by Missy Jane
“So you see, dear, the best option we have is taking Jake’s offer. I hate for you to be involved, but I just don’t know if he would go through with the buyout without your agreement. He is so taken with you.”
Isadora read between the lines and heard what wasn’t said.
“Jake told me he needs someone sweet and innocent on his arm to help his reputation. I don’t like the idea of being used like that, Alice.”
Her godmother had the grace to look troubled but said nothing.
“And Bill has already looked into offering the company to other potential buyers?” Isadora asked.
Alice’s serene smile slipped for an instant, but she recovered quickly. “He has exhausted all other options.”
So now what? Isadora relaxed against the chaise lounge as best she could without slouching. Just being in the ostentatious room made her want to sit up straighter. At the moment she would rather be anywhere but in her godparent’s house talking about Jake Deagan.
“Would marriage to him really be so bad?” Alice asked. “You know he would give you the best of everything.”
Isadora fought to keep her face from showing repulsion at that statement. The best of everything might be good enough for Alice, but Isadora sure as hell expected more from a husband. “I don’t love him, Alice. And to be honest, I don’t think he loves me either.”
“It will come in time. The two of you used to be such good friends.”
“He’s a completely different person now. I honestly don’t know if I could spend the rest of my life with him.”
Alice dropped her gaze and clenched her hands.
Pain sliced through Isadora at the sight. After all they had done for her why was she being so selfish? “Maybe I just need to spend some time alone with him. It’s been ages since we weren’t surrounded by a ballroom full of people.”
Alice clapped her hands together and gave a small laugh at the concession. She started making plans. By the time Isadora walked out of the house, she had a date with Jake Wednesday night. It had been years since she’d had a date. Work took up most of her time, and her godparents’ many social events took up the rest. Now she had to figure out how to keep Jake’s interest when it was just the two of them, something that hadn’t happened in a decade or more.
With a sense of foreboding she headed to the mall. Jake didn’t know the extent of her burns, though he had seen her in long shorts before. She needed to find something sexy but conservative. Was there such a thing?
By the time she hit the tenth store she had decided there wasn’t. Hunger, fatigue, and frustration filled her as she headed toward a quieter, less cluttered area of the Galleria. She found an empty bench and rested her tired feet. Three floors of retail and 2.4 million square feet of space, but she couldn’t find a single appropriate outfit.
“Ridiculous.”
People moved all around her, but sudden stillness just past the corner of her eye caught her attention.
“Talking to yourself in public, Dora? That can’t be good.”
Her spine tingled and her nipples hardened with just those few words. She looked up into the amused expression on Zerach’s face and wished the floor would swallow her whole.
“It was only one word this time, Mr. Maxwell. Not the rants you usually catch while I’m working.”
He grinned and took the empty spot beside her on the bench. It suddenly seemed very small. “Ah, well that’s okay then I guess. Shopping for yourself or someone else?”
His gaze seemed to take in everything from her battered tennis shoes to the faded t-shirt she’d pulled on with little care. She wore her favorite pair of jeans that were held together more by luck than threads. Altogether, she was a mess in comparison to her usual Monday through Friday attire. She tried to think if he had ever seen her dressed so casually, but the expression on his face made her think not.
“Myself,” she said. “I’ve got a date Wednesday.”
Now why had she told him that? He simply nodded and kept his grin in place. She wanted to stomp her foot in frustration. Would he ever see her as more than his secretary?
She shifted her weight to nonchalantly close the space between them and her knee touched his. He didn’t move.
“A date, huh? Dinner and dancing, or something less traditional? I think you should wear a dress.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. All he’d ever seen in her in were formal gowns or business pants suits. It would be nice to shake him up a bit. “I was thinking about something strapless and form-fitting.”
His brows went up and the grin slipped ever so slightly. He stretched his arm along the back of the bench and started playing with the end of her ponytail. “Wear blue. I think it’s your best color. Navy blue.”
She flushed at his observation and gasped out a laugh. Just knowing he had noticed even that small detail elated her. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” She made a show of looking at the bustle around them but was careful not to pull her hair from his grip. “So, are you shopping, too?”
For the barest second he almost seemed embarrassed, but it passed quickly. “Um, no. I stayed at the hotel.”
He gestured vaguely toward the elevators going to one of the two hotels attached to the shopping complex. “Oh. I see.”
He pulled her ponytail over her shoulder and palmed the length of it. The back of his hand barely brushed the top of her breast, and she stayed frozen in place. It wasn’t like him to touch her this much, but she wouldn’t dare complain. She’d craved his touch for so long, this easygoing side of him was more than welcome. He definitely appeared more relaxed around her than usual.
“Ever stayed here?” he asked.
“No. I imagine it’s nice.”
He shrugged and finally moved his hand away. “It’s not the nicest place but they have very comfortable beds.”
She smiled as her face heated again. “I’m sure.”
“Better than staying the night at home…alone.”
“Mm hmm.”
Silence filled the seconds before he cleared his throat and stood. She didn’t look at him but motion from the edge of her vision drew her attention his way. He held his hand out to her unexpectedly. “Come on. I’ve got the afternoon free and I think I know just what you need.”
Nothing could have kept her from that invitation. She put her hand in his, reveling in the warmth of his palm. Her pulse leapt at the contact though he didn’t seem similarly affected. “And what is that Mr. Maxwell?”
“If you will remember to call me Zerach, you’ll find out.”
She stood, and he didn’t relinquish her hand. That alone made her want to do anything he asked. “Fine…Zerach.”
His easy grin returned, and he released her hand to put his arm around her shoulders. “Good. Let’s go.”
They walked just like that across the mall and into an ice cream shop. The light weight of his arm on her shoulders was a distraction. He’d never really touched her before. A hand on her shoulder or arm to get her attention, a very brief hug when she returned from vacation, small insignificant encounters were all he’d ever allowed until this moment.
“Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?” he asked.
For a heartbeat she had no clue what he meant. “Oh. Uh…chocolate.”
He finally released her to place their order while she cleaned off the only available table. He joined her with two cups nearly overflowing with ice cream and toppings. “I hope you like whipped cream.”
An image of him covered in nothing but the white confection entered her mind and she nearly choked. “Yes…thanks.”
She took the offered treat and sat down before her knees buckled. Zerach always seemed to bring out the most daring part of her, the Isadora she sometimes wished she could be. He often called her Dora, a nickname only he ever used. As if she was a completely different person in his presence, and she liked it.
“I haven’t had ice cream in ages,” he said. I’d forgotten how good it is.”
&nb
sp; She just smiled as she busied herself putting a dent in the ridiculous amount in her bowl. He always said funny little things like that, as if he was ancient and had forgotten more than she’d ever know.
After another bite she watched him and couldn’t help wondering aloud. “How could you possibly forget this taste? I love ice cream.”
He shrugged and seemed to actually think it over. “I don’t usually eat sweets. Food is something I don’t put a lot of thought into unless I’m dealing with one of the restaurants.”
As she didn’t normally handle that end of his business, she’d forgotten his family owned quite a few of the finer restaurants in not only the Houston area, but all of the U.S. She’d never even been in one of his restaurants.
“I find that hard to believe. You have some of the best pastry chefs in your employ from what I’ve read. The one in Fraîchement Française had a nice write up in a culinary magazine last month.”
Surprise lit his face as he swallowed a bite. “Really? I didn’t know about that.”
“Yeah. Um…I saw it while waiting to check out at the grocery store.”
“I’ll have to look for it. Sounds like some good publicity for the restaurant.”
“He said only good things about you.”
Zerach laughed and shook his head. The deep timbre sent a shiver down her spine.
“Good to know someone is publishing good words about me for a change.”
“It isn’t always all bad.” He gave her a skeptical look and she had to smile. “Usually.”
“Dora, you know as well as I do what most people think of me.”
“That you’re a seedy nightclub owner?”
“Yes. They choose to ignore the many other businesses I own and run successfully. And you know the illegal dealings nonsense is crap.”
“Of course I do. Why don’t you sell the few nightclubs and stick to the other businesses?”
He took another bite as if giving himself time to consider his answer. She mimicked his action and hoped she hadn’t offended him. It really wasn’t any of her business.
“I guess I could. I’ve considered it before. But the nightclubs are lucrative, and I don’t do what other people want. I’m my own man. Nothing and no one will ever change that.”
His intense focus caused her mouth to dry even as her inner thighs moistened. The ice cream did nothing to lower her temperature from his stare. She brought a spoonful to her mouth and slipped it in slowly, never dropping her gaze. As she pulled the spoon from her mouth she let the tip of her tongue slide across her upper lip. Zerach’s jaw clenched, and he swallowed hard enough for her to see the movement of his throat. Then he finally looked away. She wanted to shove the table out of the way and pounce on him, but would never do anything so daring in a public place.
They finished their ice cream in silence. All the while she fought the urge to reach across the table. She wanted to touch him, just once. The temptation of his golden skin drew her in to an almost dangerous degree.
“Do you go to a tanning salon?” she asked before thinking better of it.
“He choked out a laugh. “What?”
“Your skin. It’s so…golden.”
He shook his head and grinned. “It’s all natural. What about you?”
“Yeah right. I’m white as a ghost.”
“Nah. I’m sure I’ve seen paler ghosts.”
She laughed and threw a napkin at him. “I don’t have time for a tanning salon.”
“You should take time out for yourself. Maybe not to tan, but for something fun. My apartment is on a beach. You’ll have to come over one day and we’ll lie out together.”
“I, uh…I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” he asked, seemingly surprised by her quick rejection. “You do own a bikini, right?”
“No.”
He laughed. “Wow, you sounded so scandalized. At least I didn’t ask you to lay out naked on my balcony. But of course, that could be arranged.”
“Zerach! You’re terrible. What’s going on with you today?”
He just laughed harder as her cheeks burned in embarrassment. If only lying out naked with him was a viable option. Seeing all of his glorious body would be well worth any embarrassment she might face. But not while she still had her scars to consider.
“Sorry, Dora. I’m not trying to embarrass you. I don’t know, maybe it’s seeing you so casual for once. I like this. Being able to joke around with you is…nice.”
She couldn’t keep the grin off her face as her pulse returned to normal. “Thanks. I think.”
“I guess we’re done here. “I don’t want to keep you any longer. You don’t need anything in particular to be beautiful for your date, but I know how women like to primp.”
Happiness made her giddy. He’d never called her beautiful before. “Thank you.”
“Who’s the lucky guy? Anyone I know?”
“Jake Deagan. He owns Deagan Enterprises. I’m sure you’ve met him at one of Alice’s events.”
His jaw hardened, and the laughter that had been in his gaze disappeared. “I know Jake.”
He made it sound as if that wasn’t a good thing. She cleared her throat. “Oh? We’ve been friends for years. I practically grew up with him. This is our first date though, so it actually feels kind of weird.”
His brow wrinkled, and he looked away as they walked out of the ice cream shop. He pulled her away from the flow of foot-traffic and held one arm in a loose grip. Goosebumps covered her skin from the warmth of his palm.
Finally he looked at her. “Deagan Enterprises is a good company.”
“Yeah. It’s been in his family for generations.”
“So you know Jake very well then? You’ve kept up with him over the past few years?”
She knew what he’d really asked and laughed uncomfortably. “Yes, I have. I’m more than familiar with what the gossip rags say…about both of you.”
He actually laughed too. “I’ll bet you are. You know it’s mostly bullshit, right?”
A spurt of hope burned in her chest. “Of course.”
“Look, Dora, I think we’ve known each other long enough to be honest about our personal lives. I’ll admit I’m no saint, but I’ve never intentionally hurt a woman physically or emotionally. I like to have fun and the women I go out with know that. They feel the same way.” He set his hands on his lean hips and looked at the ground a moment as if gauging his next words. “Jake Deagan doesn’t seem to think like that. I’m almost positive it’s just a game to him regardless of who gets hurt.”
He lifted his head to look into her eyes again, and she saw the honesty she had come to rely on. Zerach had never steered her wrong. Even if they rarely talked outside the office, he always seemed to look out for her.
“I understand, Zerach. Thank you.”
What had been so wonderful a few minutes before now turned sour as her thoughts turned to marrying Jake. The ice cream sat like lead in her stomach. Zerach’s warning was warranted, but her hands were tied.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt. But I don’t really know Jake very well. The magazines could be as wrong about him as they are about me.”
She gave him a weak smile and somehow said goodbye without alerting him to just how much his counsel bothered her. Was it because it had merit or because she wished it had been fueled by jealousy rather than friendly concern?
Later that evening she stared at the floor-length, navy blue dress she had finally bought after two more hours of looking. Her boss would have approved of the strapless gown. “If only it was you I wore this for, Zerach.”
She hung it up and slipped into a bubble bath as the memory of him eating ice cream played through her mind. He’d been so relaxed, almost playful. It was a sight she rarely got to see at the office. Every now and again one of his brothers would incite that kind of mood in him, but those times were few and far between. With a sigh she closed her eyes and replayed the afternoon in her mind’s eye. Especially t
he way he’d watched and touched her.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d finally noticed I’m more than just his secretary.”
But he’d never push that boundary, and she couldn’t be intimate with him until no more obstacles stood between them; when she could wear something daring, something shorter, sexier, to make him stop and take notice. She just had to hope he would still be available when that day came.
Chapter Three
Long after innocents such as Isadora had drifted off to sleep, the true dregs of society woke with mischief in mind. Zerach glanced down at the darkened alley he perched above, resting lightly on the balls of his feet against the building ledge. He didn’t need to cloak his presence on a cloudy night like this one, but he remained in the shadows. In less than a minute the one he waited for came ambling through the trash-filled alley. His gait was slow and labored as he dragged one booted foot behind him. The limp had gotten worse and though pity filled his heart, Zerach had done all he could.
He dropped to the ground, barely making a sound against the wet pavement. His quarry didn’t hear him above the sound of his own breathing.
“Luther,” Zerach called.
The man froze and almost seemed to stop breathing as he waited. An agitated blush filled his aura, turning it a muddy forest green. From previous conversation, Zerach knew Luther considered himself a victim of life, despite the bad choices he had made.
“We need to talk,” Zerach said quietly.
For a moment Luther’s body tensed for flight. Fear and other rolling emotions continued to tint his aura. Though Zerach didn’t want to run tonight, he would give chase if needed.
Then the man breathed in deeply, his back straightening to his full height for a moment, before he finally turned to face the Archangel.