Rekindled Dreams (22 page)

Opening her mouth to respond, Vena’s thoughts froze. Wedding? This woman actually thought Finn intended to marry her?

“There you are.”
Thia’s breezy voice belied the staccato of her angry footsteps. She fluffed her hair and met Vena’s gaze in the mirror, jerking her head. “Someone’s asking for you, Vena.”

Rachel stepped back and stared to the side. “Excuse me, the lady and I were talking.”

Thia moved to place herself between the two women and extended her hand. “Yes, Ms. Morrison, I heard your ‘conversation’. That’s why I wanted to introduce myself.”

Vena saw the reflection of her sister’s shark-like smile and recognized the take-charge tone in
Thia’s voice. She moved to escape, silently blessing her sister’s timing.

“I’m
Thia Fenton Madison, Mr. Quaid’s campaign manager. All public statements regarding Mr. Quaid’s political and personal life will come from my office.” Her voice quieted. “Is your question really important enough to miss a great party? I’m sure you can wait for tomorrow’s press release.”

As the door closed behind her, Vena barely heard the last comment. She needed quiet and fresh air to settle her thoughts. Striding away from the hotel’s crowded conference rooms, she stopped at a directory, then moved off in a different direction. Once outside, she wandered through the small garden, grateful for a few solitary moments.

The invasion of that reporter proved one final point. She had to accept facts—her home, job, and friends were in California. She brought only disaster to Finn’s world here in Montana. Quickly, she wiped away moisture from the corners of her eyes. “So be it.”

****

Finn chuckled at the sight of Vena strolling through the garden, talking to herself. Amazed that several days ago the same action had him concerned for her mental stability, now he welcomed it as just a part of her personality. “Talking to yourself again, Vena?”

She flinched then relaxed as he stepped into the moonlight. “Just setting myself straight. Finn, I’m so sorry about that tirade with Mr. Chambers. Did
Thia smooth it over?”

Long strides moved him closer, and he held up a hand. “Don’t worry.”

“Let me say this,” her words tumbled out, “I promise it won’t happen again. I’ve learned my lesson about expressing my opinions at a political gathering. Or, for that matter, in the ladies’ room.”

Uh-oh.
The hard-to-follow conversations had started again. “What?”

“Nothing. Was it a total disaster? Was Mr.
Burtell—” As shock covered her features, she gulped back the rest of the sentence.

He hated seeing pain on her beautiful face. Even more so when he knew he was partially to blame. When he first realized his feelings, he should have been upfront with James.

Could he really put his finger on the moment he knew he was in love? Had it been when they’d worked on the repairs together or dressed in the vintage clothes for her museum project? No, they were just getting to know each other then. Could have been when he stepped in at the demonstration, or when they made love, or when she worked past her fear of public speaking to be by his side tonight? He knew attending this event presented a major obstacle but she’d handled it fine.

“Tonight was harder than I imagined. Look at me.” She waved her hands in front of her body. “Don’t I look like my mother? I hate this outfit and especially this…thing.” She unbuckled her belt, pulled it through the dress loops, and swung it in circles at her side before letting it fly. “Ah, that feels great.”

Finn’s gaze followed the path of the flying belt. “Hey, won’t you need that later?”

“Never again.” She took a deep breath and turned, eyes shining. “Didn’t
Thia do a great job with the party? Did you notice how at ease she was mixing with the crowd? I especially admire her ability to talk with so many different characters.”

Unease crept over his skin. Why was he getting a sales pitch on
Thia’s attributes? “Vena? What’s up?”

She paced a few feet away, pivoted, and stalked back, punctuating her words with wild hand movements. “Do you know that after I left the gathering, a reporter cornered me in the ladies’ room? In the restroom, of all places.”

He cupped her shoulders, stopping her in front of him. “What?” His gaze traveled quickly over her body, checking for injuries. “Are you okay?”

“Just mad. She was a Ms. Morrison from MROC news. Ever heard of her?”

“No.” He told himself to breathe again to calm his blood. Not knowing why she was upset didn’t inform him on what battle was coming.

“Well, she knew who I am. She sure peppered me with loads of questions about Chambers and the police demonstration. And she knew about us. She actually accused me of being a shill for your political platform. Then
Thia swooped in”—her hand moved in the imitation of an airplane—“released me from that woman’s clutches, and charmed her into returning to the party.” She ducked her chin, and her last words were spoken barely above a whisper. “Thia’s your perfect partner in this campaign.”

Now he knew what he was battling, he relaxed. “No, she isn’t. Vena—”

“Think of all the expertise she can share. Back in Colorado when Thad was running, she organized—”

“Elfie.” Not wanting to listen to another of
Thia’s accomplishments, he forced a commanding note into his voice.

Her body went limp, and her hands still hung at her sides.

“Come sit with me.” He grasped her elbow and started toward a wooden bench.

“I can’t.” She yanked her arm and pulled away. “First, I have to tell you my decision.”

That sounded ominous, but his determination took over. “No, it’s my turn.” He placed hands on her shoulders and pressed until she sat. “Granted, this is not the gazebo at The Shamrocks. Sounds like tonight has been important for both of us. You were wonderful in there. Don’t shake your head. I thought you were great.” He reached out and wrapped his hands around hers. “I loved the way you stood up to Chambers and put him on the defensive. Too bad we didn’t figure out why he reacted so strongly.”

“So, you spotted that, too. Ms. Morrison said something about him receiving state kickbacks.” She shifted on the bench. “Do you know what that means?”

“Yes, but I don’t care.” His thumb rubbed circles on the back of her hand.

“But you have to.” She jumped up and faced him. “Finn, you need to keep up on these things. These kickbacks could become an important campaign issue.”

“For someone else.” He captured her hand and guided her back to the bench. “There’s not going to be a campaign. At least, not for me.”

“Maybe,
Thia could put out some—” Her words choked off and then she whispered, “What did you say?”

He waited until her gaze met his. “I can’t consider running for office if it causes this much trouble.”

“Aren’t you used to the publicity and excitement?” Her brows wrinkled.

“I’m not talking about that. Publicity I can handle. The stress of a hectic schedule I’m used to. I’m talking about how this affects you.” He swallowed past the returning
irritation. “You were accosted in the restroom, for God’s sake. That’s a huge invasion of privacy. How did you feel?”

She averted her gaze and fiddled with the hem of her dress.

He hooked a finger on her chin and lifted her face until he could see her eyes. “How did you feel?”

Her lips pressed into a tight line.

The fact she wouldn’t answer told him everything, but he needed to hear her words. “Talk to me, please.”

“I felt a little trapped. But I could learn to be tougher.”

“I don’t want you to learn that.” He brushed a knuckle under chin. “Campaigning would be like that a lot. Little or no more privacy for either of us. Everything we did would be scrutinized.”

“You’re right, that lady knew about the nosy reporter at the demonstration and his accusations.” She pointed at him. “But
Thia knew exactly what to say.”

“No more talk about your sister. This is about us—only you and me.” He tried to keep his voice calm, to let her know the importance of what he said. “See what you’ve done to yourself. When you first walked into the party, I didn’t recognize you. You look, I don’t know…”

“Say it.” Her look was intense.

“You seem like a stranger, dress
ed up in this church-lady dress. I don’t know this Vena, and it scares the hell out of me.” He shifted on the bench and raised his hands to her hair. Slowly, he pulled the combs from her restrained hairstyle and watched the springy curls release. With fumbling hands, he ran his fingers through her hair until it surrounded her head like a halo. “There’s the Elfie I know and love.” He covered her lips with a gentle kiss. “Welcome back.”

Her eyes shone. “Did you—”

“Let me finish. I watched you fight to stifle your opinions, and I hated it. I know you thought you were helping me. But you shouldn’t have. That was too much to ask.”

Her head jerked sideways. “Finn, I wanted to.”

“Sorry, this is not the way I wanted…” He rubbed his face with both hands. “Tonight’s fiasco showed me I don’t want a political office, or even a predictable life.” He watched her expression to gauge her reaction and saw hazel eyes filling with tears. “Vena, do you realize that just two weeks ago I thought I needed all this…” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the hotel. “These people and their connections, to make my life complete. But what I really want is the opposite.”

“I don’t fit your lifestyle.” She shook her head and inched away on the bench. “There’s no place for me.”

His arm snaked around her waist and he stopped her movement. “If you feel like that, then my choice of career is wrong. Without you, I have no life, no future.”

“I bring only chaos to your life.” Her body stiffened.

“Not chaos, Vena—a breath of fresh air, excitement. I need you.” With a gentle hand, he rubbed at the tension in her back.

Her body loosened and a shoulder leaned against his arm.

How he wished his words could extract as quick a response as his massage did. “I need the craziness you bring to my life. Through your eyes, I see things from another angle and that’s good. You challenge me to try harder, to be a better person. Your essence reminds me to be true to my roots—to the promise I made Grandda and myself.”

Under the combination of his words and his hands, she shivered.

His confidence grew. He might be fumbling for the words, but he had to tell her how essential she was to him.

“But I’m not the right person. You need—”

“Haven’t you been listening?” His hand closed around her shoulder and pulled her against his body. The need to stake his claim raged from deep inside. “I don’t want or love Thia. I love you. I need you.” He brushed a kiss against her temple and forced the last words over a dry throat. “And I think you need me, too.”

She twisted under his arm until she met his gaze. A glint came into her eyes and her chin rose. “Really? In what ways?”

At the teasing note in her voice, he felt a knot release in his chest. “Think of me as the brakes that keep you from spinning out of control.” He paused, hearing his words filled with imagery and thinking how unlike him they were. “That sounded crazy.”

“Not exactly crazy, but a bit poetic. Maybe some of the acting has rubbed off.” She grinned. “But I don’t want you like that.”

Panic slammed him in the chest, and he ground out the words. “What are you saying?”

She shifted at his side and rested her hand on his thigh. “I want you beside me, taking encouragement when you need it and giving it when I need it. I want to be with you when we face a new adventure, together. Love shouldn’t be about power and control, but sharing ourselves so we fill the gaps in each other and are stronger for the sharing.” She blinked and let out a nervous laugh. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to tell you this?”

His stomach unclenched and he leaned back against the bench in relief. She was his.

“Let me tell you, that uptight
Finnian who greeted me the first night worried me. I was convinced you and your serious career had killed off all spontaneity. I couldn’t reach the old you, the one I knew so well.” She reached up and ran a hand down his cheek.

He captured her hand and kissed her palm, flicking his tongue along its center.

Her eyes danced, and she sighed. “I’ve loved watching the reemergence of the passionate youth I first fell in love with so long ago.”

“That was you.” He enfolded her and drew her against his chest. “You did that to me.” Tonight, her hair smelled like lemons and he inhaled the scent, fixing the moment in his memory forever.

“But how can this work?” She snuggled close, planting a kiss on his jaw.

He bent forward and captured her mouth in a breath-stealing kiss. He’d do whatever he could to keep this woman by his side. She was his inspiration and he refused to let that go.

Muscles tensing, she pushed away from his embrace, a wrinkle between her eyes. “How can you disappoint those people who believed in you? Those who were willing to back your platform?”

Her sweet face. He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek. “They aren’t as important to me as you are. I can’t disappoint you.”