Sweet Seduction Sacrifice

by Nicola Claire

  "You know it's quite rude to leave a guest unattended for any length of time," Katie's amused voice came to us from down the hallway. "Didn't our parents teach us better than that?"

  Dominic spun in a movement that was almost too quick to track, tucking my body behind his protectively as he faced off against his sister. He must have realised how ridiculous that was once he laid eyes on her, she was beaming that genuinely friendly, but now also slightly amused, smile back at him.

  "Katie," he said, his voice still a little sexy-husky. "You always did know how to time an entrance."

  "It's a natural gift, darling. Now, have you convinced our little gazelle not to run?"

  Dominic reached around his back and with an arm around my shoulders pulled me out to face his sister. I was sure my face was beetroot red, not only because she knew damn well what we had been up to - hell, she probably heard my moans - but also because of how I had acted before running. She didn't seem pissed off about it, she just wore that supremely amused look, as though this was all entertaining and quite welcome in fact.

  "Katie, this is Genevieve Cain." Dominic turned to look at me, his voice softening further. "Sweetheart, this is my little sister, Katie Anscombe." His lips tipped up in a sexy, but embarrassed smile. "I should have introduced you as soon as you walked in the room." He was blaming himself for how I acted?

  I pulled my eyes away from his with tremendous effort and placed my best smile on my face, the one I reserve for important moments - or difficult customers.

  "Hi, I owe you an apology," I said stepping forward, my hand outstretched to shake hers. "I acted appallingly, there's no excuse. I'm so sorry I flipped out on you."

  She almost jumped up and down again on her heels, but took my hand in both of hers instead, shaking it enthusiastically.

  "No apology necessary," she said breezily. "I haven't had this much fun at Dom's expense for years. I think the last time was when he got caught skinny-dipping in the Trevi Fountain by the Polizia di Stato when I was six. He never could resist a dare." She flashed a smirk at Dominic and then winked. I didn't see his response, but I felt the heat of his body at my back, just before he placed his hands on my shoulders and tugged me out of her grasp, pulling me back into the circle of his arms.

  "Best you don't get too close, sweetheart, she's a minx when she's like this."

  Katie pouted, but it didn't look convincing in the least.

  I was already in trouble with Dominic, sexiest smile and name, god-like Anscombe. I suddenly realised that I was in even deeper trouble now, because I simply adored his sister. The more you get to know a person, the greater the risk, but when you become attached to their friends and family too, the risk can be cataclysmic.

  "Dominic made something to eat, lets go have a bite," Katie suggested, turning and heading back towards the lounge.

  I felt Dominic's lips against the skin on my neck briefly and then a muttered, "I could think of something better to eat," against my ear. I shivered, a full body shiver, I couldn't help it, he just had that effect on me. I heard his rumbling laughter behind me as he guided me after his sister. His hand in the small of my back, thumb brushing in a half circle as I walked. I was in so much trouble.

  Dominic's culinary expertise had extended to the most delicious looking club sandwiches with a plethora of healthy and not so healthy ingredients, piled high on a plate. They looked fantastic and considering it was the middle of the afternoon, perfect for my appetite right then. I was famished, but despite the gnawing hunger eating away at my belly, I had spotted my handbag on the counter as we entered his industrial sized kitchen.

  Katie started fussing with extra plates and napkins, while Dominic pulled drinks from the fridge and began to pour them into glasses. He didn't ask what we wanted, he simply went straight ahead and chose for us. It made me smile, despite how domineering it could be construed. It was only a drink and I didn't have a preference at all, besides I was mildly curious to see what he'd pick for me.

  I slipped my hand into my handbag and fished out my cellphone, well aware that Kelly would have left a dozen messages by now and would be starting to get frantic with curiosity. Despite everything I had been through, putting Kelly's mind at rest won out over sitting down and stuffing my face and forgetting my troubles whilst listening to Katie babble. She was still babbling now, getting the occasional indulgent smile from Dominic, or semi-surly word in reply.

  I fired up my phone and stared in disbelief at the number of missed calls. Twenty-seven. Twenty-five of which had left messages, as well as the eight text messages waiting to be read. With a resigned sigh, that garnered a flick of a gaze from Dominic, I thumbed through the numbers. Twelve from Kelly, so the dozen attempts I had predicted were bang on. Three from Jane, my weekend Sweet Seduction manager. Two from my brother who lives in Trentham, near Upper Hutt and always calls on the weekend for a chat when not on assignment. And ten from an unknown caller. I stared at the unknown caller ID and felt unease trickle down my spine.

  I had long ago binned Brett's cellphone number and this was a new cell of mine, which he shouldn't have had access to, but in my gut I just knew, that was no longer the case. Delaying the inevitable, I listened to Kelly's messages first. They started out excitedly curious, progressed to excitedly expectant - as I obviously was not at home - then ended up screaming through pissed off expectant, angry expectant, indignant expectant to finally...

  "Gen, hon, call me. I'm worried sick."

  Without further ado I hit the call back button and waited for Kelly to answer.

  "Where the friggin' hell have you been?" she demanded in a voice I knew held both reproach and concern.

  "I'm OK," I answered, getting the most important thing out the way.

  "What's happened?" She snapped to attention. She could always see through my hedging.

  I let a long breath of air out and noticed Dominic was watching me intently, bottle of Ginger Beer to his lips as he leaned back casually against the kitchen counter, no longer even paying attention to his sister's ramblings. For her part, Katie was doing her best to offer me some privacy, in the guise of distracting her brother. It wasn't working.

  "Things have been a little strange," I continued to hedge, unable to face scaring my best friend.

  "Strange, butterflies-in-tummy-strange or strange, I'm-packing-my-bags-and-going-to-Timbuktu-strange?"

  Ah, hell, there was no avoiding it, we'd just walk around in circles. "Brett had me kidnapped last night from the loft." I heard a choked sound on the other end of the line, but because I'd started to share simply couldn't pull on the handbrake now. "He sent these goons called Greeny and Lofty round to my place, Lofty pretended to be a cop and when I let the chain off the door," - it should be noted here that Dominic had his arms crossed over his chest by now, Ginger Beer forgotten on the bench. Even Katie had stopped rambling and was pretending to flatten a napkin into the bench's surface, all the while listening as though her life depended on it. It still didn't stop me spilling the beans though - of course not! "and when he pushed the door over, he fell, and the door smashed into my nose and broke it. That hurt like fuck by the way. And then I was out for a while. Eventually I woke up in a sleazy motel room and Brett was there. Anyway," I added, thinking it was best to just wind this up, why I hadn't thought that at the beginning is anyone's guess, "the hotties of the hot-rush bunch came to my rescue and all's good. I'm having a late lunch at Dominic's, having just met his sister."

  Silence, both in the room and down the line met my ears.

  "You still there, Kel?"

  "What the fuck?" came screeching down the phone, I pulled the device from my ear and waited for her to get a handle on her temper. It took a bit of time, enough for me to flick a glance over Dominic and Katie. Dominic was looking impassively angry, if that's even possible. The type of anger you assume is there, but can't be certain because he's looking really calm. Way calm. Too calm. Katie just looked shocked. I returned my attention to Kelly.

 
"Kelly, get a grip," I commanded, she didn't comply.

  "I knew that arsehole would do something like this!" Wow, I hadn't thought Brett had it in him, but she did? "Can't be all man about it and simply walk away, has to go all Neanderthal and act like an ape. What a piece of shit!"

  "Oh, come on, Kel, he's just delusional, that's all."

  "Delusional?" Her voice had gone soft, it was impressive. Dominic had progressed from impassive angry, to downright angry. Katie was still in shock. "No. No, Gen honey, you are delusional if you think kidnapping an ex-girlfriend is something a delusional man does. It's criminal. It's insane. It's unacceptable, that's what it is. Don't you dare make excuses for that sorry piece of shit. He broke your heart. He stole from you. He blackmailed you. And he. Fucking. Kidnapped. You. Do not tell me he is delusional. Do not tell yourself that either, I beg you."

  I didn't know what to say. I was stunned at her vehemence and I was hurt. Embarrassed too, if I was honest, because I was sure both Katie and Dominic had been able to hear ever word. Cellphones are not private. I should have walked from the room to make the call, but I had never expected my best friend to have a go at me like this. I was in shock, numbed and the tears - God help me - were threatening to spill again. I couldn't move a muscle to make an escape. I couldn't even open my mouth to tell Kelly to shut up. I thought it. I mentally wished it. But I just stood there like a fool waiting for her next tirade.

  "He needs a good ass-kicking, that's what he needs. I hope those hotties are going to catch his sorry arse and put a cap in it." Who talks like this? "I'd like to get my hands on him and wring his pathetic neck." Not a picture I could envisage, Kelly's hands wouldn't even make it around Brett's neck, he might have been an arse, but he was a buffed one. "The sooner he is behind bars the sooner your life can return to normal and I'm telling you now, Genevieve Cain, I will not let you make the same mistakes you've been making ever again." My heart thudded unmercifully inside my chest. She'd never, never, called me out on my mistakes before. She'd always just been there for me. "I've tried to be understanding, hon, but he kidnapped you, broke your nose. Enough is enough. I'm calling your brother."

  That woke me up. "No. No, don't do that. Jase doesn't need to know. He'd go ballistic. You know how he is and besides ASI are handling it, I'm safe at Dominic's, there's nothing for you or Jason to worry about. It would be a futile waste of time to let him know."

  "Genevieve," Kelly said, using my full name as a weapon of mass destruction. "I've been watching this play out for the past eight years, a good portion of that with my heart in my throat and my cuticles bitten all to hell, all because you fell for the wrong guy. Tell me now, that you have woken up to this fact. Tell me and mean it, and I won't bring in the military elite, I'll leave your brother out of it."

  "I've woken up to it, Kelly. Of course I've woken up to it. Why the hell do you think I went to a lawyer?"

  "That was a knee jerk reaction to Brett threatening your store. For Sweet Seduction you would do anything. What I want to know is if you would do anything to save yourself?"

  I was silent. She knew me better than anyone. She knew my dreams, my hopes, my desires. She knew I would sacrifice everything to keep Sweet Seduction safe.

  "Shit," she muttered. "I'm hanging up now and calling Jase."

  "Please don't," I whispered and there must have been something in my voice because suddenly Dominic was there, his warm hand wrapped around the back of my neck, his nose buried in the side of my head, lips resting on my temple. I leaned back into him accepting the support he offered freely, not even thinking about what I was doing.

  "I'm sorry, hon, you know I love you, but this has to stop." The line went dead before I could formulate an argument.

  "Ah, crap," I muttered. My best friend had just betrayed me. I couldn't believe that she was doing this. Things were getting sorted, I had a Trespass Notice out against Brett - granted that seemed to be failing, but it was a step in the right direction - I had a lawyer and a private investigations and security firm working to keep me safe. And I had god-like Dominic Anscombe on my side. Couldn't she see I was doing the right thing? Couldn't she believe in me for a little longer? Just a few more days and it would be settled. How, I had no idea, and even though I knew that everything I had just thought was true, I also knew me.

  And so did Kelly.

  Sweet Seduction was my life, if Brett did force my hand, I knew I couldn't walk away from my dream to save me.

  "Breathe, sweetheart," Dominic whispered in my ear. I took a breath in and then suddenly I was hyperventilating. It happened so fast. One minute holding my breath, the next breathing too quickly. My life was spiralling out of control. I was going to lose everything that mattered to me. I knew it. I just friggin' knew it.

  Katie appeared before me with a paper bag, Dominic swung me back to face him, his eyes holding mine, soft words being murmured to calm me, but I wasn't listening. I was picturing Sweet Seduction being torn apart. The coffee machine repossessed, the furniture being sold off at auction, chocolates in the bin, and the kicker, the signage out the front being replaced with a lingerie company's logo. My customers wandering over the street to a generic opposition, LPs and CDs littering the street at their feet.

  Dominic held the bag against my face, forcing me to re-breathe my air, rubbing my back in a large circular movement, laying his lips against my temple in a soft and caring caress, somehow breaking through the panic and making me slow down.

  "I'm OK," I whispered and we all knew it was a lie.

  "Why are you worried she'll tell your brother, who is he?" Dominic asked, confirming he and Katie had heard both sides of the conversation quite clearly.

  "Captain Jason Cain. He's Army based at Trentham. I think he's some sort of elite special ops, SAS or something, but he doesn't talk about it. He scares the shit out of me. But I love him and he loves me, which is kind of the point. He'd kill Brett if he knew what had happened and he'd lock me up in an ivory tower until it was over."

  "I like him already," Dominic quipped. I just glared at him, but my heart wasn't in it. His fingers came up and brushed my hair off my face. "Lets worry about Captain Cain if Kelly carries out her threat. She doesn't strike me as the kind of girl to corner her best friend."

  I let a small unnatural sound out in a bubble of sarcastic laughter. "She didn't strike me as that either, but Kelly can be very determined once she gets an idea in her mind. Friggin' Rottweiler." He smiled down at me.

  "You should eat something," Katie offered from across the bench, pushing a plate of sandwiches and a glass of Ginger Beer towards me. I offered her a small smile as thanks and forced myself to nibble on the corners of a sandwich, my appetite gone. But it was close to twenty-four hours since I last ate and my headache was back, my nose hurt like buggery and my stomach was beginning to cramp. There was only so much a girl could take.

  I managed two sandwiches and half the glass of Ginger Beer before my phone rang. I had it sitting on the bench beside me, so it only took a glance down to see who was calling. The screen said, Jason Calling, the ring tone was Inner Circle's Bad Boys. Jase always loved that song. I stared at it for so long it went to voice mail. I let a relieved breath of air out and took another sip of my drink.

  It started ringing again immediately. I reached over to switch it off and Dominic wrapped a hand around my wrist to stop me.

  "You should talk to him, he'll be worried. I'd be worried sick if someone had just told me all of this about Katie."

  I looked up at his face and saw he meant it, but all I could do was stare at him with too wide, scared eyes, breathing a little too quickly again. I couldn't do it. I couldn't face my brother's heated concern.

  Dominic reached over me and picked the phone up, flipping it open before it stopped ringing, his eyes holding mine firmly.

  "This is Dominic Anscombe, I believe you're Genevieve's brother?" He waited for Jason to reply and then said, "Broken nose and shaken up, but she's holding it together well." He did n
ot just tell my military trained brother I had a broken nose. "Anscombe Securities and Investigations has taken on her case." Another pause. "No, my brother." Then, "Twenty-four hour surveillance, she's not returning to her loft. They're hot on his trail now." Another longer pause, somehow my brother managing to talk low enough I couldn't hear a word that was being said. Kelly must have been yelling. "My house." Then, "You're welcome, I would do anything for Genevieve." His eyes still held mine, I sucked in a little breath at the conviction I saw there. "I'll try, one moment."

  He removed the phone from his ear, "Sweetheart, he wants to hear your voice. Talk to him." He held the phone out to me, but I just sat there, not wanting a bar of hearing my brother rant and rave at me. "Genevieve," That voice again. "He knows you're in good hands, he's calm. He's a professional." That's what I was afraid of. "It's going to be OK."

  I blew a breath of air out and reached for the phone, Dominic's fingers brushing mine as he handed it over. Heat washed up my arm, a most inappropriate response given the situation, but the man could melt me with a look alone, touching in any way was just damn lethal.

  "Jase," I said softly into the phone, my eyes glued to Dominic for support.

  "I'm coming home tonight, expect me at Anscombe's after dark. This sonofabitch is not going to last another twenty-four hours, I promise you that, Genny."

  "Jase, please," I said, but he'd already gone.

  I closed the phone numbly, biting my bottom lip in contemplation for a moment.

  "You're so wrong," I finally told a slightly stunned Dominic, who'd obviously heard Jason's words - supersonic hearing as well as silent feet. "Nothing's gonna be OK now."

  Captain Jason Cain was not to be trifled with, Brett was so screwed, but I couldn't figure out yet what that meant for me and my dream.