It had to be the statue. Or more specifically, what had been inside. He’d probably been doing research on the symbol all morning. She felt a moment of shame, for the pleasure she and Cai just shared, while those women suffered.
“I forgot,” he said, distractedly. “There is something I’ve got to attend to. I’ll meet you at the cottage in a little while. Or at supper.”
“Let me stay and help you,” she said, but he shook his head and sent a quick glance to Alfred. She understood what he meant, even if she didn’t like being shut out.
“Fine,” Alfred said as he moved into the hall. “Oh, and you might want to turn your shirt right side out before you see Dilys. You know how particular the woman is about clothing.”
Cai was dumbstruck and Jordy didn’t know whether to laugh or start digging a hole to crawl into.
Alfred winked at her. “Come, my dear. I have some other ideas I want to share with you.” She didn’t dare look at Cai as she followed Alfred from the room.
Cai winced when he looked down and saw the seams of his polo shirt staring back at him. Well, the jig was up now for sure. Cai knew he was going to have a hard time explaining to Alfred that his relationship with Jordy wasn’t permanent.
Permanent. He’d never used that word in conjunction with a woman before, and why did it sound so good when he thought about Jordy?
All in all, he’d rather deal with Alfred than what lay on his desk. His desk. Visions of what he’d been doing on it minutes ago had him shaking his head. “Yeah, Mr. Smooth. That’s you, L’Baan.” On his desk. Christ, what had he been thinking? Well, he knew what he’d been thinking with. But even if the venue hadn’t been perfect, if he could turn back time to when she walked in that door, he couldn’t say he’d change one thing. In fact, if he had his way, he’d steal her away from Alfred, shove away everything else, and tuck her in his bed for the next two days. Or three. Maybe a week would do it. She was here for six of them.
He purposely turned to the paper lying on his desk. The harsh reality of what was happening a world away struck him hard. There had to be a way to end this nightmare.
TWENTY
Cai found her in the cottage. It had only been a couple hours since they’d eaten breakfast together, but it seemed like an eternity. He’d made love to her for the first time yesterday afternoon. That, too, seemed an eternity ago.
She and Alfred had stayed up late, enthusiastically reviewing details for the final cottage renovations. He had spent the evening in his office, waiting for replies on his e-mail queries and trying to get some writing done.
It had been an impossible task. When he looked at the screen he saw only her face. She was staying. There was no need to rush things. He’d told himself that a hundred times. Yet his hunger for her was already an outrageous thing.
Her sunny smiles and pensive frowns had made an indelible imprint on his mind. She had a smart mouth, so at odds with the shadows of vulnerability that flitted behind those green eyes of hers. She entranced him.
What would it be like if she were within his reach, all of the time? That thought had kept him aroused and completely crazy the entire night.
They’d slept apart. Or maybe she’d slept. He’d lain awake all night, talking himself out of going to her, wishing like hell she’d come to him.
It was the last night he intended to spend that way.
He stood in the open doorway unnoticed. She was measuring the corner walls, stopping to scribble down numbers, measuring the floor, then scribbling again.
He could already see her here, sitting on a stool in front of the rear window, the sun shining on her hair, and the gardens laid out behind her. This was only her second day living under his roof, and already he couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t.
He wanted to watch her create, to know that part of her. That she’d found her spark here, in the place he called home, filled him with a sensation he couldn’t describe.
“If you’re done staring at me, you can come hold the end of this,” she said without raising her eyes.
Cai took the end of the tape measure and held it to the spot on the wall she pointed to. “What are you measuring for?”
“Shelves. I need a place to dry my pieces before firing them.”
“I can picture you working here, in front of the window.”
She looked up at him. “I was thinking of setting up in the center of the room. I like space. I need to move around my work in progress. Three dimensions taken into consideration at all times. It comes alive for me faster that way.”
“Yes,” he said almost absently, totally taken with simply watching the excited sparkle leap about in her eyes. “Did I remember to tell you how stunningly beautiful you are?”
Her smile was cocky. “Why, I don’t believe you did.”
He dropped the tape and pulled her to her feet. “You are stunningly beautiful.” She came so easily into his arms, as if they had been sculpted together that way.
“Cai, we really shouldn’t—”
“Waste time.” He dipped his head. “I totally agree.” She only resisted his kiss for a nanosecond, and then she opened her mouth under his.
“We’re never going to be able to work if we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“Work?”
“We’re going to have to set some guidelines.”
“Like off-limits time? I’m banned from the cottage for certain hours?” He was grinning, but she wasn’t.
“That’s just it. I don’t work under set hours. I might leave a piece alone all day, then work all night. Or I might work for a few hours, then let it sit for days until I decide where I want to go with it. I do preliminary work on other pieces then, or the post-firing work. Glazing or bronzing, applying patina.” She rolled her eyes. “Which is why I ended up in court, because my business had fallen apart around me and I was too busy in my own little world to notice.” She moved out of his arms. “I want it to be different this time. I will learn to manage my own business, but I’m not exactly sure how to do the rest of the ‘getting a life’ thing. I work when I work, and when I work, I’m totally involved. I don’t think I can change that part.”
She was serious, worried, but he heard the spark of excitement beneath her words. She couldn’t wait to get back to it, to let it consume her. He, of all people, understood that.
“Just answer me this. With all the demands of your craft, do you think there is sufficient downtime that you could devote to me?”
“Yes.”
The unhesitating answer made his pulse thrum.
“But I can’t promise—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “I’ll make the promise. I promise to let you work, but I also promise to make you play. I get lost in my work, too. Maybe we’ll both tend to surface more often knowing there is something else … someone else, demanding our attention.”
“You could have a point there.” She smiled. “What about Alfred? Has he said anything else to you since we … you know.”
“No. Did he say anything else to you last night?”
She shook her head. “I know he knows exactly what is going on, though.”
“He approves. I’d have heard about it by now if he didn’t.”
“It’s just that I know how determined he can be about things and I don’t want him mistaking our relationship for something …” She trailed off on a light shrug.
“Permanent?” There was that word again.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “Permanent.”
“I don’t think it matters what we say. He’ll push us together anyway. He likes you and he thinks my sex life is terribly neglected.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh? And is it?”
He pulled her close with a growl. “I can’t seem to remember.”
Her eyes went dark again and he had to work at not backing her up to the nearest wall.
“He’ll push,” he said, “but I don’t want you to feel pushed, okay? I don’t want to hurt him, e
ither, by letting him think this is something it isn’t.”
She shrugged out of his arms. “I’ll be leaving eventually, he knows that.”
Cai knew that, too. Too well. He found a smile, even though what he felt was dread. “He won’t let a little thing like that stop him.”
She didn’t smile back. Instead she walked to the rear window and looked out over the gardens.
He moved behind her, but didn’t touch her. “I’ve never had a woman live here before.” When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Partly because I’ve never felt strongly enough about anyone to take that step, but mostly because I’ve never met anyone who understood Alfred. He deserves to live out his days in peace, with a family that understands and accepts his eccentricities.” She turned then and he traced his fingers down the side of her face. “You understand him. You have a connection with him that even I don’t fully comprehend. It’s not about me. It doesn’t exist because of me. Whatever happens with us … or doesn’t, you and Alfred will still have that special relationship.”
She covered his hand with her own. “I lived in a small town most of my life, except for college, which was just another small town, really. But even though I was surrounded by people, I was as much a recluse as you and Alfred are. It suited me, too, even if my reasons were a bit different.” She rested her hand on his chest. “This is as much a new path for me as it is for you. And maybe it’s what we need. My life is in Warburg, and for me to build my business, I’m going to have to learn not to be so reclusive, to deal with people, broaden my horizons, take risks. Your life is here on Crystal Key, where you can work and care for Alfred and Dilys. But they won’t be here forever, and if you don’t want to be alone, you’re going to have to learn to broaden your horizons, too.” She reached up and kissed him. “So let’s view this as a learning experience for all of us.”
“A learning experience, huh?” he said, shoving aside thoughts he shouldn’t even entertain. She smiled and his own came naturally. “Well, I’ll leave you to your measuring while I get some work done myself. Then maybe we can convene for a class later on. Seduction 101?”
“I believe you aced that one earlier.”
“I thought I’d go for my master’s.” Her mouth dropped open and he took full advantage of the opportunity to kiss her. He left her standing by the window, staring dazedly after him.
His mind was still on her and his disconcerting feelings about their future, so he didn’t see Alfred turn the corner around the hedgerow until he almost ran into him.
It took only a second for Cai to realize that Alfred was not well. He was flushed and his pupils were the size of pinheads.
He shook a bony finger at Cai and demanded, “What have you done?”
Cai was momentarily stunned by the outrage in his grandfather’s voice. He’d honestly thought Alfred applauded the personal turn his relationship with Jordy had taken. Still, this was the man who’d raised him, and thoughts of what he and Jordy had done yesterday on his desk had him flushing despite himself. “I—I can explain.”
“Than I shall hear it, and hear it now.” Alfred was almost shaking with anger.
Cai’s guilt instantly ceded to his immediate concern for Alfred’s well-being. “Grandfather, calm down. It’s not so bad, is it?”
“Calm down? Calm down?”
Cai tried to take his arm and lead him to the closest bench, but he’d have none of it. “We’re consenting adults, Alfred. I thought you understood what was going on and approved. You like Jordy. I won’t do anything to harm your relationship with her.” He put a gentling hand on his shoulder. “I want her here as much as you do.”
“What nonsense are you raving on about?” His gaze had been pinned on some point past Cai’s shoulder and only now did he seem to snap out of it and look directly at him. “I’m not talking about your carnal relationship with Jordalyn. Of that I approve heartily and can only say, don’t screw it up.”
Nonplussed, Cai stepped back. “Then what—”
The rage came back to his crystalline eyes. “This.”
For the first time Cai noticed the paper Alfred held. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. It was the copy of the symbol.
Alfred suddenly clutched at his chest and stumbled back a step.
“God, no.” Cai rushed to him and carefully helped him to the stone bench. He yelled for Dilys, but it was Jordy who came running.
She skidded to a halt when she saw them. “Oh no! What happened?”
“I need you to run to the house and get Dilys to call Alfred’s doctor immediately.”
“Is he having a heart attack? Shouldn’t we get him over to the Keys? Where is the closest hospital?”
Though his breathing was labored, Alfred said, “My heart is strong and will endure this, too, Jordalyn.” He took another breath. “I don’t need a doctor, I need to speak with my grandson.”
Cai turned to him. “You need the doctor, just to make sure.” He checked his pulse, which, though a bit rapid, was strong and regular. “Then I promise we’ll talk as long as you want.” He looked up. “Run and have Dilys call.”
Alfred didn’t object this time. He leaned his weight forward on his cane, and seemed to stabilize with the help of Cai’s arm around his shoulders.
“You should have told me,” Alfred stated.
“I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve been excited about having Jordy here and I wanted you to concentrate on that.”
Alfred pierced Cai with an electrified look. “The symbol. Do you know what it means?”
“No. No, I don’t. I have some queries out now, but I haven’t received any responses yet.”
“They will not be of help to you.”
His grandfather’s arrogance was usually well earned, but, out of habit, Cai said, “You don’t even know who I asked.”
“It matters not, Malacai. I knew when I read that note on your computer that the time had come. I foolishly thought I had you protected. That she’d be unable to do anything if you ignored her. I should have known that she’d not abandon the campaign once she’d begun it.”
Cai didn’t know what to say. “I never answered her,” he got out.
Alfred wasn’t listening. “One thousand years spent as the stronger one, the worthier one, and in one quarter century I’ve allowed my pride and ego to overcome me. I’ve risked everything.” He leaned closer. “She’s taken someone, hasn’t she?”
Cai couldn’t lie to him, but he didn’t have to tell him there was more than one victim. “Yes, she has.”
Alfred had gone off on delusional rants more times than Cai could recall. But he’d never sounded like this. Fear was like a fist in his throat. “I think we should get you into the house. Let Dr. Fashel look you over and make sure nothing is seriously wrong. Then we can talk.”
“Ah, but there is no time to waste. Had you told me, I could have done something.” He seemed to wilt within himself and Cai’s alarm grew. “Or perhaps not. My magic is not what it once was.”
Cai swallowed hard and silently willed his grandfather not to drift further off into one of his fantasies.
“Let’s get up to the house, okay?” He started to rise, helping Alfred to his feet, but his grandfather clutched at his sleeve and with surprising strength, pulled him to the bench again.
“She has made her mark now,” he said. “She won’t stop until she has the Dark Pearl. And, I fear, she wants you as well.” Then he collapsed into Cai’s arms.
TWENTY-ONE
Jordy paced outside Alfred’s bedroom door. Dilys had come and gone several times since the doctor’s arrival several hours earlier, but she’d said nothing. Her demeanor had been even more formidable than usual, making Jordy feel every bit the outsider she was. Still, she wouldn’t leave until she heard the doctor’s prognosis.
She couldn’t erase the image of Cai carrying Alfred into the house. He’d looked impossibly frail and thin against Cai’s broad chest.
She turned abruptly at the s
ound of the door opening. Cai was shaking the doctor’s hand as they left the room.
“It wasn’t a heart attack, Cai, but I still wish we could get him to consent to come in for some testing.”
“I can try, but other than drag him bodily, I don’t think I’ll have much success.”
“I understand. The most important thing is to not upset him, and I don’t want him doing anything strenuous for a day or two. If he’s doing okay, then moderate activity after that. But make sure someone is right there with him, at least for the first week or so.”
“I will. Thank you, Frank, for coming out here so quickly.”
“I’ll come back out at the end of the week. Keep him calm, Cai, and call me immediately if he has any trouble.”
Cai nodded and looked at Jordy. “I’ll be back after I take Dr. Fashel to the dock. Alfred’s asleep, so why don’t we meet in the living room.”
The doctor held out his hand to her. He was older, short, trim, with only wisps of hair on his head. He had a warm smile and serious eyes. “I’m Frank,” he said with a quiet smile that matched his demeanor. “You must be Jordalyn.”
“Yes, I am. I’m just … I was worried about Alfred.”
“He asked after you.”
Cai nodded in agreement. “He wanted to make sure you weren’t upset. I told him you’d come in after he’d had some rest.”
She had been in the room initially, but while Alfred’s room wasn’t small, it was cluttered with furniture and stacks of books and folders and such. Once Dr. Fashel had arrived, she’d thought it best to give them as much room as possible. And she hadn’t wanted to intrude.
“Is he okay?” she asked.
“I think he’ll be fine, once he gets some rest. But it might not hurt if you go in and sit with him a bit. Just don’t disturb him.”
“I won’t. Do you mind?” she asked Cai.
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