Dangerous Desire

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

“You look like crap.”

Winter half-grinned at her student and her friend. “Always such a silver-tongued devil. Thank you.”

Joseph Matts, his hair coaxed up into a Mohican, shrugged. “Sorry, boo, but it’s unusual for you to look bad, so it’s more noticeable.” He checked himself. Joseph was bipolar and sometimes spoke his mind without thinking. “Sorry. I meant that as a compliment.”

Winter’s smile was wide now. “I know, honey.” She rubbed his back. Joe was one of the few people she could stand to be around, which was why she considered him her friend as well as a paying student.

Joe was around her age, maybe even a little older, and was a sensational musician. He was way past what Winter would consider as needing lessons, but the truth was, she knew Joe felt comfortable with her, and she helped him write songs for his two-man band. Joe’s wife, Cassie, was also a friend; she and Joe so in love that it made Winter’s heart ache. Cassie kept Joe steady, managing his medication and his moods with an expert touch. Winter always told her she had the looks of a cheerleader and the brain of a Nobel Prize winner. Cassie was a sweetheart even if she did tend to ‘mother’ Winter a little. Winter didn’t mind that so much.

Joe sat down at the piano as Winter grabbed her folder. “What were we doing last time?”

“New song. The one about darkness.”

“They’re all about darkness,” Winter shot back with a laugh. “We’re the cheerful twins, remember?”

“Word.” Joe grinned at her. “You know, I was talking to Josh… we could always use a third member.”

“Ha, thanks, but no thanks. I’m not a performer. Not anymore.”

She was interrupted by a knock on the door of her houseboat. Winter and Joe frowned at each other. She never got unplanned visitors. Winter got up and went to the door. A smiling delivery man greeted her and handed her a huge hamper. “Courtesy of Mr. Ganz. An apology for the inconvenience of his party last night.”

Before Winter could react, the man had gone. She staggered back inside with the heavy hamper and dumped it on her couch.

“What the hell?” Joseph was up, looking curious. Winter sighed.

“Dude in the big yacht next door trying to buy my forgiveness for keeping me awake all night. Which is why I look like crap, by the way. I can’t keep this.”

Joe held his hands up, grinning. “Woah, woah! Wait until you check out what’s inside.”

“Joe.”

“I’m serious. Come on, open up.”

Sighing, Winter opened up the hamper reluctantly, sincerely wanting to just reject it immediately.

“Damn.” Joseph whistled, and Winter gaped at what was inside: Champagne, caviar, truffles, and a myriad of artisanal cold cuts, cheeses, and other luxury foods. Joe plucked the card from the hamper. “Read! Read!”

Winter snatched it from him, grinning. “Damn, boy, you are so nosy.” She opened it and read aloud what it said. “Please accept my apologies for the disturbance last night, dear lady. I hope this goes some way to making up for it. Perhaps you would like to join me for drinks tonight? Raziel Ganz.” She rolled her eyes. “Dear lady?”

Joe snorted. “Perhaps he and Mr. Darcy teamed up to write that card. How does he know he upset you?”

Winter grinned. “I gave him the bird. Twice. He might not have seen the first time, but he definitely saw the second time.” She felt pleased that her nemesis had seen her anger. She looked down at the hamper. It had to be said, this food would be a welcome asset to her bare cupboards—she’d been living on ramen and pasta for the last week or so. Joe was watching her carefully.

“Win? There would be nothing wrong with keeping this, you know? You wouldn’t owe him anything but a polite thank you.”

Winter flushed. Joe was one of the few people who knew she struggled to make ends meet—he and Cassie often invited Winter over to eat with them, and Cassie always managed to send Winter home with the leftovers. Winter wished she didn’t need to take their kind charity, but a girl needed to eat. She paid them back by working with Joe for his songwriting and not charging for the extra time. It made her feel as if she were giving something back at least. “It’s a lot.”

“Well, he kept you awake, and I know how you feel about fireworks…”

Winter nodded. “Yup.” She grinned ruefully. “I have to admit, that ham looks amazing.”

“It does, and you know what, that reminds me… Cassie and I would love to have you over for Thanksgiving… if you’re not with your family, of course.”

Winter’s heart sank. “No. I won’t be with them.” Not for a couple of years now, and she couldn’t see a time when she would be again.

Joe rubbed her shoulder. “Then it’s decided.”

She smiled at him. He may look like a punk rocker who didn’t give a crap, but Joe really was the sweetest guy she had ever known. He felt like family to her now as did Cassie; Joe was the brother Winter had never had. “If you’re sure?”

“Very. Now, should we get on?”

Winter nodded, closing the hamper and leaving the card on top. She’d decide what to do about it later. “We should. Let’s get to it.”

Raziel had smiled to himself when he saw the delivery guy turn up at the girl’s houseboat with the hamper. He watched as surprise registered on her lovely face, then a stiff nod. She wasn’t someone who took charity, he could see that.

And now he knew her name as well. Winter Mai. His private investigator had taken less than an hour to find about her. Twenty-seven and a piano tutor. Living alone. No family in the Portland area. Survived the mall shooting m******e in Seattle a few years back, but was seriously injured.

Ah. Raz suddenly understood the reason for her anger last night. The fireworks. Damn. Well, at least he could apologize for that and cancel his plans for any further shows. It was the least he could do. His private investigator had turned up some photos of her, too. Christ, she was stunning. Dark brown eyes, olive skin, long dark hair with burnished mahogany highlights. A petite curvy body: soft, sensual. His gaze lingered over that exquisite face and that pink rosebud mouth—so inviting, so kissable.

Yes. She would be a challenge, but he was confident he could seduce her. Good. He was bored with the usual suspects when it came to his bed partners. He wondered how long she would hold out before she succumbed to his charms… it wouldn’t be long.

He turned as his personal assistant, Gareth, knocked at his office door and came in. “Hey, boss.”

“Gareth. What’s on for today?”

“Unfortunately there’s still no confirmation from the Satchel Rose camp on when he’ll meet with you, but I do have intel he’ll be at a function for the Portland Public Library in a couple of weeks.”

Raz’s eyebrows shot up. “Rose? Out in public?”

Gareth smiled. “Seems he has ties to the library—family ties, I think. Not quite sure in what manner.”

“Find out, would you? And call the library. Tell them I’d like to attend.”

“Sure thing.”

When he was alone, Raziel’s thoughts turned back to the beautiful young woman on the houseboat. He would go see her personally this afternoon to give her little room to reject him.

Winter Mai would be the perfect date for the library benefit and to meet Satchel Rose, and he, Raziel, always got what he wanted.

Always.