Sinful Solace

by Garnell Wallace

  “What if she’s meant to be collateral damage?” he asked softly.

  “Then, you’ll have to find a way to live with yourself.” Lauren laughed. “We’re here arguing, and she may not even agree to do this. I don’t see why she would. I think we should’ve gone with a woman who wants to see Graham Major dead just as much as we do.

  Lauren’s warning lingered at the back of Kane’s mind as he drove home. Her fears were valid and shared, though he couldn’t let them stop him. He had a job to do, one of the most important jobs he’d ever have, and the world would be a better place after he’d done his job.

  He hadn’t been home in ten years, and he was ready to leave after about ten hours. He’d always found the island too small, though his wife, Marie, had labeled it as quaint, and she’d found Morley Manor charming instead of old-fashioned. They’d used it as a vacation home, and Marie had taken great pride in the antiques she’d hoped to pass down to their children. There were no children, and Marie was gone. An auction house in New York had been after the contents of the house for years, though he hadn’t been interested in coming back until now.

  He pressed the transponder as he approached the large black gates of Morley Manor, and the slid open smoothly. He drove up the long drive to the three-story colonial-style house. He drove up to the side and pressed another button to open the garage. He entered the house through the kitchen door.

  He found Fiona in the kitchen, filling a pitcher with water for fresh flowers she’d cut from the garden.

  She turned and smiled at him. “Everything’s ready, Mr. Morley.”

  Kane smiled at her. “Thank you, Fiona.”

  She placed yellow roses in the vase and placed it in the center of the counter. “It’s nice to have life in this old house again. I’ve been here for thirty years, and this house needs more happiness.”

  Kane nodded. He hadn’t told her yet that he planned to sell the house. She and her husband Gustav had come with the house, and they’d been with Mr. Blackwell for twenty years. Though he hadn’t spent a lot of time on the island, they had been dedicated to taking care of the house, and Marie had loved them.

  He’d bought them a charming little cottage on the beach in Maui, which is where they’d always talked about living. The pension he’d given them was more than enough to take care of them for the rest of their lives. They’d been there for him after he’d lost his wife. Along with Lauren, they were his family. He just had to find a way to break the news to them. Fiona was still hoping he’d find love again, and she’d get to take care of some babies before she retired. She and Gustav had never been blessed with children. It just wasn’t going to happen. So she might as well go lie on a beach in Maui.

  After Fiona and Gustav left, Kane wandered around the first floor, which included three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a kitchen, living, and dining rooms along with an office, library, and sunroom. There was plenty of space for him and Jessica. He would offer her one of his guesthouses out back though he hoped she would quickly move into his bed. He knew she was attracted to him. He’d felt her sexual energy, and it was intense and complex and had filled him with more desires than he’d felt in years. Sex between them wouldn’t be an issue. He supposed he had to make an effort to be charming to her, and that would mean opening himself up to her, something he wasn’t very good at doing. It was necessary for him to keep his walls up. However, for a shy little flower like Jessica to not only sleep with him, but to trust him with her life, he’d have to become the man she’d always wanted. That may be the hardest part of all.

  ****

  Jessica was getting ready for work the following morning when her cell-phone rang. She put her brush down and picked up her phone. Her vibrant red hair settled around her face and shoulders. She flipped one side away and placed the phone to her ear. “Hello.”

  “Miss Munroe. This is Lauren Daniels. Mr. Morley would like for you to come to Morley Manor for another interview. Can you be there at nine?”

  “Uh, yes, I can.” The phone went dead, and Jessica quickly put her hair in a bun. She wore the same black skirt she’d worn to the interview and paired it with a simple blue shirt. She had to wear the little black flats she wore every day. She applied lip gloss, picked up her bag and phone, and headed downstairs. She poked her head into her sister’s room. Liza stood in front of her mirror, scrutinizing her appearance. Jessica wondered why when she practically wore the same thing every day; white button-down shirt and black or blue skirt with the black heels she’d stolen yesterday or nude ones.

  “You can handle the office today, right sis?”

  Liza turned from the mirror and narrowed her gray eyes. “Why?”

  Liza had once been a beautiful woman, Jessica thought. Now her eyes were dull, and her skin and hair had aged prematurely, and she dressed like she was seventy-five instead of forty-five. She’d basically had an arranged marriage at nineteen, and a lifetime with a man she didn’t love had taken its toll on her. Jessica admired her for finally finding the courage to leave her cheating husband, but she’d wasted so many years being unhappy. Jessica didn’t think she knew how to be happy anymore. She didn’t want to be like Liza. She decided at that moment that even if there were other candidates moving on to the second round of interviews and she didn’t get this job, then she would get another one. She was finally going to take control over her own life.

  “Nothing. I just have something I need to do.”

  “Megan has agreed to help me out for a few hours every week, so if you have something to do, that’s fine.”

  Jessica smiled. “Great! Tell her she can have my job since I’m getting a new one. Bye. Love you.” She ran out the door and to her car before Liza could ask too many questions. She knew it was a chicken way to tell her family that she’d quit, but she couldn’t muster the courage to sit them down and tell them. Liza would tell their parents, and they’d yell and scold, and she would do what she wanted.

  Jessica was excited to see Morley Manor. She’d passed the house a few times over the years, though other than a mild curiosity, she hadn’t paid it much attention. She’d done some research last night and learned that Kane was a very rich man with vineyards all over France, Italy, and Spain and two premium liquor brands produced in Latin America. Her father would say that it was all of the devil. She drove up to large black gates and pulled up beside an intercom system. She pressed a red button and spoke into the speaker.

  “It’s Jessica Munroe.”

  A second later, the black gates glided open, and she drove through. She was surprised that there were no cars parked in the wide driveway. She stepped out of her little car and walked up wide steps to the front door, which opened before she could ring the bell. She took a step back when Kane filled the doorway.

  “Good morning, Miss Munroe. I’m so glad you could make it. Please come in.”

  He stepped back so she could enter, and when she did, Jessica made sure she moved as far to the other side as the wide door allowed. Still, she felt him. It was almost as if they had touched. She felt the heat from his body, and hers responded to it. It wasn’t just the heat which sent trails of sweat down her chest and back. Kane’s house was blessedly cool. She walked into a large living room furnished with antiques, and for a second, she forgot about Kane though she felt his eyes on her as she inspected the room.

  She stopped in front of a large piece, which looked like an apothecary table. This one was black and bigger than any she’d seen before. She rubbed her hand over it and then looked back at Kane in surprise. “It’s metal. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

  Kane walked over to her. “My grandmother said it once belonged to a French royal family.” He opened a drawer in the middle and took out a silver dollar and handed it to her. “She used to hide treasures in these little drawers and give me three chances to find them.”

  She smiled and turned the coin over in her hand. “Did you get many of them?”

  “I got all of them.”

  Sh
e eyed him skeptically. “You’re physic or something?”

  His mouth tilted. “Something like that. Let’s go into my office and discuss your contract.”

  Jessica suddenly remembered why she was there. She looked around. “I have the job?”

  “You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  He turned and walked out of the room, and Jessica followed him into a spacious office with a large desk and two walls of books. He indicated the chair in front of the desk, and Jessica sank into it. Kane moved behind the desk, sat down, and opened a large brown folder. He took out the contract and slid it across the table to her. Jessica picked it up and started reading. She glanced up at Kane a few times but didn’t let her disbelief show. In addition to a very generous salary, which was more than what she’d make in a year working for her father, Kane was also offering his guesthouse for as long as she worked for him.

  “Why do I have to stay here?”

  “Because I require someone who can work long hours, often late at night or very early in the morning. It’s just more convenient for both of us. I’ll show you the guesthouse before you sign the contract.” He opened a drawer, took out some keys, and stood up.”

  Jessica followed him into the kitchen and out a back door. There was a large patio and a square pool separating the main house from the guesthouse. Kane opened the door and ushered her inside. The guesthouse had two bedrooms, a bath, a spacious kitchen, and a little patio. Kane stood silently by the back door and watched her.

  Jessica couldn’t believe all that he was offering her. She could immediately move out from her family and still have time to save for a place of her own. With what Kane was offering, she would have enough money to move and start a new life somewhere else. She was so happy she wanted to cry, though she had to keep her emotions in check. “I’m ready to sign that contract now.”

  When Jessica got back home, her parents and her sister were waiting for her in the downstairs living room. Her father jumped up as soon as she entered. He was an imposing man who often used his size to intimidate people. He glared at her.

  “Liza tells me you’ve quit your job.”

  Jessica nodded. “I need a change, father. I’m going to be working for Kane Morley.” She watched the color seep out of her family’s faces.

  “Kane Morley. No daughter of mine will ever work for that murderer.”

  “Father, you of all people should know better than to judge a man.”

  Redness flared in Jesse’s face. “You left a good job for something that will only last a month?”

  Jessica nodded. “The pay is good, and the work is interesting. I’m cataloging his antiques in preparation for auction.”

  “What will you do when you’re done with that?” her mother asked.

  Jessica sighed. “I’m going to leave Crimson Island, mother. I don’t know where I’m going yet, but I need to find what makes me happy.”

  Her father took a step back as if he was completely affronted by her desire to seek her own happiness. “You want to find what makes you happy? Doing the will of God should make you happy.”

  “You mean doing your will,” Jessica corrected.

  Jesse squared his shoulders. “As long as you live in my house young lady-”

  “Oh yeah, another thing; I’m moving out. I’ll be staying in Kane’s guesthouse.”

  Her mother’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, Jessa, you can’t stay there. Kane Morley is single, right?”

  Jessica shrugged. “I don’t care what he is. I’m going there to do a job, nothing more.”

  Her father wagged a finger at her. “You’ll bring disgrace to this family.”

  “Like I’ve done?”

  They all turned towards Liza, who looked like she was near tears. “I’m sorry, Jessa. Go, and don’t make the same mistakes I did.”

  Jessica rushed over and hugged her. “You can still have a good life,” she whispered. She hugged and kissed her mother and then rushed upstairs to pack up her old life.

  By nightfall, Jessica had settled into her new home. Fiona and Gustav were very helpful though she didn’t see Kane. After the couple left, she called Bronte, who was really the only friend she had in town. Bronte couldn’t believe it when Jessica told her that she’d moved out from her family and gotten a new job.

  “I’m so proud of you. I know how hard it is to separate yourself from your family.”

  “I would invite you over, but I can’t have visitors. It’s in my contract.”

  “Why did you sign something like that?”

  “Because I’ll be making crazy money which I need right now. I want to leave when this job is done.”

  “Maybe we can go somewhere together,” Bronte suggested.

  “I thought you liked it here.”

  “I like it very much. But I may not be able to stay.”

  Jessica waited for Bronte to elaborate, but instead, she changed the subject. “So what is Kane Morley like?”

  Thinking about Kane erased all other thoughts. “He’s mysterious and gorgeous and apparently very rich.”

  “And hot as hell. I can hear how much you want him in your voice.”

  Jessica gasped. “No, you can’t!”

  There was a knock on the front door.

  “I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow after my first day on the job.” Thinking it was Fiona or Gustav, she walked to the door and opened it. Kane stood on her doorstep looking handsome as hell in a white shirt and black pants. He looked like he’d just stepped out of the shower. His hair was still slightly damp and curled around his handsome face. Jessica wanted to run her fingers through it until she remembered how sweaty she was. She’d been working all day and imagined she looked a hot mess.

  “Good evening, Jessica. I trust that you are settled in?”

  Jessica smiled and nodded. “Yes, thank you. Fiona and Gustav have been wonderful, and I really like the place.”

  Kane looked pleased. “Fiona has made us dinner.” He sighed. “She always cooks enough to feed a family of six. I hope you haven’t eaten yet.”

  “No, Fiona has the house stocked to the ceiling, but I’ve been too busy to think about food.” She suddenly realized how hungry she was. “I’d love to join you for dinner. I just need to hop in the shower first.” His eyes darkened, and Jessica felt a little lightheaded. She got a distinct impression that he was envisioning her naked.

  He stepped back. “Take all the time you need. Just come over when you’re done. I’ll keep the food warm.”

  Jessica watched him walk back to his house, and then she ran to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. It was difficult for her not to think about Kane in the shower as she lathered her body. He was such a sexy man. She’d seen that flare of desire in his eyes, and she got a little wet every time she remembered how he’d asked if she was a virgin. It was shocking that he’d want someone like her. She would’ve thought that a woman like Lauren would’ve been more to his liking. Yet he wanted her, and she wanted him, and she would give herself to him because she didn’t know what the hell she was saving it for anyway. She would probably never get married, and she had no intention of joining a convent. She stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around her overheated body and padded into the bedroom. With a sinking heart, Jessica surveyed the contents of her wardrobe. She didn’t have anything sexy or enticing, and she wanted to feel like both for the first time in her life. Then she had a flash of inspiration. She pulled out her favorite long green skirt and stepped into it. She pulled it all the way up over her chest. Now it came to mid-thigh. She had to wear flats, and she didn’t own any jewelry. However, the dress was sexy, and she wasn’t wearing a bra because nice Christian girls didn’t do strapless. Her breasts were heavy; however, they stood straight up and were clearly outlined. Jessica twisted her thick curls into a messy topknot and applied lip balm, which was her only make-up. She examined herself in the full-length mirror across from the bed. Yeah, she’d say she was fuckable. She headed over to Kane’s hous
e for what she hoped would be a very enjoyable dinner.

  Jessica lifted the lion head brass knocker. She only had to wait a few seconds before Kane opened the door. His eyes darkened as they slid down her body, and Jessica felt a delicious tingle down her spine. Kane took a step back. “Come in, Miss Munroe.”

  Jessica stepped into the fragrant warmth of the house. “Please, you must call me Jessica.”

  Kane nodded. “Jessica.” He indicated the way to the dining room.

  I wish he’d smiled more often, Jessica thought as she walked beside him. He has such a beautiful mouth. Their steps echoed across colorful titles, which were the height of fashion in the nineteen-forties and had faded into vintage chic over the decades. The vast dining room had black wallpaper with small green and white birds to match the green and white geometric tiles. A large black table dominated the space, and high-backed black chairs with green seat cushions completed the look. A large black chandelier hung over the center of the table, which was set for two at one corner. The food was laid out in the middle of the table in chafing dishes, and there seemed to be enough for at least five people.

  “You can help yourself to whatever you’d like,” Kane told her.

  Jessica walked over to the table and lifted the first lid to reveal grilled salmon and shrimp. The second dish contained steak and potatoes. “Wow, this is fancy.” There was also a pasta dish, roasted vegetables, and mashed potatoes with bacon. Her mouth watered, and Jessica realized that she hadn’t eaten much at all that day. She fixed a plate for Kane first and then heaped a plate for herself. She was too famished to pretend like she didn’t want to be a complete pig. Kane poured white wine into long stemmed glasses and then took his seat.

  Jessica took a sip of wine to help calm her nerves.

  “How do you like the wine? It’s from my vineyard in the South of France.”

  She took another sip. “It’s delicious. I taste apples and maybe cinnamon?”