Dalir's Salvation (13 page)

“And you know how that works.” Celine chuckled. “Guys consider grunts and nods a complete sentence. I had to retrain Thane on the finer points of communication. You may have to do that with Dalir.”

“I don’t know.” Ari traced her nail through a crack in the wood. “Even if we do talk, where could it lead?”

“I don’t have the answer. I guess the question is if you hadn’t ended up here, where were you planning to go with him in a relationship?” Celine squeezed her arm. “If you were headed toward something good, maybe you need to give him the benefit of the doubt and a second chance.”

“Looks good.” Ari steadied the ladder as Lauren nailed a large section of wood to the wall.

With the three of them working together, the bookshelf in the sunroom was coming along.

“Celine was spot on about using a little darker stain.” Lauren glanced out the adjoining wall of glass. “The light in here really brings it out. You have to see the fabric we picked out to reupholster the furniture. It’s a nice rich burgundy. You’ll like it.”

“Okay, crazy question. It’s not like a delivery truck can pull up and drop things off. How did all the supplies and stuff get here?”

“The guys brought it over one weekend. It was amazing. I mean the whole phase thing in general is mind-shattering. Celine and I couldn’t go with them so we had to give them pictures, descriptions, and lists of everything we wanted. Then they went back, got everything together and brought it over.” Lauren slipped the hammer in the tool belt hanging around her waist. It appeared more like a fashion accessory paired with her plaid button-down shirt and ripped jeans.

“And the house?”

“What about it? Hey, hand me more nails.” Lauren continued hammering.

Ari dug nails out of the back pocket of the jeans she’d borrowed from Celine. Rolled up multiple times at the ankles, the jeans didn’t make a fashion statement like Lauren’s outfit. On the other hand, they didn’t look half-bad with tennis shoes and a green hoodie. “How did it get here?”

“Dalir built it.” Lauren stretched to hammer in another nail.

“By himself? That must have taken forever. How long has he been here?”

“You should ask him that.”

How could she? Since he’d brought her to The Drift two days ago, he’d become the equivalent of a ghost. “He’s made it perfectly clear, he’s not interested in talking to me.”

Lauren’s tan lace-up boots clomped on the metal rungs on the way down. “How can you say that when you haven’t even seen him?”

“My point exactly.” Her conversation with Celine had gotten her hopes up. She’d started to believe in the chance of them working things out between them. “I know he’s around. Mace said so, and I heard you and Celine whispering about him yesterday. You blew me off when I asked about it. What are you trying to hide from me?”

“Oh please, we’re not hiding anything. Remember what we said? No more secrets between besties?”

“So tell me what you two were talking about?”

Lauren stripped off her work gloves. “Dalir rattling the windows.”

“Excuse me?”

“Thane told Celine he’d suggested to Dalir they use you as bate to catch his brother.”

“Oh.” And of course, he’d said yes. That’s what all of this was about in the first place. Finding his brother.

“No, not just
oh
. Dalir said no in no uncertain terms.” Lauren held her hands out to her sides as if making a significant point. “And when he did, he was pissed off enough to rattle the windows. It means he cares.”

“Okay, I’ll jump on the crazy train. If he cares so much, why didn’t he come to check on me himself? Why isn’t he here now?”

Lauren dropped her arms. “Good questions. I don’t know the answers but you can get them.” The gleam in her eyes spelled it out.

“You want me to go to him based on the whole rattling windows theory? Do you even hear yourself talking? I’m not doing that.”

“It’s no more out there than a bunch of guys traveling time.” Lauren grinned. “Or sleeping with a guy who no one else can see.”

Good point.

“Come on.” Lauren pointed at another piece of wood on the ground. “Let’s hang this last one so we can help Celine stain the shelves.”

“We need nails.” Ari picked up the empty box from the floor.

“There’s more in the toolshed. That reminds me, Celine needs more stain. Do you mind grabbing it along with a box of nails?”

“You want me to go to the toolshed?”

“Yeah, it’s straight out back, near the tree line. You can’t miss it.”

“But won’t it be easier for you to find what you need?”

Lauren waved her off. “Celine organized everything. The nails are on the left in an orange box. The cans of stain are on the shelf in the back. You can’t miss them.”

No secrets between best friends. When they’d reaffirmed that vow to each other two days ago, this scenario hadn’t crossed her mind. Of course, she’d told them about getting locked in the shed a long time ago. She’d just skipped over the nightmares about it. Ari forced a smile. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”

With each step across the grass, anxiety clutched Ari by the throat. She could do this. Otherwise, she’d have to tell them about her issue. And relive it all over again in the telling of it. She didn’t want to talk about what happened in the past. She also didn’t need their sympathy. The shed wasn’t as tight as the MRI machine. Right? She could handle this. All she had to do was go in, get what she needed, and come right back out. Too easy.

She weaved around puddles left from the rain and faced the walk-in shed. Clean white paint contrasted with scalloped, blue trim and matching mock window shutters. A basket of flowers and wind chimes hung near the door. Really? They’d actually painted and decorated a toolshed. It was way past time for those two to go home. Ari wiped her palms on her jeans. She turned the brass doorknob and swung the wood door open. No horror movie-like squeaks. That was a good omen. Ari stepped inside. The breeze stirring up a pleasant wood smell cooled sweat from her skin. So far so good.

Labeled containers in various sizes sat on neatly organized shelves. Celine had even alphabetized the contents. The wood floors were so clean you could actually sleep on them. Not that she intended to. She opened the orange container and found the box of nails. Then she scurried over to the back shelf. Blue paint, green paint, and more paint, but no stain. Shit. She crouched down to take a look at the lower shelves. Where was it?

The door slammed shut.

Ari’s heart skyrocketed. She leaped up.

The box dropped out of her hands and nails spilled onto the floor.

A vent toward the front let in a stream of sunlight, illuminating the way out.

She ran across the shed. Ari yanked on the door. It wouldn’t open. Fake windows. What a dumb idea. The chimes outside jangled. Her greatest fear, fully formed, cascaded on her like a ton of bricks. She couldn’t breathe. She yanked and yanked. Wait a minute. Realization drained through her. She pushed instead of yanked. The door burst open and she ran out.

Water splashed up her legs as mud oozed into her tennis shoes. Hampered by the muck, she fell to her knees and gasped in air. Wet and muddy, she didn’t care. She was free. No. She wasn’t. She’d completely lost her cool over nails and stain. How pathetic was that? Tears threatened. No. She wouldn’t cry.

“Ari?” Dalir jogged out of the trees. His booted footfalls thudded on the ground. He slowed, approaching her as if she would suddenly bolt. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. No.” She sat back on her heels in the water. Why not sit? She was already a mess. Inside and out.

Dalir glanced at the shed. The look in his gray gaze confirmed, he’d comprehended what happened. He held out his hand. “I’ll take you back to the house.”

Where she would be coddled into fessing up.

Dalir waited patiently. He was dressed in hiking boots, jeans, and a long sleeved pullover; this was the guy she knew. The man she’d confessed her fears to. The one who hadn’t judged her and wouldn’t make her explain what she’d just faced in the shed.

“I don’t want to go back to the house like this.”

He frowned. “Where do you want to go then.”

“With you, but could we not do the phase thing. Can we just walk?”

“It’s uneven terrain. You don’t have the proper shoes. I will—” He took a deep breath. “May I carry you?”

She nodded permission. As Dalir lifted her into his arms, she clasped her hands around his neck. His clean, woodsy scent brought comfort and a tug of awareness.

After adjusting her weight, he hiked upward through the trees.

She trembled.

“You’re cold.” He tucked her closer and walked faster.

“A little.” More like worried and excited. She didn’t even get a chance to think about what she’d say to him. She certainly hadn’t wanted their reunion to include her looking a hot mess. Ari resisted the urge to lay her head on his shoulder. He’d rattled windows, that’s what Lauren said. According to her, it meant something.

They crested a small hill. Stones formed a path to the back of a modest cottage. A cloth hammock and Adirondack style chairs formed a seating area on the back porch. They reached the closed French doors.

“It’s unlocked.” Dalir turned to give her better access.

Ari pushed down on the handle.

He nudged the door open with his foot and strode in.

Cool air brought fresh shivers.

Dalir coaxed her toward a mudroom off to the side.

She stripped off her tennis shoes.

He took her hand. “You need to get warm.” He radiated heat.

Next to him she’d get more than just warm. Awareness disturbed her breathing. “Just point me to where the tea is.” A silver kettle sat on the gas stove in a homey, inviting kitchen. “But if you don’t have tea, I’ll take coffee. I smell coffee right? That’s fine, too.”
Stop babbling.

Dalir cupped her cheek. “Let me look after you, Ari. Please.”

This side of him, gentle and waiting to please, made her want to melt. Coffee, tea or discover where the desire she saw in his gaze would take them. So many choices. She nodded.

He guided her through the kitchen and stopped at the entrance to a short hallway. “I’ve been working on a surprise for you. This is as good a time as any. It’s in the bathroom at the end.” Dalir kissed her forehead. “Don’t ask questions, just enjoy it. I’ll find you some clean clothes.” He walked into the nearby bedroom.

A surprise for her. Ari walked down to the closed door. She opened it and stepped across the threshold into a room the equivalent of a heavenly dream. A dome made of skylights bathed the golden-hued bone and deep tan tiles covering the floor and walls in a soft light. More tiles with a mosaic design covered the two walls framing an open shower that took up a large corner in the bathroom. Flowing vines hung from the ceiling. On the other side of the room sat green broad-leafed plants and pale-blue flowers in fat, terra-cotta pots. A waterfall trickled down the tiled wall into a huge sunken, infinity-style Jacuzzi.

Ari turned. She flinched. Her reflection stared back at her from a long, oval mirror hanging next to the pedestal sink. Great. The first time she sees Dalir in days, and she was sporting the muddy, drowned rat look. Real attractive.

She dismissed her reflection.

Fluffy cream-colored towels folded neatly into squares lay stacked on a gold trellis-styled shelf while another held an array of pots and jars of different sizes, colors and shapes filled with contents. She’d investigate that later, but now she had a decision to make.

The shower provided a fast and efficient way to get clean. The tub was a tempting invitation to linger and soak in the midst of sumptuous beauty. Not exactly what she expected of Dalir.

Ari’s imagination took a sharp detour, conjuring up an image of Dalir’s gray gaze holding hers as he rose out of the tub. In her vision, water rained from his dark hair and over his wide shoulders. Droplets merged into a slow stream traveling through every cut of chiseled muscle in his chest and abdomen all the way down to—

A flush made her clothes the equivalent of a too warm blanket. She stripped them off, left them in a corner near the sink, then snagged a towel. Tiles cooled the soles of her feet. She left her towel on an empty rack and walked into the shower. She turned the dial and water at just the right temperature, sprinkled heavily from an extra wide shower head above. Bliss.

A square of homemade soap washed away the gritty remains of her mud bath. The clean, subtle scents of citrus and peppermint, reminded her of him. The image from earlier reignited and flamed into more. His lips brushing kisses over her throat. His large hands caressing her belly, her breasts. Rapidly falling drops of water fell on her sensitive nipples. An intense ache grew between her thighs. She squeezed them together. Ari turned off the water.

Movement drew her out of the fantasy. She peeked around the wall through the steam rising in the room.

Dalir turned on the jets of the Jacuzzi tub. He’d changed into dark sweatpants. As he leaned over to adjust the water flow, muscles flexed in his back. Fabric pulled over his hard butt.

Like a moth drawn to flame, she drifted toward him.

Dalir glanced over his shoulder. He stood. “I thought you might enjoy soaking in the tub.”

“Alone?” She laid her palms on his chest. The first contact of skin against skin after what seemed like an eternity stole a breath.

Sexual hunger filled Dalir’s gaze and sharpened his jawline. He kept his hands balled at his side. “I thought you might need a minute.”

She’d lost too much time already. They’d missed too many occasions for moments like this. Chances gone forever. She kissed the middle of his chest. His heart bumped her lips as she tugged the strings on his sweatpants. “I need you.”

Eyes on her, Dalir pushed the fabric down and kicked it away. He held out his hand.

She took it, following him into the warm swirling water. It rippled over her, magnifying the flutters in her stomach.

Dalir took a bottle from a cutout shelf and poured creamy liquid into his palm. He massaged it over her shoulders, breasts, and belly. Every place he touched, the heat of desire burned.