Confessions (17 page)

Although he enjoyed the physical act, the drama most men

brought to the bedroom wasn’t worth it.

No matter how hard he tried, he would never

understand why someone would wil ingly weaken

themselves by al owing their emotions to lead them around

by the nose. As a boy, he’d witnessed his father push and

order his mother around in the name of love, stupid woman.

She should have shoved a knife in her husband’s gut and

rid herself of the burden. Instead, she’d taken her heartache

out on Magnus. Ninety per cent of the time, Magnus’ father

would disappear for a few days after a big fight, leaving a

bitter and angry wife behind.

Once Magnus was old enough to fend for himself it

hadn’t been nearly as bad, but memories of being so

hungry he’d often resort to eating the dog’s food continued

to haunt him. By the time he was a teenager, he’d become

an expert at living life without emotional entanglements.

After the front door slammed shut, signal ing Darrel ’s

departure, Magnus crossed the room to his dresser. He

started to reach for a clean pair of jeans but stopped and

opened his closet instead. Magnus selected a crisp, freshly

starched white dress shirt and pair of olive green cotton

pants and tossed them onto the bed. It was important to

keep their professional relationship intact.

Magnus dressed quickly before running a brush

through his drying hair. Curls had begun to form, signal ing

it was time for a cut. He much preferred the sleek black

waves to the curls that reminded himself of the boy in the

mirror so long ago.

By the time the doorbel rang, Magnus had pul ed

himself together. He shut the door to the bedroom and took

a quick glance around the living room. Thankful y, his

sessions with Darrel didn’t include wining and dining the

man, so the room was stil in pristine order.

With his smal wire-rimmed reading glasses in place,

Magnus opened the door. “Come in, Dane.”

Dane entered the house, his battered leather

messenger bag slung over his shoulder. “Thanks. Sorry for

interrupting your evening.”

Magnus pointed Dane towards the sofa as he took a

seat in his large leather recliner. “I’ve already told you, you

didn’t interrupt anything important. Now, what is this about

the grant application I submitted?”

Dane set his bag on the floor beside his foot and

removed a thin red folder. He fingered the pages inside

before clearing his throat. It was clear to Magnus the man

was nervous.

“My mother passed your application on to me. She

usual y deals with this sort of thing, but she recognised your

name and thought it would be best for me to handle it,”

Dane began.

“I don’t understand. Does your mother work for the

Institute?”

“Yes and no. You see, James D Barrett was my fourth

great-grandfather on my mother’s side. Mother, along with

my two uncles, is on the board of directors at the Institute.”

Magnus stared at Dane. He’d known Dane came

from a wealthy family, but he had no idea his teaching

assistant was connected to the Barrett fortune. “I didn’t

realise that.”

Dane set the folder on the coffee table. “I have a

couple of questions about the application before I can

approve it.”

“Okay.” Magnus scooted to the edge of the chair and

rested his forearms on his knees.

“Wel , my question is two-fold, real y. First, I’d like to

know what you’d be looking for at Barrett House? Second,

would it be possible for me to assist you in your research? I

need the field hours, and, as you can imagine, this is

something I have a vested interest in.”

Magnus took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes

before resettling them. It was a risk to tel Dane what he’d

already discovered, but it might prove an even greater risk

to work alongside Dane in the field. “Do my answers

determine whether or not I receive the grant?”

Dane sat up straighter on the couch. “I real y want to

assist you on this, Professor, but I’m not so self-centred that

I would turn the grant down because you don’t want me

there.”

Magnus wondered what Dane would say if he knew

how much he was wanted, but it was too dangerous. “I can

answer part of the first question.” Magnus stood and

retrieved a box from his floor safe, careful y setting it on the

table beside the red folder. He lifted the lid to reveal a

ceremonial necklace. “I came across this last summer while

visiting an elderly MOWA Choctaw woman in Alabama.

She agreed to give it to me with the promise that it never

be sold and wil eventual y be put on display for al to enjoy.”

Dane leaned closer. Shaking his head as he

examined the beadwork, it was obvious he’d studied

enough Native American history to identify the problem.

“Have you had this authenticated?”

Magnus knelt on the floor beside the coffee table.

“The beads are over a hundred years old, but the secret of

who strung them together remains a mystery.”

Magnus never tired of studying the ceremonial

necklace. Built in intricate rows of beadwork, four Native

American nations were represented, something Magnus

had never before heard of. He glanced up at Dane.

“According to the woman, the piece had been handed

down through her family for generations. Unfortunately, the

story behind it was lost except for a few details.”

“Which are?” Dane asked, making eye contact.

Magnus took a deep breath. “The necklace came

from the sole survivor of a tribe living on the Barrett

plantation.”

“Do you believe her?”

“I’ve got no reason not to. Forgive me, but it’s always

seemed strange to me that your family would fund a Native

American history institute when, as far as my research

goes, you’re family’s about as white as they come.”

“Mother believes it’s because James Barrett

befriended a local tribe and was furious when the

government drove them out of Louisiana. According to her,

James promised them a piece of their history would always

remain in the bayou.”

Magnus nodded. “I believe they left more that has yet

to be discovered.”

Dane looked at the necklace again. “Okay, I agree it’s

something that should be explored further. I’l see that the

grant is approved.” Dane picked up the folder and put it

away. “Umm…about the other thing…”

“I’l think about it,” Magnus answered, cutting Dane off

before he could continue.

Dane stood and shouldered his bag. “There are

areas of the plantation that aren’t open to anyone but family

members.” He met Magnus’ gaze. “It would be in your best

interest to have me along.”

Magnus narrowed his eyes. Although Dane was

clearly chal enging him, Magnus found it enlightening.

Perhaps Dane wasn’t the pushover Magnus had always

assumed him to be. “Like I told you, I’l think about it.”

“Okay. My Uncle Fal on lives in Morgan City. I’l cal

him, and have him prepare the Barrett House for your

arrival. The Institute wil be closed to the public from

December 18 to January 9th, but there wil stil be

maintenance workers there on and off during that period.”

Magnus walked Dane to the door. “Thanks for the

grant,” he felt the need to say.

Dane stepped outside into the bitter cold evening. “I

envy you,” he mumbled. “Sure would be nice to get a break

from this weather for a few weeks.”

“Don’t try so hard, kid,” Magnus growled. “I’l give you

my answer on Monday.” Magnus watched Dane until he

made it to his sleek Mercedes sports car. The damn thing

probably cost more than Magnus’ house.

Magnus shut the door and locked it before grabbing a

beer out of the refrigerator. It was going to be a long

weekend.

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About the Author

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne

decided to write her own brand of erotic romance.

Carol juggles between being a ful -time mother and a

ful -time writer. These days, you can usual y find Carol

either cleaning jel y out of the carpet or nestled in her

favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Email: [email protected]

by Carol Lynne

Karaoke at the Tumbleweed

Joey’s First Time

Between Two Lovers

Corporate Passion

Sunset Ridge

Legend Anthology: Healing Doctor Ryan

Campus Cravings: Coach

Campus Cravings: Side-Lined

Campus Cravings: Sacking the Quarterback

Campus Cravings: Off-Season

Campus Cravings: Forbidden Freshman

Campus Cravings: Broken Pottery

Campus Cravings: In Bear’s Bed

Campus Cravings: Office Advances

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Campus Cravings: Hershie’s Kiss

Campus Cravings: Theron’s Return

Campus Cravings: Live for Today

Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation

Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift

Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption

Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations

Cattle Val ey: Al Play & No Work

Cattle Val ey: Cattle Val ey Mistletoe

Cattle Val ey: Sweet Topping

Cattle Val ey: Rough Ride

Cattle Val ey: Physical Therapy

Cattle Val ey: Out of the Shadow

Cattle Val ey: Bad Boy Cowboy

Cattle Val ey: The Sound of White

Cattle Val ey: Gone Surfin’

Cattle Val ey: The Last Bouquet

Cattle Val ey: Eye of the Beholder

Cattle Val ey: Cattle Val ey Days

Cattle Val ey: Bent-Not Broken

Cattle Val ey: Arm Candy

Cattle Val ey: Recipe for Love

Cattle Val ey: Firehouse Heat

Cattle Val ey: Neil’s Guardian Angel

Cattle Val ey: Scarred

Cattle Val ey: Making the Grade

Cattle Val ey: To Service and Protect

Cattle Val ey: The O’Brien Way

Cattle Val ey: Ghost from the Past

Cattle Val ey: Hawk’s Landing

Cattle Val ey: Shooting Star

Poker Night: Texas Hold Em

Poker Night: Slow-Play

Poker Night: Different Suits

Poker Night: Ful House

Men in Love: Reunion

Bodyguards in Love: Brier’s Bargain

Bodyguards in Love: Seb’s Surrender

Bodyguards in Love: I Love Rock N Rol

Bodyguards in Love: Taming Black Dog Four

Bodyguards in Love: Seducing the Sheik

Bodyguards in Love: To Bed a King

Neo’s Realm: Liquid Crimson

Neo’s Realm: Blood Trinity

Neo’s Realm: Crimson Moon

Seasons of Love: Spring

Seasons of Love: Summer

Seasons of Love: Fal

Also by Carol Lynne and T.A Chase

Dracul’s Revenge: Dracul’s Blood

Dracul’s Revenge: Anarchy in Blood

The Haunting of St Xavier

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contact information, website and author biography at

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