Lindsey's Rescue: A World Beyond Book 3 (3 page)

Chapter 4

Lindsey gazed around at the fancy party in session. The governing body on Garulax hosted this type of events to help the people of their world form what they called Triad marriages. Mentally, she called it a meet and greet session. Dozens of women dressed in beautiful gowns of all styles from the truly skimpy and revealing to the classy yet seductive.

They didn’t flirt or dance. Not that the music lent itself to getting loose and shaking hips. No, none of that here. Women just huddled in small groups of three or four, talking amongst themselves. A man in crisp formal attire would approach and separate one of the women from the herd to lead her toward another man then the three would leave the elaborately decorated ballroom never to be seen again.

Lindsey sighed. She hadn’t met anyone yet who met with her approval. This sucked. Sure handsome men were present, some sporting obvious wealth in the clothing they wore but no one who touched her special button. No one who made her heart ping and for twenty-thousand dollars upfront money, Lindsey wanted her heart to ping all over the place.

Another glance around showed men and women forming Triads effortlessly while she hugged the wall. For all the planning, the work and everything else to get here, she’d not agreed to contract a marriage yet. Not that she hadn’t been approached but Lindsey had ruled out all fourteen of the potential candidates before they’d gotten passed the exchange of names.

She blew out a breath. At this rate, she could almost see her twenty thousand flying in the wind.

“Has someone contracted you yet?”

At the deep voice, Lindsey’s head snapped up. Wearing a simple, black suit, a man she recognized from when she first arrived, towered over her. His hip-length jacket fit snugly across a broad chest, silver buttons fastened diagonally from his right shoulder to his left side. At the waist, the jacket cut away to reveal slim fitted trousers in matching black fabric tucked firmly into black boots polished to a high shine.

“My lady?” His voice rose in inquiry.

“I’m sorry?” Lindsey gripped her half-finished punch tighter. Her voice came out a breathless whisper.

The stranger offered a stiff bow from the waist only, his head never lowering, gaze steady on hers. Ocean colored eyes contrasted nicely with his neatly cut dark hair. “Pardon. My name is Baruk Laars. I wondered if you’d already contracted a Triad.”

Brushing a hand down the side of her yellow loaner gown, Lindsey stretched her lips into a bright smile to hide her nerves. “Hi. Lindsey Ferra. From Earth. Ahem, Singles Program.”

His mouth ticked up in the corner. “Hello Lindsey Ferra from Earth and the …Singles Program.”

Hearing him repeat her words with the same pause had Lindsey blushing. “Right. It’s just Lindsey.”

Baruk nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She swallowed and they stood together in awkward silence until she cleared her throat. “So ah, great party here. Are you looking for a marriage?”

He arched a dark brow and amusement peppered his next words. “I do believe everyone here tonight is looking for a marriage.”

Her translator buzzed in and out while karma laughed in the background. This is what Lindsey got for all the practical jokes she’d committed as a teen. Once more her cheeks heated but Lindsey persevered and increased the wattage of her smile. “Yes. Of course.”

“You’ve not answered my question. Are you contracted?” His tone dipped lower and his lids lowered as his gaze took on a sensual cast. Her heart pinged.

Really, literally pinged. Lindsey’s eyes widened. She pressed a palm to her chest and took a deep breath.

“Are you alright?”

The first man who even bleeped on her radar looked as if he wanted to walk far away as fast as possible. She needed to relax but her mouth flapped and no words came out.

“Should I get someone?” He searched the room, head tilted at an imperious angle and raised his hand as if to summon a servant.

“No!” Lindsey blurted, then flushed as she drew several stares their way. “I’m fine. And no I haven’t contracted with anyone.”

“Hmm.” Baruk’s mouth twisted.

Lindsey could almost hear his thoughts. How fast can I run from the demented lady? Heart still pounding, she counted to ten in her head and eased out a breath. “Sorry. Not sure what came over me. I guess this is all new to me. Leaving Earth, exploring a strange world with different cultures.”

His broad shoulders relaxed as he angled his body closer to hers. “Tell me of Earth. It’s not a planet I’ve had the pleasure of visiting and no one from there is represented on any of the political planetary committees.”

Every other word came through translated the rest in foreign words she didn’t quite catch. Politics? At least she thought he’d said that. Lindsey handed her drink off to a topless male servant in black pants holding a tray. Initially, she’d been surprised at the bare chests on display but she’d heard a few of the women giggling about how it was supposed to excite them in preparation for the Triad Bridal Meet.

Unfortunately, nerves froze her tongue again and Lindsey was unable to think of a single thing interesting to say to hold his interest.

“Perhaps I was mistaken in your interest,” Baruk interrupted. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. Enjoy your evening.”

Lindsey’s mouth dropped open and the handsome man walked off without another word, his back view as enticing as the front.

People stared at her. Men and women. The men wore expressions ranging from appalled to pleased. Her conscious twinged. She may or may not have refused more than a few of them. The women appeared triumphant and the talk in the ballroom increased in volume, avid gazes following Baruk as he crossed the polished floor to speak with two men talking, shoulders propped on the wall.

“No,” she belatedly whispered, shoulders drooping.

Worse day ever, she decided and headed off in search of another drink. Or maybe some of the oddly shaped cakes at the buffet table. Cake made everybody feel better.

***

“Baruk, dear friend.”

Baruk gritted his teeth in annoyance at the nerve of the woman even as he managed to smile at the greeting from his best friend Riun. “Greetings, Riun.”

“Looks like the lovely Earthling turned you down too, I suppose.”

Baruk focused on one word. “Too?”

Riun and Sefon both wore expressions of chagrin. “She’s rebuffed all who approached her, including us. Not sure what she’s looking for if she had the audacity to turn
you
down.”

Baruk slid his hands in the pockets of his pants, destroying the tailored line his second assistant had made such a fuss about. “I’m no different than anyone else here looking for a Triad marriage.”

Sefon’s mouth twisted to the side. “Come now, Senate Leader. Of the fifty women present here tonight at least forty-nine would jump if you but motioned in their direction.”

“Yes,” Riun added. “Let’s not pretend your wealth and position aren’t a powerful motivator.”

Which was why Baruk
hadn’t
approached the other forty-nine women in the room. He’d hoped the blonde woman with the downcast blue eyes could be the one he wanted. She had the potential to be a looker though the yellow dress she wore was awful. It clashed with her hair and did nothing for her creamy skin tones. His second assistant, Kimsha, would have a fit if he saw her.

“You’ve a bit of wealth as well, Riun,” Baruk said as he shot him a quick look before turning back.

Riun snorted. “Not on your scale friend. Not on your scale.”

Baruk dragged his gaze from the Earth woman and faced his friends. “Well, apparently that’s not good enough tonight. She practically ignored me.”

And he’d gone out of his way to initiate the conversation and express an interest in her home world. Surely it provided an excellent opportunity for her to talk about herself. Women from his experience loved to talk about themselves. Instead, her eyes had glazed over and the brief conversation fell into its second noticeable silence.

“Maybe Zadal will have better luck. Stars know the women seem drawn to his rough appeal despite his birth status as a
briot
.” Riun tipped his head for them to follow.

The Earth woman, Lindsey, walked with determined strides toward his nemesis on the Senate panel. Zadal broke off his conversation with a community activist by the name of Caris, who shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere close to the Triad party this evening. Caris loved to take to the news vid channel she ran to extol the evils of the Senate Leaders and the decisions they made.

Lindsey paused beside Caris and extended her hand in an odd gesture. Frowning, Caris gripped her palm and their arms moved up and down. While Zadal stood by, Lindsey struck up a conversation with the woman and soon the two shared a laugh. After more words exchanged, Caris smiled at Zadal and left the two alone.

Jealousy slid through Baruk as the woman who’d sparked his interest for the first time in years began to talk with Zadal. Granted, it was one-sided, since from where he stood, Zadal hadn’t said one word.

But the part of him used to the adoration of women was slightly non-plussed.

Chapter 5

Lindsey frantically sought a means to go after Baruk. Her gaze landed across the room at the only other man who didn’t seem to hang with another guy. He and the pretty woman next to him looked to be arguing about something. He appeared bored, only tolerating what she said. The few times Lindsey glimpsed him, he stood by himself. Almost as if he preferred it that way. As a result, Lindsey had given him a wide berth.

Unlike the other men in the room walking in twos, women didn’t stare at the blond giant. She could understand why. If ever there was a man who should have had a sign around his neck declaring ‘dangerous, stay away’ it was this man. Grooves through his short, blond waves encouraged a woman to attempt to touch it but dark eyes warned he’d not take kindly to the action.

His face was all hard angles, a half-smile playing about sensuous lips as the woman next to him rattled on. The smile was more mocking than humorous.

Military style suits defined menswear tonight but the gentleman wore a straight, knee-length black jacket with a single clasp at the throat and black pants with an air of ease. No buttons, no frills. Simple and perfect. Lindsey formulated her battle plan and inhaled. No guts no glory or pain.

Hopefully, more glory than pain or guts. Lindsey wasn’t partial to pain.

He looked up at that moment, their eyes meeting. An electric current flowed between them. Her heart stuttered. Lindsey stopped in the middle of the room, hand going to her chest. His thick lashed lowered in a blink. When they lifted, he returned his attention to his companion, unknowingly releasing Lindsey from the momentary magnetic pull.

Lindsey licked her lips and added a sway to her hips. Heart pounding, she walked right up next to him.

***

Zadal was seconds away from dismissing Caris and her annoying chatter. He’d come here tonight with a purpose and it wasn’t to debate her latest concerns regarding a Senate vote that had taken place months ago.

“Sorry to cut in, but I had to let you know how much I love your hair.”

Caris stopped haranguing Zadal long enough to face a slim blonde woman who wore a dress even he in his fashion challenged state recognized as not pleasing to the eye. The fabric draped her in ruffles from shoulder to ankle, the short sleeve on the left loose enough to slip and reveal the curve of her creamy flesh. He recognized her of course, since she’d turned her back on his approach no more than two hours ago.

“Thank you, your hair is nice as well.”

Zadal stood immobile as the two promptly ignored him to share tips about hair maintenance and other things he didn’t care one inch about. He shifted his weight, fully prepared to leave them to their women’s prattle when Caris agreed to do lunch one day with the blonde before leaving.

“Okay that was really rude and I apologize. I’m desperate.”

Zadal flinched.

“Not desperate really.” The woman looked over her shoulder and he was certain she groaned before facing him again. “I’m Lindsey. Please tell me you’re looking for a wife. You have to be…because you’re here and I suck at flirting.”

She broke off her rapid speech to meet his gaze with eyes so deep a blue it caught Zadal off guard. She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Hello??”

He grabbed her wrist out of instinct the moment it neared, fingers gripping her delicate bones. Her mouth screwed up in pain though she didn’t cry out. Zadal released her instantly as heat burned his cheeks. He swallowed back his remorse to say stiffly, “My apologies.”

She rubbed her wrist, staring at him in a hesitant manner completely opposite of her initial demeanor when she’d approached. Regret tore through him as he castigated himself. He liked her bright smiles better.

“My mistake. Let’s start again. I’m Lindsey and you are…” She dragged the last word out and arched a winged brow in his direction.

Zadal bowed from the waist, eyes up as he’d taught himself to do after weeks of watching vids on the polite gesture. “Senate Leader Zadal Gatar.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you a politician or something?”

What game did she play? Everyone here tonight knew who he was. The women made a point to keep their distance and the men pretended he didn’t exist. For the last two hours Zadal had strolled around the ball room in search of what he wasn’t sure. Any time his eyes made contact with a lady, her gaze would dart away in a clear sign to not approach. Just as this Lindsey’s had. Frustration and annoyance wore at his nerves. This was his chance to find a bride but as he’d feared, without the power of a known spouse partner, none of them would have him.

“Are you into politics?” She raised her voice on the question as if he’d had trouble hearing her.

“Yes.” He studied the fine lines of her features. The short nose, glowing blue eyes and high cheekbones gave her more than pretty looks.

All together she looked fragile and on the heels of the thought, Zadal stepped back. She was not for him. His wife would need to be made of sterner stuff and this woman had lightweight written all over her. A Senate Leader’s spouse partner and wife needed to be capable of adding value to his life in all aspects.

She hummed under her breath and Zadal was fairly certain she mumbled, “I guess I could deal with that.”

He wondered how he could extricate himself from her presence without being rude. Usually, he didn’t care about how others viewed him. His goal since he’d achieved his Senate seat this last year revolved around gaining power and respect. Yet this woman with her ridiculously long lashes and golden tresses trapped him with nothing more than the blue eyes staring up at him.

“I’d like to be your Triad bride.”

Zadal choked, then hoped he masked the horror on his face. A woman didn’t ask a man, a man did the asking. He clasped his hands behind his back and went for his most stern look. The one that sent fear quaking through the other Senate Leaders when they thought to oppose him in votes. Only the carefree Baruk Laars pushed back and publicly fought him during those times.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” He searched for a viable reason and the answer blared in his brain. “I haven’t selected a spouse partner.”

Her lower lip trembled and Zadal felt lower than a grimlet slug. Then she lit up like the sun, color giving her skin tones a pink bloom. “I might have the answer.”

She reached for his arm and he managed not to react to her sudden move for physical contact this time. Her fingers grasped the cloth of the only suit he owned and tugged, leaving Zadal no choice but to follow unless he wanted to injure her further.

His eyes dipped to the wrist he’d grabbed and three darkening dots marred her skin. Cold rolled through him. How many times had his mother begrudgingly fixed his meals, her body lined with bruises from the rough hands of her clients? Whenever she caught him staring, Aiella Gatar would sneer and tell him of all the ways men were evil and how he’d grow to be the same.

Aeilla berated him constantly for the smallest slight until he learned to be on his guard around her. Sometimes her drug-filled rants ended with him curled in a ball on the floor, hands pressed to his ears to block her screaming and insults. Other times he’d wake on the floor bleeding from where she’d kicked him into unconsciousness.

Zadal didn’t want to be the type of man who brought a woman that low. He didn’t want to hurt a woman to the point she hated any child they created together.

When they reached the other side of the over-large ball room, he realized where Lindsey had taken him. Two of the three men standing in the group stared in disdain. Zadal straightened. This he knew well. The woman had temporarily thrown him off his stride but he slid easily into the role he’d fought for all his life.

Zadal inclined his head to Baruk and his friends. “Gentlemen.”

Lindsey touched his elbow and he realized she’d never let him go. “Hi, all. Um can you excuse us? I need to talk to Mr. Baruk here.”

“Mister? Do you know who you’re speaking to?” The blond Zadal recognized as Riun Paer, eldest son in line to inherit Zorona Mining, his father’s business. He enjoyed his reputation as a lady’s man and was here tonight with his spouse partner, Sefon, to select a bride.

Baruk raised a palm to stop his friend from continuing.

“Mr. Baruk,” Lindsey started once again. “This is Senator Zadal. He needs a partner.”

Baruk couldn’t have looked more stunned and the two men at his side burst into laughter.

“She’s amusing.” Sefon sneered after getting his humor under control.

Zadal stiffened and flexed the fingers Lindsey still held. A slight tug didn’t free his hand. He’d love to put the pompous fool in his place. Sefon’s only purpose seemed to be hanging around Riun. He didn’t have the wealth of the Paer and Laars family but he’d been born in a Triad. But for that one notable difference their status would have been the same.

Lindsey shifted from one foot to the other, gaze bouncing. “He’s Baruk Laars. He introduced himself earlier.”

Riun’s brow lowered and Zadal sensed him about to put the woman in her place. She had no idea she’d just dismissed the son of one of the richest families on Garulax.

Sefon’s chest puffed up. “He’s…”

“Baruk, only.” The Senate Leader cut off, never taking his eyes from Lindsey.

“But—” Sefon tried to protest, anger tightening the lines around his cold eyes.

Zadal braced his weight, prepared to defend the strange woman.
If
she would let his hand go.

Baruk must have picked up on the undercurrents and spoke. “Riun and Sefon, give us a moment.”

Both men gave Lindsey a sharp glare before storming off. She barely noticed, turning to Baruk and gifting him with the same smile which had somehow knocked Zadal off his axis.

“Would you like to be in our Triad?” She glanced up at Zadal and winked as if they shared a private joke. Zadal stiffened but she faced Baruk again. “He’s a Senate Leader but we need a third person and since you seemed interested earlier, I just thought…”

“Thought what?” Baruk drawled laconically. “That I wouldn’t have my own spouse partner designated for the evening?”

Lindsey swiped at her hair, mussing the artful arrangement. “I’m doing this wrong.” She huffed out a breath. “I don’t know how this is supposed to go. I came here to find a husband…husbands who would be interested in me. Someone I could care about and so far you two are the only ones who don’t appear to have a hidden agenda.”

Zadal stifled the need to correct her. He had an agenda. He chose not to share it and Zadal felt fairly certain Baruk had one as well.

Lindsey released Zadal’s hand at last but now he missed the soft contact. “I turned down a lot of guys already. You’re the only two who haven’t looked down on me for coming here through Earth’s single program.”

Zadal winced. It explained her odd behavior and odder speech. His plans tonight hadn’t included forming an alliance with his nemesis on the Senate panel but one look at Baruk assured Zadal that the man was seriously considering her offer.

“What do you think?” she asked, hands clasped in front of her.

The silent plea in her blue gaze pinched at his heart. Zadal ruthlessly crushed his desire to agree. The answer didn’t fully rest with him. He faced Baruk. “Have you a spouse partner? If so, I can decline the lady and you can move forward in the Triad marriage.”

“No,” Lindsey gasped, eyes wide. “I want both of you.”

Once more his heart tripped in his chest. Women lusted for him. Carnal desire brought them to his bed in droves but to simply want him?

As soon as the words cleared her lips, Lindsey turned red and the color worked itself down her throat. How far did the blush go? To her abundant breasts heaving beneath the dress? Suddenly, Zadal’s interest was far more engaged.

***

Baruk didn’t know whether to be appalled or amused. The panic in Zadal’s gaze pushed him more toward the latter. He’d never considered a Triad with the harsh Senate opponent. The man didn’t have a soft bone in his body, yet he remained here fully willing to accept a spouse partnership with Baruk.

“This is an important decision to make.” Was all Baruk could say.

“I know.” Lindsey from Earth peered up at him with earnest eyes.

Women looked at him with greed. With eyes to his wealth as the sole heir to the Laars fortune. In addition to his role as Senate Leader, Baruk ran a business empire worth billions of
liko
. But never had a woman gazed at him with such sincerity as displayed by this woman.

Coming here, Baruk knew what he wanted in his wife. A woman of beauty and poise, average intelligence to converse with those he entertained and someone who’d help him run his life smoothly as his mother once did for his fathers.

He did not come here to select a woman who was a stranger to his world. Yes, he’d been struck by her beauty when he noticed her standing in the corner but now that he knew more of her, she would not do. “I’m afraid I must decline.”

It was akin to kicking a baby
kerdal
. The furry animals had the softest eyes. He cast a glance at Zadal, whose knowing stare tempted him to change his mind. Baruk resisted the unspoken childish dare.