Black Creek Burning (The Black Creek Series, Book 1) (39 page)

The house was lit to match the thousands of tiny white lights that twined the trees
along the freshly plowed asphalt drive. Each massive beam on the enormous wraparound
porch was circled with dozens of lights. The low-lying junipers in front also were
covered making them look like dazzling icebergs floating in a sea of freshly fallen
white. Greenery tastefully wrapped around the horizontal rails with a spotlight on
the eight-foot wreath adorning the angle of the roof over the garage.

Cars lined the drive and formed a makeshift parking lot along the west side of the
Reed home. They'd hired a temporary valet service and limousines dropped off and parked
down the street. The garage was closed off to the public, but heated for the evening's
help and used as both a coat-check room and an area to prepare food and drink.

Brie had wanted to limit the holiday décor to the outside, leaving Nathan's work exposed
for viewing. He talked her into a few tasteful arrangements and thin greenery wrapping
the stairs. Red candles were scattered throughout, and she had a glimpse of what he
meant when he said he wanted to avoid turning their house into a museum. Just for
tonight, she thought, although she could still imagine the dogs tearing through the
foyer with the boys on their heels by midmorning the next day.

They were across the creek for the night. Her older nieces and nephews had agreed
to make the drive just to babysit, even though they would be back in a few weeks for
the annual New Year's Eve gathering.

Her brothers were like kids in a candy store. They stood under the beamed, wooden
arched entranceway to the dining room. The two of them walked through the house with
their wives like they were walking through that museum.

To the other side of the foyer were spectacular wall-to-wall, built-in bookcases in
what was finally a library off the bottom of the stairs. Visitors drank champagne
from rented crystal flutes as they browsed that room, commenting on Nathan's mahogany
desk and the copper sconces at the entrance.

Liz, Tim, Amanda and Dave stood at the landing up the stairs. Liz wore flats under
her tea-length dress, which was smart since she looked like she was about to give
birth at any moment. Brie watched her flirt with her husband as she inadvertently
placed her hand under her enormous belly.

As aimlessly as she may have appeared to her guests, Brie was itching to find Nathan
as she mingled her way to the back of the house. She wanted so badly for him to feel
the evening was successful.

She glanced out the back kitchen window. The dogs were playing in Liz's backyard.
Beside Liz's house. Brie warmed each time she thought of her sister as her new over-the-creek-neighbor.
Her parents would be so proud they'd kept the house in the family. Liz would be the
official hostess of the New Year's Eve gathering this year.

* * *

Nathan watched her through the crowd. Brie looked beautiful in her flowing silk ivory
gown that reached to just above the heels she wasn't supposed to be wearing. He had
reminded her not to wear them tonight. A corner of his mouth lifted as he decided
it was likely the reason she did. Her hair was bundled in an intricately laced and
braided mass with curled strands falling around her bare neck. The spaghetti straps
lay flat against the delicate muscles in her shoulders.

On his way to her, he passed Lucy, Sylvester and Mackenzie as they sat chatting in
the family room. Brie had been embarrassed that they used her sage couch and loveseat
for that room thinking her furniture didn't quite fit with the evening. He was relieved
that Lucy would have Clifford to help her get through Molly's sentencing. She was
looking at thirty to sixty years.

She had mingled with the crowd over the subtle sound of the quartet that played below
the arch of the stairs. He wondered if anyone noticed the painting of Niagara Falls,
courtesy of an eight-year-old boy, lit up behind the small orchestra. He was pleased
with the floor-to-stairs wainscoting with burled walnut panels.

Walking up behind Brie, he kissed a bare spot just under her ear. "You look ravishing,
Mrs. Reed." He traveled his arms around her protruding sides and rested them on the
round tummy that carried their child.

Brie shivered as he raised her arm and moved his lips to her fingertips. He wondered
if the thrill of the feel of her would ever ebb. She turned and adjusted the crooked
tie that lay underneath his charcoal black tux.

"You look as comfortable and casual as you would in your faded jeans and work boots.
You haven't sweat a drop all night," she said accusingly.

He shrugged a shoulder. "Come. I want you to meet the governor of South Carolina.
He's a great guy, you'll like him. And, oh... he is a Panthers' fan."

She tucked an arm at his side as they headed toward the front. "Not something a girl
hears every day."

The End

Want more from R.T. Wolfe?

Page forward for an excerpt from

FLYING IN SHADOWS

The Back Creek Series

Book Two

Excerpt from

Flying in Shadows

The Black Creek Series

Book Two

by

R.T. Wolfe

Walking in the dark, Andy readjusted his tackle box. Moonlight shone on the dark ripples
creeping down Black Creek. He spotted a raccoon as he crossed the bridge. Startled,
the animal hissed at him. Andy stomped his foot and hissed back; he was in no mood
for it.

In his peripheral vision, he saw movement. Larger movement. A man? The shape disappeared
as quickly as Andy imagined it. When you let yourself get this worked up, you start
seeing things, he chided himself.

He needed Rose.

She would calm him down and lighten his mood, help him feel normal again. He looked
at his watch and winced. What were friends for if you couldn't count on them to be
there? Even at this time of night. Or morning.

* * *

Rose slept soundly in her twin bed dreaming of her favorite spot at the zoo. In the
small rain forest building, she allowed a newly emerged monarch butterfly to dry its
wings on her apron while sharing facts about the insect to one of two visiting young
boys. The other threw pebbles into the nearby wishing pond. The sound of the small
rocks plunked as they hit the stone wall before dropping into the water.

Oh, crap.
She woke and sat up straight. The plunking noise came from outside, not in her head.

Heart in her throat, she ripped off her blankets and hustled across the hard floor
to the window. It was still pitch-black out.

Grabbing the flashlight she always kept on the windowsill, Rose paused for moment.
It had to be Andy, but...

She found a familiar shadowed form with the beam, then hissed loudly. "Andy! I thought
you didn't get home until tomorrow."

"It
is
tomorrow." He held up fishing poles and tackle box.

"It's not tomorrow until the sun comes up." Tugging on a pair of jeans, Rose smiled
wildly to herself. This reaction she had to Andy Reed had to stop. It was
not
healthy.

"I've got the worms." he called. "Get down here."