Hearts Out of Time (14 page)

Chapter 14

When she woke up, Tracy noticed that Garrett’s long body was entwined with hers. Sleeping, lying on his side, one arm under the nape of her neck, the other on her stomach, one of his legs across her own. At some point during the night, he’d thrown a blanket over them to keep them warm. Wasn’t he considerate when sleep robbed her of speech?

For now, she felt rested, and satisfied. She tilted her face toward his, careful not to disturb his slumber, wanting to study him first.

Eyelids closed, his intense, stern gaze remained concealed. That was good. She needed a little time to moon over Garrett the lover boy before Garrett the conscientious and dutiful man woke up.

She contemplated his handsome face for a while: his smooth forehead, taut cheeks, strong jaws, sensual mouth, tousled dark hair. Even asleep, he gave an impression of strength, dependability, and starkness, also of vulnerability in a subtle sort of way.

Well, he’d been vulnerable last night.

She had, without doubt, the knack of getting him to shed his armor while they made love. When desire took hold of him, he behaved toward her as though she was the only woman in the world. Unique.

Yet he closed up again as soon as the moment was over. Why couldn’t he care for her at other times? What did it take to open his mind to her? Was he simply detached or way too inhibited?

While she reflected on her lover’s attitude, she recalled Weedon’s allusion at Garrett’s very formal upbringing. Did his parents turn him on purpose into a robot lookalike? For what reason?

Given his reaction to her, he couldn’t be indifferent. That much was for sure. She knew what only having sex meant, and that had nothing to do with what went on between her and the man lying beside her.

They did
make love
twice.

Real fucking love.

Picturing their bodies entwined, their slow motions toward rapture, she almost touched his soft skin, but thought better of it. If she awakened him, her daydream would be ripped to shreds.

She seized the sheet instead. Although it was all well and good to dwell on Garrett’s unfathomable feelings, what about hers? Was it love? What was the name given to this compulsion for physical and intellectual closeness, this desire to feel unique, this irresistible longing to share and care?

Gosh, life in an alternate nineteenth century challenged her far more than a simple time travel. Especially one man. She’d wallow in wishful thinking if she pondered the daunting matter five more minutes, and that course of non-action would not lift her spirits.

No, sir, it certainly wouldn’t.

Stuck in her father’s underground lab, she had no way to tell the time. She’d been a dumbass to leave her watch in the guest room of the mansion. It must still be on the nightstand where she’d left it as she got dressed for her first formal meal. She didn’t want to look anachronistic.

Listening to Garrett’s regular breathing relaxed her, largely because the man was unable to speak just now. Unfortunately, that could not last. If she didn’t get a move on, he would, soon enough.

Recalling the way he grunted and twitched inside her the previous night, she wondered if she’d worn him out so much he was never going to wake up. That was the power she had over him, and it made her smile.

Still watching him, she edged sideways in an attempt to free her legs. His eyes flew open. Somehow, his unbending dark stare agreed with her, not mellowed at all, therefore remarkable in its consistency.

A new day had begun and she felt like poking fun at him, maybe teasing him to death. But she waited and let him speak first.

“Good morning. Have you been awake long?”

“Good morning to you, Garrett. Not very long, no, but I can’t move. Looks like I’m your prisoner.”

He seemed to realize he’d kept her enfolded in his embrace all night. Clearing his throat, he disentangled himself and sat up on the bed. “I beg your pardon. I was sleeping.”

He delivered his poor excuse as though his slumber reestablished the right order of things between them.

“It’s okay, no need to apologize. I didn’t mind in any way.”

His gaze darkened at her reply.

You heard me right, big boy. Deny reality all you want, but I won’t play that stupid game.

She got up, strolled to the kitchen area, and started rummaging through the cupboards, soon coming upon a pack of instant coffee. “Gee, I’d love a coffee.”

“As breakfast goes, I’m afraid we might not find much in this place.” Although he followed her into the kitchen, he didn’t get too close when he saw the deliberate smug expression on her face.

“Well, I’m not in the least hungry. It’s funny, you know, but this morning I woke up feeling kind of . . . well, I guess the phrase is ‘fully satisfied.’ Strange, don’t you think? I wonder why that is.”

If looks could kill, she’d have been toast.

He filled the coffee machine with water and switched it on.

She got two mugs from the cupboard while he brooded in his corner, and even managed to locate the sugar.

Before long, they were sitting at the table across from each other, sipping the revitalizing hot drink, both contemplating the walls. The deep silence became strained, but she wasn’t the one to break it.

“We ought to find a way out,” Garrett said. “Jessica and Weedon must be beside themselves with worry, and I hope Jake had the decency to stay in place and wait for us.”

“Do you think he could have ditched us?” she asked.

“He is indeed capable of it.”

“I guess you’re right, but he has no reason to leave us here. Besides, Jessica would have nixed that idea.”

“I wish I could be so confident.”

She straightened her back and set her coffee down on the kitchen table as, out of nowhere, he regarded her without a trace of friendliness. She also wondered whether his coldness included Jessica.

“Jeez, Garrett, you sound so like Dad sometimes. All gloomy and cryptic. Lighten up, will you? Jessica is a good person, and I trust her.”

“Because you put your faith in everyone and his brother. Have you ever considered being more cautious in giving your trust?”

Was he thinking of Jake? Although his tone would have cooled the contents of her mug, she believed he gave her what he considered sound advice. Some people were not very tactful in expressing their thoughts, and maybe she was getting to know her perplexing lover a little better.

“Garrett, are you trying to tell me that you don’t trust your own friends? Or is this payback time?”

“Payback? How so?”

“As in me bothering you and pestering you. You and I are well acquainted by now, wouldn’t you say? It’s way too late for politeness, so you can be upfront about it. Come on, I piss you off.”

She knew perfectly the precise manner to shock him. Yes, she did. Taken aback by her uncouth use of the English language, his mug clanged on the table, the noise reverberating in the vast room.

“You can be irritating at times, but that’s as far as it goes. How in God’s name could you think otherwise?”

“Because of the way you avoid me, or treat me like a wacky teenager, or show your dislike whenever you get the chance.”

The honest words rushed out, and she wouldn’t take them back even if she could. He deserved them. He seemed disconcerted now, looking at her as if she’d just touched down from another planet.

“I have never—”

“Or the way you use me.”

He knew what she referred to, and a hint of color tinged his cheeks. Watching his uneasiness, she found it hard to believe that she startled and embarrassed him so, the no-emotion man who wouldn’t be taken down from his pedestal. He wrinkled his brow while he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

“I did not use you, I merely—”

“You merely what?” She couldn’t help but urge him on, not having devised this let’s-spill-our-guts moment, but glad it was happening. His next intake of breath showed his awkwardness.

“You are William’s daughter. I respect you. I fear my integrity has been impaired and my behavior was disgraceful, but—”

“Twice.”

She cut him short, not ready to let him forget that he should blame himself twice as much.

He nodded and said, “Yes, twice. However, it has naught to do with respect as you are undoubtedly worthy to be honored, and I hold you in high esteem.”

Unexpected warmth welled up in her, infusing its essence in her blood, leaving her aching for more, more of this gratifying music to her ears. “So what is it?”

He took another deep breath, holding his mug, looking out of sorts, on the borderline between sheepishness and mortification. “I wronged you because I was unable to vanquish my desire for you. Upon my word, I never sought to bring shame on you, but I bowed to enticement. You are an exceedingly beguiling lady and I faltered in my allegiance to you. Do you comprehend?”

She did her best not to grin, not to sound too amused as she used his flourished manner of speech. “Oh, yeah, I comprehend very well. In other words, I push your buttons.” She couldn’t tell if he was all that familiar with her expressive style, but she figured he got the drift of it.

“I am a man of principles. I have endeavored to abide by them but my efforts were to no avail. Forgive my misdeed, I pray you.”

She only needed him to acknowledge the reality of their lovemaking. But as she listened to his lengthy apology, his genuine consideration for her and subsequent feelings of guilt touched a chord.

“Don’t sweat it, you’re off the hook. I get the picture now. You can’t get enough of me but no strings attached, isn’t that right?”

He shook his head, the vehement negative gesture igniting a low apprehension deep down her belly.

“I fear you insist on misinterpreting my position,” he said. “As things stand, I experienced an epiphany. Our profound intimacy takes me away from myself. When I’m holding you within my arms, I feel . . .” He wavered. He furrowed his brow as though in need of a very specific word to define his frame of mind. “With you, I’m free.”

“Come on, Garrett, isn’t that the whole point of intimacy?”

“You’re so innocent.”

“I’m not.”

He gazed at her with a slightly puzzled air before he smiled, the slow curving of his mouth tinged with what could only be called melancholy. “It may well be in your social circles, but it isn’t so in mine.”

Did that mean he had already envisioned a future for them? A time yet to come that didn’t bode well.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “but I don’t get it.”

“I’m aware of that fact. Your understanding of the world is dissimilar from my own and can’t be altered. Suffice to say, I pledged myself to my family as well as, to a certain extent, to your father. Hence, my duties and moral obligations shall always take precedence over my aspirations.”

Honor and self-sacrifice not being right on top of her list, she found the concept hard to grasp, even more so since last night. In such a short time, she’d come to care about this stuffy, hoity-toity man far more than she ever had about her ex-boyfriend.

Then again, Timothy never made love to her the way Garrett did. She stared at him, tall, handsome, his face a mask of
I shan’t degrade my divine judgment with earthly desires.
No, she didn’t understand the way he behaved. She never would but, at last, she perceived the heavy, invisible ropes binding him.

“Gosh,” she exclaimed. “Are you telling me you’re willing to sacrifice your life for—hold on, let me get this straight—no reason?”

“I do not deem it a sacrifice, but loyalty.”

A long silence ensued, erecting a barrier of dissension. Both of them walled in their ways and beliefs, both of them betrayed by life. Neither willing to surrender to the other. Unable to deal with what he’d revealed to her, she postponed the hateful moment. Later would be a much better time. Now, she needed to find the painting.

“You know what? Let’s get out of here.” She grabbed a cloth to wipe the kitchen table while he retrieved the weapon belt and fastened it around his hips. She dumped the dishes in the sink but as she put a mug down, her pulse bounded up. Abruptly realizing what they’d missed, she wheeled around.

“Dad would never leave the painting here, it’s way too obvious. Gee, how can I have been such a dumbass?”

Her excited tone caught Garrett’s interest. Eyes gleaming, he parted his lips as it dawned on him right then, and they spoke in unison. “There’s a sub-level.”

They went straight back to the spot under the trapdoor. Now that the lights glowed, she knew exactly where to look and didn’t miss the square on the floor, another trapdoor with words engraved on the surface.

Once upon a time
.

They stepped onto it, and she kneeled to blow on the markings. With a gentle
whoosh
, the trapdoor lowered, halting about ten feet below. No darkness there either, but a brightly lit hallway flanked with doors.

“This is it, Garrett.” She walked to the first door on the right while he checked the one on the left. Finding herself in a large science lab, she looked at shelves crammed with bottles and jars, glass containers filled with fluids and weird substances, and machines she couldn’t name apart from a microscope sitting on a worktable.

She went through the room but didn’t spot any place to hide a work of art. Where the heck was it?

Garrett’s voice floated across the hall. “Dear Lord!”

“I’m coming.”

Did he locate the painting? Her pulse speeding up, she joined him as he identified instruments with wonderment and possibly reverence.