Black Opal

by Sandra Cox

  She got in after Bella and crouched on the edge of the seat, most of her hips resting on air. She grabbed the seat and concentrated. The seat expanded enough for her to ease back against the door.

  Adam got in, stretched out his legs and frowned as he shifted in the seat.

  “Something wrong, sugar?” Bella asked, all innocence.

  “If I didn’t know better I’d say my seat shrank. How silly is that.”

  “Pretty silly,” Bella responded, grinning.

  He twisted the ignition key. As the car roared to life, he glanced over at them. “I never realized you two were so tiny.” He turned his attention back to the road. “Hang on.” He glanced in the rearview mirror then threw it in first. Gravel spattered as he screamed onto the road.

  “You said you got a phone call,” Sabina began.

  “That’s right. I’ll give you details over dinner.”

  Her brows shot up. “Excuse me?”

  “You’ve got a show tonight. I know how draining that can be. We’ll talk about this later. I have a few questions of my own.”

  “And exactly how would you know how draining a performance is? Have you been hiding your light under a basket?” Sabina inquired an edge to her voice.

  “I used to date,” he said, and named a famous singer that made Sabina and Bella lean forward, hopeful of details. “She told me about it on a regular basis.”

  “Well, Mr. Morelly, I can’t have dinner with you tonight. I’ve made other plans.” Sabina clutched the dashboard. The man drove as fast as Bella.

  “With whom?”

  “That’s really none of your business.” The haughty tone was ruined as she lost her grip and nearly landed on the floor. At least Bella had a seat belt on, Sabina thought sourly. She didn’t have to worry about splattering head first on the road. Sabina could always use her powers to extend the belt to fit them both but she was too damn tired. It wasn’t worth the effort.

  “I don’t think you have plans,” he said bluntly. “I think you’re afraid to have dinner with me.”

  “And why should I be afraid of you?” Sabina tossed her head.

  “No reason that I can think of. Unless, you’re afraid of yourself.”

  Sabina gasped, outraged. “Not that’s its any of your business but Bella and I are having dinner together,” she ground out.

  “Bella was, of course, invited,” he responded smoothly.

  Before Sabina could reply in the negative, Bella spoke up. “I’d love to.” She yelped as Sabina gave her a sharp elbow in the ribs. “Thought I saw a bug,” Bella improvised, rubbing her side.

  His left arm resting on the doorframe of the car, Adam raised a black-winged eyebrow and gave Sabina a quick glance before turning his attention back to the road. But all he said was, “It’s settled then. Have one of the waiters show you to the private dining room after the show.”

  Sabina seethed at being outmaneuvered by Adam and outflanked by Bella. She’d just about sell her soul for Maureen’s healing amulet and the calming powers of the amethyst at its center right now. Instead, she concentrated on the breathtaking view of the valley below. She snuggled against Bella’s warm body. Her comforting heat chased away the nip in the wind whipping around them.

  She let the conversation between Bella and Adam flow around her.

  “We’re back. Come on, honey, wake up. My arm’s gone to sleep,” Bella said.

  She felt herself lifted into strong arms and pressed against a hard warm chest. She came awake with a vengeance. “What are you doing? Put me down this instant.”

  Adam ignored her and walked toward the hotel.

  “Put. Me. Down,” she bit out each word. “Or I’m going to do something we’ll both regret.” She stiffened her arm with every intention of knocking him on his butt with a lightning bolt as they stared at each other, his look speculative, hers—she was certain—determined.

  After a long moment, he shrugged and set her down. “You are the prickliest woman I know.” He rotated his shoulders.

  Bella smiled and chimed in, “While this is more entertaining than my soaps, I really would like to get to my room and call darling Hank. You coming, sugar?” she asked Sabina as she opened the glass door of the hotel.

  “I’ll see you both after the show,” Adam said, stepping forward and holding the door.

  “It’s a date,” Bella replied, wiggling her fingers at him.

  “The hell it is.” Sabina forced the words through her clenched jaws..

  “Come on, shug.” Bella tugged at her as they walked into the lobby heading for the elevator. “Take deep breaths and think of a peaceful place,” she advised. “All that frustrated energy is bad for you.”

  “Frustrated?” Sabina whirled on her.

  “Did I say frustrated, I meant to say negative,” Bella responded calmly, walking into the gleaming silver box and punching the button for the fifth floor.

  “How can you stand that overbearing, arrogant man?” Sabina stormed.

  “Eye candy, sugar.”

  Sabina frowned at her.

  “From a strictly aesthetic point of view,” Bella hastened to add. “Being an artist I notice that sort of thing.”

  “Being a woman with a sex drive that could kill a man you notice that sort of thing,” Sabina snapped, her lower lip protruding. She was perilously close to sulking.

  “That too,” Bella grinned. “Men like to be appreciated.”

  Sabina snorted. “Well you certainly appreciate them more than most.” She took a breath from deep in her belly, fighting to get her emotions back on an even keel. “I’m sorry, Bella. I’m in a foul mood and I’m taking it out on you.”

  The elevator door glided open and they stepped out.

  “Nearly going over a cliff in a convertible does upset one’s equilibrium.” Bella touched her arm in a commiserating gesture. “Besides, I was missing Maureen and for a moment it was just like having her here. Lord that woman has a tongue of pure acid. It’s a good balance. It offsets all my sugar-coated quips.”

  Sabina burst out laughing as she reached for her door card. “You are too much.”

  “Are you going to be okay?” Bella asked her tone light, her expression serious.

  “I’m going to be just fine. Say hello to Hank for me.” The green light came on and Sabina pushed the door open. She stood in the doorway. “Are you going to tell him about the accident?”

  Bella waved her hand in a negligent gesture. “Lord, no. The man would be on an airplane by dinnertime or hopping in his pickup.” She smiled and her face took on a reminiscent smile. “That’s my cowboy, always riding to the rescue.”

  For a brief moment Sabina felt a sharp stab of envy then was immediately ashamed. Love had come late to Bella and Hank but it had hit them like a ton of bricks, making up for any lost years. She smiled, reached over and gave Bella a light buss on the cheek. “I’ll see you after the show,” Sabina said then frowned as she remembered who she was eating with.

  * * * * *

  Adam sat in the private green and gold clubroom chatting with Bella, after the show. His thoughts were elsewhere. Was it possible to fall in love with a voice? Like fine wine Sabina’s music intoxicated him, along with the rest of the city. They were turning people away in droves. They’d opened the door in the back and allowed a select few to stand there and listen. And even that had Mr. Lewis in a tizzy. “Fire codes,” he kept mumbling and wringing his hands.

  Adam soothed him as best he could by making certain waiters kept a path cleared and threatening the eager listeners with having to leave if they didn’t abide by the rules.

  Bella stopped in mid sentence. She gave one of her charming smiles and lifted her glass of white wine toward the door in salute.

  He swiveled toward the door and felt his heart give an unfamiliar thump against his ribs as Sabina paused in the doorway then walked toward them.

  Her scent reached him first. The musky fragrance of woman mingled with the scent of something sensual and dark.
Images of two entwined bodies in the night rose in his mind playing havoc with his equilibrium and having him shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

  The scent surprised him. He could have sworn that her fragrance at the wedding had been lighter, more innocent. The thought made him frown. Why would she have changed her perfume so dramatically since the last time he’d seen her unless there was a man involved? He balled his fingers into fists, angry at the thought and himself for caring one way or the other.

  He watched her walk toward them, as regal as a queen, her cascading hair shining in the flickering candlelight. Maybe the scent did fit her after all. His gaze slid over her and drank her in. Tonight she wore a tight-fitting gold sheath that seemed molded to her perfect body. Opposed to the tight-fitting dress her long sleeves were loose and billowy.

  Forcing himself to relax, he pushed back his chair, stood and waited. His eyes held hers as she walked toward him with all the grace of an Arabian mare, her limbs moving as smoothly as flowing silk beneath her sheath. Some women might not appreciate the comparison but he personally thought Arabian horses the most beautiful animals God ever created.

  As she approached, he held out her chair.

  She sat down and looked around. “Very nice. Intimate, yet cozy. I like the gold and sea green earth tones.”

  “I’m glad you approve. I had the room decorated to match your lovely ensemble,” he lied gallantly as he pushed up her chair. He touched her shoulder as he straightened and felt heat, hot as an August night, leap between them.

  She looked at him, startled.

  “Or perhaps you wore the dress to match the room,” he teased, his glance caressing her, wondering if she too felt the chemistry between them.

  “No doubt.” She made a noise that in a less sophisticated-looking woman would have been called a snort and settled back in her chair.

  “Thank you for ordering, Bella.” Sabina picked up the glass of red wine that sat in front of her.

  “I’d love to take credit for it, shug but it wasn’t me,” Bella replied sipping her white wine.

  “I made an educated guess. I hope you find it satisfactory,” Adam said settling into his soft leather chair placed between Sabina and Maureen.

  Sabina took a cautious sip then smiled and leaned back, relaxing. “Perfect. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure,” he nodded.

  A waiter glided out of the shadows and unobtrusively placed bowls filled with crisp bright vegetables, almond slivers and shredded parmesan in front of them.

  Sabina pushed her fork into the salad, speared a spinach leaf and stared at it blankly.

  “Tired?” he asked, studying her.

  “A little.”

  “That probably translates into exhausted,” Bella chimed in.

  Sabina smiled at her then turned to Adam. “So, Mr. Morelly, tell me about this mysterious phone call?”

  He took a small sip of wine, enjoying the light warmth that rolled down his throat. “I was left a message that said ‘want to have some fun big guy? Let’s see if you can save her this time’ and directions to Blowing Rock.” He kept his face expressionless but his fingers tightened around the wineglass until they turned white.

  “That’s pretty farfetched.” Sabina’s eyes sparkled with suspicion.

  “It is at that.” He nodded and leaned back in the chair.

  “When did you get the message?”

  “After I got back to Charlotte. It took me a couple of hours to reach Blowing Rock.” Just thinking about it turned his body clammy and cold. Every minute of that trip had seemed like an eternity. He’d driven around town looking for Bella’s convertible. That too had been left on his voice mail. “Look for the red convertible, Superman”. Then the second call came. Telling him they were driving out of town, going too fast for safety and then the maniacal laughter before the phone clicked off. He glanced down surprised to see a slight tremor run through his hand at the memory. “It is farfetched…or just plain crazy.”

  The women exchanged glances.

  “I did a little digging this evening before the show.” He paused, swirling his wine, watching the golden eddies. “It seems Victoria Price spent a great deal of her formative years in a mental institution. Her current residence is unknown. My uncle tells me Victor Price is dead. It seems likely she is behind these attacks.”

  Again the women exchanged looks. A light breeze seemed to spring up from nowhere throwing eerie shadows, from the flickering candles, on the wall.

  The women shifted restlessly in their chairs.

  “Interesting supposition.” Sabina took a deep swallow of wine. A waiter appeared as if by magic at her elbow and filled up her glass.

  “It is isn’t it,” Adam agreed. “Let’s say for the sake of argument I’m right.” His eyes narrowed and his glance fastened on Sabina’s. “Is she after revenge or armbands?”

  Going on a hunch, he reached over and ran his hand under and up Sabina’s voluptuous sleeve. He didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved when his fingers clasped nothing but bare warm flesh. He withdrew his hand. The contact had caused the blood to rush from his head and puddle at his feet.

  “Why would she be interested in our jewelry, sugar?” Bella drawled, spearing a bright red cherry tomato and popping it in her mouth then chewing with gusto.

  She’s stalling. “Why was Victor?” he countered.

  Bella swallowed then responded flatly with no trace of her normal drawl. “I have no idea, maybe because he was crazy too.”

  “Oh, I think you know all right.” He let the silence hang before he continued. “And I don’t doubt Victor was every bit as crazy as his daughter. But to return to my original question, why does she want your amulet? Is she after revenge? Or is there more than one armband in the equation?” He glanced over at Sabina. “I noticed Maureen wears one too. And you, my dear, always wear long sleeves.”

  Sabina lifted her chin and gave him a cool look and raised her sleeve. “In case you couldn’t tell by feel,” she said, referring to a moment ago when he’d slid his long narrow fingers up her full sleeve.

  “Touché. You win this round. For now I’m willing to go with the revenge angle.” He stopped speaking as the waiter removed their dishes and brought out steaks still sizzling in their platters and steaming baked potatoes, loaded down with sour cream, butter and chives.

  “I took the liberty of ordering for all of us. If anything isn’t to your liking we’ll send it back and get something else. The fillets are medium.”

  “That’s fine, sugar. I hate steaks rare. The sight of blood makes me nauseous,” Bella answered as she cut into hers.

  Sabina nodded. “Perfect.” A slight frown of annoyance flickered across her features. He could only guess that it was because he’d ordered for her.

  As soon as the waiter left the room, Sabina laid down her fork and knife. “What about your uncle?”

  “What about him?”

  “There’s nothing saying he isn’t behind the attacks and you are in it with him.”

  “It is a possibility, sugar,” Bella added in a calm voice as she salted her potato then looked at Adam.

  Adam didn’t know whether to laugh or curse. “So let me see.” He lifted his finger to tick off his point. “You nearly get your head crushed and I remove you from danger.” He lifted a second finger. “A car comes rushing straight at you and I arrive before the car can nudge yours over the cliff. Oh excuse me or should I say shoot you?” he inquired, his voice heavy with sarcasm. He nodded. “It certainly has every appearance of me and my uncle trying to kill you. I can see where you would think that.”

  His knife scraped against his plate as he cut his steak with a little more vigor than absolutely necessary. The women followed the movement with their eyes.

  The moment he popped a piece in his mouth, Bella spoke, all drawl and Southern charm, “Perhaps, you aren’t in agreement with what your uncle wants done, sugar.”

  The meat lodged in his throat. He choked a
nd forced himself to swallow, his face hot and flushed. He reached for his water, took a deep drink then breathed hard through his nose trying to beat back his anger.

  He looked first at Bella then directed his gaze to Sabina. “I swear on the blood of my family, my uncle has nothing to do with these two incidents. And I intend to stay nearby to prove it.” He leaned forward and looked deep into her eyes knowing heat flared in his own as he added, “Day and night.”

  He watched color flood her lovely features.

  Her aristocratic nostrils flared. “He tried to kill my friend.” She tossed her head in Bella’s direction while still maintaining eye contact with Adam. She referred to an instance some time back that had happened when Victor Price was trying to get Bella’s armband.

  “Business,” he shrugged and hated himself for the lame answer.

  Sabina pushed back the chair, shot to her feet and threw down her linen napkin, her fine brown eyes flashing liquid fire.

  “Sit down, Sabina,” he said in a quiet voice. “That was crass of me. My uncle deeply regrets what he tried to do and so do I.”

  She stood panting, her whole body quivering.

  “Sit down, Sabina.”

  “Sit down and eat, sugar.” Bella reached for a roll. “He’s just trying to get a rise out of you because you get under his skin.” She looked at Adam and grinned. “Right, handsome?”

  He tamped down his embarrassment. “It is hard on my equilibrium to be dining by candlelight with the two most beautiful women in the city.”

  Sabina rolled her eyes but sat down.

  Bella fluttered her eyelashes and patted her hair. “Why, sugar, you certainly know how to sweet-talk a woman.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sabina point her finger toward her mouth and make a gagging gesture. The tension broke as he burst out laughing. “Remind me never to play poker with you,” he told Bella. “You would empty my pockets and probably take the shirt right off my back before I realized what happened.”