“Hello, Miss Ella,” Roy Moses said, holding out a pair of bright-red balloons. “I bought these for you.”

“Oh, Roy, how sweet of you.” She accepted his offering. The helium-filled balloons floated high above her head. In her peripheral vision, she saw her uncle, shoulders squared, chin up, head held high as he marched across the park toward her parents.

“Are you having a good time, Miss Ella?” Roy asked.

“Yes, of course. How about you?” Was she having a good time? Hardly. She had just witnessed Uncle Jeff Henry’s ultimate humiliation. And so had Reed Conway. Would that man spread the word all over town that his cousin was having sex with Cybil Carlisle? Maybe she should have stayed, confronted him, and warned him to keep his mouth shut. But what good would it do to warn a man like that?

“I’m having a great time,” Roy told her. “I’ve eaten hot dogs and cotton candy and bought myself all sorts of goodies. But when I saw the balloons, I thought about you. I remember your saying how much you like balloons.”

“When did I tell you that?”

“When your daddy sent you that big bunch of balloons on your birthday. You got all excited. And you told me that you loved balloons, that you liked them as much as you liked flowers.”

“Oh, Roy, I can’t believe you remembered.”

“Would you like for me to buy you an Orange Crush? They’re mighty tasty on a hot day like today.”

“Thank you, but I’m afraid I won’t have time right now. My father’s fixing to give a speech.” She pointed to the podium and noticed her father wheeling her mother up the handicap ramp and onto the platform. “I’m supposed to be up there with him and my mother.”

“Then I’ll buy you one later. Will that be all right?”

Roy gazed at her with such hope in his eyes that she couldn’t bring herself to reject him. She patted his shoulder. “That will be just fine.”

She rushed to join her parents, but when she passed her uncle, who stood front and center at the base of the podium, she paused at his side. Without giving her actions a thought, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, Uncle Jeff Henry,” she said.

He swallowed hard. “I love you, too, darling girl.”

Ella thought her heart would break in two. He had used the endearment her aunt Cybil used exclusively for her. What must be going through his mind right now? How did he feel? Did he want to choke her aunt? Kill the man she’d been with?

She had an affair with Junior Blalock, you know. No, Ella hadn’t known. Her aunt Cybil had been involved with Junior Blalock. And Uncle Jeff Henry had known. Was it possible that her uncle had killed Junior? Was he capable of that kind of jealousy? Perhaps not, but he was the type who would do anything to prevent scandal from touching his family’s good name.

And what about Aunt Cybil? Was she capable of murdering a man in cold blood? Was it possible that she had killed her lover?

Stop this idiotic thinking! Reed Conway killed his stepfather. He was tried and convicted. Ah, but you have your doubts about his guilt, don’t you?

The voice over the loudspeaker said, “And with Senator Porter today are his charming wife, Carolyn, and his daughter, Judge Eleanor Porter.”

The announcer’s introduction spurred Ella into action. She took the podium steps two at a time and rushed to her father’s side. He wrapped one arm around her waist, then lifted the other and waved at the cheering crowd.

 

Once the politicians finished their speeches, the dance band returned to the podium and couples began congregating on the makeshift dance floor set up to the side of the raised dais. Tapping her foot to the strumming guitar beat, Regina stood on the sidelines and watched. The band’s lead singer crooned out his own rendition of a she-done-him-wrong song. Regina’s gaze followed every move Mark Leamon and Heather Marshall made as they swayed to the music. She barely knew Heather, but she hated the woman. Hated her for being in Mark’s arms.

“Want to dance, little sister?” Reed came up behind her and curved his hand over her shoulder.

She glanced back at him and smiled. “Sure, but I have to warn you that I’m not much of a dancer. I didn’t go to any of my school dances.”

Reed led her onto the dance floor, took her into his arms, and said, “Just follow my lead. I’m a bit rusty myself, although a new lady friend of mine has been giving me some practice lessons lately.”

“Is this lady friend someone I’d know?” Regina asked.

“Nope. She’s not the kind of woman you’d associate with.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So, I’ve brought you up to date on my love life, how about filling me in on yours?”

“You didn’t tell me anything about your love life. And I’m sure I don’t want to know.” Regina giggled, relaxing in her brother’s strong, comforting arms. “As for my love life, it’s nonexistent.”

“You should have gone to all those school dances. You should have had boys lined up at the front door. And you should be married to some good guy right now. You’ve let what happened with Junior close you off from life. That’s so wrong. As long as you keep the world at arm’s length, then Junior still has power over you—far more power than he had that night.”

If anyone else had dared to talk to her about Junior and that night the way Reed just had, she would have run from them. But Reed, more than anyone, knew what had happened and how close Junior had come to raping her. For all intents and purposes, he had raped her. He’d done everything short of penetrating her. He had violated her with his hands and his mouth. He had stolen her innocence. He had made her afraid of men. All men. Except Reed, who had rescued her. And Mark, with whom she had unwittingly fallen in love.

“I don’t want to be the way I am,” Regina said. “I spent years in therapy, as you well know. But I’ve never been able to stop thinking that every man I come in contact with knows about what. Junior did and judges me by that night and by the trial.”

“Mark knows everything about that night, and he certainly doesn’t judge you in that way.”

“Mark is different.”

“You like him, don’t you?” Reed asked, a knowing grin on his face. “You like him a lot.”

Regina smiled shyly, reluctant to admit, even to her big brother, just how much she really did like Mark Leamon. “Yes, I do. But he’s not interested in me.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, he’s not here with me today, is he? He’s not dancing with me right now.”

“That can be easily remedied.”

Before Regina realized what was happening, Reed danced her around several other couples, making a beeline straight for Mark and Heather. The minute the two couples came up side by side, Reed released Regina, tapped Mark on the shoulder, and suggested they change partners. Regina was mortified.

“Sure thing,” Heather said and didn’t hesitate to go straight into Reed’s open arms.

Standing on the dance floor staring at each other, Mark and Regina shuffled their feet and smiled self-consciously at each other.

“Would you like to dance?” Mark finally asked.

Regina simply nodded agreement and took a tentative step forward. Mark slipped his arm around her, loosely, nonthreateningly, and they began dancing.

“You look beautiful today,” Mark said. “That yellow sundress is very becoming.”

“Thank you; it’s new. I’ve never worn it before.” I bought this dress especially for you. To impress you. To make you see me as a woman and not just your paralegal.

Gradually, indiscernibly, Mark drew her closer and closer, until their bodies were almost touching. Regina gazed into his eyes, and for a brief moment she thought she saw genuine affection—definitely something more than just friendship. Was she imagining things, or was it truly possible that Mark felt something for her, something similar to what she felt for him?

“I suppose you’ve known Heather Marshall for years,” Regina said.

“Heather? Heavens, yes. Since we were toddlers.” Mark pulled Regina up against him, brushed his cheek against hers, and held her with tender possessiveness. “Heather and I are just buddies. That’s all we’ve ever been and all we’ll ever be.”

“Really?” Regina’s breath caught in her throat. Happiness swelled up inside her. She wanted to jump and shout with joy.

“Actually, there isn’t anyone special in my life right now,” Mark told her. “But I’d like for there to be.”

“You would?” Regina dared to gaze straight at him.

“What about you, Regina, are you looking for someone special?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Maybe we’ll both find what we’re looking for. Soon.”

“Maybe we will.” Regina felt almost giddy, and the feeling was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. A part of her wanted to grab Mark and say, “Here I am. Take me. I’m yours.” But the sensible, pragmatic Regina preached caution. Wait. Don’t rush. Take the time you need. Loving Mark is one thing. Making love with him will be something else altogether.

 

Heather draped her arms around Reed’s neck and pressed up against him. “So, tell me, bad boy, was that little maneuver planned to get your sister in Mark’s arms or me into yours?”

Reed chuckled. Heather was a brazen hussy. He’d always liked the type. “What do you think?”

“I think you were definitely looking out for your little sister’s interests and not your own.”

“You’re smart as well as sexy.”

Heather laughed. “So, how’s it feel being back home?”

“It feels good.”

“Yeah, I guess it does. I never thought I’d move back to this one-horse town, but after a marriage that was something like a prison sentence, I couldn’t wait to get free and come home.”

“Bad marriage?”

“The worst. He ran around on me and he beat me.”

“Must have been rough.”

“Not nearly as rough as what you went through,” Heather said. “I hear prison life is pretty bad, especially for good-looking young guys.”

Reed smirked. “The first few years were the worst, but I’m a big boy and it didn’t take me long to learn how to take care of myself.”

“Ella tells me that you’re still claiming your innocence and are determined to find Junior Blalock’s real killer.”

Reed’s gaze met Heather’s point-blank. “Now, why would you break Ella’s confidence and mention anything to me about your private conversations with her, especially concerning me?” Reed chuckled. “You know all about the letters and the phone calls, don’t you?”

“So, you’re smart as well as sexy, huh?” Heather took the lead and began backing Reed across the dance floor. “Ella is my best friend. We don’t have too many secrets from each other.”

“So tell me, Ella’s best friend, just what does Judge Porter think of me?”

“Who says she thinks about you?”

“Does she?”

Heather glanced over Reed’s shoulder, then inclined her head as if indicating he should take a look. He pivoted her, reversing their positions. The couple next to them danced without touching, the woman stiff in the man’s arms, as if she didn’t want to be there. Before he could deflect his gaze, Ella Porter caught him staring at her. Her eyes rounded in surprise, and when she noticed the woman in Reed’s arms, her expression hardened and she looked away, back at her partner.

“Ella is a truly decent person and a good woman,” Heather said.

“Why tell me about her sterling qualities?”

“Because I’m warning you, Reed Conway. If you hurt her, if you break her heart or cause her one moment of pain, I’ll come after you and rip out your heart.”

Reed nodded as he thumped his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “You’re the second person to make that specific threat.”

“I assume the senator has already warned you.”

“What I want to know is why you think I could ever break Ella’s heart.”

“You’re a man. She’s a woman. Things happen.”

“Yes, ma’am, they surely do.”

Reed waltzed Heather around, past the couple next to them, all the while watching Ella for a reaction. He’d just about given up on her glancing his way again, when suddenly she looked right at him. Heaven help him, he wanted that woman. And unless he was badly mistaken, she wanted him.

 

“If it’s marriage you want, then let’s do it,” Dan said. “We’ll pick out a ring, set a date, and let Carolyn plan the wedding of the decade.”

“Why would you suddenly want to get married?” Ella stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I thought you just wanted us to sleep together for now and think about marriage in the future.”

Dan glanced around at the other couples on the dance floor, and she realized he was checking to see if anyone was listening to their conversation. If he loved her, he wouldn’t care if the whole world heard him declaring his intentions, now would he?

“Carolyn mentioned that with a lady like you, marriage was the next logical step,” Dan said. “And after giving it some thought, I agree with her.” He pulled Ella closer and whispered, “Your mother explained that you were still a…er…a virgin and that’s why you were skittish about—”

“My mother told you that I’ve never had sex before?” Ella forced her voice to remain calm and low.

“Was she wrong?” Dan asked. “Aren’t you a—”

“Does it matter to you?”

“Well, I had assumed that at your age you would have been with someone, at some time in the past. But I must admit, thinking I’d be the first certainly is appealing.”

Ella stopped moving, right there on the dance floor, with people all around them. And one person in particular. Reed Conway seemed terribly interested in what she was doing.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Ella said in an angry whisper. “You’re not going to be the first or the twenty-first. I’m not going to have sex with you. Now or ever. And I’m not going to marry you.”

“Ella, please…You’re making a scene. People are staring at us.”

“Let them stare!” Her voice grew just a tad louder.

Dan grasped her wrist and jerked, but she pulled free. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately. I thought—”

“You thought I’d happily marry you even though you don’t love me and I don’t love you. Well, think again.”

Ella stormed off the dance floor, leaving poor Dan to wipe the egg off his face. Had her mother really led him to believe that she was some pathetic old maid who’d never been with a man and had no hope of ever marrying someone who loved her? Did her mother think that she’d honestly be grateful that Dan was willing to offer marriage?

Within minutes, she found herself surrounded by people milling around in the park. Somewhere in the distance she heard Dan calling her name. She had to get out of this crowd, had to get away from everyone, especially Dan Gilmore. Fleeing the festivities, she didn’t pay much attention to where she was going. All that mattered was that she find a quiet spot to collect her thoughts and come to terms with the outrage she felt. Her white sandals clipped softly on the pavement as she crossed the road.

 

“What are you waiting for?” Heather asked.

“You think I should follow her?” All Reed needed was one word of encouragement from Ella’s best friend and he’d run after Ella.

“She’s going to need a big, strong shoulder to cry on. Why not yours?”

Reed looked pointedly at Heather. “I’m an ex-con bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Why would you trust your friend with me?”

“Did I say I trusted you?” Smiling, Heather gave him a gentle shove. “Junior Blalock deserved killing, so if you did it, you did the world a service. And I just happen to think that what Ella needs right now is a bad boy. A real bad boy. She’s had one too many gentlemen pushed on her by her mama.”

“You’re something else, Heather Marshall.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Reed kissed her cheek, then turned and rushed through the crowd. He followed Ella’s path, barely keeping up with her. A couple of times, he lost sight of her, but the minute she crossed the road, he knew where she was headed. Back to the garden. Back to the wooded area where she’d accidently come across her aunt and Briley Joe going at it like a couple of wild things.

She didn’t slow her stride until she crossed the bridge. She stopped running then and stood with her back to him, her shoulders slightly stooped, as she caught her breath. He soon realized that she had no idea he was following her. The area was empty, with not another soul in sight. Over the loudspeakers, Reed heard an announcement, the voice barely discernable from a third of a mile away. The country music had stopped and now the mournful wail of a Muddy Waters blues tune, sung by a local artist, cried out in heartfelt pain. The distinct sounds of harmonica, bass, and guitar blended together as background music for the soulful rendition of “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”

Reed sneaked up behind her. Something told him that if he announced his presence too soon, she’d bolt and run. When he was only a few feet away from her, she undoubtedly sensed his presence. She whirled around and faced him, her eyes wide with surprise, her mouth opening on an indrawn gasp.

“Are you all right?” Reed asked. “I noticed you and your boyfriend had an argument. You ran off the dance floor, so—”

“Go away. Leave me alone.” There was a stricken look in her big brown eyes, like that of a trapped animal afraid for its life.

“You don’t really want to be alone right now, do you? Wouldn’t you like somebody to give you a little tender loving care?”

“I don’t know what you think happened between Dan and me or why you’d assume I might want anything from you, but you’ve got this all wrong.”

Reed took several tentative steps toward her. She took just as many steps backward, away from him. He grinned. Suddenly, the look in her eyes changed from fear to provocation, as if she were daring him to come after her. Well, he’d always been a man who couldn’t resist a dare. He moved forward; she eased backward. He wondered if she realized that, unless she changed direction, she was backing up right into a tree. He advanced. She retreated.

“Damn it, why won’t you leave me alone?!” she screamed, the words a plea.

“You don’t really want me to leave you alone, now, do you?”

He backed her up against the tree. Her breathing quickened. Her gaze flashed right and left, seeking an escape route. There was none. He placed his hands on either side of her head, his palms resting on the tree trunk as he leaned toward her. His chest brushed her breasts. Her gaze connected with his.

“Your aunt has a taste for danger. She likes walking on the wild side. What about you, Miss Ella? Are you looking for some excitement?”

“No…no.” She trembled.

“I think you’re curious,” he said. “You’d like to know what it feels like to have a bad boy back you up against a tree and lift your skirt and—”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Ella covered her ears with her hands.

Reed pressed closer, aligning their bodies. Ella was tall enough so that he didn’t have to stoop over to reach her mouth or to position his erection against her mound. And he had a stiff one all right. He was as hard as a rock and he hadn’t even touched her.

“I want to be your bad boy.” His breath mingled with hers. “I want to run my hands up under that pretty red skirt you’re wearing and cup your butt in my hands. I want to kiss you until you’re breathless and then I want to put my mouth on your breasts. I want to hear you say my name and beg me to take you. Here. Now.”

Ella swallowed hard. “I hate you!”

“Do you? You hate me for making you feel the way you do, don’t you? For making you want to act on your sexual fantasies. And don’t tell me that you haven’t been fantasizing about us making love. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at me.”

She closed her eyes and dropped her hands from her ears. “If there’s one shred of decency in you, you’ll go away and leave me alone.”

“Ah, but that’s the problem, Miss Ella.” He nuzzled her neck. She keened softly. “There’s no disgrace in admitting that you want me, that you’ve thought about our being together like this. God knows I’ve thought about it. I can’t seem to get you out of my mind.”

She opened her eyes. He stared at her, wanting her as he had never wanted anything in his life. She was temptation personified. He had no right even to touch her, and yet his body told him that this woman belonged to him, that she was meant to be his. If he kissed her, if he allowed himself to touch her, to caress her, would he be able to stop? He honestly didn’t know.

His lips swooped down over hers, fast and furious, but with as much restraint as he could muster. She tried to turn her face, to end the kiss. He kept his mouth tightly on hers. She struggled, inclining right and left, then she shoved against his chest and stopped his attack. They glared at each other for an endless moment, both of them breathless and undeniably aroused.

He kissed her again. Softer. With as much gentleness as he could manage. She didn’t struggle, didn’t fight him, didn’t try to turn away from him. He teased her mouth with sweet kisses, tender nips, and moist, seductive swipes of his tongue. When she sighed with pleasure, he took advantage and dipped his tongue into her mouth. She responded to his blatant invasion, returning his kiss with equal fervor.

They both gave themselves over completely to the moment. Hot. Wild. Free. Consumed with a raging hunger. He devoured; she reciprocated. And when it wasn’t enough, when passion demanded more, Ella lifted her hands to encircle his neck. Her fingers threaded through the long hair at the nape of his neck.

He pressed his erection against the apex between her thighs, showing her that he wanted her in the most basic way a man can want a woman. She rubbed herself against him, her movements sensual and alluring. He lifted his left hand, grabbed the back of her neck, and held her head in place, securing her mouth to his. Although he didn’t think she was going anywhere, he wanted to make sure. He ached with the need to take her, to open her up and lose himself in her sweet body. He placed his right hand on her hip and caressed her through the fine cotton material of her skirt. Her body was round and full. A woman’s body. A man’s greatest temptation. He eased his hand down her thigh. His fingers ate the material, bunching it up, drawing it higher and higher, so that he was able to slide his hand beneath and stroke the smooth flesh of her outer thigh.

He lifted his mouth from hers and looked at her flushed face. She whimpered. He raked his cheek across hers, then nibbled on her earlobe. “You do like danger, don’t you, babe?”

She shuddered, alive with desire. Needing and wanting. Probably hurting in the same way he was.

He kissed her neck—quick, nibbling kisses—then covered her collarbone with the same attention. His mouth sought and found her pebble-hard nipple straining against her bra and the bodice of her sleeveless red blouse. When he encompassed the peak with his lips and sucked through the material, she flung back her head and moaned.

“Tell me you want me,” he said.

“I want you.” The words tumbled out in a breathy sigh.

“Say my name,” he demanded.

“Reed.” She clung to him, her mouth seeking his again. “I want you, Reed.”

He inserted two fingers beneath the leg-band of her panties. Just as he skimmed over the triangle of curls, a noise rumbled inside his head. He felt Ella tense. Laughter. The laughter of children. Dammit, not now! But the sound grew louder and mingled with voices.

“Ah, babe, someone’s coming this way.” He withdrew his hand from her panties, smoothed her skirt over her legs, and garnering all the willpower he possessed, separated his body from hers.

Ella took a deep breath. Her eyelids fluttered and her breasts rose and fell with labored breaths. She was still as aroused as he, still aching for fulfillment.

Within minutes, two women and a gang of preteen boys and girls came into view just across the bridge. Ella wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and tried to move away from Reed. He grabbed her wrist, halting her withdrawal.

“When can I see you again? Tonight?” To his own ears he sounded as if he were pleading. Hell, maybe he was. If she wanted him down on his knees, he’d go there, if that’s what it took.

“No,” she told him, her gaze jerking to and fro, checking to see if they had been noticed.

“When?”

“I don’t know.” She pulled free.

“You don’t want things to end like this. I know you don’t. Sooner or later, we’re going to finish what we started here today.”

“No.” She shook her head. “We can’t.”

Ella hurried away from Reed, leaving him there in the Sarah Rogers Garden all alone, with the hard-on from hell.