CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) (24 page)

William laughed. “As
always
, you mean.”

Chelan smiled and hung up. She took a calming breath. Everything was going to be fine. She was bright, she was great at casual conversation, and she had all her Imperial training to fall back on. Nothing would go wrong.

She looked at the time again. Maybe on her way she could pick up a little something as a gift for the host. There was a bakery just around the corner, and that would do nicely.

She had better change, she thought, and she walked into her room. She looked over her new wardrobe and decided immediately not to be too flamboyant or overly conspicuous. She slid into her jeans and chose a pretty pink silk blouse. Then she put on some white socks and headed out to the living room. She donned a jacket and called down to the front desk to request a cab, giving herself just enough time to get to the bakery and back.

She stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind her. Then she checked her purse and glanced down the hall, past the elevators, and to the stairs. Just for some additional exercise, she would take those instead.

But as she rounded the corner to the stairwell, she jumped, her heart leaping out of her chest. An ominous dark shadow swept down the lower flight and disappeared out of sight. Chelan swallowed a scream and lurched back, clutching at her throat. “Oh my god,” she croaked as she sprinted back to Will’s door. Then she looked toward the elevator and ran to it, hitting the button hard.

The whole time she waited she could hardly catch her breath, her eyes fixed on the top of the stairs. “Come on… come on…” she muttered, her knees feeling weak. Finally the doors opened and she dove inside. She hit the button for the lobby and closed her eyes.

What or who had that been? The dark spectral image surged through her mind again and she almost gasped out loud. Maybe she had been seeing things. Maybe it was nothing. If it had been a warrior, why would he have fled after scaring her half out of her wits?

The doors open and Chelan hustled out of the elevator toward the front-desk security. Feeling marginally safer, she decided to skip the bakery and just wait for the cab. The security person smiled and nodded at her, and she nodded back. This was not a good start to the evening.

*****

Chelan arrived at Jim’s condo and let herself in. As six approached, she felt as though she were going to faint. Not only was the earlier incident still plaguing her, she was a bundle of nerves over the meeting. All she could do was pace back and forth, wringing her hands until they were beet red. And to add to her agony, Jim and his cohort were now late. When she finally heard the key in the door, her heart nearly stopped. She thought momentarily about retreating to the washroom to splash some cold water on her face, but it was too late.

Jim’s smiling face greeted her. “Hi, Chel. Sorry we’re late, but I figured you’d get in okay. I’d like you to meet Jason.”

Chelan was already unsteady on her feet, and the sight of the massive man who stepped in behind Jim caused her to step back. Catching herself on the edge of the piano, she did her best to stand straight.

“Hi,” the man greeted.

Chelan rubbed her perspiring palms down the front of her jeans. “Hi Jason,” she croaked. She cleared her voice and felt her skin pink.
So much for Imperial training
, she thought. “I’m Chelan.”

“Glad to meet you, Chelan,” came his warm, resonant voice. He turned to Jim and began shedding his coat.

She watched as Jim took the jacket and hung it up. Then her eyes widened. Jason was tall—
very
tall. His sandy brown hair framed a devastatingly handsome face, or at least what she could see of it. He sported a meticulously trimmed mustache and a full beard, both of which were several shades darker than his hair. His eyes were a light crystal blue, and his smile left her temporarily breathless. Chelan found herself clutching at the piano for support as he approached her.

“Well, Jim never told me he was harboring such a beautiful young woman.” Jason glanced over his shoulder at Jim’s smiling face. Then he turned back to her and extended his hand. “If he had, I would have come over much sooner.”

Chelan was now crimson, but she managed to take his hand. “It’s nice to meet you also,” she uttered. “Ummm, but I don’t live with Jim. I’m just a friend.”

Jason squeezed her hand gently between both his before releasing it. “I know. But still, he has kept your company a secret.” And he winked at her. Then he looked to Jim, who was just descending the stairs. “So how long did you say you had been hiding this lovely lady?”

Jim chuckled. “Not long. She’s an old friend of mine come back for a visit.” He reached past Jason and took her by the hand. “Come on, Chelan. If you don’t let go of the piano soon you’ll end up stuck to it.”

Chelan blushed again but let Jim usher her to a chair. She sat down in relief, curling her feet in under her. Jason moved to the couch and sat. His warm blue eyes met hers. “So, where are you from, Chelan?”

Chelan squashed the impulse to squirm. “As of recently, from Oregon,” she stated.

“Oh! I’ve been through there many times on my travels. It’s beautiful country, especially the mountains.”

Chelan cleared her throat again. “Yes, it is.”

Jim moved to the bar. “The usual, Jason?”

“Yes, please.”

“And Chelan, what can I get you?”

“Ahh, just some wine, please.”

Jim returned momentarily and handed her a glass and then passed Jason a beer. Then, after serving himself a cool brew, he took up residence in another chair. Jim glanced at Chelan and then nodded to Jason. “As you can tell, my good man here has a passion for football.”

Chelan’s eyes flowed back to Jason, and instantly she was hit with an amusing thought. Though Jason was muscular, he was not nearly as heavily built as the Warlords. She pondered the team the Empire could put together, and the image almost made her laugh. Catching herself, she smiled over at him. “You played professionally?”

Jason shook his head. “College was enough. I decided to keep my body intact. I had thought of basketball, but it never appealed to me quite as much. So now, when I have free time, I travel a bit and coach high school and college kids. Call it a hobby, I guess.” He took a sip of his beer. “What do you do?”

Chelan knew her time had come, and she could feel Jim’s eyes on her. “Actually, I’m an engineer, aeronautics, MIT. But over the past few years I’ve been sidelined by other pursuits.”

Jason smiled. “I’m surprised that Jim has never mentioned you before, especially with your educational background. He seems to have an affinity for surrounding himself with bright people.”

Chelan smiled. “I hear that you fit that profile.”

Jason laughed. “Well, if Jim says so, I guess.” He looked over at his friend. “Actually, with all the hard times my good buddy gives me here, I’m surprised he issued such a compliment.”

Jim rolled his eyes and took a drink. “You know what I think of your work. I just like to keep you on your toes.”

They both laughed. Then Jim leaned forward and looked intently at Jason. “Actually, speaking of work, this new contract…”

Chelan felt all warm inside as she listened sporadically to the conversation revolving around their work. Her dark eyes settled on Jason and her mind wandered. She’d liked this man instantly, though she was not sure why. And suddenly, she was glad that Jim had brought him over and invited her. She continued to stare at Jason over her glass as she took the occasional sip. She was captivated by his eyes almost as much as she had once been by the Warlords. Theirs were a deep azure, their intensity beyond description. And in the darkness of night, you could see the faint glow afforded them by their night vision.

Jason’s were a crystalline blue in the light.
Aquamarine
stuck in her mind, and then she smiled to herself.
Marine boy
. No, that was not quite right.
Marine man
was definitely closer to the truth. She watched as he leaned forward, his arms bulging with muscles as his elbows rested on his knees. Nope.
Marine man
no longer seemed appropriate, and what sprang into her mind made her skin flush. His eyes glanced at hers and instantly she looked away. She exhaled and waved at her face with her hand in an attempt to cool herself. She had been away from Korba and Fremma too long, she surmised, and she took a deep and calming breath.

But then Jim’s voice startled her. “Are you okay, Chel?”

Chelan glanced between the two staring men and then lowered her hand. “Just the wine, I think?” she fibbed. She looked to Jason and watched as the corners of his mouth crooked upward slightly, and then he gave her another fleeting wink.

Chelan nearly dropped her glass and Jim lunged to help her. “How about we get something to eat?” he offered.

Chelan nodded. “Yes. I think I need some food. I do feel a bit faint.”

Jim took the empty wine glass from her and then looked to Jason. “You pick, I’ll order.”

*****

After a grand meal, Jason bid them good night and left. Jim turned to Chelan and smiled. “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Chelan shook her head. “No—he seems very nice.”

“He’s a great help to me. He used to work for Apple, and I met him there when I was doing some work for them. I was impressed by him, and I tried to get him to join my company. But he’s on his own and values working for himself. He also enjoys lots of time off.”

Chelan smiled. “I found listening to your conversation fascinating.”

Jim shoved his hands in his pockets. “Actually, I should apologize for that. I’m so used to my conversations with him revolving around work, I kind of let that topic take off without consideration of you.”

Chelan shook her head. “I wasn’t offended at all. I enjoyed hearing all about the technology. Besides, all I would have had to talk about was frivolous in nature. Neither of you would have been entertained.”

“I don’t know about that. You were quiet, but I know you could have contributed to the conversation if you were comfortable.”

“Well, I’ll do better next time. Tonight I was more interested in watching the two of you interact. But right now, I’m a little tired. I should head home.”

Jim nodded. “It’s late. You’re welcome to stay here of you wish, or I can run you home.”

Chelan hesitated and then thought about a workout in the morning. “Hmmm… maybe I will take you up on the room, if you don’t mind.”

Jim smiled. “You know where everything is. Hey, look, before you disappear… Something came up today. Our Singapore connection is having some trouble with management issues, so I have to put in some long hours this week. Next week, I may even have to go over there. Anyway, I thought I would give you Jason’s number just in case you need anything. He doesn’t live far from here. He’s working on and off, and if for some reason you can’t get me, you can try him.”

Chelan took the number and tucked it in her pocket. “I’m sure I won’t have to bother either of you.”

Jim smiled. “Well, just in case.”

Chelan smiled back. “Good night, Jim.”

“Good night, Chelan.”

Jim did indeed spend the rest of the week working late, and Chelan spoke with him only a couple of times on the phone. In truth, she quite enjoyed the time away from his constant attention. Not only did it remove the interpersonal pressure, it gave her more time to focus on herself and her own pursuits. At one point she had thought about taking in some theater, but despite her enthusiasm, she really did not want to go alone. She had also contemplated phoning Jason once or twice, but then decided it was being too forward. Besides, she didn’t want to answer any more questions.

Each morning after she was sure Jim was at work, she headed over to his complex and worked out. And every time she left Will’s apartment, she did so with eyes and ears straining. But her phantom demon never presented itself again, thank god, and with time, Chelan began to wonder if maybe her eyes had been playing tricks on her. But she had been within the Empire long enough to know never to be complacent. And of course there was the reason she was here in the first place. Keeping an eye on her surroundings at all times was not only prudent, it was an absolute necessity.

After her workouts, she often spent a huge chunk of the day at a large bookstore not too far away. Enthralled with once again having simple paperback books available, she dedicated long hours to reading everything she could get her hands on, especially recipe books. That usually segued into a shopping trip to the local market and an evening spent creating her next culinary fancy. Of course, all that food led to longer and more intense morning workouts, but she enjoyed it all.

Today Chelan curled up on the couch surrounded by books but picked up her cell instead. She punched in a number and then waited. “Hi, Nancy,” she said when the call was answered. “It’s Susan. Is William available?”

Chelan did not have to wait long before William came on the line. “Hey, sis! Wow, what a coincidence. I’m between meetings and I was just about to call.”

Chelan smiled. “We always did have a connection. What’s up?”