Free Light to Valhalla by Melissa Lynne Blue Page A

alize what you have in Charley . Charley is amazing in all the ways Veronica is a shallow ton bitch. ” Sidney raked a hand through his hair, clenching it in a fist by his side .
    “ Leave Veronica out of this.”
    “Will you leave Veronica out of it?  She’s recently widowed you know . ”
    “I don’t want her.”
    “Ha! Every man wants her . I g ive it a week before you’re banging on her door, panting for favors . Mores the pity to you for it . Charley is ten times the woman Ver onica could ever aspire to be.” Sid shook his head in disgust . “ You are the luckiest bastard I’ve ever met and you’re too thick headed to see it . What did you expect? To c ome home after all these years and have the same starry eyed little Charley waiting for you ?”
    Alex narrowed his eyes refusing to admit th e truth in Sid’s words even to himself .
    “Look around you, Alex, Charley is a grown woman now . She’s moved on from that little girl’s fantasy . For years you brushed her aside— ”
    “ Answer my question . Did you sleep with my wife?”
    “Afraid you’ll get saddled with my brat? ” Sid sneered .
    Sizzling fury blistered through Alex . “Answer m e.” He grasped Sidney’s collar and slammed the other man against the wall .
    Sid grunted, glare dark with malice . “ Famous temper rearing it’s ugly head again?  I wonder, is this how you’ll act when Whitherspo — ”
    “Everything al l right?”
    Sidney snapped to attention, all distress melting from his features . “ Charley ,” he said pleasantly . “How is your father? ”
    Alex s tepped away from Sid, and s pun .
    Charley stood at the top of the staircase , expression unreadable, gaze shifting betw een Alex and Sid .
    Had she overheard their argument?
    It was on the tip of his tongue to demand answers , but the ongoing state of her dishabille gave him pause . Her silk gown lay in tatters beneath his oversize jacket and her burnished tresses hung in unruly clumps around her face and shoulders . Tonight she may have demonstrated a strength and fire most women—or men—of her station would never possess, but regardless of her calm exterior she’d been through a horrid ordeal . Now was not the time to sling adulterous accusations. You’re the luckiest bastard alive … Swirled through his conscious mingling with the supreme jealousy that Sid may in fact be the man she loved . So much for disengaging his emotions . Alex forced himself to unclench his fists and drew a deep breath , attempting to calm down .
    “Mother is seeing to him now. ” With one hand lightly rested on the wooden balustrade she slid down the stairs, all elegance and grace despite her odd attire . “I must apologize for his behavior tonight.”
    “Think nothing of it,” Sid replied solicitously, striding forward to offer Charley his arm, before Alex could find the words on his tongue .
    The ease with which his wife gazed upon the known rak ehell rankled Alex to no end and it took every ounce of willpower not to yank her bodily away from Sid and stake his claim in the most primitive male fashion .
    “ Why don’t we go to the parlor and wait.”
    Alex trailed behind Charley and Sid who fell comfortably into step side by side … arm in arm . Alex’s mood sank from black to glower . Murky darkness pervaded every corner of the parlor adding to the effect .
    Charlotte moved about the room, lighting the decorative lamps expertl y arranged throughout the room while Sidney chattered on about this and that . Alex paid him little mind, and was more than pleasantly surprised when Charlotte ignored Sid, and turned to him . Their gazes locked , a question lurking just beneath the surface of her eyes .
    She must have heard their argument by the stairs . Alex wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
    “ Would you light a fire , Sidney ? ” Charl ott e ’ s eyes never left Alex’s.
    “ Certainly. ”
    With Sid otherwise occupied, Alex strode forward, stopp ing directly in front of