Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) (17 page)

When she blushed, she turned the most fetching shade of pink. “No thank you. You already took advantage of my unconscious body.”

“Well milady, this time you wouldn’t be unconscious now would you?”

The shop girl reappeared and saved her from answering. “The dressing room is this way. I’ve already picked out a number of items.”

Maggie tugged his sleeve. “Yes?”

“How did she know my size? I don’t have a clue. This is very overwhelming.”

“I find when faced with a situation I’m not sure of to simply dive in and turn myself over to the experts.” Her eyes were huge, a look of distress on her face. All resistance fled as he leaned down and planted a quick kiss on her lips. Gods, they were soft. Before he could properly enjoy the velvet skin, she jumped back with a shy smile lighting up her face. “Right. Miss? I’m ready.” The clerk giggled as Maggie fell in line behind her.

Robert settled in to the chair, sipping his wine and half watched the news, wishing he had his powers so he could hear what they were saying. Clerks scurried to and fro, arms laden with all kinds of women’s things.

Time passed. Another identically dressed clerk refilled his wine and brought him crackers and cheese. Thank the gods. If they took too much longer he’d bloody well starve.

At last, he heard the creak of a door and a flurry of women emerged. Wow, his mouse had been transformed into a beautiful woman. He stood. Dressed in dark jeans, a thick cream-colored fisherman’s sweater, black riding boots and a jewel-toned scarf tied around her hair…well, he’d like to peel everything off, one item at a time.

“Maggie. You are a vision. Absolutely lovely. I feel bad we’re headed home instead of out on the town to show you off.” Standing, he walked towards her, walking around her and lifted the end of her hair. “I like your hair this way.”

For the first time ever she shyly smiled up at him. “They’re the nicest things I’ve ever owned.” She smoothed her hands over her jeans. The clerk approached, holding a wool coat and soft black leather backpack. The coat was dove gray and brought out the flecks of silver in her green eyes.

“I’m ready to go. Thank you Robert. I’ll find a way to repay you.”

“A moment lass. You’ll need more than what you’re wearing.” The head clerk was at his elbow before he said a word. “Sir?”

“Were there other things she liked?” The shop girl nodded so fast he thought she’d get whiplash. The smell of a big commission practically had the clerk drooling. “Capital. We’ll take the lot. Throw away the clothes she was wearing when we arrived.”

“Yes, right away. Of course.”

A small hand patted his forearm. “It’s too much. I’ll never wear all these things.”

He rolled his eyes. “You have to be the first woman I’ve met who’d turn down clothes and frippery.”

“Miss, a glass of wine to go as well.” Robert handed over his credit card, paid and kept topping off Maggie’s glass so she wouldn’t hyperventilate when the total cost rang up.

Robert called the driver and they loaded up the car, Maggie protesting the entire time. He pressed the to go cup of wine in her hand. “Drink, you’ll quit fussing.”

“This is so excessive. I’ve never owned this much stuff in my whole life.”

She tried to hide the gleam in her eye. Ah, now he had her. Food, especially fresh fruit, frocks and what? There had to be something else. He’d figure out what it was. Then he’d start on his plan to kiss her again. Woo her. Get her to come out of her shell.

Bloody hell—he wasn’t mad at her any longer. In face, he wanted to make her smile. Do whatever it took to see her blush.

“I think the car is riding a bit low, James.” He smirked at Maggie. “Oof.” An elbow to the gut shut him up and he rubbed the offending spot, chuckling. Wisely, the driver stayed silent.

“Who is this collector we’re going to meet, is he like you?”

“No, he’s human. Very reclusive, very wealthy. His estate is on the way to mine. We’re coming into view of it now. See? Over there.”

“That’s a house? For one person? Who needs that much space?” The disapproval in her voice stopped him cold. Goldstein's place was a quarter of the size of Gwrych. Would she think poorly of his home?

“It’s been in his family for hundreds of years. I don’t think it’s a question of does he need it but rather keeping tradition alive.” A frown on her face, she looked out the window as the car turned down a long driveway.

“Should I stay in the car?”

“Not at all. He’ll be intrigued I’ve brought a guest. I’ve never brought anyone with me.”

Robert caught her half-smile. She was pleased. He bounded out of the car before James could get to her door. “Allow me.” Offering his arm, Maggie exited the car. The driver handed him a small, neatly wrapped package. “We won’t be long.” The chauffer nodded as he got back in the car and opened up a newspaper.

The door was opened before he could knock. “Welcome, Mr. Bartholomew. If you and your guest will follow me to the study, Mr. Goldstein will be with you shortly. A drink perhaps?”

“No thank you, we’re fine.” A new Matisse hanging on the wall drew his attention while Maggie picked the chair in the corner of the room, away from everything. Before he could escort her to another, one closer to him, the door opened.

“Robert, lovely to see you again, old chap.” Mr. Goldstein rolled in, carried on a cherry red wheelchair. Rumor had it the man was injured during some kind of illegal archeological dig in the Middle East years ago.

Robert stood and shook his hand. “I like the red wheels better than that god-awful hunter green you were riding around in last time I was here.”

The big, bass laugh startled Maggie. “And who do we have here?” Rolling over to her, he extended his hand, patting hers.

“Hello, I’m Maggie, a friend of Robert’s.”

“Now lassie, Rob is a scoundrel so you must keep a wary eye on him. I smell a story about how you two met but alas, I can tell by the look on Rob’s face, he’s anxious to get home so it will have to wait for another time. You will come visit again, won’t you charming Maggie?”

“I’d love to.”

And in that small exchange, he was smitten. A shy, tentative smile put his infamously grouchy client at ease. Someone like that could be useful in other negotiations. The competition would be so busy trying to get her to talk, he’d steal the treasures out from under their noses.

“I suppose you’ll be wanting this before we take our leave?” He tossed the package in the plain brown wrapper to Mr. Goldstein who snagged it out of the air. Wheeling over to his desk, he reverently opened it. Maggie inched closer, curious to see what was so important. The client tossed a small bag to him.

Diamonds. Easy to exchange and transport. Maggie’s gasp had him turning around. “It’s amazing. Didn’t I read something about that piece…”

“Robert, my boy, as always, you’ve delivered. The piece is brilliant, isn’t it?”

He chuckled. The necklace was an ornate diamond affair rumored to have belonged to Marie Antoinette, very pricey. “You remember correctly. It came available at a certain auction. Would you like to hold it?”

“No way, that thing is cursed, and I’ve had enough bad luck to last a lifetime.”

“I don’t believe in curses.” Laughing, he tossed it from hand to hand as she backed away, a look of horror on her face.

Saying their goodbyes, Maggie shivered in the icy air. Buttoning up the top of her coat, he kissed her. Progress. This time she lingered for a few seconds before stepping back from him. Her face flushed.

James was waiting, car running, door open. Sliding into the warmth of the heated interior, she sighed and was it his imagination or did she sit a few inches closer than before?

“Right. I’m famished. Are you hungry?” She nodded. “’Tis a short drive. An early dinner will be waiting when we arrive as it seems we’ve missed lunch. Afterwards I thought I might show you my home, there is a large hothouse with all kinds of fruit and vegetables growing.”

“I’d like that very much.” She rubbed her shoulder.

“How’s the shoulder, does it pain you?”

“A bit stiff but much better.” Twenty minutes later, they turned onto Gwrych estate. She leaned forward in her seat as the castle came into view. “You weren’t kidding. It’s a monstrosity. At any moment I expect ghosts, not like you, but the ones with chains and sheets to come moaning out of the windows. It’s kinda creepy, don’t you think?”

“You wound me, milady.” He held his hand over his heart in mock horror as he helped her out of the car.

“Gareth. This is Maggie. Without him, the place would turn to a pile of rubble.”

“Come in out of the cold and have a cup of hot tea.” Gareth took the bags from Robert and led them into the great hall. Maggie’s eyes were huge as she took in the size of the place. It did take some getting used to. The place was rather large if you were unaccustomed to it. She stopped dead in her tracks as they passed the library. Ha, he’d found her final weakness—books. Clothes, fruit and books. Now he could prepare a strategy. Everything he needed was right here.

“Better not gape too long, Gareth might think you’ve gone daft.” She scowled at him. “Don’t worry Maggie, after you get settled in you can peruse the library to your heart’s content before dinner.”

“I’ve never seen this many books. Growing up, I might have had one. It’s amazing to see so many books in one place.”

Tragic. She’d had a difficult life. He’d fill his home from floor to ceiling if only she’d smile for him. “Let’s show you to your room. Gareth lead on.” Following his retainer up the stairs to the fourth floor, he walked behind Maggie, watching the sway of her hips as she climbed the stairs. What a fine arese she had. Would she gasp in pleasure if he reached up, grabbed hold and gave a gentle squeeze? Probably backhand him was more like it…though he’d seen her admiring him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

They stopped at the second to last room. “Your room, miss.” Gareth opened the heavy door, gesturing for Maggie to enter.

“Oh wow. This is amazing. It’s huge!” She spread her arms out, turning around in a circle, taking it in. The room was done in shades of purple and cobalt blue. The bed was an enormous four-poster, in fact all the furniture was enormous and made of the same dark wood. Acquired the furnishings when he’d plundered a French ship. Belonged to a King. As Maggie wandered around the room touching and admiring the furnishings, he admired her. Gareth placed her bags by the dresser, nodded to Robert and left, quietly closing the door behind him.

The wretch had gotten under his skin, and he was afraid he was growing to like the itchy sensation, the awareness of her being there at all times.

She entered the en-suite bath and he heard her exclamation. “This is the most decadent bath I’ve ever seen. I may never leave the bathroom.” A large claw footed tub sat apart from a shower that could easily accommodate ten people. There were two sinks done in the same white and gray marble. Gareth had been efficient as usual. A large array of ladies’ bath products lined the counter.

“We had a communal shower at the house. I’ve never had my own bathroom. And in all my life I’ve always wanted to take a bubble bath. I know what I’m doing after dinner.”

Maggie’s long red hair trailing over her breast into the bubble-filled water. For the rest of the night he would be thinking of her in there without him.
Nice. Hope I can hold an intelligent conversation with her and not drool during dinner.

“You can stay in the tub until you’re as wrinkled as a raisin if it pleases you. I’m in the room across the hall. Dinner’s in an hour. I’ll knock on your door to take you down to the dining room. I’d hate to find you a week from now, dead from starvation, in some dusty unused wing of this ‘monstrosity’ as you called it.” He grinned.

“I might have been a bit hasty in my judgment.” She said in a prim and proper voice.

He roared with laughter. “If I’d known a simple bubble bath would cheer you, we would have taken care of it sooner.” He bowed and let himself out of the room.

Maggie couldn’t believe it. The one person in the world who terrified her more than anyone else…was the man she now entrusted with her life. The man she wanted. The thought sunk in and she sat down hard on the sumptuous bed, groaning in pleasure. The startling realization hit her—she wasn’t afraid of Robert. He’d been true to his word. Not only had he saved her but he’d brought her to his home and promised to help. Unconsciously, her fingers went to her lips. He’d kissed her. The kiss traveled down to her toes and made her want to crawl inside him before fear pulled her back. A little time was all she needed. Yes, she wanted him. At least she could admit the truth.

It was surreal to be in his home. She rotated her shoulder. It ached but was getter better fast. Robert had insisted on putting saltwater on the wound each day. Stung like a bitch but she had to admit, the seawater had healing properties. In the course of a few days her life had changed dramatically. The shock of learning the Shadow Walkers and Robert were the good guys—the ones working to save humans, it was nothing short of astonishing. The revelations had rocked her world, turned her thoughts upside down and inside out. She felt sick to her stomach that she’d unwittingly helped destroy men on the right side in this hidden war.