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locks. God, she couldn t believe it! She d been so careful...
The sudden ring of her phone nearly made her jump out of her skin. Trembling, she lifted the
handset and managed a breathless,  Yeah?
 Are you all right? Even that terse demand, in the deep, slightly accented tone, sent relief
pouring through her overcharged nerves, steadying her.
 Remy. She closed her eyes, picturing his face, and felt warmth replacing the chill that had
engulfed her the moment she d realized she wasn t alone in that corridor.  What do you need?
 To hear you say you re okay, first, he growled, a rawness in his tone that both confused and
soothed her.
 I m fine. Why?
He released an audible breath.  I was passing through the kitchen on security check and found
the lights on, your work scattered all over the counter, and a cup of nearly-cold tea, but you nowhere to
be found. What the hell happened?
Gillian shut her eyes, swallowing hard. She couldn t tell Remy what she d heard, and seen.
She d learned five years ago to not tell anyone about the strange events that happened to her, anymore.
If she told Remy, he d think she was crazy, just like her parents had. Just like everyone did.  I& I
wasn t feeling well, so I came home. I guess I must have forgotten& 
 Are you sure you re okay? There was genuine concern in his voice, and it clutched in
Gillian s chest, making her feel weak and teary. No one had ever shown simple concern for her welfare,
before. They were always too busy trying to fix problems that never could be.
 Yes, she managed, unable to keep the huskiness from her voice.  I ll be all right.
She heard the relief in his sigh. Then, after a long moment of silence, he cleared his throat and
said,  I saw your notes. Do you really think I m aiming the wrong way?
Gillian smiled, easing onto the sofa as the last of her icy fear melted away, warmed by the sound
of his voice.  Are you planning on attracting a social set of high society?
 No.
The conviction of that one word piqued her curiosity.  Why not? I d think that would be the
kind of people you d want around.
There was a long pause, and she had the distinct impression she d wounded him somehow.
Then, quietly,  Is that what you really think of me, Gillian?
She winced. She d really put her foot in it, this time; but still, she couldn t lie to him.  At first,
maybe. It s hard not to, knowing who you are.
 Gillian, she heard the raw censure in his voice, the disappointment.  I m a man. Nothing
more, nothing less.
It was her turn to sigh.  You are more, Remy. Maybe you didn t choose it, but your family,
your history, and your position are a part of who you are.
 So you think I m an elitist snob? There was definite hurt in his voice, now.
 No, she answered softly.  Not anymore.
Again, silence filled the line, but at least it was no longer heavy with pain.  So, what do you
think I should do with the menu? I see some notations here& 
Intrigue 38
She smiled, hearing the good humor returning to his voice.  Bring out all the things New
Orleans, and Louisiana, are.
 And what is that? She heard the thread of laughter in his voice.
She grinned.  Adventurous. Mysterious. Congenial. Everything that makes New Orleans
unique.
 And you. There was a definite huskiness to that statement, causing Gillian to blink in surprise.
 Excuse me?
He cleared his throat.  I m impressed, Gillian. I ve been beating my head against the wall for
months, trying to come up with a unique and impressive menu. I got nowhere. Yet, in little more than a
week, you ve managed to roll all of the mystique of New Orleans into one amazing menu. You truly are
a miracle worker.
Gillian felt his praise warm her from the inside, and wasn t sure why it mattered so much. She d
quit caring about approval years ago; why was it suddenly so important that this man approved of her?
 Well, good night, she murmured into the phone, hoping to end this dangerous conversation
before it got out of hand.
 Good night, ma cherie. His whispered words caressed her through the line, sending a
humming through her body that reminded her of what it was like to feel a man s touch. Her treacherous
body, which taunted her that Remy was only yards away.  Pleasant dreams.
And, for the first time since she d heard those awful, shuffling footsteps, Gillian believed they
would be; pleasant dreams of a tall man with dark hair and eyes like blue crystal.
Esther Mitchell 39
CHAPTER ELEVEN
 I m telling you, it s the curse, Trisha Pasquale, Scarlet Oak s only waitress continued arguing
with Eric Peterson  one of the waiters  when Gillian arrived the next morning, full of new trepidation
about her job. An uneasy night didn t make for a very professional appearance; she could only be glad
she worked in the kitchen, instead of having Etienne Fabron s job at the front desk.
Etienne. Gillian barely resisted the urge to shudder as a chill went through her. She didn t trust
that man. It wasn t anything she could put a finger on, either. He just gave her the creeps. Oh, he was
always charming and the perfect gentleman, but there was a gleam in his eyes that made her shudder;
which was even sillier than her little fright in the hall last night.
After a long night, spent tossing and turning with old nightmares, she d managed to convince
herself that she d just imagined the whole incident last night. Almost. Then she d walked into the midst
of this argument, and promptly wished she could run home and bury her head under the pillows. She
wanted to pretend she d never heard of Scarlet Oak Manor; she was convinced this place was alive with
unseen dangers. But Gillian had never been a coward. So, instead of hiding, she pasted a cheery smile
on her face and asked,  What s cursed?
Eric smirked at Trisha as if to say See? I told you, and answered,  Trisha thinks she saw
someone out by the old woodshed when she went out on the back terrace a little while ago. She thinks it
was Lyle s ghost.
Gillian blinked hard, feeling panic squeezing around her heart. She d heard a woman s voice,
last night, not a man s. Surely there wasn t more than one ghost in this place&  Lyle?
 Lyle Forrester, Trisha clarified, shooting Eric a dark glare.  They say he s the one who started
the curse by stealing the Midnight Star, and that part of his curse is to forever wander Scarlet Oak
Manor.
Gillian glanced between the two younger people in confusion.  What s the Midnight Star?
Eric laughed.  Only the largest set sapphire in recorded history!
 According to legend, Trisha clarified again.  The story goes that it was stolen from a
murdered Vodun mambo by Lyle Forrester, and that he gave it to his wife as appeasement for having
had an affair. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]