Show Me, Baby:A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella(32)

Such a scruffy cat for a sophisticated person like Master Z. The huge  feline had scars, ragged ears … and narrowed eyes. That was one pissed-off  kitty.

"We've missed you at the Shadowlands," Master Z said.

God, she'd missed everyone too. She struggled to get her dejected expression under control. "It's mutual."

When Rainie extended her fingers for the annoyed cat to sniff, Master Z  watched. "My mother reports you plan to relocate to New York. Do you  think you'll enjoy it there?" His voice was relaxed. Just making  conversation-as if the Shadowlands owner had ever made casual  conversation in his life.

"Probably. Hey, if the city were that bad, your mother wouldn't live there."

He gave her an easy smile. "She wouldn't reside in New York if her  existence depended on it. Although she buys companies around the world,  her home is Sarasota."

"Oh." Rainie felt despair slide through her again. Soon she'd leave all  her friends behind. "I'm sure I'll adapt quickly enough."

"You make friends easily, yes. But, Rainie, you and Jake seem good  together, and you love Florida. Why did you accept my mother's offer?"

He'd heard her talking with Jake. The … the snoop. Her mouth turned down,  and yet, under his compelling silence, words slid right out of her. "I  have to live in a place where people don't know my past. And to become  more … more. Besides, Jake found a better woman. Someone of … of his class."  Of Z's class, as well.

He regarded her thoughtfully. "I think you're mistaken, pet. I doubt Jake is interested in anyone but you."

Joy zinged through her and then dissolved in the light of reality. "No. I saw them-I mean, I'm right."

He considered her as those silver-gray eyes held her in place. Then his  grin flashed, taking her by surprise. "I'll make you a wager, Rainie. If  I lose, I'll pay for Jessica and Gabi and Uzuri to fly to New York and  help you get settled in."

Her fingers closed on the edge of the counter. Have friends with her in  her new place? She wanted that. The only thing better would be Ja- Stop.  "What's the bet? And what if I lose?"

"If Jake proves he's not interested in … the other women … before Friday,  you'll return to the Shadowlands. And there you will spend the evening  serving him with total trust and total submission."

"No," she gasped.

He lifted an eyebrow.

Jessica and Gabi and Uzuri. In New York. They'd help her settle in, ease the strain of the move, relieve the loneliness.

But, what if she lost? Could her heart withstand another night with  Jake? "He won't do it. He's interested in … her, and even if not, he  doesn't want me any longer."

"We'll leave the decision to him." Z poked his fingers through the  carrier's wire door to stroke his battered cat. "I won't tell him about  the wager unless you lose. If you do, you'll call me, and I'll explain  the rules to him that evening."

Friends in New York. One more night with Jake. "Okay, you're on."

"Good." Z's silvery-gray eyes met hers, trapped hers, and his voice  deepened. "Rainie, you're wrong about who suits him. And who you are.  And what is important in life. You think long and hard before you make a  mistake."







His family had returned to St. Petersburg on Monday. On Wednesday, Jake  took Saxon to supper at their house. The cook had outdone herself with  preparing an it's-nice-to-be-home meal, then gone home to her husband.  So the casual dining room held only his parents, his younger sister, and  his best friend.

As the talk of their European vacations swirled around him, Jake  contributed absent-mindedly while fuming inwardly. Rainie hadn't smiled  all week. Even the clients noticed. Mrs. Flanders had scolded him and  ordered him to fix whatever was bothering her.

Difficult to do. Damn him for being an idiot and getting involved.

" … Jake?" Jennifer lifted her eyebrows.

Everyone waited for his answer.

"I missed that," he said. "What did you ask?"

"I ran into Nadia, and she said you two were dating. When did that happen?"

"Who's Nadia?" Saxon scowled. "Is this why Rainie hasn't laughed for three days? You might have mentioned you broke up."

Fuck was the only word that came to mind. He ignored Sax to frown at his  sister. "Since when does having a post-party drink mean I'm dating  someone?"         

     



 

"Who is Rainie?" his mother asked.

No, fuck wasn't enough. Clusterfuck was more like it.

His mother didn't rule her children's lives, but she was an advocate of staying informed. "Jake?"

No help for it. "Remember Lynette, the receptionist Sax's uncle  recommended? She screwed up the office so badly I fired her. Rainie has  been helping out." He gave Saxon a flat stare. "However, Z's mother,  Madeline Grayson, offered Rainie a position in New York, and she's  moving soon. I'll call in an ad to fill the receptionist spot tomorrow."  He should have acted sooner but hadn't been able to face the task.

"Well, that sucks." Saxon scowled. "I wanted her to stay." He glanced at  Jake's father. "She had Lynette's mess straightened out within a day,  took on the staff schedules and the payroll, as well. She's been  researching more efficient software. And she keeps notes on what's  required to expand into an emergency hospital."

"And you call her a receptionist?" Jake's father laid his napkin beside his plate and leaned back.

"She just completed her MBA," Jake said. "Her last job was managing a  towing company. Since the owner hated business, she kept on taking on  new projects. She's enthusiastic that way." Not so enthusiastic about  relationships.

But he couldn't escape the memories …  Rainie surrounded by puppies.  Coaxing a homesick cat out of the sulks. Dancing with heart and soul.  Kneeling before him. Laughing with him.

His chest squeezed painfully. He'd miss the joy she brought to everything she did.

Now get over it.

"Someone who thrives on multitasking is the perfect office manager for  your clinic. If she likes that, she'll probably find a large company a  tad stifling," Jake's father said.

Quite true. She didn't seem to care though.

As his mother poured decaffeinated coffee, his sister served the dessert.

"Interesting name." Jennifer set a piece of key lime pie on Jake's plate  and said, "I knew a Rainie once. A girl in my class who dropped out.  She ran away from her foster home, which made me unhappy because I  wanted to get to know her."

Jake stiffened. Rainie'd been in foster care. "Sounds like  our"-my-"Rainie. Why'd she run away?" And why hadn't she mentioned the  running away part?

"I'm not sure. I heard some nasty rumors about the foster home she lived  in. The man-" Jennifer grimaced. "Well, there are always rumors. Like  after that, Mandy said Rainie was staying with a drug dealer."

Mouth tight, Jake's dad tapped his fingers on the table. "How old were you at the time?"

"Um. I was studying for my driver's license," Jennifer said.

Jake pushed his pie away, appetite gone. Then Rainie'd been sixteen … and  living with a dealer? His softhearted woman who cried over old dogs and  their owners?

"So, big brother," Jennifer said, trying to lighten the table conversation. "Were you dating this paragon of efficiency?"

"Obviously not seriously or she wouldn't be moving to New York." He  winced at the bitterness in his voice. With a forced smile, he added,  "Which is as well. Her priorities differ from mine."

"Oh." Jennifer's gaze flickered over his face, and then she bit her lip and turned her attention to her pie.

"Well … " His mother's expression held sympathy. She'd always been able to  read him like a book. "How is Nadia doing with her job?"

"Fine," Jake said. "She's an excellent choice for Renard. One good snob  deserves another." At his mother's choked-off laugh, he smiled slightly,  remembering when he'd thought Nadia exemplified the ultimate in womanly  perfection. But young men grow up and learn to cherish the beauty  hidden beneath the surface.

Rainie was beautiful inside and out.

Ignoring the conversation around him, he toyed with his pie and thought  about Heather, his prior girlfriend. They'd been good together, and  she'd been an easy person to love. He'd missed her cheerful company,  but … but not with this profound ache, as if he'd accidentally sliced a  hole in his chest.

When he heard Rainie's voice in the clinic, his body warmed, not with  lust, but just … happiness. Seeing her with puppies, he felt like gifting  her with a half dozen simply to keep that smile on her face. Always, he  wanted to sit next to her and share in her joy.

But her glow had been missing since the wedding. He'd done that-or she had.         

     



 

She was unhappy; he was unhappy. Couldn't she figure this out? Why wouldn't she talk with him, dammit?