Night Magic (6 page)

There was another problem though. “What if you find your true love after we’re married?”

“Never going to happen.” He shrugged as though it didn’t matter to him. But in his blue eyes she saw that it did. He wasn’t over mourning his loss yet.

But maybe someday he could be. Maybe time would heal his regret. Maybe they could have something together, if not true love, then companionship, respect. That was more than she was likely to have any other way.

“You have to promise me something, Kemble Tremaine.”

“Anything.”

He didn’t mean that, of course. He couldn’t give her the one thing she really wanted. And God, he was so close to her, he was overwhelming any sense she had at all. She could hardly think for wanting to run her hands over his chest. His nipples would be soft, and then they’d tighten. How many times had she imagined it, when she was closeted safely in her room where no one could read any expression she might let slip? Burrowed under the covers, she’d dreamed of Kemble Tremaine. She shook her head to clear it. It was just his nearness doing this to her.

“I want you to promise that if you ever do find the one really meant for you, you’ll tell me. I’ll set you free the next moment with no regrets.” Well, none she wouldn’t have anyway, married to him or not.

His brows drew together sharply. He really hadn’t thought this out, had he?

Finally he nodded. “Okay.” He cleared his throat. “Does that mean you will do me the honor of being my wife?”

God help her. She nodded.

*****

Relief washed over Kemble like he was standing under a waterfall on a tropical island. Why he was grinning, he didn’t quite know. He had just cemented into permanence the fact that he wasn’t going to get true love and a magic power. But marrying Jane did seem like the best thing he could do with what he had. Marriage was a perfect solution to both their problems. He’d be getting on with his life, just like Senior advised, and he could protect Jane and give her a life of comfort and peace. If Jane didn’t look as sure as he felt, well, he’d win her over. Now, best get this done before she could change her mind. Before either of them could change their minds.

He grabbed the box and took out the ring. “Well, then, give me your hand.” She held it out. Jane really had very delicate bones. Her hands were small, with graceful fingers. She left the nails unpolished, only buffed. He put the ring on her left ring finger. Uh-oh. It sort of sloshed around there. “Never mind,” he said with determined cheer. “We’ll get it sized later. Tomorrow, we’ll go down to the County courthouse, get a license and do the deed. Have you had a measles vaccine? I wonder if you still need one to get a license.”

Jane looked up at him with widening eyes. She nodded, really slowly. “I have. Do you think I need a copy of my medical records?”

“I’ll check it out and call you. If you do, we can stop by your doctor’s office on the way downtown.” He turned back to the wheel and started the ignition. The BMW purred and growled. “I’ve got a full agenda tonight. So many things to arrange. I better make sure Edwards has room in his schedule to give us an escort. The guys can double as our witnesses.” He stopped in the middle of the cascade of details that was coursing through his brain and looked over at her, concerned, as he pulled around and headed back out to Hawthorne where he could make a left. “You okay to stay with your mother tonight?” That’s when he saw her cheek again. Damn. He’d forgotten. He needed to take her to the Breakers. That meant. . . .

She cleared her throat. “Do you, uh, think we ought to tell your family?”

Kemble slammed on the brakes so hard he could hear Ernie, behind him, do the same. The breath shushed out through his pursed lips. “Yes. Yes, we should tell the Parents.” And Jane needed Healing. What kind of an asshole was he? Hell, he’d like to race off and get married right now to present them with a fait accompli, which was rude and disrespectful. His parents hadn’t raised him that way. Senior would be okay with it, anyway. After all, Kemble was just doing what he suggested. His mother . . . he wasn’t quite so sure. She was the one always telling him to have patience. The whole thing might be a shock for the Brood. He pressed his lips together. Better get it over with then. He’d proposed. Jane accepted. It was a done deal and it wasn’t anybody else’s business. He eased the car out onto Hawthorne and got in the left-hand turn lane. Ernie and Scott pulled in behind him.

“No time like the present,” he muttered, as they headed back to
the Breakers.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jane felt like she was about to be hung for a traitor as Kemble opened the big wood door into the Spanish-style hacienda that had been her home away from home for so many years. The main block was built well over a hundred years ago on a parcel of the original Spanish land grant. She always felt like she was stepping into history as she entered, though the Tremaines had ensured that it had all the modern conveniences. No air conditioning, though. Not needed with the onshore breezes that came up every afternoon, but it had heat, and marvelous bathrooms and a thoroughly modern kitchen. Now even the disused servants’ quarters on the third floor of the central wing had been converted into an apartment for the newlyweds and a studio for Keelan. Normally so welcoming, this evening the house felt like there might be a gallows concealed somewhere inside, just waiting for one Jane Butler.

She was the interloper, more than ever. She was going to marry the scion of
the House of Tremaine for selfish reasons, and the family would realize that very shortly.

She glanced up to Kemble. He looked grim. Great. But when he caught her looking at him, he managed a smile he meant to be reassuring. “It’ll be fine,” he said, and put his hand at the small of her back.

Oh, what that did to her. It was rather like an electric shock, only it seemed to have a very specific destination. She’d touched Kemble Tremaine more today than she had in the last five years. Maybe ever. But this was more than just the jolt of pleasure his touch gave her. The gesture was protective. That wouldn’t mitigate what was probably going to be a disaster, not only tonight but for much of the rest of her life. But that little gesture was a comfort.

He guided her into the big dining room, where dinner was just winding down. Tristram was still wolfing down what was undoubtedly his second or third piece of blueberry pie, but everyone else had moved on to coffee or was sipping wine or sparkling water (in Tamsen’s case)
. Maggie was just rising. She shepherded Jesse, now five, toward bed. Conversation was quiet, punctuated with some chuckles. Lance was begging scraps from Tamsen’s plate and Jane would bet the girl had Bagheera curled on her lap. Did they know that love and caring just hung in the air here? Lanyon looked like he wanted to escape to his music room. The newlyweds, Keelan and Devin, wanted to escape upstairs for an entirely different reason. In short, it was a typical dinner at the Tremaine household. It was everything she had ever wanted in life. And she was about to ruin it.

Everyone on the far side of the table, as well as Brian down at the far end, was in a position to see the new arrivals. Brian jerked up from the table.

“Jane, what happened?” His voice was baritone and commanding, a near miss for Kemble’s. It took a moment to realize that Brian couldn’t know about the betrothal. He was talking about her cheek. She’d forgotten its nagging throb. She raised a shaky hand to cover it.

Brina turned around and gasped. Now everyone craned to see. Maggie stopped short, still holding Jesse’s hand. Brina pushed up and hurried over, along with Brian. “Oh, my dear. That looks so painful. Let me take care of that.”

“How did this happen, Jane?” Brian repeated.

“Her mother.” Kemble bit out the words. Good thing. Jane wasn’t sure she could answer.

“Come with me,” Brina said, taking her hand. But Jane stayed where she was, looking to Kemble. He was right. They might was well get this over with. He nodded.

“Uh, before you go, Jane and I have something to tell you all.”

Oh, dear. That’s just how Devin broke the news to the family about loving Keelan. They’d think Kemble loved her. But they’d soon know it wasn’t true. No powers in store for either of them. Humiliating. Would they understand that she was ready to be satisfied with just affection, or at least a warm regard? And that he needed the security of getting on with his life? Would they know she could be a support for him? Would they even value that?

Brian looked from one to the other, realization dawning. As a matter of fact, discovery was in the eyes of most of those at the table. Maggie was grinning, though Tristram looked lost. Keelan and Devin had sucked in their breaths and their expressions softened. Lanyon looked disgusted, but only in the way of twenty-three
-year-old boy-men who’d had their fill of weddings recently. Tamsen was suppressing an incipient squeal. Brina had turned back and was examining first Jane’s face, and then her son’s. Drew looked the unhappiest of all of them. That was a little shocking. But Drew was always smart. She would realize Jane had taken advantage of Kemble’s pain to insinuate herself into the family in a more formal way. God, but that sounded so calculating. Was it true? She clasped her hands together to keep the Tremaine family from seeing them tremble.

Kemble cleared his throat. He’d made the survey, too. Stick to your guns, Kemble, she thought. Or we’re lost.

“We’re getting married.”

Tamsen erupted in a squeal. Keelan and Devin both broke into grins that matched Maggie’s. Lanyon rolled his eyes. Drew pursed her lips and looked away. Brian looked thoughtful and Brina flashed concern before she grabbed for Jane’s hands and gently unclasped them. Jane saw the moment when everyone’s eyes caught the sparkle of the ring.

“I’m so happy for you both,” Brina said, still examining both their faces.

“What’s your power, Jane?” Tamsen crowed.

Jane felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Now they’d know what a fraud she was and that Kemble might just have given away his only chance to find his magic, unless Destiny somehow found him. In which case Jane would be spending the rest of her life in regret. Which she might be doing anyway. What a mess.

Kemble slipped his arm through hers and dragged her out of his mother’s grasp and up against his side. The feel of his body next to hers, the way his hip fitted into her waist, made her lungs grab for air. She could feel his heat even through his slacks and his sport coat. It made her melt into him and close her eyes, just for a moment. How she had longed for this closeness with him and how horrible to have it happen in front of those she loved, who would be so disappointed that she’d stolen Kemble’s future.

“It isn’t like that for us,” Kemble said, his voice surprisingly firm. “I’ve known for some time that the gene is recessive in me. I’m not like you all. So it’s time to get on with life.” He looked to his father and nodded. “Father and I agreed. So Jane and I talked it over and thought we would suit.” He took a breath in the silence. “We’re going down to the County courthouse tomorrow and tying the knot.”

“What?” Keelan asked, looking stunned. “No big wedding?”

“No bridesmaids?” Tamsen practically wailed. “I was on a roll.”

“Edwards and one of his guys can witness,” Kemble said. “They have to come anyway.”

Brina caught her husband’s eyes. Then she deliberately smiled. “I’m so happy for you, my dear.” She leaned in and kissed Jane on the unblemished cheek. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better for Kemble.”

“Thank you,” Jane murmured.

Then everyone was up from the table and clustering around. Congratulations were offered, gruffly by the men, slapping Kemble on the back, and were accompanied by hugs for Jane from the women. All but Drew. She hung back, watching Jane with cool regard. But in all the eyes there was a sense of puzzlement, disappointment. They didn’t understand what had happened. They weren’t sure Kemble was doing the right thing.

Join the club.

“Girls, why don’t you come with me while I take care of Jane?” Brina’s question was really a command. The women in the room heard that loud and clearly. The female cluster moved off to the living room, an unavoidable wave that washed Jane along with them. Maggie took Jesse to bed and promised she’d be right back to hear all. Jane felt the sand shifting under her feet. What would she say to all the questions they were bound to ask? How would she bear their judgment?

*****

“Well, son, I think a celebratory drink is in order, don’t you?” Senior looked around. “What say we go out on the terrace?”

Kemble nodded. He noted that even Lanyon wasn’t in such a hurry to get to his music now. The grill was about to get hotter.

“I’ll grab some Scotch, unless anyone has another preference. Maybe some girly champagne?” Michael was six foot five of solid muscle. He’d been Delta Force before he met Drew. He could match the Tremaine brothers for height and then some. Michael was short for Michelangelo, the name a gift from his Italian mother. But he got his Merlin gene and the last name of Redmond from a father he hated. At first he hadn’t wanted the business his father left him. But with the conclusion of the contracts now in Senior’s office, it would come under the Tremaine Enterprises umbrella and be redirected to green energy projects and manufacture, the first product being the engine Tristram had built to run on used motor oil. Devin had some ideas for desalinization that looked promising too. Without obligations to his father’s company, Michael could do what he did best—Find things. Right now, he was Finding abducted children. Too bad he couldn’t Find Talismans. The ones Morgan had in her possession were Cloaked by one of the Clan, and Michael would have to know what the others looked like in order to locate them. But Kemble couldn’t provide that data.