Beyond Broken (29 page)

Who was that man? She knew most of the men who routinely attended these gatherings. Since everything that had happened to her sister, she had made it quite understood that she wasn’t on the marriage mart. Rather, she was here for personal reasons. The suitors had come to a halt and she was thankful. No one flirted with her in earnest. Yet that man seemed quite determined in his gaze, in his attention. Perhaps he was visiting family.

“Emma?” Lenore’s voice called to her and she turned to find her friend approaching.

“Lenore! There you are!” Emma smiled in return and welcomed her dear friend. If there was any couple that almost restored hope to the idea of marriage, it was the Earl and Countess of Hewett. There had never been a couple so in love, at least none that Emma had witnessed herself.

“I wanted to warn you… I met a gentleman tonight who seemed quite taken with you.” Lenore’s voice dropped in volume and her eyes scanned the crowd behind Emma, then widened. “And here he is…”

“Excuse me?” Emma questioned and began to turn, but Lenore shook her head.

“Countess Hewett. A pleasure to see you once again!” A rich baritone voice demanded Emma’s attention. As she turned towards the warm sound, her eyes widened. The very same man who had winked at her from across the room was now standing beside her. He was taller than she’d assumed, reaching a good six inches above her five-foot six-inch frame. His hair appeared to have reddish highlights from the sun and his skin was indeed quite tanned. He bowed crisply and then turned. His eyes were the color of melted chocolate and immediately Emma’s body betrayed her with a warming attraction. His gaze seemed oddly familiar and confident, as if he knew her already.

“A pleasure, Miss Kingsly. I’ve been anticipating making your acquaintance once more.” He bowed and accepted Emma’s hand, placing a light kiss to her glove, creating a wave of awareness that overcame her. “I believe one of our more memorable interludes included a cold refusal, but in your defense, you were only nine.” His grin widened and a rakish gleam filled his eye.

Shock caught her completely unaware, stalling her usual quick wit.
It couldn’t be!
“Hudson? I mean… Lord Daventry?”
Scrawny Hudson with the muddy brown eyes? He hadn’t been around for years! Wasn’t he in India?
That explained the warm color of his hair and tanned skin. Her manners kicked in and she remembered the reason for his return to London.

“Please accept my condolences for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man.” Emma spoke reverently.

“Thank you.” He nodded and turned to Lenore, who had obviously been watching the entire exchange judging by the crooked grin on her face.

“I… er… Please excuse me,” Lenore murmured demurely and hustled away, leaving them alone.

Emma watched her friend leave and narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t be upset with her. She is probably just missing her husband. I must say it’s refreshing to see two people so much in love.” Hudson’s voice drew her attention back to his gloriously handsome face.

“Yes. I’m very pleased for them.” Emma took a deep breath and waited. Hudson gave her a wicked yet enticing grin. To her intense displeasure, he seemed satisfied to simply stand there like an idiot.

“How was India?” Emma asked after a few silent moments.

“Splendid. I do miss it, I must admit. Though I don’t miss the insects. Absolutely miserable.” He offered a mock shudder.

“Is it all that we read about? Or quite different than you expected?” Emma asked after another moment.

“Both. One cannot accurately describe the climate or culture. It’s far different from anything we’ve ever seen. But you can be better prepared by reading about it, I’d say.” He spoke lightly, yet his intense gaze betrayed his light words and made her want to squirm.

Emma found her suspicion and confusion growing by the moment. He’d often worn that same expression as a lad, and it had never bode well for anyone. Finally, she couldn’t handle it anymore.

“Just what are you doing?” she whispered, glancing about to make sure they didn’t have an audience.

“Splendid. It’s working then!”

“What’s working?” Emma asked impatiently.

“Oh, nothing. It’s pleasant to know you haven’t changed that much, Emma. I mean… Miss Kingsly. You’ll save me a waltz later?” He bowed and left before Emma could refuse. His shoulders seemed broader as he walked away. The tight fit of his coat accentuated his masculine form and Emma scolded herself for the physical attraction she felt.
It’s only temporary…

Coming Soon!

Whispered Lies

Prologue

Watching her from across the room was the most perfect of torture. As much as I wanted her, I knew she'd never be mine. So I allowed myself to simply burn, experiencing the pain as a reminder that she was close, but also a warning that she was almost too close. The thin line that existed was the tightrope I walked each day, yet like an addict I continued to push the limit, just waiting, hoping against the impossibility.

Class ended and I stood up, still watching her from the corner of my eye. She was graceful in a way I doubted anyone else noticed. Every movement was fluid, part of the previous one that transitioned effortlessly into the second, the third till her every motion became part of the dance. A melody hummed in my mind, I'd write it down later, maybe. But I needed to go.

The rest of the day went by like a boring litany that continued forever. I tapped my pen on my notebook and then realized the professor was glaring at me. Setting it down I turned my attention to the clock, mentally calculating the seconds it would take till I was free. When class was finally released I was first out the door, my eyes scanning the crowd eagerly, searching for her.

After all, the heart always wants what it can never have.

I knew she'd never look at me twice.

But that didn't stop my heart from beating for her.

Because when you were the reason her twin brother was killed... there was no hope for redemption. Ever.

Excerpt

“Seriously, man.
Where is your head?” Raphael taunted me as he
held the bag for my right hook.

Slam

“Sorry. I’ll focus.” I shook my head. Trying to get the vision of her smile out of my mind. So, instead I thought about the bastard that tried to hurt her. Zeroing in on the target, I imagined his face. Though I didn’t see it, I imagined someone ugly, evil and smirking.
With scars. Rage built in my chest and I unleashed my wrath on the bag. After a few well placed hits, I swung around and kicked it. My body burned from the red haze that surrounded me but I didn’t stop. Attacking again I ducked, anticipating a hit then returned a jab low, then higher. But it wasn’t enough. Sweat poured off my face as I continued to battle my unseen enemy. Her enemy. After a final kick I relaxed my posture and wiped the salt sweat from my eyes, blinking against the sting it had caused.

“Okay…
you wanna tell me what that was about?” Raphael lifted his hands and backed away from the bag slowly. “I mean, I’m all for you going ape-ass crazy during your work out but…dude you alright?” His dark eyebrows furrowed over his almost black gaze as he studied me.

“Fine.” I shrugged and turned, walking away as I caught my breath.

“Nope. Not buying it.” I heard his footsteps behind me and turned, knowing it was futile to shrug it off when he something in his head. He was worse than a dog with a bone.

“I…
I met Brynn.”

“Holy—”

"Yeah.”

Raphael ran his fingers down his face and stared at me. “Are you going to tell me about it or do I need to beat it from you?” He half-joked.

“The beating won’t be necessary…” I shook my head and grinned slightly.

“Faster,
Cinderella…
I don’t have
‘til midnight.”

“You’d be one ugly damsel in distress…” I gave a mock shudder. He cocked a brow and I continued. “It…
I didn’t have a choice. Really.” I held up my hands as Raphael rolled his eyes and crossed his thick arms.

“Sure. Let’s say I believe you. Continue.”

“I was leaving the campus library a few nights ago and well…
Brynn was leaving too.”

“And you were being the freaky stalker.”

“No! I wasn’t.” I held up my hands in defense. “But it was damn good thing I did follow her a bit though.” I ran my hand through my hair, slick with sweat.

“And the stalker speaks.” Raphael grinned, shaking his head.

“She was attacked,
dumbass. Don’t start with me.” I lost my cool and took a few steps away. My nostrils flared with my angry breathing.

“Sorry, dude. I didn’t know.” He spoke in an apologetic tone.

“I know. Sorry I got upset. You are a dumbass though.” I turned back with a grin.

“Takes one…” Raphael let the phrase linger. “What happened next? Did you kill the bastard? Do I need to call Tico?” Raphael rubbed his hands together while referencing his inside joke.

“No…
don’t call Tico. I didn’t kill anyone. There’s no
dead
body
to hide,
but damn I wish there was. I was more concerned about her, making sure she was alright, you know? He got away. If I chased him she would have been left defenseless.”

“You did the right thing, man.” Raphael stepped up and slapped my shoulder.

“I know…
but she recognized me the next day.”

“Ah, the plot thickens.”

“And followed me out of class…”

“Which I’m sure you totally hated.”

“And then she touched me and,
man…
I lost every freaking thought in my head.”

“Not that there were many to begin with…”

“Seriously? I’m totally jacked up here. What the hell do I do?” I held my hands out in surrender.

“You walk away. Fast. Like run. Because I know you…
that girl will own you. She already does. And when she finds out the truth, because you’ll need to level with her one day…” Raphael shook his head and mumbled something in Spanish I couldn’t catch. “Not all people are able to move past things,
Alder…
not all people are able to forgive.” He sighed heavily. “They don’t realize that the one captured by the unforgiveness isn’t the one who committed the crime, but the one who holds the grudge.”

“I know…
and I kept telling myself the same thing…”

“‘Til your hormones yelled louder.”

“Something like that.” My shoulders slumped.

“So after she touched you and got you all hot and bothered…
what happened?”

My gaze shifted to the floor, knowing Raphael was going to call me loco. “She just wanted to thank me. I told her I didn’t need
it
and tried to walk away but she wouldn’t let me…”

“Thus the touching…”

“Yeah…
so we sat down
and had coffee… not a big deal—”

“Like hell it is. Man, if I hadn’t seen the disaster you were not two years ago I’d totally be willing to stand by and watch you screw up your life.”

“Thanks.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Whatever. But dude. I’m the one you’re going to come crawling back to, the one that’s going to try to pick up the freaking shattered pieces of your pathetic existence if you don’t stop this shit now.
A hora
.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Okay. This is a big deal, this is why.” He strode past me and took off his wrap around gloves, throwing them angrily against the mat. Thick shoulders heaved a deep breath before he turned to me again.

“Alder…
You can’t go back.”

“You think I want to?” I whispered, my voice jagged and raw as the memories of my past flooded my mind, making each breath painful with regret.

“You don’t get it man. You didn’t see what I saw…” He paused, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brow as he regarded
me. “You were this close to losing it. Between the antidepressants—”

“Those were a big help.” I interrupted with a mocking glare.

“Yeah.” He shook his head.

“And all the regret and guilt you carried…
Twice,
Alder…
you almost took your life twice. The second time? All I can say is that God just didn’t want you yet…
Can’t say I blame him either. You really can be a pain in the ass.” Raphael rubbed the back of his neck.