Where’d Liam go?” I asked.
“Washroom,” Penelope answered, and popped a wedge of Gouda cheese into her mouth.
“And where’s Leslie?”
“Maybe she’s with Liam in the loo.” Ewan chuckled.
“Don’t worry so much, love. It was probably just Bert. He’s due any minute,” Cullen whispered in my ear.
“Oh, I didn’t know he was popping by.” I didn’t feel particularly convinced, but he was probably right.
“Somebody miss me?” Liam said, coming around the corner.
“Yes. I was. Those appetizers are ready. I put them on the table over there if you’re still hungry,” I said, directing my gaze at Liam.
“Ye’re so good to me. Why, if ye weren’t marryin’ me own brother…”
“Oh, for the love of God, cut it out,” I pleaded. “I cannot listen to the two of you banter again.”
“Well then, ye’ll just have to stop bein’ so irresistible, Aeval,” Cullen said, raising his glass to his brother. “Do ye want another pint, man?”
“No. That last one is sittin’ heavy. I’ll pour myself a cup of tea in a bit,” Liam answered, picking up one of the family photos off the mantle. “Was this taken in Vermont?”
Cullen, now headed for the kitchen, glanced back and squinted. “Yer memory’s gone, old man. That was taken six years ago in Montreal on our annual family ski trip.”
“Why did we stop doing that, anyway? Don’t think Da could make it down the mountain anymore. I probably couldn’t either for that matter.”
“Perhaps we'll have to test that theory,” Cullen said, disappearing into the kitchen as the doorbell rang. “That must be Bert,” he added, just as it swung open with a thud.
“What the hell is all over your truck, Cullen, man? Did you hit something on the way home from the airport?” Bert asked.
“No. Why?”
“Ye better come outside then and see this.”
I set down my wine, a strange sense of dread settling in. I reached for my shoes just as Penelope came out of the bathroom.
“Let’s start a dance party.”
“Not right now,” I said, pulling on my coat.
“What’s the matter with you?” Penelope demanded, hips swaying to the music. She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me.
“I don’t know yet,” I said and stalked outside after Cullen and Bert.
“Wait for me,” she protested.
“What is that?” I murmured. My eyes were already riveted to the windshield of Cullen’s Landrover in the drive.
Outside, the moon was bright and alive. Some of the guests trickled out behind me, as the music from inside spilled into the cool air. Someone must have flicked the outside light on because a spotlight suddenly illuminated the red goo that was covering Cullen’s windshield and hood.
“What the hell is that?” Cullen whispered.
“Is it paint?” Liam asked, bursting past me.
“Jaysus. No. Sophia, go back inside,” Cullen said.
“What? No. What’s the matter?” I couldn’t even bring myself to ask it out loud: had somebody been murdered in our driveway?
“It’s blood,” Ewan said gently, coming up behind us.
“Ooh, this is creepy, and kind of exciting,” Penelope said.
“Penelope, seriously.”
“Cullen? Look at this,” Liam called from off in the distance. He’d walked toward the trees.
Cullen and Bert turned and followed him and I inched forward with Penelope tight to my side.
Bert relaxed. “It’s just a badger.”
Cullen nodded, bending down. “Yeah, but it’s dead.”
“Probably some bored little buggers out pullin’ pranks on a Friday night,” Ewan called.
“But we’re in the country?” Penelope questioned, leaning into Ewan.
“There are kids in the country. They probably picked up some roadkill and thought it would be funny to smear it on Cullen’s truck.”
“No,” Cullen whispered, stalking back toward the house. “That badger had its throat slit.”
Now that Cullen had a direction, he picked up his pace, heading for the side of the house. He pulled the hose free and water burst from the nozzle to cover the truck. Red-tinted water dripped off the hood.
“Who would do that?” I whispered. My voice sounded uncertain.
Cullen practically growled Nick’s name, and threw the hose to the side. I could tell he was trying hard to control the fury that pulsed throug
h him.
“Can we go inside now?” Penelope asked. Her arm shook at my side.
“Yes, let’s go!” Ewan said.
I swayed, still shivering from the chill in the air—or maybe it was just my nerves.
I could hear the boys talking as they followed us in.
Leslie and two of Cullen’s cousins were milling around the kitchen, waiting wide-eyed.
“What happened?” Leslie asked anxiously. “I go upstairs for a sweater and the party disappears.”
“Sophia’s crazy ex gave Cullen’s truck a new coat of paint,” Penelope said.
Leslie’s shoulders released. “Oh, is that all? I thought someone had been murdered out there.”
“It’s a little more serious than a new paint job,” I said.
“Well, after what you did to that poor waiter, I’m pretty sure we’ll be okay.”
I jabbed her with an elbow. “Very funny. Are you ever going to let me live that down?” I turned to Cullen as he came into the room. “Should we report this?”
He arched a brow. “What, that we think your ex killed an animal and smeared it on my truck?”
The corner of Leslie’s lip curled in disgust. I gave her a see-this-is-serious look and then shifted back to Cullen, nodding my head. “Yes…it couldn’t hurt.”
He was still annoyed but he was trying very hard to be patient. He sighed. “We can’t prove anythin’.”
I had the urge to say that I didn’t really believe Nick was capable of killing an animal. Despite his ferocious temper, he’d always been such an animal lover—but now wasn’t the time. Besides, how well had I ever really known him?
“Where’s Liam?”
We looked around; Liam wasn’t among us.
“Maybe he’s in the washroom again,” I suggested.
“Nope,” Ewan said, coming out from the hall. “Not unless he’s suddenly invisible.”
“I didn’t see him come in. Maybe he’s still outside,” I said, heading for the door.
“Ye stay put. Leslie, don’t let her out of yer sight.” Cullen’s eyes moved away from me. “Bert, Ewan, let’s go look for my brother.”
They headed out the door and I started to put my coat and boots back on.
“Sophia, what are you doing?” Penelope asked.
“I’m not staying in here. Leslie, get your stuff on. He said you had to stay with me.”
Leslie smiled and pulled her coat on. “Semantics. I love it.”
Just as we reached the badger’s carcass, we saw Cullen and Bert about ten feet away.
They’d just made it to Liam who was laying face down.
TWENTY-SEVEN
He was breathing. That was all anyone knew. Cullen went with him in the ambulance while the rest of the gang stayed with me, under strict orders not to leave me alone.
I was cold and numb. I hadn’t wanted to believe that Nick would hurt a poor, innocent animal, but now something had happened to Liam. Clearly this was more than just a prank, and the only person I could think of who might want to hurt me or someone I loved was Nick.
“Maybe he tripped and hit his head?” Penelope suggested.
“Maybe,” I agreed. “Accidents happen, but unless badgers are suicidal and into rubbing their blood all over vehicles, it does seem like an odd coincidence.”
Gripping my glass of wine, I walked into the living room and fell into one of the comfortable chairs, exhausted. Leslie followed.
A phone rang and Leslie and I both jumped. I craned my neck to see whose it was.
Ewan answered his phone, listened, then said. “He’s on his way to the hospital.”
Leslie gave me a perplexed look and I shrugged.
“…the info line at the hospital. Sorry, Móraí, you know as much as we do then. We haven’t spoken to either of them since they left,” he said. He cupped the phone. “It’s Móraí. She said Cullen texted Uncle John on the way and now he’s not answering.”
“He’s probably inside now and distracted,” I said.
He rolled his eyes at me and nodded, uncovering the phone and addressing Móraí once again. “No one knows anythin’. No, don’t go to the hospital. You’ll just sit around, and Cullen’s already doin’ that. Stop callin’ the hospital’s patient-information line,” he went on. “Cullen said he’d call us.”
“Tell her he was stable before he left. He was just unconscious,” I cut in.
“Yeah, that was Sophia. Yes, everyone is fine. Exactly,” Ewan added. “Stable is good...”
Ewan hung up the phone and chugged his beer.
“Móraí is breathin’ fire.”
“We could tell,” I said dryly.
“What do you think, Sophia? Do you think Nick would do this?” Leslie asked.
“Who is this Nick person you guys keep mentionin’?” Ewan asked.
“Sophia’s ex,” Leslie answered.
“It does seem like there’s a good chance that it is,” I whispered, taking another sip of my wine. “I’m kind of scared.”
“I know, babe, but Liam is going to be all right and when he wakes up and identifies Nick, they can go arrest him. Then he won’t be able to bother you anymore.”
“What if they can’t find him?” I said.
“Ugh, I need a coffee. And I think I should stay with you a little longer. I’m going to cancel my flight tomorrow.”
“No, no. You don’t have to do that. I mean, I want you here but it's better you’re not in danger. Besides, they expect you back at work.”
“Well, I have holidays left. I’ll just take them now.”
“No, you’re saving them for the wedding. I’d rather have you here then.” I managed a faint smile to show her I was okay. “You can’t spend the rest of your life babysitting me. That’s Cullen’s job now.”
We both laughed despite the awful situation and I stood to put coffee on.
***
Liam looked good when he walked through the door a couple of hours later.
“Liam!” I whispered, carefully hugging him. He hugged me back with surprising strength.
Cullen was behind him. I allowed Liam to come in and sit down before I started in. Leslie was quick to follow, handing him a blanket.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Relax, babe,” Cullen said, handing Liam a glass of water before sitting down beside me. “Give him a minute.”
Liam took a sip and swallowed a pill. “Everyone started to walk away and just as I turned to follow, I thought I heard somethin’ over by the tree. I thought maybe there was someone else in the woods with us....”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked. “One of the boys could have gone with you.”
“I don’t know. I figured I could handle it. Plus, you weren’t that far away.” He closed his eyes for a minute, puzzled. “Then I don’t know,” he admitted. “I walked to the tree and there was no one there. Then I woke up in the hospital.”
“You didn’t see anyone, hear anyone?” I asked, trying to encourage him.
Liam was thoughtful. “No. Like I said, I walked ten feet or so. I could still hear Penelope’s laugh. Then there was the rustle of leaves and I woke with a sore head.”
“You heard leaves rustle? Like someone walking up behind you?”
“Seems like that.” Liam shrugged. “The back of my head hurts, that’s for sure.”
“So, someone hit you from behind,” I said, disappointed.
“We think maybe we interrupted whoever was out there,” Cullen added.
He broke off. His gaze fell on me—not with accusation, but with a look of knowing.
I glanced at Cullen, and then turned back to Liam. “I just have trouble believing Nick would do this.”
Cullen swallowed. “Well, who else has a grudge against us?”
Leslie looked at Liam. “And they just let you out of the hospital? You could have a concussion.”
�
��I don’t,” Liam said defensively.
“They wanted to keep him overnight for observation but he wouldn’t stay, so I promised to take him home and watch him tonight,” Cullen said. “And the garda said they’re going to try to track down Nick and see if his alibi checks out.”
I inhaled and exhaled slowly. “If it is Nick, I just don’t feel like he’ll go away. What do we do?”
Liam stood and walked to the fireplace, picking up the family skiing portrait once again.
“Maybe we could all go away for a bit. If ye’re not here, then he’ll go home.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
The snow was falling once again in large, heavy flakes. The mountain air stung with pinpricks of ice and tasted of pine as I pulled it into my lungs. There was nothing like the great outdoors.
Pointing my pink-and-silver skis down the hill at the expanse of white, I hung there for a moment, enjoying the silence. Nearly four kilometers below lay the dark outline of the chalet we’d rented; across to the west were the irregular lumps and bumps of the mountain range.
There was a faint hissing behind me. I turned, realizing it was only Cullen’s skis as he came over the ridge. He cruised to an elegant stop beside me. In contrast to my fashionably girly ski suit, he wore black. The afternoon sun reflected off his oversized goggles, giving off a kaleidoscopic flare. We stood still, sharing the moment, before he removed his goggles to reveal those fiery green eyes I’d fallen in love with.
“This is great. I wish I got out to do this more.”
“Yeah. It’s too bad Liam and your parents couldn’t join us.”
“I never asked them.”
“You didn’t? How come?”
“Because sometimes I just want ye all to myself.”
“Well, what do you say we head back to the chalet so you can have me?”
Cruel Fortunes Omnibus: Volumes One to Four Page 36