Secrets - [Guardian Trilogy 01] (9 page)

“What on earth are you doing here?”

“It’s nearly 9:00. We have to go. We'll be late for church. Why aren’t you ready?” She took a closer look at the dark circles under my eyes. “Are you sick?”

“No, just tired. I forgot about today. Give me five.”

Six

I had to go to the gallery, but I was wavering. Normally, I had no problem deciding what to do. My mind was always in consensus with itself, but not this time. Half of me wanted to stay away from the girl because I didn’t want to kill her. I would do it if I had to, but it wasn’t something I would enjoy. I had the sneaking suspicion I might even feel badly afterwards. The other half of me was curious. It wanted to meet her. Figure out who and what she was. I sighed and thumbed through my address book, looking for someone who would be an acceptable date. Someone pretty enough to keep the girl intimidated and away from me. The goal was no interaction. That was the compromise I made with myself. If I didn’t talk to her, there was no harm in going and observing. I could remain detached. She’d probably be less interesting this time anyway, and I’d laugh about working myself up over nothing. I found just the girl I was looking for. Candi Shelton. She was beautiful enough to intimidate the photographer, dumb enough not to get it, and pliable enough to do as I told her. I drove over to Candi’s house to let her know she would be my date tonight. Refusing in person was not a feat many could accomplish.

As Candi dressed, I looked around her apartment. It was frilly and a little tacky for my tastes. Her bookshelf was covered with pictures of herself. I wasn’t even sure she owned a book. Fashion magazines and tabloids littered her coffee table and cheap prints of famous paintings hung on her wall. I looked at my watch once more, bored out of my mind. What on earth could possibly be taking her this long?

At length she emerged from her bedroom with an overwhelming flowery musk trailing behind her. She stared at me, waiting for a compliment. Instead, I put my hand on her back and asked if she was ready. She looked at me adoringly and let me lead her out of the apartment without a care.

I drove us to a restaurant, where I ignored her as she mindlessly jabbered on and on in an endless series of nothing. If I didn’t need her, I would have stood up and walked out. How could I have forgotten how insufferable she was? Finally our dinner hell was over and we went to the Harris Gallery. There was a good crowd inside, but my eyes immediately found their target. I encouraged Candi to look at the pictures on her own, while I studied those nearest to where the girl, Olivia Martin, was standing. She was talking with the same friend she’d been with at the bar, and she appeared not to see me, which was for the best. I felt something in the room, something from my world, but I couldn’t pinpoint it in the crowd. Before I could worry too much about it, it started to move away. A few of her photographs caught my eye. They were truly remarkable. She didn’t just take someone’s picture, she caught their soul. The emotion on the film almost seemed tactile. I purchased two pieces while she was talking and mingling, considering it an investment—I had no doubt she would be famous someday. Everything was going perfectly until she ran into me.

 “Uh, I-I-I uh . . .” she said, and I watched her cheeks flush.

 “Excuse me,” I said quietly. I left before she could be encouraged to talk to me again. I walked around the room keeping my eyes on her. She seemed unhappy to be speaking with the man in front of her. There was an awkwardness to the way she held herself, as if she were on edge. I moved closer so I could better hear what she was saying.

“Do I look stupid?” she snapped.

“Olivia …” the tall, dark hair man said in a condescending tone. I could already tell I wasn’t going to like this man.

“No, just leave,” she insisted, annoyance registering on her sweet face.

He looked at her in a manner that made me want to wipe the floor with his face. “You want me to stay.”

“No, I really don’t. I want you to walk away and never come back.”

“You fascinate me.”

“Get out,” she hissed.

“Not until you listen to me.” He was a persistent bastard.

I had enough. “I believe the lady asked you to leave,” I snarled quietly, no longer able to hold back the violence growing inside of me. If I was forced to listen to his insipid voice for another moment, I’d rip out his tongue and beat him with it.

The man looked as if he was stupid enough to argue with me. I placed a hand on his arm, directed my eyes to his, and focused my will. The man dropped his glass, but got the message loud and clear. “You’ll leave now, and you’ll leave quietly,” I informed him. My eyes followed him to make sure he complied.

“How did you find me?” Her voice broke my concentration. It sounded just as it did in my head and I realized my mistake too late. I’d put myself directly in her path. There was no way to remain a passive observer anymore.

I looked at her steadily, trying to make her uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“I, uh, well no, I guess not. Sorry.” Again her cheeks colored, which only intrigued me more. I resisted and turned away from her. I had done it. I could make my escape. I breathed a mental sigh of relief, until her long, thin fingers touched my arm.

Startled, I turned back faster and more roughly than I intended. I felt something I couldn’t identify when she flinched away from me—not amusement, something else entirely.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to thank you for helping me with Christopher.”

I wanted to be a bastard. I wanted to scare her away—save her, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted to know who she was more than I was concerned for her safety though I felt a slight twist of my gut at the thought of her coming to harm. “You’re welcome. He won’t bother you again.”

She nodded, but her lovely blue-green eyes remained pensive and seemed to pierce through me. The faint ring of yellow around each pupil made her gaze nearly hypnotic.

“My name is Olivia Martin,” she eventually said, extending her hand to me with confidence. I kissed the soft, smooth skin on the back of her hand and my chest tightened. Our eyes never broke contact. Nothing existed except for her, and there was nothing I wanted more than to claim her at that moment. No rational thoughts could talk me out of it. She would be mine. I pulled her towards me. She didn’t resist. But not in the same way Candi didn’t resist. Olivia was still consciously choosing me—at least I was pretty sure she was.

“Holden, I’m bored.” I heard Candi’s annoying voice. I chose to ignore her, but Olivia’s eyes flickered from mine breaking the spell.

“Candi, didn’t you look at the pictures?” Patience was one of my stronger virtues. I was good at biding my time.

“It’s Cathi,” she said as if I should care. “Besides they’re all of ugly people.”

An annoyed laugh rolled from Olivia’s lips and her eyes flashed with anger. Her face was so honestly expressive that I couldn’t hold back a smile. Her annoyance was adorable—and I had completely underestimated her. She wasn’t intimidated by Cathi at all. In fact, she seemed to look down on her. Cathi would be heartbroken.

“Cathi, this is the photographer, Olivia Martin.” I waited for the claws to come out.

“Neat.”

“It’s lovely meeting you …Candi was it?” Passive aggression fit her like a glove, but before Cathi could respond with her own barb I put an end to it.           

“Candi, why don’t you go get our coats. I'll meet you at the door.”

“
Cathi.
”

“Does it matter? Please get the coats.” I felt Olivia watching my interaction with Cathi with those curious eyes. I looked back, waiting for the questions that would force me to do what I didn't want to do.

“Can you not remember all of your girlfriends’ names or was that for my benefit?” It wasn't at all what I expected. She might have even been mad at me. Much to my surprise, I sort of liked it.

 “I bet I'll remember your name, Olivia.”

“Only time will tell. It was nice meeting you, Holden.” She had a lovely smile.

“Good night.” She was more than I ever imagined she would be. This girl didn’t have a boring bone in her entire body—and I had every intention on searching it thoroughly too. I couldn’t seem to cloud her thoughts for any length of time before she broke through. Suddenly my boring life was becoming very complicated.

I drove Cathi home without speaking to her, and I didn’t walk her to the door or kiss her goodnight. I was completely uninterested. Only one woman held my thoughts right now—and on that front, I had something I needed to take care of. I pulled a wallet from my pocket and went to the address on the license. Now this, I would enjoy.

Seven

 
I dressed as quickly as I could, bringing my makeup for the drive. Juliet drove my car, and I napped in the passenger seat as we headed my mom’s house. She took pity on me and didn’t talk, just put on soft music leaving me to my vain attempts at a little more sleep. As we neared my childhood home she reminded me that I might want to use the cosmetics I’d brought.

“Those circles under your eyes will worry your mom.”

“She may not notice. She’ll be too mad that we’re late.” I started applying cover up and foundation as I grimaced at Juliet.

“So what happened last night? Any late night visitors?” she asked, lifting her perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.

“No, I was just restless.”

Juliet made a noise that said she wasn’t buying it, but she didn’t say anything. I felt bad not telling her the whole story, but I couldn’t even begin to explain what had happened. Seeing faces that weren’t there and strange hands in the window—more than likely all I’d do was freak Juliet out too, and then there’d be two of us not sleeping.

We pulled into the driveway of my parent’s two story white house. It had been my mother’s childhood home as well. Despite its stately appearance, it was always comfortable—full of love and laughter. My mother was waiting for us on the porch with a hand on her hip. I walked up the three stairs and gave her a hug.

“You’re late, and I imagine it’s your fault. Am I right, Juliet?”

Juliet grinned. “I had to wrangle her out of bed.”

“Some things never change,” Mom said with a laugh.