“He’s totally for me,” a woman said, tossing her carry-on to the floor and sinking into a chair a couple down from mine. She had a cell phone pressed to her ear. In her thirties, she was a pretty blonde with a petite body, and stylish clothes that said she had money. I noticed the suit and briefcase, and assumed she was returning or going on a work trip.
“Henry is gorgeous, makes great money.”
“But there have to be other things to base a relationship on than attraction,” I could hear the other person on the line say.
“Amen,” I whispered, before realizing just how odd it was that I could hear the woman on the other end.
“Excuse me?” the woman snapped, glaring my way.
“Nothing, sorry.”
She turned her back to me. “Some people are so rude.”
“I know,” I replied sweetly. “Like people who talk loudly on their cell phones in public places.”
“Listen.” The woman jumped to her feet, her face flushed as she grabbed my arm.
“No, you listen.” I jumped up too, but the moment I stood, the room faded.
Suddenly I was floating in an office, cubicles filling the room like dominoes. The soft murmur of conversation, typing, and ringing of phones combined together in an unnatural hum that vibrated through me. People rushed by, looking frazzled and unhappy. I shivered, crossing my arms over my chest. Why was I here?
“I just don’t think it will work,” I heard a man whisper.
I spun around. There, hidden behind a row of filing cabinets, was the blonde. A tall man with dark hair stood next to her, his face frustrated and serious.
“Tell me why, when you know there’s a connection,” the blonde whined.
Ugh, there was nothing more nauseating than a woman begging a man to love her.
“Gabby, we have nothing in common.”
In other words, she’d slept with him, he got what he wanted and had no need for her anymore, while she had mistaken their one-night stand for true love.
“We work well together,” she whispered, desperate. “You can’t fight this.”
“I can.” He took a step back. “I’m sorry.”
When he started down the hall, she raced after him.
“Bill, please,” she called out.
I started after them, wanting to see how the train wreck would end, but a sharp pain in my chest stopped me cold. I stumbled, falling to my knees. The cubicles disappeared. The entire world disappeared and suddenly I was rushing through darkness. My consciousness hit my body like an airplane hitting the ground. My eyes opened, the fluorescent lights unnaturally bright. I gasped for air as the airport around me wavered in and out of focus.
“Don’t you dare speak to me like—”
“Shut up. Just shut up!” My head thumped, the pain almost bringing me to my knees. Sparks of light danced before my eyes as the entire room spun. Frantically, I looked for Owen. He was hanging up as he headed toward me, worry in his green eyes. He knew, somehow, that I’d had a flash. But what sort of flash? It hadn’t been red hearts and warm feelings like Tony and Paula. No, this was cold and terrifying and lonely. So lonely.
“The man at work, the man you’re talking about…” I took in a deep breath, and focused on Blondie once more. “Bill. He’s not for you.”
The minute the words left my mouth, I knew them to be right. It was exactly what the fates, universe, God, whatever it was called, wanted me to say.
The woman paled. “How do you know Bill?”
“I just do.” I raked my hands through my hair. “Just stop fighting it for my sake and yours.”
The woman crossed her arms and glared at me. “I don’t know who put you up to this—”
“Whatever,” I snapped. “All I know is that you’re going to be miserable if you don’t accept the inevitable.” I knew I sure as heck was. A wave of nausea hit me. My legs trembled, my heart racing. I needed to sit, or lie down. I needed something. “He doesn’t want you, he never will.”
“Where the hell do you get—”
I held up my hand, cutting the woman off. “Please, take my advice. If anyone needs a reality check, it’s you.”
The woman gasped, her face flushing in outrage. “How dare you!”
Suddenly, Owen was there and I could admit I was relieved. He’d know what to do. “All right, come along.” He slipped his arm around my waist and practically lifted me, leading me toward the other side of the waiting area. “You seriously need to work on your bedside manner. Now, sit.”
He released his hold and I slumped into a vacant chair, feeling very much like a petulant child. I could only hope Blondie would accept Bill wasn’t her match. I couldn’t stand to be haunted by her for the rest of my life.
“Can’t I leave you alone for five minutes?”
I glared up at him. “I was doing my supposed job! I think.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “There is a way to broach the subject—”
“And how would I know that?” I surged to my feet, only to wobble as the room spun. There was his arm again, slipping around my waist and holding me upright. He was there; it was his job. I couldn’t read anything into it. I shoved his arm away and slumped into my chair. But it would be a cold day in hell before I’d admit I needed him.
“You’re right,” he said softly. “We haven’t discussed much, but once we get to France, there will be people there who can teach you—”
“People? It won’t be you?” I didn’t know why that stung, but it did. Heck, I didn’t even like Owen but I was used to him. He was the only familiar thing in my new life.
“I’ll be there, of course.”
Relieved, I rested my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands, although I wasn’t sure why. Dang headache wouldn’t go away and the more we spoke, the harder it pounded. Why did I have a feeling when we reached France, he was going to dump me off in the arms of the first capable trainer he found?
“A headache?”
I nodded.
“I’ll get you some aspirin and water, but please, for the love of all that’s holy, keep your mouth shut while I’m gone.”
Watching him stroll so confidently away, I glared at his back. I had to resist the urge to stick out my tongue. Easy for him to be so nonchalant; he didn’t have a million lovesick feelings clamoring through his head. Maybe the attraction I felt for Owen wasn’t even my own; maybe it was the result of a mixture of the emotions swirling around me. I just needed to go to France, and hopefully I could get some answers.
“You look like you could use a drink.”
I jumped, startled by the sudden voice. Heck, I barely had time to register the guy before he was settling in the chair directly next to me. Black dress shoes, dark jeans, a dark gray sweater, gorgeous face. His lips lifted into a slow and sexy grin, as if he knew exactly how hot he was, whereas Owen either didn’t know or didn’t care about his looks.
“Can I help you?” I asked warily.
He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, at ease. Lord, he was gorgeous, and not in an understated way like Owen. No. This man was the brooding, mysterious kind of gorgeous. Dark hair, cold blue eyes that sent a shiver over my skin. I’d dealt with men like him before, and they were as dangerous as hell. Men who had nothing to lose.
“Do I know you?” I tried again.
He held out his hand, large palms, perfectly manicured nails. Reluctantly, I slid my fingers into his firm grip. “’Tis my pleasure,” he said in a foreign accent. French, was my guess. Slowly, he brought my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the back of my fingers.
“Seriously?” I said, pulling away, laughing. “That’s your opening?”
He merely grinned at me. “It impresses most women.”
“Perhaps in your country. But here in the US, a man dressed in black, hovering around an empty airport just waiting for unsuspecting women, reeks of psycho.” I leaned closer to him. “In other words, it’s creepy.”
He laughed, a rich chuckle that
made me smile despite myself. I might not be falling for his crap, but I liked him, for some odd reason I couldn’t quite explain.
“I think I like you,” he said.
“I was thinking the same thing about you.”
He straightened, lifting a dark brow. “Really?”
I laughed. “Don’t get too excited. I merely find you amusing. You know, like a charming puppy dog chasing his own tail.”
He grinned. “I’d rather be chasing your tail.”
“Dear God, you never stop, do you?”
He shrugged. “Persistence is the key to getting what you want.”
I was about to set him in his place when Owen stepped in front of me, glaring. “Am I interrupting?”
********
Owen
I’d been standing there a good minute or two without either of them noticing. At first, their flirtatious banter had merely annoyed me. But as their flirting moved from silly to downright inappropriate, my annoyance turned into anger. Sebastian was here for a job, not here to flirt with Emma. If we weren’t such good friends, I would have reported the man. As it was, I merely wanted to slam my fist into Seb’s perfectly brooding face.
Emma merely spared me a glance, as if she couldn’t be bothered by my presence, which annoyed me even more.
“Owen, my friend.” Seb stood, still grinning. “You look rather put out. Did someone forget to put sugar in your tea?”
“Sod off,” I growled.
The man merely lifted a brow. Just because we’d known each other for over a decade, and I trusted him more than anyone, didn’t mean we got along all the time. I had a feeling he knew exactly how I felt about Emma. I shoved the bottle of aspirin and water into Emma’s hands, then refocused on Seb.
“It’s about bloody time you arrived.”
“I take it you two know each other?” Emma asked.
“Indeed,” Seb replied. “I’m Sebastian.”
He held out his hand, but Emma merely shook her head. “Not falling for that again.”
I gritted my teeth, having witnessed his public display of affection. I’d sensed Seb’s arrival and had seen their little introduction from across the room. Seb’s lips on her hand had made me feel things that I really shouldn’t be feeling. Hell, I’d wanted to tear him from her side, to break his arm so he couldn’t touch her again. Yeah, you could say I’d overreacted. I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling tense and angry.
I was merely overly protective because it was my job, I told myself, but deep down I knew the real reason. Jealousy. Pure and simple. I knew if I told Seb to lay off, he would. But I wasn’t that pathetic. Or was I? Bloody hell, what was wrong with me?
“We need to talk.” I didn’t even glance at Emma as I started toward the windows, Seb at my side. I took the few moments before reaching the windows to calm my anger, regain control of my emotions.
“Quite the change in Matchmakers,” Seb said. “Old crone and now…” He glanced back at Emma and my ire grew once more. Didn’t the man know anything about respect and professionalism?
“Clarice was no old crone. Besides, anything with Emma is business. You know that better than anyone.”
“I’d do her.”
“Back off,” I growled.
Seb sank into a chair by the windows, stretching out his long legs. He was at ease, but I didn’t miss the amusement that briefly flashed in his cold blue eyes. I’d let my annoyance get the better of me.
“I apologize. That was uncalled for,” he said.
I paced in front of the windows, watching the flashing lights of an approaching plane. Seb was the one guy I trusted, and I couldn’t afford to destroy that friendship. “She gets to me for some reason. Crawls under my skin and annoys the hell out of me.”
“Ah, I see.” Seb was smiling again, a smirking know-it-all smile that shattered my patience.
My hands fisted at my sides as I paced in front of him. “What the hell does that mean?”
Seb shrugged. “Nothing at all.”
“You’re implying something.”
Seb slid Emma a glance. She was searching through her carry-on, but sensing our attention, she lifted her gaze. The heated flush that darkened her cheeks said she didn’t like to be the center of attention.
“So, you’re attracted to her,” Seb said. “It was bound to happen at some point. Even you are still human. Hell, Owen, you’re a nineteen-year-old male, what did you expect would happen?”
I parted my lips to immediately deny the accusation, yet even I knew the futility of it all. I sank into a chair. But there was something more to this attraction, something I didn’t understand. “Yes, damn it all. I’m attracted to her.”
“And obviously this is a problem.”
I raked my hands through my hair, feeling confused and anxious. “Of course it is. We can’t have a relationship—”
“According to?”
I surged to my feet and began to pace the area. “The Consulate, me.”
Seb shrugged again. “It’s frowned upon, it’s not outlawed.”
“You know as well as I do what could happen if we became attached to each other. It’s best to keep it business.” Unwillingly, my gaze slid to Emma. She was watching us and I knew I’d have to give her some sort of reason for Seb’s sudden appearance. Anything but the truth. If she knew about my suspicions, she’d never leave. “Besides, I’m pretty sure she hates me.”
He chuckled. “I’m not an expert on the female population, but even I know that a girl doesn’t look at you like she does if she hates you.”
Did she really feel the same way? “There’s a difference between attraction and like.”
He shrugged, indifferent to my dilemma.
“Why didn’t you tell me you bonded with your Matchmaker?”
His jaw worked, his gaze flickering with unease. “What do you mean?”
“Jotham told me you saw her past, her feelings. That you bonded.”
He looked away, that steel wall coming up in his eyes. I knew I’d overstepped, but I needed answers for my own sanity and for Emma’s safety. “Because the Consulate swore me to secrecy.”
The intercom crackled overhead. “Flight 211 to Lyon, France, will be began boarding in fifteen minutes.”
“I assume I’m here for a reason?” Seb finally asked. “Other than talking about my failed love life?”
“Yes.” I pulled my attention from Emma and focused on him. “I want you to ask around. See if you can find anything suspicious about Clarice’s death.”
Seb frowned. “You think someone killed her?”
“Not necessarily. But I’d like to know for sure. And be discreet.” I knew I could count on Seb. Yes, he might be a total wanker, but the man wouldn’t let me down.
“Why not tell the Consulate?”
“I don’t want to tell anyone yet, just in case I’m wrong.” I started toward Emma. “No reason to stir up trouble.”
Seb jumped to his feet, falling into step alongside me. “Fair enough. You’ve already caused enough of a commotion by leaving without permission.” He clucked his tongue and shook his head. “You know the moment you sense the next Matchmaker, you’re supposed to report it to the Consulate. Instead, you hightailed it out of the country without telling anyone who she was. Bold move.”
I knew my actions were insane and I’d have to come up with some explanation by tomorrow. I paused, well enough away from Emma that she shouldn’t be able to overhear. “Clarice…”
“Yes?”
“There was something suspicious in her death. I can’t pinpoint it, but I know, call it instinct. But that’s not all. There have been demon attacks.”
He paused for a second and although he didn’t outwardly react, I could sense his surprise. “Already?”
I nodded.
“Ready?” Emma appeared next to us, interrupting the conversation. No way was I going to tell her the truth about Clarice. She was reluctant enough to leave. If she knew someone might be out to get her, sh
e’d refuse to come.
I gave her a quick nod. “Yes. I’ll meet you at the gate.”
She threw a farewell grin toward Seb, then left us. I watched her walk away, unable to tear my gaze from her. If Clarice had been murdered, that meant I’d failed her. I would not fail Emma. “Make sure no one notices your interest.”
“I’ll be a mere shadow in the night.”
I slapped him on the shoulder. “Good.”
“My friend,” Seb called out as I started toward Emma.
I paused and glanced back. “What is it?”
“Be careful. A fling is one thing, but falling in love is another matter.”
I flushed at the thought. Love? Of course not. The mere thought made me panic. “Don’t make the mistake in thinking we’re alike.”
Seb’s smile was brittle and I realized only too late I’d overstepped my bounds. Apparently I was determined to offend everyone I came into contact with.
His hands in his pockets, Seb took a step back. “Of course. By the book. You wouldn’t dare make a mistake, would you?”
“Of course not,” I said softly. “I could never, ever fall in love with Emma Watts. She’s completely inappropriate. Not at all my type.”
“Well, great,” she snapped from behind me. “But really, there’s no need to worry because I can barely stand you.”
I closed my eyes and resisted the urge to groan. Unfortunately, I could still hear Seb’s departing chuckle. The bastard had set me up on purpose. Emma stomped away, the very floor vibrating with her anger. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.
This was going to be one hell of a long flight.
France
Chapter 10
Emma
I can admit that as the train weaved its way through the French countryside, ancient towns of stone and thatched cottages flashing past my line of vision, any worries and anxiety seemed to vanish, replaced with the thrill and excitement of traveling abroad. How often had I dreamt of seeing the world? Of course I’d thought I’d be backpacking through Europe on a budget, meeting some hot French guy who’d show me the local sites. Not sitting on a train with a dour Englishman.