Tempest laughed.
Mozart squawked as his wings beat her ears.
The dogs howled.
Claws grazed Ariel’s scalp. She gasped in pain and flailed for balance.
In the distance a deep voice said, “Afternoon, you must be Ariel Danner.”
Her shoulder jolted against the suburban’s door. Mozart screeched and his wings beat harder. It felt like huge globs of hair were being pulled out. I survived ER and morgue residency; I can endure this. Ariel blindly grabbed for support. Her hands clutched something soft yet hard.
“Why’d you make her scream?” another male voice asked.
“Help me out, would you?“ When the words vibrated beneath her hands, Ariel realized she was clutching a man’s torso.
“I did not scream,” Ariel snapped, as she held on tight. “Mozart did.” As if acknowledging the fact, Mozart let loose with an ear-numbing shriek, as something ripped at her scalp.
“It’s my fault,” Tempest said. “I was trying to get him to come out of the car, but he didn’t want to come because of those wolves howling and-”
“Huskies.” The chest beneath her palms vibrated with the word. Her hands tingled. “They can’t get through the fence.” The deep voice sounded amused.
“Poor Mozart doesn’t know that,” Tempest said. “Getting his seed in Sh-Ariel’s hair was a really stupid mistake, and I don’t know how I did that.” Embarrassment infused her tone.
“I’ve seen worse problems.” The deep voice assured her.
Mozart suddenly stopped moving, then let loose with a string of Farsi curses that brought blood rushing to Ariel’s face. He ended in “Insha Allah.” Surely Tempest and I are the only ones who understood the vile phrases he picked up from Peter. Her hair was yanked so hard she stood on tiptoe. When some ripped free, she gasped in pain, then eyes watering, she bit her lower lip and held her breath so she wouldn’t scream.
“Sorry if I’m hurting you. Without scissors, there doesn’t seem to be any other way.” The man had a soothing bedside manner that even Mozart’s terror couldn’t disturb. “I’ve almost got him free.” His calm tone washed over her like a soothing caress. “The bird has a talon tangled in your ha-” Mozart’s wings beat the air and another lock of her hair ripped free. Ariel cried out in pain, and her own nails sank into the man’s muscular torso.
“Steady, gal.” The wings stilled. He chuckled.
What a nice laugh the man had. Despite feeling as if she’d just been partially scalped, this was the safest she’d felt in five years.
“He’s a boy.” Tempest sounded offended. “And he’s named Mozart, ‘cause he loves classical music.”
“One last strand and you’ll be free.” Was he speaking to Mozart or her?
Abruptly, the weight was gone and there was a rush of wings. “Thank you.” Ariel released her hold on the stranger’s waist, pushed her shoulder-length hair out of her face and straightened. She stood nose to chambray shirt. The top two open buttons gave her a glimpse of dark hair and a hard, all male torso. Her mouth went dry.
“Yes, thanks,” Tempest chimed in. “Do your wolves-er-huskies, always bark this much at strangers?”
“I don’t believe they’ve ever seen a parrot before. Particularly not one that was living out a fantasy of being a hat.”
Ariel looked up. Laughter twinkled in the man’s amazing blue eyes. Ariel stuffed her hands into her pockets and tried to smile. “Thank you, I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t happened by.”
“I’m Stone O’Banyon and this is my partner, Link Gavallan. We live there.” He gestured to the townhouse adjacent to the one they’d rented.
She looked past Stone’s broad shoulder to see a blond with a duplicate body. Link winked at her. When her cheeks warmed with the warning of another blush, Ariel looked back at Stone. One small emerald feather fluttered in his dark unruly hair. The corner of her mouth twitched at the comical sight. Stone smiled back at her. Her stomach clinched.
“Aren’t you afraid your bird will fly away?” Link glanced meaningfully from the three huge dogs that were howling as they tried to rip the fence down to get to Mozart, who was trying to retrieve a plump sunflower seed from under the Suburban’s tire.
Tempest shook her head. “Mozart is more-n twenty years old an’ that’s plenty old enough to develop some common sense. A’course, you probably wouldn’t think so after his-“ Tempest crossed her eyes, flapped her arms, then yanked her own hair.
Stone’s laugh sounded soul warming. Without thinking, Ariel reached up and plucked the feather from his hair. Horrified at her forwardness, she hastily tucked it into his shirt pocket. He winked at her. “Thank you, Ma’am. I’ll cherish the souvenir of our meeting.”
Face burning, Ariel took a step backward. Her bottom collided with the open door. Stone’s smile widened. Of all the apartments in Fairbanks, she had to rent one next to a pair of tall, handsome charmers, the dark half of which apparently enjoyed seeing her mortify herself.
Ariel swallowed and spoke to the hair peeking from the chambray shirt's collar. “I really appreciate your assistance. However, we’ve got a lot to do.” She cleared her throat. “If you’ll excuse us, we really need to get things moved inside while we still have light.”
Stone and Link laughed as if she was funnier than a circus. Ariel clamped her jaws together and reached inside the Suburban for a suitcase. As she stalked toward her new front door, a warm hand grasped her shoulder. She stopped and held her breath, waiting for the fingernails to dig into her flesh, but the pain never came. Instead, while gently holding her still with one hand, Stone ran his thumb against her neck. “Don’t worry, everyone comes out with prize-winners like that.”
What was he talking about? Tiny tremors shot up and down her spine. She ignored them, squared her shoulders and risked a glace upward. “Care to share the punch-line?”
Instead, Stone’s long legs smoothly moved toward the open door to her townhouse. She tried to grab her luggage, but missed. Ignoring her alarm, he kept talking as if nothing was wrong with his behavior. “When I first came up from the Lower Forty-Eight, I made bloopers like that too.”
Ariel hurried to keep up with his long-legged stride. “Tell me what I said.”
He stopped and turned toward her, eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter. “In mid-summer, the sun never really sets.” Link passed them, his arms full of boxes. Stone’s smile widened and he added, “The flip side is that in mid-winter, it never really rises.”
Tempest grabbed Mozart and efficiently tucked him under her arm, then snorted. “Like I’m really gonna believe that.” With that comment ringing in the air, she hurried toward the townhouse.
“It’s because we’re so far north, isn’t it?” Ariel asked. Tempest whirled around and came back. “The angle of the earth-”
“Bingo.” Stone cocked a finger at her and pretended to fire it like a gun. A shiver raced up her spine.
“Sh-Mama, can’t you ever just spit something straight out?” Mozart squawked, either in protest at the unceremonious way Tempest had him tucked under her arm, or in frustration at still being the dog’s entertainment.
“It’s like this.” Stone put the suitcase down and fisted both his hands. “This is the sun and this is the earth. See where the rays hit?” Tempest’s head bobbed up and down. Ariel had to fight not to nod, too. “Good. Now did you know that when the seasons change the earth tilts on its axis?”
“I studied earth science,” Tempest said, as if the course had taught her everything worth knowing.
Stone slanted the hand, which represented the earth. “See how the top of my hand is toward the sun? So even though it’s rotating, sunshine is always close.” He abruptly angled his hand the opposite way. “But in the winter-“
“The sun is hitting your thumb all the time,” Tempest concluded. She grinned up at him.
“Antarctica, actually, but you've got the concept.” Stone looked from Tempest and grinned at Ariel. He
r breath caught in her throat and all she could do was look at him.
Link came back by, another pile of boxes in his arms. “Any idea which room you want these in?”
“Just put them on the stoop. I’ll-“
“I’ll haul and carry the stuff for you.” Link interrupted, than did exactly that.
“But-“
“You look beat,” Stone said. “And you should probably have a doctor look at your head. There’s blood trickling down your forehead.” To underscore his point, he stroked her hairline with his forefinger, then held it up. The tip was bright red.
“Tempest, can you get my-“
“Bag.” Tempest finished, as she thrust Mozart inside the open door.
“First aid kit,” Ariel corrected.
Stone cupped her chin in his palm. His eyes didn’t twinkle as he held her steady and tenderly eased her hair aside. Ariel stared at the tanned skin beneath his half-buttoned shirt and tried to breathe evenly. He pressed lightly. “It’s not bleeding too bad, but maybe I should take you to the hospital. There’s no telling how many germs could ha-“
Hospitals asked too many questions. Ariel jerked free from him. “I’ll look at it.”
Tempest thrust the fishing tackle box, which she kept her medical supplies in, at her. “Mama’s a good doctor.”
Stone straightened. “I thought you were a prof.”
“I am.” Ariel glanced meaningfully at Tempest, whose eyes widened, as she realized her mistake. Face crimson, she scooted toward the townhouse. Ariel tried to diffuse the comment by adding, “When you’re a mother, it seems like kids automatically assume we have a Ph.D. in cuts and bruises.” She hoped he’d accept her explanation and let Tempest’s revealing comment pass.
Stone smiled at her. Her stomach did a flip-flop. Why did tall, dark, and sinfully handsome men still appeal to her? Perhaps it was his sincere blue eyes.
Link and Tempest came out of the house and ambled toward the Suburban; she was leaning toward the big blond man, hanging on his every word. “Believe it or not,” Link said, “that’s not all that unusual up here. A bunch of riggers came from the Lone Star when oil was discovered.”
Tempest stopped as if struck; a frightened look on her face.
Ariel wrenched her attention from the mesmerizing effect Stone had on her and seized Tempest’s upper arm. She towed her back toward the townhouse’s maroon door, hoping neither of the men had noticed the kid’s face. “The scratch probably looks worse than it is,” she said loudly, to cover the latest blunder. And Tempest wondered why she needed to be home schooled! Come with me and help me clean the cut. I can’t see the top of my head.”
“But-“
“You can do it.”
“But-“
“Shhh.” Ariel yanked Tempest into the small foyer. Stone was a couple paces behind and coming fast. “Show me where the bathroom is.” Tempest pointed down the short hall to the left door. Ariel pulled her into a refrigerator sized half-bath and closed the door. Leaning close, she murmured, “Get a grip and remember who you are supposed to be.”
“But there’s oil here.” The whispered statement echoed in the tiny room. Outside, the dogs stopped barking. Ariel and Tempest stared into each other’s eyes and the implication-filled silence stretched.
“Not right here. The only oil in Fairbanks is what goes through the pipeline or is sold in stores. The wells are hundreds of miles away on the North Shore. I studied all this. There is no way we’ll accidentally run into him.” Ariel brushed Tempest’s wild hair away from her face then hugged her close. “I promise you, this time we’ll be safe.” She fervently hoped it was the truth.
Tempest’s thin arms wrapped around her like a vise. “I was so scared.”
“I know. I was, too.” Ariel held her tight a moment longer, then straightened and looked for a counter to place the tackle box on, but there was only a pedestal sink. The white porcelain coupled with white walls brought forth an old memory of being shoved into an abandoned refrigerator by her stepbrother. Ariel sat down hard on the toilet seat. Her knapsack hit the back of her head. She shrugged out of it and placed it next to her.
While Ariel tried to forget the past, Tempest pawed through her hair. “There seems to be lots more blood than there should be for the dinky little pokes I’ve found.”
“Head injuries always bleed more,” Ariel assured her. “Blood flushes out germs.”
“Well, you must be real well flushed.” Tempest laughed at her own joke. “Get it? … You’re sitting on the toilet.”
Ariel rolled her eyes. Tempest prodded a particularly sore spot. Ariel clenched her jaws to stifle a scream. Through clenched teeth, she added, “If the punctures have stopped oozing, swab iodine on them.”
“I’ll try.”
Someone rapped on the door. Tempest jerked and Ariel hugged her stomach. “You all right in there?” Why was Stone still out there?
“Just fine,” Ariel said.
“Right.” His tone didn’t sound like he believed her. After several thundering heartbeats, he asked, “Do you prefer the boxes in the living room with your bird or would your rather have them in the dinning room?”
“Just leave them in the car.”
“We’ve already got most of the stuff in.”
“That’s not nec-“
“Wrong. You got hurt because my dogs scared your bird. I’m trying to make it up to you.”
“It wasn’t as if you sicced them on Mozart or didn’t have them penned up.” Ariel sighed, desperate to get the man out of her life. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”
Stone laughed. The sound warmed Ariel until she remembered the way Stone’s eyes made his chambray shirt seem faded. The antiseptic smarted as it hit a gash. Ariel gulped.
“I’m sorry,” Tempest said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She backed up a step and smacked into the sink.
“I’m fine. Just fine.” Tempest stared at her. Ariel sighed. “It has to be done. Finish.”
Tempest splashed more iodine over the top of her head, then escaped from the half bath, the door slamming behind her. Ariel looked at her reflection. Blood and antiseptic oozed from her hairline bringing a memory of death she’d tried to forget. She sat back down on the toilet until she gained control over her emotions, then washed her face and carefully secured her hair into a ponytail that camouflaged the damage. When she finished, she shouldered her ever-present forest green backpack, which contained every essential when they needed to flee, and opened the door. Stone was leaning against the opposite wall, ankles crossed, as if prepared to wait for her indefinitely. What did he expect? Why was he being so considerate? He smiled at her. Dear Lord, the man had dimples.
“I like your hair up like that.”
“Thank you.” Ariel’s throat tightened. “Is there some reason you’re still here?”
“Sure is.” Link’s voice came from the front room. She glanced to her left. Link offered Mozart a slice of cantaloupe. This had to be some sort of trap. Ariel wouldn’t put anything past Peter, not even having some of his good looking flunkies hold them hostage until it suited his schedule to come deal with them. But how had they known where she’d be far enough in advance to plan this ambush?
Or were they just playing it by ear?
A shiver coursed down her back.
“I put your sleeping bags in the bedrooms.” With his free hand, Link gestured toward the stairway. “You don’t have much furniture. If you’re planning on renting, there really isn’t anywhere good.”
“Actually, Mama figured on garage sales. She says that with the Army and Air Force forts nearby, lots of people must come and go.”
Link grinned. Thankfully, he didn’t have dimples. “Good idea. Tomorrow is Saturday and it seems like I’ve seen advertisements in the want ads. I’ll give you my paper. Better yet, I’ll take you around to our storage barn. You can root through and see if you can use anything that we’ve salvaged. How’d that be?”
“Well, I don’
t know.” Ariel glanced at Stone, who was scowling at his counterpart.
“Don’t worry,” Link assured her. “That is stuff other tenants left behind. We had to do something when we cleaned up the apartments.”
“You’re the janitor?” Tempest looked surprised.
Link’s laugh was rich and warm. “You could say so. We own this block of townhouses.”
They were her landlords? Ariel clamped her teeth together and vowed that even if they lived next door, she’d send them their check in the mail. She blinked. If they owned the apartments, then they probably didn’t work for Peter. Ariel took a deep breath.
Outside, the huskies began barking. Stone pushed away from the wall. “I’d better check on the Greeks.” He moved toward the door. Thrilled to get him out of her house, Ariel dashed to the door and threw it wide. The barking was deafening.
“I thought you said they were huskies,” Tempest called after him.
He paused in the doorway, so close that Ariel could feel heat radiate from him. “I did.” She could feel his breath on her back. She swallowed and held onto the knob. “Hercules … Megara,” Stone shouted, “quit scaring Mrs. Cabot’s cat.”
Link laughed and pushed Stone out the door. “Cats were made to be barked at.” He turned and winked at Ariel in a conspiratorial fashion. “Gotta go. Tonight is my night to cook.” He stepped around Stone and moved out of sight.
As soon as Stone followed him, she secured the deadbolt. Knees weak, with relief, she slumped against the door.
Chapter 2
The moment their front door clicked shut, Stone stomped toward the stairs, tension radiated from him. Link’s expression became concerned. “Is Megara okay?”
“Far as I know.” Stone wished Link would go fishing, or something; anything but stand there looking harmless and asking questions. Questions that had no answers; at least they didn’t have answers Stone wanted to acknowledge.
Link’s brow furrowed. “Is it the bird?”
Fatal Attractions Page 2