Southern Beauty - By Julie Lucia Page 0,38

the room and changed the music.

“I know this one, this is My Cottage Home,” Rene announced out loud.

Johanna’s heart skipped a beat. She thought of her family’s cottage with David. She thought of them in the pouring rain, she thought of their passionate first kiss.

David began playing a new tune.

“Oh this is Rainy Day,” said Abigail playing the game now.

Johanna looked up at David who was now eyeing her. Her face flushed. He grinned at her. She was taken in by it. She moved toward him cautious but knowing in her heart he had been thinking of that night too.

“I didn’t know you played,” she whispered.

“You don’t know a lot about me, Miss Lee,” David continued to play.

“I guess I don’t.” she confessed.

“My mother taught me. It’s not my passion though,” he explained.

“What is your passion Lieutenant McPherson?” Johanna asked in a whisper.

“Are you talking to me about passion Miss Lee?” David asked as he gazed at her intently.

She shot right out of her dreamlike state, “No, No I am not,” she swallowed nervously and looked around the room. It seemed as if time had stood still. This moment was made for her and David. Their conversation and presence seemed to be unnoticed.

David smiled at her uncomfortable reaction. “You are here with Malcolm or Rene?” he asked.

“Why do you care? It seems you can’t keep away from Clarice,” said Johanna frustrated.

“I can’t keep away from you,” he admitted. He then looked up at her and stopped playing.

Johanna’s heart skipped. She searched his face to see if he was telling the truth. She loved that handsome face and those sapphire eyes that bore into her soul.

“How could I ever believe you?” she asked in a whisper as she searched his face.

David began to play again. “Where is your dear Mr. Graystone?” he asked.

“I don’t know. He seems to keep disappearing on me,” explained Johanna. “Why, would you and Malcolm like to entertain the Beauregard family again?”

David ignored her comment. “Do you know anything about Rene Beauregard?” he asked.

“Rene saved me from an awful situation,” she added, “rather like what Mr. Graystone did at my family’s cottage.”

“Yes, when you left me for dead,” David came back.

Johanna rolled her eyes, “Where’s Clarice anyway? She seems a bit taken in by your charm; she won’t stop touching you.”

“It’s the cost I have to pay to get what I want,” David grinned.

“Oh you poor thing, Clarice kissing on you, it’s a terrible burden is it? You are meant for each other. Both of you do whatever it takes to get what you want including deceiving someone you pretend to care about,” she said biting her lip.

“I am not pretending with you,” he said. “I am here because of you.”

“You came here for the map,” she said frustrated by his attempt to win her over. “Don’t tell me otherwise, I overheard you talking about me to Malcolm at the ball.”

David’s mind flashed back to his conversation with Malcolm. “Why would I ever tell Malcolm how I feel about you?” he asked. “I don’t think you realize the danger you truly are in,” he whispered to her.

“I am only in danger when you are around,” she said with a double meaning.

“That’s not what I hear,” David said.

Johanna had no comeback. She stared at him in silence.

“Listen, I need that map,” said David, “and I need you to stay away from Malcolm.”

“You want me to stay away from Mr. Graystone?” she asked. “Why?”

“I have the cigar box and am willing to give it back to you,” he said.

“If I give you the map?” she asked him.

“Yes,” he answered.

“And you will stop harassing me?” she asked him.

“If that is what you want,” he said not looking at her.

Johanna bit her lip. She couldn’t answer his question. She had no idea what she desired anymore. She was sure she didn’t want him out of her life and she was sure she did.

“But you must promise me you will stay away from Malcolm,” David added.

“Why?” she asked again.

“Mr. McPherson,” Rene interrupted, “could you please play something I could dance to with my darling Miss Lee?”

Rene grabbed Johanna around the waist and pulled her close. Johanna smiled at her predicament. She wondered if Rene’s attention bothered David.

David watched Rene and Johanna dance closely. He fumed with jealousy but continued to play. Clarice entered the room and saw David watching Johanna and Rene intently.

“I don’t know what my brother sees in her,” she said as she sat next to him on the piano