CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) (21 page)

Chelan finally shut the door and turned to face him. He was taller than William and more powerfully built. He had always worked out at numerous fitness centers, and loved racquetball. His hair was short and dark, flowing in waves that would undoubtedly curl if he let it grow. His eyes were a compelling emerald green with an intensity that had always unnerved her. Reflexively, she almost crossed her arms across her chest, but instead she remained still, waiting for him to speak.

He finally stopped studying her. Cautiously, he reached out to her pink cheek, touching her tentatively as if to see if she was real. “Oh, man. What a sight for sore eyes.”

Chelan stared back at him. “I’m glad you were able to come.”

“Even after all these years, Chelan, I would have come no matter what.”

Chelan looked away and then brushed past him on her way to a large chair. She curled up in it and drew a pillow into her lap. “Come in and sit down,” she said.

Jim removed his overcoat and tossed it to the side, his eyes never leaving her. He pulled up another chair close to her and sat down. “Where have you been?” he pleaded.

Chelan chewed at her cheek. “I went away. I needed to be on my own.”

“Ten years on your own,” he countered brusquely.

Chelan tensed. “I’m sorry. It just had to be.”

Jim jumped to his feet. “You’re sorry,” he repeated almost sarcastically. He whirled around and peered down at her. “Do you know what you put me through? Do you know what you put your family through?”

Chelan’s throat constricted and she sprang to her feet, throwing the pillow to the side. “I don’t need this right now. I called you because I wanted your help and your friendship, not your venom and your rage. I’m sorry I stirred up old wounds.” She walked over to the door. “Now, if you don’t mind, please leave. Pretend I never came back. Pretend you never laid eyes on me.”

Jim was staggered. He had let the pain of the past edge in on the present, and now he sought to redeem himself. “I’m sorry, Chelan. I didn’t mean to hurt you. This is just such a shock. I’m… I’m just not thinking straight at the moment. I’m so sorry.” And he strode up to her, scooping her into his arms.

Chelan unexpectedly found herself clinging to him, the intensity of the situation sapping her reserves, her anger draining away.

Jim let her down and then led her over to the couch. There he sat her down gently beside him. He looked into her pretty eyes. “I’m sorry once again, Chelan—please forgive me. It’s just that I’m so stunned.”

Chelan’s head hurt and she flopped back onto the arm of the couch. She drew her legs up and closed her eyes. She was so weary.

Jim’s gaze travelled the length of her body, and all his fond memories of their past came flooding back to him. She had always been beautiful, and her intellect had kept him captivated from the moment of their first meeting. Throughout their relationship, he had tried endlessly to make love to her. But due to her insufferable shyness, she had always thwarted his advances. However, now she had returned, and the goddess before him caused his loins to warm.

Chelan finally opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. “Look, I know that I hurt you. I hurt everyone, and I apologize. I never intended to, and I know that is hard to process.” She looked at him. “But I don’t need any hassles right now, of any kind. I went away and now I’m back. You’re just going to have to accept that unconditionally. I don’t want to talk about what happened to me, or where I went or what I did or why.” She propped herself up on her elbows. “You have to accept that, Jim. If you cannot or will not, I will simply disappear from your life again.”

Jim stared at her while he thought. “Okay,” he granted. “I’ll allow you whatever space you need. You can come to me when and if you’re ever ready to talk.”

Chelan let her head fall back down. She covered her face with her hands and dug her fingers into her bleary eyes. “I’m so tired all of a sudden,” she confessed.

Jim glanced around the room. “Chelan?” he began.

“Uh-huh.”

“Look, why don’t you come back with me to my place?”

Chelan sat up abruptly and straightened. “No, thank you. William’s generously offered me his place here, and I love it.”

“No, no. It’s not what you think. I have a three-bedroom condo. I don’t know what has happened to you, but I know you are alone and need some companionship. And for some reason, I really don’t think you should be by yourself.”

Chelan heard the sincerity in his voice, but she was not going anywhere with him. Though she thought that maybe she could trust him, she did not want to be under a microscope. Besides, she was enjoying her freedom. And the last thing she needed was to feel indebted to him.

Jim became anxious, her silence concerning him. He wanted her with him desperately, and he wanted to pamper her to death, to win her back one way or another. But he knew he had to be patient.

She interrupted his thoughts. “Look,” she began. “I want to stay here, at least for the time being. But I would love to see your place.”

Jim beamed. “Great! No time like the present… if you wish, of course.”

Chelan pondered his offer carefully. Obviously, he had dumped everything at work to come see her, and it wasn’t like she had anything else to do. She stood. “Just hang on. I need a couple of things.”

Jim watched her disappear into the bedroom, her shapely body beckoning to him. He wanted so badly to follow her and to touch her, every part of her. But that would come. He would just have to bide his time. He shook his head hard. Patience was not one of his strong suits. It had never been.

Chelan retrieved her wallet and placed it in a small handbag she had bought on one of her excursions. Then she slipped into a new oversized sweater. She returned to him. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Jim looked around. “Don’t you have a coat? It’s chilly out there.”

Chelan hesitated. “Ah, no. I actually searched for one in the stores nearby, but I couldn’t find anything I liked.” Then she smiled. “I guess you’ll just have to take me somewhere else where I can shop.”

Jim smiled broadly. “No problem. You know I’m good at that.” He grabbed his jacket and pulled it over her shoulders. “Here, use this now until the car warms up.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Jim opened the door and then ushered her out of the apartment building. Chelan’s eyes grew large as they approached the black Ferrari. “Business is still doing well, I see.”

Jim smiled. “Yes, it is,” he said, and helped her in.

Chelan sank down into the car, almost feeling like she was back in a fighter’s cockpit.

“Like it?”

Chelan smiled at him as she hugged his jacket tight about her. “Love it,” she returned.

Jim beamed. “Good—then it’s yours.”

Chelan frowned and looked at him hard. But he did not react.

The car rumbled to life as he glanced into her wary eyes. “I’m serious,” he informed her casually. “Consider it a ‘welcome back’ gift.”

Chelan remained quiet throughout the trip, her mind urging her the whole time to be cautious. The obsidian car ducked into the underground parking lot and purred to a halt. Jim jumped out and came around to her side, opened the door, and helped her to her feet.

Into the private elevator they stepped, and moments later they were at the top floor of the towering building. Jim unlocked the door and bade her enter. “Home, sweet home,” he stated cheerily.

Chelan gaped at the luxury that abounded in the penthouse suite. The large marble foyer opened up to a huge living room. The oil paintings, the fine sculptures, the black grand, the Persian rugs—all of it stole her breath.

Jim reached for her and relieved her of his jacket. He hung it up and then watched as she descended the two steps into the living room. Her slender fingers caressed the back of one of the fine leather couches. He cleared his throat. “Come back this way and I’ll show you around.”

Chelan shook herself from her reverie and returned to him, following him down a long hall and into a bedroom at the very end. It was spacious and nicely decorated, a large bay window showering it with sunlight. Chelan walked over to the window and gasped, first at the view and then at the height. “Had any earthquakes lately?” she asked.

Jim chuckled. “Not to my knowledge.” He watched as she took in her surroundings. “Anyway, this is the spare room should you ever decide to stay or need another place to crash.”

Chelan looked at him and smiled. “Thank you,” was all she said.

He then beckoned to her. As they began back down the hallway, he pointed to his right. “This is the main washroom.”

Chelan walked up past him and peered into the cavernous area—two sinks etched out of marble, one wall completely mirrored, the whole area illuminated by the sky-lit vaulted ceiling. Against the far wall sprawled a large Jacuzzi and an equally large shower.

“Now I’ll show you the rest of the place.”

She turned to him only to find he was farther down the hall. He opened another door. She followed and peeked in.

“Office,” he said.

Chelan smiled at the piles of equipment and documents. “Obviously,” she replied.

Then he continued along. “And master suite.”

Chelan glanced around but did not wish to enter his private domain. “Everything’s beautiful,” she whispered.

Jim nodded. “There is one other small bedroom near the kitchen, but I use it for storage.”

Chelan followed him back to the entryway. From the tiled foyer she descended back into the sunken living room, the entire far wall a window with a spectacular panoramic view. To the left were the dining room and a palatial open kitchen. Jim remained at the top of the steps while she explored.

She glanced at him. “This is all fabulous.”

Jim was delighted. “Make yourself at home. There’s juice and bottled water in the fridge over there, and drinks in the bar. Grab some fresh muffins from the counter in the kitchen and hold tight for a bit. I have to make a few phone calls.”

Chelan nodded and glanced over her shoulder, watching him as he disappeared down the hall and into the office. She stepped over to the expansive living-room window and peered out at the view. He had done well, she mused. And he did have an eye for beauty—there was no doubting that. She smiled. Mom had always wanted the best for her. Maybe Jim had been pretty close to that.

“Anyway, if you get tired of being on your own, I’m sure you could be happy here.”

Chelan swung around, startled by his voice. “Yes, your place is lovely. I’m impressed. And I will keep your invitation in mind.”

Jim stood beside her. “Good, I want you to have options.” He headed for the kitchen. “How about some lunch—or brunch, I guess?”

Chelan followed but shook her head. “No thanks. But you go ahead.”

Jim poured some juice but kept his eyes on her. “Is that how you dropped all the weight, by starving?”

“No, of course not.” She looked up at him. “Why, do I look gaunt to you?”

Jim managed to keep himself from laughing. “Hardly. I was just teasing. You look like you’ve spent years in a gym, Chelan. You’re beautiful.”

Chelan smiled and turned away. She
had
spent years in a gym of one sort or another, ten long Earth years training and honing her body to near Iceanean standards. And she had achieved perfection. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said quietly.

Jim took a sip of his juice as he assessed her.
Beautiful
was an understatement. He could hardly pry his eyes off of her. Suddenly he found himself wishing he could see her naked, her long silken hair seductively concealing bits of her femininity. Jim took another sip of the cold juice, realizing that what he really needed was a cold shower.

Chelan’s voice finally roused him from his salacious thoughts. “Listen, Will told me that you’re still single. I don’t want to hang around too much and cramp your style.”

“Nonsense,” he countered. He put his glass down and moved in front of her. He placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “You’re right about the women—I won’t deny that— but right now there’s no one in the world I’d rather entertain than you. My little black book will be shelved for the duration of your stay in this fair city. You have my word on that.”

Chelan took a step back. “That’s not fair to you. I’m here as a friend and no more.”

Jim shook his head. “I don’t care. My love life can wait. There’s no one special anyway. So right now my main concern is you.”

Chelan smiled apprehensively, not sure if she felt flattered or fretful. “Well, I don’t ever want to be in your way. I can more than entertain myself.”

Jim took a deep breath as his eyes once again flowed over her curves. “Believe me, you could never get in my way.”

Chelan took another step back, rendered uncomfortable by the predatory gaze that fleetingly pierced his eyes. But whatever she saw was quickly replaced by warmth, and she relaxed.

Jim nodded. “Look, I have a few more loose ends to tie up at the office at some point, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to arrange to take a couple more days off.” He smiled at her. “We need to shop and to get to know one another again.”

Chelan nodded. “Sounds good. But I don’t want to put you out in any way.”

“Believe me, you’re not putting me out. Give me another moment in my office and then we can sit and catch up on whatever you wish.”

Jim turned to leave, but Chelan froze him to the spot with a light touch to his arm. “Please, I would prefer that you don’t tell anyone that I’m here.”

Jim’s expression turned to one of concern. “I won’t,” he assured her. “If that’s what you want.”

Chelan let him go. “It is. Right now it’s very important to me.”

“Very well. You know I would never betray your confidence.”

“Thank you,” she uttered. “I appreciate that.”