Seductive Knight (6 page)

On the island, she’d seen grown man frolicking in the water, most of the time half-naked, but they didn’t hold this kind of provocative appeal. Well, he wasn’t naked, but might as well since his pants hugged his body like another skin. How could anyone be so beautiful was beyond her.       

The man was God.

Gawain raked his black hair with his fingers. His bangs defied his action and quickly fell on the side of his temples and partly covered his left eye. He reminded her of a highlander she’d read in one of her books. Oh, dear. Could he be any more perfect?

Awesome. But shouldn’t pilots have neatly cut, short hair?
Slowly, she turned her head to look again at the portrait, then back to Gawain. He wasn’t staring at her anymore, but at the shoes she’d left outside the door.

“Yes, that was me in that portrait, and I believe these are yours.” He held up her worn shoes.

Her shoes! “No, no. Please, put those down.”

Alex watched Gawain push off the doorjamb then slowly walk toward her like a panther stalking its prey. His graceful swagger would surely make women faint, but she was an exception. No way she’d faint… Sweet pea, but then she might.
Get a grip, Alex.

The sound of his boots hitting the marbled floor synchronized with her pounding heart.

Alex
blinked. She still could not believe that she was facing
him!
In flesh and—well—muscles! Her throat suddenly went dry. Good God. The arrogant swagger, the piercing stare woke every part of her being. Never in her life had she felt this…this mouth-watering want to touch a man. She focused her gaze on his mouth and wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him again now that he was a man. She imagined her fingers running though his hair while he devoured her mouth.

For crimanysakes, Alex. Stop fantasizing. This is not a good time.

For some reason, she couldn’t stop a smile forming on her lips. “Hello, Gawain,” she greeted although with her heart hammering against her chest, she barely heard her own voice. “It, it is wonderful to see you.”

He didn’t smile back. Instead, he didn’t show any sign that he was happy to see her. Alex kept a smile, although it felt like she’d just drunk a glass of cold water chilling every warm part of her body. It was obvious. He wasn’t happy seeing her. And the longer he stared, the deeper his scowl had gotten. Alex began to feel that she had just invaded his privacy.

Suddenly, the house turned cold while Gawain stared at her as if she were an unwanted gnat that he hated. Edmund was wrong. Gawain didn’t want to see her again. Most likely someone had twisted his arm to make him agree to let her stay.

Alex scrunched her nose when Gawain looked at her from head to toe. Handsome and also intimidating, she thought.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I should have insisted on calling Luke.

Her excitement quickly waning, Alex pulled her height to its fullest and returned Gawain’s assessment. She clasped her hands in front of her the way Nanni reminded her to do, to show everyone that she was every bit of a respectable lady although she wanted to tell him it was rude to measure someone with a stare. Gawain stood in front of her, then bent down to place the shoes by her feet. “You didn’t have to take these off.”

“I have to. They’re dusty.” On the island, Nanni required that everyone remove their shoes before entering the house. She figured she should do the same here, especially with the shiny hardwood floor winking at her. Suddenly conscious about her feet, her cheeks heated. “Salamat.” She quickly slipped her feet in her shoes.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, thank you.”

Gawain frowned.

She bit her lip.
Great. My accent is emerging.
Whenever she felt agitated or nervous, Ema told her that her accent would get thicker. Well, Gawain made her nervous.

“You’re welcome. Edmund told me you need a place to stay.”

“Yes. You have a beautiful home.”

Gawain nodded. “Your temporary room is upstairs. I’ll show it to you.”

“Thank you.”

Gawain combed back his long bangs with his fingers again, a habit he’d acquired at a young age. She’d seen him do that many times when they were younger. “My house is open to Bors’s visitors, but not indefinitely. I kind of like my solitude. I’m sure Bors already told you the rules.”

“Rules?”

“Yes. No drinking or smoking in the house, no inviting friends over, no ordering porn on
On Demand
, my room is off limits, and you can stay here three days max. Simple rules.”

“Three days.” Edmund didn’t say anything about those rules. He also said two to three weeks.
Oh, my God. Did I misunderstand?

“Three days. That’s the deal Bors and I made. Anyway, my brother will have something figured out before your three days are out. Depends on your case, of course.”

“I-I don’t understand. I thought you expected me to stay here.”

“I
am
expecting you, but like I said—”

“I heard you.” She picked up her shoes. “I’ll leave right away.”

Gawain frowned. “You can stay.”

“For three days. I don’t think that would be enough.

“My house is not a hotel. You should understand that.”

“I understand perfectly well, Gawain. It is great seeing you, although, obviously you’re not happy to see me. I totally understand. No hard feelings. Now, I’ll spare you the trouble of having a company for three days. I’ll give you back your solitude. I’m leaving.”

“Can’t let you do that. Not until I talk to Bors.”

Bors? She remembered him. A handsome and funny Knight. But what had he to do with her? “Why Bors?”

“So he can tell me the situation.”

“What situation?”

Gawain let out an exasperated sigh. “Why you are here. At least I know what I’m up against if something happens.”

If something happens? My God. Did Baskerville tell the Knights about her mom killing a man?
Baskerville and Arthur Knight were friends. They must have talked. Embarrassed, Alex felt her face burning. She looked down and stared at her shoes. They were old, scuffed, and yet clean. Nanni told her the price of the shoes didn’t matter, but rather, the person who wears them. She was Molly’s daughter and she should be proud.

Alex looked up and met Gawain’s gaze. There was nothing embarrassing about her mother’s action that night. She did what she had to do. What she thought she should do.

“No need to call your brother. Nothing will happen to me.”

“Please don’t make this hard on both of us. I am offering you my home for three days. Just, just accept it. Help us help you.” Gawain’s frown went deeper as he spoke.

Alex shook her head and walked toward the door. God, why did Edmund say Gawain would be happy to see me? Did he just say that so she wouldn’t insist on calling Luke?
“Please thank Bors on my behalf. I didn’t mean to inconvenience anyone. I have a friend. He offered me a place to stay.”

“I know. Edmund told me. Okay, how about this. I’ll talk to Bors first, and then you can call your friend. How’s that?”

Alex agreed, her emotions in chaos. She couldn’t understand. Why would Gawain treat her with so much indifference? Did he harbor a grudge as deep as the ocean she’d crossed? Or he, too, had heard about her mother and her crime and decided he didn’t want to be associated with her? Edmund said she was passed down three times before he got the duty of bringing her here. Maybe no one wanted to be close to her.

“If Bors says you’re good to go, I’ll call a cab. You don’t have to worry about the fare. I can also give you a ride. Do you have your friends address?”

“Cab?”

“Taxi,” Gawain explained with a hint of a smile.

“Yes. A taxi would be nice.”

Gawain reached behind his pants. He pulled out his wallet and opened it. “Here. I have three hundred dollars cash. Would that be okay?”

“I-I don’t need your money, Gawain.”

“Please, I understand your situation. Once you’re settled or got your life going again, you can pay me back.”

“There’s no need. I’m not taking your money. Please call Bors so I can go.”

The ache in her chest intensified. They hadn’t parted on good terms. She remembered saying that she didn’t want to see him again. That was years ago, though, and she spoke like a stupid child would. God, but she didn’t think he’d hate her so much. Embarrassed beyond belief, she stammered her apologies. “I-I-I am sorry for the trouble. Th-thank you for the offer, but I can’t take your money.” The back of her nose burned. Her eyes began to water. Damn it. She wouldn’t cry.

Alex wanted to stomp her feet when hot tears rolled down first on her left cheek and then the right.

* * * *

Tears. A woman’s most powerful weapon to make a man bend. Damn. Seemed like he upset her. What the hell. He’d offered the others money before, and they didn’t take offense. Given her accent, maybe she was an immigrant. That could be it. Maybe in her culture, it was offensive if a stranger offered them money.

From the doorway, he had a chance to observe her. She was barefoot. Her shoes were on the corner of the doormat. He thought it odd. Now, hearing her talk was even weirder. He really must talk to Bors and ask about her story. He hoped she wasn’t an illegal alien. With the immigration laws getting tighter now, she’d be back in the country where she’d come from in a hurry.

“I see this is really upsetting to you, but I’ve done this before. Bors had brought women here and I let them stay and gave them money so—”

“Bors brought women here and you gave them money?”

“Yes.”

“And you think I’m one of those women?”

“Aren’t you?”

“I’m not a loose woman.”

“Loose woman? Most women I’ve let stay here…Oh, wait. You think the women who stayed here are loose and I paid them?” The woman wiped her tears with her fingers then squared her shoulder. Her posture was so straight she reminded Gawain of his old toy soldier. She looked ready to punch him. “No. Not all of them are paid women. The majority of them has all kinds of drama or issues going on with their lives. My brother is helping them. I support his cause, but within the bounds of reason.”

“I beg your pardon, Gawain, but what drama are you talking about?”

“Whatever it is you’re running from.” Damn, it. He should have taken two
Tylenol
capsules. He was hoping he’d just show this woman her room, offer her food and that was it. If she wanted to stay with a friend, he’d let Bors know. He didn’t need this.

“You thought I’m one of the women Bors is trying to help.”

“Isn’t that why you’re here? You need help, don’t you?”

“Yes, I need help. But not—”

“That settles it. You need a place to stay. I have a room you could use. If you’d rather that you stay with a friend, that’s fine. That’s after Bors gives me his permission.”

“Who are those women Bors is trying to help?” Alex shook her head. “Forget I asked. I shouldn’t pry.”

“Can’t tell you anyway.”

Damn. Now she sounded so proper and her accent disappeared. Could she stand any straighter? Didn’t matter. At least she’d stopped crying. “All right.” Gawain raised his hands up in the air in a gesture that he capitulated. “We’ve started on the wrong foot here. You need a place to stay. I know, that.”

“And that is true, but I have to decline. It must have been difficult for you to have constant visitors. Like I said, Luke offered his place where I could stay when I get to the United States. I’ll stay with him.”

Obviously, she had education. Maybe she had money before and now found herself in a difficult situation. Thus, the pride. “No problem there.”

“Good. Now, please call Bors.”

The last woman Bors had tried to help tried to steal his wallet and gave him a shiner. This one might not do those things, but would drive you nuts with her pride. She was kind of shrewish, too.

Gawain looked at her ankle length dress. It had seen better days and was three sizes bigger than her. Her shoes were no better. She dressed like a transient wandering around in downtown Seattle. Well, at least she looked clean. Unlike a hobo who hadn’t showered in a month, she smelled nice. What was up with her hat…worn and practically covered her face. Was she hiding on purpose? Maybe she had rashes on her forehead she wanted to hide? Good God. He hoped she wasn’t contagious. Also, one minute she spoke fluently as if she was born here and then she’d talk like English was her second language the next. What the fuck was that about? Now, he regretted not asking Edmund about her.

Gawain took a deep breath. “Okay. Just hang on a sec.” He walked toward the window a few feet away from the woman. He fished his phone from his front pocket and dialed Bors’s number. He answered right away. “Bro, she wants to stay with her friend.”

Bors’s reply was brief. “No.”

“Butthead, she’s insistent.”

“She’s staying with you, Peewee. And don’t fucking let her out of your sight,” Bors snarled from the end of the phone.

“Trouble?”

Bors sighed. “Baskerville thinks so. What do you think about her?”

“What do you mean?”

Bors laughed. “Edmund said she could make any man’s cock come alive.”

“Not mine. Stop laughing.”

“Does she look familiar to you?”

“No. Can’t really tell. She’s wearing a hat.” Gawain looked at the woman.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“All right. Understandable. Snot, look at her and then call me. Remember, she’s staying with you. I don’t have all the facts, but for now, I want you to keep an eye on her.”

“Wait, are we talking about more than three days?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck it, Bors. We have a deal.”

“She’s not going anywhere without you. And no one is supposed to know that she’s in Orcas.”

“You’re asking more than what I offered,” he hissed on the phone.

“And I know you’ll do more for her once you figure out who she is.”

“I’m supposed to know her?”

“Take care of her while I find more info.”

“Bro, I’m not an agent.”

“I know that, cuticle. Just listen to me. She’s not going anywhere. This one is not like the others.”