| |
Shauna entered the glass double-doors of Jonathan’s inside pool as he finished his morning swim the next day. “You wanted to see me?”
He hopped out the water, body dripping in silky swim trunks. “I want you back into The Circle.”
Her face came alive as she threw her arms around his shoulders. “I knew it.” She kissed him, leaving crimson lipstick on his chin and mouth. “Why did you change your mind?”
He pushed her away with one hand and grabbed his towel off the table. “There’s certain things about you I’ve missed.”
She followed his gaze to her chest and stopped smiling. “You want sex? Is that what this is about?”
“There’s a group of gorgeous women in this house waiting to please me any time I want. I don’t need you for sex, Shauna.”
She caressed her curvy hips, bust protruding. “They’re no substitute for this.”
“If you come back, you’ll be just like the others. No longer Head Mistress.”
She dropped her hands from her hips, wobbling her head. “Figured as much.”
“But, you can’t just waltz back in.” He walked around her with his hands behind his back. “You’ve got to prove I can trust you again. Show me you’re worthy and earn your place.”
“Okay.” She straightened her tall body and nodded. “What do I have to do?”
“There’s a thorn in my side.” He sat on the table, legs wide. “I need you to take it out for me.”
She grimaced. “Excuse me?”
“I think you’ll enjoy taking it out because this is a thorn you think is handsome.”
She showed a teasing smile. “Winston Lewis?”
“You’re attracted to him, aren’t you?”
She tangled her finger into her crinkles.
“I want you to keep tabs on him and see what he’s planning concerning Deidra.” He rubbed his wet palms together. “I want you to be my eyes and ears for Detective Winston Lewis.”
“How?”
He held his hands out to her. “How do you think?”
“You want me to seduce him?”
“You do whatever you have to do to get me what I need. I’m not letting him take Deidra away from me.” He caressed her cheek. “You’re a beautiful, sexy woman Shauna. When you get going, you’re impossible to resist. Find out what he’s up to and be his distraction.”
“I...don’t know if this will work.”
“I’ve seen how he looks at you. He’s attracted even if he doesn’t want to be.”
“There’s no way in hell he’d trust anything I have to say. He’ll tell me to get out his face and that’s that.”
“You make him trust you.” He got off the table, balling a fist. “This is an order, Shauna. Either you want in or you don’t and if you do, this is what you gotta do.”
She swept her hand underneath her hair and stroked the back of her neck.
“It’s not like it’ll be torture for you.” He touched her crinkles. “It might even be fun.”
“He’ll be a challenge.” She licked her lips, making her lipstick shinier.
“I have faith in you.” He let her hair go. “If anyone can get his mind off Deidra, you can.”
She smirked.
****
“Man, I can’t believe this.” Winston closed his stainless steel refrigerator and poured two glasses of orange juice. “It’s good to see you.”
The brightness in Lydia Quarter’s gorgeous, oval face dimmed. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Did you say you were in Egypt?”
“Cairo.” She stretched, her straight auburn hair flowing to her butt. “Cam and I were doing archeology in the Cairo slums.”
“Wow.” Winston handed her a glass of juice and sat with her at the table. “What a life. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I figured you’d tell me not to.” She sipped the juice, leaving glossy, pink lipstick on the rim of the glass.
“You came all the way from Egypt to check on Dee?”
“She’s my big sister.” She touched her hair. “Not making it to Daddy’s funeral killed me and it confirmed how important family should be.” Her brown eyes burned with fury. “How could Dee get mixed up with a cult? That’s not like her at all.”
Winston exhaled, pondering the situation himself.
“I’ve been reading about The Circle online.” She licked juice from her lips. “Just seeing Jonathan’s eyes on the site made me shiver. This sinister feeling came over me.”
“He’s evil.” Winston stroked his goatee. “He gave Dee something to make her forget she loves me. It’s all insane.”
“I want to meet the bastard and let him know if he fucks with Dee, he fucks with me too.”
“Stay away from him.”
“I’m thirty-two-years-old, Winston.” She adjusted the silver ring on her thumb. “I can handle myself.”
“Not with Jonathan.”
“I didn’t come to Baltimore to twiddle my thumbs. I got to save Dee.”
“No.” Winston took her soft hand. “Jonathan’s dangerous, and he has this unexplainable power over women. Before you know it you’ll be in The Circle too.”
“That ain’t happening.”
“Dee said the same thing. Guess what? My recent case is a homicide involving a woman who was a member of The Circle.”
“My god.” Lydia’s bracelets vibrated when she jerked her arm. “You think Jonathan killed her?”
“He’s capable of anything in my opinion.” Winston stood, pulling at his T-shirt. “I gotta get ready for work.”
“Cool.” She jumped off the stool. “I need to find a hotel, anyway.”
“Say.” He smiled. “Why don’t you stay here?”
“What?” She tilted her head, gold hoop earrings dangling.
“You’re family.” He rubbed her arm. “It’ll be good to have company.”
She smirked and then poked her valentine lips out. “Are you letting me stay here so you can keep tabs on me?”
He winked on his way out the kitchen.