Chapter Two #2
I mentally grab on to my fear, shove it down. I’m stronger, prepared. I keep my feet planted but crouch, loosening my knees as I wait. Listen for the next quiet sound of a footstep whispering across the grass. Wait until I sense someone just behind me.
I whirl. My left arm comes up, blocking my face as my right hand punches out. Fingers curl around my wrist and yank me forward. My heart shoots into my throat as I’m spun around and yanked against a hard chest.
You’re a weapon, Seraphina.
I stomp down on a foot. The grunt of pain in my ear energizes me. I whip my head back, wince as I connect with my attacker’s face. The grip on my wrist loosens and I dart forward, prepared to run.
“Damn it, Seraphina, did you take up boxing, too?”
I freeze. My heart is pounding so hard it takes a moment for the voice to penetrate.
Oh no.
My fear evaporates, replaced by cold, bone-deep panic of a different nature. Slowly, I turn.
Aiden stands just a couple feet away. Silver light streaks his thick, dark brown hair, highlights the cut of his cheekbones and caresses his strong jaw.
It also shows off the blood trickling down from his lower lip.
“Oh, God.”
I reach up to wipe the blood away, then snatch my hand away as his eyes narrow.
“Mr. Hawke. I’m so sorry. Is…is your nose broken?”
He reaches up and runs a finger down the bridge of his nose. The almost imperceptible wince reignites my guilt, leaving me swallowing the bitterness in my mouth.
“Despite your impressive efforts, no, it’s not.” He lowers his chin. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
The growl in his voice erases some of my panic, although the chauvinistic tone grates on my nerves.
“Perhaps,” I reply. “But you shouldn’t be sneaking around in the dark.”
One dark eyebrow arches up. A traitorous thrill shoots through me. Even with blood on his chin, he’s still too handsome for his own good. The faint cleft in his chin, the square jaw, the regal elegance contrasted by his broad shoulders and towering height.
“I wasn’t sneaking.”
I bite down on my lower lip to stifle a smile. He sounds so insulted.
“Then why didn’t you call out?”
“You’re wearing a mask and either a wig or you dyed your hair.
” He leans in to peer at the synthetic fiber wig I borrowed from Jessica, bringing him closer and making my breath hitch.
“Given the effort you put into concealing your identity, I didn’t think you’d like me calling out your name in case someone else is exploring. ”
Okay, fair point.
His eyes flicker down to my halter top and skirt. My chest constricts as I force myself to keep my arms at my sides instead of crossing them over my breasts or pulling the fabric of my skirt over my legs.
His gaze snaps back up to my face, eyes cold and hard. I barely resist the urge to gulp as I force myself to lift my chin.
“Do we have a problem, Mr. Hawke?”
“Oh, we most certainly do, Miss Clark.”
He takes a step toward me. I stand my ground. Barely.
“How long have you been doing this?”
I narrow my eyes. I most definitely do not like his tone.
“Well, I got here about six o’clock—”
“That’s not what I mean,” Aiden snaps, “and you know it.”
“About a year,” I bite out. “Not that it’s any of your business what I do outside of working hours.”
“You’ve been doing…this,” he says with a wave back toward the fire ring, “and never told me?”
Confused, I frown. “Why would I? You’ve always touted professional is separate from personal.”
“This is different, Seraphina.”
I blink. I never imagined Aiden would find out my secret.
But somehow, I thought if it ever did come to life, he would understand.
I know he ran away from foster care when he was barely thirteen, that he used less than legal means to survive.
He’s crafted a new life for himself. An incredible career.
Yet here he is, looking down his nose at me.
Hurt pulses through me, ice-cold and sharp.
I let it live for a moment, mentally store it as a reminder for what happens when you let your guard down.
And then I do what I learned how to do when the going gets tough; I shut off my emotions until there’s nothing but a blissful numbness, a void that allows me to move forward in the moment.
“I’m up in a few minutes. We can talk Monday.”
I start to pass by. He reaches out and grabs my wrist again. The heat of his fingers sears my skin as I tense. No, no, no. Now is not the time for my stupid crush to show its face. He’s my boss. Not my friend. Not my lover.
He reaches out, places his hand on my shoulder and turns me to face him. My breath catches as his bare palms lie flat against my skin.
“Damn it, Seraphina, I don’t care how you spend your personal time. I just…” His voice drifts off. “You go to greenhouses and music festivals and bookstores on weekends.”
I blink, surprised he knows these details about me. “And?”
“So, I didn’t think my executive assistant was out playing with fire on her nights off.”
I smile slightly. “I’m not playing with fire, Mr. Hawke. I wield it.”
Something flares in his eyes. It’s too dark to tell what. Probably anger, although why he’s upset, I have no idea.
He blinks. Breathes in. His eyes drop down to my lips. I suck in a shocked breath at the sudden flare in his eyes. Can it be possible that Aiden feels something for me? Even if it’s just simple lust, the idea is tempting, intoxicating.
He leans down. My lips part.
A shriek rents the air. A ball of light arcs up from the far side of the lake into the sky, then explodes into a shower of gold and red sparks.
Fireworks, I realize, as reality settles back in. I take a huge step back. Aiden releases his grip on my wrist. My heart is pounding, my breath building up in my chest until it comes out in a rush. Aiden’s staring at me like he’s never seen me before.
Or, worse, like he’s seeing everything I’ve fought to conceal. Like he’s seeing me.
The panic I experienced earlier is nothing compared to the full-blown terror that surges up my throat and fills my veins with a frantic humming. I don’t want Aiden looking at me like this. Before tonight, I was a dependable employee with an admirable track record.
Now he’s looking at me like…like a man looks at a woman he wants. And God help me, my body is responding in a way it hasn’t in years.
No, I admit as my breathing turns shallow. Never. I’ve never felt this before, this desire that sinks into my bones. Each blaze of heat flickering across my skin is more seductive than any dance I’ve performed.
Far more dangerous than anything I’ve ever done with fire dancing.
I step back farther, needing the physical distance to rein in my chaotic thoughts.
I can’t imagine not working for Aiden, not analyzing market analyses and client profiles, reconciling the two as he and I discuss the potential routes and recommendations.
But how can I continue working for him after this?
After he’s gotten a glimpse behind the walls that have kept me safe for years?
“If necessary, I’ll submit my resignation on Monday.”
His eyes widen. His lips part, as if he’s about to retort, but I brush past him and walk back down the path.
I have one performance left. I’ll need to be careful. I’m upset, out-of-sorts. That’s when mistakes happen, when performers get burned. I’ll take my performance down a notch.
And then I’m going to go home, opening a bottle of merlot, and not talk to anyone else for the rest of the weekend.
Especially Aiden Hawke.