determined to get to the bottom of this unexpected twist in plans, "we need to talk."
"Yes." Her pleased smile, now that she'd gotten her way, was nothing less than beatific. It lit up her eyes to a gleaming pewter, softened her features, and for a fleeting instant, he almost remembered where he'd seen her before. And then the illusive image faded.
"But not here," Shade said, as the noise level in the bar rose. The place was becoming packed with people all eager to see and be seen. Music blared nonstop; voices grew progressively louder, the blender whirred incessantly.
"It is a bit clamorous."
Having achieved her first objective—that of making contact with Shade—she was becoming more aware of her surroundings. Accustomed to eternal peace and serenity, Rachel's ears were beginning to ring from the interminable music.
The unfamiliar scents, the crush of people crowded shoulder to shoulder, seemingly unfazed by such physical intimacy, was making her claustrophobic. Her body suddenly felt disturbingly fragile, as if she'd shatter like crystal if anyone so much as brushed against her.
Moisture beaded up on her forehead and above her top lip; her hands grew cold. Tiny spots had begun to swim in front of her eyes.
Not one to miss a thing, Shade noted her sudden distress, along with her valiant attempt to conceal it. She reminded him of some naive little missionary plunked down into a village of cannibals.
He polished off the rest of the Scotch. "You hungry?"
Rachel shook her spinning head to clear it. She took a deep, calming breath, unaware of the way it caused her unfettered breasts to rise and fall provocatively beneath the black wool.
The change of subject momentarily confused her. Then, as if on cue, she felt an unfamiliar rumbling in her stomach. She pressed her palm against the front of her straight skirt, as if to quiet it. "I think I am."
"I skipped lunch today and I'm starving. Wait here while I make a quick call, then we'll leave. We can eat dinner while we talk."
More than a little eager to escape the crowded tavern, Rachel nodded her assent.
After briefly filling Marianne in on what he'd learned so far, and promising to give her more details later this evening, Shade returned to Rachel, who was standing exactly where he'd left her, slender arms wrapped around herself in an unconscious gesture of self-protection.
She had, he saw, retreated somewhere deep inside herself. She was as stiff as a marble statue and her eyes were directed toward the floor, her lashes a sooty fringe on her ashen cheeks.
Sympathy stirred and was immediately and firmly squelched. "Okay. Let's go."
Her relief was so quick and so palpable, Shade felt as if he could have reached out and touched it. Obviously the lady was not as cool and collected as she'd first appeared.
When he put his hand on her back, guiding her expertly through the crush of government employees on the prowl, a bubbly sensation Rachel could not identify rose up inside her.
When she would have stepped away, his hand moved to her arm, holding her so tightly beside him that their bodies were nearly touching. His hard thigh brushed against hers; the brief, unnerving impact almost made Rachel's knees buckle.
"You all right?" Shade felt her sudden stumble, and his grip tightened.
"I'm fine." Rachel groaned inwardly as she realized, despite the very best of intentions, she'd already told her first falsehood. Joshua would be terribly disappointed.
The unpracticed lie was as clear as glass, making Shade all the more suspicious. Who the hell was she? he wondered. And why did she seem so damn familiar?
They didn't talk as they made their way through the combination railroad station/upscale mall. In the distance, a disembodied voice coming from a loudspeaker announced trains leaving for Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City.
As the bustling crowds surged around them, Rachel's uneasiness increased. So many people, she thought, moving instinctively closer
"Yes." Her pleased smile, now that she'd gotten her way, was nothing less than beatific. It lit up her eyes to a gleaming pewter, softened her features, and for a fleeting instant, he almost remembered where he'd seen her before. And then the illusive image faded.
"But not here," Shade said, as the noise level in the bar rose. The place was becoming packed with people all eager to see and be seen. Music blared nonstop; voices grew progressively louder, the blender whirred incessantly.
"It is a bit clamorous."
Having achieved her first objective—that of making contact with Shade—she was becoming more aware of her surroundings. Accustomed to eternal peace and serenity, Rachel's ears were beginning to ring from the interminable music.
The unfamiliar scents, the crush of people crowded shoulder to shoulder, seemingly unfazed by such physical intimacy, was making her claustrophobic. Her body suddenly felt disturbingly fragile, as if she'd shatter like crystal if anyone so much as brushed against her.
Moisture beaded up on her forehead and above her top lip; her hands grew cold. Tiny spots had begun to swim in front of her eyes.
Not one to miss a thing, Shade noted her sudden distress, along with her valiant attempt to conceal it. She reminded him of some naive little missionary plunked down into a village of cannibals.
He polished off the rest of the Scotch. "You hungry?"
Rachel shook her spinning head to clear it. She took a deep, calming breath, unaware of the way it caused her unfettered breasts to rise and fall provocatively beneath the black wool.
The change of subject momentarily confused her. Then, as if on cue, she felt an unfamiliar rumbling in her stomach. She pressed her palm against the front of her straight skirt, as if to quiet it. "I think I am."
"I skipped lunch today and I'm starving. Wait here while I make a quick call, then we'll leave. We can eat dinner while we talk."
More than a little eager to escape the crowded tavern, Rachel nodded her assent.
After briefly filling Marianne in on what he'd learned so far, and promising to give her more details later this evening, Shade returned to Rachel, who was standing exactly where he'd left her, slender arms wrapped around herself in an unconscious gesture of self-protection.
She had, he saw, retreated somewhere deep inside herself. She was as stiff as a marble statue and her eyes were directed toward the floor, her lashes a sooty fringe on her ashen cheeks.
Sympathy stirred and was immediately and firmly squelched. "Okay. Let's go."
Her relief was so quick and so palpable, Shade felt as if he could have reached out and touched it. Obviously the lady was not as cool and collected as she'd first appeared.
When he put his hand on her back, guiding her expertly through the crush of government employees on the prowl, a bubbly sensation Rachel could not identify rose up inside her.
When she would have stepped away, his hand moved to her arm, holding her so tightly beside him that their bodies were nearly touching. His hard thigh brushed against hers; the brief, unnerving impact almost made Rachel's knees buckle.
"You all right?" Shade felt her sudden stumble, and his grip tightened.
"I'm fine." Rachel groaned inwardly as she realized, despite the very best of intentions, she'd already told her first falsehood. Joshua would be terribly disappointed.
The unpracticed lie was as clear as glass, making Shade all the more suspicious. Who the hell was she? he wondered. And why did she seem so damn familiar?
They didn't talk as they made their way through the combination railroad station/upscale mall. In the distance, a disembodied voice coming from a loudspeaker announced trains leaving for Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City.
As the bustling crowds surged around them, Rachel's uneasiness increased. So many people, she thought, moving instinctively closer
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