Among the Tulips (11 page)

Sean nodded. “Sounds good.”

Annie was disappointed. She'd hoped for more, but it looked as if the conversation was over.

When they arrived back at the house, however, she was surprised when, after Victor had helped her out of the car, he held her back and allowed Sean to get ahead of them before saying, “Thank you, Annie, for today. That service gave me a lot to think about. And I'm glad you saw that I got to experience it.”

She smiled. His words lifted her spirit as nothing else had. Before she could answer though, Sean had noticed their absence and paused at the top of the stairs.

“Are you coming?”

Her smile collapsed. “You know, Victor. I sure did like it a lot better before he arrived.”

Victor actually chuckled. “You made my day by saying that, Annie. You have no idea how much.”

Their spirits restored, Victor lifted Annie into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

W
aiting in her hotel suite for Victor and Sean, Annie thought she was going to be sick.

It had been nearly two weeks since Sean had showed up at Victor's door. Now they were all at a hotel in England waiting for the premiere of their movie. Victor had ordered a private jet and had them flown to London last night. The point was, why hadn't she asked where the premiere was to be?

She'd been busy since the day she'd accepted the invitation. First she'd called her children, who were very upset that she was going to a premiere of some movie with this unknown family. She had forced herself not to let them dampen her spirits, promising she would keep in touch.

Though her daughter, especially, had argued, saying she should come home, Annie had held her ground.

Victor had attempted to take her horse riding on three separate occasions. All they had managed the first time was walking the horse because of the cast. But the second and third time they had been able to ride.

And it had been wonderful. Victor had improvised by finding an old-fashioned open carriage, to which he'd harnessed the horse. He'd helped her up into it and held her close as they'd traveled the countryside.

They'd garnered surprised looks from some, but she hadn't cared. They had ridden for what seemed like hours and she had enjoyed every bit of it. Mainly because Sean hadn't been around.

She really liked Sean, but he seemed to take joy in provoking Victor.

She and Victor had stayed out and watched the sunset the second time. The third time he'd showed her his land and they'd actually brought a picnic.

She had fallen in love with Victor. She knew he had feelings for her. She'd caught the looks he gave her when he thought she wasn't watching, the way his gaze followed her.

Actually, it was very frustrating to have all of these feelings and have the other person stay quiet about his. The first day they'd gone to church to
gether, she'd realized how she felt, though it was only as she'd spent more time with Victor that she'd found she wanted to reveal her feelings. But how could she when he didn't show her how he felt?

She wasn't sure why he was holding back, not saying anything, but she was now certain he did care for her.

She'd had fittings for the custom-made dress and shoes. Because of the special walking cast they'd put on her foot, she could walk, but she couldn't wear a shoe on that foot, a unique one that had been made would fit around her cast and disguise it.

Then there was Sean.

She was beginning to relax around him. She wasn't sure what game he was playing. After that first day, when he'd treated her so outrageously, he'd behaved, except when Victor was around.

Anytime Victor was in the same room, Sean flirted—sometimes outrageously, other times simply covertly.

She was ready to throttle him one moment and then later, when he was being the polite friend of Victor…

Victor.

Victor ignored his friend's actions.

She would have appreciated it if he would have a talk with his friend, but he hadn't, so she just
decided this must be how movie stars acted toward everyone.

Still, it did nothing to calm her nerves about tonight. It would have been easier going into this knowing that Sean was going to behave himself.

Perhaps that was why Victor wasn't showing his feelings. Victor had been an absolute gentleman except for those smoldering looks in his eyes that caused her heart to quicken. And then there were the gentle touches and caresses.

In a way, Sean had been a blessing. They talked a lot, and she had learned so much about Victor through their conversations. Victor had been a churchgoer and wanted to believe, she thought. But something about his past made him cynical about God, and he just couldn't find a church, according to Sean. Sean thought of himself as Victor's keeper, a big brother to watch out for him, Annie discovered, proving what Victor said was true. The two were very close.

Annie had a feeling more was going on with Sean than she understood, at least when it came to him revealing things to her about Victor. He watched her when she and Victor were together. Sometimes she thought he was measuring her for his best friend, and then he would flirt with her.

She certainly couldn't concentrate when Victor was touching her. What a problem—to be absolutely bowled over by his touches, which she
loved, or to have Sean there so they talked and she didn't have to worry as much about Victor's gentle caresses.

Victor had tried church for a while, a long time ago, she thought, with his parents. His paintings were darker than they had once been.

He was searching.

She had adjusted to being with Victor and Sean to the point that she found herself actually mothering Sean occasionally and scolding him for things he said—to his intense amusement. Even Victor had received a tongue-lashing for forgetting his cook's birthday—to which Victor had simply leaned down and almost kissed her—again—would have had Helga not come into the room. Really, all of these people certainly made sure propriety was kept up. Which was good. But still, she so wanted to express her feelings for Victor, and it was so hard with someone always walking into the room.

She hoped tonight she might have some time with Victor alone. Tonight she would tell him how she felt, if he didn't tell her.

She had come to that decision last night while lying in bed in her suite.

A knock sounded at the door.

She carefully made her way across to the door and pulled it opened.

Her mouth dropped in stunned shock.

Victor stood there, dressed in what had to be a very expensive tux, waiting to be allowed in.

“I take it you like it?” he asked, mildly amused.

“I—wow!” She blushed. He was every bit the movie star now, his hair having been professionally done, his tux the latest style.

She stepped back.

He walked in and then turned to her, taking her hands. “You are a fresh breath of beauty in a world too old and cynical, my dear.”

She blushed like a kid. She could feel it going up her cheeks all the way to her hairline.

“Turn for me,” he said and circled his finger in the air.

She did. She wore a dreamy mauve ball gown. It draped just off the shoulders and dipped slightly, conservatively, in the front and then flared out over the hips, disguising just how wide they were, in her opinion, and fell in soft folds down around her feet, covering the fact she wore a cast. Matching shoes covered both feet.

“I feel like Cinderella at the ball,” she said lightly. “What do you think?”

“
I
am devastated that you aren't attending with me,” Sean said walking up to the door.

She stopped turning instantly, she was so surprised by his presence.

“Really?” Reanna drawled, glancing at Annie
and then back at Sean. “And I thought you only had eyes for me.”

Her voice was biting, though she smiled when she said it.

Sean, in his impossibly gorgeous tux, immediately turned to Reanna. “Of course I do, love. But still, a man can enjoy looking, can he not?”

“If there is something to look at I suppose.”

She felt Victor stiffen next to her. She even noted that Sean's smile faltered for a moment. What had they expected? For this woman to like her? She heard the snippiness behind Reanna Chambers's words but chose to ignore them so as not to embarrass Victor.

“You look lovely,” Annie offered sweetly.

“I should, honey. This dress cost me a fortune. That's what a star does, dresses for success.”

She heard the implication again. She hadn't dressed well.

Sean's eyes narrowed before his gaze went blank. She'd never seen that look from Sean at Victor's house. It was polite and genteel, but it was as if Sean wasn't there. “Shall we go, princess?” he said to Reanna. “We don't want to be late.”

She took his arm and they swept off down the hall.

Victor turned to Annie. “I have to apologize for Reanna's—”

“No. You don't.” She placed her hand on his
arm and smiled. “A few catty words aren't going to hurt me. I came to be with you tonight. As long as you're happy, nothing else matters.”

“I beg to differ,” Victor said. “Your happiness is all that matters to me.” He grinned.

Then he sobered. “About Sean—”

She shook her head. “Don't worry.”

“He can be quite a pain sometimes, but he really is a friend.”

“Riding in the car with that woman is going to be interesting,” Annie said and took his arm.

“I think you'll find Sean has plucked her wings by now. He was not very happy with what Reanna said to you.”

“Oh.” She hadn't been sure. She could only read what Sean allowed her to read. He was very good at hiding his emotions when he wanted. She could read Victor, however, and he actually sounded a bit put out with Sean.

She carefully balanced herself against him and together they started down the hall. “I want to tell you how much this vacation has meant to me,” she said quietly. “I still can't believe I'm in London.”

He grinned. “I told you staying eight weeks would be great.”

“Four weeks,” she said. “I agreed to four weeks so we could finish that tour.”

He grinned. “But you don't want to disappoint your friends by leaving early.”

She sighed and couldn't help an exasperated laugh. “I told my friends
two
weeks and I only agreed to
four
weeks for you.”

He grinned. “I can still work on you for those last four weeks.”

“I have to admit the fields of tulips were something to experience,” she said. “And visiting the dikes, and then there was Amsterdam.”

He chuckled. “Very…different.”

She nodded. She had been stunned as she'd walked down the streets. Eventually she'd stopped looking and kept her gaze directly ahead of her.

The elevator was just expelling some guests so they entered.

Victor slipped his arm around her and hugged her close. “What is that perfume you wear?” he whispered, lowering his nose into the loose strands of hair that curled gently around her face.

Her breathing shortened. He felt so good to lean back into like this. “Magnolia Musk,” she replied huskily.

She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed someone else's touch until she'd met this man. Her own soul felt empty and starved until he touched her, and he had the ability to fulfill her secret longings when he held her like this. She had begun to look forward to these moments.

“I smelled that on you the first day we met,” he said and his lips brushed the edge of her ear as he said that.

“I like it,” she replied low.

The elevator door dinged and opened.

Victor lifted his head, and, of course, met the surprised look of Sean who stood there with Reanna, waiting.

Oh great, Annie thought as Victor stepped to her side and placed her hand on his arm. Sean's grin spread knowingly. But instead of flirting, he said, “Shall we go?”

Every time he had seen Victor doing something like that, he usually decided to flirt. Maybe Reanna had stopped that.

She looked mightily ticked as her gaze slipped over Annie. She turned, took Sean's arm and marched regally out to the limo.

Reanna's sudden smile as she approached the doors was a transformation. Annie was a bit stunned. Reanna looked for all the world like a sweet, loving woman who absolutely oozed affection toward the adoring fans.

Annie wasn't ready for what happened when they stepped out however.

Dozens of paparazzi were waiting and began snapping pictures of them the minute they exited the hotel. They all shouted questions at once. Victor smiled and waved and she took her cue, smil
ing, though she imagined she looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming lethal car.

And, that fast, it was over. They were swept into the limo and off they went.

“I hate those people,” Reanna complained now. “Someone should take them out and—”

“Now, now, dear,” Sean said, smiling and patting her hand. “Free press and all.”

“Are you all right?” Victor asked, leaning into Annie and asking very quietly.

She smiled up at Victor. “It's a bit overwhelming. How do you put up with that all the time?”

He smiled. “It's good for the business,” he replied.

“And it keeps our faces in front of the fans,” Sean added.

Reanna tapped her foot. “Still, they have no respect, Sean. How you can be so patient with them…”

She trailed off and then gave Sean a look that Annie wished she'd missed. “However, if you can put up with it, I'll put up with it for you.”

Victor, who had his back slightly to Reanna, simply rolled his eyes.

Annie laughed.

She immediately regretted it as all gazes turned toward her. “What was that about?” Reanna demanded.

“I was telling her a joke,” Victor said, mildly.
“A very private joke,” he said and lowered his voice.

“I'll bet,” said Sean. The twinkle was back in his eyes, and she had a feeling Sean knew exactly what Victor had done. He gave her a warm smile before turning his attention back to his date.

He really was a nice guy, she thought.

The limo pulled to a stop. “Before we get out, here are a few guidelines. Smile. Nod. Don't answer any questions about personal relationships or where you are from and above all, don't give them your name. Simply say, ‘I'm with Jake.'”

She laughed nervously. “What if they ask something that those answers don't cover?”

“I'll help deflect the press, sweetheart,” Sean said.

“Oh, please,” Reanna said, obviously upset that Sean's attention wasn't completely on her. “She's at least forty. She can take care of herself.”

Sean gave Reanna a look that sent her into a pout.