Page 7 of Vincent
"You have to taste, even your selective taste buds-" She tailed off when she noticed that her brother was distracted. Turning her head, she gave a surprised start at the slightly familiar face. Althea Drummond had blossomed into a stunningly beautiful woman. Jacklyn had seen photos of her in the papers, but it had done her an injustice.
Her natural hair was spiky, the sides and back tapered, highlighting well-defined cheekbones. Hammered gold earrings swung at her bottom lobes with two diamonds winking at the top piercings. Even from several feet away, Jacklyn could see her sparkling smile. Objectively as one woman to another, she admired the shimmering emerald green dress that skimmed the woman's curves.
"She has certainly grown into her looks," she murmured, but her brother wasn't paying attention. He was riveted.
She happened to look up then and caught sight of them. They saw when she murmured something to the people crowded around her and started to wind her way towards them. It took her several minutes to reach them as she was stopped several times.
"Jacklyn, it was good of you to come."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. This is sinful." She popped another pastry into her mouth.
"That's quite a compliment," Althea said with a laugh before turning to the silent man. "Vincent." She held out both hands and he took them automatically. "Hi."
The years rolled back and they were in high school again. The boy and girl sitting under the old oak tree studying French. Or going for an ice cream cone or taking in a movie. He had to blink the past away.
"Thea." His deep voice had her insides curling and she had to use force to control her expression. "This is quite a setup."
"Thanks. The response is overwhelming. More than I expected."
They were still holding hands but didn't notice. Jacklyn did, her sharp eyes taking in the interaction.
"With these absolutely tasty treats, you should have. I'm taking some more for the road." She piled more onto her plate and turned to leave. "We'll catch up and you're going to explain to me why you never kept in touch," she warned before wandering away.
"I think she means it." Althea tilted her head to stare up at the beloved face and felt the pang straight to her heart. He looked harsh and unlike the Vincent she knew. Grief and the pain of loss had carved some grooves in his cheeks. And there was a perpetual frown on his brow. She wanted to lean in and kiss it away.
"I'm sorry about Lizzie," she said huskily.
The slice of pain was there and then gone in a split second.
"So am I," he responded briefly. As if just realizing that he was still holding her hands, he let go and tucked his hands into the pockets of his navy blue dress pants.
"When did you get back?"
"Two weeks ago."
His thick brows winged up. "Never thought of calling?"
"I was busy," she lied.
"You never called while you were away either. I thought we were friends."
"We were." She fussed with the napkins on the table, and a whimsical smile touched his lips as he recalled that she still had that peculiar habit of rearranging things whenever she was nervous.
"You never shake it."
"Pardon?" She looked up at him, a startled look on her exquisite face and dear God! She was stunning.
"The thing you do with your hands. You tidy up."
"No, I don't." When he simply quirked a brow as she continued to place the napkins in geometrical order, she snatched her hand away.
"I happen to be a very tidy person," she said loftily, making him laugh. It was a genuine sound, one that surprised him as he hadn't done that except with David.
"You said that the first time I noticed you doing it too." His chuckle warmed her heart.
She wanted to stay with him. Wanted to talk and talk and then hold him for a very long time. She had people to see. There were several food magazine critics who wanted to interview her, and her brother was holding court with several influential people who had gushed over the uniqueness of her pastries. But all she wanted was to be here with him.
He was tall, she thought achingly. Three inches over six feet and his shoulders were broad.
