Show Me, Baby:A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella(30)

At the Sheffield's, she'd learned an ugly lesson-that clothes and  manners only took a person so far. When mean people discovered a  vulnerability, like a distasteful background, they'd tear away at it  until the victim bled to death.

She'd been wrong to think she could stay. To love Jake. All her work to  improve herself would be useless if everyone knew her past. And she'd be  Jake's vulnerability. Being with her could hurt him. She must-must-move  away. But escape meant leaving Jake.

Don't cry, don't cry. Breathing through her nose, she forced the tears back.

"Hey, are you okay?" Beth appeared and took her hand.

Nolan was a step behind. The clean lines of his black tux emphasized his  facial scars and the deadliness of his dark gaze. This Master was  scarier than Master Sam. "What happened?"

"N-nothing." Her voice broke. Nolan's eyes narrowed, and she added hastily, "I'm fine."

He put a finger under her chin, tipped it up. His eyes turned blacker. "Who upset you?"

Damn him for noticing. For caring. Tears blurred her vision. "No one.  I-I'm just … hey, it's a wedding. Females are supposed to cry." She took  the tissue Beth handed her and wiped her cheeks.

"Females are supposed to be honest," he growled, and, to her horror, looked past her.

The redhead had disappeared-thank you, God. But Mrs. Renard stood with two of her stuffy women friends. Watching. Gloating.

"I'm thinking Gabi's nasty mother was rude or did something, probably  because Rainie gave her a few home truths." Beth leaned on Nolan and  stroked his huge biceps through his jacket. "Oh, my most wonderful,  majestic King of Kings, could you drag that woman out onto the dance  floor and make her uncomfortable."

His expression didn't change in the slightest, yet amusement lit his  cruel eyes. He studied Rainie, the tissue in her hand, and returned his  gaze to his submissive. "I can, little rabbit." Without another word, he  strolled toward the women.

"Beth," Rainie whispered. "No."

Beth squeezed her hand. "Shhh, I want to enjoy this."

He escorted Gabi's mother to the dance floor, and his big hand completely wrapped around her upper arm.

The woman gabbled protests and was ignored. When her voice rose, he gave  her a Master's stare. One the Shadowlands really should patent.

Mrs. Renard shriveled on the spot, mouth shut completely.

"Go, Sir." Beth was giggling worse than Sally on her silliest day.

"Beth, he shouldn't-"

"He should. Gabi gave the guys orders. If her mother caused trouble, a  Master was to drag her out to the dance floor and go all Dom on her  ass."

Rainie tried to laugh. "That's mean."

"Gabi's mom is mean." Beth squeezed her hand. "What did she say to you?"

"Nothing, really. A friend of hers simply rubbed my nose in an indisputable fact." One she'd tried to forget. "Jake is rich."

"His family is." Beth considered. "I guess that makes him wealthy as well. But he doesn't care about money."

Sure, he didn't.

Beth's mouth twisted. "You don't believe me."

"I've had some experience with these matters," Rainie said. "Jake might  not be concerned now. After all, he's a guy. Guys think with their  dicks. And a dick has a fairly short-sighted range of ambitions."

Beth choked on a laugh.

"But parents don't have the dick handicap. So if their beloved heir  brings home a woman like me? One ugly scene ensues." As Geoffrey's  family had demonstrated.

"Jake's not the kind of man to give in to pressure."

"I know." That was part of what made him special. "But, seriously,  causing a family blowup isn't a good thing to do to someone who"-you  love-"is so nice. Jake needs his family."

He doesn't need me.

"Rainie … " Beth protested.

Rainie hugged Beth and whispered, "Thank Master Nolan for me, okay?"

As Rainie stepped back, her escape path was blocked. The woman was a  grandmotherly age, but this grandmother would turn heads no matter how  old she got. It wasn't just the flawlessly made-up face and hair, and  the exquisite ice-blue gown which set off her dark hair and gray eyes,  but her sheer composure. Nothing would upset this woman.         

     



 

When I grow up, I want to be her.

The lady had undoubtedly heard Rainie being a total crybaby. Wonderful.  Rainie straightened her shoulders. "Ma'am, may I help you?"

"Why, yes, you may." The smile was charming with a hint of reserve. "I'm Madeline Grayson. I believe you know my son, Zachary?"

Master Z's legendary mother? God, help me.

Rainie drew her shoulders back and pulled on her shawl of perfect  manners. Etiquette, I got this. "It's delightful to meet you, Mrs.  Grayson. I'm Rainie Kuras, and this is my friend, Beth King."

"Lovely to see you again, Beth. I thought the landscaping you did for the Leighton's beach house to be very fine."

"Thank you." Beth turned as the music changed. "If you'll excuse me, I need to reward-uh, rejoin-Nolan."

"Of course." Mrs. Grayson tilted her head in a mannerism reminiscent of  her son's. Only when Master Z did it, submissives tended to kneel.

Mrs. Grayson's attention turned to Rainie. "Zachary informed me you  achieved your master's in business administration with a specialty in  organizational management?"

Master Z had talked about her? To his mother? There were no words. "He's correct."

"He speaks extremely highly of you, as do your professors."

My professors? Why would she have-

"And you're working in a veterinary clinic now?

"Yes. For Dr. Sheffield."

"Helping out, yes." Her smile was gracious. "I did hear about Jake and Saxon's … problem … with office staff."

Rainie smothered her smile … and yet, she couldn't help defending the  guys. "Jake and Saxon are superb veterinarians. Their failing was to not  thoroughly check out a family recommendation."

"Yes, I spoke to Saxon about the lapse," Mrs. Grayson said mildly.  "Now … " Her chin lifted slightly. "Although Zachary recommended you, he  doubted you'd be willing to relocate. However, I overheard some of your  conversation."

Rainie felt her face heat. "I see."

Mrs. Grayson handed her a card. "I recently bought an advertising  company in New York and am taking it in a different direction. Thus,  several management positions will soon be open. Would you be  interested?"

New York? So far away from …  Yet, she'd always planned on moving, at  least until she'd started daydreaming. But daydreams were nothing on  which to build a life. She had no future here. Not with Jake Sheffield.

And she refused to cry in front of this indomitable woman.

Rainie swallowed. "I'm very interested. However, I've committed to the  clinic until mid-February. I can't-it wouldn't be fair to leave them in  the lurch."

"Good for you." Mrs. Grayson gave an approving nod. "I'll be  interviewing for another couple of weeks, so you have time to decide.  Since my son has infallible instincts, I think I can assure you of a  position. Please do give me a call."

With a brisk nod, she glided away.

"Oh my God." Rainie glanced down to see if the floor had disintegrated  beneath her feet. She wanted to scream, do a victory dance, shoot off  fireworks … and burst into tears.

How could she leave?

"Sweetling, are you all right?" Jake's firm hand closed around her arm.  He turned her to face him and ran his hands up and down her arms. "I saw  Mrs. Grayson with you. She can be a bit intimidating."

Rainie forced her numb lips to form the words. "She was … nice."

"Good." He pushed her hair back, his fingertips leaving a wake of  sensation, ripples that spread through her body. "Linda is herding the  guests to the entrance to wave Gabi, Sally, and the men off. Afterward,  the place closes, and we're free to go."

"Oh." She had duties. What was she thinking? Too obsessed with her own problems to do her job. "I need to check in with Sally."

"She's over there." He guided her toward the head table. "Spend the night with me. We can pick up Rhage on the way."

Her whole life had changed in the last hour, from the redhead to Mrs.  Grayson … and Jake didn't know. He still thought …  Her heart felt squeezed  between two abrasive surfaces, sending flares of pain outward with every  beat. "Jake."

He spotted Sally. "There she is."

How could she do this to him?

"Men rarely marry beneath their class, and you, my dear, are so far below that you're barely out of the gutter."

How could she stay? If she remained here, it would be because of her own  selfish need to be loved. And she'd wind up harming Jake. She couldn't  hurt him. She would never hurt him.         

     



 

Her life was drained out onto the floor, leaving a stiffening corpse  behind. And she wanted the chill, needed the ice, or she'd never get the  words out. "Jake. She offered me a job. In New York."