Tempted by Two Angels [Notorious Nephilim 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (3 page)

The spell was broken. Caleigh stood and pushed past Hugh, resisting the urge to touch him. “I’m fine, Reeve. Just getting more water.”

She turned to retrieve her glass from the dressing table, but Hugh had already picked it up. As he handed it to her, a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Later, then,” he said softly. Caleigh wasn’t even sure he’d spoken it out loud.

* * * *

Caleigh ate dinner in the staff dining room. Some of the chambermaids gave her curious looks, but no one spoke to her. She didn’t care. She was lost in a sea of confused and arousing thoughts, and she couldn’t have held a meaningful conversation with any of them right now if she’d had to.

After rehearsal, she’d returned to her room and taken out the three letters. Fresh guilt washed over her as she read the flowery expressions of love. She’d been leading these men on for years, and was no more ready to be a wife to one of them than she was ready for Lilith’s Playground.

Something odd was going on here, but that thought didn’t frighten her. She wanted to know more. She wanted to immerse herself in it and experience things she’d never known before. It had been a strange set of coincidences that led to her being asked to audition. Caleigh couldn’t help believing she was supposed to be here, but she didn’t understand why.

The whiff of honeysuckle snapped her out of her reverie. She looked up to see Sterling advancing toward her, a delighted smile on his handsome face. Heads turned to watch his progress. Most of the women stared at him with their mouths open. Daggers shot from their eyes as Sterling sauntered up to her table. Caleigh gave him her best smile.

“May I join you?”

“Of course.” She waited until he’d taken a seat before scanning the room quickly. The envy on their faces gave her a thrill. “I didn’t expect to see one of the owners in the staff dining room.”

“I came looking for you. One of the front desk clerks told me she saw you heading in here earlier.”

“Well, now that you’ve found me, what do you intend to do with me?” Caleigh nearly clamped a hand over her mouth as soon as she said the words. Where had
that
come from? She wasn’t known for being shy, but she couldn’t remember ever speaking to a man she’d known less than forty-eight hours in such a bold manner.

Sterling laughed, and his green eyes danced with delight. Obviously he hadn’t minded her forwardness. “I was hoping I could persuade you to let me show you around the resort. The tour Leo and I gave you yesterday barely scratched the surface.”

Hugh’s earlier invitation came back to her, along with the decadent pictures his presence had conjured up. Should she tell Sterling she’d promised Hugh her company? Then again, Hugh wasn’t here right now, Sterling was. He’d come looking for her. She let that thought roll around for a few seconds before responding. “I imagine not. This place is enormous.”

Sterling leaned close, his eyes shining like emeralds. The scent of honeysuckle was strong this close. At her audition she’d found it odd that a man would smell like flowers, but now it didn’t seem unusual. Butterflies were drawn to the nectar, after all. That’s how Caleigh imagined herself as she inhaled the scent and looked into Sterling’s eyes—a butterfly, helpless to resist his pull. She had to move closer for a taste.

“I’d like to show you some of the places our staff don’t usually visit,” he said softly.

Caleigh pushed her plate away and took another sip of water before rising. The few diners left in the room had stopped talking and all eyes watched them. It wasn’t the same as being on stage. This was more like one of those dreams where you stood in front of the class naked. All Caleigh wanted to do was flee this room.

Caleigh took his arm, and even the jolt that passed through her body at his touch couldn’t shake the feeling she was stepping off a high precipice into total darkness.

Caleigh smiled at Sterling as he led her through the lobby. “I just realized I never asked you or Leo how old this resort is.”

“We opened it in 1921.”

“I was just a child then—five years old. Are you all related? I only ask because I notice the owners share the same two surnames.”

“In a manner of speaking.” His tone indicated the subject wasn’t open for discussion. How odd.

“Was building it a family project, then?”

“Yes.” Sterling led her to a large wall covered with framed photographs and pointed toward the portrait of a woman with dark eyes, dressed in flapper garb. “This is our cousin, Lilith. The resort is named after her.”

Caleigh suppressed a shudder. She hadn’t lingered too long in front of this wall yesterday because of the very photograph he now indicated. There was something unsettling about Lilith’s expression. It was almost serpentine, as though any second now her face would morph into that of a snake. Instead of the short skirt and strappy pumps, skin with colorful diamond patterns would emerge. A forked tongue would replace her white teeth and blood-red lips.

Caleigh let go of his arm and hugged her elbows as a blast of cold air washed over her.

“The other photographs are guests at some of the parties we’ve had here,” said Sterling. If he’d noticed her reaction to Lilith’s portrait, he didn’t show it.

Caleigh turned her focus to the other pictures, frowning at the twelve men dressed in clothing about fifteen years out of date, gathered in a semicircle near the front doors. Two men who looked strikingly like Sterling and Hugh were among the subjects. As she continued to study it, she realized she recognized Reeve and Niko in the photograph as well. But what really caught her eye was Leo. In the photograph he looked to be the same age as the others, but in person he appeared to be at least ten years older. The other men, however, looked the same as they did now.

What the hell is going on here?

Sterling guided her away from the wall of photographs, but not before a quick look of alarm passed over his face. It was gone so quickly Caleigh wondered if she’d imagined it. Had he noticed her studying the photograph? But surely he couldn’t have known what she’d been thinking, could he?

“Where next?” she asked, to take the focus off the wall of portraits.

“The rooftop.” He looked into her eyes with such intensity she felt dizzy. “It’s a beautiful night. Perfect for stargazing.”

He led her to an elevator set apart from the others, and produced a key to open the gate. As it began to ascend he explained. “This leads to the owners’ suites.”

A shiver of anticipation ran through Caleigh. “I thought you said we were going to the rooftop?”

Sterling actually blushed. Or it could have been a trick of the dim light, but Caleigh didn’t think so. “Oh, we are. The only way to access the roof is from the owners’ wing.”

“I see. I thought for a minute there you were about to invite me in to show me your etchings.”

The elevator stopped, but Sterling didn’t open the gate. The look he gave her was filled with intense longing. His eyes blazed with light, the air became heavy, and Caleigh found it difficult to take a breath. She’d never been claustrophobic, but right now all she wanted was to get out of this elevator and quickly.

“I don’t have etchings, but I do have a very fine collection of sailing prints and antique items from old ships. If you ever want to see them, all you have to do is ask.”

His intention was clear. He wasn’t even trying to mask it with clever or innocuous words. All she had to do was say “yes” and they’d be in his bed within five minutes. Caleigh knew it as certainly as she knew her own name. She couldn’t look away from his gaze, and all attempts to form a coherent thought were useless.

Sterling broke the spell by opening the gate and ushering her into the hallway. A sense of loss washed over her as she stepped onto plush carpeting. Their footfalls were muffled, and she felt as though she should whisper if she spoke.

He offered his arm again, and she took it, shivering at the electric jolt. The scent of honeysuckle was cloying up here, as though someone had doused the walls and carpeting with it. He led her to a door at the end of the hallway. When he opened it the fresh night air rushed down around them. Caleigh took several deep breaths, trying to clear out the honeysuckle and confusion.

A steep set of metal stairs led to a concrete expanse, bordered on four sides with a chest-high metal railing. In each corner a domed spotlight lit the floor. Caleigh looked up and was treated to more stars than she’d ever seen. “Oh…it’s breathtaking.”

“Yes, it is.” Sterling’s voice was quiet, almost reverent.

Caleigh didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to. She knew what she’d see in his eyes if she did. Instead she walked toward the nearest railing and leaned against it for support. Six stories below, lights blinked in between the trees, close to the resort. As she scanned the forest that stretched out into the distance, it was pitch dark. Only the sound of the breeze stirring the trees gave an indication there was foliage out there. The sound of insects filled the air, and in the distance she heard an owl hoot.

Sterling stood next to her. The heat coming off his body was intense. “Pine Lake is on the other side.” He pointed to their left. “You can smell the water from up here.”

“That’s the one in back of the resort, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the largest of the three lakes on the property.”

Caleigh walked along the railing then inhaled. He was right. The smell of water mixed with pines filled her head with a clean fresh scent. “You mentioned sailing prints. Do you sail?”

“No. I just like the idea of being on the water, out in the open. Such freedom.”

Caleigh finally faced him. His hair lifted gently in the breeze, and she was seized with an urge to touch it. It looked soft. The light from the floor illuminated his prominent cheekbones and the tiny cleft in his chin. He was a strikingly handsome man, different than Hugh, but no less gorgeous. And those eyes…they shone with a light all their own.

“Caleigh, you’re beautiful.”

“Sterling…thank you.” She’d been told that before, but coming from him it sounded more sincere than it had from groping boys in high school and college. This was no boy who stood inches from her, under the stars. This was a man, all grown up and possessing a quiet intensity that she didn’t quite know how to respond to.

“Do you know any of the constellations?” he asked, looking up.

She shook her head, watching his profile. “Not really.”

“There’s the Lyra” He pointed to a parallelogram. “See the ring nebula at the bottom?”

“Oh, how beautiful.”

“Do you see the shape of the lyre?” he asked, taking her hand and tracing it in the air.

“I do now.”

“And over there is Sagittarius. See how those stars form a teacup shape?”

Caleigh laughed. “I never noticed that before. How fascinating.”

“Some years ago I left the resort for a while and traveled, mostly in the desert. You can see everything out there. No light contamination, like you find near cities.”

“I’ve never seen this many stars in any place I’ve lived. Why did you leave the resort?”

Sterling’s expression turned dark. “I had some thinking to do.”

“Sounds ominous.”

“No. It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it then?”

He gave her a long searching gaze, as if trying to decide whether to say anything, but finally searched the sky again. “Have you ever seen a shooting star, Caleigh?”

“No. Have you?”

“Several times. They’re not really stars, you know. They’re the visible paths of meteoroids entering the Earth’s atmosphere.”

Caleigh had to stifle a giggle. He sounded so serious. “You know a lot about heavenly bodies.”

“It’s a beautiful planet. I wonder how many people here realize just how well-designed and unique it is?”

A shudder ran through her body. His tone was almost chastising, as if he were scolding the human race. “I suppose it’s easy for us to take it for granted, although I’m sure no one means to.”

He sighed, then the corners of his mouth turned up. The intensity of his earlier expression melted, replaced with a boyish grin. “Listen to me, going on and on like this. I haven’t asked you anything about your life. Were you born in Philadelphia?”

“Just outside of it, actually. Bryn Mawr. My mother teaches art history, and my father is a mathematics professor at Bryn Mawr College.”

“I see. But you didn’t follow in their legacy?”

“Juilliard was eventually considered an acceptable alternative for their youngest daughter.” She gave him a sideways glance.

“And your siblings?”

Caleigh sighed and leaned back against the railing to watch his face. “Two brothers are overseas. Edgar is in the Navy, and Will is in the US Army Air Corps. Both have wives and toddlers waiting for them to return home when this war ends. My two older sisters are both working their way through graduate school. Aislinn is majoring in physics, and Maire in molecular biology. I’m the artsy one—the one who had to go her own way.”

His gaze traveled over her face, across her bosom and down her legs, then back up again. It was both sexual and curious in nature, as though he were trying to size her up by physical appearance alone. As his eyes bored into hers again, Caleigh had the uncomfortable feeling he could read her thoughts.

“I’ve always admired people who go their own way.” His voice was soft, almost reverent again. “Have you always been interested in singing?”

“I’ve been singing since I can remember. I used to coerce my siblings into helping me put on theatrical performances for the neighbors. My parents were mortified. It was cheap, they said.”

“Did your neighbors enjoy them?”

“Immensely.”

“At least your parents let you attend Juilliard.”

Caleigh snorted. “I’m afraid I didn’t give them much of a choice. I used to sneak out in the evenings to sing in clubs while I was still in high school. I took the train to New York and auditioned for Juilliard without them knowing. Edgar, my oldest brother, came with me. Our parents were steamed when they found out, but when my acceptance letter came in the mail, they finally gave their consent. After a lot of persuasion from Edgar, of course.”