Winter Magic: 4 (The Hawks Mountain Series) (15 page)

“What—”

“Andi, meet Toni, my hairdresser, and Linda, my clothier, and her assistant, Meghan.” Sarah grabbed Andi’s arm and pulled her off the bed, then guided her to where the three women stood smiling at her. “They are going to dress you for the gala.”

“But—”

Sarah stopped Andi’s protests with a raised hand. “No buts. We’re very late already, so don’t dawdle.”

FOR THE NEXT hour, Andi was dressed and undressed as Linda tried gown after gown, finally settling on a black one. Since she’d been kept from the mirror, Andi had little time to look at the gowns being put on her, considered by both Sarah and Linda, then rejected, and whipped off her at an astounding rate. By the time Linda chose the one she and Sarah agreed on, Andi was resigned to going along with whatever choice they made.

Once the gown was chosen, Toni went to work drying, brushing, curling, pinning, and rearranging Andi’s hair. At the same time, Meghan slipped shoes on and off Andi’s feet, waiting for the nod of approval from Sarah and Linda. When she finally got it, Linda whisked Andi away to be garbed in the chosen garment and footwear.

At last, fully dressed, Linda led her to the full-length cheval mirror in the corner of the room. “Well, what do you think?”

Andi surveyed herself silently, unable to believe what she saw. The complete transformation of the kindergarten teacher she’d grown used to seeing in her mirror each morning stunned her.

Soft, black material clung tenaciously to every curve of her body, a body Andi had never considered shapely until now. The Grecian bodice, caught up by a sparkling gemstone pin on one shoulder, left the other shoulder bare. And a slit that started at the hem and ended mid-thigh, exposed her long shapely leg when she walked.

Her hair had been curled and pulled atop her head, leaving one stray curl to fall seductively over the bare shoulder. The only jewelry she wore were small diamond encrusted hoops that Sarah had loaned her and her gold bracelet she made of her
#1 Teacher
necklace.

“So, what do you think?” Sarah stood just behind her grinning like the cat that just breeched the canary’s cage.

Andi had trouble finding her voice. “I’m beautiful.”

Sarah and the three women laughed. “Of course you are, my dear. Didn’t you know that?”

Andi shook her head, never taking her gaze off the image in the mirror. “Not until now.”

“Well, you can admire yourself later. Right now, we are very late for the gala.” Sarah pulled two fake fur stoles from her closet, handed one to Andi, and then guided her out the door, down the stairs, and out the front of the house to the waiting white limo.

AFTER ARRIVING home from New York on a delayed flight, Jonathan had barely enough time to shower, dress, and get to the gala. Thinking Andi would already be at the lodge overseeing the arrangements, Jonathan went in searched of her.

The dining room, was a bee’s hive of scampering catering staff.

But no Andi.

Jonathan moved on to the ballroom, which had been turned into a sparkling winter wonderland filled with people in elegant dress.

But
 . . .
no Andi.

Though puzzled by her absence, Jonathan quickly got caught up in the greetings and dismissed Andi’s absence as an unforeseen delay of some kind. He could not believe that she would miss this for any other reason.

By the time dinner was over, Andi still had not arrived and Jonathan’s easy dismissal of her absence turned to deep concern. He called her house and got no answer. Her cell went to voice mail. He even found Nancy to see if she knew Andi’s whereabouts, but all she could tell him was that Andi had gone home to get dressed hours ago.

Desperate for word of Andi, and realizing his aunt wasn’t there either, he’d been about to call Sarah when a disturbance near the ballroom door drew his attention. He sucked in his breath and stared in total shock.

Andi stood in the doorway dressed in a beautiful, slinky black gown, looking every inch like a princess about to hold court. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

ANDI ENTERED THE dining room of the Lodge on the Lake and looked around. The only people in the room were the wait staff clearing tables and removing linens.

“It looks like we missed dinner, Sarah. I’m so sorry.”

Sarah laid her hand on Andi’s arm. “No need to apologize, dear. It wasn’t your fault your car died, and you had to walk through the rain. Now, let’s go into the ballroom and see if we can find Jonathan.”

Finding Jonathan was exactly what Andi had in mind. She’d missed him terribly while he was in New York, and even though she welcomed his calls, they were a poor substitute for having him here in the flesh. They headed for the huge room just off the dining room area.

Unaware of the admiring glances aimed her way, Andi scanned the room. Lights twinkled on trees and improvised lamp posts, children in elf costumes scampered among the throng of guests with baskets of candy canes, and Christmas carols rang out over the crowd’s chatter.

Now, all she needed to make the evening absolutely perfect was to find Jonathan. She scrutinized the tuxedo-clad men in the room, searching for that one face that she knew so well.

JONATHAN STARTED across the room toward Andi.

“Mr. Prince.” An older woman with two girls in tow stepped in front of him. “I’m Laureene Talbot, and I’d like to introduce my daughters, Beulah and Augusta.” She dragged the two dark-haired women into Jonathan’s line of vision.

The women did what looked like an awkward curtsey of some kind, and then backed up. They were not unattractive. Not that either would have enticed Jonathan. Their mother reminded him of the many pushy mothers he’d met at social events over the years. He wanted to tell her if she’d just butt out of their lives, her daughters could no doubt find a suitable mate without her help. Right now, they were red with embarrassment and appeared like a couple of timid deer, ready to bolt.

“Hello. Very nice to meet you both.” Eager to get to Andi, he turned to their pushy mother. “I’m sorry but—”

She latched on to his forearm, preventing his escape. “The girls have been looking forward to this evening ever since the invitations arrived.”

Jonathan, keeping an eye on Andi, smiled and tried to look interested, but he wasn’t. All that interested him at the moment was reaching the woman he loved.

“I’m very pleased that you were so anxious to attend the gala, ladies. I do hope you enjoy the evening. Now, if you’ll excuse me—” He removed his arm from the mother’s grasp, stepped around the three women, and hurried across the floor toward Andi.

As he got closer, she turned in his direction. Her face broke into a smile that tore at his insides. He wanted to grab her, drag her out of here and make love to her until both of them were near dead from exhaustion. But, unfortunately, he had his duties, and for tonight, the foundation had to come first.

But that didn’t stop him from sweeping her into his arms and kissing her right there in front of anyone who cared to observe their meeting. Her lips were soft and warm and inviting, and he had to force himself to bring the kiss to an end. While reluctant to end the kiss, but recognizing the lack of propriety to continue, he was not about to let her move out of his arms. At that moment the small carolers took a break and the sound system kicked in with a soft rendition of White Christmas.

“Dance with me.” He led her onto the dance floor and once more enclosed her in his embrace. Leaning his head forward, he inhaled the seductive scent of her perfume. His blood began to race through his veins. “I missed you more than you know. After a week with spoiled authors and pushy agents, it’s nice to get back to something real and honest.”

Andi had been soaring on his kisses and his nearness, but his words brought her plummeting to earth.

Real? Honest? Phony was more like it.

She couldn’t put this off any longer. “Jonathan—”

Just then, Jonathan stiffened in her arms. “What the he—” His gaze was fixed on the doorway.

Andi turned to see what he was looking at. Her breath
whooshed
from her body. Dizzy with panic, she stared at her sister standing at the edge of the dance floor. Andi’s heart sank to somewhere below the foundation of the building. Fear rose up in her like a sickness.

Miranda!

What in God’s name was she doing here? Hadn’t she promised she wouldn’t come?

Andi turned to Jonathan, the words
I can explain
hovering on her tongue. But he was staring at her as if he didn’t know her. Pain, sharp and crippling, knifed through her. She’d been wrong. He wouldn’t understand, not if someone else told him or if she told him. He would only hear the lies.

She threw a pleading glance at her sister and then the overwhelming need to get out of there overcame her. She hiked up the hem of her gown and started for the door, but was stopped by Jonathan’s hand on her wrist.

“Andi, what’s going on? Who is she?” His tone was uncompromising. He wanted an answer.

She wanted to give him one, to beg for his forgiveness, but the chain on her necklace pressed into her flesh and reminded her that there was no explanation that would erase her lies. She pulled loose and bolted from the room.

With the fervent hope that she’d be able to find the white limo she and Sarah had arrived in, she ran from the building. Thankful that the rain had stopped and she wouldn’t ruin the beautiful gown Sarah had loaned her, she scanned the parking lot for the limo. Instead of the limo, a bright orange VW was nestled into one of the parking spaces right out front. Her faithful Bess. Sarah must have arranged for her mechanic to deliver the car here when he got it running.

With a prayer on her lips that her spare key was still under the seat, she made a dash for Bess. To her relief, not only was the key where she’d hidden it months ago, but also the motor roared to life at the first try. As she backed out of the parking space and started out of the lot, she could see Jonathan through her tears in her rearview mirror, standing on the steps staring after her.

JONATHAN STOOD on the steps of the lodge holding the gold necklace that he’d picked up off the ballroom floor. Confused, he stared down at the
#1 Teacher
dangling from the chain.

What in the name of everything that is holy just happened?

One minute he’d been holding Andi, and the next her double had been standing on the other side of the room, and then Andi was running out the door.

Jonathan collapsed onto stone stairs, his gaze still fixed on the necklace that had fallen from Andi’s arm. Then he looked up to the far end of the parking lot where Andi’s orange VW had disappeared into the night. For a moment he considered going after her and demanding to know what was going on. But before he could, the woman who looked like Andi bolted through the door, ran past him and climbed into a sporty little red Ferrari. The powerful engine roared to life, and the tires squealed as she backed up and tore off in the same direction as Andi.

His frustration and confusion intensified. Had the woman really looked that much like Andi? The lighting in the ballroom was rather dim. Perhaps he’d only imagined the resemblance. But deep down, he knew he hadn’t imagined anything of the kind.

The woman looked enough like Andi to be her
 . . .
twin sister?

Suddenly, puzzle pieces started falling into place. The outstanding differences, in both demeanor and attitude, between the two women he’d interviewed for the gala contract. The red Ferrari that was being “repaired” and had been replaced by the disreputable orange VW. And as each piece fit snugly into its respective slot, Jonathan’s anger grew one degree hotter.

The music from inside the ballroom cut into his thoughts. He knew he could not go back inside. Instead, he stalked to his car, climbed in, and started it. Backing up, he headed out of the parking lot, but in the opposite direction from that which Andi had gone.

ANDI HAD BARELY closed her front door when it burst open and Miranda walked in. Instantly, the pain and despair Andi had been feeling transformed into anger.

“What were you doing at the gala? You’ve ruined everything. You said you wouldn’t come?”

Miranda had the decency to look sorry. “I know that’s what I said, but when she couldn’t locate you, Nancy called me. We were afraid something had happened, and you were not going to show up. Knowing someone had to be there from the company to oversee things, we decided that I should go. What happened? Why didn’t you answer your cell?”

Unable to organize her thoughts, Andi shook her head. “I left my purse at home by accident. The cell was in the purse.” She gave Miranda a much abbreviated version of the events of the evening. Then she added, “It’s over, Miranda. I’m going to tell Jonathan all about our lie.”

Miranda dragged Andi to the sofa. “Unfortunately, I think that boat has sailed. I’ll just have to hope he forgives us.”

Andi sighed and leaned back against the throw pillows. She gazed blindly out the window. Darkness as black as the dread surrounding her soul filled her view. Not even an occasional twinkle of light gave her hope that this night would end any other way than in disaster.

Sooner or later he would demand answers and those answers would end anything that they’d had between them. Tears trickled silently down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away.

“Andi, are you crying?”

She didn’t answer.

Her sister leaned around her for a better look. “You are.” Miranda a slid closer to her and took her hand. “It’s not that bad. You know I tend to get a bit dramatic sometimes. My business won’t—”

Anger that Andi had been holding back boiled to the surface. She turned on her sister. “I don’t give a damn about your business.”

Although seemingly startled by Andi’s directness, Miranda frowned. “Then why are you crying?”

Andi turned away and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s too late anyway. We’ve ruined everything.”

For a long time, Miranda said nothing. Andi hoped that meant her sister would drop the subject and allow her to wallow in her misery.

Then Andi heard her sister’s sharp intact of breath. “Oh, my God! You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Andi dipped her head. She didn’t want to talk about it. She just wanted to be left alone. “Let it go, Miranda.”

“Andi, I am so sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt. I didn’t think—”

Spinning around, Andi aimed all her pent up emotions at her sister. “That’s your problem. You never think. You just plunge ahead and think of no one but yourself. Well, this is the last time I bail you out, Miranda. The next time you get yourself in one of your messes, find someone else to help you out of it. I’m done. From now on, you’re on your own.”

Intense hurt registered on Miranda’s face.

Instant regret for her harsh words softened Andi’s tone. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so blunt. But I did mean what I said. You’re a grown woman, and it’s past time that you handled your own life and stopped running to me.”

Long moments passed in tense silence. Andi had had enough. She didn’t want to talk about this anymore. She started to leave the room, but Miranda stopped her with a hand on her arm. “You’re right. I got so used to leaning on you that I forgot I have my own two legs to support me. I promise, I’ll try to do better.”

Andi smiled, kissed her sister on the cheek, went into her bedroom and closed the door.

JONATHAN WAITED in his car as the red Ferrari, which he guessed belonged to Andi’s twin sister, pulled out of Andi’s driveway and sped away down the street. He should have guessed that the more beautiful of the two was the real Andi.

However, that didn’t explain why they had both run from the gala as if the hounds of hell were on their heels. As he sat there and began to recall how puzzled he’d been at his meeting with Andi, and how different she’d seemed from when he’d met with her the first time. The first woman had been more sophisticated, more flirtatious, more willing to use her attributes to snare his attention.

The second time they’d met, she seemed to have gone through a metamorphosis
 . . .
in reverse. The butterfly had become the shy caterpillar. He recalled the trouble she’d had walking on those impossibly high heels, the way she’d demurely pulled her skirt down to cover her knees when she’d seen him looking at her legs, how unsure she’d been when talking business.

He’d been interacting with two different women, who were pretending to be one person. All that aside, what angered him most was not the masquerade as much as being lied to day after day.

Who was the real Andi?

Had she meant anything she’d said to him? Had she fallen into bed with him simply to help the business along, to get another notch on her résumé? Had her interest in him been purely pretense? Was she no better than the other women who had been after his money? Had he fallen in love with a lie?