Raising her face to his, she whispered, “The queen would like a kiss to go with her hug.”
Alex’s breath caught. His pulse hammered in his throat. “Are you sure?” he asked.
Nodding, she raised a gentle hand to his cheek. Alex lowered his lips slowly toward hers for their first kiss. Just before their lips met, Shep came bounding across the meadow. The dog thrust his head between them and licked their faces with wild abandon.
Gurgling with laughter, Phoebe pushed the dog away. “Not quite the kiss I expected, but it was definitely a kiss. A big, sloppy one.”
Alex laughed and tugged Shep’s ears. “You old rascal of a dog, you have horrible timing.”
Shep wiggled and capered. Suddenly, a raven flew out of a pine tree. Shep whined and buried his head in Phoebe’s skirt.
Stroking the dog’s neck, she asked, “What makes Shep so jumpy?”
Alex ran a hand over his dog’s back. “He was abused before I got him.”
“Did you find him at a shelter?”
He shook his head. “I was visiting my brother’s office, and one of his coworkers brought Shep in to work. She had rescued him, and when she found out that I didn’t have a dog, she put his leash in my hands before I could protest.”
“That lady sounds like my friend Crystal.” Phoebe laughed. “Cris is always rescuing animals and finding homes for them. She even had me raising some baby squirrels for a while.”
“I’ll bet we’re talking about the same person. A blonde girl with big glasses?”
Phoebe nodded. Her face looked confused. “But how…?” Suddenly, she froze. “Is your brother Dan Ableman?”
“Of course, he is.” Alex laughed. “You knew that.”
She shook her head. “I knew your name was Alex Ableman, but I never connected the dots.”
Alex saw a worried frown puckering her forehead. “Does it matter that I’m Dan’s brother?”
“No. Not really.” The frown on her forehead became more pronounced. “Alex, who was the old man who went with us to the hospital after you rescued me? Was he your grandfather?”
He shook his head. “That was Poppa. He and his wife, Twinkles, help Dan with problems at TEMCO. Actually, Poppa is Dan about forty-five years into the future, and Twinkles is Dan’s wife, Gil. They—”
Phoebe sprang to her feet. Her face was whiter than the daisies around her neck.
Jumping up, Alex threw an arm around her waist as her knees buckled. “Kitten,” he cried. “What’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, she said numbly, “I need to go home. I need time to think. Please, Alex, take me home.”
He nodded, feeling concerned. As her feet stumbled, he picked her up and carried her to Silverfire. They rode back to the cabin in silence. Alex held her close, but even though she was physically near, her spirit seemed far away.
“Kitten, what is it?” he murmured, resting his cheek against hers.
Phoebe shook her head. “I need time to think.”
When they arrived at the cabin, Alex helped Phoebe dismount. She looked sick.
“Kitten, please tell me what’s wrong,” he begged.
Phoebe looked at him with haunted eyes. “She knew.”
“I don’t understand,” he replied, feeling confused.
“The day I traveled with Drake through the temporal portal—that horrible day that started my nightmare—there was an older couple in the TEMCO lab. So much has happened that I’d forgotten about them, but the man was definitely Poppa. Before they left, Twinkles—the future Gil—came over and hugged me. I asked if we knew each other, and she said we would eventually. She made me promise to remember that God wouldn’t give me more than I could handle.”
Phoebe backed away from Alex. Her body trembled. “Don’t you see? Twinkles was from the future. She knew what that monster was going to do to me. All she had to do was say something and I wouldn’t have gone with Drake. She could have stopped it. But she knew, and she let me go anyway. Why would she do that? Why would anyone do that?”
Alex’s heart plunged. “Oh, kitten, I don’t know why. I just don’t know.”
Phoebe put a shaking hand to her forehead. “She talked about us having lunch with our husbands.” She took another step backward. “She was talking about Dan and you, wasn’t she? She knew you were going to be my husband.” Phoebe doubled over as if she’d received a blow.
“Kitten,” Alex cried in alarm. Running over, he put his arms around her.
She twisted away. The hurt in her face turned to anger. “We met because you rescued me. Poppa told you where to find me. Twinkles let me get hurt by Drake just so you and I could get together, didn’t she? Didn’t she? Were you in on it?”
Alex felt shocked. “No! What are you saying?”
Phoebe’s eyes blazed. “Are you that hard up for a wife that you have to have some helpless woman staked out like a sacrificial lamb?”
Alex felt the color draining from his face. “You know that isn’t true. How could you say something like that? Kitten, I would never allow harm to come to you. Never!”
“Don’t call me kitten.” she spat, tearing off her daisy chains. “I’m not some helpless creature that you and your family can play games with. Do you know the things that Drake did to me? Do you? You may think you do, but you don’t know the half of it. It was awful, Alex. And it didn’t have to happen.”
“Phoebe,” he said, grabbing her arms. “No. Listen—”
She wrenched herself away. “I don’t want to listen, and I don’t want you.”
Alex watched helplessly as Phoebe ran into the cabin and slammed the door. Sinking to the grass, he put his head in his hands. He’d known that as Phoebe recovered she’d need to deal with anger over her kidnapping. He’d even known that her anger might spill onto him. But he hadn’t known how painful it’d be to have someone he loved accuse him of horrible things. His whole body shuddered as he saw her daisies trampled in the dirt. He took the daisy crown from his head and held it in his hands. The flowers were already wilting.
22
Crystal studied Marc’s face as they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building. The arrogant aura that usually surrounded him was gone. He seemed much more approachable. In fact, he seemed slightly insecure. He reminded her of a lost, little boy or a chastised puppy, but she knew he wouldn’t appreciate either analogy.
After Marc parked, he reached into the backseat and grabbed a paper bag. Handing it to her, he mumbled, “Here’s some things you dropped last night.”
Opening the bag, Crystal smiled. “I’m glad you picked up after me. The shawl belongs to Nicole, and the jewelry was my grandmother’s.” She fumbled through her purse for her keys. “Would you like to come up while I change?”
He shook his head. “I’ll stay in the car. If Zeke asks, I want to say with complete honesty that I don’t know what your apartment looks like.”
“That’s silly. Zeke’s been to my place dozens of times. He wouldn’t think a thing.”
“I’m not taking the chance.” Marc’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Zeke isn’t in the mood to give me the benefit of the doubt.”
She didn’t argue. “I won’t be long. I promise.”
“Take as long as you need.” He smiled. “If I get bored waiting, I’ll just huff on the window glass and look over your math from last night.”
She gurgled. “If you can figure out the design flaw, I’ll make you a batch of peanut brittle to show my deep appreciation.”
“You have a deal,” he said, giving her a snappy salute.
Still smiling, Crystal entered her building, sprinted up the stairs, and let herself into her apartment. When she caught sight of herself in a mirror, she made a face.
“I really put the frump in frumpy this morning,” she mumbled. “I definitely need to spruce myself up.”
Taking the bobby pins from her hair, she went to the phone. Zeke’s reaction to Marc had been extreme to say the least. She was afraid tha
t more was wrong than met the eye.
She dialed Nicole’s number. After a couple rings, Nicole picked up and said hello.
“Hi, Nicole. It’s Cris.”
“Cris, I’m glad to hear from you. Is everything all right? You didn’t sound like yourself this morning.”
“Everything’s fine now, but I ran into a bit of trouble last night. Marc got a little too familiar for my comfort.”
Nicole groaned. “We decked you out pretty swanky, but I never thought Marc would take advantage. What did you do?”
“I bit his tongue and slapped him.”
“Good for you.” Nicole said. “Serves him right. You sound happy, so I take it everything’s smoothed over?”
“Everything’s great between me and Marc,” she replied. “In fact, we’re just getting ready to go to the zoo. I think last night’s fiasco laid the foundation for a true friendship. But something’s not right with Zeke. When he learned what Marc did, he became extremely angry, and under that anger was a whole lot of hurt that I don’t understand. Will you check on him? I’m afraid he’s pretty upset.”
“I’ll call him right now… Oh, it doesn’t look like I need to. I have another call coming in, and it’s him. Have fun at the zoo, and if Marc steps out of line, do everything you did last night and kick his shins to boot.”
“I will.” Crystal giggled. “Talk to you later.”
~*~
Andrew looked up from a pile of paperwork as the president walked into his office. “What can I do for you?” he asked.
Paul smiled. “It’s more what I can do for you. I hear Sandra turned you down.”
Andrew blinked. “How did you hear that?”
Chuckling, Paul said mysteriously, “I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Is my office bugged?” Andrew sputtered, feeling shocked.
Paul chuckled again. “No. But your door wasn’t closed when you asked Sandy out, and your secretary is good friends with my wife. A grapevine of women is more reliable than any listening device ever conceived by mere mortal man.”
Andrew gave a reluctant laugh. “Tell Carol Lynn she’s in my black book.” He shuffled the papers on his desk. “Actually, I don’t mind Sandy’s refusal. I have quite a bit of work to do.”
“Nonsense. This is no time to take a break. Carol Lynn’s niece, Marjorie, is in town. We’ve made arrangements for you to take her to dinner tonight.”
Andrew swallowed hard. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
“I knew you’d appreciate it. Marjorie is a fine girl. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.”
~*~
Driving down the street, Drake ranted and cursed. Everywhere he turned, he was running into dead-ends. The rats had scurried for their holes, and they were hiding from him.
“I’ll find them,” he hissed. “And I’ll make them suffer.”
Movement in his rearview mirror caught his eye. A black SUV had swung in behind him. He recognized Agent Ruthford behind the wheel.
“They must’ve had Moosly’s house under surveillance,” he spat.
Swearing wildly, he turned the corner.
The SUV followed.
Drake’s mind spun as he increased his speed. The SUV was practically eating his bumper. As he tried to figure out how to lose Ruthford, he caught sight of the dashboard clock. Smiling, he turned toward an elementary school.
~*~
As Crystal emerged from her apartment building, Marc’s lips twitched into a smile. She was wearing blue jeans and a pink top. Her hair was loose and curling around her shoulders. She didn’t look as dizzyingly spectacular as she had the night before, but she did look extremely pretty. His forehead furrowed. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t realized how breathtakingly attractive she really was. Granted, she wasn’t wearing her owlish glasses, and she was in clothes that actually fit, but he should’ve been able to see.
Ending his musing, he hopped from the car and opened her door. “Your carriage awaits, my lady.”
Grinning, she said, “I brought my mad money. I’ll treat you to a waffle cone after lunch. There’s an awesome ice cream stand by the lions.”
“You go to the zoo often?”
“Every chance I get.” She gave him a cheeky smile. “I’m even a member, which is lucky for you because that means we get free parking.”
~*~
When Alex finished currying Silverfire, he went to check on Phoebe. Her bedroom door was closed.
“Phoebe, are you all right?” he called, knocking on her door. “Do you need anything?”
She didn’t answer.
He paused—his hand poised over the doorknob—but he knew he couldn’t invade her privacy. Phoebe rarely shut her door, and her action signified that a barrier had entered their relationship—a barrier he had no idea how to overcome. Giving a worried sigh, he walked slowly away.
~*~
Hitting the gas, Drake barreled through the fence of Tarmaka Elementary School. It was recess, and children were swarming the playground. Kids dodged out of the way as his car careened past the monkey bars.
He looked in his rearview mirror. Ruthford wasn’t following. He was keeping to the street, trying to cut him off on the other side.
“Moron,” Drake muttered. He continued speeding through the playground.
Children ran in all directions. Their hysterical screams even louder than his engine.
Snarling, he drove faster. Across the playground, he saw what he had expected to see. It was the top of the hour, and a crossing guard was standing in the street ushering a troop of children back from the southern campus.
Drake smiled. He’d been caught innumerable times by that crossing guard, and he watched with satisfaction as Ruthford hit his brakes.
Bursting through the playground fence, Drake used the crossing guard and children as a shield as he surged onto the road and turned a corner.
He chuckled. Ruthford would try to follow, but he’d be too late. The streets in this part of town were a labyrinth, and he had a head start.
“Moron,” he said again, turning another corner.
~*~
Her concert had been going tremendously well, but as Angelina prepared to play her final song, a wave of loneliness rose up within her. Her time in Europe was almost over, and she had no one special waiting for her stateside. As she looked out over the sea of faces in the audience, the mysterious man of her dreams had never seemed further away.
Raising her bow, she prayed silently, God, I’m so lonely. Bring my husband to me. End all delay. If he’s listening to my music, let him know that I’m waiting for him and wanting him desperately. Help him feel my call…This song’s for him.
Golden notes streamed from her fingers, falling like sparkling jewels in the reverent hush of the concert hall. As she played her final song, Angelina did something unusual for her—she looked directly at the camera. Tears gathered in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. All of her silent heart-longing, all of her hopes and dreams, all of her desire, she laid bare before those who were listening. In the audience, many were moved to tears, and on stage, Angelina murmured again, “This song’s for him.”
~*~
Drake checked his rearview mirror. As expected, he’d lost Ruthford at the elementary school. Whistling, he ditched his car in a parking lot and walked toward the Metro station.
~*~
Nicole walked swiftly through Student Union’s basement, anxious to get to Zeke. On the phone, he’d sounded extremely shaken. As she entered TEMCO’s temporary headquarters, she saw him sitting motionless with his head in his hands. Putting an arm around his shoulders, she asked softly, “Darling, what’s wrong?”
Zeke raised his head. He looked tortured. After a moment, he said, “Marc hurt Cris.”
She pulled up a chair. “I know. Crystal told me. She also said that everything’s fine between them now.”
Zeke nodded, but he still looked sick.
Nicole bit her lip. “If everything is fin
e, why are you so upset?”
Zeke shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Taking a deep breath, Nicole clasped one of his hands in hers. Turning it over, she stroked the calluses on his palm. She felt her face turning pale. After a few moments, she gathered her courage and asked, “Are you in love with Cris? If you are, I’ll understand and step aside. I want you to be happy.”
His eyes flew to hers. “Nicole, you’re the only woman I love. Why would you think such a thing?”
“Because you’re so upset. It’s obvious that you care deeply about Crystal.”
“I do care, but not in the way you’re implying. Crystal is like my little sister.”
Opening his wallet, Zeke removed a wrinkled photograph and handed it to her. The photo showed him at the age of twelve. He was standing next to his mother and a ten-year-old girl. The only indication that his father had been in the photo was a large hand on the girl’s shoulder. The rest of Zeke’s father had been cut ruthlessly away.
Zeke pointed to the little girl. “That’s my sister, Robyn, a year before my father murdered her.”
Nicole looked at Robyn closely. The girl had long hair and owlish glasses. She also had an air of vulnerable sweetness and a decided twinkle of mischief.
She gasped. “Zeke, your sister looks like Crystal.”
He nodded. “When Cris came to campus, it was like seeing my little sister all grown up. Robyn was clumsy and shy. She and Crystal could’ve been twins.” Raising his eyes from the photo, he said seriously, “I do love Crystal, but as a brother, not as a lover.”
Nicole realized that it made perfect sense for Zeke to “adopt” Crystal. His whole life, he’d been trying to reclaim the family his father had wrenched from him. She had already met the four women Zeke called his aunties and the old woman he claimed as his granny. She knew he looked upon Sam and Sue Ableman as surrogate parents. It was logical that he’d find a girl to stand in for Robyn.
Setting the photo gently on the desk, she cupped Zeke’s face in her hands and kissed his forehead.
“I don’t know why I’m so upset,” he said. “I know it was just an inappropriate kiss, but I feel so sick inside.” His eyes were wide as he whispered, “I feel like I’m falling into a dark pit, and I don’t know how to get back out again.”
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