Gift of Gold

reason? Whatever the answer, I’d like you to know that I was thoroughly embarrassed.”
    “Sorry about that.” Jonas tossed aside the dish towel. “Ready to go home?”
    She stared at him. “You’re not sorry at all. What on earth is the matter with you tonight?”
    “Nothing’s the matter. It’s late and I’d like to get to bed.”
    “Don’t look at me—I’m not stopping you,” she snapped.
    “Fine,” he growled. “Let’s go.” He headed toward her, turning out lights as he went. When he reached the door he took her arm in a forceful grip and steered her outside. She stood stiffly while he locked up for the night.
    “Would you mind telling me why you’re acting this way?” Verity hissed softly as he again took her arm and prodded her in the direction of her cabin. “You’re behaving like a spoiled little boy who’s throwing a tantrum because things aren’t being done his way.”
    “That’s better than acting like a silly, fluff-brained art groupie.”
    “Art groupie!” She yanked her arm free of his grasp. “That’s a stupid thing to say. Just because I like Caitlin Evanger and her art is no reason to call me names.”
    “You were hanging on that woman’s every word tonight. Talk about fawning. I never would have thought of you as having a fan mentality, Verity. You made a fool out of yourself. ‘I was stunned when I first saw
Branded
, Caitlin,’ ” he mocked, remembering one of the conversations he had overheard while clearing tables. “ ‘I couldn’t get it out of my head for days, Caitlin. Such a vivid commentary on the relationship between women and men in this society, Caitlin. Such artistic insight, Caitlin.’ ”
    Verity moved before he could stop her. She yanked herself free of his grasp, whirled to face him, and came to a halt on the path in front of him. Jonas eyed her warily.
    “I know what your problem is, Jonas Quarrel. Your feathers are ruffled tonight because you got an unwanted glimpse back into your own past, didn’t you? Caitlin Evanger reminded you of the time you were making a success out of your own life. She reminded you of the days when you were on the verge of making it big in the academic world. You had your act together back then and you were going to be someone. People were already paying attention to you. And then you got lazy and blew it.”
    Jonas felt a tremor of real anger go through him. Up until now he had been merely irritated. But now he knew cold fury. Caitlin Evanger had reminded him of his past, all right, but the memories were laced with violence and blood, not the synthetic perils of academic success. He kept his voice even, but he could hear the edge in it and knew Verity must have heard it also.
    “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Verity,” he said. “I suggest you keep your mouth shut. My past is my business.”
    “I’ll bet there’s more to it than just being reminded of it,” she went on recklessly. “I’ll bet you’re jealous.”
    “Jealous! Of Caitlin Evanger? Give me one good reason.”
    “She prevailed against all odds. She made it. She had ability and she honed and refined that ability, even though she was crippled for life. She worked hard to get where she is. She’s not a success just because she had talent or because she got lucky. She
worked
for that success. Look at the difference between the two of you. You should take a lesson from her, Jonas. She’s enjoying the fruits of her labors and going on to bigger and better things, while you’re washing dishes.”
    “That’s enough, Verity.”
    “You’re just like my father. Both of you are too damn easygoing and too self-indulgent to work at achieving what you’re capable of achieving. You don’t even want to settle down, do you? You’d rather fritter away your whole life jumping from one place on the globe to another instead of staying put long enough to build something worthwhile of your life. You’re irresponsible, that’s what you are. A little boy who doesn’t want to be bothered with growing up and assuming control of his life and his abilities. Here today, gone tomorrow.”
    “I said that’s enough, Verity.” He was knotted with tension as he received the lash of her tongue, but she seemed oblivious to the precarious state of his temper.
    “Oh, shut up and go to bed. I don’t want to hear anything more out of you tonight. The least you could have done was to show some respect toward someone who’s made something of