by Lori Wilde
“Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not putting you down. You’re a wonderful daughter, and you’ve accomplished so much. You’ve started your own business and it’s thriving. You’re about to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in Texas, who just happens to be a really nice person as well. People are going to be talking about this wedding for years to come.”
Using the curling iron, Honey pointed to Delaney’s framed “ugly duckling” picture she encouraged her to keep on her dresser as a reminder not to slip up and go off her diet. “See how far you’ve come. You were a size eighteen in that picture, and now look at you, a perfect size four. I’m so proud.”
“Uh-huh,” Delaney muttered. “That’s what I thought. As long as I stay thin I have your approval, but let me dare to gain weight, and I risk losing your love. Gotta tell you, Mother, conditional love doesn’t feel so swell.”
Honey had to bite down on her tongue to keep from lecturing her about mumbling and saying “uh-huh” and “gotta.” Truth be told, her feelings were hurt. How could her own daughter misunderstand her intentions so completely?
“There.” She forced a smile. “All done.”
“Thank you.” Delaney unplugged the flatiron and headed into the adjoining bathroom.
Suddenly feeling exhausted, Honey sank down on the bed. She thought once she’d raised Delaney to adulthood, everything would be so much easier.
But it was not.
She had imagined they would be fast friends, going shopping, calling each other several times a day, sharing fashion tips and diet recipes, and laughing together.
But they did not.
Honey thought that preparing for this wedding would be the glue that would finally bond them, that once Delaney was engaged and on the road to becoming a married woman, she would finally understand the sacrifices Honey had made. That she wanted only the very best for her.
But it had not.
If anything, the impending wedding seemed to be pushing them farther and farther apart, with Delaney growing more apathetic with each decision made. She didn’t seem to have any sort of opinion on the cake or the reception menu or the invitations. Her reaction to everything was a bland, “Whatever you like.”
What was wrong with her daughter?
The staunch reserve she’d perfected over the years slipped, and tears she hadn’t cried since losing Skylar sprang from her eyes and slid down her cheeks. In spite of trying her very best, she was a terrible mother who couldn’t love her own daughter unconditionally. God was punishing her for her lies and deceptions.
What would happen if Delaney found out about the blackmailer? What if she learned the truth?
Fear thrashed inside her. She struggled not to give in to it. She kept her hands knotted tightly in her lap, her shoulders set straight, and with catlike concentration willed the tears to stop. She was not a weak person. She was strong, she was a survivor. She and Delaney would weather this storm and come out stronger at the other end.
The tears dried on her cheeks. Yes, yes. Everything would be okay. This was fixable.
She had to believe it. Had to believe she would not lose Delaney.
Otherwise, if she dared let herself think that her surviving daughter had withdrawn from her completely, Honey would totally fall apart.
Her mother was lying, but Delaney had no idea why.
She sat parked in her Acura beside the Galveston seawall, her father’s black Bushnell binoculars resting in her lap. She stared at the amusement park sprawling out across the beach below. She couldn’t believe she was doing this—checking up on her mother.
Curiosity nibbled at her.
At ten A.M. on a Thursday, only a few tourists haunted the rides and concession stands. Lucia wasn’t expecting her until noon, when they were meeting with Lucia’s real estate agent, Margaret Krist, to discuss Delaney’s plans for the house.
She had two hours to locate the patch-eyed woman and quiz her about Honey. She’d brought cash in case the woman expected to be paid for the information. Delaney might be sheltered, but she wasn’t dumb. She watched television. She was aware of how these things worked.
The main thing keeping her butt welded to the car seat was this inbred fear of carnivals and amusement parks that her mother had instilled in her.
Stay away from carnies. Those people are scoundrels and crooks and pickpockets and thieves. They will rob you blind, and that’s if you’re lucky.
Delaney scooted over to the passenger seat, rolled down the window, propped her elbows on the sill, and raised the binoculars to her eyes. She surveyed the area for the one-eyed woman, but saw no sign of her.
This wasn’t getting her anywhere. She was going to have to face her fear, walk into that amusement park, and ask someone about the woman. Too bad confrontation made her nervous. She took a deep breath.
If you can flip off Nick Vinetti, you can do this.
Smiling, her courage bolstered by the memory, she got out of the car, tucked her purse under her arm, and strolled down the seawall toward the cement staircase leading down to the beach. Almost immediately, she realized how inappropriately she was dressed for a stroll along the shore. White silk slacks, a silk navy-blue V-necked blouse, and high-heeled sandals. What had she been thinking?
Well, when she’d dressed that morning she’d been thinking about her meeting with Lucia’s real estate agent, not a powwow with the carnival woman. It was only after talking to her mother and Honey acting so suspiciously that she had made up her mind to do this.
Carefully, Delaney picked her way down the staircase, holding tight to the railing. The minute she veered onto the walkway leading to the amusement park entrance, the wind blew sand into her open-toed shoes.
She ambled along through the grounds, trying to look casual as she studied the faces of the amusement park workers. Surprisingly, a pleasant feeling stole over her. The sound of the ocean was so peaceful, she almost forgot why she’d come.
After trailing up and down the walkway and not seeing the one-eyed woman, she realized she was going to have to ask someone if they knew her. Taking a deep breath to bolster her courage, she sidled up to the bored-looking guy manning the Whack-a-Mole. No one else was around. He leaned across the counter and leered at her as she approached.
She forced a smile. “Hello, I was hoping you could tell me where I might find someone who works here. She’s an older woman and wears an eye patch.”
“What’s it worth to you?” His look was lascivious and his gaze fixated on her mouth.
She pressed her lips together in a firm line. “I’ll give you ten dollars.”
He held out a palm.
Delaney dropped a ten-dollar bill into it.
“You’re talking about Paulette Doggett.” The man spat a stream of tobacco into the sand not far from her foot. “It’s her day off.”
“Do you have any idea where I might find Ms. Doggett?”
The leering man shrugged. “I ’magine she’s out chasing the hounds.”
“Excuse me?”
“Paulette came into a wad of cash yesterdee, and she likes betting on the greyhounds.”
“Thank you.” Grateful to be out of the man’s company, Delaney hurried away. She had two choices, go to the greyhound track and try to find Paulette in the crowd, or return to the amusement park another day. Since she had a meeting planned for noon, she chose the later option.
“Well, well, well, will surprises never cease,” said a familiar voice from behind her that made the hairs on her arms stand up. “If it isn’t Miss Rosy.”
Chapter 9
Delaney turned to find Nick Vinetti standing behind her, his grin wide and wicked. She felt a little woozy, like all the air had been leaked from her lungs.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I asked first.”
And that’s when she noticed the boys standing on either side of him. “Gina’s kids, right? Jack and Zack.�
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“We’re twins,” one of the boys said.
“I can see that.” Delaney smiled at them.
“Identical,” the other added.
“I can see that too.”
“We’re seven,” they chimed in unison, charming Delaney with their gap-toothed grins, crew cuts, and skinned elbows. She could easily imagine Nick at their age, dark-eyed and full of mischief. Although she had no idea why that image would make her chest feel all tight and knotty.
“I’m keeping them occupied while Gina and Nana are packing up Grampa Leo’s personal effects,” Nick explained. His voice sounded as tight as her chest.
Her eyes met his. “That’s got to be difficult for your grandmother.”
Nick shrugged. “Yeah, that’s why they didn’t need these little sea monkeys around. With school out for the summer, Gina didn’t have anyone to babysit, so I volunteered.”
Delaney’s heart twisted. Nick acted all macho and nonchalant, but one look at his face told her it was hard on him too, and he was happier watching the kids than being the one sorting out his grandfather’s belongings. “That was nice of you.”
“I don’t mind. Sea monkeys can be a lot of fun.”
“Hey,” Zack, or maybe it was Jack, protested. It was really tough to tell them apart. “We’re not sea monkeys.”
“You sure squirm around like sea monkeys.”
The twins made faces and jumped around, letting their arms flop loosely as if they had no bones in them. Delaney smiled. They were so cute, and Nick was adorable with them.
“How about you?” Nick asked her. “Why are you here, looking decidedly out of your element?”
She didn’t miss the gaze that he slid down her body in a disconcertingly intimate fashion, and then his eyes lingered on her inappropriate footwear. The intensity of his stare should have made her uncomfortable. Instead it ignited the sparks that had been simmering between them from the day he’d flipped her onto her back in the grass outside Evan’s building.
Delaney didn’t want to tell him the truth, so she skipped over his question. “Did your grandmother tell you that she and I are having lunch with her real estate agent to discuss the renovations and a time schedule for listing the house on the market?”
“Yeah, she told me, but that still doesn’t explain why you’re at the amusement park looking like you stepped from the pages of some fashion magazine.”
“We wanna go on the Ferris wheel.” Jack tugged on his uncle’s hand. “You promised.”
“Would you like to come with us?” Nick inclined his head toward the biggest ride in the carnival that jutted high into the cloudless blue summer sky. “Plenty of time before your lunch date. Unless you have something else going on.”
She hesitated.
He’d leaned in close, his face just to the side of hers. “Come on,” he coaxed. “Have a little fun.”
Was it her imagination, or was he standing just a bit too close and pushing just a bit too hard?
“I… I…”
“I gotcha. You’re too fancy for Ferris wheels.”
“I’m not,” she denied indignantly. He had a way of pushing her buttons.
A half smile hovered at the edges of his lips. His warm breath fell against her neck, heating her all the way through. Was he doing it on purpose? Was he trying to make her uncomfortable?
“Come on. What do you say? Please, don’t leave me alone with the sea monkeys.”
Delaney was about to refuse his invitation and then she thought, Why not? She was twenty-five years old, and she’d never been on a Ferris wheel because her mother had made her afraid of them. It was pathetic really.
He gave her such a winning smile she decided she must be reading more into his body language than he actually intended. He was a cop; crowding people was probably just second nature. Nothing personal. Right?
“Pretty please.” His grin widened.
“Well, when you put it like that, sure,” she said. “I would love to.”
The sun shone brightly on her face, and rather than worry that she hadn’t put on sunblock and was exposing herself to the risk of premature wrinkles, she simply threw back her head and laughed. Then, she stumbled over a thick extension cord running across the midway and fell against Nick’s side.
“Whoa there, Rosy,” he said and put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she chirped, feeling finer than she’d felt in a very long time. She couldn’t explain where this sudden exuberance was coming from, but it sure felt good.
Nick said nothing. He angled an odd look her way just before he bought their tickets. The twins climbed into one of the cars of the Ferris wheel ahead of them, leaving her alone in the second car with Nick. They were the only customers on the ride.
The operator lowered the restraining bar, locking them in together. He stepped over to the controls and started the ride.
The cars jerked forward.
Delaney squealed and grabbed on to Nick’s elbow.
He chuckled and slid his arm around her shoulder. “Scared of Ferris wheels?”
“Never been on one.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“My mother was a bit overprotective.”
“I’ll say. It’s not like it’s a roller coaster.”
“I’ve never been on one of those either.”
For the first time, she realized how high up they were and that they were just dangling in the air. She eyed the ground, feeling decidedly nervous. Were they supposed to be this high up? It didn’t seem right.
“Have no fear, Nick is here,” he teased. “I’ll protect you.”
Sitting so close to Nick with his arm draped around her shoulder, she felt too giddy and way too free.
“Do you have any idea how tempting you are?” he murmured and touched the simple gold hoop earring at her earlobe.
“Um.” She raised her left hand between them, flashed him her engagement right. “Just a reminder, I’m engaged.”
“So I see.” He said it with such regret in his voice. She searched his face for the emotion behind his words. His smile turned tender, wistful.
What was with him? He was acting as if he wanted to date her.
Delaney huddled into herself. His arm felt too good resting over her shoulders. She felt safe and protected. But she shouldn’t be feeling this way. It was wrong. In just over six weeks she was marrying Evan.
Around and around and around the Ferris wheel churned.
Her head spun dizzily. Her stomach clenched. She thought of all the horror stories her mother had told her over the years about carnivals and amusement parks. About people getting hurt or killed on the rides. About safety violations and bribed inspectors and drunken ride operators.
Around and around and around.
The ride seemed to be lasting forever. It wasn’t supposed to be this long, was it?
Colors were more vivid. Sounds intensified. Time stretched. What should have been only seconds felt like an hour as the rusted old bucket of bolts creaked and groaned.
She heard the twins laughing in the car ahead of them. They were having fun. This was supposed to be fun. How come she wasn’t having fun anymore?
They circled around to the bottom. This was it. The ride operator had to let them out now. She shifted, getting ready to stand up.
Get out of here and far away from Nick Vinetti.
But the ride did not stop; it whizzed on by the operator and swiftly climbed back into the sky.
Delaney’s mouth went dry. Her muscles contracted. She wrapped her fingers around Nick’s forearm.
“Stop,” she squeaked and laid a hand against his upper thigh.
“Stop?”
“You’re a cop. Do something. Stop the ride.”
“I can’t. We’re in midair.”
She peeked over at him. He was trying hard not to laugh at her. She dug her fingers deeper into his flesh. Her breathing was fast and raspy. “Get me off this thing.”
She nodded.
Nick leaned over the edge of the ride just as they were cresting the top. “Hey,” he shouted down at the operator. “We want off.”
“Thank you,” she whimpered. “Thank you very much.”
His pulled her close against him. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m sorry for laughing at you. I didn’t realize you were really scared.”
Delaney went stock-still as his chest made contact with her breasts and a surge of unwelcome desire ripped through her. His body heat warmed her and the connection of his raw, masculine power overwhelmed her. Even more unsettling, his comforting scent of nutmeg and leather invaded her brain.
She wanted him.
Desperately.
Oh, this was a terrible state of affairs.
Nick tilted her chin up, forced her to look him in the eyes. “Are you okay?”
Emotions she couldn’t deny, but had held in rigid check ever since she’d met him, surged inside her. Stunned, she could barely nod.
“You’re safe,” he murmured. “I promise.”
The thing of it was, she did feel safe. He made her feel safe. Safer than she’d ever felt with anyone. And that was far scarier than the Ferris wheel ride. She was loopy and frightened and she wanted him to kiss her even more than she wanted off this contraption.
He dipped his head toward her and she was already opening her lips. Already eager and ready for him.
He’s going to kiss me, yes, yes, yes.
But he didn’t kiss her.
Just as his lips were about to softly brush against hers, the ride stopped.
And so did Nick.
Leaving her hanging, quite literally, her mouth open and wet and wanting him.
He pulled back, raised his head, removed his arm from her shoulders, and did not look at her.
Her mind spun with sensory overload. What was happening to her? The taste of frustrated anticipation lay bittersweet in her mouth. The lonely sound of the metal bar clanking echoed in her ears. The feel of the empty space between them as he got out of the car stretched long and lonely. The smell of ocean breeze and cotton candy came rushing in to fill the void left by his leaving.