Shadow Lover (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 12

  "Thank you," she whispered.

  "But you already…"

  "No. For what you were thinking." Her eyes shifted along his face until they reached his lips where she boldly reached up and gave him a light peck on his mouth. Her face showed surprise when he jerked away, suddenly angry.

  "What are you, some kind of pervert? You want to kiss a monster?"

  "But Kirk, I only wanted…"

  "Oh, I know. You wanted to give the poor disgusting freak a thrill. Well, Ms. Marsh, I don't need your handouts. Sorry if I disturbed your little rendezvous with Quinn. I'll watch it from now on."

  Kirk saw the tears gathering in her eyes, but he couldn't stop. He had to fight against the attraction he felt for her, otherwise his heart would break beyond repair. He turned quickly and fled to the basement. His bell tower—his sewer—his dungeon—his home.

  * * * *

  The next morning at the breakfast table Chyna noticed Quinn fingering a small Band-Aid at the corner of his mouth where Kirk had hit him. “Quinn, I didn’t mean for you to get hurt, but I’m sure as hell not going to apologize for it.”

  “Didn’t you? Well, it doesn’t matter, it’s behind us. Besides, I have a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise? For me?”

  “Yes. One I think you’ll like.”

  “But, why?”

  “You could call it a peace offering.”

  She lowered her head as the guilt went deeper. Finally she looked up. “Quinn, that really wasn’t necessary.”

  “Yes, it is. It’s very necessary. I got out of line, and you deserve…well, It’ll make me feel better anyway to make amends.” He indicated to her plate. “As soon as you’re finished, I’ll give it to you.”

  Suddenly the food tasted like cardboard, but Chyna kept eating, aware that his eyes were on her. After forcing down a few more bites she finally pushed her plate away. That seemed to be Quinn’s cue. He blotted his lips, pushed his chair back, and threw down his napkin.

  “If you’re through, would you come with me?”

  Without saying anything, Chyna rose and went with him to the front door. Before opening it, Quinn stopped, turned to her, and spoke softly. “It’s just beyond the door.”

  Chyna frowned, then walked hesitantly around him and opened it. When she saw her car she looked back at him, her mouth hanging open.

  He smiled, jingling a pair of keys before her eyes. When she only stared at the dangling keys, he took her hand, turned her palm upward and laid the mass of metal in it.

  “My car,” she said, her voice soft with wonder and amazement. “I thought it had been demolished.”

  “Actually it wasn’t too bad. I took it to my mechanic, and he put all his men on it.”

  “How bad was it?”

  “Just a lot of broken glass, a few scrapes, flat tires. The engine hadn’t been touched, though. Jake tells me it’s as good as new.”

  She turned and looked at Quinn, amazement still swimming in her eyes. “Quinn, I just can’t believe this. Of course I’ll reimburse you.”

  “Nonsense,” he said, indicating back at the car. “On the back seat you’ll find a lot of your clothes. Almost everything was ripped up beyond repair, but I managed to find some things. I hope it’s enough.”

  Chyna shook her head, and smiled. She felt as if her world was at last coming together again. “Quinn, I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. I owed you this, and so much more.”

  “But this is—”

  “Chyna.” He hesitated, a frown bringing his eyebrows together. “I really made an ass of myself in your room yesterday. I was angry, childish, acted a little crazy, I know.” He chuckled softly. “Well, when I cooled off I was totally embarrassed.” He indicated to her head. “You’re much better now, and I know you’d probably like to get out of here as quick as possible, but I do wish you would consider staying. I mean, there’s no use in putting all that expense out on hotel bills when you can stay here for free. At least for a while. Now that you have your car, you’ll have a little more freedom, and I promise I’ll start acting like an adult instead of a child having a temper tantrum. I’ve also—”

  “Quinn—”

  He lifted a hand to stop her. “I have more good news. Our phone is working again, so you can make all the calls you want.”

  “Well, I am happy about the phones, and I’ll think about the rest.”

  He smiled. “That’s all I ask.”

  When he turned to leave, Chyna watched him go, noticing how much more attractive Quinn was when he acted like a human being, and wasn’t trying to force himself on her.

  After taking her clothes up to her room, Chyna went into the kitchen and saw Elaine preparing Kirk's breakfast tray.

  "Elaine, may I carry that down to Kirk?”

  "Chyna, if it were up to me, of course you could, but Quinn would cry bloody murder if I let you do that. I'm really sorry, but it would be my neck in the noose."

  Remembering how different Quinn seemed to be now, she almost insisted, but didn’t want to press the issue in case it was all an act. "It's okay, I understand. I certainly wouldn't want you to get in trouble with Quinn." She quickly took something from her pocket and looked at her with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "You wouldn't object to this, would you?" She lifted a folded note and placed it halfway under the plate.

  Elaine Looked down at the small square of paper sticking out, looked up at Chyna's pleading eyes and said, "I didn’t hear him say a thing about notes, did you?"

  Chyna winked. "Thanks, chum." She turned to go, then turned and asked Elaine, "Hey is it okay if I use the phone in the study?"

  "Sure."

  Chyna quickly walked to the study, closed the door quietly behind her, and dialed Joni's number.

  "Take it away, Leon."

  "Well, I see you didn't get blown away."

  "Oh, my God, where have you been? I've been going crazy trying to find you. Do you know what the question of the century is? ‘Where’s Chyna Marsh?’ It’s on every TV station, in every magazine…cripes, it’s the only thing anyone is talking about. Your books are flying off the book store shelves, and every juicy piece of news has been shifted to the back page of the paper in favor of your disappearance. Believe me, kiddo that ain’t easy to do. As for myself I just knew you’d been blown completely off the face of the earth."

  "Joni, would you quit babbling long enough for me to tell you what’s happened to me?"

  "Sure, but first, have you seen your house?"

  "Have I ever. Just listen to this…"

  Chyna told Joni everything, and Joni followed the story with, "Are you okay?”

  “Good as new.”

  “Then why the hell are you still there?”

  “Well, I was recuperating part of the time, but the real reason I’m still here is because of Kirk Grayson."

  "What’s a Kirk Grayson?”

  “Oh, Joni,” Chyna said, her words sounding like a breathy teenager in love. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. Actually I think I’m—” She hesitated for a moment before going on. “Oh, God, I think I’m falling in love.”

  “Steady girl, this could be serious."

  “Joni, you’ve never heard me say anything like that before, have you?”

  “Not about a real live man. He is alive, isn’t he?”

  “Joni, please, don’t start that again.”

  “I’m just sayin’—”

  “Joni, he’s all I ever think about. He’s…well, it’s just so complicated. I know I should leave, but I just can’t right now. I know if I go I’ll never see him again.”

  “Chyna, by this time you must be wearing out your welcome.”

  “Actually, I was invited to stay. Just today in fact. And you know what? I think I might. At least for a while. You know, just to see what happens.”

  “Chyna if this guy feels the same way, he’ll come after you.”

  “Under normal c
ircumstances, yes.”

  “Normal circumstances?” she repeated.

  “Well, there’s a problem.” Just then Chyna heard a noise out in the foyer and whispered into the mouthpiece.

  “Joni, I think I’m going to have to hang up.”

  “Wait,” Joni said, scratching for a pen and paper. “What’s your number up there?”

  "Sorry, I don't know. Just call the operator and ask for the Grayson residence up at Cat's Paw. Bye."

  * * * *

  Elaine opened the barred door and took Kirk's breakfast in to him. Looking toward his bed, she saw him lying down with a bandaged wrist up over his eyes.

  He didn't move.

  "Kirk."

  Still no movement.

  She lifted her voice, "Kirk!"

  He was deathly still, and Elaine couldn't hear him breathing.

  She clanked the tray down loudly and ran to him. "Oh, my God! Kirk!" She yelled.

  He lifted his head off the pillow and looked toward her. "What in hell do you want? Will you stop screaming?"

  "God, Kirk. You almost gave me a heart attack."

  "Get out," he said, getting up.

  "What are you so grumpy about?"

  "Should I show it to you?"

  "You mean your face? It's been that way for ten years. Why are you all of a sudden so unhappy about it now?"

  "Wouldn't you be?"

  "I just mean that since Chyna's been here, you've been more irritable and unhappy with yourself than usual."

  "You don't know what you're talking about. Get out and let me eat my breakfast in peace."

  "You know, you've been so mean to her, I don't know why she even cares."

  He jerked his head around. "What did you say?"

  "Just now?"

  "Yes."

  "I said you've been so mean—"

  "No, after that."

  She looked at him, trying to remember her exact words. “I don’t know why she—"

  "She cares?” he finished for her. “About me?"

  "Well…yeah."

  "Really? How do you know? Did she say so?"

  Elaine snickered. Seeing Kirk so excited over a girl reminded her of a gangly adolescent, pumping his sister for information. "Gee, I don't know, Kirk, I'll ask her in Gym Class and get back to you."

  "Elaine!"

  "Oh, all right. But for God’s sake, get a hold of yourself, would you? You're acting like a pimply little juvenile who still wets the bed."

  "I wish pimples were all I had to worry about."

  She picked up a slice of his toast and took a bite, then turned to leave. "Better eat up before it gets cold."

  While Elaine made her way through the shadowy darkness to the concrete steps, Kirk sat down at the table and began to eat. About halfway through his meal he looked down and noticed something sticking out from under his plate. Frowning curiously, he reached for it and pulled it out. As he unfolded the little piece of note paper, he smelled Chyna's perfume gently drifting upward, causing him to inhale deeply and close his eyes in ecstasy. While floating on a cloud of euphoria he looked down and began to read.

  Dear Kirk,

  Please let me apologize for hurting

  you yesterday. If my kiss caused you any

  unhappiness, then I'm sorry. It was just

  my way of thanking you for saving me from

  Quinn. I didn't see a monster standing

  before me, and I certainly didn't feel

  sorry for you. I kissed you because I

  wanted to. I'm afraid it was completely

  selfish. I know now I shouldn't have been

  so bold. May I please come to see you and

  apologize in person?

  Chyna

  Kirk felt the words he read were sweet, apologetic, and sincere. Holding the note in his hand, he rose from his chair and strode quickly to his desk. He picked up a pen and leaned over, just about to write something on it when he remembered the look on Chyna’s face when she saw him without a gathering of shadows around him. The shock, the terror that crossed her face before she realized who he was, stabbed him, and when she kissed him—

  He looked over at the mirror that replaced the one he had broken and remembered the dark night when it lay in shards. Glittering, mesmerizing shards. He turned from the desk and walked to the mirror. He watched the play of light and shadow on his hideous face. “God, how could she?” he whispered, “I'm a monster. A freak. How could she even bear to look at me?" Kirk felt tears brimming in his eyes as he again recalled the look of horror on her face. It would haunt him until the day he died.

  Suddenly he knew the truth. No matter how painful it might be, he knew she couldn’t want him. No one could. "The goddamned fuckin' bitch just wants to flaunt herself in front of me. Show me what I can never have. Rub my face in it. She probably thinks I don't even know how to write. Well, I'll show her." In his fierce anger, he took the pen and scratched out a word in big, bold letters across the bottom of the paper—

  BITCH!

  As soon as he wrote it, a surge of pain flooded him, and he fell down on the note and began to madly erase it. He tore the paper, making a mess as he tried to obliterate the awful word. He hadn’t meant it, he was angry. He kept erasing, tearing the paper so badly that he thrust the note away and laid his head down on the desk.

  Later on that night Elaine came down to retrieve his tray and found the folded up note on the floor. Thinking he had meant to put it on the tray and send it back, she picked it up and placed it beneath the plate—for Chyna to read.

  Chapter 11

  Chyna sat at her dresser gazing down at the large, insulting word. She could only imagine the anger Kirk was feeling as he wrote it. He couldn't believe she could have any kind of interest in him, so he was pushing her away. Laying the note down on her dresser, she stood up and began pacing, trying to think of what to do now. As she turned, she happened to glance down at an open magazine advertising a Broadway show. Her eyes immediately widened, and she reached down and grabbed it.

  Of course! Why hadn't she thought of it before? There was a costume shop in Atlantic City. She threw down the magazine, grabbed her keys and her purse, and burst through the bedroom door.

  "Elaine!” she called out, her gaze darting around the room. "Where are you?"

  "In here, Chyna!" the voice called out from Quinn's bedroom.

  Chyna turned toward the voice and went to stand in the doorway. "I'm going into Atlantic City. I’ll try not to be long, but if I'm not back by dinnertime, don't wait on me." She turned to go, but suddenly remembered something and paused as she dug a small square of paper out of her pocket. Grabbing Elaine’s hand, she pushed the note into it, then squeezed it closed. "Elaine, in case I don’t get back, would you please see that this gets on his dinner tray?"

  Elaine slipped the folded paper in her pocket. "Sure, I guess." Then she looked up. "Why are you going into Atlantic City?"

  "To run an errand.”

  "But Chyna, what'll I tell Quinn?"

  "Just tell him the truth, he’ll understand. Bye."

  On her way out, Chyna stepped into the study and called Joni.

  "This is a recording…" the nasally voice began.

  "Hi, Joni! Say would you like to take a ride into Atlantic City with me?"

  "Only if you let me drive. I've got a new clunker."

  "I don't know, Joni. Can't we take mine? I promised I'd try to be back by dinnertime."

  "Well, all right, but you don't know what you're missing. As soon as she gets up to thirty-five she starts shakin' all over and makes you feel like you're doin’ the shimmy. God, can I pick 'em, or what?"

  Chyna chuckled. "Okay, I'm leaving now. I'll be there in about ten minutes."

  "Right on."

  Chyna ran out the door thinking about how glad she was that she had Joni for a friend. Joni was a plump, fiery little redhead with curly, flyaway hair, and was crazy about those cheap, long, dangling earrings. She wasn't gorgeous, but she was cute
, and she was about the wildest and the funniest person Chyna had ever known. For some reason she loved old cars and bright clothes. She was never one to answer the phone like anyone else. It was either "Yeah!" "What's Up?" "It's Your dime." Or, her all time favorite, "Take It Away, Leon." Her latest was the one about the recording. Chyna knew she could look a long time and never find another friend like Joni.

  * * * *

  Quinn sat in front of the library fire watching Venita dust the furniture, empty ash trays, and straighten the books on the book shelves. He had a magazine spread out in front of him, but his eyes cut away from it repeatedly since she’d come into the room. The thick smoke from his cigarette curled above his head as he wondered just how Venita would react to a little plan he had in mind. Quinn had decided that what Chyna needed was a little competition. She needed to see another attractive female fawning over him, vying for his attentions. He’d started on his plan when he’d retrieved Chyna’s car, had it all fixed up, and presented her with the keys. That little act had obligated her to him, as well as made him appealing. And now with Venita’s help, he was going to see how she would react to the old Green Eyed Monster.

  Quinn’s eyes slid over to Venita as she continued with her dusting. He could feel his temperature rise when she leaned over, her breasts almost falling out of her blouse. Feeling a thin sheen of sweat break out along his forehead, he rose from his chair, threw the magazine down, and leaned against the mantle, finishing his cigarette. His head turned slightly, his eyes narrowing on the cute little wiggle of her butt, and the outline of her nipples straining against the thin material of her blouse. While watching her, he could still hardly believe this was the thin, dirty, mousy little thing he saw every time he went over to the lighthouse. He remembered seeing her stand in shadowy corners as if she were scared to death. Who knew that once all that grime was washed off she would drive him crazy?

  Venita cut her eyes around, being totally aware that Quinn was watching her, and had been for the last half hour. Knowing he was there she did everything she could to keep his interest. Her shapely body would bend and sway, twist and bounce. Quinn Grayson was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. He was her fantasy, her dream man, and this was the closest she’d ever come to having her dream come true. Many times she’d fantasized about coming up to the mansion and living with him, warming his bed, satisfying his every need. Now she was here, and when she saw his eyes on her, she burned inside.