The Charmer

Chapter 20

Wiley stared at an older woman with braided silver hair, and the woman looked back at her with sky blue eyes alive with emotion. Wiley had a look of consternation fixed on her face, but the other woman…

The queenly lady glided forward, entranced, until she stood blinking fiercely at Wiley. Her voice was hoarse when she whispered, “Daughter?” Suddenly she hugged the stiff young woman, shaking her head over and over. “Rihlia,” she said, and her eyes were wet with tears.

***

Jasmine hadn’t meant to drink so much, but as she looked up and saw Wiley seated at the opposite end of the table with her family, she felt the need for fortification.

Something had to warm her insides.

Wiley’s family consisted of her mother, Lady Rhapsody, Rhapsody’s sister Lady Portae, and two cousins. Urseya, a young woman about their own age, was a sloe-eyed beauty of perfect dimensions and practiced poise, while her older brother, the handsome Fallon, looked to be in his late twenties. They were all that was left of the extended family who had existed before the devastating assassinations swept the Haunt. The murders had wiped out most of their bloodline and resulted in the loss of Rihlia, as Rhapsody explained during dinner.

Quite a loss, if the stunning male specimens present were any indication.

Fallon, who’d single mindedly secured her for his partner during the blessing, favored her with another one of his sexy smiles. The benediction had been spoken with a man standing protectively behind every woman, hands on shoulders, giving thanks and promising to use the strength given by the nourishment to protect and provide for their family and loved ones. Fallon’s hands had settled on her shoulders with a definite sensation of promise.

The man was gorgeous and ruthlessly charming, and at another time he would have had her falling at his feet. Tonight his interest left her cold. It was the last thing she needed.

He lifted the green glass wine decanter and offered silently to pour for her. She covered her glass with her hand and gave him a faint smile. “No, thank you. I think I’ve had too much of a very good thing.”

In a voice as smooth as molten caramel, he countered, “Ah, but is there ever too much of a good thing?” He refilled his glass and set the decanter aside, and she tried very hard to not to feel anything at all.

Keeping her eyes on the pale amber liquid that remained in her glass, she answered, “In the case of wine, yes, of course.”

He sipped his wine and watched her with the lazy gaze of a hunter. “And in the case of men?”

What could she say to make him stop? Men didn’t play these kinds of games with her.

Keilor was useless as a distraction. He was deep in conversation with Urseya on his left and unconcerned with her torment. The bits and pieces she caught of the flirtatious exchange did not help her peace of mind. It seemed Keilor wasn’t above playing with whatever new toys came his way. The knowledge that she held no more interest for him than a night’s diversion sent dark eddies through her. As a result, vinegar seasoned her response. “A curiosity best left...unexplored.”

Green eyes full of amusement studied her as he swirled his wine in its crystal cup. “Hm. How do you know the unexplored isn’t hiding pleasures you might find to your liking? Perhaps you might sample a little excitement and find it’s to your taste?”

She snorted, and the wine must have rotted her brain, because she told him candidly, “The last guy who promised me a little excitement turned out to have a tongue like a slug. No thanks.” Conversations stopped, and even Keilor turned to look at her.

Fallon looked startled. “A slug?”

Perhaps she’d taken the right tack after all. At least he’d stopped flirting. “A cold, wet slug, and once was quite enough, thank you. I’m swearing off men. You’re all a pack of trouble.”

Jasmine stood up and nodded at Wiley’s mother. “It was a pleasure to meet you, ma’am, and congratulations on your reunion, but your wonderful wine has gone to my tongue, and you’d be better off without my company. So if you’ll excuse me…”

Astonished she’d managed to pull off such a diplomatic speech, she left before the poor woman could reply.

It seemed like the smart thing to do.

***

She dreamed of her mother that night.

Jasmine lay curled on the tile next to the commode, waiting for the next upheaval from her stomach. She tried not to think, other than to chant the mantra, “I will never touch Haunt alcohol again. I will never…” Then the knocking began.

“Jasmine, are you ok?” Wiley sounded worried. Maybe she’d noticed how much she’d been drinking the night before.

“Hung over. Go away,” she croaked, and she was left in peace for a little while.

She was in stage two with a horrendous headache and a cold, soggy cloth over her eyes when Wiley tried again. “You’ll feel better if you eat something,” she coaxed.

Jasmine groaned a denial and tossed a pillow at the door.

By stage three it was late afternoon. She’d taken a bath and her body was beginning to function better, but unfortunately so was her mind. She’d just sent Wiley away again and was lying on the couch in her jeans and t-shirt, staring at nothing, when she heard Keilor’s deep voice over the intercom.

“Open the door, Jasmine.”

Immediately she got up and padded across the hardwood floor with bare, silent feet. She didn’t even think of telling him to go away, not when he was using that tone.

He entered her room and strode to the table with a covered tray. He set it on the table while she shut the door. “Sit down and eat.”

Her feet dragged as she moved toward him, but the moment he uncovered the steaming sweet and sour fish and snowy rice underneath, her mouth began to water. She devoured everything on her plate.

Keilor opened the shutters and sat in the chair opposite her. He kept his eyes mostly on the view, though occasionally he glanced at her to gauge her progress. As she finished the last few bites, he stood up and walked around the table.