Lured

4-2

WEDNESDAY MORNING, donned in my ridiculous white coverall and ugly boots, I began to decorate the walls of the apartment. With each sweep of the paint roller, my body relaxed. The sounds of the others doing their manly jobs and quiet tunes from the radio added to it.

After an hour, Sean arrived. My arm continued to move, as I assured him I was okay and allowed him a kiss to ease his withdrawal. With the promise of coffee on his next visit, he headed back out.

Once again, I slipped into a trance-like state. My mind daydreamed about Sean, what I’d very much like to do to him, with him, about the forest and hunting—all the good thoughts that aroused my body as well as my brain.

Footsteps entered the apartment, disturbing my blissful oblivion, and neared the room I occupied.

I turned, and my gaze fell on Marianne.

“Hello, Jem.”

Remembering my promise, I nodded and tried a small smile on for size—it didn’t fit very well.

“Is Josh about?”

“Didn’t you ring him first?”

“I tried, but he didn’t answer.” She smiled as her cool stare travelled over me. “I assumed he couldn’t hear it.”

Teeth gritted, I studied her for seconds, while my inner attitude warred against the politeness I knew I had to offer. “I’ll try his number ...” ... if it’ll get rid of you. I retrieved my mobile from the window ledge and dialled.

Josh answered straight away. “Missing me, Jem?”

“Always.” I smiled. “Marianne’s here.”

“Where?”

“Down here ... with me.”

Silence.

“She did try calling you, but she said you didn’t answer.”

“I didn’t hear it.”

I glanced at Marianne. “That’s what she said.”

“Tell him I brought more tea,” Marianne said.

I reined in my smirk. “She’s made you more tea.”

He hesitated, may even have groaned, but covered it well. “Okay, tell her I’m coming.”

I hung up. “He’s on his way.”

“Thanks.” She sent me a smile sweet enough to rot teeth.

“Sure.” I put my phone down, returned to the ladders and my painting.

“Did you choose this colour?” she asked.

I nodded.

“It’s nice.”

Maybe if I ignored her, she’d get the hint and wait outside. I’d done what she wanted. How much did she expect from me?

“I could help you out ... if you needed it. I’m good at painting.”

I paused mid-roll, peered over my shoulder.

Her expression flashed to her faux friendly smile, yet I didn’t miss the calculating glint she had in her eyes.

My brow lifted, as I prepared to give her a special look of my own, one learnt from Poppy, but Sean appeared in the doorway. His gaze met mine over Marianne’s head as though checking my mood at her being there. As she turned toward him, I shrugged.

Sean gave her his attention before she could spot our exchange. “You here to see Josh?”

“Yes.”

“Does he know you’re here?” He glanced at me as he spoke. Perhaps he didn’t trust me to behave civilly.

“Yes. Jem let him know.” She pointed a thumb my way like she considered him incapable of figuring out who she meant. “You’re Sean, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m Marianne.” She extended her hand.

I scowled.

“Yes, I know.” Sean smiled as he allowed her a short handshake and stepped around her. “Jem, I’m about to make drinks. You want another?”

My eyebrow arched up.

“Stupid question?”

I gave a slow nod.

With a chuckle, Sean about-turned.

As soon as he’d gone, I wished he hadn’t. Marianne looked at me like she expected me to strike up friendly chatter.

When familiar footsteps travelled across tiles, a sigh of relief eased past my lips.

Josh stuck his grinning head around the doorframe. “Marianne.”

She mirrored his expression. “Josh.”

Gag!

“Everything okay?” Although he spoke to Marianne, Josh faced me.

“Yes, thanks.”

“Jem says you made me some more tea.”

“Yes, I did.” She took another single-serving thermos from her shoulder bag. “I hate to think of you being cold.”

Behind her back, my headshake accompanied my eye roll. I could, I guessed, understand her thinking Josh wasn’t as warm as usual—his sleeved T-shirt replacing his regular vest confirmed it—but no one in their right mind would look at Josh and believe the guy to be cold.

Josh, though, broadened his smile and took the Thermos from her. “Thanks.” At least he showed no eagerness to get the lid off.

My head tilted at footsteps outside, and my nostrils flared as Sean squeezed past the two of them with a mug in each hand.

“You found each other, then?” he asked.

Marianne nodded. “I was offering my services to Jem before.” She turned to me. “You didn’t say, Jem, if you needed any help or not.”

I took my coffee from Sean and sipped, giving me time to formulate a decent excuse. “Actually, you’re not covered on the insurance to work in here.” My lips almost curved in smugness as I shrugged. “It’s against health and safety regs.”

“Oh, well ... never mind.” Frostiness flashed in her eyes for a split second before she peered up at Josh. “Can I speak to you for a minute?”

As soon as Josh shepherded her into the lounge, placing his flask of swamp water on the window ledge en route, Sean leaned in close to my ear. “Well done.”

I tilted my head. “For what?”

“For being polite to her when I know you can’t stand the sight of her.”

“What makes you think that?” I whispered it in a tone I knew would reach only Sean’s ears, thanks to a special connection that gave us the ability to communicate without anyone else overhearing. I half laughed at his raised eyebrows.

“What’s wrong with her, anyway?” If he’d eavesdropped at all while I’d ranted at Josh on Saturday, he’d have had an idea.

Sitting on the top step of the ladder brought me almost to Sean’s eye level, and his warm breath hit my cheek. From my position, I could see Josh and Marianne, and the sharpened icicle glances she sent my way, until her attention returned to Josh and her entire demeanour shifted faster than a flickering holograph.

“Have you seen the way she looks at me?”

Sean angled his face toward her. “Hmm. Maybe you should try smiling at her.”

“I have tried smiling at her.”

He gave a throaty chuckle. “That’s not a smile, Jem. That’s baring your teeth. You’ll frighten her.”

“She’s not afraid of me.”

“Flask?” Josh’s voice carried through to us.

“The one I brought your tea in the other day?” said Marianne. “If I take it back with me, I’ll have a spare one at home.”

“Oh ... um ...”

“Josh said he hasn’t seen that flask since you took it from him,” Sean whispered.

“That’s because I threw it in the bushes.”

He snorted. “What if Josh wanted it?”

“He didn’t. He was just too polite to say. I helped him out.”

Josh moved to the doorway and stared pointedly at me. “Jem, do you remember where I put Marianne’s flask?”

I hopped down to the floor. “Sure, I’ll fetch it.”

***