Of Demons & Stones: A Tri-Stone Trilogy

by Anne L. Parks

  At least I know it will last a little while longer. Alex solidified our dinner plans, stating he would be making reservations someplace special.

  I'm living in the moment for once, and at the moment, I feel pretty damn good. In fact, better than I have in years. This relationship—or whatever it is with Stone—is exciting, unpredictable, and spontaneous. It's everything my past relationships were not. Perhaps carefree and uninhibited are the way forward. Worry about what comes next later and just be happy in the here and now. If I could just get my head wrapped around that concept.

  Mid-morning, Lisa and I are going through a pile of files, syncing our calendars for upcoming hearings, and going over documents to be filed with the court.

  Sarah barely knocks on my door before breezing into the office. A man follows, carrying a large floral arrangement.

  A huge array of long-stemmed yellow and lavender roses fill a beautiful glass block vase. Sarah snags an envelope stuck in the blooms and hands it over to me. She squeals, and she waits for me to open and reveal the contents of the card.

  For making my weekend special. I'm so glad you said yes—to many things.

  –AS

  P.S. Ordering flowers and being romantic. Scratch that off the list!

  I replace the card in the envelope and stash it in my desk drawer.

  "What?" cries Sarah.

  I shake my head at her, and she marches out of my office, hands defiantly on her hips.

  The afternoon rolls around, and another large arrangement is delivered. Bright pinks, yellows, and oranges illuminate my office in spectacular fashion. The word spreads that I have a second flower delivery, and the penthouse girls stop by to ooh and aah.

  It is a beautiful arrangement. I sit and stare at it. The butterflies in my stomach are going crazy. I catch sight of another envelope hidden within the blossoms. The same handwriting adorns the white card.

  * * *

  For giving me something to look forward to...

  * * *

  For a guy who claims to be deficient in the area of romance, Alex has caught on very quickly. I pick up the phone and dial his office.

  Amy, Alex's assistant, cheerfully answers.

  "Hi. Alex Stone, please." I put the note in my desk with the one from this morning and make a mental note to take them home with me tonight. Sarah's a snoop.

  "May I ask who's calling?"

  "Kylie Tate."

  "Miss Tate, I'll put you right through."

  Wow. That was easier than I'd thought. I expected her to ask for the purpose of my call, and I struggled with how to professionally state, I wanted to thank your boss for the flowers. It has pretty much assured him sex for the evening...probably multiple times.

  Alex picks up the line. "Hi, baby."

  A silly wide grin crosses my face at the sound of his voice, and I twist my fingers in the phone cord. Very mature.

  "I was just about to call you," he says. "You beat me to it."

  "So this guy I know, who claims he has never engaged in romance on any level, has sent me two of the most gorgeous flower arrangements. Ever. Very romantic, Mr. Stone."

  "I'm glad you like them. I've been thinking about you all day."

  I swivel my chair away from the interior of the office. No one needs to witness my school girl crush. I gaze out the window, thankful for a little bit of privacy. "Really? Anything specific?"

  "Always." He growls. My heart flutters, along with some regions south of my heart.

  "It usually starts with your eyes, and then your lips. I tend to get stuck there for a while. You have the most amazingly sexy, soft lips. Very kissable, Miss Tate."

  "Mr. Stone, if you don't stop talking like that, I'm going to have a wet spot on my seat."

  He chuckles, "Tease."

  I laugh.

  "Mmm...my favorite sound."

  My fingers drift lightly over the soft petals of the flowers on the credenza. This is such a wonderful, foreign feeling. I mean, I've dated, and I've even received flowers from guys on occasion. But this is different. I find myself smiling—no, grinning—for no reason at all and at the oddest times. And no matter what I do to contain my girlie giggles, I can't seem to get myself under control. It's disconcerting as hell, but I'll be damned if I want any of it to go away anytime soon.

  He interrupts my thoughts. "I have some bad news. I know we had dinner plans tonight, but I have to reschedule. I'm leaving town to attend an emergency business meeting involving a merger that's about to go south. It can't be avoided."

  A dark cloud hovers over me and rains all over my happy mood. "Where are you off to? Or is it some clandestine, highly classified, need-to-know covert operation?" I joke, and hope it masks my disappointment.

  "Toronto. I'll be back on Friday. And you've been properly vetted and cleared for all sorts of things, including information, Miss Tate."

  That makes me smile and lifts a little of the gray mood.

  "I still want to take you to dinner. Can we reschedule when I return?"

  "Of course."

  "Great."

  There's a voice in the background, but I can't hear what is being said.

  "I hate to do this, but I have to run. I'll call you when I'm free."

  "Sounds good. Good luck with your business deal."

  "Thanks, baby." He pauses. "No new things with any other guys while I'm away."

  "Not a chance, Mr. Stone. Have a safe trip."

  I hang up the phone and the smile slips from my face. Dinner canceled. Emergency meeting in Toronto. Even though my heart begs me to calm down, my mind immediately goes to a dark place. It screams at me from the shadows that men cannot be trusted. It chastises me, convinces me that no one will ever stay. And my insecurities, born from abandonment and abuse, cling to every word and banish any thoughts that I'm anything more than an interesting diversion for Alex.

  After all, everyone leaves me eventually. Alex Stone is no different.

  Even from another country, Alex commands my attention and insists on being in the forefront of my thoughts. Lunch from a local restaurant is delivered to my Tuesday litigation meeting.

  Alex texts me as it is being set up.

  I knew you'd be busy, and I want you to have one less thing to worry about.

  When John discovers who provided the meal, he dumps his plate in the trash, leaves the room, and doesn't return all afternoon.

  The nightly call ends with Alex snoring into the phone.

  In the morning, I nearly melt reading his text.

  If I can't fall asleep in your arms, I want to fall asleep to the sound of your voice.

  My heart slowly starts to overrule my head and reins in my insecurities. Light is breaking through the pitch-black that colors my life. Doubt and shame are morphing into hope and happiness, and there's been a serious lack of both in my life for too long.

  I call Ryan and Paul to hear about the wedding and inform them of the latest developments with the remarkable Mr. Alex Stone.

  Ryan picks up and yells for Paul to get on the extension. I run through my weekend with the fabulously sexy billionaire playboy on his massive yacht out in the middle of the ocean.

  Dead silence on the other end of the line.

  "Hello?" I say, sure the line's gone dead.

  "Here," they answer in unison.

  "Okay, really? That's all I'm going to get from you two?"

  Ryan takes the lead. "Are you sure about this, K? The man has quite a reputation as a ladies' man."

  "Fuck that!" Paul bellows. "He is a major player. Fucks women and tosses them out like trash. What the hell are you thinking, Kylie?"

  Paul's never been one to beat around the bush, especially with me. Then again, he's picked up the pieces of my disastrous decisions in the past, most recently with John. The look of pain and anger on Paul's face when he saw me that horrible night will stick with me forever.

  Ryan sighs. "We just worry about you, darlin', and we don't want to see you get hurt again."

&nb
sp; "I know, and I appreciate it." I glance at the flower arrangement I brought home. "Look, I don't know what this is between Alex and me or how long it will last. I'm having fun. He makes me laugh. And it's been a long time since I had a heterosexual male tell me I'm amazing and beautiful."

  "So what you're saying is, you just want to have fun with no strings attached? Since when?"

  Paul's accusatory tone hits me like a slap across the face.

  "You fucking analyze everything to death, K, and then you still worry it'll all fall apart. You are not the just-let-life-happen type of girl."

  Sometimes, I really hate that Paul knows me so well—maybe even better than I know myself.

  My blood is boiling, though. "You know what, Paul? All my life, I've been responsible and made sure that everyone else was taken care of. I worried about everything and everyone. I gave up being a kid and having fun to take care of a drunk. But now—I don't know—I just want to be a little wild and unpredictable. I think I deserve to let loose a bit without worrying about the consequences. I have a pretty good idea what will happen. Alex Stone is a committment-phobe. He doesn't do long-term relationships or intimacy. I get it. I just want to be wined and dined and romanced, laugh a little, and maybe even have great sex."

  Ryan defuses the tension between Paul and me, which is his unstated job in our three-way relationship. "Well, as long as you're prepared, darlin'. Even a sugar rush doesn't last forever."

  "Yeah, and then you crash and feel like shit," Paul adds.

  "Got it. I'll be careful. Can we move on, please?" I take a deep breath and lower my voice. "How was the wedding? It'd better have been a blowout since you had to leave here so quickly."

  "Are you really busting on us for not staying the whole weekend?" Ryan asks.

  Paul snorts. "If we had stayed, you wouldn't have spent the weekend with your new boy toy."

  "Yeah, yeah, okay. Tell me about the wedding, please."

  Ryan runs through the highlights, including a woman who caught the bouquet and asked Paul to marry her. She was wildly disappointed when she found out he was already taken.

  "We were going to call you tomorrow," Ryan says. "It turns out Paul's dad wants him to attend a conference down there this weekend. Are you going to be around?"

  "Yeah. When will you be here?"

  "We get in on Friday evening. The conference is all day on Saturday. I'm required to go along to be Paul's eye candy, so he can seal the deals."

  "Okay," I reply. "Alex and I have a makeup date on Friday night. Maybe we could all get together on Saturday night for dinner? I really want you guys to meet him. He really is different when he's out of the public eye."

  "Sure, I'll call you when I get the schedule for Saturday, and we can plan from there."

  Ryan is the organizer. He always keeps us on schedule, which is no easy task with Paul and me most times.

  Paul has yet to grow up, and he brings out the kid in me, the one who was never let out in my youth. He is the perfect big brother, and our childish antics often frustrate the hell out of Ryan.

  "Perfect."

  We hang up with the usual, "Love you," sung in unison.

  Fifteen minutes later, my phone dings with a text from Ryan.

  * * *

  Try not to let the voices in the dark block out whatever light Alex is bringing into your life, K. Even if it's only temporary, it's still worth pursuing. He might not be the man I would have picked for you, but it's been a while since I've heard laughter in your voice, so I'm happy for you and thankful to him for that. Here if you need me.

  * * *

  Ryan knows me as well as Paul, knows my insecurities, and is aware of how they steal any light that comes into my life.

  I just hope I don't get too comfortable in the light Alex is shining on me, because it will go when he goes. And I refuse exist only in the darkness anymore.

  Chapter Nine

  I take Jake's hand and step out of the black Mercedes SUV.

  Alex sent his car to pick me up and take me to the firm's annual charity gala. Once again, his simple romantic gestures make my head spin, and I try to figure out what it all means. I might want to be a let-it-happen girl, but my overly analytical brain still butts in and demands answers.

  "Thanks," I say to Jake.

  "My pleasure, ma'am." He hands me a business card. "Just call when you're ready to leave, and I'll take you home."

  I place the card in my sequined clutch. "Okay, sounds good. But please call me Kylie."

  Jake nods and helps me into my bolero jacket. It's a warm night, but I like having something to cover the imperfections on my back.

  I walk into the ballroom. Exposed red brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows contrast beautifully with the cream and black sheer material artfully draped around the ballroom. In the center of the room is a dance floor. D & R dances across it from the overhead spotlight.

  Many of the guests are seated around the small round tables. Gold lamps provide a soft glow to the small pockets of intimate conversation areas around the dance floor.

  Along the back wall is a stunning oak bar manned by three bartenders. Mirrors along the back reflect the twinkling city lights through the windows.

  Huddled to the side of the bar, I discuss the possibility of an NHL lockout with three of my male colleagues. I finish my second martini and head to the bar for another.

  A body moves in close to my side. John tries to wrap his arm around my waist, but I back away from him.

  "Don't touch me," I say through clenched teeth.

  John lifts his hands in surrender. I glance around. The last thing I want is for anyone to see the scuffle between us.

  Leaning casually against the bar, John takes a drink from the glass the bartender has placed in front of him.

  "I'm very disappointed in you, Kylie. How could you possibly want to date that arrogant asshole Stone when I'm here, ready to forgive you for walking out? I just don't understand you."

  He reaches over and places his hand on my arm. My skin crawls, and I yank my arm away. He scowls.

  "I will never come back to you, John. Never."

  A sly smile plays across his lips. "Never say never, Kylie."

  His eyes darken, and I recall how quickly he can become enraged. Ice rushes through my veins. I want to scream at him to leave me alone, but no words come out. Instead, I turn sharply away and put as much distance between us as possible. Things around me are unfocused, blurry, and I run smack into a man's chest.

  "I'm so sorry," I murmur.

  Strong hands wrap around my upper arms and steady me. I lift my head and gaze into the most dazzling blue eyes—eyes I've been dreaming about all week.

  "Alex," I whisper on an exhale.

  He slides his arm around my waist, and draws me against his body. "Everything okay?" He glances over my shoulder at John and then returns his gaze to me.

  "It is now." I wish I could wrap my arms around him and never let go. I want to bury my head in his chest and breathe him into me. Grab his hand and run away together. Somewhere far away from John.

  Alex slides his hand into mine and leads us onto the dance floor. The muscles in his forearms, shoulders, and neck look tightly wound, and tension rolls off of him.

  "When did you get back?" I ask.

  Alex looks at me, but he's a million miles away. I want to crawl into his head and see if he deals with the same demons I do, but in the blink of an eye, he's back with me.

  "I just got in. I came straight here from the airport."

  "Did things go well in Toronto?"

  He peers over at the bar. I squeeze his hand, and he looks at me.

  "The trip ended up being highly successful, as you will undoubtedly read about in the papers within the next couple of weeks." His voice still has a bit of an edge to it.

  I place my finger on his chin and peer directly into his eyes. Now that he's here, the last thing I want is for John's presence to interfere with this moment.

  Alex smile
s and pulls me closer. "Do you have any idea how much I missed you?" he whispers in my ear.

  "A really good one, if it's anywhere close to how much I missed you."

  The music starts, and he gently swings me around the dance floor. Nothing exists but the two of us. His ability to distract me is almost scary.

  "Have we made enough of an appearance?" His warm breath teases my ear and sends fingers of pleasure straight to my core.

  I glance around the ballroom. Nearly all eyes are on us. Some whisper and point. Others are just flat-out gawking. There's no doubt Alex and I will be the number one topic of office gossip in the morning.

  "More than enough." My body heat rises, and a hot shiver of anticipation rolls through me at the thought of being alone with him. I'm already addicted to the way he touches me. Kisses me.

  "Let's go before I lose all self-control right here on this dance floor," Alex growls.

  "Okay, but I need to go to the ladies' room first."

  "I'll say our good-byes to the heavy hitters, drop off a donation with Jack, and meet you back here. Don't take long, or I'll come in after you."

  A mischievous, seductive smile slides across his face, and my heart stops.

  I raise my eyebrows. "Is that a threat, Mr. Stone?"

  "Bona fide promise, Miss Tate."

  Thoughts of highly indiscreet actions on the ladies' room counter distract me, and I nearly run into a shadowy figure that steps out of the darkness in front of me.

  My skin prickles. I try to move past, but hands grasp tightly around my arms.

  "Leaving so soon, Kylie? The party's just getting started." John's eyes burn into me.

  My chest tightens. I can't swallow past the lump lodged in my throat.

  "Were are you going, Kylie? To fuck that billionaire asshole?"

  "John, leave me alone." I claw at his hand. If I can just get him to loosen his grip, I might be able to break free.

  He digs his fingers into me. I cry out. My heart is pounding. He drives me backward and hurls me against the wall. All the air rushes from my lungs.