Beauty's Kiss (17 page)

She nearly started. His shoulders heaved. He made a rough sound deep in his chest.

He was crying. Or trying not to cry.

Either way, it broke her heart.

She wrapped an arm around his waist, squeezed him, feeling the crisp frost on his coat. He was chilled through.

“What happened?” she whispered.

He wouldn’t look at her. He turned his head so she couldn’t see his face. “Can’t live like this. Can’t continue like this.”

For a second she couldn’t breathe. “The depression’s back?”

“It never goes.”

“Then we don’t have you on the right medicine.”

“I’ve been telling everyone that, but no one listens.”

“I’m listening.”

“It’s too late. They’ll arrest me now for leaving the ranch.”

“But if you needed help, medical help—”

“It doesn’t matter.” He ran his hand beneath his eyes. “Doesn’t change me. Doesn’t change my future. Can’t live like this, Taylor. I’d be better off dead.”

“Well, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t imagine life without you.” She squeezed his shoulders again, pressing as close as she could, needing to send love into him, through him, healing love, and hope. She needed hope, too. She loved her brother more than anything. Her parents might have abandoned him, but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Ever. “We just need the right doctor and the right medicine and we just have to take it one step at a time.”

“I’m so sorry, Taylor. I’m so sorry for everything.”

“It’s not your fault. Your brain is wired differently, but it’s still a beautiful brain, and you are a beautiful man and we’re going to get this sorted out. I promise.”

He lifted his head and looked at her. “You think?”

She inhaled as she saw his black eye and swollen nose. “What happened?”

His head dropped again. “Nothing.”

Something had happened. His face was black and blue. Taylor squeezed her hand into a fist. “Who did it?”

“Had a fight, that’s all.”

“With who?”

“Doesn’t matter. I left Hogue. I broke my contract. I’ll be going to jail.”

“Maybe. And maybe not,” Taylor said, remembering what McKenna had said about hiring a good attorney. Maybe it was time to ask for favors from her friends here. McKenna knew the right people. Maybe it was time to reach out and ask for help. Brock Sheenan might be a good person to approach. The worst thing he could do was say no. “We’ll go to Kara’s,” she added. “Make some calls, come up with a plan. Alright?”

“Who will we call tonight? Isn’t that Valentine Ball taking place this evening over at the Graff?”

The Ball.

Troy.

Taylor’s eyes suddenly burned and her heart fell, tumbling to her feet. “Yes,” she whispered, going cold.

She was going to miss the Ball. There was no way she could go now. Doug was in trouble. He needed her. She couldn’t desert him.

Taylor dreaded breaking the news to Troy, but she couldn’t put it off. He deserved the truth, and he should hear it sooner than later.

Chapter Eleven

Troy was in the shower in his suite at the Graff when the text arrived. He didn’t notice the text until he’d finished shaving and dressing. It was while he was adjusting his tie in front of the bathroom mirror that his phone, left on the gleaming white marble counter, caught his eye.

He had a message.

He picked up the phone, checked it. It was from Taylor.

Doug showed up at the library this afternoon. He’s gotten himself into some trouble. Can’t go tonight. So very sorry. Apologies!!

He read the message a second time, disappointment washing through him.

She was bailing on him at the last minute, and yes, her brother was more important than the Ball, but he’d be lying if he didn’t have some mixed emotions. He told himself she wasn’t rejecting him, but in light of all the ups and downs of the past week, perhaps he should have expected this.

Perhaps Taylor Harris was not the most reliable woman. Perhaps she was so wrapped up in her brother that there wasn’t time for anyone, or anything else. Or perhaps her brother was in crisis as she’d said... which meant that of course she needed to be with him.

Troy had a twin brother that was always in some sort of trouble. He knew better than any that there were some situations beyond one’s control. And this was one.

His disappointment over not attending with Taylor shifted to concern for her. She probably wasn’t happy at all right now. And God knows what trouble Doug had gotten himself into.

Troy frowned at his phone, wondering if he should call her. Did she need help? Was there something he could do?

Troy dragged a hand through his still damp hair before shooting her a brief response.

Family comes first. Do what you have to do and don’t worry about me. But are you okay? Do you need anything?

He hit send on the text and slipped his phone into the pocket of his black tuxedo trousers and went to work styling his hair and giving his tie one last little tweak.

He still needed to slip on his jacket, but he looked alright. Shouldn’t embarrass himself or anyone else tonight.

He was perfectly fine going to the Ball solo. And it’s not as if Taylor was the only one to cancel on the Valentine Ball at the last minute. Dillon had decided to stay home with Dad. And out in California Daisy had a violent stomach bug so Cormac chose to stay with her instead of getting on a plane for Marietta.

He respected both Dillon and Cormac for making good choices. And if Taylor’s brother, Doug, was in trouble, then she was doing the right thing, staying home with him.

Fortunately, Brock and Harley were still joining him at the Sheenan table, and Jane and Mitch would be there, too. So what if it was now a table of five instead of ten? Sheenans liked having some elbow room.

Taylor read the text from Troy and it was a very nice text from him. He’d said exactly the right thing, behaved as a gentleman should, but it didn’t make her feel better.

She didn’t want to miss the Ball.

She didn’t want to sit and watch TV with Doug, or order a pizza as Kara had suggested. But that’s what she was going to do, because it was the right thing to do.

Kara disagreed. She thought Taylor should still go, and she reminded Taylor that she was at the house tonight, wrapping up some work stuff so she could take off next week to go skiing with friends from law school without worrying about anything. “I’m here,” Kara said. “I’ll keep him company. We’ll have pizza—”

“I’ve already told Troy I’m not going.”

Until that moment, Doug hadn’t any idea that Taylor had been invited to the big Ball and he was upset that Taylor was missing the event because of him.

“Why don’t you go?” he asked Taylor, joining his sister and Kara in the kitchen where they’d been trying to decide on what pizza to order. “It’s still early. You can make it.”

“It’s fine—”

“It’s not,” he interrupted. “It’s bad enough I screwed up my probation but I don’t need to screw up your life, too.”

“You’re not screwing it up.”

“All I’ve ever done is screw it up.” He leaned against the counter and dug his hands into his jean pockets. “Taylor, I’m not going to go anywhere tonight. I’m not going to do anything bad. I’m going to eat pizza and watch TV and crash early. I’m tired. But I’m not crazy or a flight risk. I’m not going to do anything stupid tonight. I’ve done enough, walking out of Hogue. I know I’m in trouble.”

“I don’t think you’re in as much trouble as you think,” Kara said. “We’ll take some pictures tonight of your black eye and bruises, and tomorrow if need be, Taylor can take you to a doctor and get a medical exam. The photos and exam will serve as evidence that Hogue isn’t protecting you, and that you’re in danger there. I’m not able to represent you, but in my opinion, if you’re getting beat up at Hogue, you need to leave, and have grounds to leave. We just need the right attorney and we’re going to work this out.”

Doug glanced at Taylor and back to Kara. “You really think so?”

“Hogue was never the right place for you,” Kara said. “And it’s time we sorted this out, once and for all.” She gave Taylor a look. “And you... you really should go to the Ball. If you stay home tonight, Doug’s just going to worry and feel guilty, and responsible, and there’s no reason for that. There’s no reason for you
not
to go. Get dressed, do your hair and drive over. Surprise Troy.”

“Surprise Troy,” Taylor repeated.

Kara nodded. “Live a little.”

“Or live a lot,” Doug added with a lopsided smile.

Taylor looked at her brother, saw his hopeful expression and felt the warmth steal back into her heart. Maybe they were right. Maybe it was time she
lived a lot
.

A half hour later Taylor stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Her breath caught in her throat as she gently touched the skirt of her pale pink tulle gown, the tulle dotted with glossy red spangles. She watched herself in the mirror as she lightly ran her hand up the gown’s fitted, boned bodice to the plunging neckline.

The ball gown pushed her breasts up, squeezed her waist smaller, and shaped her hips, revealing far more of her slender frame than Taylor was normally comfortable with, because good librarians didn’t show off their breasts, or flaunt their hips, or draw attention to any other part of their bodies.

But tonight Taylor didn’t want to be an anxious librarian.

Tonight she didn’t want to be a librarian at all. She didn’t want to be the smart one, or the good one, or the responsible one who was always rescuing, protecting and defending her brother.

No, tonight, for one night, she’d be someone else. She’d be someone different, someone beautiful and glamorous and fun, and she’d go to the Valentine Ball at the Graff Hotel and have fun.

She wasn’t even sure what fun felt like, but she knew that whenever she was with Troy she felt good.

She felt happy.

That’s the feeling she wanted tonight. Good and happy.

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. Taylor opened the door and faced Kara. “What do you think?” she asked shyly.

Kara’s eyes opened wide. “You’re wearing the Lily Jewel gown.”

“You said I should live a little.” Taylor lightly stroked her fingers across the full skirt with the circle spangles. “I feel like a walking carnival or circus.”

“You look gorgeous.”

“It’s the dress.”

“It’s
you
, in the
dress
.” Kara walked around Taylor to inspect her properly. “I love that you’re also wearing your hair up. Very chic.”

“There was no time to get a blow out.”

“Looks good.” Kara tilted her head to the side. “What about earrings?”

“I have my diamond studs.”

“Those will work. And your make up looks good. I love the eyeliner and mascara, too.”

“Thought I’d better wear more make up since I’ve got my contacts in.”

“You’re a knock out.”

“No—”

“Yes,” Kara insisted. “Poor Troy. He isn’t going to know what hit him.”