Shades of Amber by Morgan Smith Page B

listened as intently as
one can to two conversations. Unfortunately, I missed bits of both.
Troy seemed to be demanding something that his father was against,
and I was practically dying from the suspense. I hoped Richard was
telling his son to send me back to Chattanooga, but I doubted I
could be so lucky.
    Troy’s mother gave me a
look, and hustled me toward another group halfway across the room.
I groaned as she patted my hand.
    “ Boys will be boys. It’s
best to let them work things out on their own.”
    ¤¤¤¤
    … Troy…
    “ Does she know?” I
followed my father’s gaze as he eyed Jade and my mother. They were
supposed to be speaking with a couple a few feet away, but Jade’s
head kept turning in my direction. I winked, but she looked away as
soon as our eyes met. She had everyone’s attention with her
brilliant smile and mesmerizing gown, and even though I’d tossed
her into this, she held herself with the poise and elegance of a
queen. My cold heart warmed at the knowledge that I wouldn’t have
to give her up again.
    My father cleared his
throat. “Well?”
    “ She can’t handle it, yet.
I need her to accept this.” I spread my hand to encompass the
room.
    He shook his head. “You’re
asking an awful lot of that girl, son.”
    “ She can handle it, she’s
a fighter.”
    My father laughed as we
watched my mother guide Jade to the patio. “How do you know she
won’t fight you ?”
    I smiled. “Oh, she’ll try,
but she loves me. Soon she won’t be able to resist.”
    ¤¤¤¤
    Jade
    My lips couldn’t lie
anymore, I was miserable. I studied his mother’s profile as she
mingled with her guests. She was as stunning as a Monet, but she
had an underlying strength that made her as dangerous as a
lightning bolt.
    She smiled and led me to
the terrace. “It really does take more muscles to frown, you know.
You look flushed, dear. Are you feeling well?”
    I tried to inhale the cool
air, but started sobbing. “I can’t be here. I don’t
belong.”
    The moonlight fell on her
as she placed a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. “You do belong
here, and you’re doing fine.”
    The decorative lanterns
twinkled over the fountain as I pulled away. “I can’t imagine why
Troy would claim he didn’t have experience with love.”
    She took a seat on the
wooden bench, and tapped the spot next to her. “Perhaps he meant
loving someone.”
    “ He’s trying to make me
become something I’m not,” I whispered as I plopped
down.
    “ Who?”
    The calming sound of
trickling water drowned some of my anger.
    I was an adult. Not a
child complaining to the mother of the boy who broke her crayons.
What could Alexandra do?
    “ Who is upsetting you,
Jade?”
    I took a deep breath.
“Your son.”
    “ My son can be
overwhelming at times.”
    I looked at the moon.
“Yes.”
    “ So, you didn’t have a
choice in coming here.”
    “ No, I’m not even sure
where I am, exactly.”
    “ You’re in….” She stopped
when a twig snapped. “I should get back to the party before my
husband gets worried.” Her warm hand covered mine. “You should let
Troy answer your questions, dear.”
    I sighed. “He never tells
the truth. I can’t…” I rubbed my arms.
    “ You can’t what, Jade?” My
heart skipped when I heard his voice.
    He was right behind
me.
    “ You two should
talk.”
    I started to follow her,
but Troy grabbed my arm. He bit his lip as he brushed his knuckles
against my cheek.
    “ My mother is growing
quite fond of you. I wish that you would stop trying to distance
yourself from us.”
    I stepped back, but he was
still holding my arm. “Us?”
    “ I know you don’t want to
be here.” I looked at his face and for a second, I got lost in his
eyes.
    How could one man’s gaze
hold so many secrets?
    I shivered as I
contemplated all the things he was hiding. “If you know I don’t
want to be here, then why keep me?”
    His smile was sexy, but
his words were disturbing. “I keep you because I want