faint strains of piano music drifted through the heavy air.
Where was it coming from?
If I could work that out, maybe I’d find a person. Or a ghost. The haunting melody grew louder as I walked, the tempo changing, speeding up to something almost joyful before slowing again to a tune that tugged at my heartstrings. Beautiful, just beautiful. Whatever song was playing, I wanted to buy my own copy of the recording.
A thin beam of light spilled from a door ahead, beckoning me forward. Thankful I hadn’t put on Emmy’s noisy heels again, I pushed the door open and found the music wasn’t coming from a stereo, but rather from a black grand piano at the far end of the room. A man sat half hidden in shadows, his face impassive as he played. I froze as his fingers danced over the keys.
He seemed to sense rather than see me, because as the piece came to an end, he looked up. Caught, like a kid with my hand in the cookie jar.
I couldn’t move as he rose to his feet and walked towards me. Actually, no, that wasn’t right. He stalked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine, and I withered under his dark gaze.
As he came closer, I realised how big he was—a heavier build than Nick, and at least four inches taller. They both had dark hair, but there the similarity ended. While Nick was handsome in a boy-next-door kind of way, with twinkling eyes and dimples when he smiled, there was nothing boyish about this man. He was textbook gorgeous, from the outside at least, but his eyes told a different story.
They were almost as black as his hair, two deep pools that brimmed with danger. Goosebumps broke out on my arms as he stopped in front of me. Okay, this was worse than the jaguar and worse than a ghost.
He held out a hand. Oh heck, I was supposed to shake it. I willed myself to stop trembling as I reached my fingers out to his.
“I-I-I’m Lara.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that.”
Now what? “Uh, you’re really good at playing the piano.”
“It’s a hobby. I play to relax.”
“You don’t look very relaxed.”
Oh shoot! Did I just say that out loud?
He shook his head faintly. “If you were married to Emerson, you’d struggle to relax as well.”
So this was her husband. Bradley was right about him being scary. At least he didn’t seem mad at my intrusion, and from what I’d seen of Emmy, I could understand his point.
And speaking of Emmy. “Is there any news on the…uh, the situation? You know, with whoever’s stalking me?”
“Nothing yet. Logan went back to the office to help with the search while you slept. Nick’s just dropped Emmy off at your apartment, and he’s on his way over.”
Nick was coming here? That revelation raised my spirits tenfold. Being in this strange house wouldn’t be so bad with him at my side.
My happiness must have shown on my face, because the Dark Lord smiled, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. No fangs. I checked.
“I’m glad he’s finally found someone who can make him happy, and it’s good to see the feeling’s reciprocated. You can wait for him in the living room. I’ll show you through.”
I followed as he glided down the hallway, dressed all in black, another shadow in this house of many. Only when he’d left me in a huge room filled with antique furniture did my pulse slow.
“Baby, I missed you.”
Nick strode in ten minutes later and swept me into his arms. I squeezed him as tightly as I could, ignoring the pain from my bruises.
“I missed you too.”
“How are you finding Riverley?”
I couldn’t help shivering. “Creepy.”
“I thought that too when I first came here. But the place grows on you. Wait until you see the pool and the gym.”
“Maybe not the gym.”
He pressed his lips to my good temple. “Okay, not the gym. I had a different kind of workout in mind, anyway.”
“Can we get something to eat first?”
“Nobody’s fed you?”
I went a little pink. “I’ve been asleep.”
“Then we’ll go and find food.”
After a late supper of bread and cheese, with wine for me and water for Nick because he was on call, I reminded him to put his plate in the dishwasher.
“I always forget that part.”
“Then I’ll keep reminding you until you remember.”
“It’ll take forever for me to learn.”
“Then I’ll remind you forever.”
We were both grinning as he picked me up, and unlike me, he knew the way