Moonsong, page 16
“Yes, but did you see this before?” Scarlett beamed in her moment of triumph as the item in question came into view. Where the large sculpture of the mermaid on the rock had stood was a new sculpture, one that looked vaguely familiar even before Millie made the connection. Captured in the large burl of wood was the relief of a young woman, her face turned up to the sky, lips parted in a gasp of pain, or was that… passion?
Millie gasped as she found her own face there in striking detail, her hair whipped around her as though caught by the wind, stained to match her own dark tresses. Recognizing the hunk of wood Cutter had lugged home the day she’d arrived to remove his stitches, she marveled that he’d completed a project in such exquisite detail in so short a time.
“Something you want to tell me, Millie?” Scarlett’s lips curved into a smile.
“What?” Tearing her eyes from the work of art, Amelia turned to Scarlett. “What do you mean?”
“Oh come on, you’re telling me he carved this masterpiece solely based on the memory of your brief encounter in the woods?” she tilted her head to one side.
“No, of course not, he comes into the café all the time, we’re friends.”
“That look on your face isn’t what I’d call friendly.”
“We’ve never… that is purely from his imagination, I swear,” Millie shot a look at Scarlett, her voice dropping.
“It’s okay, relax. I just wondered if the feeling was mutual; I guess I got my answer,” a sigh left the blonde’s lips.
“Scarlett, you can’t say anything to Grandmother about my… friendship with Cutter, she’d freak out for sure.” Not to mention Chase going ballistic, that was all she needed.
“No, I know,” the assurance came automatically, “but Millie, on display like this… she’s bound to find out.”
“So, why would she assume anything is going on between us, as far as she knows I’ve never even met Cutter. Right?” Emphasis was given on that last word, or had Scarlett reported in on her actions?
“No, I don’t think she does, she hasn’t mentioned it to me at least,” Scarlett was quick to answer.
“Maybe I can buy it? It looks expensive; do you see a tag anywhere on it?” Amelia circled the sculpture, but could find no markings on it. “The thing’s too heavy to put it on the bottom…” she muttered, “I’ll go ask the owner.” Millie found her, arranging cut flowers into a huge vase shaped like what looked like a sea urchin.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes, Miss LaRoche?” a bright smile was given.
Millie bit back the correction that sprang to her lips and returned the woman’s smile. “That new sculpture by Cutter, can you tell me how much that one is, please?”
“Oh, that one isn’t for sale, it’s only on loan from Mr. Cutter. We’re very fortunate to have it; it’s generated very positive interest on our website,” she smiled widely.
“It’s not for sale?” Millie’s brows rose in surprise.
“No, he changed his mind as soon as we had it set up on display, said he couldn’t bear to part with it.”
“Oh… thank you for your time,” Amelia returned the knowing smile with a slightly uncomfortable one. Was it Cutter’s way of making some kind of declaration of his feelings for her? Even more perplexed, she returned to Scarlett, only then remembering her promise to be back in ten minutes. “Crap, I have to get back,” she frowned, eyes glancing at the clock on the wall.
“But you didn’t even get to tell me… okay, okay…” Scarlett relented as she caught Millie’s expression. “Later though, alright? I want details,” her eyes glittered in anticipation.
“Yes later, I promise, but for now I have to book if I don’t want Juliet to strangle me with a wet noodle when I get back,” she grinned, all but running out of the gallery, hoping more than ever Cutter would drop by the café that morning.
Unfortunately it was two more days before he stopped in again, and by then everyone in town seemed to have seen the sculpture and remarked to Millie about how much it looked like her. Those who worked at the café and the regular morning customers weren’t at all surprised by it, having seen first hand the artist’s obsession with the girl, or at least that’s what they were calling it after years of his being the local recluse. The general consensus was, he was sweet on the pretty waitress, even if she was Chase LaRoche’s girl.
Only nobody wanted to mention anything about it to Chase himself for fear of how he’d take it. The boy wasn’t known for his even temperament. But news of the sculpture spread like wildfire in the little town, and it wasn’t long before Chase went out to see it for himself. After that, his feet carried him straight to the café.
Chase threw open the door, brushing rudely past a couple in the process of trying to leave, sending her purse crashing to the floor. The husband choked back an angry retort, but at seeing who it was, he retrieved the purse without a word, ushering his wife hurriedly out the door.
Her back turned, Amelia didn’t see Chase’s entrance or the thunderous look on his face until he leapt over the counter, grabbing her arm to swing her around to face him. “Are you fucking him?” he accused in a low growl, loud enough to be heard by most of the patrons.
Millie blanched at the accusation, even as she gasped at the sting at her arm. “W-what?” her eyes teared up as his nails dug harshly into her soft flesh. “Chase, you’re hurting me.”
“Answer me, damn it!” he gave her a little shake. Skinny Pete edged closer to the window between the kitchen and the prep area, brandishing his spatula, but in the end he backed off again at catching Chase’s expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about; I’m not sleeping with anyone,” Amelia insisted, still in a state of shock over the sudden violent outburst.
“Don’t screw with my head, Millie. You know exactly who I’m talking about. Now answer me, are you fucking him?” Chase’s eyes blazed with unchecked fury.
“No!” Millie’s snapped, indignation rising as she found her gumption. “I’m not fucking him, and I sure as hell am not fucking you, so get your fucking hand off my arm,” she threw the profanity back at him, drawing a gasp from the crowd.
Instead of releasing her, Chase pressed her painfully up against the rear counter, pinning her there with his body. “I will kill any man that stands between us, Amelie LaRoche. You are mine, do you hear me?” he vowed, his voice low and deadly.
A shiver went down her spine at the threat; would he go after Cutter next? “Get your hands off me, Chase. I don’t think Gran would want to hear about you manhandling me, would she?” Millie bluffed, having no idea what the woman would think of his treatment of her, for all she knew he was there on Adele’s orders.
Chase gave a short bark of laughter, “Adele knows a woman’s place, she’d be glad to know I’m keeping you in line, keeping you from disgracing the pack.”
Despite the bravado, there was a kernel of fear behind his eyes. The hesitation was enough for Millie to shove against him with all of her strength, moving him enough to slip out from between him and the counter, but not enough to dislodge his grip on her arm. “Let me go, Chase. What are you gonna do, force me to love you? It doesn’t work that way.”
“Listen to the lady, let her go.” The deep voice cut through the stillness of the stunned restaurant as Cutter stood inside the doorway, eyes focused on where Chase still gripped her. Amelia felt almost dizzy with relief at the sight of Cutter and Chase did let go of her. His eyes narrowed dangerously at his rival and he launched himself back over the counter again in one smooth, fluid movement, advancing slowly. “You want to take this outside?” Cutter growled, holding his ground, not in the least bit worried by Chase’s advance.
“Works for me, I’d hate to get blood all over in here,” Chase’s teeth gleamed in an obscene mockery of a smile.
“It makes no difference to me where you bleed,” Cutter shrugged, deliberately turning his back on the younger man as he went for the door.
“Motherfucker…” Chase launched himself at Cutter’s unprotected back, but the older man had been expecting it, and neatly stepped aside, using Chase’s momentum to shove him into the doorjamb face first, twisting his arm painfully behind his back. The scream of warning died in Amelia’s throat as Cutter took the charge in stride.
“And here you didn’t want to bleed inside,” Cutter clucked his tongue at the young man’s bloody nose smearing against the door frame. “I see they’re not teaching you whelps about fair play anymore, I guess things have changed from my day. You want to try this again? I have to warn you though; I know a thing or two about not fighting fair myself.” He twisted Chase’s arm painfully for emphasis.
“Let me go you old fuck, I’ll show you what they’re teaching these days,” Chase spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto the floor.
“There you go bleeding in here again; I think you owe the lady an apology,” Cutter looked back and gave Amelia a quick wink.
“Screw your apology, let me go and I’ll show you who’s sorry.”
“I think we can all see who’s the sorry one,” Cutter muttered, pushing the door open with his foot and marching Chase outside, out of earshot of the patrons inside.
Cutter looked so calm and in control; Amelia tried to take strength in that, returning the playful wink with a faint smile. Part of her wanted to follow them outside, demand that they talk like civilized human beings, but she recognized that wasn’t possible anymore. There wasn’t anything civilized in the way the two men behaved around each other. Her face pressed to the glass, Millie watched them in the parking lot, ready to jump out there at the first sign of things getting really out of hand.
Deliberately keeping his back to the café, Cutter didn’t want Amelia overhearing the conversation one bit. “Now listen here, you little shit. You ever lay a hand on my woman again, mark her in any way or even breathe on her too hard, and I will hunt you down and flay the skin from your body.” The hand at Chase’s neck slowly shifted to a massive claw, razor sharp talons pressed to the soft hollow of his throat.
“And you know I can do it, don’t you boy?” Cutter’s voice was low and dangerous and every bit as menacing as the threat given. He pressed the claws just hard enough to prick the skin, the bright, coppery smell of blood bursting forth at the action.
With a shove, Cutter let Chase go; at the ready should he be foolish enough to attack him there in the open with townspeople pressed to the windows, watching the entire exchange.
“Your woman?” Chase took a step forward, but caught sight of those eyes upon him. Without another word, he turned and stalked off, the squeal of tires heard scant minutes later.
Cutter watched him disappear from sight before he turned around, the grin of satisfaction on his face fading once he caught sight of Amelia’s face. Quick to return to her side, he gently pulled her out with him to get a breath of fresh air. “Are you alright?” he asked, searching her face for some sign of what she thought about the crisis averted.
“Me? I’m… I’m fine…” she nodded, voice trembling with the aftershocks of adrenaline coursing through her veins, first out of fear for herself and then for him.
“I should kill him for marking you,” he growled, fingers tenderly stroking over the red welts already rising on her skin.
“I don’t want anyone killing anybody,” Millie took a long shuddering breath.
“That might be the only way to settle this.” Cutter’s voice betrayed no sense of remorse over such a statement, merely pointing it out.
“No, I can’t accept that. Chase might be a bastard sometimes, but he doesn’t deserve to die just for loving me.”
“That isn’t love,” Cutter snorted derisively. “That’s lust pure and simple, both for dominance over you and the power you would bring him.”
“I don’t care; promise me you won’t kill him,” Amelia pressed, looking up at Cutter anxiously.
“Amelia…” Cutter let out a drawn out sigh. “What do you want me to do if he comes after me again, use harsh language on him? Because I can guarantee this isn’t over for him, not by a long shot, and the next time he’ll be looking to get rid of me permanently.”
She knew he was right, but the thought of violence on either side made her feel sick to her stomach. “I don’t know just… promise me you won’t kill him unless you have to,” she pleaded, and Cutter shook his head with a laugh.
“Alright, darlin’, I promise. Feel better?”
Millie went into his arms, resting her head against his chest, taking the solid comfort he offered before realizing the people inside the café were likely still watching them. “Uh… Cutter?”
“Mmm,” an unintelligible grunt was given in response.
“So much for trying to keep this thing between us a secret, huh?” she raised her head to catch his expression.
“Yeah, about that…”
“Yeah, about that…?” Millie chuckled. “I saw the carving at the gallery, it’s breathtaking.”
“You’re the breathtaking one,” Cutter placed a kiss on her forehead. “Like I said, sometimes the beauty is easy to see; the piece of wood just told me where to find it,” he smiled against her hair.
Allowing herself that moment of peace and comfort, it was with regret that she pulled away. “I should really get back to work; I’ve still got another four hours to my shift.”
Cutter frowned, “I don’t want you going back there,” he grumbled, holding tight to her.
“I’m pretty sure I have to go back inside if I want to keep my job,” Millie chuckled.
“No, not there, back to Adele’s place. I don’t want you going anywhere near him.”
Understanding dawned on her then and she considered things for a moment. “I don’t think he’ll try anything, it’s not me he wants to kill remember?”
“He’s dangerous. And it’ll get worse the more desperate he grows.”
“Where else am I supposed to go then?” Amelia looked up at him. Had he really thought it all through or was he simply reacting to the situation at hand? It wasn’t like she had a whole lot of options in a town that small.
“With me, where else?”
“You want me to come and stay with you?” her brows jumped up in surprise.
“I know the cabin isn’t much,” he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “There’s no electricity, no hot water, it’s small…”
“But you’re there, major bonus points on that side,” Amelia smiled back at him. True, it might not be the ideal place to live, but it sounded pretty damned good compared to returning to her grandmother’s house. “Are you sure about this? I mean, what about your peace and quiet?” Millie pressed, not wanting him to do something on the spur of the moment he might regret later.
“It’s the only way for you to be safe, and besides… I can think of ways to keep you nice and quiet.” A smug grin passed over his face before he covered her mouth with his, ignoring the very public surroundings. “I’ll pick you up after work then?”
It took Amelia a few moments to recover from the kiss, and then practicality kicked in. “I have my own car with me, besides I have to go home first and take care of things there.”
The frown instantly returned to his face. “I don’t like the idea of you going back there, and especially not alone.”
“It’ll be fine, like I said; it’s not me he wants to hurt, if he’ll even be around. And if you come then there’s likely to be a much bigger scene don’t you think?” she pointed out, lightly rubbing his back to soothe the knot of tension that sprang up there so quickly.
“I still don’t like it; they’ll try to keep you from leaving once you let them know where it is you’re going.”
“Let them try and stop me,” Amelia shrugged unconcerned. What were they going to do, lock her in her room? “Besides I have to tell her.”
“Tell her what exactly?”
“That I’ve made my choice. I’ve chosen my mate.”
Cutter reached for her again, crushing her to him as he buried his face in her hair. “Are you sure, Amelia? It’s a big decision. I don’t want you to feel like you have no choice because I forced the issue.”
“Don’t you want me to choose you?” Doubt began to creep into her thoughts. Just because she’d chosen him didn’t mean he was ready for something like that, especially given his past.
“Hell yeah,” Cutter chuckled in response. “I’m giving you one last chance to come to your senses before I never let you go.” He breathed in her sweet scent before letting her go enough to see the expression on her face. “You honor me with your choice,” he said formally, and the words made an almost audible shift to Amelia, somehow cementing things between them in a way that went beyond mere words.
“Well then, I’d better get back to work before I don’t have a job to get back to and you end up stuck with me night and day. I’d hate to drive you completely insane within the first week,” she grinned.
Cutter placed a chaste kiss on her lips and released her. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Tonight,” she replied, walking backwards towards the front door, eyes sparkling with promise.
Chapter Twenty
The house seemed unnaturally still as Amelia entered, nervously listening at the front door despite her brave words to Cutter at the café. She wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation or Adele’s reaction to the news, but it had to be done if she wanted to make a clean break and start her new life with Cutter.
Deciding she was being a ninny, Millie started up the stairs but barely reached midway when Adele’s voice rang out. “Amelie… a word with you.”
Freezing on the step, Millie turned slowly, managing to keep from cringing like a guilty child as she descended to join her. Adele’s spine was so rigid and erect; it looked as if she bent even a fraction she might shatter. Adele turned without a word and headed to her study, trusting Amelia to follow.
Amelia was silent, preparing herself for a string of accusations or maybe a lecture. She planned on letting her grandmother vent good and long, get it all out of her system before she stated her position. Only Adele didn’t seem to be cooperating with that plan of action, she merely took a seat behind her desk and regarded Millie evenly with her steely gaze. Two can play at that game… Resolving not to give her any more ammunition than she already had, Millie waited for her to make the first move.
