Tangled Up Hearts (11 page)

They entered the entry hall and crossed to a short corridor that led to a set of double doors. He was taking her to the library. It was closed off from tonight's festivities because Jenna didn't want drinks getting spilled on her precious book collection.

As soon as they entered the room and the door was closed behind them, Cole switched on a lamp and pulled her around to face him. His blue eyes, as light as a morning sky, were hard and cold and zeroed in on her. “We have an agreement, Al. What the hell are you trying to pull?”

Alyssa tried to pry her hand free from his grip, her nails digging into his hand and though he winced he refused to let her go. “You want me to draw blood, Cole? Let go!”

Not the least bit put off by the threat, Cole grabbed her prying hand and twisted both behind her back, bringing her up close to his hard, unyielding frame. “Enough. I do not want to fight with you.”

Alyssa blinked back tears of frustration. “Oh, you’re making that painfully clear.”

“Calm down and I’ll let you go.” He watched her patiently, his body taut and ready for her next move.

Realizing the futility of struggling, Alyssa went slack and let her head fall forward to rest against his chest. They stood that way for a quiet moment and that's when she felt his heart beating hard and steady against her forehead. She tipped her head back to look at him and though he appeared calm, the racket in his chest told her a different story. “Okay, you can let me go now.”

Cole’s eyes took on a glint that made her own heart start pounding and when he spoke, he lowered his voice to a suggestive, silky drawl. “Perhaps we need to renew our truce.” Dropping his gaze to her mouth, his lips parted in anticipation.

Alyssa eyed him warily, her traitorous body going soft against him and it took conscious effort not to press closer. “Look, if you stop meddling in my space, I promise to keep out of yours.”

Cole nodded slowly, his eyes remaining firmly on her mouth. “Not good enough.” He tightened his arms ever so slightly. “Perhaps we should just kiss and make up.”

He was teasing her of course. Her racing pulse and palpitating heart were going wild because she wanted out of this situation, not because she was excited for more of it. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cole.” But her voice came out in a breathless whisper and she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. It was a nervous gesture and nothing more but it drew Cole’s gaze. When his eyes lifted to once again tangle with hers, they were a lot darker than they were only a few seconds ago. She figured it was time to start talking. "Trisha isn’t watching. We don’t need to be putting on a show.”

“What show? This is for real.” His head lowered.

Alyssa drew as far back as she could manage without popping her neck out of joint. “Stop it, Cole.” Though she was hoping to speak in harsh authority, it came out in a husky rasp. Why was he playing with her like this? Warning clangs were going off inside her head and she told herself that her pulse was racing only because she was desperate to escape him. It certainly wasn't anticipation thrumming through her agitated body. No not that.

“You broke the agreement first. Now you must deal with the consequences.” His eyes began to dance with devilment as they roamed over her face, dropping to her cleavage and then back up to her eyes. It was quite clear he was enjoying her discomfiture as much as he was the view.

Furious that she wanted to wrap herself around him and plunder his mouth, she focused on her anger. “I hate you.” 

Cole sighed and let her go. “Yes, I’m sure you do.” He stepped away and gave her a long considering look. “Can we at least try to be civil?”

“Are you capable of such a thing with me?”

“I’m capable of many things.” He ran a hand up into his thick hair, messing it up so badly that it fell haphazardly across his forehead and spiked up in places. “Trisha is probably starting to worry.” He cast a glance towards the door. “Let’s go dance and show her how capable we are to carry this thing out.”

The fight went out of her. Besides, she was immensely relieved that Cole hadn’t followed through with his threat to kiss her again. More than anything, she didn’t want him to know just how badly she'd wanted him to do it. “Okay.”

As she followed him back to the crowded living room, Alyssa suggested quietly that he should perhaps fix his hair. Cole shot her an accusing look, as if she was the one who messed it up, and did his best to smooth it back into order. If only she could as easily manipulate her thoughts. She'd erase these last few moments right out of her head. She knew how her brain worked. It was going to rewrite that little scenario until all manner of things had gone on between them.

The moment they were among the other guests, Alyssa scanned the room and made eye contact with Trisha. She sent her worried friend a reassuring smile and was glad when her frown smoothed into a return smile.

Cole found an open spot on the dance floor and turned to her with arms poised to take her into them. “Shall we?”

Alyssa went into them without protest and this time they moved easily around the dance floor. He was a good dancer, she'd give him that. But then he was pretty good at just about everything. Except for the way he treated her. He wasn't good about that at all.

Neither of them spoke and when the song ended, Cole dropped her hand and stepped back. “Thank you, Al.” And then he turned and walked away.

Alyssa stared at his retreating back with rising resentment. No doubt he was off to sooth Serena's ruffled feathers. She was surely not going to take it well that she'd lost his attention even for a little while and especially to another woman.

Paul touched her arm and tilted his head to get a look at her face. “Alyssa? Is everything all right?”

She nodded absently. “Mmm, yes. Shall we find a place to sit?” She had only taken a couple steps when Trisha called to her over the speakers.

“Al? Would you come here please?”

Alyssa whirled around in surprise. Trisha was standing beside the DJ and grinning as if she had a secret she couldn't wait to share. Oh God, what was she up to now? With trepidation pounding through her emotions, Alyssa moved through the crowd with leaden feet, her eyes sending warning looks Trisha was doing her level best to ignore. When she finally came to a stop in front of her, she held her friend's gaze and sent a silent message that she needed to abort whatever plan she had up her sleeve. “What?”

Ignoring the silent warning, Trisha turned to the crowd. “My dearest friend went on a vacation a few months back to Hawaii.”

All the blood drained from Alyssa’s face. No! She wouldn’t. Shaking her head vigorously did nothing to change Trisha's next words.

“I happen to know that she learned a beautiful Hawaiian dance while she was there. Let’s all clap our encouragement and get her to dance for us.”

Her traitorous family and friends all called to her with loud cheers. Alyssa, resolute in her determination to put an end to this ridiculous request, folded her arms and shook her head. “No.” She sent Trisha a “Thanks for nothing” look and shook her head again.

Trisha laughed. “Don’t look so scandalized, Al. That dance you learned is beautiful and you perform it so very well.” The laughter disappeared as she took on a pleading tone. “For me and Jack? Please.”

“Come on, Alyssa, let’s see the dance.” Paul touched her elbow and squeezed it encouragingly.

“No.”

“Al? Dance like those beautiful Hawaiian women? Are you sure about this, Trisha?” It was Cole’s disbelieving voice coming from somewhere behind her that changed her mind.

“I suppose you even have the music, don’t you?” Alyssa moved to stand beside her friend.

Trisha laughed happily. "The DJ can play just about anything we request." She gave Alyssa a quick squeeze. “Thanks, Al. You’re a doll for doing this.” Smiling with encouragement, she stepped back and leaned against Jack. He slid his arms around her and grinned over her shoulder, giving Alyssa his approval and support.

The dance space was cleared as the other guests formed a semi-circle around her. With her heart pounding a mad tempo, Alyssa used Paul's shoulder for support and removed her shoes. The hula had no place for high heels. Only bared feet would do. Luckily her choice of dress was not going to be a problem either for its free-flowing skirt would allow her to perform the dance without restricting her movements.

With a smile to Paul, she walked to the center of the clearing and bowed her head. The music was a Hawaiian love song and the dance movements were a visual expression of the words. Alyssa was so fascinated by it that she was inspired to take lessons during the rest of her vacation. She’d shown the dance to Trisha upon her return and now wished she’d not done such a stupid thing.

The music started playing and Alyssa closed her eyes. It didn't take long for the music to reach her soul and before she even realized what she was doing, she was moving to the notes, expressing the words through dance. The hula required her to be loose and at ease, something she had to go inward to achieve. No way was she going to do it well if she didn't overcome her nervousness. As the song continued, however, her confidence grew and her body loosened up, her movements becoming more fluid and syncing with the music.

Wondering what her audience was thinking, she finally opened her eyes and immediately locked gazes with Cole. He was centered in the crowd and standing as still as a stone sculpture. His eyes burned with such intensity that she felt the heat of it sweep through her body. A muscle twitched in his rigid jaw and it was a telling tick, revealing to her that he was not unaffected by her dance. Excitement raced through her, snaring the breath in her throat. Worry set in that she'd lose her concentration so Alyssa switched her attention to Serena.

She stood next to Cole with a stony expression freezing her face. Her eyes, however, gave it away that she was seething with annoyance. Smiling slightly, Alyssa returned her gaze to Cole’s, maintaining the contact as her hips swayed side to side in perfect hula fashion. Mastering the movements had not been easy but Alyssa had become quite good at it. Her teacher told her she was a natural. It was only now that she believed it.

Cole's eyes dropped to watch the sway of her hips and Alyssa’s heart pounded into an erratic rhythm. Drawing in a quick breath, she pulled her gaze away from him and skimmed her eyes over the crowd. Her mother was smiling with pride and her father had a silly grin on his face. Trisha and Jack were nodding with encouragement and Paul smiling with approval.

As the music began to fade, she returned her gaze to Cole and locked eyes with him. Something bloomed inside her chest, a blossom of joy, and she smiled. It was probably the first genuine smile she’d given him in seven years. He responded with a slight lift of his mouth, his lips twitching with the effort to control the smile trying to break through. Probably out of respect for Serena. He had to know as she did that a smile from him would not go over well with her. But he did give her a slight nod of approval, his eyes startlingly bright and burning with heat.

All the air whooshed from Alyssa’s lungs. For goodness sake, what was going on here?

The audience erupted into enthusiastic applause and it broke the spell that had come over her, the feeling that she and Cole were the only two people in the room.

“That was wonderful, Al! Thank you.” Trisha rushed to her and gave her a hug, squeezing her tightly.

“My God, where did you learn to dance like that?” Jack dropped a kiss on Alyssa's flushed cheek and winked.

“Oh, honey, that was beautiful.” Her mother squeezed her arm and gave it a gentle, quick rub.

“It’s dancing like that that ought to be outlawed,” her father said gruffly.

Alyssa laughed. “Oh, Daddy.” She hugged him tightly and kissed his rigid chin.

“That was very lovely, Alyssa,” Paul said from behind her, handing her shoes over when she turned to look at him.

Again she used him for support as she slipped her shoes back on. “Thanks, Paul. I’ve always found dancing to be a great outlet for me and when I saw that dance, well, I just had to learn it.”

Paul nodded in understanding. “Dancing is a great creative expression of what lies within a person.”

“So what kind of expression would you say that particular kind of dancing displays?” It was Cole who was asking. He stood behind Paul, his gaze completely focused on Alyssa.

Paul shrugged. “Though some would say it reveals the sensuality of life, I would say that it expresses the beauty of her soul.”

Cole’s dark brow lifted skeptically. “Indeed?”

Alyssa shifted with unease and restless energy. She wasn’t sure what had gone on between her and Cole while she was dancing but she sure wasn’t comfortable with him now. She wanted to escape. She needed air, space. “Excuse me, I’ll be back in a minute.” Paul stepped aside to let her pass and she hurried off towards the bar. Another drink was in order and quick. Hopefully it would help to calm her jittery nerves. Why oh why did Cole have to make her feel so darned skittish?

What she needed was some time alone to clear her head. So with a new glass of punch in hand, she headed for the terrace doors. The back gardens were the only place people had not yet ventured. Probably because the smokers in the crowd were sent to the gazebo out front.

As soon as she was out in the cool night air, she lifted her hot face to enjoy the light breeze. God that felt good.

“That was an interesting dance back there.”

Startled and yet not surprised, Alyssa swung around. Annoyance shot through her though it was aimed more at herself than Cole, for her pulse had quickened the instant she heard his voice. And now, as he advanced closer, her breath hitched, making it difficult to breathe properly. These responses were most annoying and very unwelcome. “What do you want, Cole?”

He stopped a couple feet away. “You were stiff as a board when you danced with me.”

Alyssa gave a small, sharp laugh. “Well, what else would you expect, Cole? We haven’t exactly been buddies over the years.”

“Do I make you nervous, Al?” His voice dropped an octave as his eyes scanned over her, looking perhaps for visible proof of his accusation.