It was just the smoke from the man's cigar.
Simone forced a smile to her face and listened half-heartedly to the raucous chatter. Was that really what it was? Cigar smoke?
Simone was quite sure it was something else. But what else could it be?
Frowning, she excused herself from the group and stepped away. She wanted to get herself a drink and try to clear her head.
She spied Dr. Emerson standing by himself in a corner. Simone went up to him and smiled. “Hello, Dr. Emerson.”
The doctor stared at her and smiled reluctantly.
The smile he gave her was quick and devoid of warmth. Simone regarded him with surprise and concern. Was the doctor not feeling well? “Are you...all right, Dr. Emerson? Can I get you a drink? Or would you like to take a seat? There's an empty table over there...”
“No.”
Simone frowned at his clipped, brusque tone. Dr. Emerson wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were roaming all over the room, searching, scrutinizing, calculating…
Simone edged away, feeling uneasy. She found Mrs Goode and a couple of her old neighbors. “Come,” she urged them. “Come with me, quickly.”
“What is it, dear?” the ladies asked, concerned.
“It's Dr. Emerson. He seems unwell. He...” Simone stopped in her tracks. “He was just here, not a minute ago. In this very corner.”
The women looked at her, and at one another. The corner was empty.
“Are you sure you saw Dr. Emerson?” Mrs Goode said. “I don't recall seeing the doctor the whole evening.”
“I...” Simone's words trailed off. That person looked like Dr. Emerson, but it wasn't the Dr. Emerson she knew.
“I'm not sure,” Simone finally answered with a gulp. “I may have made a mistake.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The party lasted well into the night. The townsfolk carried on partying even after the bride and groom left for the airport. Teresa and William had a flight to catch as they were leaving for their honeymoon right away.
It was close to one o'clock in the morning when the guests finally began to leave. Everyone was in high spirits, singing at the top of their lungs as they swayed and staggered their way out of the castle.
Simone walked with Mrs Goode and her daughters down the steps. Her five daughters were all well-mannered, lovely young ladies. The eldest, Gemma was married so she was spared her mother's persistent, tireless matchmaking efforts.
Her younger sisters weren't so fortunate.
Mrs Goode had been trying to get Breene to dance with one of her daughters the whole evening, but Breene only danced with two women the entire night. Simone, and Teresa. He had danced briefly with the blushing bride before handing her back to her groom, and hurriedly returned to Simone's side.
“You seem to know Mr Magnus very well,” Mrs Goode said as she trudged down the steps with Simone.
“Actually I've only just met him,” Simone replied.
“But he seems rather taken with you. He only had eyes for you. Mr Magnus hardly looked at anyone else the whole night,” Mrs Goode grumbled, glaring at her daughters who had run off to join their friends. She was evidently unhappy at her daughters' lack of motivation to snare the eligible and highly desirable Breene Magnus. The four girls had quietly laughed at their mother's attempts to foist them upon their poor hapless host and paid no heed to her.
“I guess he's just being a good host,” Simone said tactfully. “You know, being helpful and hospitable to someone from out of town.”
Mrs Goode sniffed. “He didn't show the slightest interest in any of my daughters.”
Simone quickly hid her smile. She shouldn't be feeling so pleased and flattered, but her heart seemed to swell whenever Breene looked her way.
Breene had been the perfect host, chatting affably with all the guests and making them feel welcome in his castle. But he never wandered away from her for long. And even when he was with a group of guests apart from her, he glanced often in her direction.
There was heat and humor in his eyes. His whole face lit up with joy whenever he looked at her. It made her feel so special, so loved and desired.
Breene desired her. Of that she had no doubt. But he looked at her with more than just lust in his eyes. There was the purest happiness and pride in his eyes when he gazed at her. It was as if she were his most precious treasure, and he wanted nothing more than to keep her with him and cherish her forever.
“Simone!”
She turned at the urgency in Breene's voice. He was hurrying towards her, his eyes slightly wild and panicked. “You're leaving?”
“Yes.” She glanced at all the departing guests, and raised a hand to wave at a busload of drunken bridesmaids. The chartered buses were rolling out of the castle gates, ferrying their noisy, singing passengers back to town. Families filed into their cars and station wagons and tooted their horns as they drove off.
“I...I would like you to stay,” Breene said earnestly. “Please.”
Mrs Goode sighed in resignation and defeat. She saw that much as she desired Breene Magnus for one of her daughters, fate had other plans. It just wasn't meant to be.
Mrs Goode patted Simone's arm and whispered, “Stay. You'll be safe here. Breene is a good man.”
Smiling, Mrs Goode kissed Breene on the cheek and said, “Good night, Breene. You gave Teresa a fairytale wedding, and we all had a lovely time.” She hiccuped and added, “We love you.”
Breene kissed her hand gallantly and smiled. He curled his arm around Simone's waist as if to make sure that she wouldn't be leaving with Mrs Goode.
Standing in front of the castle, they watched Mrs Goode round up her daughters and crowd into a waiting bus. The caterers were packing the last few trays into the vans, and the staff had almost finished cleaning up the ballroom. Everyone was preparing to leave, and the place suddenly felt very quiet after the rowdy, rollicking party.
Simone saw that her little car was the only vehicle left after the last van rattled out of the tall, iron wrought gates. She licked her lips nervously and gulped.
Maybe she should just drive back to town together with all the other guests...
Once the gates clanged shut, Breene took her hand and said eagerly, “Come. There is someone I would like you to meet.”
“Someone?” Her brows shot up. “But everyone has left. There's no one around...”
She stopped suddenly. Of course.
“Lester.”
Breene grinned as he marched up the steps and down the long corridor. “Lester!” Breene hollered. “Come on out and say hi to Simone!”
When there was no response, Breene planted both hands on his hips and bellowed, “Don't forget who gave you a ride back to town this morning! If Simone hadn't driven you back, I would have left you right there at the side of the road! Now I don't remember you thanking her. Where are your manners, Lester?”
Simone thought she heard a noise coming from the stairs. She stared at the spiral staircase at the end of the corridor and heard a grunt and a low gravelly voice grumbling in what sounded like a foreign language.
“What is that I hear?” Breene yelled. “What did you just say, Lester?”
Simone heard the rapid clicking of claws and turned to see the gargoyle scuttling down the staircase.
“I said I'm coming, Master,” Lester said sulkily.
Breene snorted and Simone smothered a chortle.
She might not understand the gargoyle's strange, ancient-sounding tongue, but she was pretty sure that Lester had said a lot more than that. Those swear words sounded really wicked.
Breene pretended to glower at Lester, but Simone saw that there was kindness and understanding in his expressive gray eyes.
Simone suddenly realized that the gargoyle was only trying to hide his nervousness and shyness behind that gruff, crabby manner. They were both rather anxious and nervous about meeting each other. Perhaps she and the gentle gargoyle were much more alike than they realized.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Simone froze for an instant as Lester shuffled forward and gave a deep bow. Recovering quickly, she bobbed a curtsy and smiled.
“Thank you kindly for the ride this morning, Mistress Simone. You saved me from a very long and tedious walk. My master had threatened to leave me at the side of the road and I have good reason to believe that he had every intention of making good his threat. And as you can see, with my stumpy clawed feet, I cannot walk very fast,” Lester said drolly.
“You could have flown,” Breene snorted, folding his arms. “That's what your wings are for.”
Lester made a face at Breene. Simone saw at once that although Lester addressed Breene formally as “Master”, the two of them were really friends. They took each other's jibes and barbs with good humor and gave as good as they got. But just before Lester turned away, she saw a brief look of shame rippling across his features.
She didn't know what his backstory was, but she recognized that look. It was a look she used to see in the mirror.
The realization slammed through her, and Simone fought hard to keep the shock and pain from showing on her face.
Lester had been a victim of abuse, like her. He was putting on a brave, stoic front now, but inside he was still broken and in pain. She knew the feeling all too well, the guilt, the self-blame and self-loathing.
Like so many victims, Lester felt shame and guilt for something that wasn't his fault.
“I...I am very happy and honored to meet you, Lester,” Simone said, stepping forward and extending her hand. “I mean, I met you this morning, but I couldn't shake your hand.” She let out an awkward laugh.
Lester took her hand gingerly and bowed. Simone was surprised at how gentle and warm the gargoyle's clawed hand was. She had expected it to be rough and cold, like stone perhaps.
She smiled and saw that Lester was wearing a butler's uniform. “So, you're Breene's butler,” she surmised.
Breene and Lester answered together.
“He's my friend.”
“He's my Master.”
Simone raised her brows and regarded the both of them with interest and amusement.
Breene was rolling his eyes with a look of exasperation while Lester simply stared stubbornly ahead.
“Okaaay,” she said slowly.
“Right.” Breene clapped his hands to get their attention. “Now that we're all here, there's something I want to show you, Simone.”
Lester began to back away. “If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of tidying up to do. The whole place is...”
“Nonsense! You're coming with us,” Breene snapped, grabbing Lester's collar before he could slink away. “Housework can wait.”
“But, Master...”
“You coming, Simone?” Breene called as he hustled a protesting Lester down the hallway.
“Oh.” She started and hurried after them. “Yes!”
What did Breene want to show her? She had only half-believed Breene when he told her about Lester earlier.
If Breene was living with a real live gargoyle, then Breene Magnus was definitely no ordinary billionaire.
She had glimpsed Lester's curved, razor-sharp claws and fangs. Even though Lester was careful not to touch her with his claws when he held her hand, Simone had no doubt that those claws could skin and eviscerate a large mammal without difficulty.
Lester was sweet and gentle, but gargoyles weren't tame, docile creatures. If Breene was his master, then whatever Breene was, he was definitely more powerful and lethal than a gargoyle.
Breene was a shifter, she could sense it. There was a wild, fiery predator inside of him.
What kind of beast was lurking under Breene's human skin?
Simone gulped. She had a feeling she was about to find out.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Where are we going, Master?” Lester grumbled. “You've dragged us up five flights of stairs and...”
“Just a couple more,” Breene said cheerfully.
Simone struggled to catch her breath as Breene continued hustling them upward and onward. With his long-legged stride, Breene leisurely took the steps three at a time. He was even whistling softly, feeling chipper and relaxed.
The same couldn't be said for Lester and Simone.
The gargoyle grumbled and groaned as he trudged up the steps, his tail and pointed ears twitching in agitation. Simone panted and wheezed as she dragged herself up the spiral stairs which seemed to lead right up to heaven.
Those stairs seemed endless. They just kept twisting upwards, going on and on and on…
“Are we there yet?” Simone rasped.
“Nearly there,” Breene sang. “Come on, just a hundred steps more.”
Simone's knees almost buckled. “You guys go on without me,” she said, waving them on. “I don't think I can make it. Not tonight at any rate. I think I'll just camp here and I'll continue the trek tomorrow.” She sat down heavily on a step and mopped her brow.
Breene hurried over and bent solicitously over her. “Are you okay, Simone?”
“Yeah,” she panted. “I just haven't been exercising as much as I should. I need to start doing more cardio workouts. Geez...”
“No problem. I'll carry you.”
“No! No, you will not. Breene!”
He ignored her protest and swung her smoothly into his arms. Then he continued strolling up the stairs, carrying her as though she weighed no more than a feather.
“Put me down!” Simone shrieked. “Put me down right now!”
Lester tried to edge past them and scramble down the stairs amidst the commotion but Breene stepped in front of him and blocked him. “Lester!” he tsked. “Keep moving. We're almost there.”
“I think I know what you have in mind, Master,” Lester mumbled unhappily.
“No you don't,” Breene replied, determinedly urging the sulky gargoyle up the steps.
“I don't think we should repeat last night's disaster,” Lester huffed. “I still haven't recovered...”
“Put me down!” Simone tried kicking him where it mattered but her legs only flailed uselessly in the air. “I don't want to be carried...”
“Shhh,” Breene scolded. “Both of you.”
Simone stopped kicking and yelling long enough to exchange a look with Lester.
The gargoyle rolled his red eyes skyward and let out a long-suffering sigh. “Master Breene can be very stubborn,” Lester whispered to her. “Stubborn as a stone.”
“I heard that,” Breene said.
They finally reached the top of the final flight of stairs and Breene marched purposefully to the open balcony and set Simone down.
Simone gasped as she swayed slightly on her feet. They were on the top floor of the highest tower.
The view from the balcony was breathtaking. She had never seen this view of Redrock Valley before. The little town twinkled below them, and she could see the stream that cut through the town like a ribbon. Many new houses and buildings had sprung up all over the town, but the architecture of these new buildings retained an elegant, old world charm. The small town looked cozy and enchanting, and Simone had a sudden longing to move back to Redrock Valley and live here.
She turned to see Breene studying her quietly. Releasing a wistful sigh, she smiled and said, “I never realized that my hometown was so beautiful.”
“It's the people that make the town so beautiful,” Breene answered.
He kept his eyes on her even as his hand shot out to catch Lester by the collar. “And where do you think you're going, Lester?”
Simone grew alarmed when she saw the genuine distress on Lester's face. “I can't, Master. Not tonight,” Lester implored.
“Breene.” Simone was no longer smiling as she moved to stand beside Lester. “Why exactly have you brought us up here?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Master, please. Don't make me do this,” Lester begged.
“Why not?” Breene demanded.
“I...I'm scared.” Lester dro
pped his head and swiped angrily at his eyes. “I can't do this. I know you mean well, but I can't...”
“Lester, listen. I need your help.”
The gargoyle jerked his head up at Breene's quiet words. “Master?”
Breene lowered his voice and said, “I want to show her what I am, but I don't want to frighten her. I need to communicate with her, so...”
Simone stared at both Breene and Lester in utter confusion. She had no idea what they were talking about at all, but Lester seemed to understand at once.
The gargoyle straightened up and nodded.
If his master needed his help, he would step up and do it. Even if it terrified him.
Lester took a deep breath and said firmly, “Yes, Master.”
“Thank you, my friend.” Breene smiled and clapped his faithful butler on the shoulder.
Simone narrowed her eyes at Breene and Lester, listening to their exchange with growing bewilderment and suspicion.
“Why do I have the feeling that you're planning something behind my back, even though the two of you are talking right in front of me?” she said.
Breene and Lester glanced at each other before turning to face her with identical sly, secretive smiles.
What were they up to? Simone gulped but refused to back away.
Breene took a deep breath and said, “Simone, I want to show you my other form. What you are seeing now is my human form.”
“You are a shifter,” Simone said without batting an eye.
“Yes.” He paused and asked, “Are you afraid…?”
Simone snorted. “You think I'll be afraid of you because you're a shifter?”
“Well, you're human, and...”
“My best friend is married to a wolf shifter. And my goddaughter Corinne is a wolf shifter, like her dad.” Simone's expression softened. “She just turned one a few months ago, but she is already a great hunter. She found my missing phone from under the couch,” Simone said proudly.
The Dragon Tycoon's Bride: Billionaire Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 5
