Forgotten Dreams (11 page)

"We'd love to," she replied, so enthusiastically that Toni was tempted to apply some of the same measures she'd used against her flighty cousin as a child . . . starting with a swift kick in the rear!

I will not be manipulated, she thought stormily as she watched Christian sprawl comfortably on the sofa with Susie seated in a chair to his right. Toni took a step forward as though accepting the invitation, then paused behind a chair.

She rested her hands on the tall back and assumed what she hoped was a proper expression of regret. "A cup of coffee sounds like heaven, but it's almost time for Aunt Sara's appointment."

"I thought Mrs. D was taking her," Susie said.

"We've had to alter our usual plans somewhat," Toni lied without a trace of remorse. She met the chilling "You'll be sorry" look in Christian's eyes with an unconscious tilt of her small stubborn chin. "Why don't you take your doctor's advice and rest. You've been far too active this morning. I'll see both of you later."

As she scooted through the tall hedges, Toni felt a sense of overwhelming relief. Her brief encounter with Christian the night before was nothing compared to what Susie had interrupted.

Getting within six feet of the damned man was proving to be as dangerous as going crvei 'Niagaia Falls in a brown paper bag. She decided she would have to arrange their future meetings in such a way as to eliminate the intimate little encounters that seemed to keep occurring between them.

Brent had advised Christian to take it easy for a couple of days. So, Toni concluded as she neared the back door of the cottage, that leaves a day and a half to get through. I sincerely hope Mrs. D can cope, for nothing short of Christian Barr being near death will

get me alone with him again. "As for my cousin," Toni murmured out loud, plotting in her mind a suitable revenge, "I'll probably choke her."

But at that precise moment Susie was doing her best to play Cupid. After Toni's hurried exit from the room, she favored Christian with a sweet, apologetic smile. "I do hope your feelings aren't hurt by my cous- in's rather strange behavior."

"Not at all," he assured her as he accepted the cup of coffee she offered him. "She seems to be preoccu- pied, as though something's bothering her," he said with a perfectly straight face.

"Oh, she is," Susie rushed to explain. "She became engaged to an awful man shortly after her parents died. Right before she came to us, she found out that her fiance was seeing another woman. The poor dear was crushed. She's such a gentle, frail person, the whole ordeal was almost too much for her to endure."

"Indeed," Christian soberly intoned, struggling to keep from laughing as he remembered "gentle and frail" Antonia all but beheading her fiance. "I'm sure you're a great comfort to her."

"Oh, I mean to be more than that." Susie grinned mischievously. "I fully intend to see my cousin married before she has a chance to leave Natchez."

Christian sat back and listened to the woman recount her plans to get Toni married off. One part of him was amused by her antics; another part of him was not at all pleased that there would shortly be a succession of men parading through Antonia's life.

"Well?" Susie asked later that evening as soon as she got Toni alone in the kitchen on the pretext of helping her serve dessert. "What do you think of Raymond?"

"He's . . . nice."

"Which means?"

"He's bossy, opinionated, and a large pain in the behind," Toni said bluntly as she added hot raisin sauce to the pudding she was spooning into some dessert dishes. "As much as I love you, Susan Louise, I'm not sure I'm looking forward to meeting any more of the eligible bachelors of your acquaintance."

"Don't back out now," her cousin said with a very serious expression on her face. "I haven't even begun my campaign." She reached for a tray, added the four desserts, then grinned at Toni. "To be honest with you, though, Raymond is at the bottom of my list. But he was the only one I could get on such short notice."

"Thanks a lot," Toni muttered. "I feel exactly like some old frump you're trying to unload. If Raymond is the best you can do, sweetie, then I'm positive I'd rather live a single life."

"No, no, no," Susie said with determination. "I'll see you married off if I have to invite every single man in the state to dinner."

"Why on earth are you so obsessed with the idea of seeing me shackled to some man?"

"Because you're intelligent, pretty, and have a lot to offer some lucky guy. I also don't want you feeling inadequate or unlovable because of what happened with that wimp Steven."

Toni leaned one elbow on the surface of the counter and looked at her cousin fondly. "You know, Susie, there are times when you truly amaze me."

Susie stared down at the tray, then at Toni, a combination of love and understanding in her blue eyes.

"Even though we're as different as day and night,we've always been closer than sisters, Toni. And although you've put up a great front, I can tell you're hurting." They continued to stare at each other for several seconds, smiles of understanding all the communication they needed.

"Well," Toni finally said, "let's see if dear old Raymond can dispose of this pudding as quickly as he did the casserole."

Not only did Raymond polish off the dessert as if he hadn't had a morsel of food in days, but he endlessly related to Toni the success he enjoyed in breeding and showing his German shepherds.

It didn't take Brent and Susie long to realize Raymond was totally smitten with Toni and wasn't about to allow anyone to deprive him of one single minute of her time. Finally they gave up their attempts at conversation. They had no recourse but to sit back, smother their grins, and hope Toni wouldn't seek revenge immediately after dinner.

When it came time to end the evening, Toni almost choked at Raymond's insistence that he follow her home.

She assured him that it wasn't necessary and that she was an excellent driver. Brent and Susie also did their best to dissuade him, but Raymond was adamant.

And as she drove the few miles back to Cart-laigne, Toni steadily cursed the twin beams of light reflected in her rearview mirror, and her darling cousin's penchant for matchmaking.

On reaching her destination, Toni quickly grabbed her keys and purse and was out of her car well before her escort drew to a stop. She rushed back to bid him a firm good night.

"Now, you don't really think I'm going to let our

evening end this way, do you?" He smiled broadly as he opened the door and stepped out.

"Well, I can't see why not," Toni said shortly. She'd enough of Raymond, his voracious appetite, and his damn dogs. "My aunt isn't feeling well and I really

can't ask you in." That wasn't exactly the truth. She was free to have guests at any time. But not this eve ning, and definitely not Raymond.

"Then we'll take a walk," he suggested, reaching out and dropping a heavy arm across her shoulders.

"But it's foggy and damp, as well as being a little chilly.”

"Exercise will do us good after that delicious dinner Susie cooked," he continued, ignoring Toni's protests.

"Really, Raymond, I—"

"Your aunt has been asking for you, Antonia," came a stern, deep voice from the shadows of the overgrown barrier that separated the two houses. "I hardlyt hink she would approve of you lurking in the dark like some fifteen-year-old."

Toni's first reaction upon hearing Christian's voice was an overwhelming sense of relief. For once in hisworthless life he was serving a useful purpose, or so it seemed, judging by her date's reaction.

"Who on earth is that?" Raymond asked in a stage whisper, jerking his arm away as if it had been burned.

Toni chewed thoughtfully at her bottom lip for a moment, then turned back to Raymond. "My aunt employs a small but efficient staff. They're very loyal

to the family."

I see." Raymond nodded, catching a glimpse of the man shrouded by the bushes. "Perhaps we'll take a raincheck on that walk." He laughed nervously.

Before she could reply, he grabbed a startled Toni, pulled her against him, then planted a hard kiss on her lips.

A muttered "By damn, that rips it!" and the sharp rustling of bushes accounted for Toni's instant release.

Raymond did an about-face, jumped into his car. and reversed the entire distance down the long, curving driveway.

"I do not care to see you mauled by the likes of that slimy bastard!" Christian roared at Toni as he cleared the barrier and came face-to-face with her.

"Well, if you kept your shades down on this side of the house, you wouldn't have that problem," she threw at him. Her initial feeling of gratitude toward him had vanished and was now replaced by anger. Who did he think he was, telling her what she could and couldn't do? "I've no intention of conducting my social life to please you."

"Not even if it also pleases you?" Christian asked in a quiet voice. "I'll admit our relationship seems to have gotten off to a bumpy start, Antonia, but I do mean to become a very visible part of your future."

Toni stamped one foot impatiently. "We do not have a relationship, bumpy or otherwise. And you have about as much chance of becoming a part of my future as a snowball has in hell."

Without another word, she whirled around and ran toward the safety of the cottage.

Christian stood staring after her, one large hand thoughtfully pulling at his chin. Antonia Grant was proving to be something of a challenge. A slow grin tugged at the corners of his sensuous mouth as he saw his plans for her quick seduction fall by the wayside.

Knowing she would be in Natchez had clinched his decision as to where to spend his time off. He'd visualined numerous idyllic evenings beneath a southern moon, with the scent of magnolias filling the air as he swept his "prize" off her feet and into his bed.

Unfortunately he hadn't counted on such open hos-tility. It was a new and rather novel experience, having a woman thumb her nose at him.

Further.her introspection, however, gradually changed his grin to a puzzled frown. Connie had told him that Antonia was through with Steven Crowell. But was she?

Was it possible that she was still in love with that two-timing bastard? Even Susie had said Antonia was still hurting. Would that hurt create a wall between

her and her ability to enjoy a normal relationship with a man?

He wasn't at all pleased with this last thought. She deserved a man who would love and protect her . . . a man who would cherish and spoil her. At that mo-ment Christian resolved that he would be that man, that he would be the one to wipe away all the hurt and disappointment Toni had suffered.

CHAPTER SEVEN

"How's the patient?" Susie asked, sighing with anticipation as Toni placed a thick slice of Mrs. D's fresh coconut cake before her.

"Driving me crazy," Toni answered with a frown. She sat down opposite her cousin, then reached for her coffee. "He's milking his injury for everything it's worth. I've already been over there three times today and it's only eleven thirty."

"Well, today is the third day and his need for a nurse is over." Susie grinned.

Toni leveled a narrow look at her cousin. "I fail to see the slightest bit of humor in this entire situation. As you know, the doctor said after Aunt Sara's last visit that her health is failing rapidly. That means there's no telling how long I'll be here, stuck with that pest next door."

"Don't let him bother you," Susie told her. "I've got your evenings planned for the next two weeks. I've never enjoyed anything as much. Although for the life of me, I can't understand why you feel toward Christian as you do. If you would set your mind to it, you could become Mrs. Barr before Christmas." "Good Lord!" Toni exclaimed. "I honestly believe you still think children are found under cabbage leaves. That man isn't interested in marriage . . . and for that matter, neither am I. All he wants is to add another notch to his bedpost. Is that what you think I need?"

Susie chewed her cake, her face screwed up into

such a thoughtful expression that Toni was tempted to giggle. "Why not? There are a lot worse things that could happen to you."

"I can't think of a single one at the moment."

"You're being stubborn."

"'It's an inherited trait."

"All right, you win." Susie threw up her hands. "I'll continue to supply you with dross while you ignore the gold next door."

"Thank you." Toni smiled icily. "That's the best news I've heard in days."

They finished their cake and coffee, and while Susie went in to visit with Aunt Sara, Toni grabbed the grocery list Mrs. D had left on the table and slipped out the door.

Just as she reached her car, she was hailed by Chris-tian, who was coming down the steps of the big house. "Are you by any chance going into town?" he asked,shrugging into a light tan jacket as he stopped beside her.

"I'm going to the grocery store and the drugstore have to stop at the cleaners. Would you like me to pick up something for you?" she asked, a note of

resignation in her voice. Was she to have him tied around her neck like a stone for the rest of her life?

Itjust wasn't fair, especially considering how rested he appeared. He looked as if he'd spent a week at some expensive health spa, she thought maliciously.

Her gaze slipped over him from his crisp dark hair to the shiny tips of his shoes in an effort to find a single jarring note in his appearance. Finding nothing but a

disturbingly attractive man in dark tan pants and a brown knit shirt, she gave up ... for the moment

"Do I pass inspection?" Christian asked, amused

He hadn't moved or made any attempt to speak during her critical scrutiny.

"Yes."

"Do you mind if I hitch a ride? I need to do some shopping, and it seems foolish for each of us to drive,"