All Fired Up (19 page)

He blew into the saxophone to demonstrate. A horrible squealing erupted from the instrument and Dizzy yowled, his ears flattening. Alrik jerked in his seat.

The man took his hat off and began walking up the aisle. Passengers relinquished change and singles as he went by.

Alrik leaned over. “I do not understand. You are giving this man money not to play music?”

Calleigh nodded. “You understand perfectly. We’re giving him hush money. Trust me, it’s worth it. His rendition of ‘Blue Moon’ once shattered a man’s glasses.”

“This is a crazy time you live in.” Alrik shook his head and watched the panhandling duo pass through to the next car. “People will pay to take pictures of me in my underwear and this man gets paid not to play his instrument. What else can one do for money here?”

“I wouldn’t know where to start.” She grabbed his hand and stood. “Come on, this is our transfer.”

By the time they arrived at the brownstone, Calleigh had listed and explained just about every job she could think of, from window washer to politician. Alrik nodded, his brows knit, as he took it all in.

He asked her to light the fire when they went inside. After that, he stayed quiet for a while, just staring into the flickering flames. She changed out of her suit then curled up on the couch with a magazine. Snickers crawled onto her lap, batting at the drawstring on her hoodie.

After staring at the same page for the last ten minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore. “What are you thinking about? You’ve barely said two words in the last hour.”

“I am just thinking.” His gaze stayed fixed on the flames.

She put her magazine down. “About what?”

He glanced at her. There was a deep sadness in his eyes. “My family. I miss them. My desire to avenge their deaths grows stronger.”

She sighed wistfully and nodded. “I know how you feel, sort of. My mom and dad are both gone. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them.”

“What happened to them?”

“My father had a heart attack. His heart just stopped working one day and he was gone. No chance for one last ‘I love you’, no final goodbye.” She twisted her fingers together. “My mother died of cancer. It was long and slow and the most wretchedly awful thing you could ever imagine. Every day was goodbye. I held her hand when…when she died.” She exhaled a deep shuddering breath. “Her skin was like paper.”

Alrik leaned back. “What is cancer?”

“A horrible disease with no cure.” She blinked the memories away and rubbed her eyes. “They left me alone before I was ready.”

“But you still have your uncles and your aunt and cousins.”

“I know. It isn’t the same, though.”

“Maybe you would feel differently if you had a family of your own.” He shifted in the chair, watching her with an intensity that unsettled her.

“What do you mean?” Where was he going with this?

“A husband and babes to look after.”

“Hmmph. You’re one of those barefoot and pregnant guys aren’t you? I should have figured.”

He snuck a look at his feet. “I cannot believe men will bear children in this time or any other. What does that saying mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “Forget it. I’m going to fix dinner.”

The cabinets were pitifully empty. The best she could do was spaghetti with marinara. She rummaged in the freezer. Not a frozen meatball in sight. Behind a package of something unidentifiable, she found a bundle wrapped in butcher’s paper. The sausages were frozen rock solid, but a few minutes on defrost and they’d be sliceable. She shut the freezer door and screamed.

Alrik stood on the other side.

“Don’t do that! You scared the daylights out of me. I didn’t even hear you come in.” She pushed the hair out of her eyes. “How did you get past me?”

He ignored her question and leaned against the fridge. “I do not wish to end this discussion. Tell me the meaning of men bearing children.”

She put the sausages in the microwave to defrost, then filled a big pot with water. “I didn’t mean men have babies. I was referring to your attitude that a woman’s place is barefoot and pregnant. As if that would make me happy.”

“I did not say that.” He tipped his head.

“You implied it.” She lifted the pot out of the sink and onto the stove.

“I did not.” He pushed off the fridge. “You misunderstood my words.”

After cranking on the burner, she tossed a palmful of salt into the water, then turned to face him with one hand on her hip. “So what did you mean when you told me I needed a husband and ‘babes’ to look after?”

“Just that having someone else to love and be loved by would help you miss your parents less.”

“Oh.” How many times had she imagined the pitter-patter of little feet in these halls? When she and Brad had been engaged, she’d dreamed of filling this house with children. So much for that. She nodded at him. “Wouldn’t a family make you feel better too?”

He shook his head. “As a Phoenix, it is not possible. Nor do I desire another wife. One was enough.”

“In your case, one was more than enough.” She smiled softly, the memory of what he’d told her still heavy on her heart.

Arms crossed over his chest, he nodded but his smile didn’t match hers. “That it was.”

A vague sense of disappointment washed through her. The microwave beeped. She was glad for the distraction. Why should it matter if he didn’t want to get married again? All he wanted was vengeance for his family. Part of her understood that very well but there was no vengeance to be had against cancer and heart disease.

After dinner she taught him to play gin rummy. Two hands later and he was winning every game.

“It’s no fun playing with someone who wins every time.” She pouted over her cards.

“Then perhaps you should not have taught me so well.” He slapped his cards down on the table. “Gin!”

“Again? Couldn’t you let me win one hand?” She tossed her hand down.

“Is that what you desire?” He raised a brow.

“No. It’s no fun to win like that.” She narrowed her eyes and put on her best game face. “I want to beat you fair and square.”

“I can think of other games we could play. Games where we both win.” He smiled slyly and leaned forward.

“Like what…oh!” Warmth spread over her cheeks and curled into her belly. “I think we should both just go to bed and call it a day.”

“Very well.” His sly smile curved into a wicked grin. “You may call it whatever you like.”

“That’s not what I meant!” When he smiled like that, sharing a bed didn’t seem like such a bad idea. “I meant go to your own bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day for you.”

His voice deepened with undeniable need. “Then perhaps I should start with a busy night.”

Chapter Twelve

Calleigh watched for two hours while Alrik stood wearing nothing but Uber Homme briefs, getting his body covered with foundation. Shay, the makeup artist, had done a great job of hiding the scars on his chest. Still, Calleigh prickled as Shay blended the makeup over his bronze skin with her fingers. She wanted to be the one touching him that way, caressing every delectable inch of that beautiful Viking man. Of course, she’d had her chance last night and turned him down. She just wasn’t ready to take that intimate a step with a man who was only in her life on a temporary basis.

The only thing that kept Calleigh from yanking Shay’s hands off him was the fact that he’d paid no attention to the makeup artist. He’d only had eyes and smiles for Calleigh.

Seamus walked over to them with one camera in his hand and another around his neck. He looked Alrik over then nodded to Shay. “Excellent job with the cover up. I think we’re ready. Leona love, music please.”

The heavy thumping beat of “
Sisters of Mercy”
filled the studio with energy. Calleigh bobbed her head and hummed along with the lyrics.
“I want more…”
Did she ever. How long could a virgin look at a hot guy in his underwear and still remain a virgin? She giggled at her own silliness and Alrik smiled back. If only he knew what she was thinking. Maybe she should give in to her urges.

“Lad, no smiling. Isn’t the right mood. Give me brooding, sexy, dark and dangerous. Think cover of a romance novel.” Seamus snapped away while Alrik took on a more serious expression. “That’s it! Give me more of that!”

Indeed. Give me more of that. Give me all of that.
Calleigh stifled the bubble of laughter building inside. What on earth was happening to her? This was not the way she usually behaved. But then she didn’t normally get to watch a beautiful man get photographed in a very small, very tight pair of briefs every day.

The afternoon sun filled the studio by the time Seamus finished shooting the last roll of film. “Excellent work, really good. I’m sure the boys will be pleased. I’ll call if I need anything else.”

He smiled in Calleigh’s direction. “On yer cell, I presume?”

She stuck her tongue out in response.

“Save that for your lover boy, pet.”

Alrik grinned at her uncle’s reply. He wondered if the man knew how much he longed to be Calleigh’s lover. He tugged his T-shirt over his head and squeezed his chieftain’s armlet back onto his biceps. “I am glad you are pleased with the work but I am near to death with hunger. I do not like going without food for so long.”

“Feed the lad, Calleigh. Can’t have my new star going hungry.” Seamus kissed her cheek. “See you soon, love. Good work, Alrik.”

“I could do with some lunch too.” Her stomach rumbled and she glanced at her watch. “Or maybe I should say dinner.” She looked at Alrik. “What are you hungry for?”

“Meat and ale.”
And you.
The way she’d watched him, her bronze eyes sparkling with want, had created a hunger that food would not satisfy. But he would not shame her in front of her kin by telling her what else he desired.

“Uncle Seamus, have any recommendations for a good meat and ale restaurant?”

“McManus’s, a few blocks down. They serve a prime rib so grand even himself couldn’t finish it.”

With his belly full and the day behind him, Alrik wanted nothing more than to tuck Calleigh beside him in a warm bed and put a well-deserved grin on her beautiful face. Knowing that was not likely to happen, he was happy to settle for whatever she wanted to do. The ale’s drowsy pleasantness lightened his mood, making him playful.

He held the door for her after she’d unlocked it, pulling her close as she started into the house and burying his nose in her soft, auburn curls. “Mmmm, lass, I love the way you smell. Like something good enough to eat.”

His lips brushed the side of her neck and he felt her shiver. A small exhale told him the sensation of having him so close was not unpleasant to her.

“Aren’t you full? You just had sixteen ounces of prime rib. How can you even talk about eating?” She tugged the door shut but stayed in his arms.

“Aye, but I have not had my sweets yet. And you are very sweet indeed.” He laughed softly as she shook her head, her curls bobbing around her face.

“Are all Vikings as wicked as you?”

He laughed louder. “Fair eyes, you have not yet begun to see my wicked side. I would be happy to demonstrate, however—“

“I’m sure you would but I think I can use my imagination.” She eased out of his grasp. “I’m going to go change into some comfy clothes then I was thinking we could watch a movie.”

“A movie?”

“It’s like TV only no interruptions for selling things.”

“Ah, very good. Whatever you wish.”

“Great. Okay, I’ll be back in sec.”

“Should I change as well?”

“Sure, you can if you want to. Just put on whatever you’re comfortable in.”

“I am comfortable in nothing.” He grinned, waiting for her response.

“Alrik! Clothes, please. I’ve seen you in your underwear all day. There’s only so much a girl can take.”

Words came to his tongue but he held them back. Instead, he shrugged. “As you wish.”

He went upstairs and changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt and returned to the living room. Calleigh was already there, standing in front of a rack of what looked like thin, shiny books. Her hair was tied in a messy knot at the nape of her neck, exposing a pale expanse of mother-of-pearl skin. Gone were the loose plaid pants and baggy T-shirt. Instead she wore pale green satin pants trimmed in lace and a matching top that buttoned up the front. The fabric skimmed her body, accentuating her curves and her fair coloring. He tried to swallow his desire but his hands itched to slide beneath the fabric and feel the silk of her skin.

“Is this to your liking?” he asked, hoping his voice did not betray the need heating his blood.

She glanced up and sighed. “Is there anything you don’t look good in?”

Before he could reply, she held up one of the slim books. “I can’t decide which DVD. I was originally thinking
Kate and Leopold
but Meg Ryan’s a blonde and I don’t think either one of us are particularly fond of blondes right now.”

She slid another one from the shelf and held it up. “How do you feel about the
Matrix
? Nevermind, that might be too far out.” She tucked the two books back onto the shelf and ran her finger along the edge.

“Here we go. A remade classic and the female lead isn’t blonde.
Sabrina
it is.” She pulled out the book, opened it up and popped out a shiny silver disk.

“What is that?” By the looks of it, the disk was a blade of some sort. She held it by the middle, careful not to touch the edges. They must be very sharp.

“It’s a DVD. It’s the movie.”

He narrowed his gaze. As a weapon, it would be highly effective since the blade was sharpened all around. “That is a movie?”

“Yeah, here, check it out.” With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the sparkling disk at him.

The flash of silver ignited his warrior instincts. In one swift motion, he dodged the DVD, leapt over the couch and pinned her to the wall. The DVD clattered to the floor.

“Get off me, you big oaf. What are you doing?” She struggled to pummel him with her fists but his hands were locked around her wrists.

“What did you mean by throwing that blade at me?”

“It’s not a blade, it’s a movie.”

“Why did you not touch the edges then?”

“Because the movie doesn’t play very well with fingerprints all over it. Besides, why would I throw a blade at you anyway? I like you, you dumb Viking.”

She liked him.
He released her wrists. She was not Dagny. And he had touched her without permission.

“I can’t believe you think I would try to hurt you.” She shook her head.

He sunk to his knees at her feet and bowed his head. Freya would enjoy this. “Forgive me,” he murmured. “My past has made me a fool.”

How could he have reacted that way? Nothing about Calleigh or the way she treated him was anything like Dagny. No lies, no duplicity. But the warrior in him saw nothing but the flash of a weapon, the possibility of danger. The memory of that fatal day.

Calleigh had not yet moved. Would she banish him? It was within her power. Never before had a charge ordered him to leave their side. But it could happen. He prayed she would forgive him.

Fingers tangled in his hair. Gentle, soothing, trembling fingers. “I’m the one who should apologize. You had no idea what that DVD was and I should know by now your instincts are to protect yourself.”

She sank down beside him, cradling his face in her soft hands. “You scared the crap out of me, though. Try not to do that again, okay?”

“Never again. I swear it on my life. But I should be the one begging your forgiveness.” For the first time in his life, the thought of begging a woman for something actually held merit.

“You’re forgiven. Unless you can think of a better way to earn your way back into my good graces.” She laughed at her own words and her smile soothed away the last of his shame. She dropped her hands to his shoulders.

Her touch renewed his spirit and filled his mind with new ideas. Thor’s thunderbolts, he wanted to kiss her again. “I am at your command. Anything you wish of me, I shall do. Anything.”

“Then I have a question I want you to answer.” Her gaze lowered and her jaw tightened. “Did you enjoy having Shay’s hands all over you today?”

He tipped her face back towards his. “Shay?”

“The girl who put the makeup on you.”

“Ah. I had forgotten her.”

Calleigh’s jealousy sent a bitter thrill through his gut. He hoped it was rooted only in the possessiveness most charges felt toward their Phoenix and not because of stronger feelings. He did not want to break her heart when he left. Especially when he would not be able to come back and explain the hurt away.

The entire time the girl had worked on him, he could think only of having Calleigh’s hands on him instead. But telling Calleigh that could cause her feelings for him to grow.

“Well?” she asked.

He could not lie to her but he could hold back part of the truth. “I did not enjoy it overmuch. Why do you want to know?”

A half-smile turned up one corner of her mouth. “Just curious.”

She started to get up but he stopped her with a question. “Did it make you jealous to see another woman’s hands on me?”

Faint color swept across her cheeks. She bit her lip and lifted one shoulder.

Her lack of answer was answer enough. She was jealous. Jealous in the way of a woman whose heart had begun to do her thinking. “I am your Phoenix, loyal to you alone.” He helped her up.

“I guess that’s good to know.” She shrugged as if it did not matter but he could sense there was more to what she was feeling.

He should pull away from her, make her think him uncaring and cold but he did not want that. He liked Calleigh more than any other charge who had summoned him. Everything about her made him happy, her kind spirit, her sweet laugh, her genuine heart, her forgiving nature. With startling clarity, he realized he wanted her for his own. The thought broke his heart anew.

He sat with her on the couch and they watched the movie. Occasionally, Calleigh would explain something or tell him “this is a great scene.” Her comments did not seem to need a response and he was glad for the time to think. After a while, she stopped explaining things.

He glanced over. Her eyes were closed and her head rested on her arm. Her rosy lips were parted, her breathing deep and even. She was so fair. In sleep her innocence was like a tangible thing draped about her shoulders.

He took the blanket from the back of the couch and covered her, careful not to wake his sleeping beauty. The movie forgotten, he sat watching her instead, trying to force the moment into his memory for the time when he would no longer be at her side.

***