repeated.
“Her mother.” Kemble bit out the words. Good thing. Jane wasn’t sure she could answer.
“Come with me,” Brina said, taking her hand. But Jane stayed where she was, looking to Kemble. He was right. They might was well get this over with. He nodded.
“Uh, before you go, Jane and I have something to tell you all.”
Oh, dear. That’s just how Devin broke the news to the family about loving Keelan. They’d think Kemble loved her. But they’d soon know it wasn’t true. No powers in store for either of them. Humiliating. Would they understand that she was ready to be satisfied with just affection, or at least a warm regard? And that he needed the security of getting on with his life? Would they know she could be a support for him? Would they even value that?
Brian looked from one to the other, realization dawning. As a matter of fact, discovery was in the eyes of most of those at the table. Maggie was grinning, though Tristram looked lost. Keelan and Devin had sucked in their breaths and their expressions softened. Lanyon looked disgusted, but only in the way of twenty-three -year-old boy-men who’d had their fill of weddings recently. Tamsen was suppressing an incipient squeal. Brina had turned back and was examining first Jane’s face, and then her son’s. Drew looked the unhappiest of all of them. That was a little shocking. But Drew was always smart. She would realize Jane had taken advantage of Kemble’s pain to insinuate herself into the family in a more formal way. God, but that sounded so calculating. Was it true? She clasped her hands together to keep the Tremaine family from seeing them tremble.
Kemble cleared his throat. He’d made the survey, too. Stick to your guns, Kemble, she thought. Or we’re lost.
“We’re getting married.”
Tamsen erupted in a squeal. Keelan and Devin both broke into grins that matched Maggie’s. Lanyon rolled his eyes. Drew pursed her lips and looked away. Brian looked thoughtful and Brina flashed concern before she grabbed for Jane’s hands and gently unclasped them. Jane saw the moment when everyone’s eyes caught the sparkle of the ring.
“I’m so happy for you both,” Brina said, still examining both their faces.
“What’s your power, Jane?” Tamsen crowed.
Jane felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Now they’d know what a fraud she was and that Kemble might just have given away his only chance to find his magic, unless Destiny somehow found him. In which case Jane would be spending the rest of her life in regret. Which she might be doing anyway. What a mess.
Kemble slipped his arm through hers and dragged her out of his mother’s grasp and up against his side. The feel of his body next to hers, the way his hip fitted into her waist, made her lungs grab for air. She could feel his heat even through his slacks and his sport coat. It made her melt into him and close her eyes, just for a moment. How she had longed for this closeness with him and how horrible to have it happen in front of those she loved, who would be so disappointed that she’d stolen Kemble’s future.
“It isn’t like that for us,” Kemble said, his voice surprisingly firm. “I’ve known for some time that the gene is recessive in me. I’m not like you all. So it’s time to get on with life.” He looked to his father and nodded. “Father and I agreed. So Jane and I talked it over and thought we would suit.” He took a breath in the silence. “We’re going down to the County courthouse tomorrow and tying the knot.”
“What?” Keelan asked, looking stunned. “No big wedding?”
“No bridesmaids?” Tamsen practically wailed. “I was on a roll.”
“Edwards and one of his guys can witness,” Kemble said. “They have to come anyway.”
Brina caught her husband’s eyes. Then she deliberately smiled. “I’m so happy for you, my dear.” She leaned in and kissed Jane on the unblemished cheek. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better for
“Her mother.” Kemble bit out the words. Good thing. Jane wasn’t sure she could answer.
“Come with me,” Brina said, taking her hand. But Jane stayed where she was, looking to Kemble. He was right. They might was well get this over with. He nodded.
“Uh, before you go, Jane and I have something to tell you all.”
Oh, dear. That’s just how Devin broke the news to the family about loving Keelan. They’d think Kemble loved her. But they’d soon know it wasn’t true. No powers in store for either of them. Humiliating. Would they understand that she was ready to be satisfied with just affection, or at least a warm regard? And that he needed the security of getting on with his life? Would they know she could be a support for him? Would they even value that?
Brian looked from one to the other, realization dawning. As a matter of fact, discovery was in the eyes of most of those at the table. Maggie was grinning, though Tristram looked lost. Keelan and Devin had sucked in their breaths and their expressions softened. Lanyon looked disgusted, but only in the way of twenty-three -year-old boy-men who’d had their fill of weddings recently. Tamsen was suppressing an incipient squeal. Brina had turned back and was examining first Jane’s face, and then her son’s. Drew looked the unhappiest of all of them. That was a little shocking. But Drew was always smart. She would realize Jane had taken advantage of Kemble’s pain to insinuate herself into the family in a more formal way. God, but that sounded so calculating. Was it true? She clasped her hands together to keep the Tremaine family from seeing them tremble.
Kemble cleared his throat. He’d made the survey, too. Stick to your guns, Kemble, she thought. Or we’re lost.
“We’re getting married.”
Tamsen erupted in a squeal. Keelan and Devin both broke into grins that matched Maggie’s. Lanyon rolled his eyes. Drew pursed her lips and looked away. Brian looked thoughtful and Brina flashed concern before she grabbed for Jane’s hands and gently unclasped them. Jane saw the moment when everyone’s eyes caught the sparkle of the ring.
“I’m so happy for you both,” Brina said, still examining both their faces.
“What’s your power, Jane?” Tamsen crowed.
Jane felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Now they’d know what a fraud she was and that Kemble might just have given away his only chance to find his magic, unless Destiny somehow found him. In which case Jane would be spending the rest of her life in regret. Which she might be doing anyway. What a mess.
Kemble slipped his arm through hers and dragged her out of his mother’s grasp and up against his side. The feel of his body next to hers, the way his hip fitted into her waist, made her lungs grab for air. She could feel his heat even through his slacks and his sport coat. It made her melt into him and close her eyes, just for a moment. How she had longed for this closeness with him and how horrible to have it happen in front of those she loved, who would be so disappointed that she’d stolen Kemble’s future.
“It isn’t like that for us,” Kemble said, his voice surprisingly firm. “I’ve known for some time that the gene is recessive in me. I’m not like you all. So it’s time to get on with life.” He looked to his father and nodded. “Father and I agreed. So Jane and I talked it over and thought we would suit.” He took a breath in the silence. “We’re going down to the County courthouse tomorrow and tying the knot.”
“What?” Keelan asked, looking stunned. “No big wedding?”
“No bridesmaids?” Tamsen practically wailed. “I was on a roll.”
“Edwards and one of his guys can witness,” Kemble said. “They have to come anyway.”
Brina caught her husband’s eyes. Then she deliberately smiled. “I’m so happy for you, my dear.” She leaned in and kissed Jane on the unblemished cheek. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better for
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