Page 10 of Love and Other Trials
“Yes, Dad already had Jeffrey from another marriage. He was three when I came on the scene, and instead of being jealous of me—like Terry and Tricia were at the same age—he considered me his baby princess. We adore each other with a capital A. The Three Tornadoes—as Mom called them when they were toddlers—were always their own unit. Jeffrey and I never fit in. But that’s a simple answer about why I’m different…”
The rain had lessened, but lightning flashes still lit the distance. “What’s the complicated answer?”
Maybe it was fatigue or the easy way he listened—like he was becoming a good friend beyond the sizzle between them—but she decided to tell him. “Since the first Deverell woman in the family—Augusta Deverell who came to Charleston from England with her husband in 1801—Deverell women have been raised to do two things: to please their mothers and entice men. I've failed at both. That makes me different straightaway.”
That green liquid gaze of his slowly slid her way. Making her shiver. Making her aware of the rain still wetting her skin.
“As someone who finds you very attractive in addition to funny, kind, and interesting, I would take issue with that last statement.”
Her insides tightened. Did he mean she enticedhim? She felt another little shiver, this one hot.
“Perhaps you’re different too.” She shot him a rueful smile. “Look, I’m a gentle wind in comparison to my sisters. By the time I came around, my mother had little energy left for me after my sisters. Dax, the truth is, my mother didn’t even name me. She was in shock at having another child. Three girls had tested her trim waistline plenty. She didn’t know what to do with Jeffrey. My sisters named me. Guess who they chose?”
She caught his wince. “I don’t want to assume it was a Disney princess.”
“That’s me. With the last name Holmes, I’m a hodgepodge of crazy characters. I named Sherlock something else, but my first search and rescue crew kept calling him Sherlock. It stuck.”
“Kinda like Captain Hotpants.” He hung his wrist on the steering wheel, looking manly and as delectable as the apple pie she’d passed up at the Waffle House. “We’re a pair. I mean, my last name is Cross. When someone calls me Mr. Cross, I wonder if they’re thinking I frown all the time. And what woman would want to be Mrs. Cross, assuming she’d take my name? Then there’s the teasing I got as a kid. Dax the Axe.”
Her lips twitched. “Maybe we should both change our names and pick new ones.”
“Fresh start.” His sexy wink sent tiny shivers licking across her skin. “I like that. What would you choose?”
She rubbed Sherlock behind the ears as she considered. “Something classic. Like Elizabeth Harvey. You?”
“Albert…no…Stephan St. James. That sounds more fun. Especially with my Southern accent. People’s brows would slam together when I said, ‘How y’all doing? I’m Stephan.’”
God, he really was a hoot. “I’ll call you Stephan if you’d like, but I’m warning you, I might have to bring out Captain Hotpants on occasion.”
“And you haven’t even seen this butt in dress whites yet.” Another sexy flash of a smile. “All right,Elizabeth.I hate to tell you, but I really like Ariel. I’ve never met one before, and it makes you seem even more unique.”
Could he just kiss her now? Because she wanted his hands all over her after that comment. “Well, I like Dax too. Do you know what it means?”
His indelicate snort came before a cutoff laugh. “My mother didn’t look it up until after she chose it. The name can mean water, leader, or badger. A hot mess, if you ask me. What about yours?”
Oh God, was she going to tell him? Yeah, because they were getting to know each other. Embarrassing things and all. Still, she peeked between her fingers at him. “Don’t laugh, but it means lion of God.”
He angled back further in his seat, making her even more aware of his powerful chest and shoulders. “I told you Rob thinks you’re a cross between Mother Teresa and Joan of Arc, so he got it sorta right.”
“Never say so.” She wiped Sherlock’s mouth with his white drool bib before he rested his head against her arm. “I’m more of a mermaid than a saint.”
“After meeting some of your family, I think you’re saint quality.” He pulled into the front parking lot for Charleston Estates and swung into an empty spot near the double door entrance. “Now—we’re finally here. We should get some rest and huddle in the morning. You have my number, but I’m in Cottage 4. Let me help you inside with your luggage.”
He was out of the car before she could answer, running around to her side and opening the door for her as the rain continued to fall. “From the way the lodge is lit up, I have a feeling the party is still going.”
“We’ll get you to your room so you can get some shut-eye.” He popped open the back passenger door so Sherlock could leap out. “You’ve been traveling after saving people’s lives. Take a break. We’ll start fresh in the morning. Together. Wanna have breakfast?”
Her pulse picked up. His face was slightly wet and shadowed despite the soft glow of the exterior lights, but she could see the interest in his eyes. She felt the same interest coursing through her. “I’d love that.”
When they entered the resort’s lobby, Dax toting her luggage, she gave a tired smile to the young man behind the desk. “Hi there. I’m Ariel Holmes.”
The attendant returned her tired smile. “Welcome to Charleston Estates, Ms. Holmes. Mari said to give you a special welcome. We’re looking forward to making your sister’s wedding the special occasion y’all hope for.”
If only you knew…
She and Dax shared a look before she pasted a polite smile on her face. “Thank you.” After Dax talked to Rob tomorrow morning, she might be canceling everything by noon.
He typed into his computer, a frown emerging. “I’m having a little trouble finding your reservation. Would it be under a different name?”
