by Amber Carew
Nyte raised one eyebrow. "Do you mean me or the cat?"
"Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry I was talking to...." Merlin. How would she explain to Nyte that she talked to her cat? After all, it wasn’t a true communication. Merlin wasn’t her familiar, he was just a plain old cat. He didn’t send thoughts to her or anything like that. She just... thought things around him. But... the thoughts were just her own bubbling up from her subconscious.
Her gaze lanced back to Merlin. Weren’t they?
Right. He blinked at her with those green cat eyes of his and she could almost swear that he was smiling at her. Or more likely laughing, if she knew Merlin. Which she thought she had, until Nyte had arrived. She’d never seen Merlin so friendly with anyone.
"All right," she said to Nyte, "you can come with me to the office, but don’t draw any attention to yourself, okay? I have a business to run."
"Around you no one would even notice me."
An hour later, every eye focused on Nyte as he followed Lucinda into the lobby of the high-rise building that housed her office. Every female eye anyway. Lucinda had never noticed how many women passed through this lobby at eleven in the morning. Of course, none of them were exactly passing through right now. They were all standing around gaping.
Yeah, right, like I’ll ever believe him again.
She stopped at reception to sign in her guest. The female security guard performed the whole procedure of grabbing an "Escort Required" security badge, filling in the information on the sign-in sheet, then thrusting a pen at Lucinda, all without removing her gaze from Nyte. Her idiotic smile bared white teeth too straight to be natural. Lucinda glanced at Nyte and felt a niggle of irritation when she saw him smile back at the woman.
Sure, Lucinda supposed the woman would be attractive to someone who liked shiny auburn hair, flawless skin, and enormous emerald eyes.
The woman stood up to help Nyte fasten the badge onto his sweater. So she was five-eleven--topping Lucinda by five inches--with a stunning figure? The woman batted her disgustingly long eyelashes at Nyte and Lucinda jammed down the urge to belt her one. After all, what had she really done? Other than spark Nyte’s interest, judging by the glint in his eyes and that devilish smile of his. She should be happy he was turning his attention to someone else.
But she wasn’t.
She marched to the elevator door and jabbed the up button, trying to dampen the storm building inside her. She took a deep breath. Why was she letting herself get worked up over this guy looking at another woman? Appreciating another woman. Wanting another woman! Her fists clenched.
The elevator door opened and she felt his presence behind her as she stepped inside. His fiery, masculine presence that kept her hormones engaged for battle.
So what if last night he had ignited her inner desire like a lightning bolt hitting her dead center? So what if now he wanted to light another woman’s fire? Why should she care?
She jabbed number seventeen. As the doors closed, she stared at the list of companies on the elevator wall, her focus settling on ‘Divine Intervention,’ her company name, emblazoned in gold letters below three others on the same floor. The elevator started to move and she drummed her fingers on the leather bag hanging from her shoulder. Anything to distract herself from Nyte’s prickly presence beside her.
"What’s wrong, little one?" he murmured in a low, sexy rumble. "Is it possible you’re... jealous?"
She swung around and glared at him. Just as she’d feared, that ever-present glint of amusement lit his eyes.
There might be no point denying her feelings, but she saw no point in admitting them, either. "Not in this lifetime."
The elevator dinged and the doors whooshed open. She marched down the hall to her office and pushed open the door.
"Oh, hi, boss." Fiona, her secretary, grinned over the computer on her desk.
Fiona wore a bright fuchsia pant set, which set off her black, shoulder length hair quite nicely. An elaborate pattern of jewels and glitter paint decorated her top, which Lucinda knew was probably one of her own designs. Lucinda had always admired her talent.
"Made it in before noon today, I see. And your first appointment is still an hour away. I’m impressed."
Lucinda rolled her eyes. Why did she put up with this abuse? Of course, the answer was that Fiona did a great job. And besides that, how many secretaries would be willing to work for a boss who was a wizard? Most mortals were nervous around anyone who worked magic, but Fiona took it all in stride. For that reason alone, Lucinda would put up with a great deal more than the occasional teasing. Besides, she liked Fiona.
She glanced at the spreadsheet visible on the computer screen. Things must have been pretty quiet this morning. Why Fiona bothered pulling up that phony screen to hide her solitaire game, Lucinda could never understand. Fiona never used a spreadsheet and they both knew it.
Lucinda grabbed the heap of mail stacked on the corner of the desk and flipped through it. A stationery catalogue, an invitation to attend a time management conference, and a brochure suggesting she advertise on the Internet. She dropped it all in file ‘G’, for garbage. It hit the bottom of the black wastebasket with a thunk.
"Fiona, I need you to make some calls for me, so I...." She realized Fiona’s eyes had glazed over and Lucinda glanced in the direction of her gaze.
Nyte. She should have known. The dancing lights in his eyes seemed to have mesmerized her secretary.
She waved her hand in front of Fiona’s eyes. "Earth to Fiona. Are you still with me?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah." Fiona’s eyes shifted from glazed to dreamy, her focus remaining on Nyte. "Who’s your friend?" She batted her eyelashes at him.
More batting eyelashes. The air must be unusually dry today because either these women were suffering from severe eye irritation or their brains had turned into prunes.
"His name is Nyte and he’s come here to... observe." More accurately, to be observed, but she’d thought it would be by her, not every female in the vicinity. "He’ll be hanging around my office today."
"Lucky you."
"Fiona, if we could get back to business now." She waited until her secretary dragged her gaze from Nyte and settled it on her. "I need you to set up appointments with my current clients. Get whoever you can this afternoon, and make the rest tomorrow."
"Sure, boss. What’s up?"
"I’m taking a leave of absence for a little while. Don’t worry about your job. I’ll be getting someone to fill in for me."
Fiona’s gaze darted back to Nyte and she opened her mouth to speak.
"No, not him."
"Oh." Tangible disappointment colored her voice. Fiona glanced back to Lucinda. "Is he... I mean, does he... do what you do?"
"No, he doesn’t, but he is a wizard."
Fiona dragged the end of her pen across the desk. "Then he could--"
"Forget it." She stomped into her office. She heard the door close behind her and a low masculine chuckle.
"Don’t worry, little one. Other women may look, but none ignite my desire like you do."
Why did that statement relieve the tension building in her? It should make things worse. She didn’t want to ignite anything of his!
He chuckled again. His hand touched her shoulder and she felt a little igniting of her own going on. She stepped out of reach and moved toward her desk. He smiled at her then allowed his gaze to roam her office, skimming the array of Eskimo soapstone sculptures on her glass shelving unit, pausing on the ‘Midnight Wolf’ Bateman print hanging on the wall, then settling on her oak desk.
"That’s not a natural color for wood," he observed.
She’d chosen a whitewashed oak, which gave it a slightly pinkish hue.
"No, but it’s better than brown. I’m not much into brown."
The door opened and Fiona came in with a mug in her hand.
"I thought Nyte might like some coffee," Fiona said, smiling broadly at him.
Lucinda blinked at the blue mug with steam risin
g in lazy swirls that Fiona placed on the desk in front of Nyte. In all the years Fiona had worked for Lucinda, she’d never brought either Lucinda or one of her clients coffee.
Lucinda’s eyebrows flicked upward. "What about me?"
Fiona’s face flushed red, clashing with her fuchsia attire, and she had the grace to look sheepish.
"Oh, sorry. I’ll get you one."
"Never mind. Just make sure we’re not disturbed until Ellen arrives." Lucinda rolled her chair from the desk and smoothed her skirt under her as she sat down.
Fiona pursed her lips and beamed at her, as though she’d just come to some brilliant conclusion. "Whatever you say, boss. Absolutely no one will disturb you."
Oh, no. She thought... "No, Fiona, it’s nothing like that. I--" But the door thumped closed behind her, Lucinda’s words unheard.
Great. How would she live this down?
Nyte chuckled, the sound like sandpaper scraping along her nerve endings.
"Would you please sit down?" She gestured to one of the rose leather chairs sitting in front of her desk.
He settled into it and crossed his long legs. He stared at her. She stared at him. Now what was she supposed to do with him?
She had work to do, people to talk to, loose ends to tie up. She couldn’t just sit here staring at this man.
Even though he really was the most magnificent man she had ever seen. Even though staring at him was really quite easy to do--in fact, almost impossible not to do. Even though her head refused to turn away so she could stop staring at him.
Her heartbeat accelerated and her stomach tightened. Good heavens, she wanted him to march over to her and pull her into his arms. She wanted him to ravish her lips with his insistent mouth and send her pulse skyrocketing.
His eyes darkened and he started to rise.
"No!" She waved her hands to gesture him back down and he complied. "We... I... I’ve got work to do. I’ve got to clear up some things so I can give you my undivided attention when--"
"I certainly want your undivided attention." His words rolled through her. Low. Sensuous. Intoxicating.
The phone rang, robbing her of a chance to retort. She snatched up the handset. "What is it, Fiona?"
"I know you didn’t want to be disturbed, but Ellen Raddisson just called to postpone her meeting until tomorrow."
"Rats."
She grabbed a pen and tapped it on the edge of her desk. She had to get things tied up before she could start Nyte’s training. She glanced at him, stretched out comfortably in one of her guest chairs, his dominating presence filling the room--and filling her with longing.
The sooner she started working with him, the sooner she would finish. And right now, finishing--and being rid of him--was fast becoming a priority. She didn’t like being carried away by a surge of hormones every time he got close to her. She felt like she was up the proverbial river without a paddle, except with him it was a tidal wave and no paddle on Earth would save her.
She turned to her computer and accessed her calendar. "Did you set up appointments with anyone else this afternoon?" she asked hopefully.
"No. No one can make it today."
"No one?" Out of five clients, she was surprised someone couldn’t make it. "I see...."
Now what would she do? She didn’t relish the thought of spending the rest of the afternoon alone in her office with Nyte. Or alone at home with Nyte. Or alone anywhere with Nyte, for that matter!
"Your friend Randalph called, though, and he said he needs to talk to you right away."
"Rand?" Out of the corner of her eye, Lucinda noticed Nyte’s expression go taut. "Get him on the phone again, will you?" She heard a whooshing sound on the other end of the line, followed by a startled cry.
"I don’t have to, boss. He just arrived. I’ll put him on."
Lucinda heard muffled voices, and another moment passed before Rand’s voice came on the line. "Lucinda, I must speak with you. Alone."
"But, Rand, you know I have--"
"Don’t worry about your guest." He said the last word with distaste. "I’ve made arrangements to keep him occupied."
Oh, no. Her gaze darted to Nyte, worried Rand might fling him to some distant place, but he sat calmly watching her.
"Rand, I don’t think--"
"Sometimes I agree with you. And this whole incident confirms it."
She glared at the phone. "Rand! I will not allow you to--"
"Don’t worry, I’ve simply arranged to keep him occupied for an hour or two."
Her eyes narrowed. "How exactly?" She could envision Nyte faced with a dozen alligators to wrestle, compliments of Rand.
A knock sounded at the door and Fiona entered. She beamed a brilliant smile at Nyte.
"I understand you’re new in town and since Lucinda has an appointment for the next hour I thought I’d invite you to lunch." Fiona fluttered her eyelids. Again.
Good heavens, Lucinda couldn’t take much more of this.
"I don’t think that’s a good idea," said Lucinda.
"Why not?" Rand demanded over the phone. "I need to talk to you and you know Fiona can be trusted."
Trusted? Sure, Fiona knew about wizards and magic, so if Nyte did or said anything strange, she would be able to cope. But what about the fact that she was dying to practice her female wiles on him? Lucinda had seen many a man crumble under Fiona’s expert skill.
It wasn’t that Lucinda was jealous. It was just that she didn’t want to put Nyte in an awkward position. Nyte smiled and winked at Lucinda.
Why did she have this crazy feeling he knew what she was thinking? There was no way he’d be able to do anything like that until he was at least level five, and even then she’d be able to sense his attempt and block it.
He stood up. "You worry too much, Lucinda. I’m sure you’ll be much more at ease conducting your business with me out of the way." He offered his elbow to Fiona and she linked her arm with his.
Lucinda started to protest as they stepped out the door, but Rand’s voice--behind her this time, not on the other end of the phone--startled her.
"Let them go. Fiona will be fine."
Yes, but would Nyte? He might come back engaged. She swung around to face Rand, her temper rising to the surface.
"Did you sabotage my plan to meet with my clients today?"
His resolute gaze met hers. "I had to. We need to talk."
Her hands clenched tightly. "So you’ve said. But that doesn’t give you the right to reorganize my life."
Rand placed his hand on her shoulder, his touch draining some of her anger. "I know this has been difficult for you, Luce. I know how much you’ve wished you could receive The Call."
He knew? Did he also think she longed for a Love Bond with another man? From the deep sadness in his eyes, she wondered if he had been secretly yearning for her.
"But, Lucinda, you’ve already had your mentor relationship."
"I know. We’ve always believed there’s only one per customer." She flattened her palms on the desktop. "But I did receive The Call."
"I realize you received a call, Lucinda, but it can’t be the real thing." He tightened his hands on her shoulders. "Not like what you and I had."
When her gaze locked with his, he shifted sideways, as if he couldn’t look her straight in the eye. He released her and paced.
She sighed. She didn’t know why she’d thought he might actually talk about it. He never had before, and this situation made it all the more awkward.
"You say he has amnesia. This may be Fate’s way of calling upon you to help him re-learn his powers. But it is not truly The Call."
"You’re saying this is a temporary call?"
It was possible.
He paced. "Luce, there are too many rules being broken. This relationship isn’t unorthodox on your side alone. He, too, has a previous relationship that casts doubt on this thing between you."
A nugget of distress formed in her stomach. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, he has already been in love with a woman."
Why did her heart suddenly feel like a toy airplane on a fast downward spiral? She sank back into her chair.
"A wizard?"
"You know that’s the only option."
Nyte had already formed a Love Bond with someone else? Lucinda’s stomach clenched. She might have already decided they weren’t meant to be together, but there had been that shadow of a doubt, that tiny hope in the corner of her mind, that there might be a chance for her and Nyte. Now that had been torn from her. What else could Rand possibly tell her that would be worse than this?
"If that’s true, then... where is she?"
Rand locked his gaze with hers. She didn’t like the dark emotion she saw raging in the depths of his stormy blue eyes.
"Nyte killed her."
Chapter 4
Lucinda’s lungs forgot to keep functioning and when she finally realized she might pass out from lack of oxygen, she forced them to draw in air. The thought that Nyte could kill anyone, let alone the woman he had formed a Love Bond with, was like a sharp icicle thrust through her heart.
"No way."
She lurched to her feet, jammed her hands on her hips, and glared at Rand. She wasn’t in the mood for jokes right now, especially one as bad as this.
"He couldn’t have killed her."
"What I say is the truth, Lucinda. I saw him do it with my own eyes."
She could see the pain in his face and her anger deflated. She didn’t understand how, but Rand spoke the truth. Or what he believed to be the truth.
