Blood of the Rainbow (48 page)

Sara closed her eyes, thought about what he said, and looked across at Jared. For a few seconds, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. The thought of losing Jared would kill her.

“Jared, help her out a little. Look back at her like you can’t stand the sight of her. We know it’s not true, but it’s just for the shot, I need her as sad, and subtle as possible.”

Jared turned toward Sara. His face went blank, no expression, no light, and no desire. Even, though she knew they were only acting, it almost brought tears to her eyes.

“Good, don’t move, Sara. Just a little breeze to send those loose hairs a float. And, one – two – three - and click. That’s a wrap kids. Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure working with you.” He smiled.

They finished the photo shoot.

“Just as soon as the brochure is finished, we’ll need you to approve it before we can send it to printing. Now, we can either send you a copy to your address, or you can drop by and have a look at it. Either way, we need you to let us know something as soon as possible.”

Jared handed Dane a business card. “You can send it to that address, and I’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve gone over the brochure.”

Dane read the information on the card and smiled. “Wonderful. I’ll get that out to you as soon as the draft is done. Again, it’s been a pleasure to work with you all. And Sara, Sweetheart, I’ll be looking forward to hearing you sing at the gig. You look really sexy in your cowgirl hat. You should consider wearing it on stage for at least
one
of your numbers.”

Sara smiled at him and followed the rest of the group back to the dressing room. She sighed. “Thank God that’s over! Those lights were getting hot.” Sara didn’t even like
pretending
she and Jared were splitting up. Jared sensed her feelings.

As soon as he’d finished changing, he took her into his arms and looked deeply into her eyes. He slowly and gently pressed his lips to hers. “I will
never
,
ever
look at you like that again, no matter what they say. I felt so guilty.”
Not only for that, but for other reasons too.
He closed his eyes, severing the mental link.
I’m sorry Donna. Even, if you’re who I think you are, I love Sara, and I won’t hurt her – not even for you….

Sara was near tears. She studied his eyes. “I didn’t like it either. The look in your eyes – it just – it felt real. Like you
were
leaving me.  I couldn’t take that.”

Jared held her close. “You won’t ever have to Sara. I’ll never leave you!” His mind briefly flashed back to one of his sketches, and he held her a little tighter. “No matter what - I promise,” he whispered. Sara felt better, but something he kept saying bothered her.

Why did Jared keep tagging on those last few words? It were almost as if he was
expecting
something to happen to her.
Is there something else he’s keeping from me?
Does it have anything to do with the other pictures Myra told me about – the ones he won’t show me?
He’ll tell me if he wants me to know – won’t he? He did say, No secrets….

Chapter 20

They finished up at the coliseum and headed back to Wisteria Hall. Sara had never been so glad to be home in all her life. She hated scratchy clothes, and those evening gowns made her feel as if she’d fallen into a patch of bull nettles. Jared laughed at how quickly she changed into her faded jeans and ragged t-shirt. He’d showered and changed too, but he was a little dressier than she was – he always was.

The band sat outside on the patio, drinking iced tea and enjoying the sun. Steve and Carl only stayed a while before they went back home. Lucy hung around another couple of hours. She was just as surprised as Sara was that Kaye and James had agreed to come to their performance on Saturday night.

Sara was both pleased and apprehensive at the same time. She was pleased that they finally were taking her music seriously, but apprehensive that her mother would corner her when they were alone. Kaye would use her blatant logic on Sara to try and convince her to either leave Jared, and go back to Lucy’s, or come home with her after the gig. Sara didn’t want to do either. She wanted to stay right where she was for the rest of her life – with Jared.

Jared and Sara walked Lucy to her car. Lucy hugged them. “You better take care of my niece.”

Jared looked down at Sara and smiled. “With my last breath Lucy.”

She kissed Sara’s cheek and got in the car. “I love you Kid,” she said and drove off.

Jared pulled Sara into his arms and kissed her. “What do you want to do now?” he asked, smiling wryly.

“You promise not to laugh?”

Jared rolled his eyes. “I’ll try, but you know me. If it’s funny, I’m going to laugh.”

Sara sighed. “I just want to do nothing.”

He raised an eyebrow. “
Nothing
? What do you mean by
nothing
?”

 “I want to take some music outside, and dance in the gazebo with you. I want to sit on the bench and talk about our future. I want us to go out to the pond, sit on the grass, have a picnic, and watch the ducks play.”

Jared grinned. “Doesn’t sound bad so far….”

Sara held up her hand. “Just wait. I’m not finished.”

Jared seductively kissed the side of Sara’s neck. “Then please, go on….”

“I want to sit, and have you hold me in your arms while we watch the sunset. I want to stay out here until the stars come out, and then lie on my back, and look up at them. Then I want you to take me up stairs, to
our
bedroom and make passionate love to me, all night long.”

Jared pressed his lips to the top of Sara’s head. “In that order?” he asked in his soft, rich and seductive voice as he ran his hands up and down her arms.

“Not necessarily,” Sara said, smiling into his eyes. “But I would like to do all of it.”

“All in one night?”

“Is that a problem?” she countered, pulling him closer.

“No, I’m just wondering how much time you’re devoting to the last part is all,” he said, tracing the outline of her chin with his finger.

“That depends on how long it takes to get through the first parts,” she smiled.

“Well, you might not be aware of this, but the gazebo is fitted with its own sound system. You might have noticed the mesh down the poles.”

“I thought they were air vents.”

“It’s a speaker system. The controls are under the bench. Stereo is not the only thing the gazebo has. It also has its own lighting system.”

“Really?” Sara asked with regard. Jared nodded. “Then that would mean we could be outside without any other lights on?” Jared nodded again. Sara smiled, “I like that, but Jared?”

“Hmm?”

“You said when you were renovating the house that you tried to keep it as near to its original state as possible.”

Jared grinned, embarrassed at being caught out. “Well, I did use
some
modern technology to make
some
things a little more convenient, but if you want me to – I’ll put it all back. It would mean getting rid of the Navajo room and the pool and, the.…”

Sara held up her hand. “Stop! Don’t you dare!”

Jared laughed. “So,
do
you want to dance?” he said skeptically as he put his arm around Sara’s waist, leading her back in the house. Sara nodded as they walked across the entrance hall, through the lounge to the kitchen.

“That is, unless…” Sara teased.

Jared lifted an eyebrow as he turned to look at her. “Unless?”

Sara softly laughed. “Unless you don’t want to dance with me….”

Jared put his arm around her waist, lifted her off her feet and twirled her around so fast her head spun. “I will dance with you, anywhere, anytime, to any kind of music,” he smiled.

“Really?” Sara asked, teasing him again. “Any music?”

Jared chuckled. “Well, maybe not the rain dance and maybe not the sun dance.”

Sara laughed. “Why not those?”

“Well, one, I don’t particularly like dancing during a thunderstorm, and two, although I’m a doctor, in some things, I’m not masochistic.”

Sara narrowed her eyes and grinned. “Can you really make it rain by doing a dance?”

Jared laughed, sat Sara on top of the counter, and kissed her. “Silly Sara,” he smiled, rubbing his hands together. “Now, what do you want to take on our picnic?”

------------

Steve held the door open for Lucy, and then got in himself. He switched on the radio and found a suitable country station.

Lucy sniffed and furrowed her brow. “Steve… are you… wearing cologne?”

“Ah – yeah – why?”

“It’s just odd. You normally don’t wear it.”

Steve sighed. “Yes I do. You just never noticed before,” he said as they pulled onto the main road.”
You’re too busy trying to catch a Navajo brave. What is it about Louisiana women and Navajos? Are you just automatically programmed to be attracted to them?
“Do you like it?”

“It’s not bad,” she replied noncommittally. “So what are we doing, and where are we going?”

“I thought we’d grab some hotdogs, and go for a boat ride on Flag Lake. Is that all right with you?”

Lucy glanced at Steve.
What’s going on here? He’s dressed in jeans and a real shirt, and for once, he doesn’t smell like motor oil…..

“
Luce
… is that all right with you? We could go to a movie instead, and then talk….”

“What – oh – no. Hotdogs, and ah – it sounds OK.”

------------

Jared stopped in front of the gazebo. “Can I just amend the order of your list slightly?”

“Sure, how do you want to amend it, I’m flexible,” Sara said.

“I have a feeling that tonight is going to be a special night. And, since you’re expecting me to make love to you for the rest of the night,” he said, taking Sara into his arms and kissing her passionately. “Which I have no problem with in the slightest. I want to use mood and atmosphere to my advantage,” he said, kissing her again.

Sara felt her knees going weak. “Ok, I can live with that. I put myself in your capable hands,” she said and kissed him back. Sara knew if they kept this up, they would be skipping to the last part of her request without further motivation, not that she needed any. From the way, he was kissing her, Jared didn’t need any either.

They sat on the bench and had their picnic. Then they spend about an hour or longer at the pond. Sara wasn’t sure they were going to get past that point. The things Jared was doing to her body, she would have let him make love to her by the pond. As usual, Jared was determined, pulling away at just the right moment. He enjoyed leaving Sara breathless. He liked to tease her, and build up her expectation.

Jared led her back to the gazebo, and they started dancing. As he pulled Sara into his arms, and pressed the full length of his body against her, Sara knew they weren’t going to make it to the part about watching the stars. She was so dazed with desire, she was already seeing stars. If they held out until sunset, they would be pushing their luck.

------------

Steve rowed the boat out near the bank, under the edge of one of the towering cypress trees. He tied it to one of the lower limbs and turned to Lucy. “Is this spot good enough for you?”

“It’s fine Steve. So what did you want to talk about?”

“I don’t think I’m the one that needs to talk. Lucy, how are you going to deal with this thing with Jared?”

“There’s nothing to deal with Steve. I throw myself at the man’s feet, and he cleans his boots on me. He’d rather have my teenage niece.”

“Lucy, are you ever going to get over Jared?”

Lucy turned away, tears glossing her eyes. “I told you Steve. I have let him go.” Lucy started crying.

Steve carefully made his way over by Lucy and held her. She cried on his shoulder. “You mean Jared let you go Baby,” he said stroking her long blonde hair.

“I’m sorry Steve. Sometimes I just want to scream at him, and other times – what am I going to do?”

Steve sighed and rested his head on Lucy’s. “Luce… I could help you forget Jared if you’d just give me a chance….”

Lucy pulled back and studied his eyes. She furrowed her brow. “What are you saying Steve?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Ah come on Honey. Do I have to spell it out for you? After all these years, haven’t you guessed?”

Lucy lowered her head. “Steve….”

“Look, Luce… I know you still love him, and I know it’s going to take time for you to get over that – I mean, now that you really don’t have a choice.”

“Steve – don’t….”

“Please – Lucy, just hear me out.” Lucy lifted her head and studied his eyes again.

“Lucy, all I’m asking you is for a chance. Just spend some time with me. Get to know me.”

Lucy chuckled. “Steve, I’ve been riding in your jeep for the last ten years. I think I know you.”

Steve sighed. “Lucy – you know what I mean. Get to know
me
,” he said, leaning his face closer.”

------------

To Sara’s surprise, when she thought she couldn’t handle it any longer, Jared picked her up and carried her back by the pond. He laid her on her back on the blanket they’d left there earlier. He kissed her. His lips coming down on hers, hard, warm, demanding. A kiss that said Jared wanted everything Sara had to offer and more. As much as Sara was enjoying herself, she actually
did
want to talk about their future.

“Jared,” she said, when he allowed her to breathe again.

“Mmm?” was the only response Sara got out of him.

“Where do you see our relationship going?”

He pulled back, staring down at her. “What do you mean?”

“Will we always be like this?”

Jared grinned, narrowing his eyes, a flash of mischief in them. “What do you think?”

“I’d like to think we will, but we’ve never really talked about that – you know, our future. Do we – have a future – together?”

Jared’s eyes dimmed from their natural golden glow. “I’m marrying you Sara. Do you doubt my feelings for you?”

“I’m still a little mystified with what happened in Arizona. How you changed, and ran from me.”