Each sculpture was brilliant in its own right—an Asian-style folding screen made of piano keys that emitted electronic notes when pressed, a pathway of carved musical key notations that led the viewers around to the various exhibits. The word “key” was used in each of the artworks, a strange lucky break on Clarissa’s part, tempting her to believe in divine inspiration.
In the middle of the path sprouted her piece, altered from six feet to ten feet, allowing visitors to pass beneath it and stir the strands of keys. They made a shimmering, effervescent sound with each jangle. The resort had covered the cost of the extra bronze.
While she’d labored to give birth to this glowing masterpiece, Clarissa had let her prescription for the Pill lapse. She and Mika had been careful to use protection for a few months, allowing the hormones to clear her system and her menstrual cycle to return to normal.
Two months later she’d gotten the letter from the concert hall board. They’d awarded her the slot reserved for UH’s graduate submission. This was also the day Clarissa’s period was officially one week late. The drugstore pregnancy test strip read “pregnant”.
Panicked at first that she’d be unable to construct the now massive sculpture on-site, Clarissa was so relieved Sione and Michelle had jumped at the chance to help. Though they’d told her no thanks was necessary, the artwork signage listed their names as contributing artists.
Faced with the culmination of not only a year’s worth of work, but a lifetime of building relationships she’d had no blueprint to construct, a surge of emotion felled her. A familiar anxiety clutched at her throat. She wanted this, all of this so badly it hurt. So many things could go wrong and life always changed. This much she knew to be true. She excused herself for a moment and made her way outside for a little fresh air. As always Mika hurried, only two steps behind her.
The night wind caressed her face, taking some of her fears with it.
“You okay, baby?” he asked.
Clarissa drew in a deep breath, staving off more teardrops. She was tired of crying. “Overwhelmed.”
He drew her into a gentle embrace. “It’s okay, baby. Everything’s fine.”
In his arms, trade winds rustling her hair, she nodded. The man whose arms encompassed her—the man who’d learned to trust that she held the key to his future—Clarissa knew he too held the key to hers. Whatever trouble the future might hold they would face it…together.
About Cindy Jacks
Prior to becoming a multi-published writer of romantic and erotic fiction, Cindy went to college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a BFA in Art. After a brief attempt at an art career, she decided the “starving artist” life wasn’t for her. She worked for ten years in the corporate arena, but now spends her days as a full-time author.
When not chained to her laptop, she enjoys hanging with her family, belly dancing and exploring the culinary arts.
Cindy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Cindy Jacks
Another Man’s Wife
Blackest Nights
Leap
Love Game
Phantom Touch
Pirates at Heart 1: Landlocked
Pirates at Heart 2: Smuggler’s Blues
Pirates at Heart 3: Sailor’s Knot
Ravish Me
Waking Maggie
Print books by Cindy Jacks
Pirate’s Passion anthology
Reclaimed
Straight from the Heart anthology
Wedded and Bedded anthology
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Trouble in Paradise
ISBN 9781419946813
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Trouble in Paradise Copyright © 2014 Cindy Jacks
Edited by Jillian Bell
Cover design by Syneca
Cover photography by Willo, luxora, badztua/shutterstock.com
Model(s): David and Taylor
Electronic book publication January 2014
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