Is Three A Crowd? (5 page)

Chapter Four

Maris was ready and waiting at
six o’clock
in the lobby, Shin fed and walked. She wore an ankle length black skirt, black leather boots with a slim heel, and a white silk cowl neck sweater under a black blazer with silk piping. Her hair was brushed down her back, the top and sides pulled away with a silver barrette. Her makeup was minimal as always, just a hint of color to her lashes and a bit of gloss on her lips.

Nathan was prompt, arriving under the canopy at precisely six. He was dressed in black slacks and black shoes with a white starched shirt, no coat again. The doorman opened her door while Radulf let Shin in the back seat. Once they were away from the main entrance, Maris found her voice.

“Where are we going?” She glanced over her shoulder and saw Shin napping across the leather seat already.

“Someplace special.”

He said no more, seeming to enjoy the silence.

Maris watched the road, looking for landmarks, and she found several. She realized he was taking her to Chateau Munteanu by the main entrance.

“This is the road to the Chateau, to your home.”

“Yes, I wanted you to see it at night. The lighting against the night sky is interesting.”

“I was due to inspect the Chateau outer buildings the day after tomorrow.” She tried to sound terse and managed confused.

“And you will, but the overall effect is different from night to day.”

She sat quietly, taking in the scenery as Nathan drove them into the sprawling property. He’d been right, of course. It was a breathtaking sight. The castle was set on a mountaintop, the road winding through the forest. She observed quick snatches of the outer buildings, several small home sites sprinkled along the grounds, a well-lit gazebo as well as a glass atrium covering the swimming pool. She’d seen the surveys, knew the buildings existed, but hadn’t ventured to think what they might look like. She rubbed her fingertips together with anticipation of seeing the greenhouses. From the plans, she knew that there was one large building with several small additions to it. The only odd thing about the assignment was that she wasn’t to appraise the Chateau itself. She figured a different appraiser would do the main structure.

Maris couldn’t remember an earlier time when the idea of getting her hands in soil intrigued her, even though it had been her chosen profession.

Maris felt as if she’d come home. Without thinking, she whispered, “Up around the next curve is a small Tudor-style home, two stories, with red tulips in the front garden in spring.”

“Yes,” he answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

“How did I know that?”

“Maybe you saw it on the plans, or in a dream.”

Maris’s head snapped as she turned to look at him. “What?”
How could he know
?

“Never mind, just relax, Maris, tonight you’re off duty, just supper with a new friend.”

“I thought you brought me here to see the house at night?”

“A bit, mostly just for a good meal.”

She found she was irritated, and couldn’t define the absolute reason, only that he always seemed one step ahead of her.

When Chateau Munteanu came into view, Maris released her long-held sigh. It was spectacular as promised. The stone exterior gave the large structure an elegant feel, yet the free form landscaping and lighting softened the surroundings. Overall, she’d felt an odd shift in her mood, as if the house had been waiting for her, and she for it.

Maris sat speechless in Nathan’s parked truck before the double arched front door. He sat quietly beside her. She could feel his presence, his heat, his intent. She became very aware of her companion. His silent presence reinforced her internal desires, like none she’d ever felt before. Lust became palpable in the vehicle, as their breath fogged the windows.

Too many things ran through her mind at once, like snapshots of times long gone. Some were in vibrant color and others mere shadows, some serene and pleasant and others dark and cold. Some of the memories took place here in this very house. Maris wasn’t sure whether to be afraid or relieved. Glancing to Nathan, she found he stared ahead into the darkness.

There was no thought behind her move. She wanted to see his eyes, had to know for herself. With slow deliberate movements, she turned to face him, her right hand slowly going to his face, feeling the soft texture of his beard against her fingers. She gently turned his chin to face her. There was only the sound of their breathing as she took off his dark glasses and acknowledged the hazel green eyes watching her closely.

“Maris,” he started, but became silenced by her movements. She used both hands to slip along his jaw, her fingers sliding among the short hairs covering his face. Her lips met his without hesitation and found him familiar, a mouth she’d kissed. She was accustomed to his taste, his tongue.

Nathan’s large hand slipped under her blazer along her waist to the small of her back, tugging her a bit closer to his chest. When he drew back, his smile said more than words.

Maris decided his smile held sexual intent and a bit of arrogance, just short of smugness. Nevertheless, she couldn’t resist leaning back for a second taste of him. There was no thought process, only the want to kiss him. She pulled back when her seat belt halted her movements.

Nathan dropped his mouth over hers for just a moment longer, then moved his lips to her temple, whispering, “Welcome home, Maris.” He released her gently back to her seat, pausing only to take off his seat belt before leaving the truck. He was around to her door before she could comprehend his words.

He opened her door, extending his hand. She started to reach to him, her seat belt restricting her. Nathan leaned across her to unsnap the buckle.

“Come inside, Maris,” he said, his tone making her wonder if she’d heard him right when he said, welcome home.

Pausing before the main door, she turned in a circle several times, trying to take in her surroundings. Nathan opened the back door, unsnapped the dog’s leash, and let the tail-wagging Shin out. The dog jumped down and took off, investigating her surroundings. Maris started to call her back, but Nathan took her hand.

“She’ll be fine, just checking out the yard. You’ll see, she’ll find you later, let her run a bit. Come, we’ll have a drink before supper.”

* * * *

Maris would have sworn in her lifetime she’d never been in this castle-like home, but some part of her had been. Squeezing his hand, Nathan paused beside her as she stared at the main entrance.

“The floor is travertine marble, black and white squares. The staircase splits along the front wall running up both sides and meets in a center balcony above a long hallway. The railings are stone and there is a blood red carpet runner along the center of the stair treads.”

“Yes,” he said, confusing her further. The doors were opened from the inside, a tall, slim man standing to Nathan’s side.

“Good evening, Ms. Dusan.”

“Hello,” was all she managed. The entrance was exactly as she’d described. Nathan reached to take her jacket, and she absently let him, wandering the large space, her fingers running along the carved stone stair railing.

“Would you like a drink or a tour?”

“I think I’d like a drink first, explanation second, and tour third.” Deep inside, she felt she had to assert herself or forever be doomed to subservience in his presence.

Nathan laughed aloud, a genuine laugh for the first time in her presence, not like the snickering in the woods. It was a hearty and familiar sound. Aminta’s smile was reassuring. He was another enigma. Probably pushing sixty if he was a day, he was very poised. He wore a dark grey wool suit with Italian leather shoes, his starched white shirt a foil for the charcoal tie knotted at his throat. His smile was a memory, as was his voice. Maris looked to Nathan for reassurance.

“Please tell Cook we’ll have supper in an hour.” Aminta nodded and slipped away. Maris turned to him without hesitation.

“Drinks in the solar?” She smiled at her own words but wasn’t sure why.

“Of course.”

He motioned to the right, but she already knew the direction, where it was, and what it looked like. It was called a solar in its early days, eventually turning into a formal parlor with a large bar and several seating areas. There were magnificent ceiling to floor windows overlooking the rear grounds.

As they entered the room, Shin appeared, lying across the outside threshold.

“You were right, she’s back.”

“She senses your angst.”

“Is that what I’m feeling?” She laughed, relaxing into her surroundings. Maris accepted this was no longer déjà vu. She’d been here before. Which also explained why she was so drawn to Nathan. At this moment she couldn’t recall why she was drawn to Blake. She swallowed hard at the thought that she might have known him, too, in her past life. Why was she here, when, and how long ago? More questions formed in her mind, but she didn’t ask them. The right time would present itself.

“Something similar, I suppose. Wine, or something stronger?”

“Just wine for now. I’ll save the hard stuff for your explanations.”

“Explanations?” he questioned, with a smile she’d seen before.

“Of all the things that have haunted me over the last months.”

His smile told her she was right. He handed her a glass of dark burgundy, the bouquet heavy with fruit and wood.

“To the truth, Mr. Radulf.” Maris lifted her glass to his, the crystal making a slight clinking noise as they touched.

At that moment, something clicked in the back of her mind. It was blurry, but it was definitely something, and then she realized she
had
been here before. She had met and spent time here with Nathan, and she had met and spent time with Blake.
Quality time.
She held back a smile of realization that at some point before her accident she and Nathan had been lovers. Her mind conjured an image of them lying on a plaid blanket deep in the back reaches of the forest, making love—no, she decided—fucking their brains out. She remembered being aggressive and telling him to go harder and faster. He’d brought her to a climax that had her collapsing under him, his strong arm holding her to him as he thrust several times more before letting himself find his own release. Both of them were out of breath and covered in a fine layer of sweat. Then the memory was gone, just as quickly as it appeared. The chill that ran through her body remained, as did her lower lips pulsing for attention, wanting to feel him inside her body.
 

“To the truth, Maris.” His smile would be her undoing, and apparently already had been.

At least I know I’m not crazy
, she thought, and decided to just let Nathan unveil his plan. It became obvious she was there at his request. Business aside, she knew her job was now secondary to finding her history.

Chapter Five

Nathan realized Maris was too calm for the situation. She was wandering around the large room, touching a tapestry, then a piece of glassware. She sipped her wine before coming to rest on the window seat near the garden door. He closed his eyes against the sight. How many times had she sat in the same place when they spent time here? She had no idea, of course, only that it was a comfortable spot with a view of the exterior and interior of the room.

“Where would you like to start?” he offered.

“I suppose my jumping off point would be the dreams. Up until a few months ago, I was just an average woman trying to make her way in the world. I realize now it’s a year since my mother passed. Somehow, my dreams set this reunion in motion. That’s when I started losing nights to my dreams, when I’d awake expecting to find marks on my throat or breasts that I couldn’t reconcile. Was her death the trigger, or was it you hiring me to do this appraisal? Were you in
New York
, did I see you there at some point?”

“Both were probably the catalyst, but I never…stalked you in Manhattan.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Maris, all of this is going to sound a bit…curious, but with time you’ll understand and remember.”

“I need to remember now. I’ve lost years of memories for an accident I know no details of. I want them back. I want to know who I was back then, what I was like as a person. I feel as though the woman I am today is a carefully constructed façade my mother put in place. Is that right? Was I different when we knew each other?”