“Wait a second,” she yelled after him. “Would you like to stay the night?”
James turned and grinned at her. “I’ll just get my suitcase.”
Chapter 31
A cold nose touched her shoulder, interrupting her pleasant dreams. Mira lifted one bare arm from beneath the covers and batted it away, turning to snuggle against the warm body next to hers. Apparently undaunted by the rebuff, a pleading whine sounded in her ear and a wet tongue licked her face. With a groan and an evil look at James, who slept on unaware, she slowly slid out of her warm bed. Zeus obviously had not taken her lecture on the benefits of sleeping late seriously. Despite her admonitions he insisted on getting up at an ungodly hour because he had to use the bathroom. She dearly hoped that would change as he got older.
She stretched her arms above her head and yawned before padding sleepily from the room. It wasn’t until she reached the top of the stairs that she realized she was stark naked. With a muttered oath, she turned and walked back into the bedroom, grabbing a piece of clothing from the floor. It turned out to be the black dress shirt that James had thrown off last night but, she decided with a shrug, it came down to mid-thigh so it was decent enough. If he was going to stay with her, however, she would have to get him to pick up his things. Unlike him, she didn’t have a butler or a cleaning crew and she was not going to fulfill that role for him.
As she walked down the stairs with the energetic puppy nearly tripping on his oversized feet as he ran in front of her, an image of James’ dour butler, Winston, crossed her mind and a smile crept across her face. Although Zeus had only been his responsibility for a very short time, he seemed to have become inordinately attached. He had shown up at her house at least once a day since James had been there. His excuse was that he had to make sure James had clean clothes and something decent to eat, but as soon as he got there he ignored his employer and went looking for Zeus. He also brought along a dog treat every time. Usually something that he had prepared himself.
With Zeus jumping around her feet, desperate to get out, she crossed the living room and almost opened the patio door before she remembered the alarm. Backtracking, she turned it off and slid open the glass door into the backyard. He was out like a shot, quickly disappearing into the bushes along the fence to do his business. A strange tingling sensation shivered up her spine and she knew, even before heard the joyous barking, that she was no longer alone.
“Good morning beautiful,” James said as he walked up behind Mira and wrapped his arms around her waist. He lightly kissed the back of her neck as Zeus ran around them. “Isn’t that my shirt you’re wearing?”
“Why yes it is,” she purred as her body hummed pleasantly. “Would you like it back?”
“I would,” he laughed softly and tightened his arms, “but later. We wouldn’t want to scandalize old Mr. Perkins.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She sighed and, closing her eyes, leaned against him. She could really get used to mornings like this, she thought as she let her mind drift. She was beginning to crave them. The problem, though, was that she was still unsure of James’ motives for being there.
He had practically moved in after she had come home, staying with her every night. She hadn’t had the heart or the willpower to turn him away. But was he with her because he truly wanted to be or because he was still worried about her safety? When the man who had attacked her was caught, would he go? Before melancholy could take over and ruin her mood she sternly reminded herself that she was a smart, resourceful woman. All she had to do was find a way to make him want to stay.
“What would you like to do today?” she asked as she gently disentangled herself and slid past him, heading inside to put on coffee.
James followed her in, with Zeus trailing, and shut the door, his eyes glued on the movement of her silky legs under the mannish shirt. Going nowhere sounded pretty good to him. “We could stay in.” He came up behind her and spun her around for a long, deep kiss. “And spend the day in bed.”
“I like the sound of that,” she murmured as she twined her arms around his neck and leaned back to run her eyes appreciatively over his hair roughened body, barely concealed by a pair of low-slung jeans. “After all it is Saturday.”
“Exactly,” he agreed silkily. “It’s not like we have anything else that needs done today.” He bent his head and nibbled at her lips before running his tongue along the tiny indentations his teeth had created.
A whole day, Mira thought hazily, as his tongue made darting forays into her mouth. His play suddenly ended and he pulled her forward, sealing their lips together. They might not be able to last through it, but it would be fun to try. She gasped and pulled back. “Do you think you can stay away from work for that long?”
“I believe I can manage.” He reached behind her and turned off the coffeepot. “Why don’t you go on up and I’ll follow with a bit to eat. We need something to sustain us.”
Now that sounded nice. She pulled out of his arms and almost stepped on Zeus. He barked once and, awakened from his short nap, started running circles around them.
“Or,” James sighed in resignation as he saw his fantasy dissipate. He bent down to pick up the squirming puppy. “You could take a shower and put some clothes on while I make breakfast.” When she was gone he raised Zeus and looked into his liquid brown eyes. “Perhaps,” he mused. “We can tire you out enough that you’ll give us some time alone.” The puppy stared back, uncomprehendingly. “Don’t make me regret bringing you home.” Zeus licked his face in reply. “Ok,” he added as he sat the German Sheppard down. “If you behave while I take a quick shower in the guest bath I’ll consider keeping you.”
When Mira finally came down after taking a long, hot shower, shaving her legs, and rubbing scented lotion into her skin, James was standing at the breakfast bar in faded jeans and a black t-shirt. He was sliding bacon, eggs, and a couple of slices of slightly charred toast onto two plates. Zeus was curled in a corner chewing on what looked to be a piece of burnt bacon.
“Here you go.” James slid a plate and a cup of coffee across the counter and walked around to take the stool next to Mira’s. He thought that he might have cooked the bacon a bit too long and the eggs not quite long enough, as they looked a little runny, but since she was gamely eating them, he had to as well. He steeled himself and dug in. When the plates were cleared, he picked them up and walked to the sink. “So,” he said. “I thought that it would be a good idea to take a trip to the mountains today. It would take both our minds off things.”
“What happened to a whole day of sex?” Mira got up and grabbed a towel. If he could wash, she would dry. When his back was turned she twisted the towel and swatted him. “Don’t think you can do it?”
He rubbed his abused posterior and turned to her. “If that was supposed to insult me it didn’t work. Besides,” he commented, impelled to defend himself. “This had nothing to do with my endurance. I just realized the day would be ruined if we had to listen to Mr. Needy here,” he glared at Zeus, “whining at the bedroom door.”
“What do we do with the puppy if we take a trip? We can’t just leave him here.”
“If we go to the mountains we can take him. After a nice, long walk we could settle him down in some charming, pet friendly hotel and then you and I can have a quiet dinner, perhaps a little dancing, and then soak in a heated tub for a few hours.”
Mira considered all the things that she had planned to do today like work on the sketch she was drawing for James, return Lily’s phone calls, or do the laundry. Then she thought about an entire day spent away from the house and the tension that seemed to be plaguing them both. There really was no contest.
“We won’t be going anywhere near the work site?” she asked suspiciously.
He crossed his heart. “I promise we won’t go anywhere near it.”
“OK.” She put away the dried plates and turned toward the stairs. “I’ll throw some things in a bag for us while you get Zeus ready. Sh
e was halfway up the stairs when she heard his cell phone ring. It could be nothing, but she stopped and turned around anyway. There was no point in packing until she knew what was going on.
James dropped the leash he had been holding and looked around for his phone. When he located it on the coffee table, he bent down to pick it up. “James Kelly,” he said by way of introduction. “Hello Mr. Andrews.” Damn, this particular client was constantly calling to check up and he always had something he thought needed done immediately. It was a big contract, however, so he had to put up with it.
“I see,” he murmured when the man went into a rant about some wording that he decided he didn’t like in the contract they were negotiating. “No,” he continued with a sigh, as he turned and sent Mira a pleading look.
“Mr. Andrews,” she mouthed. At his affirmative nod, she winced. So much for a romantic weekend. “Go on,” she told him. He came up to her and placed a light kiss on her mouth. “Thank you,” he whispered before he brushed past her and headed toward the spare room, which he had temporarily converted into an office.
“No, I’m still here sir. Yes, I do understand and I will certainly see what I can do.”
The door cut off his flow of words. Mira sighed and went back downstairs. Calling Zeus, she went to her own workroom. Might as well get something done since he could be awhile. At least, she thought philosophically, he wasn’t as bad as her father had been.
She had loved her dad, but she hadn’t had any illusions about him. He had loved his family, but his work had always come first. James’ company was still fairly young and it needed a lot of attention if it was going to survive in a market dominated by big fish. She understood that, but when that wasn’t the case anymore, he would hopefully delegate more. If he didn’t, she decided resolutely as she tilted the table and picked up a pencil, she would just have to make him.
**********************************************************
Mira leaned back and stretched as she contemplated her work-in-progress. It was coming along really well. Already, she could almost feel the rush of wind as the mighty dragon beat his wings and stretched his neck, moments away from launching his powerful body into the air. He was missing a scale from his shoulder and he sported a long cut down his side that slowly oozed blood, but he appeared undefeated. The knight, whom she was still working on, had a scorched shield and a fairly deep cut on his leg where the armor had been ripped away, but his demeanor was proud and defiant. She felt that it was good, but it was the first piece of art that she had specifically created for someone and it was making her a bit nervous. In some respects, it was like giving away a small, tangible piece of herself. James had better appreciate it.
James stood quietly in the doorway and watched the absolute concentration on Mira’s face as she carefully filled in details, bringing the image on the paper to life. He wondered fleetingly what it would be like to be the object of such intense regard from her and felt a ridiculous spurt of envy for the inanimate figures that she drew.
He walked softly into the room, being careful not to disturb the puppy as he lay sleeping by Mira’s feet, and studied the sketch from a few feet away. Something about the picture called to him in the same way that the one on the wall had earlier. She may not have been willing to part with that one, but perhaps he could persuade her to let go of this one.
“Have you ever considered selling your work professionally?” he asked.
Mira jumped slightly, but didn’t turn around. “I did when I was very young,” she admitted softly. “I had some insane idea about becoming a famous artist, but it was just a child’s fantasy. That kind of thing rarely happens in the real world. Besides, who would buy them? People want blotches on paper and old portraits and landscapes that bring great sums of money at auction. They’re not interested in fantasy pieces. Particularly when the art is drawn and not painted.”
“Who filled your head with such nonsense?” He walked forward and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You have a wonderful talent and I can guarantee you that people would be interested.”
The praise made Mira’s heart soar and her cheeks flush, but it didn’t change her mind. Her art was a part of her and, even though it made her feel like a coward, she couldn’t share it with the world. If she was rejected or, worse, ridiculed it would be too painful.
“Thank you for that,” she finally said, “but I already have a job that I enjoy. My drawing is just a silly hobby.”
“Hobby or not, would you at least consider selling the one you’re working on to me? I’ll pay whatever you think it’s worth.”
She smiled softly, secretly pleased that he liked it so much. “I’m sorry, but it’s not for sale.”
“I’ll give you five hundred for it. No, make that a thousand.” He wasn’t sure why it was so important, but he had to have the picture. She shook her head and he started to pace, trying to think of another approach. “Wait a second,” he continued as inspiration struck. “What if you gave it to me?”
She turned around and caught the look of veiled desperation in his eyes. Whether he realized it or not, he was asking for something much greater than just a picture. She had to tread carefully or risk leaving herself much more vulnerable than she wished to be. She was still way too unsure of his feelings to do that. “Do you want me to give it to you?”
He stopped in front of her and stared squarely into her eyes. “Do you want me to have it?” He waited, breath held, for her answer, suddenly feeling that he stood on the very edge of a great chasm.
This was getting ridiculous, Mira thought, and it was time she ended it. All it would take was a little courage. “The truth is James…” She could drown in the depths of his eyes.
The doorbell rung imperiously, but they both ignored it.
“What,” he asked quietly. He was aware that his heart was pounding in a furious beat and his blood was already racing. He needed to hear it, just once.
The doorbell sounded again. This time one, long sustained note. James swore ripely.
“I can tell that you’re in there,” an irritated voice sounded outside. “If you don’t answer the door James I’m coming in whether you’re dressed or not.”
James ran his hand through his hair in an irritated gesture and stalked from the room, Zeus at his heels. “We will finish this,” he called back.
As soon as he was gone, Mira walked over to the papasan chair sitting in the corner and sank down. She wasn’t sure if she had dodged a proverbial bullet or missed out on a wonderful opportunity, but either way her legs were still shaky. She had barely caught her breath when he came back in, followed by Detective Moore. James immediately crossed over to her and laid his hand on her shoulder in either a proprietary or comforting gesture, she wasn’t sure which.
After casting an amused glance at his friend, Devon leaned against the drafting table and crossed his ankles. “Sorry to burst in like this,” he said to Mira, “but I‘ve a few questions to ask you that will hopefully clear some things up.”
“Have you learned something new? Is that why you’re here?” She lifted her legs up and curled her arms around her knees.
“We haven’t caught the man yet,” he answered. “However, we have discovered who he is.”
“I just need a name.” James lifted his hand off Mira’s shoulder and curled both hands into fists. “And I’ll be able to find him.”
“The police will handle it.” Devon’s voice was as hard as rock. He obviously knew James very well.
The two men stared stonily at each other, neither one willing to give ground. Not only were they completely ignoring the fact that she was the injured party, but they were both acting like adolescents. Mira was about to step in when the detective sighed and relaxed.
“Look,” he said. “I understand some of what you’re feeling, but we have to handle this properly or the bastard could walk.”
“Fine,” James conceded, unclenching his jaw, “but when you catch him I want to be in on the questio
ning.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Excuse me,” Mira interrupted, heartily sick of being ignored. “Don’t I have some say in this?” Both men stared at her blankly as if they had forgotten that she was even there. She sighed, just ready to get this over with so she could forget about the whole situation. “In any case,” she directed at the detective. “Didn’t you have some questions that you needed to ask me?”
He shook his head as if to clear it. “Do you have any more enemies?” he blurted out.
“What! Do you think I go around just trying to find people to annoy?”
“Sorry, that came out wrong,” he said in a conciliatory tone. “Please just answer the question.”
She thought hard about it, but came up with nothing, at least nothing that made sense. She shook her head and found herself curious. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I’m not sure if it’s anything, but we found a blond hair when we re-examined the evidence from the break-in.”
Mira frowned, not sure if she understood. “I’m certain you’re aware that Kimberly Roberts has blond hair. So what seems to be the problem?”
His forehead creased. “The thing is,” he said carefully. “I’m not fully convinced that she was the perpetrator. She doesn’t fit the M.O.”
“What is it with you men!?” Mira seethed. “Can’t you see past a pretty face and big boobs?”
“Well,” Devon backed toward the door. “If you remember anything else, give me a call.” He turned and walked swiftly from the room.
“I’ll show you out.” James rounded the chair and hurried after him, aware that a speedy retreat was in order. He carefully shut the door behind him.
Mira sniffed in indignation and got up to put away her drawing things. Right now she didn’t feel like working on a present for James.
Chapter 32
“I don’t understand what you’re still doing here.” Mira finished chopping carrots for the soup she was making and sat the knife down so that she could properly glare at the sofa where James was stretched out watching some gruesome crime show on TV. It had been over two weeks since Detective Moore had come over and neither Kim nor the man who had attacked her had been caught. In fact, besides an almost fender bender caused by some idiot texting while he drove, nothing remotely dangerous or threatening had happened.
Running from Fate Page 23
