Tempted by Two Angels [Notorious Nephilim 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (13 page)

Caleigh took her bows, but this time the roar of the crowd completely failed to give her a rush. She sprinted off stage and locked the door to her dressing room before anyone could notice that her smile wasn’t quite as bright as usual.

* * * *

Sterling thought Caleigh performed her first two sets well, but he could tell she wasn’t herself. He motioned for Hugh to follow him as soon as Caleigh had exited the stage after her second set. Once they were out of earshot, he made a suggestion. “We need to do something for her. Something special that will show her how we feel.”

Hugh’s eyebrows shot up. “How we feel? How
do
we feel, Sterling?”

Sterling frowned. “Oh, come on. You aren’t going to try and tell me you haven’t fallen for her, are you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to tell you.” Hugh dug a cigarette out of his breast pocket and lit it.

“You can’t smoke inside. You know that.”

“I don’t give a shit. Look, you can swoon all over her and try to convince her we’re not monsters or something, but I want no part of it. We told her what we are, we told her the resort’s history, and she’s repulsed by it. She’s repulsed by
us
.”

“No, she’s not.” Sterling glanced toward the doorway, expecting Emmett or Zach to appear any second. The two could smell smoke a mile away. “Don’t you remember what happened when Leo and Andras told Blair? She was upset as well, but it turned out all right in the end.”

Hugh looked at him like he’d gone insane, then he stubbed his cigarette out on the floor and began to laugh so hard tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes. Sterling realized his mistake almost immediately, but it was too late to take back the words. His remarks had made it sound like they’d both already chosen Caleigh.

“Oh man.” Hugh wiped his eyes. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. You haven’t said anything like that to the others, have you?”

“All right. You’ve made your point. But if you really have no feelings for her, how do you explain the flowers you send her every day?”

Hugh averted his gaze. “I couldn’t let you be the only one giving her roses.”

Sterling lowered his voice. “Why can’t you just admit you care for her?”

Hugh dug out another cigarette, but this time he didn’t light it. He put it in his mouth, ran his fingers over his chin, then stuffed the cigarette back into his pocket. “Look, you and one of the others can live out your mortal lives with her, okay? I’m jake with that.”

Sterling watched Hugh’s retreating form ascend the basement stairs. Something about the slump of his shoulders told Sterling that Hugh hadn’t meant what he said. There would be time later to talk to him about it. In the meantime, he had to do something to put Caleigh’s mind at ease. During her first set, he’d had the uncomfortable feeling she was contemplating leaving the resort. He couldn’t let that happen. She was his songbird, and he couldn’t give her up.

Sterling arranged for roses to be sent the next morning, but when Molly told him Hugh hadn’t done so this time, Sterling asked her to send some in Hugh’s name. Molly looked doubtful, but she finally agreed to do so.

“Do you think we can find chocolate in Chicago?” he asked.

Molly gave him a dubious look. “I don’t know, Sterling. It’s pretty scarce right now. I’ll do some checking, okay?” She glanced around and leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “But if you’re really trying to impress a gal like Caleigh, I have a better suggestion. Want to hear it?”

Sterling grinned and nodded. Trust Molly to get right to the heart of the matter.

“Take her to see a film.”

“What? Where? You mean in Chicago?”

Molly chuckled. “Right here, silly. Leo and Andras had the projection room built for Blair, remember? They have all kinds of films now.”

“Sure I remember. But do you really think Caleigh would enjoy that?” Blair practically worshipped Hollywood and its stars, but Sterling had a tough time picturing Caleigh as someone who would be that interested in movie stars.

Molly grinned like the cat that swallowed the canary. “Absolutely. She told me she loves musical films. And, I happen to know we have copies of
No, No Nanette, Irene,
and her favorite,
Holiday Inn.
”

“Molly, you’re fabulous.” Sterling leaned over the desk and gave her a peck on the cheek.

“I know. I’ve been telling all of you that for years.”

As much as having Caleigh to himself for an evening would be heaven, Sterling didn’t feel right about it. He knew Hugh cared about her, but he also knew Hugh wouldn’t admit it easily. Still, it felt wrong not to tell him about his plans for a movie night with Caleigh. If he refused to join, then so be it, but at least Hugh couldn’t say he’d never been told about it.

Hugh wasn’t in his suite or in the office he and Cristian shared, although that wasn’t unusual. Cristian managed to take care of most of the accounting matters at the resort, despite the fact he was lazy as hell. But Hugh’s contribution to running the resort was more along the lines of leaving cigarette butts all over the place and blaming the staff or guests for them.

Finally, Sterling left him a note and placed it on Hugh’s desk, along with all the other notes and memos Hugh never bothered to read. To hell with it. It wouldn’t be his fault if Hugh didn’t read the note in time.

After debating for twenty minutes, he also decided to invite Blair, Leo, and Andras. Maybe Caleigh would feel more comfortable if there were others around? Sterling also hoped by Caleigh noticing how happy Blair was with Leo and Andras, she’d realize they weren’t monsters, as Hugh had put it.

* * * *

Caleigh took her time choosing an outfit to wear for movie night. She wanted to look alluring, but not so seductive they’d think she was there for no other reason than to get back into their beds. Her entire body ached for their touch. The last two days had been torture. She hadn’t seen them or spoken to them. She’d barely spoken to anyone, and consequently Caleigh was lonely. It wasn’t like her to avoid people altogether.

She’d talked to the band members during rehearsals, but only when necessary. Hugh and Sterling hadn’t shown up at them. At first she was glad they hadn’t, but on the second day all she felt was an overwhelming sadness at not seeing their faces in the room. Sticking to her plan of staying as far away as she could from Hugh and Sterling had quickly turned into a complete failure.

When Molly brought her the note from Hugh and Sterling inviting her to see a film with them, she almost declined, but then decided that would be rude. It was only a movie. She didn’t have to have sex with them. Plus, she became intrigued when Molly let it slip that the movie they planned to show was one of Caleigh’s favorites.

The note only said to have Blair show her where the projection room was, if she didn’t already know, and meet them both there at seven in the evening. Caleigh had no idea they had a projection room at the resort. Was it squirreled away somewhere remote, where she’d be stuck if they tried to seduce her? Or would she be able to leave and find her way back to her room if she grew too uncomfortable?

Now that she knew what they were, and realized the odd things she’d felt were the result of them using some kind of supernatural powers around her, all she had to do was resist them. How difficult could that be? Although, Caleigh couldn’t deny the thrill she’d felt at reading the note. She was touched that they wanted to do something special for her. When they hadn’t shown up to rehearsals, she thought they’d given up on her.

On the designated evening, Blair led her to the projection room, tucked into a corner of the basement. “Leo, Andras, and I will be joining you,” she said. “I hope that’s all right.”

Caleigh breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course it is.” Now she wouldn’t have to worry about being alone and vulnerable with Hugh and Sterling.

The room was lit by soft lights and could easily hold forty people. They hadn’t simply built a projection room. They’d built a theater. It boasted a stage, a large screen, and actual theater seats. Caleigh took a deep breath and swore she smelled popcorn and candy. It wouldn’t surprise her at all to find out they had a concession stand hidden behind one of the curtains lining the walls.

Leo and Andras smiled as she and Blair entered. Next to them stood Hugh and Sterling. The relief on Sterling’s face made Caleigh’s heart give a strange lurch. He’d been afraid she wouldn’t show up. Hugh gave her his characteristic half grin, but the light in his eyes told Caleigh he was just as happy to see her as Sterling.

Leo and Andras took seats with Blair between them, about halfway between the stage and the back of the room. Sterling took Caleigh’s hand and led her to a seat two rows behind and slightly to the left of the three.

Hugh walked toward two staff members who stood in the corner and said something to them. After they left through a side door, he took the seat on the other side of Caleigh. Within seconds, the screen lit up and the speakers roared to life. Caleigh smiled as a newsreel played, featuring footage from several years earlier.

“I'm afraid we don’t have any current news,” said Sterling, leaning close to her ear. The smell of honeysuckle filled her head. Caleigh closed her eyes and willed herself to stay strong.

“We can’t have a movie without refreshments,” said Hugh as the two staff members entered the theater again. They passed out boxes of popcorn, candy, and cola in cups, just as if they were in a real theater, then left again.

Caleigh laughed. “Is there anything you didn’t think of?”

Leo turned around in his seat and smiled at her. “Are you kidding? Blair never would have let us get away with not making this place a perfect replica of a movie house.”

Blair twisted around. “Do you like it, Caleigh?”

“It’s amazing. Everything about this resort is amazing.”

“The more time you spend here, the more it grows on you.” Blair held her gaze for an uncomfortably long time, and Caleigh wondered if she was sizing her up or trying to convey some hidden meaning. Either way, it was kind of unnerving, and Caleigh was glad when she turned to face the screen again.

The newsreel ended and a cartoon came on. Caleigh munched hot popcorn and candy, just as if she was sitting in a theater with Babs instead of five people she’d met less than a month earlier. How odd that she felt as though she’d known them much longer. In fact, Caleigh realized at that moment that she hadn’t thought about Philadelphia for at least a couple of weeks. She needed to write her parents and siblings and let them know she was settled and happy here.

Was she happy and settled here? Her thoughts were so confused right now she didn’t know what to think. Little Lulu danced across the screen, her high-pitched voice barely penetrating Caleigh’s musings. The scents of lavender and honeysuckle filled her head. How was she supposed to stick to her guns with both men flanking her in a dark theater? Had she been out of her mind to agree to this?

The cartoon ended and the screen went dark for a moment, then the Paramount Pictures logo appeared, and Caleigh clapped her hands, nearly spilling her popcorn in the process, as the familiar music of
Holiday Inn
started.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it. This is my favorite movie.”

“We know,” said Sterling, quietly. She glanced at him and had to resist a strong urge to kiss his perfect mouth. He beamed at her with unconcealed love in his eyes. Caleigh was stunned into silence. They’d done all this for her. How they knew about the movie didn’t matter. The point was, they’d gone to this trouble to make this evening special, for her and her alone.

“Are you happy with our choice, Caleigh?” asked Hugh.

She turned toward him, and even though she couldn’t read the expression in his eyes, they were warm and tender. Caleigh suddenly wondered if this had been his or Sterling’s idea, or if they’d both concocted it. Not that it mattered. They were here with her, watching her very favorite movie. She wasn’t going to spoil it with inconsequential details. She was going to relax and enjoy their company.

Thirty minutes into the film, it was obvious Blair had seen it before, more than once. She jumped around in her seat, mouthing lines along with Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds, and she sang along to all the songs. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and soon Caleigh joined her in the songs.

At one point during “Easter Parade,” Blair was dancing in the aisle, and Caleigh got out of her seat to dance as well. During “I’ll Capture Your Heart Singing,”
Andras and Leo joined Blair in the aisle, doing a decent job of imitating Bing and Fred. Sterling looked delighted as he watched them, and Hugh actually smiled.

Caleigh caught Hugh’s eye long enough to see past the mask he usually wore, and her heart skipped a beat. He cared for her. It was right there, in his eyes. She’d caught him off guard for just a moment, but it was long enough to see the truth.

When she dared to glance at him again, the mocking half grin was back, but this time she didn’t mind. She knew the truth. The only question that loomed was what to do about it?

Sterling put his arm around her, and Caleigh leaned against his shoulder. It felt so wonderful to be near him again. On her other side, Hugh placed a hand tentatively on her knee, and she covered it with her own, giving his hand a tiny squeeze.

Caleigh glanced to her left, two rows up, where Blair sat in almost the same position, leaning against Leo on her left. Andras had an arm thrown across her shoulder as well. He whispered something in her ear and she laughed softly, giving him a glance full of pure adoration.

There was no need to ask if she regretted her decision to choose them. It was obvious in so many small ways how content she was and how much in love she was as well. Was it possible to love two men? How did Leo and Andras keep from becoming jealous of one another?

Caleigh wondered if Leo and Andras had been good friends before Blair chose them. Surely that would help, or would it only make things worse and drive a wedge between them? She suddenly longed to speak to Blair in private. There were so many questions that only she could best answer.