Radiant Desire (A Handmaids Seduction, #1)

by Inara Scott

  “Oh, Rachel, that’s beautiful. Why didn’t you want to tell him that?”

  Rachel’s chin trembled as she fought tears. “Look at me, Kaia. I’m helpless, in a damn rest home, all because I was too stubborn to accept a little help. I don’t know how many times he’s offered to buy me a car or at least help out with payments, and I turned him down. Just to make some point about how tough and independent I am. And now I’m going to be in a wheelchair for God knows how long. I can’t inflict myself on him. I love him too much for that.”

  Kaia sat down beside Rachel. “Wait a minute. Putting aside the accident—which, I admit, is a pretty bad example—don’t you think he knows what he’s getting into?”

  “Doesn’t matter.” She gave Kaia a watery smile. “I’ve made up my mind. I’m breaking up with him. Next time I see him.”

  “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Kaia said solemnly. “You love him. He loves you. You’re being an absolute idiot.”

  “I know.” Rachel picked up her macaroni and cheese. “Love does crazy things to a person. Everyone knows that.” She narrowed her gaze on Kaia. “Speaking of which—didn’t we just say you’re taking things with Garrett one day at a time? Why exactly are you asking me about love? Are you falling for him, Kaia?”

  Kaia realized she had made her hands into fists. She forced herself to relax. She needed to know how to make Garrett fall in love with her. She would never fall in love with Garrett. The very idea was ludicrous. “Oh, Rachel, don’t be silly,” she said breezily, keeping her gaze fixed on the tree outside Rachel’s window. “I’m just curious, that’s all. Just curious.”

  §

  Kaia squared her shoulders as she looked up at the red brick structure of the Good Samaritan Mission.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Garrett said, scowling. “You don’t owe them anything.”

  “There’s someone I need to apologize to,” she said.

  Jenny was behind her familiar, paper-strewn desk, giant coffee cup in hand, lips painted the same dark cherry color she’d been wearing when she and Kaia first met. When she saw Kaia walk through the door she jumped up and snatched her out of the doorway.

  Biceps flexing, Jenny gave her a fierce hug, shaking her shoulders gently. “It’s about damn time you came to see me,” she said, the sheen of tears brightening her eyes. “Leaving in the middle of the night like that. No phone number. No address. Are you trying to give your friend Jenny a heart attack?”

  Kaia cringed. She hadn’t known exactly what to say to Jenny when Garrett whisked her off to the Manor. She didn’t know how long she’d be gone, or why. And once she got started at Rachel’s Roses she’d been so caught up in her own life she couldn’t seem to make herself pick up the phone to call and let Jenny know where she was living. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss her. It was more that she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe the other woman really cared.

  “I… I… ” She flung out her hands lamely. “I’m sorry.”

  Jenny shook her head. “No room for sorry at Good Sam. You just tell me what you’re doing now.” She cast a baleful eye at Garrett. “And tell me why this gentleman is looking at me like he thinks I’m going to take you somewhere and never bring you back.”

  “Jenny Harper, this is Garrett Jameson.”

  Garrett extended his hand as he stepped forward to position himself between Jenny and Kaia. It was a small movement, nothing really, but there was ownership in it. Jenny saw it, and her brows flared in curious recognition. Kaia put her hand on his arm. She did not know what that little movement of Garrett’s meant, but the sight of it caused a heady, seductive warmth somewhere in her toes.

  He had insisted on bringing her to Good Sam. She had planned to take the bus over, but when he heard her plans he had canceled a meeting just so he could drive her.

  There was something about Good Sam that Garrett simply didn’t like. He absolutely supported the mission and the people who were there. Kaia knew Portia was a major donor, and she’d seen Garrett’s name on the list of “sustaining contributors” on the Good Sam newsletter. But for some reason he didn’t want Kaia within a ten-mile radius of the place.

  Jenny shook his hand vigorously. “Garrett Jameson. I knew I’d seen your picture somewhere before. Pleased to finally meet you. We’ve been trying to get you down here for a tour for some time. We sure do appreciate your support.” They held each other’s gaze, weighing and judging. When Jenny finally seemed satisfied, she gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and grinned. Somewhat reluctantly, he returned the smile.

  “You do good work here,” he said gruffly. “I’m happy to support it.” He looked over at Kaia. “I’ve got to be back in the office soon.”

  She nodded. “Let me just fill in Jenny about Rachel.”

  “You’ve got time for a tour,” Jenny said to Garrett. “I’ve got a volunteer who would love to show you around.”

  Garrett shook his head hastily and held up his BlackBerry. “No thanks. I can work while I’m here. I’ll just give you two some privacy.” He walked across the room and sat down at an empty table, holding his BlackBerry and poking away at the tiny keys.

  Jenny cocked her head and studied him thoughtfully before turning back to Kaia. “So, what’s the news? You happy? Got work? Doing well?”

  Kaia schooled herself not to look at Garrett as she responded, though she could not stop a silly grin from lighting her face. “Yes. Yes to all. In fact, I think I’m happier now than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”

  §

  “She is getting closer.”

  “Perhaps we will not have her wings after all.”

  The Black Ladies, their vibrating, intertwined voices unmistakable, hissed in frustration. Kaia heard them as she walked back to her apartment, a bag of leftover food dangling from one hand. Garrett was away for the night on business, and she had stayed late at the store before running down to her favorite Cuban restaurant for dinner. As she returned home, the sun was beginning to set, and cafes with outdoor tables were filled with people laughing and drinking. Somehow, they did not notice the trio of black-robed figures trailing behind Kaia. Perhaps they were invisible. Perhaps they cast a spell. The power of the Black Ladies was unknowable and unspeakable.

  Kaia steeled herself not to react to the voices. She waited until there was no one nearby before saying calmly, “Of course you won’t have my wings. You were never going to have my wings.”

  “She thinks she has him. But she will have to be careful. Oh so careful.” The Ladies laughed, and the sound slid up and down Kaia’s spine like a cold finger. “We are still watching.”

  A few feet in front of her, a squirrel scurried down the trunk of a tree and started across the sidewalk. Halfway to the other side, it stopped and froze, its tiny black eyes fixed on a spot behind Kaia. She spun around but saw only a few cigarette butts, a fast-food wrapper, and a discarded coffee cup. The debris of humanity, devoid of life or movement.

  When she turned back, the squirrel lay dead on the hot concrete.

  Kaia sucked in a breath, sickened. She took a hesitant step closer and peered down at the limp creature. Its eyes were wide open but unmoving. Shuddering, she hurried past, down the street to a club where she and Garrett often listened to jazz. She dumped her bag of food in a trash can and went inside to lose herself in the crowd.

  The Black Ladies were unhappy. They said she was close. They said she might keep her wings. This was good news.

  So why did she feel like crying?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kaia set down the phone and smiled as she reviewed the order she had just taken. A fifth-anniversary bouquet. As the husband told her what he wanted on the card, he’d ended up practically in tears, describing how hard his wife worked taking care of their twin girls and how this was their first Friday “date night” in years.

  She loved hearing the stories of her customers.

  From the corner of her eye, she noticed a delivery van pullin
g up in front of the store. With surprise, she realized it had the “Rachel’s Roses” logo painted in vivid colors on the side. Garrett jumped down from the front seat and came inside, wearing a cocky grin and a pair of shiny black sunglasses. He must have gone home early to change, because instead of his usual suit and tie he wore a pair of low-waisted chinos and a black T-shirt that molded to his torso, revealing each one of the muscles Kaia loved to trace with her tongue. As he entered the store he folded his glasses closed and dropped them into the neck of his shirt.

  “What’s that?” Kaia asked, keeping herself squarely behind the counter. Once she touched him, she tended to lose all hope of concentration. She had an uneasy feeling this encounter might require the use of her brain.

  “A delivery van. It took a little while to get it detailed.” He walked over and kissed her. “Don’t even think of protesting on Rachel’s behalf. I bought it and I’ll lease it to her if I have to, but once she learns how to walk again she’s not driving around in some piece of crap car she buys off the Internet.” He leered at her playfully. “You can thank me later tonight.”

  “We’ve been using a service,” Kaia said. “We don’t need a van.”

  “You were just saying yesterday that the prices you’re being charged to get out of the city are killing you. You need a vehicle, Kaia. There’s no way around it.”

  “But… who’s going to drive it?” Kaia spoke slowly, hoping her brain might be able to come up with a way out of her dilemma before Garrett had a chance to get suspicious all over again. Since Rachel’s accident, he hadn’t questioned anything about her past. She figured he was giving her a break since she was obviously committed to keeping the store on its feet—which was a compliment of sorts.

  This could not go well for her.

  Because she had a driver’s license. Which suggested that she could… drive.

  “You?” Garrett said, raising a curious eyebrow. “Of course, you could hire a driver, which makes sense for the daytime deliveries. For the out-of-town events I figured you’d do it yourself. It hardly makes sense to pay someone for that, particularly if you’ve got to go set up anyway. Rachel did all that herself before she hired you, didn’t she?”

  Kaia nodded reluctantly. “I think so. That was before we started scheduling so many weekend events, though. I’d hate to close the store just to make a delivery.”

  Garrett drew his brows together in confusion. “I don’t understand. I thought you’d be thrilled. You were telling me last night there are two weddings coming up next month that are at outdoor sites you’ve never seen—now you’ll be able to drive yourself there. And you can leave your equipment in the van so you don’t have to worry about forgetting things, something else you’ve been complaining about. Most of all, you’ll be saving money. So what’s the problem?”

  “I just… well… it’s been a long time since I’ve driven anywhere.”

  “You don’t forget how to drive,” Garrett said. “Why don’t you come out and give it a spin? You’ll see. Once you’re in the driver’s seat you’ll feel great.”

  “Maybe later. I’ve got a lot to do tonight. Actually, I was going to call you. I think maybe you should stay at the condo this weekend. I have a ton of work to do and I’d hate to keep you up.” She knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t seem to stop.

  “Kaia.” Garrett’s voice was soft, silky. Dangerous. “Kaia, what’s going on?”

  She took a step back. “Nothing. I’m just tired, I think. I’m sure Rachel will really appreciate the van. Now where do you park a thing like that, anyway? Is there a garage or something for it?”

  Garrett came toward her. “Kaia, you’re hiding something.”

  She raised her hands to protest, and faked a yawn. “You’re being silly. I must not have slept well last night. Hard to believe it’s only six.”

  Garrett held up a ring of keys and shook them gently. “Take the keys, Kaia.”

  “No.” She continued to step back until she hit the wall. “I don’t feel like it.”

  “What are you scared of?”

  “Me? Scared?” She coughed. “It’s just been a while. Like I said. I’m probably a little rusty. I might need some reminders. About the rules of the road and whatnot.”

  “You don’t know how to drive, do you?” he guessed.

  “Excuse me?”

  He crossed the rest of the way to her, fitting himself between her and the counter, putting one finger on her chest, just between her breasts. “You don’t know how to drive,” he repeated softly, tracing a line over the top of one breast, then back to the other. “Now, how did you manage to get a driver’s license if you don’t know how to drive?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she said stiffly.

  “We’re past lies, aren’t we, Kaia?” he said, still caressing the skin at the top of her breast. Her nipples were instantly alert to his touch, the peaks hard under her thin T-shirt and lacy bra.

  She swallowed hard. “I… I… you’re right,” she admitted. “My husband got that license for me. He didn’t want me to learn to drive, but he wanted me to have a license so I wouldn’t be asked too many questions. I don’t know where he got it.”

  Garrett took her nipple between his thumb and forefinger and gently pinched the delicate flesh, watching intently as she took a deep breath. “Why can’t I believe a word that comes out of that gorgeous mouth of yours?”

  As he spoke, he reached around and grabbed her hips, jerking her against him with a single, firm motion. “Where does it end, Kaia? When do we get to the end of the lies?”

  He tangled her hair in his hand and dragged her mouth to his. When he kissed her it was cold, hard, and yet at the same time scorching with passion, so that when he let go she stumbled backward, falling against the wall with her mouth raw and her body limp and needy all at once.

  “Why else wouldn’t I know how to drive?” she asked him weakly, sure that this, at least, was a reasonable question. He would hardly guess that she was actually a faerie. “Why would I make something like this up?”

  “Damn it.” His eyes burned into her, eating her alive with restrained desire. “I wish I knew. I wish I understood.”

  His cell phone rang from the clip at his belt, and he pulled it out and looked at the number, his face twisting with deeper irritation before he held it to his ear.

  “What?” he barked, striding away from Kaia. There was a pause, and then, “Fine, I’ll go.” He paused again and swore. “Oh no, not Bianca. I’m not going anywhere with her. If I have to go I’m taking my own date.” Another pause. Garrett spun around and glared at Kaia. “Fine. I’ll be there by seven. Tell them I’m bringing Kaia Verde.”

  He jammed the phone back into the holster. “Max has the flu and can’t go to an art show opening. There’s a client coming from Germany that will be insulted if I’m not there, and we RSVP’d for two. I refuse to take Max’s wife and I don’t plan on calling around to find a date. You’re coming with me.”

  Kaia didn’t bother to point out the fact that she didn’t have anything she could wear to a formal event. She assumed Garrett would figure that out.

  “I need to lock the store,” she said.

  He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve got five minutes.”

  Garrett waited out by the car. Kaia hurried to shut down the computer and close the register. While she was in Rachel’s office, the imp appeared. For once, there was no smile on his cherubic face.

  “This is not good, Faerie,” he said. “He’s pissed. And when I say pissed, I mean furious. And when I say furious, I mean he could give Zafira a run for her money.”

  Kaia clenched her fist, her body rigid with anxiety and frustration. “Do you always have to point out the obvious?”

  “I suggest sex,” the imp said. “Get in the truck and strip down. He’ll forget he’s mad. Trust me.”

  Kaia stared at his guileless eyes in disbelief. “That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Garrett doesn�
�t want to have sex, he wants to kill me.”

  The imp shrugged. “Either him or the Black Ladies, I guess. Take your pick.”

  Kaia fled from the room.

  They rode across town in silence. Garrett wove the delivery van through the thick rush-hour traffic, choosing city streets over highways, slamming on his brakes to avoid near collisions and ducking through red lights without hesitation. A valet ran out to greet them at the door of the Tanforth tower, wearing khaki shorts and navy polo shirt with the Tanforth logo on the pocket.

  “Deliveries are in back—oh, Mr. Jameson.” The boy stopped mid-sentence, clearly embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize it was you. Do you need me to park this for you?”

  Garrett jumped down. “Yes. I need to leave it for a few nights. Can you also bring up my car? I’ll be back down in a half an hour.”

  Kaia followed more slowly, as the valet ran around to open her door for her and extended his hand to help her out. The building was a breathtaking mix of glass and steel, with decorative outside structures providing a mix of shade and sunlight for residents as well as housing for micro wind turbines and solar thermal water-heating units.

  The landscaping around the building was just as stunning—and as low-impact—with native plants specifically chosen for their low water usage and tolerance of the local conditions. Green bamboo mixed with red flowered bottlebrush and sea myrtle around oases of shade created by arbors draped with bougainvillea. Though Kaia was filled with an increasing sense of doom, she couldn’t help but feel a small surge of pride that Garrett had made this beautiful place possible.

  They took the elevator up to the penthouse. Garrett pushed the door open and motioned her inside.

  “I’ll need—” she started to say, but he cut her off with a raised hand.