Spirit Bound - Christine Feehan [36]
“Thomas is considering buying the gallery,” Judith offered.
“Of course. It’s beautiful. I’ve always loved that building and the view is spectacular,” Blythe said.
“I have to agree.” Stefan flashed another shy smile toward the blonde.
Stefan slipped into his role easily, more familiar with the chameleon than with Stefan Prakenskii who really didn’t exist. Thomas Vincent might be interested in Judith Henderson, but he wasn’t threatened by that interest. Thomas would be attracted to any number of women. He might be uncomfortable because he was a little shy where women were concerned, but he didn’t mind contemplating a pleasant future.
Stefan Prakenskii knew he would go up in flames with Judith, burn alive and crave more—need more. His entire body and mind responded to her, killing his sense of self-preservation and destroying years and years of discipline and training. For him, there would only be this one woman. She was a virtual stranger, yet he knew her almost intimately already. He’d spent a lifetime traveling the world and not once had this incredible, impossible phenomenon happened to him, and he knew with utter certainty it wouldn’t again.
“The building is worth a fortune,” Thomas agreed readily. He turned, allowing his eyes to sweep the rooftops on a pretext of looking back at the property. “This is quite a town.”
Behind Blythe, another older woman laughed as she held out her hand. “I think we’re too small to qualify as a town. We refer to ourselves as a village. I’m Inez Nelson. It’s a pleasure to meet you. The gallery is a very important part of Sea Haven.”
For her small size, she had a firm handshake and penetrating eyes. She definitely was assessing him carefully.
“Thomas Vincent,” he introduced himself.
“Don’t let her sway you, Thomas,” Judith warned. “She’s Frank Warner’s fiancée, so she has a vested interest.”
“Did your wife come with you?” Inez asked blatantly fishing.
Blythe and Judith laughed aloud, clearly used to Inez interrogating people and taking no offense. Thomas wouldn’t either. He was a charming man. He widened his smile to a boyish grin and shook his head.
“No wife, ma’am. It’s just me.”
Inez’s eyes immediately lit up. “Oh, how nice. This is the perfect place to raise a family.”
“He’d need a wife for that, Inez,” Blythe pointed out.
Inez smirked. “Exactly. I believe neither of you is married.”
“That’s it.” Blythe took the wineglass from her hand. “You’re cut off. Thomas, please ignore her. Her tongue is out of control tonight.”
Inez looked unrepentant. “No more so than every night. How else are we going to entice this handsome man to give our little community a chance?”
“She should be the one showing you the books,” Judith said.
“I wouldn’t mind hearing what she’s offering.” Stefan entered into the game. “Do either of these two come with the gallery? I could use a wife and children and so far, I’ve failed miserably in that department.”
“I might be able to arrange it,” Inez agreed. Her voice turned mock innocent. “Judith, would you care for a glass of wine or two?”
Judith laughed. “You’re incorrigible, Inez. On that note, I’m going home.”
She caught Stefan’s arm and tugged. He saw the movement, knew she was going to reach for him and could have avoided her touch as he normally would do, but he let her fingers settle over his wrist. It felt a little as if she’d trapped his heart in her hand.
“I’ll be taking him to safety as well, so get moving onto your next stop and quit trying to sell Frank’s gallery using foul means,” Judith teased.
Stefan’s mouth went dry at her touch. He took her fingers and tucked them into the crook of his arm, pretending he was Thomas, when it was Stefan drawing her close beneath his shoulder, indulging his terrible need to be with this woman. The fire between them refused to go out, no matter how hard either of them pretended it wasn’t burning hot and bright.
Worse, there was a chance that if it was simple physical attraction,