A Life Earthbound (18 page)

Except for his oldest daughter, who still had no idea how to fix whatever it was that was happening to her father.

She sat at her desk in the Greenhouse, lit with dozens of candles that she’d brought with her as there were no other lights there. She placed them around the room so they illuminated it with glowing pools of golden light. Outside the glass walls, she could see the night sky and the stars, along with the moon that glowed full and bright. In the courtyard, fireflies danced in the air, lighting the gardens and the patio dance floor.

As she jotted down important figures in her earthquake projection book, she noticed movement outside the glass walls, through the shadowy protection of the ivy. People were drifting out of the castle, dressed in their best, ready to celebrate.

Not wanting to be distracted, she looked away and rose to her feet, stepping toward the pond. Above it, the globe hung in midair, glowing as though lit from within. Using her hands, she turned the globe until she found the area she was looking for, then proceeded to draw a line down the San Andreas fault. Concentrating, she closed her eyes and filled her mind with the image of the plates, and proceeded to shift them into position, causing a minor 3.0 earthquake to Southern California, where the San Andreas fault lay. Satisfied, she went back to her desk and leaned over her charts, noting the completion of the shift and its new position.

Her hair slipped down from her shoulder and her eyes were focused through her reading glasses as she jotted down figures and notations. So complete was her concentration that she did not hear him enter.

“You always were one to burn the midnight oil.”

Startled, she jolted upright and saw Liam standing in the doorway, looking impeccably handsome in steel gray slacks and a royal blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. She fought to regain her composure.

“When duty calls, I answer, Liam,” she replied, though she suddenly felt weary and tense, the pain in her neck that she had delayed earlier with aspirin creeping back.

“I know.” With a grin he stepped toward her. The candles she’d lit shivered in the air, flickering light bouncing off the glass walls and the high vaulted ceiling. “Why don’t you come to the party?”

She shook her head, glancing down at her charts and books. “I have a lot of work to do and I’m already behind.”

“So make it up tomorrow.” He was now standing right in front of her, closer than made her comfortable, to where she had to tilt her chin up to meet his eyes. Determined to hold her ground, she stayed where she was, her back rigid and her hands clasped at her back.

On impulse, he reached out to remove her glasses from her face, setting them on the desk. “It’s my birthday, Rhia. You should do me a favor and come dance with me.”

His lips curved in his trademark crooked grin and she felt her resolve shudder once. Damn him and that smile.

“I really shouldn’t.”

“But you will, because you’re considerate enough to know it’ll mean the world to me.” His eyebrows raised as he continued to stare at her knowingly. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Pursing her lips and feeling she had no other choice, she spun away from him and dutifully shut down the globe and then packed up her books and charts.

“I’ll give you one dance, but then I have to come back and work,” she said as she straightened up her work area, making sure everything was organized.

Laughing at her, he reached for her hand to pull her away. “Uh huh. Let’s go.”

They walked toward the atrium in silence, and stopped before the entrance doors. He turned to her and smiled.

“Thank you for the guitar, by the way. Capri said you picked it out.”

“Oh.” Rhiannon’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “It was her gift for you and her idea. I just told her which guitar I thought you’d like best.”

“You were dead on, I love it.” He grinned, his hands itching to reach out and touch her. “Let’s go dance.”

It wasn’t until they were on the dance floor that she realized with embarrassment that she was terribly underdressed. She was still in her slacks and blouse, while everyone else had donned elegant gowns and suits. But when she tried to convince him to let her change, he’d simply held her tighter and refused.

Fighting to relax, she let him lead, her right hand placed properly in his left and her other hand on his shoulder with his on her waist. She made sure their bodies didn’t touch. This was as close as she was willing to get to him.

The song was slow and bluesy, but it did little to settle her restless nerves. There was still so much to do, and it was hard to concentrate on having fun when she couldn’t take her mind off work. Especially since she’d lost nearly the entire workday because of her self-centered sister, and it would probably take her a week to get back on track, a fact which was only stressing her out further. And with her father being in such a state, he wasn’t on top of things as he normally was, so that meant she had to pick up even more slack.

“Rhia?”

“Hmm?” She blinked, returning to the present. Liam just smiled at her.

“Where did you go?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just now, you weren’t listening, you were someplace else…in your head.” He would have given anything to be able to erase the worry lines from her forehead, and to discover whatever secret place it was she had in her mind that she retreated to when she was tense.

“Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind is all.”

“Mmm…well, let me distract you.” He spun her in a tight circle and brought her back into his arms, their bodies brushing seductively as their eyes met. The instant spark that ignited at the touch sent her mind reeling, despite how frantically she fought it back.

The stunned look in her serious eyes amused and aroused him. He loved it when he could startle her out of herself for even the briefest of moments. It reminded him that she was still in there, somewhere. “I almost forgot to thank you for entertaining Cilla earlier. She loves the dress.”

“You’re welcome,” Rhiannon replied coolly, backing away so they were no longer pressed against each other, determined to maintain her distance from him.

Needing a moment to steady herself, she glanced around at the tables that surrounded the dance floor. She spotted her father sitting with Lucian and Clynn, though he wasn’t speaking to them. Instead, he was nursing a single glass of champagne and sitting stiffly in his chair, his hair elegantly combed and his face stoically handsome. But his eyes were troubled and lost looking, the green in them dull and lifeless.

Standing across the way were her mother and the other Muses, and they were entertaining a few men that Rhiannon didn’t recognize. Thea and Sebastian were there as well, and they were listening to one of the men speak animatedly.

When Liam noticed Rhiannon staring in their direction, he turned her so she could see them better. “That’s Burke Callahan. You remember him, don’t you?”

“The Enforcer. Yes, of course I do.” She nodded, looking at him. “What’s he doing here?”

“You know how it goes.” Liam shrugged, grinning. “The Enforcers that want to rise through the ranks always try and mingle socially with the Council, get in good with Thea and Sebastian.”

Rhiannon pursed her lips and glanced back over at her mother, who appeared to be openly flirting with Burke, touching his arm and smiling admiringly at him. Before she could turn away in disgust, her mother noticed her and motioned suddenly for her to join them.

“Come here Rhiannon, say hello to Mr. Callahan,” Serendipity called over, snapping her fingers in the air imperiously.

With one last glance at Liam, Rhiannon pushed away from him. “I’ve got to go. Happy birthday, Liam.”

“Thanks.” He watched her walk away, and wondered if there was something more on her mind than just her work. Then again, figuring out what was on her mind had always been nothing short of a challenge for him. Rhiannon was a closed book, locked with multiple keys and covered in prickly thorns. But, luckily for him, he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially one with such great rewards.

When Rhiannon reached her mother, Burke turned around to face her. With a polite smile, she held out her hand.

“Good evening, Mr. Callahan,” she greeted.

He smiled broadly and took her hand in his own. “Rhiannon! You have certainly grown into a lovely young woman. Serendipity, why didn’t you tell me how beautiful your daughters are?”

“All the better to surprise you, Burke,” Serendipity gushed, only to shift her focus and eye Rhiannon up and down critically. Turning back to Burke, she smiled. “If you’ll excuse us for a moment.”

“Certainly.”

While Burke launched into a conversation with Thea, Serendipity clamped her hand around Rhiannon’s arm and dragged her swiftly to the side where they could speak without being overheard.

“What are you wearing, Rhiannon?” she asked, her velvet voice tinged with irritation. “This is a formal party. I expect you to go upstairs right now and change.”

“I’m not staying, I have to get back to work,” Rhiannon informed her frostily.

“Nonsense, who works at this hour?” Serendipity brushed the thought away frivolously with a wave of her hand. “Now, head inside and–”

“Excuse me, ladies.” Burke appeared beside them, his smile gallant. He reached out for Rhiannon’s hand, smooth charm and all class. “This is the perfect song for dancing, if you’ll have me?”

Trying to hide the surprise she felt, Rhiannon politely took his outstretched hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor. Her mother looked immensely pleased, and seemed to forget all about the need for a wardrobe change.

Burke grasped her hand in his own and placed his other on her waist, the proper way an older adult male should dance with a much younger woman. She studied him for lack of anything else to do since she was trapped dancing with him for at least three minutes while the slow, seductive love song played out.

He had aged, certainly, but it had done nothing but enhance his already handsome features. It had been years since she’d seen him, but she knew that he was still heavily involved with the Furies and with Thea. He was one of the lead Enforcers, if not
the
lead Enforcer, second only to the Furies as far as rank and importance.

His chestnut brown hair was weaved with gray and longer than she remembered. His brown eyes were still sharp, but charming nonetheless, set in a face lean and honed at the edges, with near classic movie star good looks. She wondered how much his appearance was a mirage, and if it was hiding something more sinister underneath. He was a ruthlessly exacting Enforcer, one that demons feared and lesser men admired. But the mask he wore was enough to fool anyone to believe he was harmless.

“Your mother tells me you are the best and brightest Dryad on Euphora,” he said suddenly, his lips curving in a quick smile.

One of her eyebrows raised in surprise to his statement. “I do my best.”

“So humble,” he remarked, his eyes boring into hers. “But Thea said the same thing, so you must be very talented. My son, Michael, is a rising star amongst the Enforcers. Do you remember him?”

“Of course.” Though the memory was anything but pleasant. Maintaining polite interest, she smiled. “How is he doing?”

“Sick with the flu, unfortunately.” He shrugged, chuckling. “He’s sorry he couldn’t come tonight. He was eager to see all of you again.”

She doubted that but she kept her thoughts to herself. “That’s good to know that he’s doing well as an Enforcer. I recall him wanting to be one from a young age.”

“It’s his destiny, as it was mine,” Burke said proudly, beaming at her. “Soon he’ll be promoted and work exclusively with my division. We’ll be a father and son team. There’s just a few more steps to take before it can all happen.”

Something changed in his eyes, his focus intensifying as if she were a prize he desperately wanted to win. Troubled, she broke eye contact with him and noticed her father, sitting alone.

“I’m going to go see if my father needs anything,” Rhiannon said suddenly, pulling away from him. “Thank you for the dance, Mr. Callahan.”

“Please, call me Burke.”

Bowing her head politely, she turned and walked toward her father, slipping into the chair beside him. He looked up from his drink to meet her eyes, and a weak, halfhearted smile graced his lips.

“Hello, Rhiannon,” he said quietly, lifting his champagne flute to his mouth and sipping. She watched his hand tremble slightly with the movement.

“How are you?” she asked him, her hands clasped in her lap as she watched him with concerned eyes.

He pondered a moment, staring into the contents of his glass, lost in thought. “I’m fine.”

Then he turned to look at her again, setting the glass down on the table. “I should apologize to you. I was rude earlier and you didn’t deserve what I said.”

“Apology accepted.” She tried to smile, wanting to show she had forgiven him. He just took a longer sip of champagne, avoiding her eyes. Talking about emotions and feelings had always been an awkward subject for the two of them, so neither knew how to handle it.

Unsure what else to say, she sat back in her chair and glanced around at the others who were dancing under the glow of thousands of fireflies.