A splash sounded to her left, and she glanced that way. The moonlight caught a thick black tail disappearing into the murky water. An alligator? She shuddered. Did it make that kind of sound? “Here kitty, kitty.” Only the frogs answered her.
Hugging herself, she backed toward the door. And bumped into someone. A scream erupted from her throat until familiar hands gripped her shoulders.
“It’s okay, sugar. It’s only me,” Barry said. “What are you doing out here?”
“There you are.” She burrowed against his chest, taking strength from the steady beat of his heart. She felt safe and protected in the circle of his arms. “That sound, it scared me.”
He lifted his chin from the top of her head. “What sound?”
“Some kind of rumble.”
“The alligators. They’re beginning to mate.”
“It sounded like a lion.” She shuddered. “I was afraid a big cat was after those kittens. Where were you? I called for you.”
“I was feeding Pete. He’s the alligator you just saw. He loves marshmallows.”
“That thing is a pet?”
A ghost of a smile lifted his lips. “Well, not really a pet. He’d take my arm if I let him.”
Alanna fell back a step. “Then why do you mess with him?”
Barry shrugged. “The thrill of it, I guess. It’s exciting to know I have to be on my toes. Gators are interesting too. You’ll see.”
She shook her head. “I’ll not be messing with an alligator.” She seized the doorknob and yanked open the door. “I met your brother. I’m beginning to think I don’t know you at all, Barry. First, you have parents I didn’t know you had, and now I’ve just met your brother.” She stepped into the cool dankness of the house. “It’s a good thing our marriage is a business arrangement.” She marched up the steps, eager to escape the questions raging in her head. Like why she had thought this rushed marriage was anything but insane.
He followed her, reaching for her arm as she reached her bedroom door. “Is that all it is, Alanna?”
She turned to face him, and her hand crept to her belly. “You know I’m grateful for all you’ve done. Liam’s dad is powerful. He scares me.”
“He can’t touch you now.” His fingers tightened on her arm. “You know how I feel about you. I’ll protect you from him.”
She searched his inscrutable gaze. “It makes for a romantic story. Tragic widow saved by handsome manager. A fairy-tale news article that makes the fans rush to the next concert. Was it all about protecting the money you’ve poured into promoting Ceol?”
His intense gaze scorched her. “You know it’s more than that. I love you, Alanna.”
She’d hoped he wouldn’t say the words for a while. If nothing else, she found Barry physically attractive with his broad shoulders and the way his blond hair fell over his forehead. He was like a young lion, proud and aristocratic, with a gleam in his blue eyes that told the world he intended to own all he surveyed. And right now that gaze was fixed on her.
“I’ve always wanted you.” He reached out to cup her cheek. “You’re so beautiful. You make me feel alive.”
His eyes burned with an intensity that made her want to turn and run, but the passion was compelling in some way too. What woman didn’t want to be desired? But love was more than that, and she couldn’t forget Liam’s warm brown eyes so quickly. She turned away so his hand fell from her face, then stepped into her bedroom and shut the door.
Nine
Though she’d been convinced she’d never sleep a wink after the turmoil of the night, Alanna awoke to bright sunshine flooding her room. She rolled over and looked at the clock. Nearly eight. She sat up and pushed her heavy red hair out of her face. Her fingers itched to practice her fiddle. There’d been little time for it in the days leading up to the wedding.
Everything would seem different this morning in the daylight.
Her cell phone rang and she scrambled to grab it from her purse. Glancing at the screen, her gut twisted. She wanted to fling it away, but he’d just keep calling until she answered, so she forced herself to flip it open. “Alanna here.”
Thomas’s voice boomed out. “What’s this nonsense about remarrying? If this is a ploy to keep my grandchild away from me, it won’t work, lass.” He said something else, but the words cut out.
Her pulse rebounded in her chest. She moved to the window and got an extra bar on her phone. “It’s not nonsense, Thomas. In fact, I’m already married. The wedding was yesterday.” When he didn’t answer right away, she lifted the phone from her ear and stared at it. Had he hung up on her? She put it back to her ear. “Thomas? Did you hear what I said?”
“What daft thing have you done, Alanna?” His voice was hard, but shaken. “I saw it in the newspaper, but I thought it had to be wrong.”
“I’m married to an American now. All your political power can’t touch me.”
“That baby is all we have left of Liam.”
“And I would have shared him with you if you hadn’t threatened to take my son from me.”