Dark Summoner (Relic Keeper Series Book 1) (3 page)

T
he delicious aroma of exotic cologne mixed with pumpkin and cedar greeted my senses, as I gained consciousness. Warmth radiated from somewhere nearby, and the gurgled sounds of voices reached my ears.

“Do you think we should call an ambulance?” a woman asked.

“No,” a rich masculine voice replied, his tone firm, yet gentle. “I think she’s coming around. Perhaps some water might help?”

Heels quickly clicked against the wood before they faded into the distance. Out of the silence, strong hands brushed the hair away from my forehead, and my eyes flashed open, startled by the contact.

Crouched overhead was a tall, well-dressed man. His large frame crowded the empty space around me. The moment our eyes met, a warm, alluring smile spread across his handsome face. One hand rested against the hardwood floor beside my head, while the other offered me a slight wave. With a straight nose and chiseled jaw, he looked as though he had been sculpted to perfection by the gods themselves. Adorable dimples appeared in each of his cheeks as he smiled, making him seem charming yet approachable. Chin-length, ash-blond hair was smoothed back, with only a few unruly, windblown pieces falling every so often into his gorgeous indigo eyes. In my world, men like him only existed on the cover of
GQ.

His smile transformed into a worried frown. He must have said something to me, but I’d been too busy gawking at him to notice.

“What did you say?” I asked, when I’d finally found my voice again.

His words came out thick and silky like caramel with the hint of an accent. “My apologies.” He raised his arms into the air in a non-threatening manner. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

I couldn’t help myself and smiled.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Feeling better?” I asked uncertain.

He tilted his head, eyes watching me curiously from an angle now. “You’d slipped and hit your head. Another few minutes, and we probably would have called a doctor.”

“Oh.”

It wasn’t the most articulate response, but I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. It should have been apparent to me that something was off, especially since I was still sprawled across the hard floor below. I hadn’t even noticed. But when I remembered what had transpired just before my fall, panic settled into my chest. I sought any leftover evidence of the gray monster. But not a single thing was out of place. I found a small boutique filled with gifts and souvenirs. Frank Sinatra played softly in the background. The stranger’s cologne warmed my nose with delight.

When I started to push up onto my elbows, he stopped me. “I don’t think you should be standing up yet.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted, but he raised his brow, skeptical.

“Honestly,” I added with a smile.

He gave me a brief once over. “Very well then.”

With his free hand, he pulled me to my feet. I swayed, my equilibrium still off balance. He recognized my unease and stepped to my side, only an inch separating the space between us. His kept his fingers wrapped tightly around my bicep, holding me steady. He was so tall, the top of my head barely reached his chest. I raised my eyes to his and found myself completely transfixed by the deep blue hue. There was a vigorous intensity in his stare. His eyes focused deeply on mine.

Without other distractions, I found myself fidgeting under the scrutiny of his intense gaze. I was more than grateful when a women’s voice interrupted us.

“I ran next door and grabbed some aspirin. I think—” The saleswoman appeared from inside the hallway, her feet pounding against the wood as she made her way over. Tight blond curls bounced with every step she took. Her nose and cheeks flushed from the windchill.

He stepped away from me, leaving my skin cold from the absence of his heat. He leaned against the register and crossed one ankle over the other, his demeanor aloof and casual.

“Oh thank goodness! She’s up,” she said, raising a hand to her cheek. “Are you all right, sweetheart? You took quite a fall.”

I rubbed the back of my head, the spot still tender. “I’m really fine. Thank you—both. I’m just sorry that I scared everyone.”

She nodded, but he acted far less convinced. His eyes burned with hidden thoughts as if he searched for something unknown. I wondered if we’d met before and if he was offended that I hadn’t recognized him.

She walked over and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to apologize, sweetheart. I’m just glad things weren’t any worse.”

Her kindness wasn’t something I was used to, and neither was the gentle contact. Both made me uncomfortable.

I wish I could have cried. To lean on someone for only a moment and share how scared I really was. But I knew that I couldn’t. Besides, if I spoke a single word about what had really just happened, they would probably call more than a doctor to come and get me.

She handed me a bottle of water and two aspirin, which I took politely. Light sparkled off the necklace hanging against her chest, the word “Nancy” scrolled in gold across it. She grabbed at the scarf hanging around her neck, her fingertips fidgeting with the frayed ends. “What is with this weather we’ve been having? It’s absolutely crazy.”

I brushed the small traces of water from across my lips. “Thank you . . . Nancy?” I asked pointing to her necklace.

“Oh, yes.” She giggled and placed her hand over it. “I always forget about this. You know, you don’t look so well. Why don’t you sit down over there and have a rest?” She pointed toward the large white sofa that sat next to a display of porcelain teapots. “Or we could call someone to come and get you?”

I knew the man’s heated gaze watched my every move from his spot in the corner. For some reason, I found it impossible to meet his eyes. “Thank you for all your help, but I really need to get back to work.”

“Oh, don’t thank me, honey! It was all this man here.” She pointed to Mr. Blue Eyes as she nodded her head “If it weren’t for him, I’m afraid you’d have been hurt much worse. You smacked right into him and hit your head on the edge of a table, but he caught you before you hit the ground.”

Internally I grimaced. I had hoped to avoid him before I left, but her words gave me no choice. Now I had to acknowledge him. Reluctantly, I turned in his direction. “Thank you so much for your help, Mr. . . .?”

“Cross. Dorian Cross.” He took my palm in his and butterflies filled my stomach. “And you are?

“Abby.”

He waited for my last name, but when I didn’t offer it, he dipped his head toward me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Abby.”

My heart pounded at his touch, and I wasn’t certain if it was nervous excitement or apprehension. The only other noise was the soft sound of rain falling steadily against the sidewalk. He kept his eyes on mine. When he didn’t release my hand, I slowly eased it from within his grip.

“Well, like I said, I need to be going.”

Nancy took a step toward me. “You shouldn’t be driving yet.”

I reached down and gathered my bags. “Oh, I’m not. I work just a few blocks down at the café. It’s less than a ten-minute walk.”

“Walk?” She sounded appalled by the idea. “Darling, have you looked outside?”

I looked out the window and noticed the heavy, windblown rain. In all the chaos, I’d forgotten about the freak storm. The front door remained closed but shook a few times from the force. I couldn’t stay here and risk another
sighting
. My only option was to brave the storm and hurry back to the café, hoping that nothing followed me.

“Let me help you with those,” Dorian said, as he reached down and grabbed the two bags I hadn’t picked up yet.

“No really, I’m fine.” I tugged at the ones in his hand.

As much as I appreciated the offer, he was a stranger. And with everything that had transpired in the last hour, my common sense argued against the idea.

He tugged the bags gently away from me. “I understand your apprehension, but a gentleman never leaves a lady in distress unattended.”

“A lady in distress? You do know what century we’re in, right?”

“Of course. But a gentleman is a gentleman, no matter the time or place.”

I tugged them back toward me again, hoping he’d get the hint and let go. “I don’t want to be a bother. A little rain never hurt anybody.”

“It’s no bother at all,” he said as he swooped the bags out of my hands with ease.” He headed for the door. “Plus, I have this.” He wiggled a large black umbrella over his shoulder. He stopped at the threshold and held the door open as he waited for me.

As we exited the boutique, I scoured the street, fearful that the figure would still be out there, hiding. I noticed that he had followed my gaze.

“Are you looking for something?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. I . . . I just thought I had seen something earlier, but I must have been confused.”

I inspected him from the corner of my eye as we walked side by side. He seemed harmless enough wearing a deep gray, finely tailored suit with a matching navy tie. The suit fit like it was designed for him with sleek and clean lines. He had the persona of wealth and position, exuding both confidence and charm. It made me wonder what kind of a man he actually was.

Most of our walk was silent. He behaved as though he was deep in his thoughts, only every so often casting a glance in my direction. Personally, I was grateful for the break from the expected pretenses. It was the reason I usually didn’t make new friends or even acquaintances. People expected things from you. Politeness, interest, the sharing of personal info. I wasn’t good at faking the first two and the third. Let’s just say that my life secrets prevented me from sharing anything about myself. It was better to be alone than to be exposed.

I’m not sure what caused me to speak and break the silence, but I did. “So, you caught me as I fell?”

“A fortuitous circumstance. I was leaving just as you entered.” A small, guilty smile spread across his lips, catching my interest.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

I stopped walking and faced him. “What?”

He hesitated before answering, rubbing his neck with his palm. “Well, if you must know, I actually feel a bit responsible for your fall.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“You knocked straight into me, but I was looking at my phone when I’d opened the door. If I’d been paying better attention, you wouldn’t have hit the table.”

I thought, Maybe, but I was still running from a monster that probably would have killed me given the chance.

“At least I didn’t hit the floor, too,” I said as I started walking again. “I’m lucky you were there. Who knows what would have happened if I’d hit the table
and
the floor.”

“Still, some would consider it my fault.”

He was being way too hard on himself and a part of me I didn’t recognize wanted to ease his discomfort.

I punched his arm playfully. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

The moment the words fell from my lips, I cringed internally. Being playful, comforting, and flirtatious were all completely out of character for me. I noticed that when I touched him, it felt like I’d landed directly against steel and not skin.

“You’ve a good arm for someone who just blacked out.” He winked at me and rubbed his arm.

I bit my lower lip to hide a smile. A voice inside of me screamed, What the hell are you doing, Abby? Flirting? Your life as you know it is over, and you’re flirting with someone you can never see again.

After that, I shut down and kept my eyes on the ground the rest of the way. As we turned the last corner, the bright lights of the café glowed against the unnatural gloom that had consumed the day. He followed me across the street as we stopped outside the entrance. The awning that hung over the patio covered us from the rain.

“Well, this is me,” I said. I barely recognized my awkward and uneven voice.

He frowned, searching for something to say. I was flattered. Maybe this incredibly good-looking man preferred his women a little more ordinary? I waited, but as the awkwardness increased, I started to turn away. I’d never been good at goodbyes.

A frigid gust of moist wind assaulted me from behind, and my left heel caught a pothole, causing me to trip. I tried to reach forward to catch myself before I hit the side of the curb, but I fumbled with the bags in my hands. I stopped mid-air to find Dorian standing in front of me, his arms wrapped tightly around me as he held me against his chest.

“How did you . . . ?” I whipped my head back and forth between where he had been and where he was now. I swallowed the question, thinking some things were better left unsaid. “Thank you . . . for everything. It was nice meeting you, Dorian.”

He dipped his head, his goodbye only a single word. “Abby.” He nudged the umbrella at me.

“Just in case in rains again.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. Really.”

“Please,” he added, the indigo blue of his eyes imploring me to obey.

Our fingers touched ever-so-slightly as I took the umbrella. A thrill shot through me at the contact. Did he feel it, too?

Uneasy, I lifted the collar on my coat once again and offered him one last look as I walked back in toward the café.