She squinted up at him. He sighed deeply. She was angry and she was suspicious. Hell, he couldn’t blame her. He was trying to be gentle and accommodating, but he wasn’t sure he remembered how. He squatted in front of her and barely restrained himself from taking her hand. Considering he already wanted her like a drunk wants whiskey he hoped he was able to maintain his objectivity. He needed to remember that Rapier was his focus; it was only coincidence that he needed to protect this woman in the process.
“I’m trying to protect you, Kat. I don’t hold women hostage.”
****
Kat concentrated intently, looking into his eyes and assessing the reassurances he offered. She wished she could read him, but his shields were firmly in place and she had to rely on what little her empathy was able to pick up. Though she still sensed a certain darkness around him, she felt no sense of evil or deceit. Whatever she’d landed in the middle of, it wasn’t good and he sincerely believed she needed protection. His hair was still damp and loose around his shoulders and she fought a sudden urge to reach out and stroke it back from his face as he waited quietly for her reaction.
“I don’t see why I can’t just go home with a bodyguard or something, but strangely enough I believe you mean it when you say you’re trying to keep me safe.”
“Not trying, Kat. I will keep you safe.”
She thought of the weekend ahead. Did she really have so much to look forward to? She’d spent a lifetime isolating herself because of her abilities. With Kassian McAllister, at least she didn’t have to pretend. He was the first true psychic she had encountered since her mother died and even her limited experience told her that he was incredibly powerful in a way her mother had never been. Maybe, just maybe, she could learn a few things.
“Just so we’re clear, I am not happy about this, but I guess you aren’t some crazy axe murderer. I’m going to call Elle, though, so someone knows where I am and what’s going on.”
“That’s fine. I’m not particularly happy about it either. But it is what it is. We’ll discuss your call to Elle later.”
“Discuss my call?” her eyes narrowed. “Why would we need to discuss my call?”
“I really am trying here, Katrina but I’m much better at giving orders than at explaining myself,” he replied in an exasperated tone. “Think about it. Do you want to put her in danger, too?”
“Oh…well, no, of course not.” Her eyes widened thoughtfully. It wasn’t as though she had so many friends that she could afford to lose one.
Kat took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, I guess I could give you the benefit of the doubt for the weekend, but I have something to ask in return. You already know I have certain…abilities. I have a pretty good handle on the telepathy most of the time, but my empathy is really difficult to block effectively for any length of time. I couldn’t help noticing that I can’t read you at all; you’re like white noise when I try. Obviously you’re really good at holding your shields. Maybe you could help me learn to improve mine?”
“Maybe,” he replied in a wary voice.
“Well, I guess what I’m asking is, would you? I mean, if I’m going to be stuck here for a few days anyway?”
“Well, I’m not an empath, so I’m not sure how much I can help, but sure, why not? You deserve better than to be forced into self-imposed solitude to survive, and maybe there are some exercises and techniques that could work. I’ll ask around.”
“Really?” The possibility made her head spin and she couldn’t suppress a wide smile. McAllister obviously functioned perfectly well in public and all kinds of social situations, almost like it was second nature. She could control her gifts for short periods, but it always cost her. He’d answered so casually; she wondered if he realized he’d given her the first glimmer of hope she’d ever had for living something approaching a normal life. Almost anything was worth that.
“I mean, think about it. If you’d been able to block your empathy effectively last night, none of this would have happened.”
Kat stiffened. “Oh, so now this is all my fault?”
“Damn, that didn’t come out right. No, of course I didn’t mean any of this was your fault. I only meant that if you’d been able to block effectively, you could have been spared everything you had to go through last night,” he finished in a rush.
“I see.” Though she wasn’t completely convinced that was really what he meant. “I guess that’s true. Okay, then you can have the guest room,” she offered magnanimously. “It hasn’t been used in a few years, so you’ll have to give me some time to freshen it up, but it’s really quite comfortable.”
“The guest room?” His eyes widened.
“Well, yes,” she answered slowly. Surely he didn’t think she was giving up her own room in her own house?
“Woman, I don’t know what you thought, but I won’t be staying in anyone’s guest room. We are staying right here where I can control the situation.”
“The situation?” she returned, the heat rising in her voice. “Is that some cute billionaire euphemism to refer to me?”
“Don’t be childish, Kat,” he replied, clearly annoyed. “I need to be in the city to take care of this. All of my resources are here, and Elle already told me that you don’t live in town. Besides, there’s no telling how many innocent people could get caught in the crossfire if the killer decided to follow us to some family friendly neighborhood in the suburbs. Do you want that on your conscience?”
“No, of course not! It’s just, well I need my own things,” Kat argued. “I can’t keep wearing your clothes and the only shoes I have here are heels. And then there’s my cat.”
“I don’t know,” Kassian smirked. “I kind of like what you’re wearing at the moment, and I’ve always had a weakness for a woman in heels. I really don’t see the problem.”
“Now you’re making fun of me. You think I don’t know I look ridiculous? Couldn’t we at least go to my place and pick up enough of my things for a few days and then come back?”
“Yeah, I guess we can do that,” he replied after a moment’s hesitation.
Kat took a deep breath. She must be crazy. Solitude had kept her sane. She barely knew Kassian McAllister and here she was handing herself into his keeping. But there was something almost approaching peace in the fact that he didn’t give her abilities a second thought, and she couldn’t read him at will. She’d never been able to enjoy such complete silence in her head in the company of another person. Well, whatever was going on would probably be resolved quickly. Kassian McAllister didn’t strike her as a man who waited around to get things done. It was only one weekend. It might be nice to have someone around without having her senses bombarded. In any event, it would be different. And if he could help her tame her empathy…well, that would be the most unexpected gift! And she had to admit, there was something about him that drew her, and it was more than the fact that he was anything but hard on the eyes. He was still in front of her, waiting, his dark eyes intense, but unreadable, his thoughts inaccessible. She smiled and jumped to her feet… knocking him on his ass for the second time that day.
Chapter 4
Once he convinced Kat to stay and agreed to take her for her things, Kassian’s next challenge was to figure out a way to avoid the press. He’d been dealing with them for years and knew that the more tenacious members of the corps would still be camped outside his building hoping for the big money photo. He wasn’t about to put either himself or Kat through that circus. It occurred to him they would be looking for his car, not hers. No one in their right mind would be looking for Kassian McAllister in a beat-up twenty-year-old Ford. It would have been simpler to send his secretary shopping for whatever she needed, but he instinctively knew Kat would be more comfortable with her own things. He was annoyed to find himself wanting to make her happy. He was supposed to protect her, not entertain her. And he wasn’t thrilled about letting her go out in public until he neutralized the threat. In his penthouse, she was safe. The e
ntire place was protected by sigils, ancient angelic symbols woven into a web of impenetrable protection. No one could fade in or out, so there was never any danger of an unannounced attack. He grinned to himself; all Defensori used protection at their home base, all except Luca. Hard-ass was always spoiling for a fight, despite his blasé demeanor. In fact, if they were going to Kat’s place, it might be a good idea to have Luca meet them there, just in case. Hell, he hoped she had a cat sitter, he hated the damn things.
Feeling like an undercover agent, Kassian discovered his assumption that the press wouldn’t be paying much attention to Kat’s car was right on the money. Kat hunkered down in the passenger seat wrapped in one of his fleece-lined sweatshirts with the hood pulled up over her bright hair, casting her face into shadow. Even if the paparazzi managed to get a shot, it would be difficult for anyone to identify her. Kassian wore another fleece with his hair hanging loose around his face and a Yankees cap pulled low on his forehead. They exited the parking garage, cruising right past the small knot of reporters gathered near the lobby entrance drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. No one gave them so much as a passing glance. Kassian could understand why as he fought the urge to drive right to the recycling center and pay them to take her car off of his hands. Assuming the piece of crap would make it that far. The seat was adjusted for someone Kat’s size, and as luck would have it, the mechanism was jammed. His knees hovered practically around his ears and he banged his shin under the dash every time he released the clutch.
“Do you want me to drive?”
“No, and we are so getting you a new car.”
“We are so not. Do you make a habit of thinking you can take over a person’s life? What’s wrong with my car? I know it doesn’t quite measure up to your standards, but it suits me fine. And it’s paid for.”
“It’s a deathtrap. It’s older than you. Do it a favor, Kat, and put it out of its misery.”
“McAllister, I am not buying a new car and you are sure as hell not buying me one. I may have agreed to stay with you for a few days for my own safety, but the bottom line is that I barely know you!”
“Think of it as a favor to me. I’ll sleep better at night knowing you aren’t risking life and limb zipping down the highway in this piece of shit.” Actually, he was pretty sure it couldn’t really zip anywhere. He held his breath and prayed it would do the speed limit once they were on the interstate. “Why do you live all the way out there, anyway? Wouldn’t it make more sense to move into the city?”
“Maybe, but I can do most of my work from home and I like it all the way out there.”
“Why? It would make more sense to sell the house and move into the city. You wouldn’t even need a car. Think how much you’d save on gas. The commute has to be at least an hour each way.”
“I don’t mind the drive.” Kat smiled. “It’s incredibly peaceful. Actually, you might be surprised at the number of people who prefer a more suburban lifestyle and drive in daily from the mountains for work.”
“Then there must be car pools… and buses must run a regular schedule back and forth during the week. Why don’t you take a bus instead of driving this rat trap?”
“Tried that once. An hour in an enclosed vehicle trying to avoid the emotions of thirty frustrated and unhappy people? I felt like I’d already put in a full day by the time we pulled into the terminal.” Kat laughed. “Besides, it’s my mom’s house. You’ll probably think it’s silly, but it’s the one place I can still feel her around me.”
“No, I don’t think it’s silly,” Kassian replied quietly. He suddenly pulled off of the next exit and veered into the parking lot of a combination gas station and convenience store. It was already early afternoon and it occurred to him that she hadn’t eaten anything yet today. Some protector he was turning out to be. He’d keep her safe from Rapier; in the meantime she would starve to death. He jiggled the gearshift into neutral, banged his knee yet again, closed his eyes and prayed for patience, then reached for the keys.
“Don’t turn it… off,” Kat began, but he’d already clicked off the ignition and pocketed the keys. She sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, sometimes it’s a little temperamental.” She muttered, color creeping into her cheeks.
“Brilliant!” he snapped. “So you are telling me we are now stranded here in the middle of nowhere?”
“Actually, we aren’t in the middle of nowhere, we’re on the outskirts of somewhere, and don’t worry… I can get it started; it just might take a little effort. Run along and get your goodies, McAllister, you’re the one who couldn’t wait until we got to the house.”
“C’mon, you aren’t staying out here by yourself.”
“For the love of Pete, do you honestly think someone is hiding over there in the bushes waiting to jump out and grab me as soon as I’m alone? You really are a little paranoid, you know that?
“Out.”
Kassian opened her door and stood back impatiently while Kat took her own sweet time climbing out of the passenger seat. He steered her toward the door with a hand at the small of her back, surveying the area carefully for anything out of the ordinary. Once they were in the store he directed Kat to grab two bottles of water from the cooler while he gathered together some pre-packaged sandwiches and threw a couple of granola bars on the counter.
“Do you want anything else?”
“M&M’s…peanut, please,” she smiled. “Breakfast of champions.”
He glanced at his watch. “Lunch of champions, maybe,” he frowned. “You haven’t eaten anything since last night. You should eat something besides candy.”
“Aw, thanks, Dad,” she snarked, tearing open the bag “but I’m good.”
Kassian paid the cashier, a pimply face boy with braces and a plastic name tag that said Jared. Jared looked Kat up and down with a suggestive grin. The grin faded immediately as Kassian glared at him over her head. Kassian grabbed the bag, and hustled Kat back to the car. He stayed so close that she tripped over him once or twice. When she was safely back in her seat with the door closed, he crammed himself behind the wheel and turned the key. Click. Click. Click. He heaved a heavy sigh of annoyance.
“Told you not to turn it off,” she mumbled through a mouthful of crunchy, chocolate candies. “Hang on…pop the trunk, would you?”
She jerked open the door before he could stop her and ran around to the back of the car. He heard her rummaging around in the trunk, then watched as she tottered on her heels back to the front and lifted the hood. He tried to get out, but the door handle jammed. He settled for rolling the window down, but before it was halfway the crank came off in his hand. He swore eloquently in several languages and fiddled it back in place.
“What in the hell are you doing?”
Her head was under the hood and he heard her jiggling something metallic and murmuring to the engine in a coaxing tone. Did she think she could sweet talk the damn thing into starting?
“Okay, hold in the clutch and try it now.”
To his astonishment, the engine turned right over. She slammed the hood and hopped back into the passenger side, tossing a long screwdriver into the backseat. She smiled sweetly before popping another handful of candy in her mouth.
“We’re good. Let’s go.”
He continued to stare. Wasn’t he supposed to be the one doing the rescuing? Of course, it really wasn’t his fault; he was a knight in shining armor that usually drove a better horse.
“What?” she blinked innocently. “Bad solenoid, okay? I haven’t had a chance to get it fixed. You just have to remember to carry a screwdriver, stick it in there between the positive pole and the relay to complete the circuit, and presto, back on the road. No big deal.”
“No big deal? How long have you been having this problem?” He felt his temper begin to flare. She’d been driving over a hundred miles round trip every time she came into the city. A slideshow of every horrible thing that could have happened to her stranded alone on
some isolated stretch of highway shuffled through his mind. “How long?”
“A while,” she admitted, looking out the window and away from his eyes. “Look, McAllister, I know you think I am this helpless little piece of fluff, but I’ve been taking care of myself for a very long time.”
“You are so getting a new car.”
“This conversation is over.”
“You’re right, it is.”
And Monday morning this hunk of junk would be chopped up for tin cans, paper clips, and bottle caps whether she liked it or not. It seemed kind of pointless to take her under his protection only to have her drive off in a death trap at the first opportunity.
“What’s your favorite color?”
She completely ignored him and continued to stare out the side window where the winter bare trees marched by like silent sentinels. He reached across and waved a bottle of water in her averted face, which she took without speaking, chugging half of it down before replacing the cap and shoving it between the seat and the console.
“I thought women liked gifts,” he said in a puzzled tone. “I’ve never had a problem with anyone accepting one before.” In fact, more often than not they were happy to provide him with a wish list.
“I’ll just bet you haven’t,” she muttered under her breath.
“Did you say something?”
“McAllister, a box of candy is a gift, a bottle of wine is a gift, a car is, well, I don’t know what it is, but it isn’t a gift. The car you drive is probably worth more than my house.”
“It’s a gift if I say it’s a gift. It’s only money, Kat.” Living for hundreds of years provided unlimited opportunities to accumulate wealth. Kassian enjoyed his comforts, but ultimately, money meant nothing more to him than a means to an end.
“Spoken by someone who is truly rolling in it,” she laughed. “Look, Elvis, no car, okay? I can pay my own way in the world. Can we just drop it?”
Undiscovered Angel Page 6