“What’s all this about?” he asked quietly, staring down into her face.
One arm remaining around his neck, Iris waved a hand at the others. “It’s a surprise birthday party.” People unloaded cooler chests and food trays and carried them up onto the porch. Estrella clucked around, directing the action.
“Beer and champagne!” someone announced, opening the ice chests.
“Get the glasses,” Iris called out, dragging Eric away, leaving Destiny boiling.
“Great idea, huh?” Lee Duncan said, coming up behind her.
“I suppose. But beer and champagne for a man who doesn’t drink alcohol?” Destiny clamped her lips shut, determined to bite back her jealous fury and not let it show. Eric had stood there, letting that woman hang all over him and kiss him. She’d love to take that ludicrous cake and dump it over both their heads.
“That’s not for Eric. We brought him ginger ale.”
“I hope you brought enough for me, too,” she murmured, watching some men set up portable tables. “Where did those come from?”
“From Wes’s, where Iris got the barbeque. Excuse me.” Lee hurried away to answer a summons.
Iris came back outside and fiddled with her portable CD player. Loud rock music blared out. She immediately punched the stop button.
“Eric doesn’t like rock,” someone hollered to Destiny’s relief, her ears ringing from the racket that appealed more to teenagers than mature adults. At that noise level, anyway. Where had Iris gotten the music? Surely, not her taste?
“I know that!” Iris shouted back, quite undignified. She slipped in another disc, a mellow country-western. However, Eric stepped over, turned down the volume and spoke briefly to Iris. Destiny wished she could hear the conversation.
Martin appeared at Destiny’s side, a wicked little smile playing around his mouth.
“Aren’t most of these people from the dig?” Destiny asked him. “I only see a few locals here.”
“Iris isn’t comfortable with the locals. They don’t fit into her tidy world and, even worse, they don’t care. Iris doesn’t know how to deal with that.”
“You seem amused.”
“Not unkindly, but yes, she amuses me. She takes the wrong tack with Eric every time.”
“So you understand Iris?”
“She and I are alike in a lot of ways. I think I understand her better than she understands herself.”
“Sorry. I don’t share your sympathy for that woman.”
Martin slipped an arm around Destiny’s shoulders. “Now, sugar. Be sweet. Let’s get in line. Everybody’s crowding at the food table and digging in.”
Destiny ended up between Eric and Martin at their table, with Iris on Eric’s right and Lee on Iris’s other side.
“You’re a lucky man, Eric,” Lee said. “Most bachelors are fortunate to get a card on their birthdays, and Iris has given you a champagne barbeque.”
“Yeah. Lucky,” Eric mumbled, carefully keeping his eyes averted from Destiny.
Destiny studied the crowd. All the dig personnel were here, eleven men and five women. She noticed two local couples, and a very large man with his two daughters who, fortunately for them, weren’t as big as their father. Men outnumbered women, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. Estrella and Domingo shared a table with one of the local couples.
“Estrella,” Iris called imperiously. “Bring out the cake.”
For a moment or two Estrella allowed herself a pout, but the woman next to her rose and they went into the house together, chatting. Emerging, she set the cake in front of Eric.
“Where are the candles?” Iris demanded.
Estrella’s pout returned. Her friend handed them forward. She took them and plopped them in front of Iris. Then she haughtily marched back to her table, where she and her friend took their seats beside their husbands.
“Oh, good grief,” Iris muttered, fumbling with the candle box.
“Forget the candles,” Eric said.
“But you have to blow them out and make a wish.”
“Estrella baked me a cake at noon and I did all I needed to do then. So just cut it and let everybody have some.”
Standing, Iris picked up a knife and began slicing. She glanced over at Estrella. “Come help serve this.”
Estrella started to rise, but Eric pointed at her. “Sit down. We can pass it around.” He glared up at Iris. Oblivious to his anger, she sliced away at the cake, murdering the misshapen cowboy on his overly fat horse.
Plates of cake made the rounds and bottles of champagne sat on tables alongside cans of beer. Martin offered her champagne, but she shook her head. Suddenly, Eric poured ginger ale into her glass.
“Thank you,” she murmured, sipping the fizzy beverage. Not your typical glass. The tall, thin-stemmed splits felt like crystal, obviously expensive and definitely not from Wes’s. Probably belonged to Iris. Destiny controlled the urge to cry Skoal! and hurl hers into the rocks.
Iris set a box on the table in front of Eric. “A gift for you, darling. I want you to open it now.”
He stared at it as though it might explode.
“Go on, open it,” Iris urged, thrusting it into his hands.
He removed a big silver bow and tore away the wrapping, revealing a jewelry box. He snapped open the lid. Nestled on black velvet was undoubtedly the most ostentatious watch Destiny had ever seen. Tiny diamonds outlined the shape of New Mexico on the gold face of the watch, where one small ruby perched indicating the location of the Bar-M. The band was made of beaten gold. Certainly it had cost a fortune, but Destiny had to clap a hand over her mouth to smother a giggle.
Eric gazed at the watch. He licked his lips. “Ah . . . Iris . . .” he finally said, but could go no further.
“Put it on,” she chirruped.
“Iris, not now.”
“Why not?” Hurt colored her voice.
His dark brows drew together, frown lines etching his stern features. He looked neither right nor left, only at the watch.
Everyone grew quiet.
“You don’t like it, do you?” Iris whined.
Glancing around at the expectant faces, his gaze lingered a moment on Destiny before sliding back to the watch. Just for an instant, he put his hand to his forehead. “It’s very beautiful,” he said deliberately. Taking the watch from its box, he slipped it onto his wrist.
Everyone cheered and clapped. Well, almost everyone.
Destiny sat quietly, emotions running the gamut inside her. Part of her wanted Eric to spit on the watch, hurl it from him, shove Iris off the porch. Yet, such cruelty would horrify her. Because it was quite apparent that Iris truly believed she’d offered him the ultimate gift. Destiny thought of her own present, abandoned on the dining table. She didn’t want Iris to see it. Now it seemed dumb.
Iris stood, tugging Eric’s arm, laughing again because he’d accepted the watch.
“Estrella, clear the tables now,” Iris directed gaily.
The housekeeper’s eyes widened. “You mean I am to wash all these things?”
“Of course not. There are trays in Tommy’s van. Just load everything in them and he’ll take it all back to Wes’s.”
Eric had not heard this exchange, being surrounded by well-wishers. One of the large man’s daughters shyly turned Eric’s wrist and touched the watch, commenting to him. Eric smiled at her and nodded.
As Estrella began cleaning off the tables, her friend got the trays from the van. Destiny rushed to help Estrella who now muttered to herself in Spanish. She gathered some dishes and stacked them into a tray.
“Niña, you do not need to do this.”
“Nonsense. We’ll be through in a jiffy, right?” She smiled brightly at Estrella’s friend for confirmation and received
it. Soon, nearly everyone pitched in and quickly cleared the dinner things and folded the tables.
Iris provided quite a music collection, most excellent for dancing. All much better than the first loud blast of noise. The smooth rock floor of the porch lent itself well, and Destiny found herself in demand as a partner. At least for every man but the one she wanted. Eric danced a couple of times with Iris, then with one or two other women, but mostly he sat talking with the local men and Domingo.
The waxing moon rose, bathing the desert in silver, contrasting with the golden glow of kerosene lamps on the porch. Their soft light flickered romantically, but a lot of good it did her. She whirled, she laughed, she danced, she drank ginger ale, and Eric barely spared her a glance. Once she spotted Iris standing beside Eric, her hand resting on his shoulder, laughing and talking with his friends. Destiny wondered what he would do if she ripped off the sundress she’d so carefully dressed in for him and threw it into his handsome, ignoring face.
Martin claimed her for a dance and smiled down at her, his green-gold eyes twinkling with mischief. “What’s the matter, sugar?”
“Nothing.” She tossed her curls. “What makes you think something’s the matter?”
“Just guessing. Jealous?”
“Absolutely not,” she sniffed.
He chuckled softly and pulled her closer, spinning her down the porch.
When the song ended, Destiny escaped the dance floor, poured herself more ginger ale and sat down. Eric loomed above her.
“You’re a regular Miss Twinkletoes tonight.”
She gazed up at him outlined in the pale golden light of the lamps. “The music’s good.”
“Do you suppose you could spare me a dance?”
“I haven’t finished my drink.” Suddenly shy, Destiny reached for her glass only to have him take it from her hand before she could bring it to her lips. He drank it straight down, set the empty glass aside, and pulled her to her feet. Enfolding her with one arm, he took her other hand. They began moving to the music.
“You’re always full of surprises, Mr. Montoya. Is that your game? To keep me guessing?” Tilting her head, she stared into his shadowed face.
“When I play, I play for keeps.” He bent his head and pressed his cheek against her temple and his arm tightened, drawing her even closer. He folded her other hand up against his shoulder. Even though angry at him, her blood surged and her heart pounded at his nearness.
The song playing lamented about wearing rose-colored glasses.
Was that what she was doing, seeing only what she wanted to see? Misreading a powerful attraction for something more on his part? There was no mistaking her own feelings. She’d never felt this way about any man before. What she’d had with Jason paled to transparency in comparison. Her eyes closed, yet she followed him effortlessly within the circle of his arms, while a deep, liquid warmth sang in her veins.
Chapter 10
Iris stamped her high-heeled foot and stared across at Destiny and Eric. Her face contorted with fury.
“Not what you planned?” Martin asked, refilling her glass.
Iris glared at him. “Why do you sound so pleased? I thought you’d have swept that little photojournalist right out of Eric’s life by now.”
“Maybe I will yet.”
“Then do it,” Iris snapped. “Hurry, or you won’t have the chance.”
“Come on, beautiful.” Martin took her arm. “Let’s see what CD to play next. Something that won’t send my brother into a rampage.”
“Lee, you’re disgusting,” Iris sniped as they passed him. “Keep this up and Daddy will fire you.”
Lee Duncan sat slumped in a lounge chair, shirt rumpled and eyes bloodshot. He straightened and glared at Iris. “What I do on my own time is my business.”
“Shirttail relative. Must be the reason Daddy hired you.”
“I’m the best man for the job.” Lee attempted to smooth his mussed shirtfront. “And you know it!”
Iris flounced off the porch with Martin trailing behind.
“Hard on the old boy, aren’t you?”
“His boozing gets tiresome.”
“Maybe he has a reason for drinking so much.”
“We all have our problems,” she said, dismissing the matter.
“Dance, Iris?” Martin slid an arm around her slim waist before she could answer. He pulled her close, not even attempting to dance on the rocky ground.
“What are you doing?” Her violet eyes snapped fire.
Martin tightened his arms. “What do you think?”
Iris attempted to pull away and, as she tossed her head back, Martin stole a kiss. He kissed her again, and again, leaving Iris quite breathless.
“What if Eric sees us?” She turned her head away.
“Forget about Eric. He certainly seems to have forgotten you.”
She whirled to look at the porch. “Damn,” she breathed, and, seeing Destiny in Eric’s arms, struggled in Martin’s embrace. “Let me go.”
“Go, by all means.” Martin released her instantly, watching her with a schooled expression as she picked her way back onto the porch, but he felt a tiny pulse beat at his temple. Old times, old memories, reared themselves in his head. Was he prepared? Was Eric? They’d soon see.
It took Destiny a moment to realize the song had ended and they were no longer dancing. She had no will, no ability, to separate from Eric, and grew less and less able to pull away with each passing moment.
Then, as though he’d been ripped from her arms, she staggered slightly at suddenly standing alone. Recovering, she saw what, or rather who, had taken him away.
“Eric, dance with me,” Iris said, tugging at him, smiling into his face. One white arm was already snaking over his shoulder as she worked her way into position.
Destiny turned immediately, furious that Eric would allow that spoiled brat to break in that way, and stalked down the porch.
Lee Duncan sat in a lounge chair and impulsively Destiny sat down in one next to him.
“Enjoying the party?” he asked sarcastically, half turning toward her, one arm flung wide.
Destiny studied him, pondering his sarcasm. He appeared to be quite drunk. “I’ve had better times.”
He snorted and gulped from his beer can. “When Iris is between men, then it’s good old cousin Lee. But when she’s caught the scent, I’m relegated back to a shirttail relative.”
“Oh? You’re related to the Ramptons?”
“No. The Blakes. My mother is Olivia Blake’s second cousin. Olivia is Iris’s mother.” Another pull at the beer. “Don’t get the idea that I grew up with Iris. No way. Maybe that’s all we are . . . shirttail relatives. Me and my average family of one hard-working father and a mother determined to bring up her five kids the right way.”
Lee drained his beer, crushed the can, and placed it on the growing pile beside his chair, then reached into a convenient cooler for another. He popped the top, took a swig, and leaned over to rest a hand on Destiny’s arm. Peering intently into her face, he asked, “Do you know what it means to be the family example? I always had to do the right thing so my brothers and sisters would have a good example to follow. Do you know what a burden that can be?”
“No, but my older sister Dawn does, I’m sure.” Destiny smiled, trying to steer Lee away from his maudlin mood. She didn’t care to be his crying towel at the moment. “Dawn is three years older than I am. She’s properly married to a very proper man and they have three proper children. I’m still single at twenty-eight, with no immediate plans to change that. It distresses my parents, especially my mother, no end.”
Lee grinned and patted her arm. “So your mother’s afraid you’ll be an old maid, eh? She doesn’t need to worry about a lovely girl like you. Why, as soon as you stand stil
l long enough, some old boy will scoop you right up. Even if you don’t stand still, one of us’ll catch you.”
Disturbed that he’d included himself, she shifted her attention, hoping for rescue. Laughing softly, Destiny gazed around. She wanted to get away from Lee, and didn’t quite know how. Glancing down at the other end of the porch, she saw Eric standing and talking to the large man with the two daughters. The girls weren’t with them. They were happily circulating among the men. Destiny couldn’t really guess how old the girls were. They could be anywhere between fifteen and twenty-five.
“Have you ever done anything you wished you could undo?” Lee blurted. “Something that, if you could just go back and change it . . .” His face contorted. A little bell dinged in the back of her mind and she grew alert.
“I’m sure we all have, Lee. What would you change?”
He turned to her beseechingly, grasping her arm. “Destiny, I’m . . .”
The sound of a vehicle approaching cut off his words. They turned to watch Joe Baker, the local deputy sheriff, drive over the rise.
“What in the world does he want?” Lee gasped, lurching to his feet, sloshing his beer all over his shirtfront. Muttering under his breath, he stumbled down the porch, brushing at his wet shirt, and entered the house.
She stared after him, mystified at his strange reaction to the deputy’s arrival. Joe Baker walked up onto the porch, smiling, his hand extended to Eric. They shook hands, chatted, the deputy greeted a few others, spoke briefly with Eric again, and left. Obviously, he’d merely been paying Eric a social call to wish him Happy Birthday.
Destiny rose from her chair as Lee came out onto the porch, her sunset photo in his hand.
“What’s this?”
Her heart thumped in embarrassment as Lee peered at the framed photo, turning it this way and that in his hand. Destiny wondered if he examined it in admiration, but really couldn’t tell by his expression. She hoped he wouldn’t drop it.
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