The Malveaux Curse Mysteries Boxset 2

by G A Chase

  He took her outburst in stride. “I’m just telling you what I see. She was miserable when she woke up in life. She didn’t have a purpose, and all we could offer her was a job as shot girl at the club. Would you really give up being a guardian angel to pour drinks down frat boys’ throats?”

  She stared out at the river, hoping the lapping water would calm her emotions. “Do you know how much I hate it when you’re right?”

  “I promise not to tell,” he said. “You’re not wrong about needing to do something about Sanguine, though. I just don’t know what that would be. We promised her six months, but I share your concern that she’ll be too entrenched in that reality to leave. And I don’t just mean because of her feelings for Colin.”

  Kendell pulled her coat around her and sat on the metal bench to watch the water. “You once said you wouldn’t give me up to Colin even if it meant he’d no longer be the devil. Does that hold true for Sanguine as well?”

  He sat so close she could feel his warmth through her thick coat. “What if we turned that idea on its head? If Colin stopped being the devil in order to get Sanguine back, would we let him back into life?”

  Kendell thought she’d have punched anyone else who had come up with that idea, but she trusted Myles enough to explore it. “You mean encourage him to work through the seven gates? Sanguine thought he might try, but she said he’d only do it as a challenge to her.”

  “As you just pointed out, her vision of the future doesn’t always come with explanations. What if he is bettering himself because of her but not because he’s trying to outmaneuver her? Women have a way of healing even the worst men with their love. Isn’t that why you keep giving Colin the benefit of the doubt?”

  She felt a cold shiver cross her arms and back. “My interest in him was never romantic. I saw right through his suave advances. I just thought he hadn’t gotten a fair hearing.” She held tightly to Myles’s hand. “You don’t ever need to worry about me being interested in someone else.”

  He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I know. But I also know women have a need to rescue the man drowning in his mistakes. Take me, for example. When we met, I was lost in self-doubt. You gave me a direction. Colin has built walls of greed and self-importance that are stronger than the hell you and Sanguine have him confined in. To a woman who thinks she’s an angel, that might be a challenge worth taking.”

  “She has a way of covering up her heart with snarky banter. She attacks so she doesn’t have to expose her weaknesses. Once she told me that the more difficult she is with someone, the more she likes them.”

  “Hatred and love are sometimes two sides of the same emotional coin—though a person doesn’t usually express them both at the same time. Dating Sanguine, with her mixture of emotions, must be like being caught in a summer thunderstorm—bright and sunny one moment, zapped by lightning the next.”

  Kendell had hoped Sanguine’s intense dislike of Colin would prevent her from getting too attached, but if Myles was right, she might already be falling in love. “So you’re saying either they’re going to have sex for real, or she’s going to kill him.”

  “Love hurts.”

  40

  Sanguine stood Annie’s naked body in front of the full-length bathroom mirror. The girl was attractive enough but the type who looked better in clothes than out of them. In the tight-fitting party clothes that Sanguine had been forced to endure at the club, Annie looked thinner in places and more curvaceous in others than she actually was. Sanguine’s own body was muscular to the point of being intimidating, but living in the swamp required more athleticism than being a college student.

  She turned to inspect the ample rear end as if judging the lines of an automobile. Definitely a sports car, but meant for the guy who wants the look more than the performance.

  The closet was meticulously organized. Jeans, oversized men’s shirts, and sweat clothes took up the first third. Weekend wear. The college-class selection consisted of low-cut tops and snug-fitting pants. Sanguine could envision the body looking far more enticing with the pencil-leg stretch jeans dictating the curves of legs and butt. The final third of Annie’s collection looked like outfits that belonged to a kid sister—short skirts, brash colors, and tops that didn’t start buttoning until well past the cleavage.

  Have you seriously never been to an upscale restaurant? Sanguine felt momentarily sorry for the girl. It’s no wonder Colin thought you wouldn’t be able to carry on a conversation for more than five minutes. Give yourself more credit, girl. Sanguine doubted Annie would get the message, but being in her body might at least leave some residual self-respect.

  She closed the closet and walked naked into the roommate’s bedroom. Though a fellow party girl, the woman at least had dresses that went below the thighs. Sanguine picked out a knee-length black dress that wouldn’t cut off her ability to breathe.

  She double-checked the overall effect in the mirror. Though it wasn’t the best representation of how Sanguine would have dressed for a formal dinner, it beat the long, flowing goddess dress she’d been confined to with her wings. Okay, Colin, let’s get this game started.

  A town car was waiting for her when she exited the off-campus apartment. Colin stood out front as the attentive suitor. Though Sanguine occupied Annie’s body, some of the girl’s muscle movements came too naturally to resist. She did a seductive spin to show off her body as much as the dress.

  “You’re beautiful. Not that it was ever in any doubt, but that outfit makes you look far more sophisticated than the girl I met at the club.” He opened the back door and offered his hand to help her in.

  I’m not infirm, she thought. But she accepted the masculine gesture. “Glad I can still surprise you.”

  He joined her in the back and let the driver know they were comfortably ready to go. “Have you ever been to Commander’s Palace?”

  The game had begun. “I have not. Dating college boys usually means my dining choices top out at Bulldog Brewery, but I’ve heard wonderful things about the place.”

  He sat back against the black leather seat with a look of smug satisfaction.

  Score one for me. He thinks he’ll be able to sweep me off my feet.

  “I’ve made the reservation for seven o’clock, so we have time for some cocktails before dinner. They have a lovely bar.”

  I’ll bet. I wonder how many of the women you’ve taken there never made it to the main course. “I’m in your hands.”

  The smoldering look of desire in his eyes made her feel like a live chicken dangling on a string above an alligator. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He put his hand on her bare leg.

  Easy, big fella. She covered his hand with hers to prevent any further advances. By squeezing his fingers, she hoped he’d realize who was actually in charge. “We have the night ahead of us. I’ve been looking forward to this dinner for some time.”

  He took his hand off her leg and worked his arm around her shoulders, but the look of desire didn’t leave his eyes. “I like a woman who enjoys the game of seduction. I’m in no hurry.”

  Before she could respond, the town car pulled up to the restaurant entrance. The maître d’ opened her door before the car came to a full stop. “Welcome to Commander’s Palace, my lady.”

  In spite of Sanguine’s distaste for ostentatious displays of the upper class, she had to admit she felt a bit like a Disney princess. “Thank you.” Surely, there’s something more I should say.

  Colin whisked her hand under his arm and escorted her into the restaurant as if he owned the place. She still had questions, and chief among them was whether he knew he was in hell. His actions could have been nothing more than a high-powered businessman accustomed to deferential treatment, or they could have been the arrogance of a devil in his hell. The two positions were hard to differentiate.

  Instead of sitting at the bar—where she’d have the opportunity to engage the bartender or other patrons—he guided her to a dark corner table. A waiter was on them b
efore she’d situated her purse and adjusted her dress. “What would the lady like?”

  She wanted a straight whiskey, but losing her edge wasn’t the best play. “I’d love a Sazerac.” Though the drink was still highly alcoholic, she could nurse it sufficiently to give Colin the impression she was getting tipsy while still staying clearheaded.

  “I’ll have the same.”

  Nicely played. I’ll bet you match me sip for sip. “So what shall we discuss tonight?” Check to the dealer.

  “I’d love to hear about your day. I find I can learn a lot about a woman just from the way she describes the simplest of events.”

  Even she didn’t want to know about how Annie’s day went. A guy who sat attentively while a woman droned on and on was only biding his time until he could start acceptably ripping his date’s clothing off. “I’d rather hear about your day. Before we headed back to your place the other night, you said you were considering a business venture. How did that turn out?”

  He looked like the cat who’d swallowed the canary. “It’s progressing. I had a major breakthrough a couple of nights ago. Things are falling into place.”

  Very good. You haven’t said a damn thing. “I’ll bet your adversaries never see your play coming until it’s too late. Are you looking at another hostile takeover?”

  “I said I was in acquisitions. You were the one who made the leap to ruthless corporate raider.”

  You don’t really think I’m that naïve. “I stand corrected. But you haven’t denied my observation about your competitors.”

  “I didn’t get to this position of power by being predictable.” He stared at her while taking a sip of his drink as if willing her to do the same. She obliged, to keep him from growing suspicious.

  “Do you leave your adversaries anything when you’re done? Or are you more the slash-and-burn type?”

  He shrugged as if their plight wasn’t his concern. “Depends on how they play the game. A worthy opponent isn’t easy to find. It takes a confident businessman to leave another with the resources to rebuild. Taking them down to nothing is the easy play. I only crush those that have no business sitting at the table.”

  She couldn’t help but wonder if he was referring to her. “And does that go for your love interests as well?”

  He sat back as if she’d made an unforeseen move on the chessboard. “I’ll confess there was a time when a woman who crossed my path had to proceed with caution. Women admitting they’re the weaker sex only serves to bring out the aggressor in men. But then, I find confident women already know that. I’ll bet not many of your boyfriends find their way into your bed uninvited.”

  He’s turned this around to be about me. “Usually I’m pretty particular about my sexual partners. The other night with you wasn’t my typical encounter.”

  “Do you regret it?”

  I’m not sure. “Regret is for the vanquished.”

  “Sounds like something I would say.”

  The waiter came by to tell them their table was ready. She was certain the less populated dining room he guided them to was a nod to Colin’s prestige, but she’d have been just as happy eating at the bar. Having Colin treat her like a Southern debutant wasn’t a great way to get to know her date, but if letting him perform in his natural environment put him at ease, he just might let down his guard.

  The waiter held the chair out for her as if she were so uncoordinated she might fall on her ass if she had to sit and scoot the chair on her own. In her mind, she could hear Kendell explaining that this was simply how things were done in fancy establishments. She smiled at the waiter as he left them to consider the menu in peace.

  “So what were your impressions of our night together?” she asked Colin.

  He took a larger drink of his Sazerac than she thought necessary. “You are a fascinating woman—perhaps the most interesting I’ve met in years.” He took a bite of his foie gras. “You know, when I first tried this stuff, I couldn’t stand it. The complexities of the tastes were lost on me. Only after I’d matured could I appreciate the nuances.”

  “Are you really comparing me to fattened duck livers?”

  He smiled at her play. “I suppose I am. There was a time when I would have considered your bluntness a threat. These days I’m more drawn to women who aren’t afraid of expressing themselves. Our night together made me rethink the women I’ve been with lately. I hate to admit it, but those one-night stands were pretty empty. I suppose that makes me a cad in your eyes.”

  “I’m not above a good night of passion for its own sake, but I usually get wined and dined before the event, not after.”

  He put down his fork and stared her in the eyes. “I never considered what we had as a one-time affair.”

  “I was only teasing you.”

  “Then you’re open to a longer-term relationship?”

  She wondered how long she could reasonably stretch out the beginning of their courtship. Getting information on his plans was constantly a matter of gathering clues and listening for what wasn’t being said, and the better she knew him, the more easily she could hear the subtle distinctions. “I’m here with you now, and it would be rude to let you take me out to dinner then only reward you with a kiss good night. But I’m not willing to make any commitments beyond tomorrow morning.”

  A less creative man might have asked for the check, but Colin accepted the waiter’s offered dessert menu. “You should try their espresso. It’ll keep you up half the night.”

  * * *

  As was her custom, Sanguine got out of bed as the sun crept over the horizon. Annie’s body might not be the most athletic, but so long as Sanguine refrained from directing the activities with Colin, she had sufficient stamina. To keep him from making any further advances, she wrapped a luxurious bathrobe around her body and moved into the living room to enjoy the sunrise.

  She stopped in a cold panic at the coffee table. Her hands shook as she picked up the pastel drawing of Serephine and Antoine Malveaux.

  Colin’s touch made her freeze. Based on his naked arms, which crept around her waist like boa constrictors, she assumed he hadn’t bothered to cover up.

  She waved the drawing over her shoulder in front of his face. “What’s this?” Though she tried not to sound cross, the alarm that gripped her heart made her voice quiver.

  “Those are my kids, or they were. Their mother drew that a long time ago. A friend recently found it in a trunk of my old belongings. It was from a different life.”

  No shit. Kendell’s going to freak out. “Do you ever see them?”

  “It’s been a long time.”

  Fuck. He must be figuring out the seven gates by now. But how can I be sure? I need to get out of here and consult with Kendell. “It must be hard being alienated from those you love.”

  He turned her toward him and untied the sash of the bathrobe. “People come and go in life. I’ve learned to be content with those that are close at hand.”

  She took hold of his arms and pushed him away from her body. “It’s Monday morning. I’ve got class.” She left it to him to figure out if she was talking about her education or personal refinement.

  He let her go but stood facing her so she’d get a good look at his naked manhood. “Feel free to bring some clothes next time. If you don’t have to run home to change each morning we’re together, maybe one day I’ll get to have breakfast with you.”

  And by breakfast, you mean sex. “I’ll keep it in mind.” Annie’s preference for sparse undergarments worked in Sanguine’s favor. She was dressed and out the door before Colin had prepared enough coffee to once again entice her to stay.

  She ran far enough into the Quarter to be out of sight of Colin’s loft. She couldn’t talk to Kendell over the gate to hell without flying in from the bayou, and part of the deal with borrowing a body was returning it to where it belonged. Colin undoubtedly would have offered his town car, but that would have meant fending him off throughout the ride.

  She hopped int
o the first available pedicab. “I need to get to Tulane as fast as possible. There’s a ten-dollar tip in it if you can make it in under fifteen minutes.”

  * * *

  Sanguine knew her body and dress were looking a little rumpled from lack of use. She needed a good flight to clear the mental cobwebs and fluff up her feathers, but there wasn’t time. Plus, she wanted to see the future, not travel into it. Her two gators continued to stand watch under the oak tree along Bayou Saint John.

  Left looked up at her as if expecting some kind of treat.

  “I need to figure out what Colin is up to, but I can’t see his future unless I’m observing him with these eyes. Even then, it’s like watching a billiard ball bouncing off the sides of a pool table with me being the cue ball that initiates the action. If I deal with him just right, I might make him land in the pocket, but do it wrong, and he’ll mess up all the other balls on the table. And I can’t see beyond the first ricochet off the side bumper without following him into his future.”

  Left snapped at her and went back to watching the water.

  “There is that. If I put too much force into the shot, he’ll just go bouncing right off the table. I can’t be responsible for making him try to break back into life.”

  No matter how she looked at the problem, the only way to see into his future was to expose herself as hell’s angel. She looked down at her reptilian guardians, wishing she were as worry free as they were. “Stay here. I’ve got to go check in with Kendell. I only wish I knew if Colin going through the third gate was a good thing or a bad thing. I suppose since he’s not trying to pursue Kendell by breaking down the walls of hell, I’ll have to take any action of his as progress.”