Right Now (The Seduced Series) (4 page)

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said with his soft soothing voice returning once again. I looked up at him in shock. “I don’t hit women,” he then added. Obviously offended by the idea that I thought he would hit me. He looked at me like I’d just hit him below the belt. Why did I feel the need to comfort him? I automatically dropped my arms. “Angelina, I know this is stressful for you but please trust me. I just need you to stay here so that I know you’re safe. Like Carmella said I won’t hurt you and neither will anyone one else by you staying here.”

“I want the truth.”

“That is not the best time to explain,” he turned away from me.

“What about my family and friends? What about my job? They’re going to realize that I’m missing and they’ll come looking for me,” I added.

“No, they won’t,” he assured.

“Excuse me?”

“You see, you left a message for them last night and told them that you decided to take a well deserved secret vacation. You told them not worry about anything and you’ll call once you get back to town,” he said poring himself another cup of coffee.

“What? I didn’t call them…” before I could continue, he pulled out his phone and my voice came through after my mom’s answering machine
went off. That was it, there were no more weapons left in my arsenal and there was definitely no escaping… I didn’t even care at this point how the hell his phone was able to perfectly mimic my voice because he could kill me now and no one would ever know it was him who did it. “I didn’t tell them where I was,” I whispered. “Or when I was coming back,” I looked into his worried eyes and I could feel myself go weak in the knees in front of him.

At this point
I didn’t want to fight the darkness that was threatening to overtake my body. For a moment he looked horrified. I didn’t understand why but I looked up at him questioningly. Then out of nowhere everything went black…

Chapter Four

I knew I pushed Angelina way too far when she figured out the implications of the ‘phone call’ that she supposedly made to her mother’s home back in Virginia. No one would look for her and no one would ever believe her. She started swaying and I fought the need to reach out and hold her. I knew that if I touched her it would send her over the edge and me as well. She looked at me like she was trying to figure out what she was going to do. Then much to my surprise her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed right in front of me.

“Oh no,” I caught her before she could hit the floor. “Angelina? Can you hear me?” I asked shaking her gently but she didn’t respond.

I let out a pained sigh as I lifted her into my
arms and carried her back upstairs and into my bedroom. What am I going to do with you I said to myself as I laid her carefully down on the bed? I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. Even with a pale face and unruly hair, she was unbelievably breathtaking. I felt a slight stab of guilt at how I’ve treated her. In one morning I had frightened her, threatened her and swore at her. I flinched as I remembered the look she gave me when I charged at her with the vase. I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought that I was a demon sent from her own personal hell to torment and torture her. Carmella gasped in the doorway breaking my train of thought.

“What happened?” She asked rushing to her side. She even had Carmella wrapped around her little finger, somehow Colin’s voice came to me ‘she’s quite something, isn’t she?’

“Nothing, she just fainted,” I said surprised at how strained my voice sounded.

“What did you do?” She asked as her brown eyes started accusing me.

I shrugged, turning my gaze back to Angelina
. I couldn’t deny that I had caused this situation. I could feel Carmella’s scrutinizing on my face, but I kept watching Angelina lying on my bed. My expression must have told her something because she sighed.

“You care about her, don’t you?” She asked softly.

“Yeah well I don’t want the CIA to come down on me if she has a heart attack,” I said confused.

“No, that’s not it,” she shook her head. “I know you Dennis, you’ve done this before. You never looked at other woman the way you look at this girl,” something clicked as I caught what she meant. “Nor did you ever sleep with them or bring them to your bedroom,” she continued but I couldn’t argue with the last statement.

Never had I brought a woman up
to my bedroom before, even when I brought a few women home. I had sex with them in other rooms except for my bedroom. But there laid Angelina in the same bed where I made love to her in last night. Was this what it was all along? I cared about her? No! I don’t even know her, plus I don’t care about anything. I never did and never will.

“You’re wrong,” I simply replied turning towards the door.

“Am I?” She challenged.

“Absolutely
,” I stated as she dropped the conversation. “I have to get to work now,” I told her glancing at my watch. “I’ll call Pamela and Rebecca, they’ll be more than happy to prepare a decent wardrobe for her.”

I guess that will be my peace offering to Angelina
, women loved clothes right? I glanced at her one last time wishing I could be here when she woke up. Who was I kidding? I was the reason why she was here in the first place. Maybe some time away from me would do her a world of good? I tore my eyes away from her to look back at Carmella, who looked very pleased about something.

“Prepare a room for her, tell Pam and Becca to put her clothes there as well,” I said to her as she nodded back to me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her when she wakes up,” she added as I gave her a small smile and rushed out.

As I left
my bedroom I pulled out my cell phone from my inside pocket and called Colin. He answers on the first ring. Before I could even ask him anything about Benny he was already a step ahead of me.

“We’ll have this all under control Dennis, if we need your help you know I will call you immediately. Besides we can’t draw attention towards you. If Benny heard that we are onto him, he would flee or shorten his plans,” he said through the phone. I knew what he meant; Benny would lead us on a wild goose chase or kill Angelina immediately. I shuddered at the last option. I knew that he was right but still, I wanted to do something…anything to make sure Angelina was safe and clear out of Benny’s reach.“Your only focus should be on protecting her, nothing else understand,” he insisted. “By the way, how is she holding up?”

“Not too well boss
,” I grimaced at the thought of what happened earlier.

“Losing your touch? You’re a
good-looking guy. Charm her into it, make her believe,” he said it as if it was that easy.

“Keep me informed about any slight change,” I said, avoiding his last request.

“You know I will,” he said then hung up.

Charm her into it?
Yeah that’s some joke. I tried that last night and failed as soon as it was set in motion. I tried to seduce her into wanting to stay. Instead she ended up seducing me. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. Last night was not supposed to happen like that. My hands still stung at the memory of her touch, my lips kissing her and my body loving her. How could I be so weak? I was always able to stop myself when I needed to. But with her, I was possessed with the need for her, I couldn’t think straight. She was making me second-guess myself. I should be punishing myself for want I did, she is so warm, sweet and innocent. I don’t deserve her. She doesn’t even know me. With a sigh I jump into my car and decided to call Pamela and Rebecca, my two fashion crazed cousins. My Uncle Charlie’s daughters, they are identical twins. I always considered them as my little sisters rather than cousins.

“Dennis! It’s so good to hear from you bro,” Pamela exclaimed.

“Hi Pam, is Becca around?” I asked.

“Yeah she’s here. Hold on one second, I’ll put you speaker,” she said.

“Hey Dennis,” Rebecca’s voice came through the phone.

“Hey girls, I need a
huge favor from you two…” I told them what I needed from them, of course leaving out that I kidnapped Angelina and was holding her against her will.

“Really?” Pamela asked. “Yes! We’ll get right on it, bro. You can count on us!”

“How much are we working with?” Becca asked.

“Go wild
,” I said while rolling my eyes. I held the phone up and away from my ear as they squealed in excitement. “Listen I need you to get to work now and I need those clothes in her closet by two o’clock this afternoon today.”

“WHAT?” They both shouted. “But it’s already ten!” Pam panicked.

“Yeah, we’ll “All the more reason to get cracking then,” they both quickly said their goodbyes.

Once
I hung up with them, I emailed them a picture of Angelina and her dress and shoe size. I tried to drown out my thoughts about Angelina out of my head as I drove to work.

****

The sun was starting to set behind the large window in my office. I watched it set in the far horizon over the cities buildings, it also meant that I had to go home and face a very angry Angelina. Somehow this morning through our argument we both did not bring up what happened last night between us. I dreaded the thought when we would because I knew what I had to say and do. I let out a heavy sigh as I pack up my stuff and left my office. Once I got home, I found Carmella and the chef in the kitchen; busy making dinner. Angelina was nowhere to be seen.

“She’s in your bedroom,” Carmella said while turning her attention back to chopping. “She refused to come out until you came back.”

“How is she?” I asked.

“She’s been out almost the whole day
,” she said shaking her head sadly. “She just got up three hours ago,” I raised my eyebrows in shock. “This can’t go on like this Dennis, I don’t care what you have to do to make her feel more comfortable. We can’t have her thinking this is hell or a prison or else she’ll really have a heart attack.”

I could see Carmella
truly and honestly cared for her. She was right, but what could I do? What she wanted was to go home and I couldn’t let that happen. I nodded at Carmella and headed up the stairs to my bedroom. As I opened the door, I found her lying on my bed with her eyes closed. When I closed the door her eyes flashed open and she sat up and looked at me. I saw the fear and the anger in her eyes. I hope I was right earlier about her needing time away from me.

“Look who decid
ed to show up?” She said icily at me.

“Good evening to you too Angelina,” I replied as I laid my jacket on the bed and loosened my tie.

“Don’t give me that shit Dennis,” I felt a sudden surge of pleasure at the way she said my name.

“Why? I can’t be nice?” I said looking at her body. The clothes she wore, she looked beautiful in them; Pam and Becca really came through for me.

“Yeah sure be nice. How about telling me when I can leave,” she glared.

“I can’t do that,” I said as I started to unbutton my shirt

“What are y
ou doing?” She hissed, shocked at what I was doing. I looked at her confused by what she was saying as she waved her hand at my clothes.

“What? I’m undressing.”

“In here?” She asked surprised.

“Um, where else am I supposed to change?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at her. “Besides you have seen me naked before, haven’t you Angelina?” I watched her blush and drop her gorgeous brown eyes toward the floor. I tried to hold back a laugh. “Okay, I’ll go get dressed in the closet.” I put on a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt then walked back out. I guess she really didn’t plan on staying here for the rest of the night, did she? “Want a tour of the house? There are some things here that might interest you,” I said offering her my hand.

“I doubt it. I want to go home!”

“Suit yourself,” I said. I was tired of arguing with her.

I was walking
towards the door when she threw a pillow at me. This girl is going to drive me crazy! I just know it, annoyed at what she did I turned back to look at her. I froze for a second when I saw tears streaming down her beautiful face, it hurt me to watch her like that.

“I’m scared…and confused
. I don’t understand why I’m here, I just want to go home,” she whispered back a sob as she sat on the edge of the bed with her arms folded around her. “If I can’t do that, at least tell me why? You owe me that much,” she looked up at me this time and I could see the pain in her eyes. God help me. I walked towards her and crouched down in front of her. I realized it looked like I was proposing; maybe I was for her to stay here with me?

“L
ook, I’m sorry I frightened you earlier today and I’m also sorry about your dress,” I paused for a second. “I’m really sorry I’m causing you so much pain right now,” I said softly. She doesn’t know how truly sorry I am for the last one. I wiped her cheek with the back of my hand and to my surprise she didn’t back away or flinch from my touch. “But you’re asking me for something I can’t give you at this moment.” She looked deeply into my eyes as if she tried to find the truth in me. “I know this might be hard to believe but this is a safe place to be. Everyone in this estate, me included will not harm you in any way. We’re trying to make your stay here as comfortable as possible. We’ll stay out of your way if you want. I just don’t want us to fight. I promise I will tell you the truth in time but for now you’re just going to have to trust me,” I pleaded to her. She paused for a minute and her eyes showed acceptance in what I said to her.

“Don’t you know
that trust is earned Mr. Evers?” She teased softly wiping her face and grinning a little. I couldn’t help but smile too.

“I’m aware of that, but I’m sure you and I can work something out,” I teased back.

“Okay fine, I’ll stay here.”

“Thank you
,” I said sincerely.

“Well isn’t this just fan
tastic,” she added sarcastically as she threw her hands up in the air. “I get to live out every woman’s fantasy by being whisked away to a mansion that Dennis Evers lives in and also buys me ridiculously expensive clothes,” she sighed. “There’s just one problem,” she added.

“And what’s that?” I asked.

“I ‘m not most women you meet,” she said fiercely as she stood up and turned for the door.

“What’s your fantasy then?” I asked. I really wanted to know but she blushed and charged back towards me.

“That’s none of yo
ur business,” she hissed at me.

“After last night, I think it is my business,” I said as my eyes lingered on her lips.

“I look and feel like a mess,” she said as she slumped back down on the edge of the bed while running her fingers through her soft hair and started to giggle.

“No! You look great,” I said offering her my hand again. “How about that tour?”

S
he looked at my hand for a hot second before she placed her hand in mine. I led her out of my bedroom and showed Angelina most of the mansions best rooms while breathing a little easier as I saw her start to relax in front of my eyes and enjoy the tour. She seemed more interested in me and where I came from, like my family and my beliefs. I answered where I could, but I was used to people asking me questions about what I did for a living, how much money I made and the places I’ve been to but this last question was more personal and I would rather not discuss it. We were in my study when something caught her attention. I turned to see what it was. It was a family portrait of my parents and me taken when I was about nine or so, before they died.