by Karen Kelley
Darcy nodded. “He remembered enough to know that he’s here to protect me.” She frowned. “But I don’t think that’s right because I don’t have any enemies.”
“Have you had sex with him?”
Her face felt as though it were on fire.
“Oh, Darcy. Whatever will we do with you? This has to be some kind of prank. Maybe an ex-boyfriend is setting you up.”
“But we have the same mark. Surlock said our whole race has the same mark.”
Jennifer grabbed a throw pillow and pulled it over her face, making some kind of muffled noise that sounded a lot like a groan. She tossed the pillow away. It rolled end over end and fell off the bed, landing on the floor with a dull thud.
“Darcy, he could’ve had a rose tattooed on his ass. Did you really look at it?”
Darcy’s forehead wrinkled. “Not up close. From what I saw, it looked the same.” Was it all a setup? Okay, maybe she could have pissed off a couple of people, who just might set her up because they were really bored, and had more time on their hands than they knew what to do with.
“I wouldn’t put anything past that bitch Amy. Remember how her boyfriend dumped her, then turned around, and asked you out in front of her. She definitely had sparks flying out her eyes.”
That seemed to be happening to Darcy a lot lately—men asking her out in front of their current girlfriend. Jarrod, Amy’s boyfriend, then Peter. She shook her head. “But there’s more.”
“Pray tell.” Jennifer’s words dripped sarcasm.
“We’ve shared dreams.”
One of Jennifer’s perfectly tweezed eyebrows shot upward. “Shared dreams,” she repeated. “I have so got to hear this one.”
“It’s just what I said. We’ve shared dreams.”
“Explain.”
Darcy thought back. “The first time I knew what he’d dreamed. It was about a wolf.”
Jennifer suddenly sat up, her eyes wide. “You’re joking, right?”
Darcy shook her head, and goose bumps popped up on her arms. “No, why?”
“This is really weird. I had a dream about a wolf the other night.”
That was too strange. What if it was all connected—wait, something was wrong. She stared at Jennifer, who was looking way too innocent. “No, you didn’t. You’re lying.”
“But I did. I dreamed I was … running. And you?”
Could she have had the same dream? “It almost felt as if I was one with the wolf.”
“That’s exactly the way it was for me.”
There was something about Jennifer that didn’t quite ring true. Darcy didn’t trust her. “And then there was this big mountain lion.”
“It scared the hell out of me when it showed up out of nowhere,” Jennifer said.
“Caught ya! There was no mountain lion.”
Jennifer shrugged and lay back again. “See how easy it would be to make believe we had shared the same dream? Surlock probably did the same thing.”
“I don’t think so. There’s more. He has a humming in his ears that turns to screaming. I had the same thing when I was young. My mother took me to all kinds of doctors until I finally told her it had stopped. Eventually it did.”
“It all sounds a little too weird if you ask me. Besides, if this is a setup, and Surlock wanted to find out more about you, it wouldn’t have been too hard to discover that your mom had taken you to a bunch of doctors when you were a kid because you heard humming noises.”
“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” Darcy slid off the bed and walked to the window. She saw Surlock going inside the guest house and wondered where he’d been.
It wasn’t a setup, all of it a lie just so someone could get even. He did have amnesia. He did. She closed her eyes and thought back to when she’d first hit him over the head. Maybe he’d faked amnesia, too. The bump on his head had been real. He couldn’t fake that. Great, now she was starting to question everything.
She turned back and glared at Jennifer. “It’s real. I feel connected to him. It’s hard to explain.” That was it in a nutshell. She did feel connected to Surlock, as if they shared something that no one else shared. Jennifer always questioned everything. Why should Darcy think this time would be any different?
“Just be careful,” Jennifer told her with a sigh. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Someone tapped on the door.
“Come in,” Darcy called out.
The door eased open and Annette looked inside. “Ms. Abernathy told me to come up,” she said, looking at Jennifer, then back to Darcy. “You have company. I’ll come back some other time.”
Darcy hurried over. “No, come in. I want you to meet Jennifer. Jennifer is my best friend, who never ever comes to the country, but she made an exception for Peter’s party.”
Annette seemed to hunker down inside herself. “I probably should go so you can visit with your friend.”
“Nonsense.” The girl was really feeling out of her element. “Jennifer loves my new hairdo. Annette was the one who cut and styled it. She’s wonderful with hair. In fact, she has her own shop in town.”
“Really?” Jennifer ruffled her hair. “Do you think you would have time to do something with mine? I mean, before Peter’s party. I’m going as a snake and would love something dramatic.”
“That’s it!” Darcy laughed. “We’ll each go as an animal, or in your case, a reptile. It will be great fun.”
“I can do makeup, too,” Annette shyly put in. She studied Jennifer for a moment. “What if I put a bright red streak in it? One that will wash out, of course.”
“I love it,” Jennifer said. “It sounds so wicked. Wait until you see my costume. It’s sexy as hell.” She jumped off the bed and went to the suitcase that had been placed on a luggage rack. After she opened it, she pulled out a long black-and-gold leotard that had more cutouts than material.
“Wow, that’s—” Annette looked at Darcy.
“Skimpy,” Darcy finished.
“I call it my get-laid costume.” Jennifer grinned.
Annette nodded. “Have you got another one in there that I can borrow?”
They laughed, but Darcy had a feeling Annette might have been serious.
“Follow me. I have a ton of costumes.” Darcy led the way to her bedroom and swung open the door to her closet.
“Oh, my goodness,” Annette breathed. “This is almost as big as my whole house.” She wandered inside, her eyes trying to take in everything.
“Annette is interested in Peter, so we have to make sure he notices her,” Darcy said.
“Our Peter?” Jennifer asked.
Darcy nodded. “He went into her salon and had her cut his hair.”
“Our Peter?”
“The one and only.”
“Do you think it means something?” Annette asked.
Jennifer grinned. “Oh, yes, it definitely means he’s interested in you. We have got to find something really fantastic for you to wear.”
“I like sequins. But on second thought, maybe not too sexy. I usually wear pantsuits.”
Jennifer winked at Darcy. “Oh, yes, we’ll make sure we stay conservative.”
Annette breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.” She wandered back to the row of costumes.
Jennifer and Darcy looked at each other, then smiled knowingly. Darcy had a feeling Jennifer’s idea of conservative would not be quite what Annette had in mind. Not that Darcy would let Jennifer get too wild, but it was a masked ball and they were so much fun. They still had all week to convince Annette that if she wanted to grab Peter’s attention, then she had to go for a totally different look.
The afternoon slipped by as they tried on different costumes. As much as Darcy enjoyed having Annette and Jennifer there, she missed Surlock. She had to admit, she was sort of glad when Annette said she needed to get back to her salon for an appointment.
“You’re dying to go to him,” Jennifer said as they waved good-bye to Annette.
“Who?”
; “The gardener, who else?” Jennifer drolly replied.
“Very funny.”
“I could say the same thing.”
“I am trying to discover his identity. I actually have a job.”
Jennifer shuddered. “I’ll never understand your fixation with being a private investigator.”
“Don’t you get bored with all the parties? There’s no substance in our lives.”
“I’m actually going to start my own business, so there.”
Darcy’s eyes widened. “Really? You?”
Jennifer frowned. “You don’t think I can?”
“It’s not that. I’m just surprised you would go to that much trouble.”
“I’m not, really. Daddy’s hired people to do all the financial stuff. And don’t go giving me that you-know-everything look. I’ve always wanted to be a party planner. At least something good will come from all the parties I’ve attended. Peter has been the only one who could actually throw a decent one.”
“You’re really starting your own business?” Darcy asked, with more than a little amazement.
She shrugged. “Celebrities start businesses all the time. Daddy has skads more money than most of them.” She suddenly grinned. “It will be fun. We’re going to start with one showroom that will display what I plan to do. You’ll come to the launch party in a few months, of course.” She gave Darcy a saucy wink. “You’re not the only one who wants to put her stamp on life.”
“I guess not. I’m proud of you.” Not that she thought Jennifer would actually be doing any real work. She would have most of it done for her. Still, she was making an effort.
“I told Peter I would help him with the details of his party. It will be good practice. Want to go with me?”
“Well… I…”
Jennifer held up her hand. “Of course, you don’t want to go with me. You’ve been away from Surlock all afternoon.” She grimaced. “Just remember what I said. Don’t trust him completely. He might just be after your money.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Darcy watched as Jennifer left, then hurried through the house, and out the back door. She looked up when Surlock stepped out from the French doors.
“I missed you,” he said.
All of her doubts immediately vanished. Maybe she had been a little gullible in the past, but not this time. He could have faked amnesia and the birthmark, but he couldn’t fake the dreams that bound them together, or the humming in her ears, or the fact that she felt an incredible bond with him.
She ran the rest of the way and threw her arms around his neck. “I missed you, too.” God, she wanted this man so badly, she ached deep inside her belly.
He kissed her, taking her to new heights. Her body tingled with the pleasure he created inside her. When the kiss ended, she laid her head against his chest and heard the erratic beat of his heart and knew he wasn’t immune to what they’d just shared.
“What spell have you cast over me?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same thing.” She laughed lightly.
“My mother and sisters cast spells. Once, my mother made sure my brother was celibate for days.” He chuckled as he softly ran his fingers up and down her back. “He was careful not to anger her again.”
Darcy tried to stay as quiet as she could, letting Surlock talk. She didn’t think he realized that he was remembering.
His hand stilled. “I have a mother and sisters.” He spoke barely above a whisper.
She leaned back and looked into his face, smiling. “It’s just like the doctor said, your memory will return. You only have to give it a little time.”
He stepped out of her arms, lost in thought, and walked back inside the guest house. She followed.
“I think I have three sisters.” He turned back around and faced her. “I think they’re very bossy, too.”
She smiled back. “And they cast spells.” Her smile dropped. “They cast spells?”
He nodded. “To the gods and goddesses.”
“Gods and goddesses,” she mumbled. Her eyes suddenly widened as she let it all sink in. “Where the hell are you from?”
“Symtaria, I think.”
She began to walk back and forth across the room. “Except it doesn’t exist. And your family prays to gods and goddesses. What are they? Gypsies? Modern-day witches? This is getting really strange, Surlock.”
“Yes, I think I do pray to the gods and goddesses. You don’t?”
“I pray to God. Just one.” Oh, Lord, her parents weren’t religious fanatics, but they’d always told her that they would like her to marry a nice Baptist boy.
“Darcy, are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Does it matter who we pray to as long as we are good people?”
It wasn’t like they were going to marry, so Surlock’s religion didn’t really enter into the equation. Right? “No, it doesn’t matter at all.” Then why did she have a feeling it would matter a lot someday?
Hadn’t she once wondered if he might have an obnoxious family or something? She’d rather face obnoxious than to explain to her parents that Surlock and his family were practicing witches or gypsies.
Drat, even if nothing came from this relationship, she wanted her parents to like Surlock as much as she did.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“That it might be a good thing to keep your religious beliefs to yourself for now. Not that I disapprove or anything, but it might just be easier all around. Most people wouldn’t understand.” And she hadn’t thought she could feel any worse.
“If you think it’s best.”
“I do.”
There was a tapping on the door. They moved out of each other’s arms. Darcy went to the French doors and opened them. “Ms. Abernathy, did you need something?”
Ms. Abernathy looked between the two of them, then pursed her lips. “Your mother called. She said she hasn’t heard from you in a few days. I told her I would have you call her right back.”
Cripes, why hadn’t she called her mom first? Darcy glanced at Surlock, then turned her attention back to the housekeeper. “You didn’t mention … uh—”
Ms. Abernathy squared her shoulders and sniffed loudly. “No, I didn’t, but I think you’d better. It’s not right keeping things from your mother.”
Sheesh, more drama. “I’ll tell her.”
“And you’ll call her? I told her it wouldn’t be more than a few minutes.” She glanced at her watch. “You should call her soon.”
“I will.” She shooed the housekeeper from the room. “I’ll call her from here.”
“And you’ll tell her about”—she lowered her voice—“him.”
“Surlock. His name is Surlock. Yes, I’ll tell her.”
“I know his name,” she whispered. “Just because he can play the piano like an angel, you should still be careful.”
“Okay, okay.” Darcy shut the door.
“I don’t blame her for not completely trusting me,” Surlock said after the housekeeper left.
“She needs to get over it.” She went to the sofa and sat down, reaching for the phone. Still, Darcy hesitated. What exactly was she going to tell her mother? That she really felt drawn to this man whose whole family worshipped gods and goddesses?
“Prince,” Surlock suddenly said.
“What?”
“I think that’s part of my name. It’s familiar.”
Excitement fluttered through her. Another piece of the puzzle. “Surlock Prince,” she tested the sound. It didn’t really go together. “At least we have a last name. It should prove easier to find out exactly who you are and where you come from.” And why his whole family worshipped gods and goddesses.
She called her mom and waited. The phone rang only once before her mother answered.
“Darcy, are you all right? You haven’t called.”
“I’m fine, Mom. I’ve just been busy.”
“Busy? Doing wha
t?”
“Well, Surlock is staying in the guest house.”
“Surlock who?”
Darcy bit her bottom lip. She had a feeling this was going to be a long conversation. “Surlock Prince. You know, I mentioned him to you. The guy you’re supposed to meet when you and daddy arrive. And Peter is home and planning a huge party. And Jennifer is here, too.” Thank goodness she’d filled the fake boyfriend slot.
“Jennifer is there, too?”
“Yes, Mom.” Darcy heard her mother’s sigh of relief.
“Tell me about this young man.”
She really hated lying to her mom. “Surlock?” she hedged.
“Yes, dear, I already know all about Peter.”
“Peter likes Surlock.”
“Which tells me absolutely nothing. I know he covered for you when you broke that window. You were what? Twelve. I haven’t completely trusted him since.”
“You know about the window?” Wow, all this time and Darcy had thought she’d gotten away with breaking it.
“Yes, dear, I’m your mother. It’s my job. Now tell me about this young man.”
“He’s wonderful, Mom. You should hear him play the piano. You’d think he was a professional. He brought tears to Ms. Abernathy’s eyes.”
“He’s musical?”
Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes. Absolutely wonderful.”
“Who are his parents?”
Almost home free. “They’re from Sweden.” She said a silent prayer for forgiveness. “Very upper crust.”
“Are they Baptist?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Well, no matter. Your father and I will meet your young man soon enough.”
Darcy swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Meet him?”
“Yes, we’re leaving the city early. Your father is quite exhausted and needs a vacation. We’ll be there next week.”
Darcy looked toward Surlock. He had his back to her as he stared out the window. “That’s great. I can’t wait to see you both.”
“We’ll have to plan a party. I just hate that we have to miss Peter’s.”
“His are so big, though,” she quickly reminded her mother. “You know how you hate crowds.”
“You’re so right. We’ll just have a small get-together. Not more than twenty or so of our closest friends. What do you think about prawns and those cheese puffs I so adore for appetizers?”