Page 5 of To Steal a Heart
He grinned. “Have it your way. Let’s show ‘em how it’s done,” he said as he began maneuvering her around the floor. For all his many faults, Wesley was an excellent dancer. The music flowed into Arden’s veins and quickened her blood as she matched Wesley’s steps. It felt good to dance. She poured herself into the movements as they twirled like ribbons in perfect sync. Forget her frustration at Grandmother. Forget that Wesley was a jerk. Forget that she was disappointed with Hector’s lack of torque. This was all about savoring the moment and pulping the juice out of life.
When the song ended, Arden was happily surprised by applause from the couples who had surrounded them to watch them dance. Always a showoff, Wesley lapped up the praise with a large grin and bow. Arden smiled and nodded.
“Allow me to escort you back to Josette,” Wesley said grandly.
“Thanks, but I can manage.”
Before he could utter a word of protest, Arden slipped away. She was mildly alarmed when she found Grandmother sitting alone. Her hand went to her hip. “Where’s Hector?”
Josette flicked her hand. “He claimed he needed to make a phone call to check on his ailing father. Likely excuse,” she sniffed.
“Hector’s father’s not sick.” Arden narrowed her eyes. “What did you say to him?”
Grandmother rolled out a lusty laugh. “You’ll thank me later.”
The hair on the back of Arden’s neck stood on end. She had to fight the urge to scream. “So much for your promise to play nice.”
“I did play nice,” Grandmother countered with a smirk.
“Sure you did. Stay out of my life!” Arden turned to stomp off but stopped in her tracks when Grandmother held up the green clutch that matched Arden’s dress.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Arden snatched the clutch out of Grandmother’s hand and stomped off to find Hector. Hector was from Wilmington, which was about an hour and a half from Honeysuckle Island. He’d come in for the Founder’s Day Celebration. Arden booked him one of the suites, where he was staying through the weekend. That’s probably where he’d gone. There was no telling what Grandmother said to him. As she hurried through the lobby, Arden crossed paths with Sylvia Laramie. Before Arden could move past, Sylvia stopped her. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Sylvia was Wesley’s sister. There was a time when Arden and Sylvia were the best of friends, but they’d drifted apart as they grew up.
“I’m looking for my boyfriend. Have you seen him?”
Sylvia’s eyes glittered with interest. “Oh, yes, darling,” she purred. “I’ve seen him. A man like that is hard to miss.”
Arden was in no mood for Sylvia’s games, especially when she looked fabulous in her silky-white Dior gown that hugged her sleek figure. Gah! Arden needed to trim down. She felt like a block of lard in comparison. “Do you know where Hector went?”
“Sorry. I don’t.” Sylvia pursed her full, botoxed lips, which were the exact color of her short, auburn hair. “Did y’all have a lover’s spat?” The hopeful note in Sylvia’s sultry voice churned Arden’s stomach.
She crinkled her nose. “Are you seriously trying to scam on my boyfriend?” That was low, even for Sylvia.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Sylvia laughed lightly. “Just making conversation.” She looked Arden up and down, her eyes holding a hint of genuine concern. “Are you okay? You’re not acting like yourself.”
It was on the tip of Arden’s tongue to retort that Sylvia wasn’t exactly the best authority on Arden’s “normal behavior” as the two of them hadn’t been close in years. Instead, she pushed out a long breath. “I’m fine. I’ve gotta find Hector.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help …” Her words dribbled off, and then she capped them off with, “See ya.” Sylvia sauntered away with the finesse of a feline as Arden hurried to catch the elevator.
When she reached the door of the suite, she fished the keycard out of her clutch. Arden was staying with her parents at the Chasing mansion in her old bedroom, where she’d slept during her growing-up years, but Hector had given her a key to his room so she could come and go as she pleased. She inserted it into the slot and opened the door. When she heard Hector’s voice floating through the space, she figured that he must be on the phone. She walked down the hall to get to the living room.
“Can you believe it? The old bag of bones offered me fifty grand to stay away from Arden.”
A blazing hot fury spiked through Arden with the force of a dozen nails. Had Grandmother flipped her freaking gourd? No wonder Hector came back up to the room. Good for him!
He chuckled. “I would’ve taken her up on it if I believed for one second that she’d make good on the deal.”
Arden stopped in her tracks as she went stone cold. She cocked her ears, hardly daring to breathe, as she listened.
“I know you said to be patient, but I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Arden is a piece of work.” He grunted. “She’s spoiled, entitled, way too outspoken for her own good … let’s just put it this way, if she weren’t a Chasing, I wouldn’t give her the time of day. Yeah, she’s decent to look at, but certainly not worth all the hassle.”
Blood thrashed against Arden’s temples as she dug her fingernails into the clutch.Please let this be a bad dream!A wave of dizziness assaulted her as she swallowed to clear her constricting throat. Tears of humiliation blurred her vision. Hot Hades! Grandmother was right on the money.
“I had everything under control,” Hector fumed, “and then Arden picked a fight with Josette. If she’d just kept her loud mouth shut then—”
Arden didn’t wait to hear any more. She charged the rest of the way down the hall and into the living room. Hector was sitting at the desk. He turned to face her, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. “I’ve gotta let you go.” He ended the call and placed his cell phone on the desk. “Arden.” A shaky laugh fell from his lips as he offered a contrite smile. “I didn’t hear you come in.”