Black Opal (12 page)

Her appetite vanished. She sat her plate next to his.

Reaching out, he caressed her arms, his hands warm and comforting. His gaze searched hers.

She knew her face mirrored her doubts.

He stiffened and dropped his hands to his side.

With his hands gone, Sabina felt a chill she hadn’t noticed before. “You didn’t take the amulet.” The words came out of their own accord.

He stood up and took an abrupt turn about the room then came back to stand in front of her. He looked straight at her. “I thought about it.”

“Why didn’t you?” She picked at the bedspread with her fingernails.

“First let me tell you why I thought about it.”

“All right.”

“I thought it would force Victoria to come after me.”

“So what made you change your mind?”

“Sabina, I know what power is contained in the amulet.”

At his words, her fingers stopped their restless movement. She could feel the blood drain from her face. He’d said that before. Did he know? Or was he fishing?

“If something went wrong you’d be defenseless. It would be like taking away a loaded gun.” He gave a short laugh that held no humor. “That amulet is probably more protection to you than I am.”

She didn’t respond, unsure what to say.

“When that bomb went off, I thought I’d lost you.”

She noted the tremor in his hands before he jammed them in the pockets of his jeans that he’d traded his lounging bottoms in for. The thought distracted her for a moment. He must have dressed in another bedroom. He was shirtless. His feet were bare and he looked as sexy as sin.

“I swear my life flashed before my eyes. I always thought it was just an expression but it really happened. When I found out you were alive, all I could think about was getting you as far away from that crazy bitch as possible. The idea of having you in the same city as that megalomaniac dries the spit right out of my mouth.”

Speechless, Sabina blinked, astonished at what she was hearing.

“I know you don’t want to hear this but I’m not playing any more games with you, Sabina. Life is too short.” His eyes were dark and filled with heat, drawing her in like a magnet. “I’m in love with you. I know it doesn’t make sense, we barely know each other. Nonetheless it’s true. I fell for you the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

She felt raw emotion jolt through her. Happiness and incredulity rolled in the pit of her stomach like two meteors colliding in the dark.

“And that’s why you were in a liplock with another woman?” The words popped out.

“She was the instigator of that little scene,” he grimaced.

“Who is she?”
Don’t lie to me, Adam. Please don’t lie to me. I know who she is.
She clasp and unclasped her hands beneath the coverlet to keep herself from shredding it.

He straightened as if preparing for a blow. “Victoria Price.”

She studied him trying to marshal her thoughts which were scrambling in a dozen different directions.
Can I trust you? Are you in cahoots with her? I want to trust you, Adam but too much is at stake.
“Why were you having dinner with her?”

“To gain information.”

“How did you find out who she was?”

He took another restless turn around the room, reminding her for a moment of a black panther she’d once see in a zoo pacing in its cage, back and forth, back and forth.

“For whatever reason, she’s coming on to me. She dropped enough hints to leave me no doubt who she is and what she wants.”

“And did she get it?”

At the question, he stopped his pacing. “Jealous, darling?”

She raised her eyebrow, tipped her head and said in a cool voice, “Curious.”

“I’d rather bed a cobra,” he replied flatly.

Relief washed over her. She bit her lips together to keep from smiling. On this one thing she believed him. But the love thing that was another story. She squashed down the burgeoning hope that he was telling the truth.

He came over to her bed, picked up her hand and ran his thumb lightly across her palm.

Heat traveled up her arm and her breathing came faster.

“Isn’t here where you throw yourself into my arms and proclaim your undying love for me too?” The words were light but she could feel the anxiety coursing through him traveling from his fingers into hers.

“Adam, I…” It was all she could do to keep from doing exactly what he’d suggested.

For a brief moment, Sabina thought she saw real hurt in his eyes before his lashes flickered down and hid them. He gave her hand a light squeeze then stepped back. “It’s okay, Sabina. I understand.”

Do you, darling? I doubt it.
She tried again. “Adam.” She reached for him then dropped her hand. What was there to say? “I need to get back.”

He looked ready to argue but instead shrugged, turned and walked away.

She leaned forward. “Adam.” She stared at his bare back and the way his jeans hugged his hips. He was so handsome it hurt.

He paused and turned a question on his face.

“Can I use your phone?”

“Of course.” He pulled the cell out of his pocket, handed it to her then walked out.

For a long moment, she stared at the closed door then pushed her heavy mane of hair out of her eyes and dialed.

“Maureen.”

“Sabina, is that you? Thank the gods.”

“Is Bella all right?” She hunched over drawing her good leg up to her chin.

“Of course.” Sabina could hear the unspoken “can you doubt it” in her friend’s voice. “Though, she was in bad shape when I got here.”

“What about her face?” Sabina’s stomach started to flop remembering the blood covering her friend’s lovely features. The thought of Bella being permanently scarred was unthinkable.

“A few pink scars but with one or two more laying on of hands,” she referred to the healing power from the amulet, “she’ll be as good as new.”

“Thank the gods,” Sabina said fervently, adding, “and you.”

“Yes, if I’d been a few hours later…” She changed the subject, “Why did Adam Morelly take you out of town?”

“He said to keep me safe.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I’d like to.” Sabina wrapped a strand of hair around her finger, playing with it. A habit she thought she’d broken as a child.

“Sometimes all we can do is follow our heart.” Maureen’s voice softened perceptibly.

Sabina gave a shaky laugh. “Spoken like a blissfully happy newlywed. But you know we don’t have that luxury. As long as we wear the amulets, there’s too much at stake.”

“I know you’re right,” Maureen sighed. “But it took Jack nearly getting killed for me to finally trust my instincts where he was concerned. And my instincts tell me that Adam is a good man.”

“He’s connected to the mafia. His uncle tried to kill Bella.”

“In spite of his connections,” Maureen said firmly. “But enough about Adam Morelly, how are you?”

“Stiff and sore.”
And I can barely crawl out of bed.

“Come back to Charlotte where I can heal you.”

“If you are sure Bella is all right, I may just stay put for a day or two.” And even though going back was what she’d told Adam she wanted to do, at the moment it was just more than she could undertake. Now that she knew Bella was all right and wouldn’t be scarred, exhaustion washed over her in waves. Her leg felt like a cooked spaghetti noodle. The pain pill Adam had given her hadn’t kicked in yet. All she could think about was going back to sleep.

“You aren’t well. I’ll come to you. Adam gave me your address.”

Sabina blinked in surprise. “Maureen, I appreciate that but you can’t go traipsing all over the country. If I’m not better in three days by all means come. I just need rest.” A huge yawn cracked her jaws.

“Three days.”

“Goodbye, Maureen. Give my love to, Bella.” She barely had the strength to snap the phone shut before her head hit the pillow and she sank like a rock into a deep dark void of slumber.

She must have slept round the clock because when she opened her eyes the room held the semi light of dawn. She moved her hand to the other side of the bed but felt only emptiness. Acute loneliness engulfed her before she forced herself to stiffen her spine.

Sitting up in bed, she placed her legs over the side and stood up. She swayed for a moment then righted herself. Putting most of her weight on her good foot, she hobbled to the window, opened it and sniffed fresh crisp air.

What an incredible view.
Pearly gray mist tinged a pink sky. A dock led down to a small blue lake. Tree-lined mountains rose behind it.

The door opened. Adam stepped in wearing a black polo shirt and black jeans. His neat appearance reminded her of just how long it had been since she’d had a bath. Embarrassed, she leaned her hip against the windowsill for support and raked her fingers through her hair.

“Good morning.” He stared at her gravely.

“Good morning.”

“Would you like some breakfast?”

“What I’d really like is a shower.”

“Of course. I took the liberty of packing a bag for you before we left. You’ll find some clothes in the closet. Do you need help?”

“No I can manage.”

“I’ll start breakfast then.”

She waited ’til he left then found her clothes and limped to the bathroom. Gritting her teeth, she stepped into the shower and grasped the handle to keep from falling. Making use of the aromatic bath gels and shampoos she let the hot water roll over her the fragrant steam filling her senses. Feeling better she stepped out, got dried and dressed.

Her hand on the wall for support, she made her way to the landing. A catwalk ran from one end of the cabin to the other. The sun coming through the east window turned the honey-colored knotty pine paneling to gold.

She peered over the stained-oak rail. In a kitchen that gleamed with modern appliances, Adam fixed coffee and popped bagels into the toaster. She watched him for a moment, smiling at his domesticity.

As if feeling her gaze, he looked up.

Heat flashed between them like dry lightning. Her legs went weak.

As the sensual tension between them mounted, she tore her glance away. Ignoring her pounding heart, she straightened her spine, locked her knees and put one foot in front of the other, wincing as she put weight on her bad leg.

“Sabina, stay right there.” He came bounding up the stairs two at a time. “What are you doing?” He placed a hand under her elbow to steady her.

“Coming downstairs. I’m ready to go back to Charlotte.”

“Why the hurry? You’ve already given your last performance.” A pulse jumped in his jaw and his fingers tightened on her elbow. “I keep forgetting you don’t trust me.”

“I don’t have the luxury of trusting anyone,” she said quietly, hoping he understood what she wasn’t saying. That she desperately wanted to trust him. That if it was only her heart on the line she would take the risk. But the amulet was greater than both of them. If it ever fell into the wrong hands it didn’t bear thinking about.

“Let’s see how you do on these stairs. We’ll leave after breakfast.”

So the subject of trust was to be dropped like a rock in the bottom of the lake. It was just as well. There was absolutely nothing she could say or do to make the subject more palatable for either of them.

She tried her best not to lean on him, placing her hand on the rail and most of her weight on her good foot.

“Oh for God’s sake. We don’t have all day,” he said impatiently.

Before she could interpret that annoyed remark, Adam swept her off her feet and into his arms.
He’s carrying me down the stairs as effortlessly as if I was a lumpy bag of potatoes. How can such a slender man be so strong
? She could feel tight biceps beneath her hands jump and quiver when she moved restlessly her breast brushing against his chest.

“Be still if you don’t want us both to take a header down these stairs.”

“Not much of a morning person are you?”

“Guess not.” The tense muscles wrapped around her loosened and his tight jaw relaxed.

Reaching the landing his loafers clicked across the high-sheen wooden floors. He sat her down in a straight-backed oak chair and pushed her up to the table. A crisp forest green tablecloth fell in graceful folds across it. Rust colored mums in a brown ceramic vase sat in the middle of the table. She sniffed enjoying their spicy out-of-doors scent.

While she admired the flowers, he poured her a cup of coffee and set a bagel and cream cheese in front of her then walked to the window. Sticking his hands in his back pockets he stared through the sparkling clean glass.

She spread the creamy white cheese on her toasted bagel and took a bite. She swallowed then asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Hmm?” he answered absently still looking out the window.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Yes.” But he made no effort to move away from the window.