Dead Chance Page 6

  She stopped and opened a door. The room had plush gray couches mounted to the walls and a large mirror on one side. The gentle lighting in the room was a far cry from the harsh fluorescent lighting in department stores.

  Gretchen smiled, "Yes, thank you. But what about our suits?"

  I sat down on the couch. It felt nice, but my body needed to exercise.

  Chelsea smiled, "Bikinis?"

  I was about to say, no, I'll go to the treadmill, but Gretchen hurriedly said, "Yes."

  Chelsea looked at us up and down. "I will return with your suits."

  As she left, Gretchen said, "Holy shit, Dianna. How much do you pull in working here?"

  "Much more than I used to.” I’d just finishing paying off my debt and was getting ahead. Not having a mountain of debt looming over me was a relief.

  She said, "I totally understand why you turn down our offers to join up." She sat down near me. "Yeah. I get why you'd dig your boss. This place is posh."

  "Well, we only dated once so far. Last night."

  "How'd it go?" Gretchen sat up, with a sly smile.

  "Pretty well, actually." Thinking about Roth, I wondered if he ever used the pool. Stopping dangerous thoughts about the kind of suit he'd wear and imagining his chest and tight abs, I braided my hair in a single braid.

  Gretchen put hers in a top knot.

  Chelsea showed up with bikinis on hangers. She handed one to each of us. "Why don't you ladies try these on and I'll be back to make sure everything fits alright."

  We put on the bikinis. It felt weird putting on a swimsuit. I hadn't done that since college. The halter bra I'd expected to function more than anything turned out to have a deep plunging V that hooked in front. It took me a moment to adjust everything. The bottoms were cheeky, and I was glad I worked out so much.

  I touched the faint lines where Jason Lewis had bit me. They still hadn’t finished healing and looked more like old scars.

  Gretchen’s halter was more like a sports bra, and her bikini was high cut. Both were black, with the Burke & Wallace star logo in white on the bottoms at hip level.

  Gretchen said, "We rock. Let's go swim." As we walked to the pool, she said, “So you were telling me that you finally went on a date?”

  “Yeah. I went out with Roth.”

  “And who is this man that could lure you out,” she asked.

  “Well, he is my boss.”

  She stopped, “Dianna. That only works out in movies.”

  “Maybe. But I want to try.”

  “Well good for you. I was worried about you. After Halloween, you seemed even worse than before.”

  I stopped walking, “Sorry, Gretchen. I know I suck at the friendship stuff. Thanks for putting up with me.”

  She laughed. “Well, at least you know it. Let’s swim.”

  We got to the pool. I'd never seen or used it, so I was curious. It had a fountain pouring water into it. It was shaped like a typical pool, just more rounded at the corners. Behind the fountain were all types of trees and bushes. I assumed they were all fake plants since the water was salt water.

  The floor was made up of dark pebbles and concrete. The pool was lined in large rocks about the same color. No one else was around.

  We got in the opposite side, and Gretchen said, "Marry me."

  I snorted. "Probably the best offer I'll ever get."

  Giving me a wink she took off swimming.

  I decided to work off my angst by trying to keep pace with her long form. She was an excellent swimmer, and at about the tenth lap, I stopped. My stomach was gnawing at me in hunger. Holding on to the side of the pool to catch my breath the scent of cloves and honey made my stomach tighten.

  Biting my bottom lip, I looked up at him.

  "Are you trying to wear yourself out?" Roth asked.

  Gazing up into his glimmering eyes, I said, "Just burning off steam."

  Roth wore a pair of loose swim trunks low on his hips. His muscles flexed as I took in his abdomen and chest. "We can do that together." He sat on his heels in a squat. "We don't have to wait until tonight." His words held a promise of things to come.

  Gretchen had stopped, she came up behind me, standing, not needing to hold the wall or swim to reach the bottom. "Hi, I'm Gretchen. Dianna's friend."

  Roth's smile changed into his usual charming one. "Nice to meet you." They nodded at each other.

  She narrowed her eyes, "You're the boss, right?"

  He laughed, relaxing. "I have the honor to have Dianna serve under me."

  I started to blush.

  Gretchen whispered loudly, "I was wrong, Dianna. Go for it." She went back to swimming.

  Subtlety. Discretion. All were lost on her.

  Roth's gaze warmed up. "Telling stories of me?"

  "Just that we work together and went on a date."

  Roth leaned towards me and said in not quite a whisper, "If you finish up and need me, I'll be in the hot tub." He pointed to the circle of rocks. "It is behind the fountain." He winked, "Bring your friend."

  As he stood up, I splashed him.

  He chuckled.

  I did a few more laps, feeling better. But like a splinter in deep, I wondered about Lewis. Had he attacked someone else after our encounter? I needed to find him.

  I got out of the pool with Gretchen. She was radiant.

  "This is one of the worst and one of the best days of my life, Dianna."

  Like magic, Chelsea came in. "Ladies. Are you done swimming?"

  This was too much. Gretchen was obviously enjoying everything. "I am done."

  Handing Gretchen slippers and a robe, Chelsea said, "Miss Gretchen, refreshment is waiting for you in the powder room. Showers are by the lockers." She turned to me, "Mr. Craig has requested that you see him. He is over in the hot tub."

  Gretchen raised an eyebrow. "Oh la la. I'll see you later. Go have fun." Gretchen went off with Chelsea. She turned back around as Chelsea led her, "I will be abusing your friendship and making you take me here again."

  I waved at her and debated. I really wanted to know about Lewis. Roth being so high handed annoyed me. I didn't like being summoned, but no one else was here. Looking at the wall clock, my stomach grumbled again. Deciding the whole point of dating Roth was to have fun, do new things, I went to the hot tub.

  It was hidden by a fountain and some vegetation. The mini pool was circular, and Roth was in its bubbling waters. "Come on in, Di."

  Getting in, I looked at him. His dark hair was wet and slicked back making his angular features seem even more fox-like.

  I got in across from him.

  He shook his head. Reaching out he pulled me to him. "Dianna, I missed you."

  My chest crushed against his. I could feel his heartbeat speed up matching my own heart’s pace.

  His hands moved from my hips to my waist. They almost wrapped around my waist. "You are so tiny." His voice took on his ornery tone, "No one is here. Would you want to play?"

  Before I could respond, he turned me around, so my back pressed against him. He cupped the fronts of my breasts. I moaned against him. He nipped at my neck.

  I moved my hands on top of his. "Roth."

  "I want to watch you lost in pleasure." He rubbed his growing member against me, his hands moved to my waist. Even with the warm water, the ardent fire coming from him felt like it would scald me.

  Moaning, I pressed against him. I turned around to face him.

  His cheeks flushed, and his eyes were so bright it looked like they'd glow. A hand went behind my head, drawing me in for a kiss. Our lips met, and my hands went to his chest. Rubbing against him, he moaned. Closing his eyes, his tongue pushed in my mouth. I closed my eyes, lost in the sensations he coaxed out of me.

  Someone cleared their throat.

  Roth pulled away, putting my head to the opposite side of the man who had cleared his throat.

  "Sir, I am so sorry t-"

  "Yes. You are." Roth's voice had a bite to it.

  He ke
pt his hand on the back of my head, keeping my burning face on his shoulder. Not liking this type of high handed treatment, I put my hand hidden from the interloper's view up his shorts' leg, and caressed his upper thigh. He inhaled sharply as the man stumbled to respond.

  "Mr. Craig, I am so sorry, but Mr. Walsh insisted I come to request your presence. Immediately."

  My hands went lower, brushing the top of his swimming trunk.

  I heard Roth's teeth grind as he said to the man, "Piss off."

  I heard the poor man's rushed footsteps. I removed my hands, and Roth growled, grabbing me, so my breasts were smashed against him.

  "Well, who would have thought such a wee miss would have such bold hands." His voice was husky and soft. He lifted me out of the hot tub with him. "If I start kissing you, I won't stop, Di."

  Excitement filled me. I wasn't sure I would either.

  Roth closed his eyes. His muscles twitched as he fought for control. His voice was deeper than normal as opened his eyes, "I have things planned. Chelsea is going to help you get ready for tonight along with Birgit."

  I arched an eyebrow.

  He kissed my lips, and it was hard to keep standing. My legs grew weak. He pulled back, nipping my lip. "This won't take terribly long, and then you are in for a night of wonder and romance, Dianna."

  As he moved away and grabbed a towel from a nearby bench, I asked, "So, I go with these girls, and after they are done with me, the date will start?"

  He nodded, drinking from a water bottle. "Exactly. Just try not to fight them. Relax and enjoy it all."

  As he left, whistling a tune I didn't know, I wondered what he had planned.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Birgit was about six foot four and looked like a retired fashion model. Her blond-white hair was short and in a fancy short bob. Not one hair was out of place. She assessed me up and down while writing things on her tablet.

  Chelsea waited patiently.

  Making a happy noise, Birgit said to Chelsea, "Get her in the mud first."

  Not liking the sound of that, I said, "You know, I should really get going."

  Chelsea's hand on my arm tightened. She smiled, "Mr. Craig asked us to do this as a personal favor, Miss Grant. We don't want to let him down."

  Swearing, I gave in.

  They waxed me. Afterward, it felt like from the waist down I had no hair. The only hairs left made a heart pattern. I'd done that before on a whim. It had hurt then too.

  Birgit mercilessly plucked my brows. A chore I often put off. After putting some kind of creamy feeling thick goop everywhere on me, I lie on a table-like-bed for what felt like forever. Forced to listen to what I'm sure was labeled as tranquil music. Instead of finding it relaxing, it made me tense.

  Left alone with thoughts about Jason Lewis. He’d killed Daniel Connors. He'd gotten away. That meant that Lewis was headed to what he called home.

  Home meant a lot of different things to people. For some, it was where you hang your hat. For others, it was the town where they grew up. My bet was Lewis had returned to wherever he had family or friends that might hide him outside of Fort Augustine.

  The goo was finally wiped off me, and Birgit and Chelsea had me stand. They applied more cream all over, but the mixture felt less thick. It smelled like vanilla and had a sheen to it like pearls. It actually felt wonderful. My skin absorbed it, but it left a faint shimmer to it. This stuff really worked.

  "That cream is nice. What's it called?"

  Birgit smiled, "It is called Dianna."

  "Now that is a coincidence."

  She nodded, "Mr. Craig asked us to make a cream specifically for you scented with vanilla bean, and to enrich your natural glow."

  He really did live in a whole different world.

  Finished with arranging and making something in a bowl, Chelsea moved over to one of the plush salon chairs. She said, "If you could come over to this chair please?"

  Birgit wrapped me in a cotton robe. I sat in a chair while Chelsea did my nails and Birgit coated my hair with some brown and red concoction from the bowl Chelsea had used. She put a foil wrap on my hair as Chelsea finished my nails.

  My nails looked nice, both toes and fingers. The fingernails were slightly longer, but both sets were done in soft pink with white tips. I didn't hate it. I was afraid they were going to put crazy crap on them and make them too long. I kept my fingernails short because fighting and training broke them as much as typing. Chelsea had managed to make them look elegant and longer.

  "They look amazing, thank you."

  She smiled, "I am glad you like it." Putting on a timer, she said, "After your hair sits for about forty minutes we will come back and finish you up." She left the room.

  Birgit asked me, "What's your favorite color?"

  "Indigo," I said.

  Both of her eyebrows lifted. "Hmm." She asked, "Do you mind showing off your assets?"

  Normally, I wore high neck things. Big chests attract enough unwanted attention. Tonight was special. "No. Just nothing too risqué."

  Chelsea came back. She had some sushi, a water bottle, and a tablet on a tray. "Here you go, Miss Grant. The tablet is connected to streaming movie services and the web." She turned to Birgit.

  Birgit pursed her lips, "Okay. You are fine in heels, right?"

  "I usually wear four or six inches. Why?"

  "Hmm," she said looking at my feet. "I'll be back in twenty. Do not poke at your hair or take off any of the foil."

  Taking the large-sized tablet in its oversized black case, I wondered if this was how the execs were treated. It wasn't for me, but I really liked that cream.

  I got on the web and searched for Jason Lewis' hometown. Immediately social media sites popped up, as well as the headlines I'd gotten before. I went to his main account, judging by the number of pictures and people calling him a murderer on it. But there wasn’t any information on it prior to him living in Fort Augustine.

  Heading to online news articles, I scanned them hopping for some kind of lead. And there it was, in the article by The Morning Light, a notorious paper for its many bullshit stories with as many defamation lawsuits. Within the article, vampires in Fort Augustine was one line, "Daniel Connors and Jason Lewis were lifelong friends. Growing up together in the town of Solas." It was all coming together.

  I needed to go there. I needed to stop Jason Lewis.

  The online map’s directions on how to get to Solas made me groan. It was one hundred and twenty miles away, headed northwest. So, it was one of the towns in the valley of the mountains. The website search engine said the current population was around twelve thousand people.

  So it was similar to my hometown. In the valley of the mountains, small, and full of people who had grown up together. I worried my lip. I knew what I had to do. Go to Solas. Seek justice just like Whisper had said.

  I looked around for my phone. Not finding it, I cursed. Chelsea must have taken it. I used the tablet to log onto my email and send a quick note to Whisper. Headed out of town tomorrow. Solas. Shouldn't take long. Take care.

  Concise, and I didn't have much else to say to her. I was still mad at how she'd reacted to Roth. He wasn't a hellbeast. Just a man I wanted to date. Why wouldn't they tell me their connection? It grew more obvious that they knew each other. I'd talk to her when I got back. We could both use the time to cool down.

  Getting time off work would be tricky since I was still the new girl. It shouldn't take longer than three days if I left early tomorrow morning. So leave early Sunday, be back by Thursday for work.

  I'd ask Roth. He'd let me know what would be alright. I signed out of my mail service and wondered why Roth was doing all this. I didn't imagine all his dates got this treatment. So, I needed to decide. Did I let desire take over? Date him for the adventure he claimed was all women wanted from him? Or did I open my heart?

  I liked him. I'd laughed more with him in the month, or so I'd known him, than in the past half-decade.

  Chelsea cam
e in behind Birgit pulling a compact dress rack.

  Birgit held up a rich satin indigo floor length dress with an open V neck going past normal bra line. It was simple, and would probably flatter my figure. "This," she said. She took off another indigo dress, "Or this." The other dress was shorter, above the knee. It was silk with lace overlays. The top was barely there, a strapless deal with a plunging V.

  I pointed to the floor length gown. The dresses were luxurious.

  "Excellent choice," Birgit said.

  Chelsea took the gowns.

  Birgit undid the wrap, made happy noises and took me to rinse my hair. Coming back to the original chair in the empty salon, I sat down. Birgit styled my hair in an updo, while Chelsea did my make-up. Chelsea finished as Birgit put bobby pins in my hair.

  I wasn't facing a mirror so I couldn't see what they had done to me.

  "Stand up, please," said Chelsea.

  I stood up. Chelsea took off the black robe and handed me underwear in indigo. It was lacy. A matching bra with straps that made it not there under the dress. They helped me in the dress. It felt sinfully supple. Short heeled silver satin pumps. A belt of silver and crystals went on my waist, sprucing up the plain dress. Large crystal earrings and a silver and indigo clutch with small silver pearls on it in a lace pattern. Where on earth was Roth taking us on date number two?

  "You may look at yourself now," said Birgit.

  I turned to the full-length mirror. My hair was up in a loose and low chignon, with wavy curled strands. A few silver pearls surrounded by tiny crystals were scattered throughout the style. The color of my hair was no longer just dark brown with fading summer highlights. Instead, it contained richer hues in dark and light reddish tones. My skin looked shiny and without blemish. My eyes appeared larger than normal and were done smoky in dark grays and blues. The lipstick was a classic pink towards natural. I'd been contoured and looked like a magazine model for a how to wear it page. I tried to find the words.

  Chelsea smiled at my reaction. Birgit looked smug.

  "Mr. Craig has never requested this for anyone before," Birgit said. "I get why it's you. Don't break his heart." She said the last with her brows drawn.