Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One)

by Huffert, Barbara

  “You’re right,” Brett stated. “Kiley didn’t know that we’d be here. We were going to pretend to bump into you by accident.”

  “Why?”

  “He was hoping to charm an invitation to drinks after the game. You see, he’s very interested in your cousin and…”

  “Why doesn’t he just ask her out?” Shane wondered.

  “He thinks he makes her too nervous. She doesn’t do real well talking around him.”

  “She still can’t talk?” Alyssa laughed.

  “Nope, she gets too flustered.”

  “Oh please.” Shane rolled his eyes.

  “Hold on, I believe him. Every time Kiley mentioned your brother she blushed.” Shane looked skeptical but kept quiet. “So he planned to run into us and wheedle an invitation to go out with us after the game all to get her to talk to him? He must want her badly.” Brett decided it would be better not to comment as Shane snorted. “How’d you arrange the tickets? Kiley said she called a scalper for ours.”

  “Jordan gave her the number,” Brett admitted.

  “He had that girl call a scalper?” Shane sounded annoyed.

  “Yeah, only the alleged scalper was me. And the runner who dropped them off is an intern where I work.”

  “Where did he get the tickets?” Shane asked quietly.

  Brett sighed. Here we go! “A guy owed him a favor.”

  “For?”

  “Look, why don’t you save these questions for Jordan?” Brett pleaded. “I’m not comfortable with this.”

  “Your comfort is the least of my concerns,” Shane informed him. “If my brother—”

  “Oh shut up, McKade.” They seemed to have forgotten Alyssa between them. “He’s right. If your brother collected a favor, it’s up to him to tell you. I’m just happy that Kiley didn’t have to deal with a real scalper. I never imagined she’d go to that extent to get us tickets. I would have been happy with seats to any game. It didn’t have to be today’s.”

  Brett wanted desperately to change the subject. “How do you two know each other?”

  “Ms. Campini is the photographer who did that exposé on street gangs,” Shane responded, sounding as if he found her distasteful.

  “McKade doesn’t approve of me,” Alyssa supplied.

  “She takes unnecessary risks.”

  “He worries too much.”

  “Whoa.” Brett didn’t like the way they were glaring at each other. “Sorry I asked. Am I going to have to separate you? Just because we’re at a hockey game doesn’t mean you have to fight. That’s better left on the ice.”

  Brett had never been happier to hear the national anthem begin in his life.

  * * * * *

  Jordan lived in an older section of the city in a three-story home. His office took up the first floor. He occupied the rest. Kiley was still limp when they got there so Jordan carried her up to the living room where he laid her on the couch. Hoping to make her more comfortable, he removed her shoes and took the clip from her hair. As he moved around the room, her saucer-like eyes followed him everywhere.

  He’d been furious when he saw Winslow dragging her after him. For now though, he had to put his feelings aside. Kiley was already frightened. If she saw his fury now it certainly wouldn’t help. Not knowing what she’d been given, he had no idea how it might affect her or how long it would last. For now, he needed do his best to make her feel safe. He hoped that Brett and Shane would be successful at keeping Alyssa away. Even without knowing what to expect, he was positive that the fewer people who witnessed it, the better.

  “Can I get you anything?” he asked, hoping the fear he saw wasn’t for him.

  Kiley curled into the corner of the couch as if she were trying to make herself as small as possible. He was looking at her, trying to determine what to do next, waiting for her to answer when all she really wanted was for him not to leave her alone. It took all her determination to stretch out her hand toward him. She was so frustrated at not being able to talk that a tear slid down her cheek.

  For an instant Jordan looked furious, like he was about to explode. Then he took a deep breath and his features softened. He sat down beside her and gently gathered her to him. Kiley shifted so she could bury her head against his chest. With him holding her, talking softly, stroking her back and smoothing her hair, Kiley believed it really would be fine. As long as he didn’t let go, she’d be safe.

  Kiley was feeling slightly better. She’d lost track of time so she didn’t know how long they’d been there. “Thank you,” she finally said.

  “There’s no need.” Jordan shifted her in his arms so he could look at her. “I would never let anything happen to you if there was any way for me to prevent it.”

  “You were mad,” she was still having trouble forming words.

  “Of course I was. Winslow was up to no good and dragging you into the middle of it.”

  “No. Last week.”

  “Not at you.” He finally understood why she had been avoiding him. “Oh no, definitely not at you.” He caressed her cheek.

  “But—”

  “Sh, listen. I was angry with myself. I meant to give you a little hello peck and I came very close to letting it get away from me. I can’t seem to help myself, sweet Kiley. Every time I get close to you I can’t think straight. I mean to stay calm and non-threatening but as soon as I touch you, I forget. I was mad because if those people hadn’t interrupted us, I would have completely lost track of where we were and devoured you.”

  “Oh!” She looked at him with understanding dawning on her face. “What—”

  “You have the most kissable mouth.” Jordan traced his thumb over her lips. “I’ve dreamed of kissing you, really kissing you since the day I met you. I would have if we hadn’t been disturbed. Your lips are so sweet. Once I’d kissed you, I know I would have needed to touch you, to explore you.” He noticed her breathing was becoming labored and her cheeks were flushed. “We were on a public street in broad daylight. I was mad because I came too close to losing control.”

  “But you said…”

  “I know. I implied it was your fault. It wasn’t, Kiley. All you did was show up. That’s more than enough to make me want you. I had you flustered again and you are so damn feminine when you get that way. Without doing anything beyond saying good morning, I felt like you were seducing me. That’s my mind, Kiley. You didn’t do a thing.”

  Kiley hugged him, moving sluggishly. Mm, this man could talk! She sighed. “It’s okay.”

  “Thanks but it’s not. You were right. I did grab you just as you said. The only excuse I have is that I spent the night before replaying the fantasies that your green dress inspired.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Tell you what, my fantasies?” She nodded. Was this a side effect of the drug or had it relaxed her enough to say what was on her mind? “Come on Kiley, you don’t really want to hear them. You can guess most of them anyway.”

  “You don’t have any,” she pouted.

  “Kiley, you are so wrong.” It was not the right time for this. How could he possibly tell her all the things he wanted them to share and not have it end with both of them naked? There was absolutely no way he’d take advantage of her in the state she was in. She was still looking at him expectantly. “We shouldn’t have this conversation now. I’ve already shown my lack of control around you. Discussing the many ways I’ve imagined us together and not touching you would be more than I can stand. I’m not sure I’m strong enough.” She continued to stare at him. “Kiley, really, you’re asking too much.”

  “Then tell me about the kiss,” she urged, snuggling against him.

  “All right.” Maybe he could do this. Wait! Not do this, he’d tell her but there was no way he’d actually do it. Not tonight. As long as he pretended to be talking about people other than them, maybe he could say enough to satisfy her curiosity. “It will start gently, soft, like our others have. Instead of ending though, we’ll continue it. When it’s time,
I’ll use my tongue to caress your lips. You’ll open your mouth, slightly at first, inviting me to taste you. In return, you’ll explore my mouth too. We’ll both let the kiss deepen, knowing we want more and using our mouths to say that. By now, we’ll be pressed tightly against each other. I’ll feel your nipples through our clothes. You’ll know how much I want you since you’ll be able to feel how hard kissing you has me. But we won’t end it just yet. We’ll be so involved with enjoying it because it’s showing us how much we want each other. We’ll both be senseless with desire but…”

  The phone rang.

  “That’ll be Brett and Shane with Alyssa.

  “McKade.”

  “How’s Kiley?” Shane asked impatiently.

  “Starting to come out of it. She’s finally talking some. Her eyes still look pretty bad but Kiley’s doing okay. Did you find Alyssa?”

  “She’s here. She wants to talk to Kiley.”

  Jordan turned over the phone after telling her that her cousin wanted to speak to her.

  “Damn it, Lyss! Your timing sucks.” Kiley sat up too quickly and Jordan had to reach out and steady her.

  “Kiley, what’s wrong with you? Why are you yelling?”

  “He was talking to me, Lyssa. Telling me things. I could feel every word everywhere. I was about to come and you ruined it!”

  Alyssa shrieked loud enough that Jordan heard her too. “What the hell is going on there? Kiley, if he’s touched you—”

  “You’re not listening. Jordan is being very well-behaved and gentlemanly and I am so damn tired of it. Don’t you get it yet? I want him to touch me. I finally got him to talk to me for real and he was making me tingle all over and I was so close— Oh God, I’m going to be sick.” Kiley thrust the phone at Jordan and stood unsteadily.

  “Hang on,” Jordan managed to say in the direction of the phone as he helped Kiley to the powder room. Setting the phone on the sink, he held her hair and rubbed her back while she retched. When she finished, she rested her head on the wall.

  Jordan could hear Alyssa yelling through the phone. “Alyssa, we have some things to do here. Why don’t you call back after the next period?”

  “I don’t know who the hell you are but—”

  “Alyssa, I’m sorry but I don’t have time to get into this with you now. Kiley needs me. I promise I’ll answer all your questions later. Please give the phone back to Shane.” He could hear her grumbling but she did as he asked. “Shane, Kiley’s sick but I assure you that I have everything under control. Whatever you do, do not bring Alyssa here. You’ve got to stay at the game.” He knew Shane heard her moaning as he comforted her.

  “Okay, Jordan. We’ll call you again in about an hour.”

  “Tell me where she is!” Alyssa demanded as soon as he hung up.

  “I can’t.” Shane hated it but he knew Jordan was right.

  “McKade, it you don’t tell me I swear, I’ll hurt you. You didn’t hear the things she said to me.”

  “What things?” Brett spoke up.

  “Well,” she hesitated, “she was mad at me for interrupting them. She said Jordan was talking to her and if we hadn’t called, she would have…”

  “Would have what?” Brett asked when she stopped.

  Alyssa looked furious. “Come, all right! Kiley said she was about to come just listening to him. She said he was being too much of a gentleman to touch her like she wanted him to. She said she’d convinced him to talk to her and that’s how it’s affecting her. I have to get her away from him.”

  “Not a good idea.” Brett had to hide his grin. Jordan had heard her comments and, drugged or not, he was sure his friend was in for quite a night. And if she was sick now there was no way he could distance himself from her, not when she might need him. “I’m sure Kiley’s mortified enough at the moment. Hopefully, she won’t remember all of this but if she does, the last thing she needs is more of us, sitting there, watching her.”

  “But she’s my cousin. She needs me!”

  “No, right now I’m sure my brother is doing everything necessary for her. Kiley needs you to do as she asked and stay here so you can tell her about the game later. Consider how much worse she’ll feel if she thinks she ruined your birthday,” Shane stated even though he understood her frustration.

  “What happened to her?” Alyssa demanded. “Why is she acting like that?”

  “We’re pretty sure a very disreputable man who frequents the restaurant drugged her somehow.” Brett knew they couldn’t continue avoiding telling her.

  “What?”

  “He brought her to the bar where we met up for a beer before the game. We’ll figure out why later but I don’t think he was there for a friendly meeting. Jordan interrupted and escorted Kiley out of there,” Shane added.

  “Who? Why?” Alyssa was stunned.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get to all of that soon enough. Tonight, our only concern is your cousin and how we can make this as easy as possible for her,” Shane replied.

  “Alyssa, I know you’re worried. We all are. You cousin is just about the nicest person I’ve ever met. It makes no sense that anyone would deliberately try to hurt her. But, and I’ll give you my word on this, no one could take better care of Kiley than Jordan is,” Brett tried.

  “But—”

  “Believe him, Campini. I saw my brother put his own life at risk for her earlier. He did it without hesitation.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “At least two of the men at the table with Kiley were armed, probably all three. He walked right over to them and made it clear that he was taking her out of there. He did it in a way that said Kiley was his and he wouldn’t tolerate any bullshit they might be stupid enough to try,” Shane said thoughtfully. “I know Jordan said he’d answer all your questions later. I have plenty of my own for him too. Until two hours ago, I didn’t even know your cousin existed let alone inspired my brother like she obviously does.”

  “He’s taking care of her,” Brett restated.

  “Fine. We’ll stay,” she agreed sullenly. “For now anyway.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Don’t fight it, Kiley,” Jordan urged as she tried to resist vomiting. “It’s better to get it out.”

  “I hate to be sick,” she sobbed.

  “I know, sweet, but please, just let it go.”

  “I’m a mess. I’m disgusting.”

  “You’re beautiful to me, even when you’re not at your best,” he soothed.

  “Jordan.” She turned as another wave hit her.

  “That’s it. Go ahead. That’s my girl.” Jordan wished there were some way he could make this less awful for her.

  “If I get through this I’m going to hunt him down and make him take the same stuff,” Kiley declared when she sat back.

  “You are going to get through this and I’ll hold him down for you.”

  “Why did he do this to me?”

  “I honestly don’t know. But don’t worry, I’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Who were those men? You talked to them.”

  “One was Bo. He’s a bookie, pretty decent as bookies go. He’s not such a bad guy if you overlook what he does. The guy in the suit was Vincent. You might say he’s the right-hand man for Mr. Samuels who is, among other things, in the high interest loan business. My guess is Winslow was planning on using you to stall. I think he’s in trouble and getting desperate.” At her questioning look, Jordan continued, “He’s a high-stakes gambler. He’s been milking the females in Mr. Paul’s but I suspect that the well’s running dry.”

  “Why didn’t he just run away?” Kiley’s head was clearing even though she felt worse.

  “Mr. Samuels isn’t someone you can run from.”

  “Are you saying he kills people?”

  “I’m saying that it’s a possibility.”

  “And you know him?”

  “I know of him. We’ve never actually met.”

  “But you know that other guy, Vincent?” />
  “We’ve crossed paths but I wouldn’t really say I know him. How are you feeling?”

  “Dizzy. It comes and goes. I’m such a mess.”

  “Think you’re done throwing up?”

  “Yeah.” Kiley started to cry. “I’m so sorry.”

  “For what? You didn’t do this, sweet. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

  “I made such a mess. Look at me!” She tried to hide her face.

  “I am. And as far as I’m concerned you’re still beautiful. Are you up for a shower?”

  “I don’t know…I’m not sure…I’m afraid…” She covered her face again.

  “You think you’ll get dizzy and fall.” Jordan understood before she nodded, still not looking at him. “Then I’ll help to make sure you don’t.” He scooped her into his arms and headed for the steps.

  “No,” she moaned. “Your shirt. Put me down.”

  Jordan did once they reached the bathroom off his bedroom. “Kiley, stop it. My main concern here is making you as comfortable as possible. You’ll feel better with a shower. I brought you here so I could take care of you. Let me help.” He smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “Please love, I knew Winslow was bad news. I didn’t help you by preventing this but I’m here now.”

  Another dizzy spell hit her. He was right. She needed him and she knew it. Part of her wanted to giggle. All the times she’d pictured him in the shower with her and now he was going to be but only to keep her on her feet. Finally, she nodded.

  “Good girl. Now you sit here and I’ll go get something for you to put on. Then you’re going to rest and I’ll take care of everything else.” When she tried to protest, he said, “Don’t argue, please. You’re in no shape to do anything now. Tell you what. When this is all settled, you can take me someplace special.” Again she nodded. He made sure she was steady before he left her. In a minute, he was back with a shirt for her to wear. He had also searched the guest bathroom and found a new toothbrush.

  “Oh, yes please. That first.” Kiley almost fell as she stood.

  Jordan caught her and held her to him. “Hang onto me and I’ll get you set up.” He opened the brush and covered it with toothpaste. Then he pinned her between himself and the sink. “I won’t let you fall. Trust me, Kiley.” He held her hair while she awkwardly brushed her teeth. “Okay now let’s get you out of these clothes.”