Silent Vows

14

EAVESDROPPING IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE IF YOUR LIFE HANGS IN THE balance. At least, I told myself that while I stood outside my father’s office door, hovering as close as I dared get without jiggling the door. I’d heard Conner arrive minutes before and hurried downstairs the second the office door had closed. The two were discussing the alliance and wedding plans—I couldn’t not listen. “Acceptance hasn’t been an issue, but I think it would be wise to select a neutral site for the ceremony.” The deep melodic current of Conner’s voice flowed like silk. As always, he seemed perfectly at ease. www.ajpdf.com “Agreed,” my father responded. “I suggest Saint Francis Xavier in Midtown. It’s one of the few large enough to hold both contingencies and isn’t affiliated with any one group. Plus, Midtown gives us the best options for the reception. I don’t want to have to limit our guest list.” “I can’t imagine the church would be available on such short notice.” “You let me worry about that.” My father’s voice was tinged with sly mirth. “We agreed on August first, and I see no reason to change it.” August first? Holy crap! That was only two short weeks away. I knew things would move quickly now that the engagement had been officially announced, but two weeks was no time at all. Despite my desire to escape my father’s reach, the prospect of such a lifealtering event happening so quickly made my head spin with tendrils of panic. I was so distracted that I was caught off guard when the door swung open, and I stood face-to-face with Umberto. A fresh wave of heart-pounding terror overtook me. How could I have forgotten about him? Dad always kept him close, and though the discussion had been taking place comfortably on the far side of the room, I hadn’t accounted for the extra variable. I was too shocked to even improvise an excuse. Mouth agape and eyes wide, I floundered as all three men stared at me. “My apologies, Conner. It appears my daughter has forgotten her manners.” My father slowly rose from his desk chair, eyes spitting fire my direction. Conner’s gaze slid from me to my father ever so briefly before he waved his hand dismissively. “It’s natural for her to be curious,” he said, voice dripping with indifference. “You know women and weddings. I’m glad she’s here, actually. I needed to speak with her. Might as well do that now before I forget.” He stood without waiting for a reply. “I suppose I have a minute,” Dad clipped, not attempting to mask his disapproval. Conner continued toward me as though completely oblivious to the warning in my father’s tone. I didn’t buy it for a second. The Irishman knew exactly how fine a line he walked, yet he simply didn’t care. I backed away from the door, my heart an insistent drum pounding in my ears. Once Conner pushed past a surly Umberto, he led the way to the living www.ajpdf.com room and out onto our back patio. It was a warm summer morning, yet my arms pricked with a sea of goose bumps when Conner speared me with a penetrating arctic stare. “I thought you were smarter than that, Noemi,” he said quietly. Each of my vertebrae fused stiffly together, my jaw clenching tight. How dare he condemn me when he had no idea of the position I was in. Yes, I needed to be more careful, but it wasn’t his place to reprimand me. Not yet, anyway. I desperately wanted to lash out and spew the venomous words nipping at my tongue, but I hadn’t brought a notepad with me. I was manacled by my silence. Conner heaved a sigh and extracted his phone from his jacket pocket before opening it to the notes app and handing it to me. He was giving me the chance to respond, though it was clear he wasn’t thrilled about it. The gesture cooled my anger. Just a smidge. He was still a jackass. You don’t know anything about me. He read my typed words, then steadied stormy blue eyes on my face. “I know you’ve lived under that man’s roof all your life and should know better than to be so careless.” His head tilted a fraction as though something had just occurred to him. “Unless … disobedience is new to you.” He took a tiny step forward as though he wanted to crowd me but knew we were being watched. “Just how sheltered are you?” How had this conversation strayed so quickly? From worry to anger to incensed embarrassment in a handful of heartbeats. Conner had a natural ability to keep me off balance. I crossed my arms over my chest and leveled him with a stare, unwilling to answer. His turbulent gaze flared, hungry and dark as slate. “Have you even been kissed?” His voice lowered to loose gravel on asphalt. Deep enough to make my insides quake. The answer was yes, but I felt an intense need to stand my ground. I didn’t want to set the stage for this man to see me as a naïve pushover. And besides, it wasn’t any of his damn business if I’d been kissed before. I snatched the phone out of his hand and began to type. Did you burn a man alive? His responding smirk chilled me to the bone.