Timeless Vows: Five Tales of Love (Timeless Tales Book 4)

by Ruth A. Casie

  His chest felt like a thousand-pound moose was using it for a couch. Unfortunately, the symptoms weren’t foreign. At all. He needed to get back outside, and quick—in nature, with clean oxygen coming from the forest. It was the only place he felt any relief.

  Nikki pulled a bottle of water from the fridge next to her desk and handed it to him over the counter. “Drink this and do what you have to do.”

  And just as suddenly as it had started, the anxiety began to melt away with the first sip then guzzle of water.

  Nikki smiled, as if sensing he’d been in the throes of an attack. She was one in a million. “Better?”

  He nodded. “Will be. I’m going to walk to my place…don’t want to stink up your lobby. Leave the truck—I’ll move it later and tell the sheriff. Tara’s car needs a tow.”

  Todd slipped out the door toward the place Nikki had leased to him. An acre of her land with the half-finished log cabin—what would eventually include the office for his school.

  Branches crunched under his boots as his heartbeat slowed and he considered Tara Graham. She’d changed so much he hadn’t recognized her. No more glasses and rock band T-shirts. That dress and shoes…wow. His mouth dried thinking about her long, tan legs in those sandals. The bull didn’t know what he’d missed when he’d hightailed it into the woods.

  She hadn’t recognized him off the bat, either. Probably due to his face paint and her round with Bullwinkle. He chuckled silently at the name.

  Funny, just thinking about her sexy bare shoulder in that outfit counteracted the aftereffect of his panic attack. He let out a long breath. Aw hell, he’d have to explain his actions to Tara, or least try to later when he had his head back in the game. The wedding weekend would uncover if he were fit for civilized conversation again. Most of the time he made do with smelly guys traipsing in the woods. He was mighty rusty when it came to talking to a beautiful woman.

  Danny had always wanted to hook up with Tara, but for some reason they never had. His brother sure would’ve been better off with a person like her, instead of his lying, cheating wife, Marissa.

  Danny’s dead? Disbelief hit the pit of her stomach and Tara tried to process what Todd had said, but all she could do was stare out the windshield.

  Then her door swung open and Viv pulled her out of the truck and into a big hug. Gabe stood nearby.

  “We’re so thrilled you could make it.” Viv’s arms tightened around Tara’s shoulders.

  Viv hadn’t changed. She was still the same bubbly, happy person she’d been in college.

  The bride-to-be herded Tara into the lobby, relaying who had arrived and the activities planned. All throughout, Tara’s head spun.

  “Wait.” Tara turned back to the door. “My luggage—”

  “Don’t worry.” Gabe waved his hand. “I’ll have someone bring in your bags.”

  Would have been nice if Todd had done it. How could he just drop a bombshell like Danny dying and disappear?

  Rattled to the core, Tara approached the check-in desk and tried to focus as Viv introduced her to a lovely woman named Nikki. Tara managed to pay attention enough to learn Nikki and her husband Nate owned the inn.

  Nikki smiled with a warm welcome.

  “Um…my rental car is badly damaged. I had a moose incident.” Tara shook her head in disbelief, not wanting to relive the past half hour. “I never thought in a million years I’d get to use I and moose in the same sentence.”

  Nikki’s eyes dimmed with sympathy. “I’m sorry you were introduced to The Loon Lake Inn by a disaster, Miss Graham. Todd already filled me in. Are you okay?”

  Tara cleared her throat as Nikki handed her a room key. “I’ll be fine. Is Todd still around? I never got to properly thank him…” Her voice trailed off as Nikki tilted her head and peered at her curiously.

  “He said he had a few things to take care of.”

  “Oh, I see.” Tara bit her lip and nodded. Guess he’d found the courtesy to tell Nikki he had “things to take care of.”

  Tara swallowed a lump of anger rising in the back of her throat. Why were his actions still bothering her? So what if Todd didn’t remember her? He couldn’t be expected to match her now twenty-pound-lighter body clad in a much better wardrobe than a girl from college. But to drop her off like a stray—talk about downright rude.

  Men with no consideration were getting on her last nerve.

  “Enjoy your stay,” Nikki said with a smile.

  “What room are you in?” Viv asked.

  Tara checked her key. “Two-eighteen.”

  “It’s not far. I’ll show you.” Viv pointed to the elevator.

  “Great.” Tara fell in step behind.

  “Get settled and I’ll buzz you later,” Viv instructed. “There’s an itinerary in your room. There’s lots of stuff planned for our guests. Right, honey?” Viv motioned for Gabe, who was conversing with another guest.

  Itinerary? Tara hoped to lay low and relax until the wedding. “Sounds like fun,” she murmured, wanting to ask Viv about Danny, but knowing it’d be a buzz kill.

  “Need to finalize the musicians,” Gabe informed Viv. “See you later, Tara.” He walked away as the elevator opened.

  Tara admired the view on the way up. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, acres of green and gold trees and tons of purple lilac bushes surrounding the lake showed their magnificence.

  They exited and Viv pointed out the direction of her room. “I’m glad you fit our wedding into your busy schedule, being a famous star and everything.” Viv winked.

  “Oh please, I’m hardly that.” If only Viv knew what a failure she felt like. Star? Yeah, sure, a star without a movie. Thanks to a hidden clause in her contract she’d indeed been canned. And the gigs she’d canceled were already rebooked. So much for moving up in my career.

  * * *

  Janey wasn’t telling her the whole story.

  Tara stared at her cell phone after hanging up with her sister and bit back a curse. She’d bet her best pair of Manolos that Amanda Cleary still had her hooks in Ben and wasn’t letting him out of her sight.

  Janey, in her usual kind way, suggested Tara enjoy the wedding and that things would work out. How could things possibly work out? It wasn’t like Ben was answering his phone. Something was up.

  There wasn’t much to be done from Maine, but that didn’t stop her from worrying. Janey had no clue how horrible the paparazzi vultures could be, especially when the word got out about the affair with Ben.

  Tara tossed the cell phone onto the comforter and stretched her arms overhead. That nap and long soak in the oversized tub she’d just enjoyed helped ease the ache in her neck. Never one to be lazy, she had to admit it felt good for a change.

  According to the “wedding itinerary” there was some kind of welcome party tonight, then a nature hike tomorrow morning. Oh joy. Maybe Mr. Moose would make a guest appearance. The rehearsal tomorrow night, and the wedding ceremony on Saturday, made up the weekend’s events. Plus, couples’ bingo, shuffleboard, and a host of other activities to choose from.

  The few weddings she’d attended were mostly working gigs in her early career, and six-hour affairs at most.

  And Ben’s wedding technically didn’t count. He and Amanda eloped. And lucky her, she had stood in as a witness because she’d just happened to be doing a show at Caesars Palace in Vegas the same weekend.

  That marriage was doomed from the start. Ben refused to see it, but Amanda led him around like a marionette on a string. No wonder he’d fallen for Janey and her laid-back, trusting nature.

  Try as she might to not think the worst, the more Ben remained incommunicado, the more Tara knew Janey would wind up devastated. And then Ben Pratt would wish he’d never batted his baby blues at her baby sister.

  This is why I don’t believe in love or relationships. Nothing but one heartache after another. Better to concentrate on success and accomplishments than fleeting feelings.

  Tara checked her watch and grabbed her
wrap before heading out the door.

  She silently padded across the polished wood floor in her ballet flats toward the banquet room. The white capris and canary-yellow sheer wrap over her camisole was fashionable and more comfortable than the heels and Gucci dress she’d had on earlier.

  A few guests milled around the lobby and a couple played chess by the fireplace. Nikki waved from the front desk and Tara acknowledged the greeting, then pretended to study the stack of brochures on area attractions. In reality, she searched the area for Todd. No luck. A pang of disappointment hit her empty stomach.

  A familiar tall man stopped by the desk to converse with Nikki. When he turned around, Tara’s eyes widened.

  Morgan Stuart? The hotshot attorney had sponsored a fund-raiser fiasco she’d recently played. Oh God, how awkward. Her guitar player, Jimmy, had come down with the mumps two days before the show, and the ringer had been awful, not to mention drunk as a skunk. When he’d fallen off the stage, Tara had wanted to die of embarrassment.

  Morgan turned and Tara tried stepping away, but he’d spotted her. Damn.

  Tara smoothed down her hair and readjusted the clip at the nape of her neck. The long curls were unruly after the bath.

  “Tara?” With surprise on his face, Morgan approached and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “How have you been?”

  Guess there wasn’t a way to make a graceful exit without appearing rude. She smiled instead. “Hi, Morgan. I’m fine.” At least he hadn’t mentioned the fund-raiser. Maybe he’d forgotten. “Are you here on vacation or business?”

  “For the wedding,” he answered. “I know the groom. And you?”

  “Went to college with both Viv and Gabe way back in the day, and no I will not admit how old I am.” She smirked and he laughed.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Tara noticed an older lady sitting on a brocade chair near the fireplace giving them the stink eye. Morgan tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips. “You up to doing a favor for our friends?”

  Favor? “Um…I guess. How so?”

  “The band just canceled and Gabe is sweating bullets, trying not to ruin Viv’s plans. He wants everything to be perfect for her.”

  Of course Gabe would do everything in his power to make Viv happy. They were both so much in love. Ugh…there was that word again. Between Viv and Gabe beaming, and Janey pining over Ben, love oozed everywhere.

  But the idea of playing their wedding appealed. It’d be a nice throwback to the old days, before all the notoriety nonsense. No paparazzi, no making nice with producers or always feeling like she had to be on her game. Yeah, maybe a simple set of happy wedding music would be a nice change.

  “I’d be honored to play.” Excitement curled in her stomach. “But can you do me a favor?” At his nod she said, “I have some legal questions I’m hoping you can answer about a breach of contract for a movie I should have been shooting next week, which led to me canceling a host of shows. It’s a mess.”

  “Uh-oh. Sounds like there’s a story. Let’s head to the lounge and talk.”

  Tara allowed him to lead the way and after tucking themselves into a lounge area she caught him up to speed with everything she knew so far.

  After the talk with Morgan, Tara found the way to the party. Buffet tables sat adjacent to the pitted oak door and the DJ urged the guests to fill the dance floor.

  Gardenias, lilacs, and wildflowers bloomed in vases placed on tables and in every crevice of the room. Tara caught sight of Davina and enveloped her old friend in a hug. Learning she’d become a doctor and reminiscing helped Tara relax, which was probably why she agreed to do a shot for old times’ sake. After choking on the fiery liquid, she excused herself and ordered a seltzer with lime.

  She found a seat at a cocktail table and nibbled on boiled shrimp and crackers. The DJ played a mixture of oldies and new pop and she tapped her foot along to the music.

  “Jack with ice,” said a familiar baritone from the end of the bar.

  Her stomach flipped and she blatantly studied her old college crush. Todd still sported the five o’clock shadow from earlier, but on him the scruff worked. He’d washed off the backwoods-hunter look and donned a pair of khakis and a blue collared golf shirt tucked into a belt, showing off his flat abs.

  And, Lord, his biceps were the size of her calf muscles.

  A hint of an eagle and anchor tattoo showed at the edge of his shirtsleeve and it was sexier than anything she’d ever laid eyes on.

  The DJ turned up the music and the dance floor filled with guests swaying to the latest pop hit. Todd casually adjusted his position and surveyed the crowd, giving her a bird’s-eye view of his backside. Wow, did it suddenly get steamy in here?

  She couldn’t recall the last time any man had made her tingle all over. She downed her seltzer and promptly choked on a shrimp.

  Todd whipped around and spotted her. Grabbing his drink off the bar, his long stride ate up the distance just as she managed to inhale. He plopped his drink on the table but didn’t sit, and she was forced to tilt her head back at his height. The motion caused a jolt to her sore neck and she winced.

  “Are you still in pain from this afternoon?” His eyebrows drew down in concern.

  She couldn’t answer. Words escaped at the feel of his hands massaging the point where her shoulders blades met the curve of her neck. She forgot about why she was mad at him and turned into one big pile of mush.

  One of his hands was cold from being around the glass, and the other was scorching hot—a perfect balance for her aching neck.

  The feel of him working out the stiff kinks was just too damn enticing to tell him to stop. Again, out of the corner of her eye she spotted that old lady she’d noticed staring at them earlier. How creepy.

  Tara cleared her throat and wiggled a little so Todd would get the hint and drop his hands. “That’s…um…not necessary, but it helped. Thanks.”

  He turned the chair around and straddled it, like he didn’t have a care in the world for etiquette, just a manly, rugged way about him. The corner of his mouth lifted and he ducked his head. “It’s the least I can do for dumping you at the front door earlier. Can we start over?”

  “No.” She shook her head.

  His mouth dropped open for a second and then his lips flattened together.

  Maybe she’d better clarify before he went into brood mode again. “I will not go another round with Bullwinkle. No way, no how.”

  His mouth relaxed and his eyes twinkled. He rubbed a hand over his short hair. And yes, as she’d suspected, the color was mahogany, the same as the eyebrows above his deep blue eyes. “I didn’t mean that far back.”

  “Oh good. You had me worried for a moment,” she teased. If he were going to make amends, there was no need to be a bitch. “Sorry, but one moose encounter is enough for a lifetime, thank you very much.” She stuck out her hand. “Tara Graham. We attended the same college. It’s nice to see you again.”

  Todd barked out a laugh and shook his head, but not before he bit his bottom lip between his teeth—a swoon-worthy gesture. Girl parts tingle alert.

  “Todd Mitchell. It’s a pleasure to see you, too, Ms. Graham. You look lovely and so different from college.” He turned her hand over in his large one and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles and Tara was glad to be sitting. Her knees would have surely given out if not. Such a formal gesture, but the sensations made her feel like they were the only two in the room.

  “Mr. Mitchell, I’m not sure how to take that statement, but I’ll put it in the compliments column.”

  “Insert foot in mouth, huh?”

  Tara hated to ruin their light banter but she needed to ask about Danny. Her smile fell as she gently pulled her hand away.

  Understanding registered in his eyes. “I know,” he said quietly in answer to her unspoken question. He took a sip of his drink. “Danny.” With his long sigh, it seemed the world had dumped itself onto his broad shoulders. “You want to take a walk in the garden? It’s kinda l
oud in here.”

  “Sure,” she agreed, curious about Danny, but also wanting to ease whatever hurt was going on inside of him. That hard exterior she’d witnessed earlier was gone.

  Todd’s chest loosened as soon as he opened the patio doors—the silence a welcome change from the pounding music of the ballroom. He directed them through the gardens and toward the gazebo. When his fingers grazed Tara’s trim waist at the small of her back, a tinge of heat sliced into his palm. The faint hint of her perfume hit his nose and he couldn’t help himself; he leaned closer. The riot of chestnut curls reaching the middle of her back smelled like berries, fresh and sexy at the same time.

  He motioned to one of the wooden benches set out for the wedding ceremony.

  “Is this where the wedding will be?” she asked, looking around.

  He sat next to her. “That’s the plan. I need to finish a few things, but a late delivery slowed me down.”

  “Everything looks good to me.” She smiled faintly, yet questions about Danny clearly showed on her face.

  His gut clenched. Was he ready to talk?

  Their flirting sure helped ease the tight coil of grief winding through his insides like a constant vise. Gabe had mentioned she was some sort of famous award-winning recording star. Not that she acted like it. The few famous people he’d met while traveling the world with the Corps were snotty and aloof.

  Todd cleared the lump in his throat. “Danny’s been gone a little over six months and it’s still really raw for me to talk about.”

  His breath came out in a whoosh. He’d never uttered those exact words to anyone. It was like admitting his weakness, when all he ever did was hide behind his size and strength.

  Maybe it was the way she turned toward him to give him her full attention, or the distress he saw reflected in her eyes that had him confessing. She showed genuine concern, not pity.

  “Todd, if I would’ve known, I’d never have been so flippant. I’m so sorry.” Her eyes dropped to her lap.

  Guilt hit the pit of his stomach like a brick. She was apologizing? Now he felt like more of an ass for his actions. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bolted on you earlier.”