Underworld Lover (A Guardian Angel Romance #2) (10 page)

“Why not?” he said with a shrug.

Without a further word, the three made their way to the coffeehouse, where they sat under a heater. Claire and Joshua ordered hot chocolate. Daniel, red wine.

Claire made a point to lick the whipped cream from the top with her tongue, a gesture Josh had once found extremely sexy—and still did. She still hadn’t mastered how not to get it on the tip of her nose, as in the early days when he’d thought she was such an easy mark.

Joshua wondered why she had warmed to him so. Her smile was still angelic, but she showed compassion in her eyes, as if she actually cared for him. He had seen this look before, but only in women who did not know who he really was. Claire knew all his dark and dirty secrets. Claire knew Josh had tried to take Daniel away from her. And now it was obvious she had forgiven him.

Much as he hated to admit it, he also found this sexy.

“So, I’m waiting,” she said as her soft blue eyes searched his face and soothed his soul.

“Excuse me?”

“Angela. How is Angela?”

“Oh, she and James are fine. She will be pleased to hear your news.”

“You talk to her often?”

“No, not often. They are on special assignment.” Josh withheld the fact that he’d sent them to a training course in Alaska, one of Josh’s least favorite venues. No doubt James would be learning how to hunt and fish. He could just imagine what their evenings would be like, huddled together in their cozy cabin. Better to have them away in the cold where they weren’t an embarrassment to him. They were supposed to be learning Russian, but Josh knew they had skipped as many classes as they attended. Now that he knew a little more about Peter, he didn’t need any more complications or screw-ups. Best to keep them hidden.

“She regretted her decision?” Claire’s blue eyes bored into him and begged for an honest answer.

“Love, I’m going to surprise you.” Josh sucked in air and made the leap across the threshold of conversation he never thought he’d cross. “Yes. I’m sure she does.”

Claire’s look was totally blank. She sat back in the bench seat with a thud. She shook her head, looked down at her folded hands, then grabbed her hot chocolate and took a long sip. When she looked back at Josh, he saw her eyes were watering.

“I knew it,” she said.

“Don’t fret about it.” Josh patted her hand and Daniel stiffened. Claire didn’t seem to mind the touch. “Nothing you could have done. After James went over, well, it was only a matter of time. He was obsessed with her.”

He could see she understood this. Her sad eyes looked up at Daniel. They did not hide the shared look between them. Josh was touched with their lack of fear for who he was.

“You working on a project nearby?” Daniel asked.

“Well, yes and no.” Josh wasn’t sure how he would be able to explain himself, and decided he would just lie. “I’d been looking at the café space there. Thought a coffee house would be a pleasant distraction. And a great magnet, if I can be perfectly candid.” He snuck a peek at Melanie’s darkened bedroom window directly above. He wanted to see her again, but didn’t want to risk Claire and Daniel finding out.

Soon, little one. I will come to you soon.

Claire and Daniel were looking at each other again.

“This is a problem for you both?” Josh asked.

“No, it’s just that we were thinking about the space as a gallery. Wouldn’t need the kitchen, though, so a coffee house makes more sense.” Daniel was clearly a little shy about it.

“I don’t know. You could do some terrific gallery parties. I know someone who does a bang-up job.” Josh grinned at the veiled reference to Daniel’s ex-girlfriend, Audray, the manager of his former gallery. Daniel’s sexual obsession with her stopped his painting, and her blatant infidelity in Daniel’s own living room had led to his suicide attempt, something that had ultimately brought him Claire, his Guardian angel.

But nobody asked about Audray. This didn’t surprise Joshua. It forced him to think he had not seen her lately, and would need to do so very soon.

“So you are still being inspired, the paintings are coming?” Josh asked.

“Yes,” Daniel said. Claire nodded, squeezing his arm.

“How very nice for you.”

Josh’s face was feeling brittle and he was grateful the pair was walking slowly away from him as he kept his perch by the lamppost. He hadn’t done this much smiling in decades.

So naïve. So clueless.

He thought it odd he was worried for their safety. Without Claire’s angelic powers, how would these two ordinary humans survive the war he knew was brewing?

It was going to be something of epic proportions. Something he wasn’t sure he would be able to survive either.

Chapter 13

The next morning Joshua set out to look for Audray. She had opened a new art gallery in Marin last month. The party had gone on most the night. Her boss, Beau Bradley, wound up in the hospital with chest pains. His life of overindulgences, on all fronts, was quickly catching up to him. Audray was clearly upset when he was taken away by paramedics. Yet, the party rocked on for several hours more, and the opening had been a rousing success.

Josh needed an update. Might be the aging rocker could use a little push to the immortal side of the ledger.

“You’ve been rather scarce around here, Josh,” Audray said, peering at him from behind purple glasses she didn’t need. Purple was a good color on her. “I’ve been busy.”

“If you needed help, I’m only a phone call away, my dear.”

“So you’re going blind as well? You had better have your display checked. I’ve texted you, too.”

He wondered if Peter was interfering with his phone reception.

Stop making things up.
“These are busy days for me too, but seriously, I didn’t get one message. Not one.”

“I don’t believe it, Josh.”

“Suit yourself.”

“You’ve been ignoring me, until now that you need me,” she said. “Getting your fill of the new director?”

Joshua didn’t like the reference to Peter, and tried to cover up a wince. Too late. “He’s probably more harried than me. Lots of things to learn about. And he reads, unlike Silas and many of the other directors. Not as old, either. I’ll bet he’s just having fun learning all the rules of the Underworld. No one’s done it in quite some time.” He tried to look unconcerned.

Audray smiled sweetly, that way she did when Joshua knew he should watch out and duck for cover. She didn’t disappoint.

“I complained to him about your lack of response to my calls.”

Great. Just fucking great.

“Well he should know. He’s the one sending me on a special errand for him.” It was partly the truth. Timing was off, though.

“Oh really, you’re that close? Funny, when he came here, I didn’t get the impression you two were—friends. More like enemies, I’d say.” Audray slutted over to Joshua, her purple fuzzy knit dress cupping and holding all the luscious parts of her, and she knew it, he thought. Her long golden hair almost glowed in the rays the solar tubes in the ceiling provided the space. She stopped when the tips of her breasts rubbed Josh’s chest. He was suddenly aware how lethal she was, how dangerous. Even though he was her sponsor, her demeanor, chemistry, and the power of her personality were equal to his. An unholy match. Josh had never felt a sexual attraction to her before. Despite how hard he commanded his body to behave, he was having trouble with his arousal. He began to dislike this traitorous part of him.

Audray looked at the bulge in his pants. “Nice,” she hissed. “So what’s this errand Peter’s got you hot and bothered about?”

“It’s a woman. He’s interested in a human woman.”

Audrey frowned and stepped back.

“Surprised? Disappointed?” Josh was beginning to enjoy himself. He turned, examining the large colorful paintings, one by one, as he walked down the concrete floor. “This is a nice space. I can see why Daniel was so taken with it.”

He was referring to the day Audray had lured Daniel to this spot while Joshua was going for the angel. Audray did her part to delay Daniel, but in the end, Claire recognized Joshua inside the likeness of Daniel’s body and stopped just short of having sex with him. This would have turned Claire into a dark angel, like Audray and Josh. Just like Angela, Daniel would have been next.

Audray returned him a murderous glare. “It was a necessary prop,” she said. “But after leasing it, I realized it was perfect, and Beau agreed.”

“Well, I do too. Speaking of Beau, how’s his health?”

“Poor. I think he’s ready.”

“Good. You speak to him about it?”

“Actually, no. Peter said he would help.” Josh darted a quick look at the vixen. She tilted her head to the side but did not smile. “I think it would go better with Beau if helped me. Peter can be a little . . . scary, if you know what I mean?”

Normally, Joshua would have taken offense at not being considered the scarier of the two dark angels. Today, he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Perhaps he was grateful Audray was able to stand up to the new director. For now. “Why, thank you, my lovely.”

“No problem. You available tonight?”

“Of course. For you, especially.”

“Please. It’s just that it’s my first. I want you to help me with the first one.”

Josh was surprised she hadn’t turned anyone before now; she had been so dark in human form. “Nothing would please me more,” he said, “then to have you need me. In fact, the more you need me, the more I like it.” Audray actually blushed, and he could feel some of his old charm return. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her do that before.

He was pleased. The prospect of turning Beau Bradley tonight buoyed his mood and sent his sense of doom to a cold, albeit temporary, grave.

On the way over to Beau’s house, Josh was curious about her encounter with Peter. He pumped Audray with questions and soon got a chilling reply.

“He’s awfully interested in you. That bother you at all?” she asked as she looked out the window. The landscape flashed by at almost one hundred miles an hour. “And Josh, could you possibly slow down?”

He laid off the gas a bit, chuckling to himself. “Not like we can be killed.”

“I don’t mind the immortality. I just prefer to avoid the pain.” She sighed as she played with a lock of her long tress. “Has to concern you, though, doesn’t it?”

“What?” Josh had gotten distracted by how lovely her hair smelled as she twirled it between her fingertips.

“Peter. What do you think his agenda is?”

“I’m sure his agenda is to make the Underworld the most powerful place in the universe. He’s made lots of changes.”

“I also hear he vaporized the old Director. Why?”

“I’d ask him. Hard to second guess that one.” Josh knew it had something to do with the fact that Silas had been a close friend and a confidant of his. Josh had actually gotten him elected.

“So you’re not worried?”

“Audray, why should
I
be worried?”

“Because he hates you.”

“What makes you say that?” Josh’s fear surprised him. He worked to make it look like curiosity.

“He asked me about your ‘legendary fuck-up,’ as he called it. He asked me why everyone still thought your powers weren’t waning, why no one thought you were washed up.”

His stomach started to churn. He tasted buttermilk and raw eggs.

“Well, I would say that it’s because it isn’t true. I’m not washed up.” The conversation was ruining his day. “You know, come to think of it, I don’t even know what Peter’s track record is. Up until that thing with Daniel, I was undefeated, and who else do you know of who went up against the big man himself?”

Audray nodded, but the frown didn’t leave her face. Josh wondered who could get him the information he needed: where Peter had come from, who his sponsor was, and what he had been doing since the turning.

“You up for a little special mission of my own?” Josh asked her.

“I guess.”

“I want to learn about him. If he’s as dangerous as you say, shouldn’t I be prepared?”

“You should. You definitely should, Josh.” She continued to nod. “Besides, I’m kind of intrigued myself.”

They were silent for a few minutes. Josh had to remind himself to slow down several times before they got to Beau Bradley’s long driveway. Josh pulled up in front of the house, parked, and turned off the car, but before he could exit, Audray’s hand grasped his forearm.

“Josh, I want to do it. I’ll help you, as long as it doesn’t cause any trouble for me, you understand?”

“Completely. Thank you, Audray.” He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek.

Audray smiled at this little gesture before she commented. “And besides, I think he likes me.”

Chapter 14

Beau Bradley’s house on top of the hill was well lit. This didn’t mean he was awake, since he was fond of crashing anywhere the alcohol or drugs abandoned him. Loud Spacetravelers music was blaring on two six-foot outdoor speakers, aimed at the front door, but placed next to the turquoise pool overlooking the upper end of San Francisco Bay, Sausalito and Tiburon. The front door was made of copper in need of a polish. When there was no answer, Josh tried the lock. The handle didn’t budge, so Josh and Audray walked through it after first checking their surroundings to be sure no one else would see this feat.

Inside the house, it was almost a relief not to hear the blaring music. Josh wondered how the neighbors put up with it. Perhaps it was true after all, living next to these celebrities added value to their own real estate. Sort of bought their loyalty.

“Beau?” Josh called his name out several times. There still was no answer.

“I’m going upstairs,” Audray volunteered. “I’m kinda used to this.” She danced up the steps to the upper floor.

Josh used the quiet to look around the home, which seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. A banquet of dirty dishes was stacked in the kitchen sink and on the granite countertops. A half-opened tin of cat food was dry, its contents stinking up the downstairs. A woman’s sweater hung from one of the black lacquer dining room chairs. Other articles of clothing were spread out over other pieces of furniture.