A Love Surrendered (3 page)

Ignoring the swirl of nerves in her stomach, Annie sucked in a deep breath and eyed herself in the mirror. “Okay, Peg, wish me luck. Tonight is the night I grow up.”

Peggy chuckled and clamped a hand to Annie’s arm, pulling her toward the ballroom door. “Trust me, kiddo, you won’t need any luck with that dress.”

Annie was grateful Peggy dragged her to the other side of the massive ballroom, hopefully far from the prying eyes of any stick-in-the-mud officer. It was a hive of activity that left her breathless, and even Maggie’s letters hadn’t prepared her for this. Pure magic, a fairy-tale ball where hundreds of couples moved and swayed in hypnotic motion across a gleaming wood floor. Lights were low, lending an intimate air, while a mirror ball glittered overhead like diamonds in the sky. Strains of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra’s “Little
White Lies” filtered throughout, and Annie nibbled on her nail, uneasy about her white lie to Aunt Eleanor about going to bed early. She sucked in a deep breath.
Well, I did, didn’t I?
Lay in the bed until dark?
Guilt jabbed, but she shook it off. After all, she had a right to live her own life, didn’t she?

The band eased into their version of Benny Goodman’s “Help Yourself to Happiness,” and a shaky smile tipped Annie’s mouth when she realized that was exactly what she was trying to do. She’d had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime, and it was time to help herself to some of the happiness Maggie had written home about. Steeling her resolve, she tagged behind Peggy as they inched along the dance floor. Mouth agape, she stared wide-eyed at couples whirling and swinging to the Lindy Hop as sweat and smiles gleamed on their faces. Warmth from sweaty bodies fairly shimmered off the floor like heat off asphalt during a Badger drought in July.

Peggy leaned to whisper in the ear of an older girl who was laughing and drinking with friends at a table littered with peanuts, popcorn, and bottles of Coca-Cola. Annie’s pulse skittered when the girl rose and extended a hand. “Hi, Annie, I’m Peggy’s sister, Joanie. Peggy says you’re new to Boston and looking for fun.” She tucked an arm to Annie’s waist and smiled. “Well, you came to the right place, sweetie, because any friend of Peggy’s is a friend of mine.”

Annie smiled and gulped, hardly able to believe she was here with Maggie’s old gang.

Thumping her glass on the table, Joanie turned to the group, who looked to be in their midtwenties. “Hey, guys, listen up. This is Annie, and she just moved here, so let’s make her feel welcome.” Joanie waved an arm. “This is most of the gang—Erica and Ashley, Joe and Stan.”

“Coca-Cola, Annie?” Joanie asked, pouring pop into one of two clean glasses.

“Just for me, sis. Annie’s a Dr Pepper Girl.” Peggy squeezed Annie’s shoulder with a grin, lowering her voice as if it were a dirty secret. “Her aunt doesn’t allow soda in the house, so
the kid sneaks it when she can.” Peggy sighed. “Unfortunately, it’s her only vice.”

“We’ll have to see what we can do about that,” Erica said with a grin. She pushed a black curl away from her Betty Boop hairstyle and winked an eye lidded with violet shadow. “What are you doing hanging out with Peggy? She’ll just get you in trouble.”

Peggy laughed and sat down along with Annie, sliding Erica a smirk. “Speak for yourself, Erica, everybody knows who the bad influence is here.”

Joe stood to his feet and reached across the table to shake her hand, his smile warm in a handsome face that boasted a healthy spray of freckles. His hazel eyes seemed to twinkle, a nice complement to the sandy hair neatly slicked back. “Hiya, Annie, where you from?”

Annie liked him immediately, which helped put her at ease despite her hesitation to divulge her rustic roots. She gave him a shy smile. “Badger, Iowa.”

Joe let loose a low whistle. “Small town, eh?”

Annie nodded, a grin sprouting on her face. “You can spit from one end to the other.”

“Well, welcome to the big city. And just so you know, I’m the ‘good’ influence here.”

“You mean till Steven comes,” Erica said with a ruby-red pout. “Where is he, anyway? I thought you said he was coming.”

Joe eyed Erica with an off-center smile. “Don’t get your knickers in a knot, Miss Hogan, you’ll get your chance with him. Our poster boy’ll be here, as promised.”

Erica leaned on the table with a grin, a hint of cleavage peeking out the ruffle of her floral dress. “You better be right, Walsh, ’cause I spent a fortune on this dress, even at a thrift shop.”

“Trust me, I’m just as anxious as you for Steven to get here. I work with the guy day in, day out, remember? Nobody knows better than me that all work and no play makes O’Connor a
dull boy. He’s been nothing but nose to the grindstone since he broke up with Maggie, and I for one am tired of it.” He raised his glass to Erica. “So that’s where you come in.”

O’Connor? Maggie’s old flame?
Annie began to choke, finally sneezing to clear her air.

“Bless you.” Joe winked.

“Where I come in, huh?” Erica grinned. “Back in Steven’s arms again, I hope.” Her smile went flat. “Where I’d still be today if not for Kennedy.”

“Maggie’s history,” Joanie said, “don’t let her spoil your evening.”

“Bad history,” Erica said with a grunt. “Wish I could tip your flask to forget.”

“Ooops—how rude!” Joanie lifted her skirt to reveal a flask in her garter belt. “Forgot to offer a touch of giggle water to Annie and Peg. How ’bout it, girls?”

The whites of Annie’s eyes expanded. “Uh . . . no, thank you,” she squeaked.

“Sure, why not?” Peggy said without hesitation.

“You’re drinking alcohol?” Annie’s whisper rose several octaves, her eyes glazed with shock as if she’d tipped the flask herself.

“Not much, you goose, just enough to feel tipsy,” Peggy said while Joanie spiked her drink. “Sure you don’t want some? You could use it after the scare you had, you know.”

Annie shook her head, suddenly feeling way in over her head.

Joanie offered Erica a sympathetic smile. “If you ask me, Maggie was never good enough for Steven. Too independent and definitely too wild. Steven O’Connor’s the old-fashioned type who needs a good girl.”

Too wild?
A frown pinched Annie’s brow.

“Then how’d she land him in the first place is what I wanna know?” Erica said in a pout.

Joanie chuckled. “She was a pastor’s kid, remember? Flirty, yes, but white as the driven snow when Steven met her.” She
winked. “Come on, Erica, nobody knows better than you how hard it is to say no to a guy like Steven.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Issuing a heavy sigh, Erica slumped, chin in hand. “Even so, I never liked her from the get-go. Too blonde, too loud, too much of a flirt to suit me.”

Joanie chuckled. “You just hated her ’cause she had Steven wrapped around her little finger.”

“That’s not all she had him wrapped around,” Erica said with a grunt.

“You got that right,” Joanie said. “Rumor is she gave him her all.”

Her all?
Annie blinked, refusing to think about what that meant, but feeling the heat of her blush clear up to her bangs.

“Hey, guys, knock it off. You’re embarrassing Annie.” Joe popped peanuts in his mouth, his tone matching the scowl on his face. “Those rumors are way off, and Maggie’s one of my best friends, so leave her be. Besides, she may have had her influence, but it was Steven who called the shots. And don’t forget,
he
broke it off with her.” Joe eyed Erica, brows knit. “I hope you’re not drinking, ’cause he’ll taste it in your kiss and you won’t stand a chance.”

“Are you kidding?” Erica splayed a hand to her chest. “After he read me the riot act last time? Not on your life. I know what a straight arrow he is.”

“Good.” Joe tossed another peanut as his gaze landed on Annie. All at once, he jumped up, his smile apologetic. “Gosh, where are my manners? One Dr Pepper coming right up.”

Peggy watched Joe stride to the bar, then leaned close to Annie. “Joe and Steven are such sweethearts,” she said with a sigh. “Gorgeous too, not to mention dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Annie squinted at her friend. “But Joe seems so nice . . .”

Peggy’s chuckle rumbled against Annie’s ear. “They’re federal agents, Annie, armed to the teeth with both guns and charm. But trust me, that’s not what makes ’em ‘dangerous.’ ”

Annie blinked.
Then what does?

“Here you go, Dr Pepper Girl, one bottled addiction.” Joe plopped a glass down.

“Thanks, Joe.” She took a swig, excitement bubbling as much as the soda in her glass.

“My pleasure, kiddo.” He returned to his seat, then suddenly jerked straight up, waving a hand in the air. “Okay, Miss Hogan, smile pretty,” he muttered under his breath, “you’re on.” He rose to his feet. “Well, speak of the devil. Where’ve you been, O’Connor, you’re late.”

Annie stiffened, an odd mix of dread and curiosity roiling at the prospect of meeting Steven O’Connor, the man who broke Maggie’s heart. Sucking in a deep breath, she exhaled before turning around, going for a nonchalant air. Unfortunately, both nonchalance and air died a quick death when blood drained from her face faster than the liquor from Joanie’s flask.

“Sorry, Joe, had to call the precinct about a couple of thugs.” The “officer” who’d saved her from Harv and Grove casually slipped his jacket over an empty chair, and she caught a peek of a shoulder holster before he buttoned his open vest. “They were hassling some silly kid who didn’t have a brain in her head.”

Her gasp forced Dr Pepper up her nose, and she started to hack. Peggy slapped her on the back. “You okay? Gosh, you act like Joanie spiked your drink.”

“Hi, Steven, it’s been way too long.” Erica all but glowed. “We’ve missed you.”

“Speak for yourself, Erica.” Joe plucked Steven’s jacket off the chair and tossed it across the table. “I see way too much of him as it is. He’s all yours for the evening.”

Steven laughed, deep blue eyes sparkling as he extended a hand to Stan. “Hey, buddy, long time, no see. And Ashley Roberts—don’t tell me you’re still dating this guy? I thought you’d wise up by now.”

“Just waiting for you to come around, Steven, so just give me the word.” Ashley ruffled Stan’s hair with a smirk.

Chuckling, Steven turned. “So, Joanie, how’ve you—” He stopped, jaw dangling at the sight of Annie. “You,” he whispered, the smile dissolving on his face. His hands settled loosely on his hips while the blue eyes narrowed. “
These
are your friends?”

Blood whooshed into Annie’s cheeks, burning so much, she thought she would peel.

“You know Annie?” Joe hiked a brow while Annie died a thousand deaths.

Steven jerked a thumb her way. “Yeah, she’s the brainless kid I was telling you about, the one I had to rescue from those two thugs.” He shifted his gaze back to Annie and shook his head. “A female walking this neighborhood alone at night. That’s just plain stupid.”

“Hey, she isn’t stupid,” Peggy said. “Annie’s class valedictorian.”

The edge of Steven’s lip curled. “Yeah, book smart, street stupid.”

The heat in Annie’s face went straight to her temper. “Well, at least
my
brains are in my head,
Officer
, and not in my gun.”

“Whoo-ee, Steven,” Stan said with a chuckle. “I think she just called you a dumb cop.”

“Come on, you two,” Joe said with a grin, “let’s kiss and make up. And you, partner”—Joe aimed a pointed look at Steven—“need to lighten up. We’re not on the clock here, you know, so let’s have a good time.” He shot Annie a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Annie, this guy doesn’t get out all that much, but once you get to know him, he’s really not so bad. Right, Erica?”

Erica’s smile went to work as she leaned in to give Steven the benefit of her new dress. “I’ll vouch for that.” She patted the chair beside her. “Be a good boy, Steven, and come sit down.”

Steven didn’t budge, gaze flicking from Erica to Annie while a storm brewed in his eyes.

“Okay, then let’s start over.” Joe directed an arm to Annie.
“This is Peggy’s friend, Annie, and she’s new to Boston, straight from Badger, Iowa, which,” he said with a lift of brows, “is probably why she didn’t know not to walk the Pier alone at night.” He grinned at Annie with a quick nod at Steven. “This is my partner at the Prohibition Bureau, Steven O’Connor, a stickler for the law who was actually a lot more fun in college when he broke it on a regular basis.”

Prohibition officers?
Annie gaped, stunned. Joe hadn’t blinked an eye over Joanie’s flask. She noted the hard line of Steven O’Connor’s jaw and guessed it wouldn’t be the same with him.

“So what do you say, you two. Truce?” Joe glanced from one to the other.

Despite a wobble in her legs, Annie rose and held out a shaky hand. “I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot, Offi—uh, Steven. I hope we can be friends.”

“Atta girl, Annie.” Joe turned to his partner and arched a brow. “O’Connor?”

———

Steven stared, irritated the smart-mouthed kid he’d rescued in the street could not only set off his temper but apparently his pulse as well. He scowled. In the dark, she’d looked like a kid, barely fifteen, but here in the intimacy of the low-lit ballroom and without the baggy sweater, she appeared older, cute even, aglow with an innocence that rankled. His eyes narrowed. She didn’t belong here, mixing with a crowd who would only set her on the wrong path. She was seventeen, for pity’s sake, and the wide green eyes void of makeup and dewy cheeks growing rosier by the second told him loud and clear she was nothing more than a naïve Pollyanna. Chaste, innocent, everything the women around her were not, and it chafed that he found himself in the unlikely role of big brother. To protect her, to steer her away from all this, to save her from ending up hard and loose like all the women he knew.

Women like Maggie.
Regret stabbed immediately, as always whenever he thought of the woman who’d stolen his heart.
But then he’d stolen her innocence in college, in the backseat of Joe’s father’s car, and no matter how hard he tried, nothing could erase that stain of guilt from his soul. Not breaking up with her, not giving up drinking, not even pursuing the law in an effort to vindicate his past. A past that had almost cost him the life of his father.