Light from Her Mirror (Mirrors Don't Lie Book 3) Page 6

  Thoughts of Travis haunted her mind as they selected a small settee on the backside of the fountain.

  “You’re quiet,” Craven observed.

  “I’m too full to talk!” Kenzie laughed lightly. The waiter delivered their coffee, along with a small plate of petite cinnamon rolls. She eyed the pastries suspiciously, as the waiter disappeared into the dimly lit night. “You’re tricky, Craven Shaw.”

  “All is fair in love and war,” he said smoothly.

  Kenzie stiffened. It was the same thing Travis had once told her, when he pulled out one of his sweet sentiments and welded it as a weapon to win their argument.

  Craven noticed and frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, no. I’m just afraid I have no room to even nibble on one.”

  “We could save them for breakfast.” The invitation was smooth and rich, as tempting as the treats themselves.

  When her only reply was a sharp intake of breath, he asked almost casually, “So you say you’ve never been here before?” He sipped his coffee, his eyes on hers over the rim of the cup.

  “No. I’ve heard how nice it is, but I’ve never had an occasion to stay here. I hear each room has a different theme.”

  “Oh? I didn’t know that.”

  “What room did you get?” Kenzie regretted asking the moment the words were out. She wasn’t asking for a personal tour. Or was she? Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her cup and saucer. She took a tiny sip of coffee, needing the caffeine to clear her head.

  “I suppose it has a medieval theme. A massive four-poster bed, rich brocade draperies, swords and shield over the stone fireplace. A knight’s full body armor in one corner of the room.” He gave her time to picture the room in her mind before he turned to her with searching blue eyes and very quietly asked, “Would you like to come up and see it?”

  It was the moment she had dreaded. She cared for Craven. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. But a relationship with him was impossible. She had been selfish to let it continue as long as she had.

  She stared into her cup of coffee, searching for the right words. Craven reached out and took the cup from her, setting it on the ground beside his abandoned one. He turned to her and took her hands in his. She had little choice but to lift her eyes to his.

  “Kenzie, by now you have to know how I feel about you. I’m in love with you.”

  His warmly uttered words brought equal parts of joy and sorrow. They were the words she longed to hear. Too bad they fell from the wrong man’s lips.

  “And I care for you,” she said, her voice little more than a tortured whisper. “Truly, I do. I may- I may even be a tiny bit in love with you, too,” she admitted.

  “How tiny?”

  Compared to what I feel for Travis? A bucket in an ocean. But she could not be so cruel as to tell him that.

  At that very inopportune moment, her cell phone rang. It was the call she had been waiting for. The theme song from the television show Walker, Texas Ranger announced the caller: Travis.

  Instead of answering the call the way she longed to do, Kenzie let it ring. Not only did Craven deserve better, but Travis had promised to call three days ago. She deserved better. With a stoic expression on her face, she ignored the ring tone and let his call go to voice mail.

  Her green eyes filled with sorrow as she touched her palms to Craven’s broad chest. “If I had met you first…” Her words were strangled. Sad. Craven was so much better suited to her personality. They had so much more in common than she and Travis did. If she could choose whom to love, she would choose Craven. But her heart had a mind of its own.

  “I understand,” he told her kindly, his deep voice just as sad.

  “I’m glad you do, because I don’t.” Tears slid down her cheeks as she curled her fingers into the collar of his shirt. “If I could change things, I would. I would turn back the clock and meet you first.”

  “No, you wouldn’t,” Craven said sadly. “You’re just hurt because he accepted a promotion that took him away from you.”

  “He doesn’t want me, Craven.” She finally admitted the cold, awful truth.

  “Then he’s a fool.”

  With a sudden stab of defiance, Kenzie said suddenly, “I changed my mind. I would like to see your room.”

  Craven pushed a dark curl from her face, his expression guarded. “As much as I would like that, we both know now is not the right time.” He kept his eyes averted from hers, studying the curls that sprang around his fingers. “I’ll be back in two weeks. Maybe we can continue this discussion then. Maybe things will be a little clearer for you by that time.”

  She pulled in an unsteady breath. “Maybe,” she said glumly.

  They sat for a moment longer before Craven dropped his hand. “I have an early flight in the morning. Let’s get you home.”

  He tucked her into the car and she ran a last appreciative hand over the soft leather. “I really like this car,” she murmured as he slid in behind the wheel. “I think I may rent one of these while I wait to hear the verdict on my car.”

  “I could extend my contract, let you keep in for a few days.”

  “That’s sweet, but I can do it.” Kenzie tried to hide a sleepy yawn behind her hand. “Sorry, I think my busy weekend is catching up with me.”

  “At least there’s a holiday weekend coming up soon. Big plans for the Fourth?”

  The pain that moved into her heart was almost physical. Before he had moved away, she and Travis made plans. She would keep her end of the bargain, but she doubted he would join her.

  “I’ll probably go to Hardin’s parents’ house. They have some sort of huge family gathering every year. You?”

  “The Lawrences have invited me to spend the weekend with them, but I’m thinking of going home to see my family.”

  “You should. Family is important.” She stared out at the state Capitol as they passed by. The native red granite twinkled in a bath awash with light, but for once, its beauty did not move her.

  “Hey, if you decide not to go to your sister’s fiancé’s, you could always go to Colorado with me.”

  Kenzie smiled at the invitation. “Thank you, it’s nice of you to offer.” She hesitated for a moment before saying softly, “Thank you for being such a good friend, Craven.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “And thank you for having the good sense to turn me down earlier.”

  “It was hard to do, but we both know nothing would have happened tonight. When and if you and I do get together, I don’t want there to be any doubts between us. And definitely no regrets.”

  Kenzie smiled wanly, knowing she would have had both.

  Chapter Nine

  They said goodnight in the hallway. Kenzie invited him inside, but he cited his early flight as reason to call it a night. His kiss was almost chaste as he promised to call once he returned to Washington. As Kenzie watched him leave, she wondered if she would really see him again in two weeks, or if he would cut his losses and walk out of her life forever. The prospect was oddly depressing.

  “You’re back earlier than I expected,” Makenna said when she let herself into the apartment.

  “It’s after ten.”

  “I know, but I expected you to stay out half the night. Have a good time?”

  “Yes, very nice.”

  “You seem a little down.”

  “I am.” She did not have to explain herself; her twin knew exactly how she was feeling, and why.

  After a brief silence, Makenna made a hesitant announcement. “He called, looking for you.”

  “He called me, too. I let it go to voice mail.” Her fingers traced her cell phone. She had not listened to his message yet. “Where did you tell him I was?”

  “I just said you were out.”

  “Thanks, Kenna.”

  “Are you sure you’re alright?”

  “I’m not sure of anything right now,” Kenzie admitted with a weary sigh. “Except that I’m tired.
I’m very, very tired. I’m going to bed. Night, Sis.”

  Makenna frowned, not at all comfortable with this sad, solemn woman who inhabited her sister’s body. “I hope you sleep well. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Closing the door behind her, Kenzie leaned back against it. Part of her yearned to listen to the message Travis had left. She ached to hear his voice. But the defiant side of her, the side that rebuked rules and regulations and this crazy concept they called love, urged her to stay strong, to resist the pull of weakness. He had not bothered to call as he promised. He had waited three days. She had shown remarkable control in letting his call go to voice mail earlier; she could use just as much restraint in not listening to it until morning.

  At least if Travis Merka was going to break her heart, it was going to be on her terms.

  ***

  Marci knocked on their apartment door early the next morning. “Sorry to come over so early, but there’s something outside you need to see,” her friend announced.

  “Can’t it wait?” Kenzie moaned. Still in her pajamas, she had just started her second cup of coffee.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to see this as soon as possible.”

  “Alright, already,” she complained. She did not bother to change out of her fuzzy slippers. She wore a skimpy camisole top and capri sleep pants as she joined her friend in the hallway. “Where is it?”

  “Outside. On the curb.”

  “Oh. Maybe I should put on more clothes.”

  “You’re fine. Come on.” Marci grabbed her hand and drug her toward the elevator. Makenna, who went back for a robe, joined them just as the doors opened.

  The three rode the elevator down to the lobby of the apartment building and Marci led the way out the front doors. She moved to one side as, with a sweeping hand gesture, she drew their attention to the car sitting directly in front of their complex. The dark metallic blue car looked remarkably like the one Craven had been driving, but the huge yellow ribbon and bow encircling it were a new addition.

  “Who-Whose is it?” Kenzie knew the answer, but she asked anyway.

  “Well, this was taped to your front door, so I’m guessing it’s yours,” Marci said, dangling a key fob tied with a matching yellow ribbon.

  “He bought you a car?” Makenna murmured in amazement.

  “I can’t believe he would do this,” Kenzie breathed.

  “I can’t believe you let him leave!” her friend countered.

  “Why would he do this?” Still in a daze, Kenzie had not taken the key from her friend.

  “Oh, you know why, girlfriend. The man is head over heels in love with you.”

  “But- But he knows…”

  “He knows you need a car. And he knew how much you liked this one.”

  “Travis isn’t going to be happy about this,” Kenzie murmured worriedly.

  “Travis?” her friend cried in disbelief. “A smokin’ hot Craven Shaw buys you a car, and you’re worried what Travis is going to think? I thought the two of you broke up.”

  “We were never together to begin with.”

  “Then what do you care what he thinks? I mean, the guy is sexy as hell and he’s a Ranger and all, but he’s moved on. And Craven bought you a car, Kenzie.”

  “I can’t be bought with gifts, Marci, even if they are forty thousand dollar cars,” Kenzie snapped.

  “Yeah, he’d at least have to throw in some cinnamon rolls or something,” Makenna murmured from beside her sister.

  Kenzie whirled on her, clenching her fists at her sides. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”

  Makenna answered warily. “I-I didn’t know we were taking sides.”

  “Well, Marci clearly thinks I should choose Craven over Travis. And it sounds like you’re agreeing with her.”

  Makenna did not point out that two days ago, Kenzie was begging her to give Craven a chance. Clearly, her sister was very torn. “I was making a joke, Ken. And it doesn’t matter what either one of us thinks. It only matters what you think.”

  “I think I’m going back to bed!” She whirled to march away, then stopped, whipped back around, and snatched the key from Marci’s hand. With her nose held high, Kenzie stomped her way back to the apartment building, her over-sized and fuzzy house shoes slapping against the pavement as she went.

  Despite her claims of going back to bed, Kenzie was too upset to lie down. She tried Craven’s number, only to get his voice mail. Thinking of another voice mail, she played the one from Travis. Its brevity was like a knife into her heart.

  “Sorry I missed you, darlin’. I’ll try again later.”

  Angry that the scales were tipping so far in Craven’s favor, she dialed his number again. The moment he answered, she demanded angrily, “Why is there a car sitting in front of my apartment with a huge yellow bow?”

  “Because I couldn’t find a red bow?” he offered.

  His innocent and humorous reply brought a groan from her lips. “Craven, why did you buy me a car?”

  “To be perfectly honest with you, and as much as I would love to take credit for it, the car is not from me,” he informed her. “It’s from the Senator.”

  Kenzie’s back stiffened. “And the Senator would buy me a car WHY?”

  “He knew you wrecked yours, Kenzie. And he still feels terrible about what happened with Franks. He feels responsible for you being held at gunpoint and threatened by his oldest and most trusted adviser.”

  “So he buys me a car? That’s ridiculous!”

  “Not really. He wants you to know how truly sorry he is that you were in danger.”

  “It wasn’t his fault. Not really. He was framed by Bernard Franks. And he lost his hopes of the Presidency because of it.”

  “Actually, that may not be the case. He’s had an outpouring of support over the last few days. It’s too soon to know, of course, until this whole thing with Franks plays out, but right now polls are showing a strong sympathy vote.”

  Bitterness tinged Kenzie’s bark of laughter. “So this is a thank-you gift for boosting his ratings!”

  “Kenzie, the Senator is very fond of you. He’s simply doing a good deed for someone he cares about.”

  “You’ve made that statement before. Why is the Senator so fond of me? He hardly knows me.”

  “Believe me, you’re a very easy person to care about.”

  Kenzie’s heart swelled at his words. Her mother always told her just the opposite. Correction. That woman always told her just the opposite.

  “When the Senator found out I was coming to see you, he suggested I take you car shopping. But when I saw how much you liked my rental, we decided to surprise you with it. Please tell me you like it.”

  “Craven, I cannot possibly accept a car from Senator Lawrence!”

  “It’s a gift, Kenzie. Of course you can accept it.”

  “No, I can’t.”

  “Well, you’ll have to work out the details with the Senator. The paperwork is done and the car is paid for. It’s legally your car, in your name.”

  “Argh!” Kenzie growled into the phone. “Goodbye, Craven!” Exasperated, she slammed down the phone.

  Makenna knocked gently on her door and pushed it open without waiting on her reply. “Ken? You okay in here?”

  “No, I am not okay. I’m mad. I’m mad that everything keeps changing and getting all mixed up! I’m tired of my life being a roller-coaster ride. On Friday, someone tried to kill me. On Saturday, I found out the woman I thought was my mother really wasn’t my mother after all, and that my real mother is still out there somewhere and I have no idea how to find her. On Sunday, someone tried to seduce me with a cinnamon roll and came very close to succeeding, proving I am pathetically weak. On Monday, I broke a man’s heart while another man continues to break mine, plus some creepy guy was staring at me on the sidewalk. And now on Tuesday, a United States Senator buys me a forty thousand dollar car because he’s fond of me and I may have inadvertently boosted
his political career! No, Makenna, I am not okay!” she ranted.

  “Calm down, calm down. And slow down. First of all, you are not weak. A dose of Craven Shaw and cinnamon rolls is a pretty potent combination for any woman, especially someone in your emotional condition right now. But you were strong and resisted, so stop beating yourself up. Second of all, what creepy man on the sidewalk? And third, the car is from the Senator? How did you boost his ratings?”

  “When we were in Fredericksburg, some guy was really watching us. I don’t know, maybe he got his jollies from watching people kiss, but he looked oddly familiar, I just couldn’t place him.” Kenzie got distracted, thinking about the strange man. She missed Makenna’s arched brows at the mention of kissing Craven. “Anyway, yes, the car is actually from the Senator. Supposedly, his way for apologizing for Franks, but Craven also let it slip that the ordeal might be gaining him a sympathy vote. I think Senator Lawrence has one of those slick souls that nothing sticks to. He always manages to come out on top.”

  “Well, look on the bright side. At least you have a ride now!”

  “I was perfectly happy with old Myrtle. And I was just beginning to warm up to the new car. I was even thinking of giving her a name. Now both of them are history and there’s a forty thousand dollar car sitting outside in my name that I can’t possibly accept.”

  “You do need a car, Kenzie,” her sister said quietly. “Maybe you should be gracious and accept his gift, extravagant though it may be.”

  Kenzie flung back onto the pillows, her hands going to her aching head. “Maybe I really should just go back to bed!”

  Chapter Ten

  Makenna was finding it increasingly difficult to focus.

  Not because of the late nights she had been keeping: true, between the sleepless nights and the evening on 6th street, she was running on minimum sleep. But the real reason she could not concentrate was because she had become obsessed; ever since she had seen the picture of her mother, she was consumed with the need to know more about her.