Fire Within

chapter Nine

By the time Ari reached her office on Monday, it was mid-morning. Having long, intense discussions with a guy who stayed up all night wasn’t good for her day job, but she felt like they’d reached a compromise she could live with. Slow and steady, no commitment, no promises.

Her first client paced impatiently in the hallway, and the phone was jumping off the hook. She snatched it on the fourth peal.

“Hey, Ari. It’s Russell.”

“And Lilith,” another voice chimed in. Andreas’s new security team of werelions. “Almost gave up on reaching you. Is your cell off?”

She pulled it from her pocket. Dark. “Uh, I guess so. Either that or dead. What’s up?”

“Andreas woke us near dawn. Said shots were fired at him yesterday, but he didn’t give me the details. In fact, he kind of brushed it off, said you’d fill us in.” Russell’s voice was business-like, but Ari heard a layer of excitement. As a former mercenary, the everyday guarding of the Prince—checking visitors and packages, watching the surveillance screens—must be dull stuff. He sounded eager to tackle a bigger challenge.

“I was surprised to hear you’d be briefing us,” Lilith said, bald curiosity in her tone. “Something’s sure changed since I saw you. What’s going on?”

Ari tucked the phone under her chin, grabbed the jug of distilled water, and started fixing coffee while she struggled for an acceptable answer to Lilith’s question. Leave it to the lioness to get straight to the point. No subtlety in her nature.

Russell was impatient. “The girl gossip can wait, security can’t. Who or what are we guarding against, Ari?”

“Wish I knew. Somebody took pot shots at Andreas from a passing car. In the last week, we’ve had two vampire murders. Unknown killer. Apparent shootings but the weapon isn’t confirmed. The attack on Andreas might be part of that or something personal. Where are you right now?”

“Andreas’s office at the club.”

“Good. Familiarize yourselves with every corner of the building. I’ll be there this afternoon to fill you in with what I know. In the meantime, I wouldn’t let anyone in. The club doesn’t open until 5:30, and if they’re legit, they can wait. Call me if something urgent comes up.”

Andreas was safely tucked away in his hidey-hole for the day. Ari needed time to deal with her client, check in with Ryan, and have a sit down talk with Claris. No way she was going to pursue this thinly disguised friendship with Andreas without warning her best friend. Ari owed her that. Maybe Claris could still bring her to her senses.

As Ari entered the touristy shop section of Olde Town, she thought about how she was going to explain what was happening with Andreas. She could hardly explain it to herself. One minute she was afraid his magic would overpower her, and the next he was kissing her neck, and she wasn’t thinking at all. Even if the power of the legend was at work here, Ari knew it went beyond a Goddess-blessed union. Their magics liked each other.

As Ari crossed the street toward Basil & Sage, she considered Claris’s reaction. Hadn’t she warned Ari against seeing him from the first night they met? And after the split, she’d held Ari’s hand without once saying I told you so. She wouldn’t be thrilled.

Ari had timed her arrival just right. Claris was hanging the “Out to Lunch” sign.

“Hey! Come for lunch?” Claris locked the front door and ushered Ari into the rear kitchen area. “Lentil soup and turkey on wheat. I have plenty.”

Ari never mentioned it around Claris, but her preferred food groups included junk food interspersed with the occasional big salad to sooth her conscience. Claris was a health nut. But the soup smelled good, and Ari realized she was hungry. “Yum, I think so. Count me in.”

“Worked up quite an appetite myself,” Claris said. “Busy, busy morning. They’ve been streaming in the door today.”

Claris’s herb and holistic medicine shop, which occupied the front half of the building, was a big attraction for both tourists and practitioners in the artsy, crafty part of Riverdale’s Olde Town district. The area, renovated to reflect its 1800s glory, spanned the banks of the Oak River and ended at the foot of the Otherworld nightlife district that wound up the hill to the upper cliffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Claris had been there four years now and had built a solid clientele. The back portion of the building and the second floor had been remodeled into a cozy residence. They were currently standing in her ground floor kitchen with its attached greenhouse on the back.

Claris dished up the soup, while Ari pulled the sandwich fixings from the fridge. They chatted about the shop and the recent flood of customers, until they were well into the meal. Finally, they both fell silent.

Ari set down her uneaten sandwich. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

“Sounds serious.” Claris frowned at her friend’s expression. “Are you all right? Is someone sick?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m fine.”

“Then this has to be about Andreas.”

Ari met Claris’s hazel-eyed gaze. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I’m your best friend.” Claris gave her a good-natured frown. “And I’m not stupid or blind. You told me you were working with him again, so what’s happened now?”

“Someone tried to kill him yesterday. Shot at him. They missed, but for a while I thought he was dead.” Ari stopped, remembering those awful moments, unable to put that emptiness into words. She stared helplessly at her friend, watching the emotions chase across Claris’s face, from startled to suddenly filled with understanding.

“My God,” Claris breathed. “You finally realized you’re in love with him.”

Ari’s laugh was shaky. “I don’t think love’s the right word. But, there’s something.”

“And you thought this would take me by surprise? Could have told you. I did tell you a year ago. You never listened.” Claris got up and went to the fridge for a couple of diet cokes. “So what about the legend, the dreams, the bond? You’ve been pretty freaked out about those. What happened to all that?”

Ari shrugged. “I forget all that stuff when I’m with him. And when I’m alone, well, I still worry about it, but it helped when I found out he was worried too. He doesn’t like having me inside his head, either. And, well, Sebastian tried to bespell me and failed. After talking it over, I don’t think Andreas will try, but if he does… Oh, hell, Clare, maybe I’m kidding myself because I want it to be true.”

“Maybe not. You’ve always had good instincts. Hon, I wish you two had never met, but it’s way too late for that. You should tell him how you feel.”

Ari stared at her open-mouthed. “I can’t believe you said that. You told me not to see him again.”

“And we know how well that worked. You stayed away from him for all the wrong reasons. The she-wolf’s death…he killed her to protect you.”

Yeah, that was one explanation, Ari thought. Or maybe he’d wanted his own revenge. She might never know. Maybe it no longer mattered. If Claris wanted to make Andreas an unsung hero, that was fine with Ari.

Claris leaned over and hugged her friend. “You haven’t been happy. Maybe Andreas can change that. The night Yana died, he was the only one able to help you. That’s when I began to wonder if I’d misjudged him. Maybe we both need to give him a chance.”

Ari’s throat was tight, and all she could do was nod. She didn’t remember much from the night her mentor was murdered, except the overwhelming grief and the safety she’d found in Andreas’s arms. Ari returned her friend’s hug. Claris sometimes understood her better than she understood herself. Or at least, before Ari owned up to things. But that’s what a best friend was about.

“So, is there more to tell?” Claris asked. “Where do you go with this?”

“Well, no, yes. I kind of lost it when I thought Andreas was dead. Made an ass of myself by shouting at Marcus. Poor guy. It’s embarrassing to think about now. My feelings were kind of hung out there. So Andreas and I talked. He said he’d missed me.”

“And?” Claris smiled. “What did you say?”

“‘Me, too.’ Or something equally stupid. Then, I suggested we stay friends.”

“Friends? Bet that went over big.” Claris cut off a laugh.

“Um, not exactly, but somehow he maneuvered that suggestion into something else. He’s very good at getting his way. So, now, I guess we’re dating.” Ari stopped and shook her head in disbelief. “At least I can go back to the club again and listen to him sing. We’re meeting there tonight. Oh yeah, before he left last night he convinced me to go to a concert this weekend. I’m not sure how this all happened.”

Claris laughed, clearly entertained by her friend’s confusion. “Well, duh. He talked you into exactly what you wanted.”

“I guess. So why am I so edgy about it?”

“Isn’t that part of the attraction?” Claris asked, with a knowing grin. “You’re drawn to the mysterious bad boys. While I prefer them steady and reliable.”

Hence Claris’s attraction to Brando—and Ryan. Ari grinned. She should have known Claris would find a way to accept it, whatever Ari did. In this case, they’d arrived at the same place. Not that there had been a lot of thought process on Ari’s end. More hormones, maybe. Or family history. Or magic.

Or even fate.

Club Dintero at mid-afternoon appeared deserted. The vampire staff was asleep and the club wouldn’t open for another three hours. Sporting a smirk on her face, Lilith let Ari in the front door. Ari ignored the look and headed for Andreas’s office.

“Hey, Russell.”

The wiry werelion jumped to his feet and gave her a brief, awkward hug. “Good to see you,” he muttered.

It was like old home week. Ari wished the rest of the team were there—big Mike and cute, flirtatious Benny, but someone had to watch the Prince’s back. She was glad to have the werelion husband-wife team. “You’re looking good,” she said. “Life must be treating you all right.”

“Can’t complain,” Russell responded. “Had a cushy time these last months, compared to the days you were around.”

Ari smiled. “Surely you’re not blaming me for that mess. I didn’t start it.”

“No, but together, we finished it,” he stated with satisfaction.

“For a while. These vampire feuds never seem to end. But let me explain the current problem.” Ari perched on the edge of the desk. “I can’t identify the enemy for you. We’ve had two vamp murders. One male victim, one female. Two separate incidents. Possible, but not proven, shootings. The forensics are inconclusive on the weapon. But there’s no doubt a handgun was used yesterday afternoon. Andreas saw it.”

She sketched out the details of the investigation so far, even mentioning the weird vibes at the second murder scene. “Recently I’d been thinking we were completely off track, looking for the wrong weapon, the wrong kind of killer. Until yesterday.” She let out an exasperated breath. “Andreas clearly saw a handgun.”

“You think it’s the same person?” Russell asked.

“What are the odds it’s not?”

“Small. But it’s not impossible.”

“No, not impossible.” She sighed. “That makes it more difficult to predict what will happen next. The pattern we had breaks with the attack on Andreas. That’s why you need to watch his back every moment. The shooter could be anyone.”

“You got us on this now,” Lilith said, patting the pistol in her right holster. “No one gets near him without us checking them first.”

“I’m counting on it.”

Russell scratched his chin. “How’d these other vampires get shot? Why didn’t they avoid the bullets, like Andreas did?”

“Maybe he’s that much quicker,” Lilith suggested. “He is a master level vampire.”

“Granted,” Ari said. “But we can’t assume that was the difference. Something’s hinky here.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Lilith asked.

“Protect his ass,” Russell said.

“Oh, yeah.” Lilith polished her nails against her shirt. “It’s a cute one, too. Can I do that part?”

“No,” Russell and Ari chorused.

Ari grinned. “No handling of the merchandise, Lilith. You and your hubby can start by securing the building and training the club staff. Most of them are vampires. Plenty of skills but no training in security.”

“You sure they can be trusted?” Russell asked. “Doesn’t sound like they did much yesterday.”

Ari nodded, glad he’d asked, showed he was thinking. “In their defense, it happened fast. They’re untrained and weren’t expecting trouble. The only staff I know personally are Marcus, Gordon, Lorenzo, and Reno. Marcus is solid. You can count on him. And Gordon owes his life to Andreas. The other two are just kids. They idolize their boss, but I can’t predict their usefulness in a fight. The rest of the staff are unknowns. Lilith, why don’t you talk or flirt with them, take your pick, and make an assessment. Pull Andreas’s employee files. Russell, you’re in charge of setting up equipment. You can do the training together as soon as you’re ready.”

“Sure. We can handle that,” Russell said, while Lilith nodded. “A little martial arts, basic info on firearms, building security. Shouldn’t be hard.”

“I’ll be around to help in any way I can,” Ari said. “But I can’t do this alone. Or be here all the time. I have two murders to solve.”

“Understood. The club is our responsibility,” Russell said.

“Good, and that includes watching the street. We don’t need a repeat of yesterday. Maybe we can pin Andreas down to a definite arrival time.”

Awareness hit Ari, bringing her to her feet.

“Is this a council of war?” an amused voice asked.

She whipped around to find Andreas standing in a wall opening, the bookcase offset at an angle. Damn, he needed to stop these sneak appearances, but she knew her racing pulse wasn’t just due to surprise. The black shirt and tight black jeans from his favorite designer emphasized his dark attraction.

“No need for moats or barricades in the street,” he said, his eyes brimming with humor. “As you can see, I have arrived safely.”

“A second hidden entrance?” Ari had known about the closet trap door that led to Prince Daron’s compound. It had been secured since an enemy used it last year. “You never mentioned this one.”

“Not until now. I hope the knowledge can remain among the four of us and Marcus, of course. This entrance is private.”

“No problem. But, jeez, Andreas. How many more rabbit holes do you have?”

“You now know all my secrets.” He gave her an innocent smile, spreading his hands.

“Yeah, like I believe that.” Not bloody likely. He had more secrets than the CIA. Ari was uncomfortable that he’d revealed the hidden entrance even under these circumstances. The passageway must lead to his day quarters. Due to their vulnerability while sleeping, vampires were justifiably paranoid about the location of their resting spots. Ari wasn’t sure she’d earned this much trust.

She checked her watch. Yep, as she suspected, it was only 3:15. She knew that master level vampires could beat the dark, but this was amazing. “Aren’t you up early?”

He shrugged it off. “I wanted to speak with Russell and Lilith before they left.”

Before she could point out that didn’t explain how he’d done it, Russell interrupted. “I’m not sure we should. Leave, I mean. Maybe we should bunk here. At least until the staff is trained. Particularly, if that bookcase leads where I think it does.”

Andreas sighed. “The other end is secure, but suit yourselves. I have arranged for the storage area next door to be set up as a security office. A work crew should arrive by dusk. Perhaps you would like to supervise the changes.”

“That’s great! Then I’ll know what we have. I assume there’ll be computers and electronic gadgets?”

Andreas smiled indulgently. “Ask for anything I forgot, within reason.”

They continued to discuss security details until everyone was satisfied he or she understood their role. When they finished, Lilith left to pick up some things from home, Russell disappeared into the soon-to-be security office, and Andreas and Ari wandered into the main dining room. Club staff scurried, prepping for opening: tables were set, chairs straightened, and a three-person band with guitar, bass guitar, and drum rehearsed on stage.

“Do you have plans for this evening?” Andreas asked.

“Only patrol. I can put it off until around ten. Are you interested in hearing the band?”

“Maybe another night. I have something else in mind, something I would like you to see. We can take dinner and wine with us.”

“Where? Take dinner where?” Ari was concerned about leaving the club. It would make Andreas more vulnerable, harder to protect. Yet, “taking dinner” didn’t sound like he’d planned a public outing.

“Wait and see.”

She watched the rest of the rehearsal while he disappeared into the kitchen. By the time they’d finished a couple of songs, Andreas returned with a tray of covered dishes, a pot of coffee and two bottles of wine, including his favorite Italian Chianti. Balancing the tray on one hand, he led the way into his office. With a flick of his fingers, the bookcase swung out.

Ari hesitated, suddenly uneasy. His private quarters? She was wary of what he had in mind. He still hadn’t defined his idea of “getting to know” one another. Besides, she wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of spending an evening in the caverns or underground tunnels. And there was more than one reason Ari wasn’t sure she wanted to see his sleeping quarters. If he actually slept in a coffin…too creepy.

The passage they entered held little resemblance to the dark, cobwebby tunnels under the trap door that led to Prince Daron’s compound. This was newer, built from wood and concrete, scrupulously clean, and equipped with lights. There were four turns and no false tunnels, but each turn was protected with motion sensors and cameras. Within five minutes, they stood at the end of the passage before a thick, metal door. Andreas waved his free hand at a small mounted camera and punched a security code on a wall panel. The door slid away, and they stepped through the opening.

Ari gaped as she stood in a hallway opening into a large parlor of a restored 19th century Victorian mansion. Antique furnishings, elaborate chandeliers. “This is your home?” She felt like Alice in Wonderland, only she’d stepped into another century. It fit him. Elegant, old world—very much like one face of the vampire beside her.

A male voice boomed from an elaborate sound system, yanking her back into the 21st century. “Mr. De Luca, is everything all right?”

“It is. Samuel, this is my guest, Arianna Calin.”

“Very good, sir. Nice to meet you, Ms. Calin,” said the disembodied voice.

“Likewise,” she said, arching a brow at Andreas.

“Samuel is in the surveillance room. He saw us on the cameras. I will show you around later, and you can actually meet him. First, let us dine. The original dining room is on your right but much too formal. We will find a cozier table in the study. My favorite room.”

As they crossed the hallway, she took the opportunity to look around. He didn’t seem to mind her dragging feet and encouraged her interest by answering questions. More cherry wood, clearly Andreas’s favorite, floors and furniture gleamed with a high polish. A quick look easily identified the rugs as Persian; the furniture and lamps appeared to be antiques.

“These are authentic, aren’t they?”

“Yes. Eighteenth and nineteenth century. The majority were shipped from my landholdings in Italy.” There was justifiable pride in his voice as he talked about his boyhood in Italy and shared his ties to that other world. Ari realized how much he treasured this part of his past. A complicated man, Andreas De Luca.

“We should move on,” Andreas finally said. “Your dinner will soon be cool. The rest of the tour can wait.”

The wainscoted study was impressive with floor to ceiling windows at one end providing an unimpeded view of well-tended gardens, dimly visible under a cloudy sky that had brought an early dusk. In the distance Ari saw dense hedges that surrounded the property and assured privacy.

“Nice view.”

The room was finished with wall hangings and period furniture, including a magnificent roll top desk. It stood open, a laptop on the surface, papers tucked in every cubbyhole. Bookcases lined one wall of the room and were filled, top to bottom. A few books had been pulled out and stacked on a nearby stand. A marble fireplace provided a cozy but elegant touch.

A small round table was set with china, sparking crystal and lighted candles. His staff worked fast.

She stood still in the middle of the room, trying to take it all in.

“What is wrong?” Andreas held her chair, looking a little concerned.

“Sorry.” She shot him an apologetic smile. “But it’s like a museum. I’m afraid to touch anything.”

“Nonsense.” His face relaxed. “Beautiful things should be enjoyed.”

“You’re not worried that something could be damaged or broken?” She glanced around. Except for the laptop, nothing in here was from the 21st century or even the 20th. It was daunting.

Andreas shrugged. “It would be repaired or replaced. They are, after all, only things.”

Easy for him to say. These particular “things” were priceless. Ari took her seat, careful not to bump anything.

A smile tugged at Andreas’s mouth. “I have seen you face murderous werewolves with less concern, little witch. I hoped my home would bring you pleasure, not discomfort.”

“It does. I do like it. Why wouldn’t I?” Responding to his easy manner, she grinned at him. “Don’t worry. This, I could get used to.”

“I am hopeful.” His voice held so much meaning that she dropped her attention to the fine linen tablecloth. Ari’s skin warmed when his gaze lingered before he poured the wine.

Halfway through the meal, the earlier storm clouds kept their promise. It began to rain, turning the starlight view into waterfalls cascading over the windowpanes. Andreas lit the fireplace, and they finished the wine and talked by the flickering light of a fire. When she asked about the roll top desk, she learned it had belonged to his grandfather. The house was a window into Andreas’s past.

When the first bottle of wine was finished, they toured the house. The remainder of the first floor held a kitchen, living room, a parlor converted to family room/library and a modern bath disguised in early 19th century decor. A wide curved staircase led to the next two floors. She paused on the way up the stairs to study a series of paintings in ornate gold frames. The first was a family portrait: two dark-haired boys; a handsome, aristocratic man; a stunning woman with large, black eyes and raven hair falling to her waist. The woman’s features glinted with humor.

“My family,” Andreas said from behind her, so close she felt his hand brush against her back.

“Which one of the boys is you?”

“The younger.” He rested one hand casually on her shoulder and leaned forward, pointing with the other. “I was seven. My brother Luis was ten.”

Aware as she was of his touch, she tried to focus on the portrait. His past was important if she was ever to understand this complex man. Luis’s portrait was solemn, but Ari thought Andreas looked mischievous even then. “Your mother was beautiful.”

“Yes, she was.”

Ari wondered if her loss was still painful after all this time. It struck her he must have loved and lost a number of people in two hundred years. She moved to the next portrait, a stern-looking gentleman. As she moved forward, Andreas’s hand slid off her shoulder and down to her waist.

“My paternal grandfather,” Andreas said, “known throughout the countryside as ‘the Baron.’ And this is my great-great maternal grandfather, reputed to have been rather eccentric.”

So Andreas favored the maternal side, she thought, studying this last gentleman with his striking dark looks. Each subsequent ancestral picture was examined and briefly explained as they continued up the broad staircase. The last portrait, hanging at some distance from the others, was a grouping of seven robed figures.

“More relatives? They look like judges or clerics.”

“No. They are the elder vampires, collectively known as the Original Seven.” He pointed a long finger at one of the men. “This is Daron’s sire. Our prince has a noteworthy lineage. It is rare to be a first generation descendant of an elder.”

“What about your lineage?”

“Much more ordinary.” He didn’t elaborate.

According to Andreas-the-tour-guide, the second floor they by-passed held bedrooms. Curiosity about his sleeping abode—coffin, box of cemetery dust or otherwise—almost made her ask for a peek. She held back for fear of sending the wrong message.

The third floor held smaller rooms, probably former servants’ quarters. They turned right into the surveillance room, and she was properly introduced to Samuel.

He returned the introduction with a smile. Samuel was slender; small statured for a man, maybe five-foot-seven. Drab brown hair, human-looking, Mr. Ordinary. But she wouldn’t make the mistake of under-estimating him. He was running security for a master vampire, and her witch powers identified his aura as weretiger. Samuel’s energy came through the moment he spoke. “You’re the local Guardian, aren’t you?” When Ari lifted a brow, he added, “I know Steffan. Heard all about the big shoot out with the Frenchie wolves. Whipped their asses. Must have been exciting.”

“Um, I guess.” She really didn’t want to talk about the past tonight. “Samuel, it was nice to meet you.” She turned to Andreas. “It’s late. I should be going. I still have patrol.”

“Have you looked outside recently? No self-respecting evil doer is out in this weather. And you have not met the rest of my staff and housemates. In light of the situation, they’ll need to know who you are.”

What situation? Ari wondered. Yesterday’s attack or their dating?

She glanced at the window. The rain was coming down in sheets, and lightning flashed now and then; a typical Midwest summer storm brought on by the excessive heat earlier in the day. “Looks like Mother Nature’s on your side.” Actually, he was right about meeting his staff, and she had to admit she was happy to have an excuse to prolong the evening. She’d never before spent so much time in harmony with Andreas. She flashed him a smile. “At least for now, lead on.”

In the next room, four vampires and three weretigers jumped to their feet when Andreas opened the door. Ari got the impression their boss didn’t often make unannounced visits.

When Andreas had introduced Ari, a vampire he’d identified as Cedric came over to them.

“We haven’t met before, but I’ve heard your name.” Cedric said to Ari. “Are you working on the murders? Jules was a friend.”

“Yes, we’re working with the PD. I’m sorry about your friend. Were you close?”

“Close enough to miss him.”

“My regrets also,” Andreas said. “I was not aware of your friendship. It there anything you can tell us that might identify his killer?”

“Not that I can think of. He spent most of his time with Lorraine. Griped about the counseling she insisted on, and her family, but nothing else I remember.”

“What did he say about the counseling?” Ari asked, curious to hear Jules’s side of the story, even if second hand.

“Something made him uncomfortable, reluctant to go back. Something ‘weird’ I think he said. They quit going after the bonding, and Jules was happy about that.”

Weird, huh? Ari quirked her lips. Wasn’t that the definition of counseling?

After they spent a brief time talking with the others vampires and weretigers, Andreas and Ari left. Once they were back in the hallway, Ari asked him about the weretigers.

“Is there a reason you chose that lycanthrope group?”

“There was a reason two hundred years ago. Members of this same family have been with me that long.”

“Really? That’s tremendous loyalty.” She smiled to herself when he caught her hand as they walked toward the stairs. “Tell me the story behind it.” She loved listening to him talk; the whisper of Italian in his voice would sound good reading the tax code. Hearing pieces of his fascinating history was an added bonus.

“Their human grandfather worked in our vineyards. He was infected while defending my uncle from a weretiger attack. At that period in history, werecreatures were thought to be evil.” Andreas pulled her to him and slipped his arm around her waist as they started down the staircase. “They were hunted and executed. My family sheltered him, kept his secret. When I returned from England as a vampire, I recruited him for my personal staff. His children and their children have remained in my service.”

Ari was impressed with his beautiful home and his loyal, competent staff. No security worries here. The club was his only vulnerable spot, and she intended to keep working on it.

“I’d love to hear the rest of your history,” she said, tipping her head to look up at him, “but not tonight. It’s time I went home. Raining or not.”

“You could stay here.”

Ari shook her head. “Not a good idea.”

“There are three guest suites,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard her. “You would like Chantilly.”

“I’m not staying.” She pulled a step ahead.

Reaching the second floor, Andreas turned south, grabbed her hand again, and opened a door at the end. “Tell me what you think.”

White with blue trim. Crisp and feminine. A four-poster bed with a lace canopy dominated the room. 18th or 19th century, whenever they made the furniture with the fancy bowed legs.

“Chantilly Suite,” he said simply.

The floors gleamed of cherry wood, but the doors, framing, and wainscoting were white. A soft white rug under the bed, a snowy canopy and matching lace swags contrasted with the blue drapes at the windows. The bed covering was icy blue; several dark blue pillows were tossed on top. On the left was a small private lounge; a private bath and spa on the right.

“It’s beautiful.” She looked at him. “Did you choose the decor?”

His voice lit with pleasure. “I did. It is mostly Queen Anne.”

“A man of many talents. You know women even better than I thought you did.”

“I am glad you like it,” he said smoothly, ignoring the other implications.

Who had inspired this room? How many women had he entertained here? Disturbing to think about, but Ari knew he hadn’t been a monk. She’d drive herself crazy if she delved into that part of his past.

“It’s perfect,” she said. “Who wouldn’t like it? But I’m still going home.” No way was she staying in the same house with Andreas. Not ready for that. There was too much chemistry between them for a simple sleepover.

“Then I will drive you,” he said, accepting her decision. “No need for you to get soaking wet.” He pointed down the staircase. At the bottom, they exited into a four-car garage with two black vans, a silver Lexus SUV, and a sleek, black Ferrari. Andreas opened the passenger door of the Ferrari, and Ari slid onto the luxurious seat.

The car purred its way through the wet city streets, putting an end to the evening. When Andreas pulled over in front of her apartment building, she leaned over with a quick kiss. She wasn’t quick enough. He caught her and pulled her against him, deepening the kiss. When he ran his tongue over her lips, she opened for him. By the time the kiss ended, Ari thought the windows must be steaming.

Andreas gave her a wry grin. “Sweet dreams, cara mia.”

Stifling a reluctant sigh, Ari jumped out into the rain without waiting for him to get wet too, and sprinted for the building. She closed her apartment door and leaned against it. Andreas’s kiss lingered on her mouth. She had a lot to think about. Until those last moments, he’d been on his best behavior tonight, the perfect gentleman, asking nothing of her. And he had let her into his private life. A big step for both of them, but no matter what her racing pulse thought, she didn’t want to rush the other steps. No hurry, she thought, a warmth growing inside. All the best wines took time.