Cursed by Diamonds (A Dance with Destiny Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

weakly at him before heading toward her little office, picking up the heavy bag as she went.
    “Here, let me carry this, Milady. And… I’ll heat the tea you brought whilst you’re dressing.”
    Strangely, she let him help her. A rather unusual thing for her to do, to say the least.
    I cannot remember a more bizarre day than this , she thought, shaking her head and trying to focus.
    Jenevier took her time peeling off the wet clothes. Draping them over the eclectic mix of odd furniture she could barely remember acquiring. Weary and exhausted, she lethargically slipped into the old shirt and torn pair of riding pants she had thrown into the bag.
    Wrapping one of the towels around her dripping hair, she smiled as she pulled on a warm pair of socks. Sighing as she closed her eyes, Jenevier rested just a moment before stepping into the floppy old work boots propped up beside her desk. She snatched up a couple more blankets before heading back out.
    When she opened the door, the inviting fragrance of rose tea hit her with the first gush of air. She smiled as she wrapped one blanket around her shoulders and hung the other over her arm. But what she saw when she stepped out of that office halted her steps.
    Dante had indeed taken his own advice. He was standing there with one towel wrapped around his waist, using a second to feverishly rub the excess water from his hair.
    “The shoes complete the outfit.” He tried to muffle his laugh.
    She looked down at herself and couldn’t help a faint smile. “I prefer barefoot. But I’m too cold.”
    “Then come, lovely lady. Warm your shaky bones with some of this delicious tea.” He held a steamy cup out toward her. “Where in the world did you find it?”
    “As for my world, you’re looking at it.” She held out both arms wide to signify her surroundings. “As for the tea, I made it.”
    “Truly?”
    “Truly.”
    She smiled at the curious stranger.
    “My compliments, Milady. Do you sell it?”
    “No, I do not.” She quickly averted her eyes from the chiseled V shape of his lower abdomen… and the towel barely hanging there from his hip bones. “I can’t even remember the last time I was at market.”
    She graciously took the dainty cup and smiled again as she sat down beside Raven.
    Dante nodded towards the horse. “I gave him a little something to help him rest.”
    “Gratitude.”
    Hot tears began to trickle down her face.
    “He really is going to be fine. I believe your nerves have reached their limit, Milady. You need rest.”
    She took a long sip of tea and untied the towel from her hair. “I can’t figure out what happened.” She gazed at the sleeping horse as she spoke.
    “Well, when you ride in a storm, this is what can happen.” He wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and sat down in front of her. “Perhaps the thunder and lightning is what spooked him so badly.”
    “But that’s just it. We weren’t riding. I fell asleep there.” She pointed to the couch in the hallway. “And when I woke, we were both soaked and scared.”
    “And you are certain you weren’t out in the storm?”
    “Yes. No. I can’t remember, actually. Ouch!”
    Jenevier absently reached up while she was talking and touched the back of her head. Her illuminated hand revealed a trace of blood.
    “What is it? Let me see.”
    The doctor almost lunged for her as she bent her head towards him.
    “Hmm, that’s one nasty bump. The cut isn’t bad. You won’t require stitches. But you’ll have one serious headache tomorrow.”
    He reached into an old leather bag she hadn’t even noticed, and handed her a glass bottle half full of clear liquid.
    “Put some of this in your tea now so the pain won’t be so bad when you wake.” He cocked one eyebrow and studied her for a moment. “In truth, you probably shouldn’t go to sleep for a while. Just to be certain you don’t have any serious injuries—internal ones.”
    “How much?” She looked up at him, shaking the little