Free A Winter's Rose by Erica Spindler Page B

on the girl and grabbed Jackson’s arm. “Come on, Jackson,” she said, pulling him away. “You’re embarrassing her silly.”
    â€œYeah, but did you see those guys take off?” He sent Bentley an amused glance. “They’ll think twice before giving her the eye again.”
    â€œYou’ll be lucky if she ever forgives you.”
    Jackson’s smile faded. That was exactly what he was afraid of. What if she never forgave him for being such a lousy father?
    He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Would you rather walk or sit?”
    â€œWhichever you prefer.”
    â€œLet’s sit, then. I don’t want to stray too far from the party.”
    They chose a place far enough from the party not to be deafened by the music, but close enough to keep an eye on Chloe. Bundled in their coats they sat on the sand, and by unspoken mutual agreement, stared out at the dark water.
    After a time Jackson cocked his head and studied Bentley’s profile. Her beauty reminded him so much of Victoria’s, even though they didn’t resemble each other at all. The perfection of form and feature, the flawlessness of color and texture, were the same. It was a look, a perfection, that had to be coaxed and cultivated. Like a hothouse flower.
    How could one not be sucked in by something that looked so soft and fragile, so beautiful? He knew better than to be fooled by appearances. And yet with Bentley…
    Jackson stiffened, realizing where his thoughts were going. No. All he had to do was remember the lesson of the rose. Its beauty invited you in for a closer look, a caress. There, the thorn waited.
    â€œDid you know,” Jackson asked suddenly, “that at one time Galveston was the capital of Texas?”
    Bentley met his eyes, a question in hers. “No.”
    â€œIn fact, after the Civil War Galveston was the state’s largest and wealthiest city and its principle seaport.” He looked out at the Gulf. “Then along came the hurricane of 1900. Except for patches of homes and commercial buildings, the city was completely destroyed. Winds reached one hundred miles an hour, tides in the city reached twenty feet. Six thousand people died.”
    Jackson plucked a stone from the sand and hurled it out at the quiet water. “They built the seawall, raising the city seventeen feet behind it. But despite the monumental achievement, it was too late.
Houston had surpassed Galveston in both size and importance.”
    Bentley dug her fingers into the sand. “You have a point here?”
    Jackson turned and met her gaze. “Chloe sure has taken to you.”
    â€œI’ve taken to her, too.”
    â€œSix sitters before you, she despised them all.” Jackson found another stone and curled his fingers around it. “But then, they didn’t have the right credentials.”
    Bentley cocked her head toward him and let the sand slip through her fingers. She drew her eyebrows together at the tightness of his expression, at the change in his mood she felt as much as saw. “Credentials?”
    â€œMmm.” He looked at her. “Your club membership, Princess.”
    Bentley stiffened. He couldn’t give her credit for having done something well. Instead, he wanted to turn her success with Chloe into a negative.
    â€œWhat exactly are you saying?” she asked, her hands trembling so badly she clasped them in front of her.
    â€œChloe and her mother spent a lot of years the same way you and Chloe have spent the last few days.”
    The truth hit her then, and Bentley caught her breath. It was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. “Victoria is why you have such contempt for me, isn’t she?” She caught her breath. “You think I’m like her.”
    â€œYes.”
    Fury blindsided her. She didn’t know why his opinion should make a difference—all her life she’d been judged by other