Joe was not devastated at losing her. He was impatient. He wanted this media circus over.
Why? If he had set it up to honor her?
Then it sank home. She had been so numb in these last days, fighting to recover physically and mentally, that she had just accepted what Doane had said to her about the memorial service. Joe would never have thrown a huge media party like this because he would have known she’d hate it.
Which meant he had set it up for someone else. Doane?
Doane had been so certain that everyone had been fooled by his grand plan. He had been smug and completely obnoxious about it.
“And there’s Jane MacGuire,” Doane said. “She’s very beautiful, and it’s no wonder the cameras focus more on her than anyone else. Poor Jane, she has to be heartbroken that there was nothing she could do to save you.”
“Heartbroken,” Eve repeated, intently studying Jane’s face.
Jane had been more close friend than daughter to her since she’d adopted her when she was ten years old, but the love was strong between them. She knew exactly how Jane would react.
Jane was pale and unsmiling.
No agony. Only tension. And the same impatience Eve had seen in Joe’s face. They wanted this show over.
Eve felt the joy and hope surge through her.
Oh, Doane, you’ve underestimated them again.
They’ve found out about your little escape plan.
They know I’m alive.
* * *
“YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE,” Margaret whispered to Jane when she reached her. “Your nerves are shredded from all this crap. Why don’t you go up in the house with Kendra?”
That sounded wonderful to Jane. Peace. Quiet. No pretense. She reluctantly shook her head. “Kendra isn’t family. I am. I’m expected to be at this circus. I can do this.”
“You can do it,” Seth Caleb said roughly as he suddenly appeared behind her. “But why should you? You’ve only been out of the hospital a week, and you’ve been under stress all that time. You’ve done your job. The cameras love you, and the TV crews focused on you during most of the service. Now let someone else have a photo op.” He took her elbow and firmly swept her away from Margaret and started propelling her toward the steps leading to the porch of the cottage. “You need a break.”
“You don’t know what I need. Let me go, Caleb.” Jane carefully kept her voice low to keep anyone around them from hearing as she tried to pull away from him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m being kind and concerned and sympathetic. Can’t you tell?” He glanced across the crowd at Mark Trevor, who was nodding with agreement at something a guest was telling him. “Since Trevor is involved with doing all the right things like you are, I figured someone had to be the bad guy.” He smiled faintly, as he murmured, “And who does it better than I do?”
“No one.” She glanced up at him. Dark eyes glittered recklessly from that strong, fascinating face. She was immediately aware of the animal magnetism and powerful sensuality that were parts of his basic personality. She always tried to ignore and block them out, but she seldom succeeded. Even now, his grip on her elbow was sending a tingling through her arm. “I’ve been surprised how tame you’ve been during the last week.”
“Oh, I’m an excellent actor when I need to be. In this case, the need was yours, and I always try to meet your every desire.” His smile was fading. “Though I haven’t had an opportunity lately. Trevor has been covering you with that cloak of golden charm he drapes over you whenever he’s near. It’s hard to compete when I have no golden cloak, and you’re so wary of me.”
“Golden cloak? That sounds like something from Disney. Bullshit.” She didn’t try to deny the last part of his sentence. They both knew she was wary of Caleb. She not only had an erotic response whenever she was around him, he was not like anyone she had ever known. Hell, he was probably not like anyone the majority of the population had ever known, she thought ruefully. That weird talent he possessed that allowed him to affect the flow of blood in those around him was bizarre and a little frightening. Eve had told her she had seen him kill a murderer with that talent a couple years ago. And Jane, herself, had experienced the hypnotic sexual aspect to that control of the blood.
Yes, “wariness” was definitely the word for what she felt for Caleb. Among other more confused emotions. It was Caleb who had been there for her, flown her here from London, when she’d first become drawn into the nightmare of Eve’s kidnapping. He’d stayed with her after she’d been shot by Doane’s accomplice, and no one could have been more supportive during the hunt for Eve. He’d been very clear he wanted and intended to go to bed with her, but for the most part, he’d set lust aside and concentrated on helping her find Eve. “Trevor is just doing what I asked him to do. He’s making himself visible and adding to the authenticity. Which you are not doing, Caleb.”
“I did my best. Making myself visible at occasions like this usually adds more of an air of disturbance rather than authenticity. People seem to sense that I’m out of place.” He shrugged. “As I said, your lover has the advantage of being able to charm birds off the trees.”
“Trevor’s not my lover.”
“Thank God. But he was your lover a few years ago, and he wants to be again.” He met her eyes. “But he’s missed his chance. He shouldn’t have let you go.”
“He wouldn’t try to hold me if I didn’t want to be there. I go my own way, and we realized that it wasn’t working out.” They had reached the steps, and she stopped and looked up at him. “Not that it’s any of your business. I’ve warned you about that, Caleb.”
“Just chitchat.” He tilted his head. “Now run up those steps and go take a rest. I’ll tell Joe where you are.”
She gazed at him in astonishment. “I have no intention of leaving this memorial service. I only let you bring me here to avoid a scene.” She jerked her elbow away from him. She repeated the words she’d said before, “I go my own way. Step aside, Caleb.”
He didn’t move.
“I mean it.”
“If I do, you’ll collapse within ten minutes.”
“What?”
“I warned you,” he said softly. “I can see it coming. You’ve been going at a frantic pace, helping Joe with all the preparations for this media circus. I’ll bet you haven’t slept at night.”
“I’ve slept.”
“But not much. I told you when you asked me to try to heal you enough for you to be released from that hospital that the effect wouldn’t last if you overdid it.”
“I feel fine,” she said quickly. It wasn’t true. She felt exhausted, but she’d hoped it had nothing to do with the wound and infection that had put her in the hospital and out of the hunt for Eve. “I’m just tired.”
“And you might last a little while longer if you rest now.” He smiled. “And I told you I was at your service if this happened.”
“Screw you.”
He laughed. “I wish. Now admit it, there was nothing about the experience that was unpleasant. As I told you, there are all kinds of medical studies being done on the value of laser therapy stirring the blood around wounds to induce healing. I just stirred the blood in a wider area throughout your body and used my own method. Much more efficient than any laser.”
Unpleasant? Bare flesh to bare flesh. His mouth on the wound in her shoulder. His hands stroking her body, his tongue on her nipples.
Heat.
Intense need.
Swirling darkness.
Fiery tingling.
“You’re remembering.” His gaze was on her face. “Pleasure, Jane. Not complete. But you didn’t want it to stop. I’m the one who backed away.”
It was the truth. She had been completely helpless against that powerful wave of feeling. “You didn’t tell me that what you were doing would have a sexual effect.”
“You would have done it anyway. You were still weak and ill, and the doctors at the hospital wouldn’t release you.
You were desperate to get out of that hospital and on the hunt for Eve.” He chuckled. “And I wasn’t sure that it would be quite that explosive. It could be because you had my blood in your veins, which I donated to you after you were shot. Though it might not have mattered anyway. You might not trust me, but you can’t deny the chemistry between us.”
“I trust you … sometimes.” She stared him in the eye. “I’ll trust you now if you tell me that you were telling the truth about my being on the verge of collapse. Were you lying to me, Caleb?”
His smile faded. “No, it may take a little longer, but you’re on the way. I told you that I’m no healer. I can manipulate the blood and give you a constant rush of energy and a temporary masking of symptoms. That’s what I did in the hospital, so that the doctors would release you. If you’d rest, you’d even heal yourself. But we both know you’re not going to do that. Not until you find Eve.”
“Damn.”
“But maybe you can stave it off if you’ll take periodic rests. There’s a possibility that you can do without undergoing the same bonding we did last time.” His brows rose. “You see, I’m not giving you the answer I’d like to give you. Maybe because I don’t like being a drug you can’t do without even on a temporary basis. Well, actually I would, but I don’t want it to be based on a physical weakness. When I touch your body again, I want you strong and wanting it.”
She forced her gaze away from him. “I believe you’re being honest with me. Though I don’t want to believe it.” She started up the steps toward the porch. “I can’t afford to be stupid about this. I’ll see that I rest more.”
“And I’ll be close by in case you need me,” he said softly. “All you have to do is call.”
She ignored those words. “Tell Joe I’m fine, that I’m only going up to see Kendra. Do not tell him I’m tired.”
He nodded. “Whatever you say.” He stood watching her from the bottom of the stairs. “But Quinn never trusts me entirely. He’s too protective of you, and he’s seen me do a few things that are both violent and unorthodox. It might be better if you give him a text from your cell.”
Yes, she’d say that Caleb’s causing a killer’s heart to explode from a rush of blood could be termed both violent and unorthodox. She opened the cottage door. “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll tell him myself.”
CHAPTER
3
CALEB WATCHED THE DOOR CLOSE behind Jane before he started to turn away. She had looked fragile and almost breakable during those last moments. That would not last long, and the strength would be back. It was Jane’s strength that had first drawn him to her when he’d met her all those years ago. Yet now this breakable quality filled him with an almost primitive desire to reach out and touch, hold. Hell, he wanted to touch, stroke, hold, whenever he looked at her, no matter what the circumstance.
He should have lied to her, he thought recklessly. He had never wanted to have sex with anyone as much as he did Jane, and that lust was growing in intensity. Yet for some reason he couldn’t reach out and take what he wanted. Most of the time lies were counterproductive, but to increase Jane’s physical need for him could have been—
“Is she okay?”
He turned to see Margaret standing behind him. “Hello, Margaret. I’m afraid I was a little rude when I whisked Jane away from you.” He added mockingly, “Did you trail along behind us to make sure I wasn’t going to harm her?”
“Yes,” she said bluntly. “I knew she’d slap you down if you annoyed her too much, but I’m never sure what you’re going to do. You’re one of the wild ones. I thought that it wouldn’t hurt to tag along.”
“I’d hardly cause a furor at this sad occasion.”
“Yes, you would. If it suited you. But you know that Jane would never forgive you.” Her gaze went back to the door at the head of the steps. “She did look tired. Is she okay?”
“If she rests.”
She turned to look at him with narrowed eyes. “You know that’s true. Why? Is it that blood thing that Jane told me about you?”
He said warily, “It depends what she told you.”
“Only that you have this kind of blood gift that was passed down through your family since ancient times.” She giggled. “And that you’re not a vampire.”
“How kind of her to specify.”
“I was disappointed. I was sort of sensing that blood thing whenever I was around you. That’s why Jane finally broke down and told me about your family. She didn’t want me asking you about it. I think she didn’t know how you’d react.”
“You wanted me to be a vampire?”
“No, but I’ve always been interested in vampire bats because I can never read any of their impressions. I thought I might be able to get a clue from you how to do it.” She made a face. “Not that I can read minds or anything. I just get occasional impressions, particularly from the wild ones.”
“And I’m a wild one?” He smiled. “Let me see. Primitive, barbaric, possibly violent?”
She nodded. “All of those things. Along with intelligence and cynicism and…” She shrugged. “Who knows? Every person has their own soul.” She beamed at him. “But I’ve always liked you, Caleb. You’re very interesting. I just have to watch and be careful that you don’t hurt Jane while you’re trying to have sex with her.”
“Indeed? May I say that it’s none of your business, Margaret?”
“Of course you may. But you’d be wrong. Jane saved my life and I can’t have her hurt.” Earnestly she said, “I know you’ve been stalking Jane since I met you, and it’s perfectly natural behavior for you. She’s probably very receptive to you on a basic level, but you mustn’t hurt her. You’re disturbing. I think she’s very vulnerable at the moment.” Her gaze left him and went across the crowd to Mark Trevor. “If she wants sex, Trevor would be better for her right now.”
“No!” He smothered the violence. “Margaret, I’m becoming a little annoyed with you.”
She nodded. “It happens. I just wanted to get everything straight between us.” She looked at her watch. “It’s getting late. Some of the media people are packing up to go. This should be over with soon.” She looked up the steps again. “I don’t want to hover. Does she need me?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll go see if I can help Joe.” She turned. “You’re probably going to hover around here anyway. Only in you it doesn’t look protective, it looks slightly sinister.” She drifted away. “See you…”
Hover? He did not hover.
And he would not go away from the cottage just because Margaret accused him of doing so. Those media people would love to corner Jane while she was in the cottage and bombard her with questions. It would do no harm to grab a drink from a passing waiter and stick around until the cameras and reporters were gone.
Dammit, that was not hovering.
* * *
“HI.” JANE CLOSED THE DOOR behind her. “It’s crazy down there. Do you mind if I hide out for a while and join you?”
“It’s your home. I’m the one who should ask you that. I just had some thinking to do and didn’t want to interfere.” Kendra got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. “Sit down. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. You look like you could use it.”
“Don’t say that.” Jane grimaced. “I’m fine. If I remember, it was you who told Joe I had an infection from that gunshot wound, and he should take me to that damn hospital. If you weren’t so observant, I’d have—”
“You’d have gone on until you were so ill that Quinn would have been frantic about you as well as Eve.” She handed her a mug filled with steaming coffee. “No apologies.” Her gaze raked Jane’s face. “And you’re looking a little fragile at the moment. Should I be calling Quinn?”
“You do, and I’ll break your neck,” Jane said. “I’m grateful for everything you did to track Eve down to that ghost town, but you worry about Eve and not me. I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe.” Kendra’s tone was skeptical. “But I’ll le
t it go. You’re right. Everyone and everything has to be concentrated on Eve.” Her jaw tightened. “We were so close. We almost had that bastard. Then everything went wrong. We can’t let it happen again. Everything has to go right this time.” She took a sip of her own coffee. “Zander. Doane will be targeting Zander. We have to target him, too. Where the hell is he? He left Colorado the day that Venable told him that Doane and Eve were still alive, and Venable says he’s not answering his phone.”
“Joe will find Zander,” Jane said grimly. “We just can’t be obvious if we want to keep the surprise factor. It’s the only weapon we have against Doane. That’s what this idiotic show is all about.” Her lips twisted. “I try to tell myself it’s all a farce, but it hurts me. I keep thinking, what if it was real? What if we’re wrong about Doane’s wanting to keep Eve alive so that he can kill her in front of Zander.” She shook her head. “But we’re not wrong. He wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble to stage that fake death if he hadn’t wanted to keep her alive a little while longer. I have to keep thinking that’s true, or I’d go crazy.”
“Me, too,” Kendra said. “I feel guilty as hell I didn’t figure it all out sooner.” She paused. “And I agree that Doane mustn’t have any idea that we know he’s alive. I’m scared to death he might decide to change his precious plans in midstream.”
“And kill Eve?” Jane whispered.
“I’m not projecting that kind of scenario, any kind of scenario. I just don’t want to set Doane on a different path than the one we know he wants to travel.” She moistened her lips. “So our actions must seem absolutely logical and normal to him. Before he disposed of his buddy, Terence Blick, we know he probably had him doing surveillance on us. Venable said a man of his description had been sighted during the search on the other side of the lake by one of his agents. That means we have to assume Doane knows who was here at the cottage.” She tapped her chest. “I was brought here to investigate Eve’s disappearance. No one tried to hide it. It couldn’t have been more clear. Blick knew I was at Goldfork. Again, it was very clear why I was there.”
Silencing Eve Page 4