OVERPROTECTED (5 page)

Finally, he strolled out of the room and shut the door behind him. I fanned the bitter smoke out of range and continued to play.

The melody had taken over, was growing and swelling within me. I heard notes yet to be played as well as those that simultaneously came from the tips of my fingers. In my mind I saw Colin— the way he’d looked at me across the room when I’d first walked in. His eyes—the color of rich espresso, smiling and sparkling at the same time.

With yearning fingers, the song reached deep into my soul. I thought of when his arms had wrapped around me. The memory sent a pleasant yet unfamiliar stirring through me, causing the tune to take a dramatic turn.

I yanked my hands from the keys.

Irritated with the fluttering, I pushed away from the piano. How could I create such a beautiful piece with thoughts of someone who had been the source of such misery?

I jerked to my feet, rubbing my arms to ward off a chill. But the chill wasn’t real. Underneath the bumps covering my flesh, warmth flurried.

The window beckoned, and I crossed to it. Often, the view of the city calmed and comforted me. Alive even at the late hour, the neighborhood trickled with people whose lives I could observe and wish for their freedom.

Colin was out there. He would become a part of my life again.

With a finger I traced the outline of a pane. In spite of fears, the melody echoed inside, crying from within the recesses of my soul. Billowing, wave after wave; it became a force I couldn’t ignore.

I paced next to the piano until my creative side won out and, afraid of losing the tune, I sat down and scribbled the notes and chords on paper.

I hadn’t been this enthused about a piece in a long time. Every cell bubbled and burst. The race of instruments began, mingled, and peaked in my head, the melody traveling through every cell of my body before shooting out of my fingers in harmonious strain.

Whatever else became of the evening, whatever the future held even though the past we shared was tumultuous, opposition created the most beautiful masterpieces.

From the moment Colin entered the townhouse, the air, the mood, the scent of home became infused with his magnetic aura.

As if one of the bright signs on Times Square had been dropped into our living quarters, its light penetrating and lightening every hall and room with enthusiastic color you couldn’t ignore. Part of me was annoyed by his charisma. Another part of me was jealous I wasn’t the same way—drawing people to me for reasons they didn’t understand.

The following afternoon, I heard the front door shut, followed by Daddy’s charming tone, then Colin’s melted crème voice. The sound wound up the stairs, slipped under my closed door, and swirled around my body, causing a tingling sensation to sparkle from my head to my toes.

I took one last look in the mirror. My pale skin had pinked at the sound of his voice. A grin tried to work its way onto my mouth, twisting my lips upward.
Why are you reacting like this to him?
The white velour workout outfit I wore only made me look paler, but I didn’t care. I wanted to soak up some sun. I grabbed my romance novel and opened my bedroom door, headed to the rooftop patio.

Daddy’s voice and Colin’s foreign presence—invisible yet strong as a waft of seductive cologne—greeted me in the hallway. Daddy was dressed in casual khaki slacks and a designer plaid shirt in Christmas greens.

Colin wore jeans and a light blue shirt and had a jacket tucked under his arm. His arms weren’t as hairy as Stuart’s. I disliked excess body hair on men—I’d always told Daddy so.

“Colin’s here, Princess,” Daddy said.

Colin’s brown eyes sparkled. “Hey, Ashlyn.”

Daddy’s gaze gleamed with pleasure. He leaned and kissed my cheek. “Ashlyn isn’t fond of my insistence that she be protected,” he explained.

Colin’s hands wrapped tighter around the two suitcases he held.

“I can understand that.” He rocked back on his heels. “Don’t worry, Ash, I won’t crowd you.”

Heat flashed to my cheeks. “Oh.” My gaze went to my feet. My brain stumbled over words when I was in Colin’s presence.

“Ashlyn, why don’t you to show him around? Give you two a chance to get to know each other again.”

“Uh…” I swallowed. “I was just on my way up to the patio to read.”

“It’s cold outside.” Daddy’s gaze skimmed my clothing. “I’d appreciate it if you could show Colin the house.”
In other words, stay
in.

I hardened my gaze. “Okay. But afterwards, I’m going to read on the patio.”

“Is that Colin I hear?” Mother blustered across the hall from the her bedroom. Her Chanel running suit warmed her wrinkleless complexion to silk against her auburn hair. Her arms extended, she fastened her eyes on Colin and wrapped him in a hug.

“Fiona. Nice to see you again.”

“Lovely, isn’t it?” Mother drew back, her hands remaining on Colin’s arms. “That color is fabulous on you, dear boy.” Her scan slowly swept him in an appraisal that left Colin shifting feet. “We might have to do a bit of clothes shopping.”

Colin swallowed. He glanced at me as if to verify Mother’s comment. I kept my face void of confirmation.

“Ashlyn’s going to show Colin the house.” Daddy produced a cigar, broke off the tip and held the cigar ready at his lips. “I’ll be in the library. Colin, after you’ve unpacked, come down and we’ll talk.”

Colin nodded.

Daddy excused himself and headed downstairs.

“If there is anything you need, let me know.” Mother’s right hand remained glued to Colin’s bicep, her other floated expressively in the air around her as she spoke. “I’ve had the room cleaned and everything is like new. Make yourself at home.”

Colin’s contagious smile flashed. “I will, thank you.”

Mother’s hand slid slowly down Colin’s arm to his wrist and lingered. “And I’d be happy to have Gavin pick up a few of your staples for the kitchen. Anything you like to eat, just give me a list. All right?”

“Great. Thank you.”

Why a twinge of discomfort lodged in my stomach, I didn’t know. Mother had been friendly with Stuart at first, but over the years had come to practically ignore him. Colin accepted her cordial hostessing and Mother excused herself.

Colin’s bright smile met my gaze. “So, where to from here?”

I turned, relieved that his enigmatic aura was out of my line of vision, even if only temporarily, and led him up the next flight of stairs. Was he watching me? Examining my hair? My butt? How close was he? My nerves jangled.

I escorted him to Stuart’s old room, which Mother had had our cleaning service scour from floor to ceiling. The room had a single dormer window that kept the space in perpetual shade, but what did he expect? He still had a nice view of Park Avenue. The room was furnished with a queen sized bed, dresser, oversized chair, and tasteful lamps. A few silk plants and a wide-screen TV made the room homey.

I stepped inside. “This is it.”

He crossed to the bed, and a soft clean scent breezed by me.

He plopped the suitcases and his jacket on the mattress and went to the window, the A-frame of the dormer barely tall enough for him to stand in. “Another great view.”

He turned, his gaze meeting mine. “This is nice.” Hands on his hips, he moved to the center of the room, surveying. “So, the other guy stayed here? What was his name, Stuart?”

I nodded, suppressing a cringe.

“You were glad to see him go, I take it?”

“Why do you say that?”

“The look on your face just now. You two didn’t get along?”

I took in a deep breath. “Not really.”

His piercing gaze was so tight on my face, I had to look away.

“Anyway, this is the room,” I said. “The bathroom is down the hall. If you’ll follow me.”

He chuckled. I started out the door, the hair on the back of my neck standing upright because he was so very close.

“You miss California at all?” he asked.

“I hardly remember it,” I lied.

“Palos Verdes is still the same. Man, I miss the beach. The views here are great, don’t get me wrong. But the coastal views… I miss not being able to park up on Via Del Monte and just sit and stare at the coast, all the way up to Malibu. You know?”

I remembered. Early afternoon, when the fog finally slunk back out to sea and the view from our house in Malaga Cove stretched for miles showing off curved beach line, Pacific Ocean and endless city, the sight was a cause to take a deep breath and hold it, hoping the view would last more than a day.

“Do any other employees live here?” He eyed the closed doors lining the hall.

“No. Our cleaning service comes in three times a week. Gavin lives in Brooklyn. Eddy, our chauffer, lives in Queens.”

“I see.”

“There’s a den here.” I paused at another open door and let him peer into the room Stuart had used to hang out. A plasma TV

hung on one wall, complete with gaming options. Couches sat in an inviting L-shape, a walnut coffee table between them. This room also had a dormer window, but the view faced the towering apartment buildings behind the townhouse.

“Your dad’s obviously doing very well.” Colin scratched his head and let out a chuckle. “This place is… really spectacular.”

I lifted my shoulders. I was used to visitors being taken in by an opulence I now passed by with second nature.

Uncomfortable with us sharing the close space, I left the den and went out into the hall for a breath. Colin followed, his scan taking in each door.

He stopped at the one that led to the roof and touched the security keypad. “Every exit on the same code?”

I nodded. “Daddy will have you change it once a month for security.”

Colin continued down the hall, eyeing windows and casings. “Is that the only way in up here?”

“Yes.”

“Mind if I take a look at it in the daylight?”

“Sure.” I recited the code. He continued to the roof exit, entered the security code and opened the door. This time, I followed him up the steep stairway. He had a nice body, but I felt ashamed watching him.
So
what, he probably stared at you. Get over it.

Unlike me, he seemed unaware that I was behind him and that I might be taking the time to check him out—like I had felt him do.

He was probably used to girls staring at him. The thought registered a frown on my face, a frown I quickly dissolved, disliking that I’d even had the thought.

On the patio, he set his hands on his hips as his gaze swept the rooftop area. A soft breeze always sung between the tall buildings, and the current lifted the dark hair from his face.

He crossed to the corners, looked over the edge and then upward at the tall apartments flanking us. “Has the emergency ladder been kept in working order?”

I shrugged. I had no idea—security had been Stuart’s job.

His sweeping gaze finally settled on me. His midnight eyes sent a fluttering through my system. Would I ever not have a reaction to them?

“Has it? Or do you know?” He started toward me, his gait as confident as it had been when we were children and he’d been intent on making my day miserable if he felt like it.

For a second, I couldn’t speak. He stopped inches away, waiting for my reply.

“Uh…”
You sound like an idiot. Don’t let him think he still gets to
you
. “I’m pretty sure it is. But you’ll have to ask Daddy.”

I turned and took the stairs down, relieved when my feet hit the hard wood inside.

I crossed to his bedroom and heard him close the roof door sometime later. He studied the hall again on his way. He passed me in the door jamb, his lips curving up a little when he brushed by.

“The other rooms up here, can I see them sometime?”

“Sure, they’re not locked.”

He opened his suitcases and let out a sigh. “Guess I should unpack.”

There was a knock at the open door. With a swish of fabric and a wave of perfume, Mother sashayed in. “Knock, knock…”

She surveyed the area with a smile. “I just wanted to make sure everything was satisfactory.”

“It’s fine, thanks,” Colin said.

Floating directly to his suitcase, her long fingers combed through his wardrobe. “This will never do. Ashlyn cannot be seen with anything less than a man who is completely put together. If
Socialite
got a photo of this… well. We’ll shop this afternoon. Meet me at three o’clock in the main foyer.” She grazed past him, her shoulder brushing his arm as she swiveled to the door. A trickle of discomfort and embarrassment caused me to itch at her behavior. She paused, grinned. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s just like old times, isn’t it?”

With some major exceptions—like the fact that Colin and I weren’t kids anymore.

Mother swiveled out the door.

Colin’s cheeks had pinked from Mother’s visit. He scratched the back of his head, something I’d seen him do before when he seemed uncomfortable. “Is she serious about taking me clothes shopping?”

His voice squeaked.

I suppressed a smile. Why did his discomfort cause me to feel vindicated somehow? “I’m afraid she is.”

Colin glanced at the jeans and blue sweater he wore. “I’ve been told I have lame taste in clothes.”

“Mother’s very particular.” She was more than particular. She was an unabashed snob about what she wore, Daddy wore, and I wore.

Anyone seen with us—who she could control—wouldn’t be seen in anything less than designer perfection.

“Wow.” Colin shrugged. “Okay then.” His grin sparkled like a rising sun. “You’ll come, right?”

CHAPTER FIVE

The melody arranged itself in my mind.

After pulling on my pink robe, I secured my hair in a claw at the back of my head. It was past midnight, the grandfather clock chimed two. But I had to play.

The music room welcomed me, its double doors spread wide like open arms. After entering, I closed them, even though the music would carry. The need to play pulsed through my veins, and I abandoned concern for satisfaction. Thoughts of the day rambled through my mind flashing pictures of Colin, of being out in the city. I couldn’t remember when I’d had so much fun shopping. No traces of the old Colin seemed to exist. Even though Mother preened and primped and fluttered around him like a peacock, he had patiently endured her hours of insistence that he try on dozens of pieces.