Dare to Believe

without thinking. “Shane was kidnapped, right?”

Leo grimaced, his expression rueful. He looked down at her, and something about his expression told her that this was about more than just his brother’s kidnapping. “Yes, Shane was kidnapped, and Moira’s right. It’s my fault. Partly.”

“Why, because of your money? Did they think you’d pay a huge ransom or something?”

Leo huffed out a laugh. “I wish. It would be a lot less complicated if it were that simple.”

“Tell me why, Leo.”

The forced way he blew out his breath let her know it would be bad. Very bad. “It has to do with a marriage contract.”

“A what?” Confused, Ruby stared up at him.

“A marriage contract. An arranged marriage was set up by my mother’s father, Armand Joloun, and a man named Cullen Malmayne. Both sides thought to benefit from a marriage of power between Cullen’s son and my mother, but my grandfather is the one who approached the Malmaynes. Which is part of why this whole thing is so screwed up.”

“Your grandfather’s name sounds French, but your mom is Irish. Isn’t she?”

“Half Irish. Moira’s named for our grandmother, and Mom was raised in Ireland with her.”

Ruby thought about that, absorbing it, and let it go. It had no real relevance. “Okay, so your grandfather and this Malmayne dude wrote out a contract, swearing to wed their children to each other. I gather Aileen wasn’t so thrilled with the idea?”

“Oh, at first she had no real objection. It isn’t all that unusual, and from what I understand Duncan Malmayne is a fairly attractive man, wealthy and powerful. But Mom met Dad, and that was pretty much the end of that.”

“So, what, the Malmaynes sued for breach of contract?”

Leo sighed. “Here’s where it gets tricky. Mom and Dad share a unique bond, something that should have nullified the contract, but apparently there was an escape clause written in by my grandfather. In the event that either Duncan or my mother was unable to fulfill the terms, it would devolve to the next generation of both families. In other words, any one of their children could make an arranged marriage.”

“And they want Shane to fulfill this clause in the contract?”

Leo looked at her, and Ruby felt her heart sink. “No. They want me.”

They can’t have you! Ruby shivered with the force of that denial. “Why you?”

Leo opened his mouth, but nothing came out at first. “I’m not quite certain how to explain this.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck nervously. The other hand picked up hers and clasped it warmly, his thumb moving in soothing strokes over the back of her fingers.

“Open mouth, spit out words. C’mon, Leo, it can’t be that bad.”

“There’s something you need to know first.” His eyes were glued to their joined hands.

“Okay, what?”

“I will never, ever, do anything to harm you. You mean more to me than you could possibly understand yet. And if I have my way you and the Malmaynes will never cross paths.” He clasped both of her hands in between his, his expression more serious than any she’d seen on his face yet. She could practically feel him willing her to believe in him. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She shook her head. She was starting to get scared. “Leo, what is going on?”

He took a deep breath, and her world exploded in light. She was forced to close her eyes against the blinding brilliance. When she opened them again, she was shocked speechless.

The hay bales and farming equipment had disappeared. Instead she found herself inside a huge sapphire tent, the edges and “windows” detailed in delicate gold Arabic scrollwork. The floor was completely covered in brightly colored silk pillows of every hue imaginable. A small gold table had been set up against one wall. On it sat a carafe of wine and a plate of candied dates. Fragrant oil lamps hung from the three poles holding the tent up, sending the delicious scent of vanilla into the air.

Wide-eyed she turned to look at what was behind her. It was only then that she realized that she could feel the soft caress of silk against her bare flesh. She looked down.

“Holy crap!” The scanty harem costume, consisting of two barely-there red scarves over her breasts and long, sheer red skirt held at her waist by a gold belt, left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

“Hmmm, I do like you in red, kitten.”

She stared, her eyes wide as saucers, towards the front of the tent.

There, in all his half-naked, white-garbed splendor, was Leo. His white pants were gathered at the ankles and waist with gold ties and his chest and feet were bare. Golden armbands encircled both of his biceps. His expression held a glimmer of amusement mixed with a healthy dose of lust.

He entered the tent, moving with the grace of a panther. Any other man of Ruby’s acquaintance would have slipped and fallen on the silk pillows. Leo glided over them, his feet barely making an impression. Her nipples tightened in anticipation at his predatory expression. His gaze roved over her body with unmistakable possession.

Ruby gulped and bit her lip. “Leo?”

“Don’t be afraid, kitten. Remember, I’ll never, ever hurt you.”

“What’s going on?”

“Trust me.”

“Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Nebraska anymore,” Ruby whispered.

Leo stopped. His lips twitched. “You’re about to be ravished by a Seelie Sidhe lord and you’re misquoting The Wizard of Oz at me? I think I may be insulted.”

Ruby blinked, her rampant sense of humor once again threatening to get her into trouble. “First off, a Sealy is a mattress—”

“You’re welcome to lie on me anytime.”

“Second, you are so not a she.”

“Shtheee. It’s pronounced Shthee.”

“Uh-huh. Lord? That I believe. Hell, you’re the absolute King of Bullshit.”

Leo sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Somehow, this isn’t going quite the way I expected.”

Ruby could practically feel the light bulb settling over her head. She sat up carefully. “Seelie Sidhe lord.”

Leo eyed her warily and nodded.

“You’re an elf?”

Leo frowned. “Sidhe.”

“Like Legolas?”

“Ruby!”

“Oh! Galadriel! Can you do the glowy pond thing, too?”

Leo flopped down on the pillows next to her, his breath huffing out in an exasperated laugh. “No, Frodo, I can’t.”

“Hey!” She sniffed. “I at least get to be Arwen. Hell, I’ll take Eowyn.” She waved a hand regally.

“You can be Gimli.”

She dissolved into helpless giggles. Leo rolled over and pulled her under him, one dark brow rising arrogantly. “Ruby, I really am a Seelie Sidhe lord.”

She was laughing too hard to answer. He sighed, and pushed his hair back over his ears, allowing their delicately tapered points to show. “Ruby, I have no glamour on me now. Look at me. Really look at me.”

He had to wait until her giggles died down, and that took a bit of time. They had a slightly hysterical twinge to them that even she could hear. Once they did, she really took a good, hard look at him.

The differences were subtle. His ears were slightly tapered into delicate points. His eyes had an otherworldly glow to them that made them gleam brightly in the lamplight. His skin glittered with sparkles of gold, the effect when he moved erotic. The most exotic change, however, were his pupils. Human pupils were round. His pupils were oval. Not much of a change, and easily disguised, but obviously not human.

Ruby caressed his ear with a wondering hand. Her fingertips gently brushed over the tapered points.

He shuddered, his eyes closing in exquisite pain.

“Do you know how long it’s been since someone’s done that for me?”