“Why do you pop up like the terminator whenever gossip is involved?” Destiny scowled at her sister, and their mother rewarded Destiny with a pop on the thigh. “Ow.”
“You don’t have any business that doesn’t belong to me. Remember, I’m the oldest.” Cassidy looked like a younger version of their mother, which was to say she was gorgeous. Unlike Destiny, she preferred her hair straight and short. The signature pixie cut fit her busy professional lifestyle. With her height and dark flawless skin, she looked more like a model than an executive.
“So you keep reminding me,” Destiny muttered.
“Get over here and give me a hug.” Cassidy didn’t wait. She handed the tray to Pasha and wrapped her baby sister in her arms as soon as Destiny stood.
Destiny struggled to keep her tears in check. Maybe staying in Jackson was a mistake. Especially now when her family needed her.
Cassidy pulled out of the hug and stepped back, looking Destiny up and down. “Are you sure you’re my hippie dippy sister?”
“Be nice.” Their mother sighed, but she sounded amused.
“You do realize that I’m thirty-five, not fifteen. I can change my look. Or do I need your permission for that too?”
“No need to get snippy. Just saying that you look nice.”
“Perhaps you should skip the commentary?” Pasha said, nudging Cassidy aside, hugging Destiny, and kissing her on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re here to save me from this crew. And you do look nice.”
“Thank you,” Destiny said. Coming from Pasha, the compliment meant a lot. She had the sexy butch look down pat.
“Okay, Pasha, my turn.” Her brother, Fleming, hugged Destiny so tight she couldn’t breathe. “Glad you’re home, squirt.”
“Me too.” She kissed his cheek. “Thanks for sending the plane.”
“Of course. You needed to be here with the people who love you.”
“Okay,” the bossy Cassidy said, clapping her hands, “I can’t attest for the quality of the coffee, but it’s hot. We also brought some questionable pastries.”
“I’ll pass.” Destiny returned to the couch to sit with her mother and Cassidy and Pasha followed.
“So how’s your little shop?” Cassidy perched on the arm of the chair Pasha had taken.
“Stop it.” Pasha glared at Cassidy, then turned the full focus of her dark brown eyes on Destiny. “Your gallery is fun and funky. Don’t listen to her.”
“My sister is annoying, but at least she has stellar taste in women,” Pasha preened. Cassidy poked out her tongue, and Destiny’s heart melted as she watched the people she loved. “Things are going really well.”
“Did you come home alone?” Fleming sipped his coffee and grimaced.
“Yes, I did.” She’d largely managed to ignore the random thoughts of Vulcan floating through her head until her family had started questioning her. Yeah, now she remembered why she’d moved to another state.
“Don’t get defensive, sis.” Cassidy, of course, had to add her two cents.
“It’s kinda hard not to when you guys are on me about everything from my clothes to my business. Now we’ve moved on to my love life?”
“You’d have to actually have one for us to talk about it,” Fleming said, resting his cup on the table.
“Kids, this isn’t the time. Leave your sister alone.”
“When is the right time, Mom?” Fleming asked, then turning to Destiny said, “You know we love you, right?”
“What’s not to love?” Destiny smirked, then inwardly groaned at the small thud behind her eye threatening to become a full-on headache.
“We worry about you.” Fleming sat in the armchair adjacent to the couch where Destiny and her mother sat. “We want you home with us.”
Funny, when returning had been her idea it had sounded good. Now? Not so much.
“Dad is going to be fine. But he’s going to be down for awhile. And having you back is probably the only way were going to keep them,” he motioned to their mother, “out of the office.”
“Really?” Destiny placed a hand on her chest and did her best impression of a helpless southern belle. “I’m not too flighty to walk the esteemed halls of Munro & Sons.”
“Don’t be daft. Other than pops, you’re the best one in the family when it comes to numbers. The rest of us had to work at it.”
“I’m sorry. Could you say that again? Because it sounded like you just paid me a compliment.”
“You’re wasting your time and talent out there.” Cassidy softened her voice. “Come home.”
“Seriously, sis, what’s keeping you in freaking Wyoming?” Fleming asked.
Destiny looked to her mother for help, but the woman only shrugged. Great. Nothing kept her in Wyoming, except the business she’d built from scratch, the life she’d be able to live without loving interference from her family, and the best friends on the planet.
And him.
A sane person would say a month of dating someone wasn’t long enough to fall so hard. But she’d known him (sorta) for years, and she was already half in love with him by the first time they’d fallen into bed.
But how could she stay with a man and continue to deceive him? It wasn’t her that he loved, but Amina. Once she told him, then what?
The real dilemma was the temptation not to tell him. To keep the secret and the man. And in doing that, accept the fact that she’d always be the runner up.
The consolation prize.
Call her greedy, but that wasn’t good enough. When it came to Vulcan, it was all or nothing.
It would be so easy to stay in his life and in his bed, but she already knew the love would turn to ashes. This time when her eyes burned, it wasn’t about her father, but the man she’d left behind.
Destiny blinked then rubbed her eyes.
Stress had caused her to hallucinate because she thought she saw Vulcan standing in the hallway.
“Hello?” Cassidy snapped her fingers. “It’s an easy question. What’s the hold up?”
Vulcan pushed the door open and stood aside as Oshun, in all her bad ass glory entered the room wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and a short leather jacket.
“Holy shit,” Cassidy said, fanning herself.
“Close your mouth, sweetheart.” Pasha patted her wife’s thigh. “It’s not polite to drool.”
Their reaction would have been hilarious if Destiny could have peeled her eyes from the walking wet dream headed straight for her. If she returned to Jackson, she’d never find the strength to leave.
Her heart demanded she run into his arms and apologize for being such a bitch. But her mind ran down the list of reasons that would be a horrible idea. First and foremost, she wasn’t the only person in the relationship keeping secrets.
Vulcan stopped in front of her. When her gaze didn’t rise higher than his jean-clad thighs, he placed two fingers beneath her chin. “I got here as quickly as I could.” Then in front of her family, he bent and kissed her.
His touch reminded her of snow, sunshine, and laughter.
And the fact that it wasn’t her that he loved.
He pulled away and brushed his knuckles against her cheek.
“What is in the water up there?” Pasha whispered.
Vulcan squatted in front of Destiny. Somehow he’d found the time to trim his beard. “Did you think I’d let you deal with this alone?” he asked.
“Yeah, I kinda did.” She drummed her fingers against her thigh to keep from touching him.
“Well, you were wrong.” He covered her fidgeting hands with his own, tightening his grip when she tried to pull away.
“Well it doesn’t matter. Because I am moving back to Denver. You and I are just not gonna work.”
Chapter 26
“That’s cute, but unacceptable.” Vulcan watched, amazed at the struggle playing on Destiny’s face. Earlier, he’d been so caught up in his hurt feelings, he’d been blinded to the intensity of her struggle.
“You can’t ignore what I just said
about moving back here,” Destiny said.
“Yes, I can.” He grazed his thumb across the ridges of her knuckles and was rewarded with the tiniest of shivers as Destiny’s family watched and speculated. Let them. The only person who truly mattered was Destiny.
“Vulcan?” The sister, whispered. “My sister is dating a biker?”
“Hush. I named your sister Destiny,” Tania said, a smile in her rich alto voice.
“And we see how well that turned out,” the brother muttered.
For a moment, Vulcan considered telling young Fleming how his teasing hurt his sister. Then again, hopefully the man wasn’t open to listening to constructive criticism. That would give Vulcan the opportunity to use his fists to impart understanding.
He released one of Destiny’s hands and smiled at her mother. The woman was as beautiful as the last time he’d seen her. While Destiny was the primary reason he visited the house, it wasn’t the only one. Their home was filled with an abundance of love and laughter. And for a few minutes each day he was a part of it, even if only Destiny saw him.
“Mrs. Munro, I’m sorry to hear of your husband’s illness. I’m Vulcan.” He extended a hand, which she graciously shook. “Your daughter and I are—”
“Friends,” Destiny interrupted while snatching her hand from beneath his.
“Please call me Tania,” the woman said, her gaze turning from Vulcan to her annoyed daughter, then to Oshun. “And your friend?”
“Apologies. Everyone this is my friend Oshun.” He glanced at the smiling goddess, thankful that she’d decided to behave. Everyone introduced themselves while Vulcan watched Destiny try her hardest to ignore him.
“Oshun and Vulcan. I’m sensing a theme here.” Tania nodded to an impressed looking Oshun before returning her gaze to Vulcan. The woman’s eyes held a wisdom far beyond her short human lifespan. “It took you long enough,” she said.
“Pardon me?” The wicked glint in her eyes made him nervous. “Destiny left Jackson mere hours ago, had she allowed me to—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
“Mom…”
The beatific smile that lit Tania’s face was one he’d often seen when Destiny was a child. His eyes widened, and the woman nodded. All those years ago, she knew?
Things began to click into place. The way Tania frequently lured the two siblings elsewhere to allow him and Destiny the privacy and space to play. And when he visited at lunchtime, she conveniently gave Destiny enough food to feed two.
“Some lessons take a few lifetimes to learn,” Vulcan said, bowing his head in respect, “but I’m here now.”
“Mother…” Destiny’s stood and walked to Oshun.
“You’re going to listen to what he has to say,” Tania said to her daughter’s retreating back.
“No,” Destiny said without turning. “I am not. Hello, Oshun.”
“Hello, sweetness.” Oshun squeezed Destiny’s hand. “I’m sorry about your father. I hope you don’t mind that I came.”
“Of course not. At least Vulcan will have company on his flight home.”
She was pissed, and for some sick reason, it turned him on. Not that it would stop his pursuit, but Tania’s open approval helped.
“Destiny,” he said, coming to stand beside her and wondering how he’d managed to stay away from her for two years. “May I have a moment?” He looked at her family, who didn’t bother to pretend they weren’t interested. “In private.”
“Just go,” she whispered.
She looked as if her heart was breaking, and he knew the feeling, because earlier, he had wallowed in that same ugly place.
“Who do you think you are?” Her brother shot out of his chair.
“Fleming, stay out of it,” Tania warned, standing and placing a hand on her son’s arm.
“Mom, that’s my baby sister.”
“And my daughter.” Tania gave her son the look. “It’s going to be fine.”
Fleming shook off his mother’s touch. “He’s stressing her out. Look at her. Someone call security.”
“Cutie pie, you stay in that chair.” Oshun pointed at the woman sitting with Destiny’s sister.
“Fleming, it’s okay.” Destiny rubbed her temple, then looked up at Vulcan. “He’s—”
“The man who loves you,” Vulcan announced. He expected surprise, shock, even tears, but never wide-eyed terror. What in Tartarus?
“No.” She shook her head. “You can’t.”
“How exactly did you come to this conclusion?”
“Must you always be so hardheaded?” She put her hands on her hips and lowered her voice.
Could people shout with a whisper? Apparently, because Destiny was doing just that.
“You are aware we can have this conversation in private?”
“Why? This is so much more entertaining.” Oshun said.
“Don’t make this difficult,” Destiny whispered.
“Sweetheart, I lost you once. It can’t happen again.” If he must erase the memories of her family then so be it. Hinting and having a conversation without laying it all on the table no longer worked—at least not for him.
“I love you damn it, and I’m just going to wind up hurting you again,” she yelled.
“You love me?”
“You are so dense.” Destiny closed her eyes.
“Wait a minute. The two of you used to date?” Pasha asked.
“No. Wait, yes.” Destiny pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s complicated.”
“Oh, the best love stories are. Once the two of you are through with your drama and your dad is well, you’ll have to ask me how we really met. It’s a doozy.”
Destiny glared at Tania. “Mom, you’re not helping.”
“Yes, I am.” Tania winked at Vulcan. “Who encouraged you to move to Jackson?”
“What are you say—” Vulcan started.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Destiny asked, speaking over Vulcan.
“You two needed help.” Tania shook her head. “From the looks of things, still do. I was surprised and happy when I realized you had the gift, but Destiny, you almost blew it with the werewolf story.”
“I remember that one. You washed dishes for a month.” Cassidy laughed.
“Werewolves?” Pasha whispered.
“Tell you later,” Cassidy said, winking at Pasha.
Her mother clasped Destiny’s hands and lowered her voice. “Remember your little friend who came around until you were thirteen?”
“You knew about that?” Destiny’s eyebrows shot up.
“Stop interrupting. When will you cease underestimating my greatness?” Tania shook her head. “Even then he loved you. I’d hoped you’d grow up, forget about him, and find someone more your speed. When that didn’t happen, I nudged you in the right direction.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Destiny asked.
“You seemed to have no issues accepting the things you saw. However, if I ever believed it was a problem for you, I would have intervened. I see now that I should have spoken with you years ago, but you always wanted to feel normal—whatever that is.” Tania released her daughter’s hand and cupped her cheeks. “Unless he has wronged you, listen to what the man has to say.”
“I didn’t catch that last part,” Pasha whispered and leaned closer. “What is she saying?”
Tania turned to the room and clapped her hands. “Okay, people. The show is over. Let’s go.” She looked around the room at her unmoving family. “Now!” Then she turned to Oshun. “Oshun, darling, please do join us. I have a couple of Shango questions for you.”
Both Destiny and Vulcan stared open-mouthed as her mother hustled every one out of the room.
“Your mother’s a piece of work.”
“That’s an understatement.” Destiny looked up at Vulcan, eyes filled with wonder. “Is it true?”
“Yes.” He moved in front of her, hesitating for only a second before cupping her face.
“You said you hurt me before. What did you mean?”
“I…” She licked her lips. “I’ve been having dreams. At least that’s what I initially believed. Later, I realized they were flashes of a past life you and I shared.” She rubbed her hands against her jeans. “Was it true? Did we…”
“We did.”
“I thought I was losing my mind.” Her expression hardened. “It’s not me you really want.”
“You have never been so wrong about anything in your life.”
“No.” She shook her head and gave him a pitying look. “You loved her. That’s the only reason you and I happened.”
“I told myself that I needed to destroy you.” He stared at her lips, wanting this to be over so they could move on to making up. “I carried that hurt around for centuries. It ate me up inside. It’s time to release the anger and go on with my life.”
“That’s why you purchased the gallery.”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, I get it. Don’t like it, but I completely understand.” She shook her head. “But you won. Why give it back? Why all of this?”
“If I didn’t have you, I wasn’t winning.”
Destiny’s eyes filled with something that looked like hope. “But how can you trust that I won’t hurt you again. She… I… betrayed you.” She placed a hand on his chest, right over the heart she owned.
“You are not Amina. And after looking back on it, it was selfish of me to ask her to risk everything for a man she barely knew.”
“She loved you.”
“Not enough.” He traced the curve of her jaw with his thumb. “Finally, I’m okay with that.”
“Please listen. She was good, and honorable, and most of all she walked away to save your life.”
He flinched as if he’d been punched. In many ways, he had. God or mortal, no man wants to face the realization that everything he believed was wrong.
“That’s why you were crying?” He led Destiny to the couch and sat, pulling her onto his lap. “Let me get this straight. You’re trying to break up with me because… I still don’t get it.”
“Second choice isn’t good enough for me, and I know how much the two of you loved each other. Each time you touched me, I would wonder which of us you wanted.” Her eyes drifted down to his mouth before meeting his eyes again. “Every time you kissed me, I’d wonder if it was me you tasted. It would be so easy to stay and hope I alone held your heart, but over time, it would devour my confidence until there was nothing left but doubt.”
Haunting Hephaestus (Gods of Olympus Book 9) Page 17