Renegade Moon (CupidKey) (15 page)

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.

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 still 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.

Eric and Iris moved immediately toward Lee and Eric reached for the photo. Iris was faster, pulling it out of Lee’s hand. Eric took hold of it, but Iris maintained her grip as they held it between them.

“It’s a birthday present,” Eric informed them.

“A
birthday
present?” Iris snickered. “Just what you need, a picture of a sunset. I mean, there are so few sunsets out here you might forget what one looks like! Who’s it from?”

As if she didn’t know.
Mentally chewing brimstone and breathing fire, Destiny reached them. Eric glanced at her. “Destiny gave it to me.” He wrested the photo away from Iris. “She took the picture.”

“Oh.” Voice dripping with disdain, Iris added, “How sweet. I suppose photographers do give away samples of their work. It’s, ah, a very nice sunset.”

Destiny and Iris both stood there, testing what Eric would say or do. He gazed at the photo for a long moment, then turned abruptly and started inside.

“I like it,” he flung back over his shoulder, disappearing through the screen door.

Destiny moved away, unable to remain close to Iris another second, and Martin appeared before her to smile into her face. He ran a hand lightly up and down her arm.

“It’s one heck of a game, isn’t it, sugar?”

“I don’t think I want to play anymore.”

“Come on, dance with me. That’s a good song.” He pulled her into his arms and she took refuge there, resting her head against him, following his graceful style easily. She felt a great big ocean of tears just aching to flood her eyes and she had to swallow determinedly. Her toe caught on an uneven spot and she missed a step.

“Whoops,” Martin said, steadying her. “Too much champagne?”

“I don’t drink it, Martin. Tastes yukky.” Then she clamped her lips together because she’d nearly burst into tears.

“I know,” he murmured softly. “Just teasing.”

Not daring to risk speech, Destiny nodded her head against him. She wanted these people to go home so she could flee to her room, lie down, and make this sore lump leave her throat. How could a stupid picture of a sunset match a gold and diamond watch? Yet, he didn’t seem to want the watch. And it certainly wasn’t his style. Suddenly she saw it in her mind’s eye and it brought forth a giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Martin asked against her hair.

“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.” She saw that Eric was back outside.

The song ended and Martin gave her a hug and released her. He walked away toward Iris, and Destiny realized Eric was coming to her. She didn’t want to face him! Pretending she didn’t notice his approach, she quickly walked down the porch steps and wandered out among the vehicles. In moments, big hands seized her waist, lifting her up onto the fender of a truck.

“What do you think you’re doing out here in the dark wearing those sandals?” Eric demanded through gritted teeth. “You could step on a rattlesnake.”

He still held her waist, and she gripped his arms. “Don’t you dare use that tone to me!”

Taking a breath as if to retort, he instead exhaled a sigh. Much to Destiny’s shock, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against her shoulder.

“Oh, babe. Bear with me. Just bear with me.”

She placed a hand to the back of his head, weaving her fingers through his thick hair. Her heart turned upside down, not only at his nearness, but at his sudden vulnerability. Somehow she felt he referred to something other than the barbeque, Iris and the gold watch, and the neglected photo. Her other arm slid around his wide shoulders and she rested her cheek against his ear.

“Eric, tell me. Please tell me what it is.” Her topsy-turvy heart thumped crazily. She felt his pain, a nameless thing, and it twisted inside her until she almost lost her breath. For a brief moment he allowed himself to be held, comforted, then he straightened and leaned against the truck. His mask dropped back into place.

Destiny wanted to grab him, shake him, re-open the channel that had flowed between them. But she could see that he’d retreated behind his wall of glass, his barriers safely raised again.

People were drifting toward the vehicles, sorting through coolers and locating personal items. Eric swept her off the fender, strode with her in his arms to the porch, and deposited her there. He turned away to take an outstretched hand, and kept busy with farewells for the next few minutes. Finally, only Lee and Iris remained.

“You
are
taking him home, aren’t you?” Eric asked Iris.

“Oh, of course. It seems to be my calling in life to drive Lee home from functions when he’s drunk!” Displeasure pinched her pretty, aristocratic face.

Lee snored gently in his lounge chair.

Martin tugged at him. “Come on, fella.”

“Huh?” Lee opened bleary eyes.

“Let’s get in the car.” Martin hauled him to his feet, Eric took Lee’s other arm, and they walked Lee out and deposited him in the Corvette. Iris followed, hovering around Eric until Lee was out of the way.

Martin leaned over and kissed Iris quickly on the mouth. “Goodnight, beautiful,” he said lightly before stepping back and dashing up onto the porch beside Destiny.

“Goodnight, Iris,” Eric said, turning away, but she caught his arm.

“Wait a minute!” She threw her arms around his neck. He reached to take hold of them, but her mouth found his. He pulled his head back, breaking the kiss, and gently, but firmly, removed her arms from their firm grasp.

“Thank you for the party, Iris,” she said in savage mimicry. “Thank you for the watch, Iris. Oh, gee, Eric. It was nothing. Really nothing at all!” Whirling, she marched around to the driver’s side and snatched the door open.

Eric moved behind her and held the door with his hand, preventing her from getting into the car.

“All right, I’m sorry. Thank you. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

She reached for him but he held up his hands to block her. “Goodnight, Iris,” he repeated and, turning quickly, stepped up onto the porch. Without stopping or glancing at Destiny and Martin, he continued on inside.

Iris whipped the Corvette around and headed out. Martin and Destiny went inside. Eric stood by the sink in the kitchen with a glass of water, holding the aspirin bottle. He tossed down a couple, then walked back toward Destiny and Martin.

A sly grin crept over Martin’s face. “You really cleaned up, little brother,” he said in that snide tone he used so effectively. “Big fancy diamond watch . . .”

Eric halted beside the dining table and pointed a finger at Martin. “Don’t you start on me. I’ve got a headache and I feel rotten, so don’t you start on me!” He ripped the watch from his arm and threw it onto the table. “You can have the damn thing for all I care!” With that, he stormed down the hallway to his room.

Martin put his hands over his eyes and tilted his head back. “Rats,” he breathed. He slid his hands up and locked his fingers on top of his head as if only that could pull his head back into normal position. He smiled sadly at Destiny. Before either could speak, Estrella came in from the west wing.

“I will bring in the lamps,” she said. “All the other work can wait until morning, no?”

“There’s not much left out there,” Martin told her. “They even sacked up the trash and took it.”