Flying in Shadows (The Black Creek Series, Book 2) (20 page)

The crowd silenced as he held Rose's foot near the side of his face. His smile dropped.
He waited a beat. "I know that move," he said quietly to only her before releasing
her leg. She looked more shocked at her outburst than he was. He turned from her and
faced Brady who was clearly glad to be rid of the mess. The old man held Andy's copy
of the signed contract out awkwardly.

"All rights to the property become mine." Andy knew you could say almost anything
with a smile on your face. "Take your time getting the equipment moved. I'm in no
hurry."

Without acknowledging Rose, he picked up Mr. Brady's bullhorn and headed closer to
the crowd that was now standing and booing him. He lit his best killer smile and humbly
raised his hands. "If I could have your attention, please. Just for a moment, please."
He knew they could hear him. Knew that Rose was standing, full of herself, behind
him. "If I don't buy this land, how long do you think you can hold back the bulldozers?
If I don't buy this land, how long before someone else does?" He dipped his head slightly
in humility as the crowd quieted. He could feel Rose's glare pierce holes in the back
of his head. "The perimeter of this land will be sold in two-acre lots to buyers who
are willing to pay substantially more per acre in order to preserve the territory
and keep it a haven for the..." He looked to Rose as her mouth gaped open.

She shut her eyes in disgust and answered him with two words, "Whooping cranes."

"...haven for the Whooping cranes. The back of the lots will stop no closer to the
habitats than can be reached with a powerful set of binoculars. As an incentive to
preserve the land, the owners will have their names embossed on a special plaque under
a solid marble carving of a life-size Whooping crane. I've already got over a half-dozen
enthusiastic..." He looked back at Rose pleadingly.

With her eyes still half closed, she answered, "Craniacs."

"...half-dozen craniacs interested in building."

The crowd looked at Rose, at each other, then back at Rose before erupting in applause.
He handed out copies of sample agreements as both a way to please the crowd and to
get the word out to any potential buyers. I am good, he thought. However, the clock
was ticking, the helicopter was paid by the hour and not part of his uncle's favor.
He turned to give himself one last look at her before leaving. She stood a few feet
away. Squinting. Arms crossed. Smirking? What the hell?

"You promised a life-sized carving of a Whooping crane? With room for engraving?"

"That's right. More incentive to look good and keep their promise to give the birds
their protection." He smiled wide.

She smiled back. "How much are you making on this, Andy? Because you just promised
to carve a bird that tops five feet tall out of solid marble. With room for engraving."

He leaned his head in, close to her ear as he neared her. "Two hundred-fifty grand."

He could sense her mouth drop, even as he walked past.

"Per lot." He winked at Grace and headed back for his helicopter.

* * *

Charcoal nuzzled his nose to Amanda's ear as she lay on her yoga mat working on stretches
and strength training. "Go on now. Can't you see I'm busy?" She smiled and felt a
bit of serenity. Rolling on her side, she propped up on her elbow and gave in to scratching
his ears.

Looking around, she sighed. She would never get used to the quiet. Pulling herself
up, she walked over to take a photo album from the entertainment center shelf. Crossing
her legs on her couch, she gave the command for Charcoal to stand down and flipped
through pages. She was grateful Jessica and Rose faithfully emailed her pictures.

From her AA classes she learned to accept the consequences of her actions and she
felt peace from it. Jessica was right to move in with her dad. It took Amanda nearly
five years after that to get herself clean. As she turned pages, she watched her girls
grow before her eyes. Watched the love of her life age. Why was it that men look so
incredibly better as they got older, she wondered.

When she reached the pages that displayed the public part of Rose's growing career,
her heart sunk. Her girl was no longer hidden. In the spring through the summer months,
Rose was often on the local stations. Banding those eagles she loved so much or working
to raise money for the action center. Like mother like daughter, she thought. And
that ruined everything.

She hugged her arms close. He would come. He always came. This time she would be ready.

* * *

Rose rode coach in the center section of an eleven-across seated plane. On one side
of her sat a young woman downing small glasses of wine, and wondered how much she
could spend on a two-hour flight. Although wine might be helpful right about now,
Rose thought.

How could she have let him get to her like that? After all this time. And why the
hell was he there? He could give a rat's ass about the Whooping cranes. Was it to
mess with her head? She had to admit, as much as she didn't want any part of Andrew
Reed, it wasn't in him to play games like that.

"You've been quiet ever since we got on the plane. What's up?" Grace sat on the other
side of her, eating peanuts and sipping on her miniature can of soda.

Rose shook her head and forced a smile for her friend.

Grace wasn't finished. "The only thing missing was the white horse. The man came literally
flying out of the sky to save the day for every-freaking-one. Oh, yeah, did I mention
the incredibly hot, built, sexy man part?" Grace squinted at her and ate a peanut.
"You know him."

Rose shook her head slightly. "Old friend of the family's."

"It was really genius, you have to admit. He's making a killing while saving a species.
Everyone wins. If I were you, I'd be giving Mr. Hot, Built and Sexy a very personal,
very lengthy thank you." Grace ran her tongue over her top lip.

"He's all yours." She glanced at Grace through the corner of her eyes. "You could
bring him to the wedding." She leaned her seat back the half inch it allowed and closed
her eyes.

"I've got a date for the wedding."

Rose rotated her head. "Who? When? Why didn't you tell me?"

Grace chewed on her straw. Shrugging, she answered, "Wes. I asked him just last week
and I didn't tell you because of that look you're giving me right now. Don't be hard
on him. I like him."

"Wesley McGee? Are you kidding? You're opposites. Complete opposites. Boisterous,
confident Grace with insecure, boring Wes? How old is he anyway?"

"He's not boring. He's adorable. He's just scared to death of you." Grace pointed
a finger at her. "And he's our age. Well, almost our age. What does that matter?"

Rose turned her head slightly but kept her eyes on Grace. "It doesn't." Leaning back
against the seat, she added, "I scare him?" She closed her eyes and smiled.

* * *

Jessica Nolan and Pete Matthews weren't the first couple to marry under the oak arbor
in his aunt and uncle's expansive backyard. Nathan and Brie had exchanged vows there
themselves. Andy understood they didn't lend out their property to just anyone, but
Jessica was practically another cousin.

Brie and Amanda were downright self-righteous about the lush green and multicolored
landscaping plots dotting the corners of the property and scattered around the home.
The two of them had pruned and weeded, edged and pampered every inch of the property
to prepare for the day.

Andy sat with his date among the other guests in white, cloth-covered chairs lined
in rows on the soft, thick grass. On cue, silence waved through the crowd when the
young bride trailed behind her attendants to the end of the white runner. It led from
the back of the house, through the middle of the lines of chairs, to a platform standing
in front of the arbor covered in hundreds of deep, red roses. The only sound was that
of the whispering music from the string quartet and the trickle of the waterfall that
lay beneath the corner of the home he grew up in.

Rose stood as Jessica's maid of honor with his cousin, Hannah, as her bride's maid.
They wore simple dresses. Strapless, tea-length satin in blue so bold it could compete
only with the blood red of the complex bouquet resting in Jessica's hands. The dresses
mimicked the bridal gown somewhat as they dipped into a revealing V along the tight-fitting
front and back.

The bridal gown, however similar, stood alone. Intricate trails of shimmering pearls
followed the natural lines of the dress and Jessica's hourglass shape. The skirt blossomed
outward from her tiny waist with a modest train boasting the same complicated twists
of pearls. Jessica's auburn hair stood elegantly at the crown of her head, woven and
dripping with curls.

Andy politely worked to keep his face expressionless as he watched the ceremony, as
he watched Rose. With her arms and shoulders exposed, he could tell, over the years,
she'd put on weight. It looked good on her, too good. Her milky skin glowed against
the bold color of the tight-fitting dress with her darkened strawberry blond hair
smoothed and pinned with glittery stones. He'd never seen her like this and wished
he never had. It had taken him enough time to accept he would never completely get
over her. He had moved on. Business was better than planned and headed in the direction
he'd always wanted. Life was fulfilling, even with the noose strangling his heart.
But this—the look of her smile as her sister walked reverently down the aisle—wasn't
going away anytime soon.

Reminding himself Rose was happy, he looked over the wedding party as the blue June
sky dribbled with small tufts of clouds. He thought of how Rose was living her lifelong
dreams to their fullest extent. Surely this was more than she could have expected
by this stage of her life.

She despised him, he knew. Probably for the best. And she was always... engaged. He
moved his gaze to Dave and Amanda.

Unlike many divorced parents, they stood next to each other after Dave kissed Jessica's
forehead and gave her to the groom. Andy was sure they did this not only for their
daughter, but for each other. Amanda was healthy again with full, chipmunk cheeks
and bright color in her brown eyes. Yet, both she and Dave carried worn rings of dark
beneath.

Even through whispers from adults saying she and Pete were too young to be married,
Jessica floated on a cloud. Andy was definitely no judge for that. The ceremony went
without a hitch.

The wedding crew seemed invisible. Impressed, Andy realized the groom's parents must
have bucked tradition and paid for much of it. As soon as the receiving line ended,
the wedding party gathered for pictures. White tapestries were pulled aside, exposing
tables covered with appetizers and dotted with floral bouquets. Waiters in black ties
carried flutes of champagne as the open bar readied for guests. Tables sat on large
sheets of firm tiles that would change to a dance floor later in the evening.

He tucked his date's arm through his as he and his brother caught up from the last
few months. Andy knew to maneuver conversation around Duncan's deployment in the Middle
East. Living in Vegas, Duncan played the odds and made a killing painting the rich
and famous. "Not saying you're not good, Duncan. I just think you're lucky as shit.
Not at the cards. You've got that crazy memory. I'm talking the paintings. Sophia
Cleau? She really had you paint her?"

Duncan lifted a brow. "She had me do more than paint her."

Andy shook his head dramatically. "Shit."

* * *

"Hot, built and sexy is here." Grace popped a canapé in her mouth. Her dress was a
russet that accented the color of her bronze skin and showed just enough cleavage,
Rose figured, to drive Wes crazy and still leave some for the imagination.

"I told you; he's all yours." She shrugged slightly, watching Andy laugh with his
brother from her peripheral vision.

"Tempting, but I have a date." Grace gestured to the snack table as Wes tipped over
a bowl of dipped chocolates onto the white linen tablecloth. Grace pulled her along
and headed for him. "I don't know what it is about him, but I could just eat him up."

"Still very confusing."

Rose noticed Andy and his date as they walked toward a table holding the shrimp and
sushi samples.

Grace elbowed her playfully in the ribs. "It's the knight. Don't kick him in the face
this time. He saved the cranes."

"I didn't... kick him the face." She wasn't sure what was more humiliating, striking
out at him right after she told the crowd not to touch anyone, or missing. "And if
you call him that one more time, I'll kick you in the face."

Grace laughed and threw her head back along with the rest of her flute, then headed
for Wes.

Feeling petty, Rose made her way to Andy and rolled her eyes behind his back at the,
of course, drop-dead gorgeous blonde that was with him. She put a hand on his shoulder
to get his attention. Stupid move.

His face was tight as he turned to look at the hand on his jacket, then softened instantly
when he followed it up to lock eyes with her. They stood there for just a moment.
But, it was enough. And it hurt. Damn it, Rose. Sheer determination had her primly
lifting her chin before she spoke, "Hello, Duncan, Andy. I... suppose I owe you gratitude.
And... an apology."