Dark Perception: The Corde Noire Series Read online

  “There, you see?” Edna nodded smugly to Nathan. “Don’t argue with your elders, Mr. Cole. Where would this world be without a little decorum between a boss and his employees?”

  Melinda blushed as Nathan looked down at his desk, containing his smirk. “Yes, you’re right, Edna,” he nearly laughed out the words. But when he glanced up at Melinda, the insolent smirk disappeared and that torrid heat returned to his eyes.

  Melinda went weak in the knees. “I, ah, think I’ll get some water,” she blurted out.

  “You do that, dear.” Edna wiggled into her desk chair. “When you come back, I’ll show you how to pull up Mr. Cole’s itinerary on my computer.”

  Melinda rushed out the office door. She went to the kitchen and reached into the refrigerator. When she found the row of bottled water on the top shelf, she greedily grabbed one and held it to her face.

  Relishing the touch of the cool bottle against her hot cheeks, Melinda closed her eyes. She heard Edna’s perky voice coming from the office and silently groaned.

  “At least I know one thing.” She twisted the cap off the bottle. “Those visions of the two of us weren’t my imagination.” She took a quick sip of water.

  Squaring her shoulders, Melinda walked out of the kitchen, heading back to the office. It was time to get down to the business of acting like Nathan Cole’s assistant, at least until the effervescent Edna went home.

  * * *

  After Edna had showed her how to download Nathan’s itinerary from the computer, sort his mail, take down his messages just the way he liked, and completed a detailed tutorial on her filing system, Melinda was given a reprieve when Edna wanted to go to the kitchen for a cup of chamomile tea.

  “Why don’t you sit here and go through some of these files?” Edna prodded Melinda into her desk chair. “Then you’ll get a good idea of how I type his letters and keep track of his billing.” She waved a pudgy finger at Melinda. “You’ll need to do all of this for him in case I’m out one day. His office must run smoothly.”

  Melinda didn’t bother to enlighten Edna about her real job description. She had discovered Edna talked better than she listened.

  With Edna out of the room, Melinda’s eyes made their way back to Nathan. He had taken up residence behind his desk ever since his secretary’s arrival. Spending most of the afternoon talking on the phone and working on his computer, he never once looked over at Melinda. But as soon as he saw Edna leave the office, he bolted from his chair.

  Melinda’s heart rose to her throat as he came bounding up to her. When he shot past her and quietly shut the door, she hoped they would pick up where they had left off.

  Leaning his head against the door, he released a pensive breath. “I don’t want you to think … I can’t imagine what you think of me.” He faced her. “We should forget about what almost happened here. Like I said before, you’re my employee and I didn’t hire you to—”

  “Nathan, if you hired me to work with Mary Poppins out there,” she thumbed the office door, “I quit.”

  “Edna can be a little trying on the nerves, but she’s a great secretary.” He wiped his hand over his brow. “You know why I hired you, but you also have to make it look good for my staff. I don’t want any rumors floating around about you or me.”

  Melinda nodded to the door. “Then perhaps you should leave that open.”

  He came toward her and gripped her hand. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m taking you back to your place. You’ve spent enough time with Edna, and I can’t concentrate when you’re in the room.”

  When he reached for the doorknob, she pulled at his hand, stopping him. “What do you mean you can’t concentrate with me in the room?”

  He opened the door, ignoring her hopeful grin. “You know what I mean.”

  When they stepped outside, Nathan let go of her hand. “Edna,” he called out. “I’m taking Melinda back to her place.”

  Edna waddled out from behind the breakfast bar with a mug in her hand. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, Melinda’s had a full morning of meetings with me, in addition to spending the afternoon with you, so I’m letting her cut out early for the day.”

  “Lucky girl.” Edna waved. “See you tomorrow, Melinda.”

  “Good-bye, Edna.” Melinda went to the sofa to retrieve her purse and briefcase.

  Nathan said nothing as he escorted her across his knotted-pine floor. She caught glimpses of his thin lips pressed into a mild grimace, and for a moment thought perhaps she had done something wrong. But once they stepped into the hall outside his penthouse doors, Nathan’s mood changed.

  “I want to thank you for today,” he commented as they headed down the hallway to her apartment.

  “You’re paying me, Nathan. You don’t have to thank me.”

  “Am I paying you enough to put up with Edna?”

  “No, I’m gonna need a lot more.”

  They both laughed and then ambled on in silence. Melinda’s nerves were fraying at the edges as she kept sneaking peeks at him. She tried to open her mind and read his thoughts, but all she could see were shadows.

  “How long have you been interested in pre-Civil War history?” she asked as they approached her door.

  “Ever since I was a teenager, I found the whole plantation-era culture appealing.”

  Melinda pulled her keys from her purse. “Really, why is that?”

  “I’ll tell you about that another time, perhaps.” Nathan cleared his throat as she placed her key in the lock. “I need to know that you understand we have to conduct ourselves in a certain manner.”

  “I understand, Nathan.” She pushed her door open and stepped inside. “I promise to be your assistant, read your friends and enemies, and block out every thought you might have about me.”

  He hovered in her doorway. “Hopefully, not every thought.”

  As Melinda explored his face, the onslaught of images began. She was naked beneath him in the walnut four-poster bed as he had her hands secured above her head and slowly traced his lips down her stomach to the valley between her legs.

  “You’re reading my thoughts, aren’t you, Melinda?”

  Melinda shook her head, scattering the visions to the wind. “Stop thinking of me in that way, Nathan. It only makes it harder for both of us.”

  He cupped her slender face. “Tell me what you saw?”

  “We were in your bed,” she replied in a shaky voice. “You were … kissing me.”

  He lowered his head to hers. “Did you like the way I was kissing you?”

  Melinda wanted to push him away, but couldn’t. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Did you like what I did to you in your visions?” he demanded, his tone harsher than before.

  She hesitated. “Yes, I liked it.”

  He lowered his lips, and right before he was about to reach her mouth, he turned his head and kissed her gingerly on the cheek. “I’ll make sure I keep having those thoughts then,” he whispered against her skin.

  Melinda vibrated with longing. Every atom of her being wanted him, and Nathan knew it.

  “Do you enjoy doing this to me, Nathan? I thought you were a gentleman.”

  When he stepped back, there was a contented smile on his lips. “How many lovers have you had, Melinda?”

  She stumbled against the door, shocked by the question. “How many…?”

  “Lovers?” he reminded her. “For some reason, I get the definite impression there haven’t been that many.”

  “Ah …” The blush rose on her cheeks. “Is that relevant to my job?”

  His smile deepened. “Absolutely.”

  She dropped her eyes to the doorknob. “Josh was my only lover. There hasn’t been anyone since he left.”

  “No one?” Nathan appeared perplexed. “Why haven’t there been any more than him? Surely, you wanted to.”

  “I’ve dated a lot of men, but I haven’t slept with them. I’m not a whore,
Nathan.”

  His smile vanished and his charismatic brown eyes narrowed on her. “Forgive me. I never meant to imply you were. I was just curious about your … experiences.”

  “Is that why you’ve been teasing me with your thoughts? Because you thought I was easy?”

  His thumb brushed against her bottom lip. “I wasn’t teasing you, Melinda. I was tempting you.”

  “It has to stop,” she pleaded, a rush of heat spreading throughout her belly.

  “I’m not going to stop.” Nathan backed out her doorway. “I’m never going to stop fantasizing about you.” He then strode toward his penthouse.

  Melinda slammed her front door closed. Never before had she known a man to purposefully torment her with his lurid thoughts. If anything, she had spent her life running away from such provocative visions and the men who had concocted them. But Melinda no longer wanted to block out such images. It was as if Nathan’s desire had awakened something raw and forbidden in her. Even Josh had not enthralled her quite like this.

  Infuriated, she threw her purse and briefcase to the floor. “I can’t take any more of this. It’s sheer torture.”

  Walking into her living room, a sliver of light from beneath the door to the storage room caught her eye. Slowly, she made her way down the hall, and when she placed her hand on the silver handle, she sensed danger coming from the other side. Pushing her instincts aside, Melinda yanked the door open.

  A white mist quickly ran from one end of the room to another. Melinda could make out long, slender legs appearing in the mist. There was no body, no arms, and no head; just legs, running across the room to the far corner.

  Run, a woman’s frightened voice said in her mind.

  Then the mist was gone, and all that was left was the hum of the fluorescent lights above.

  Rolling her eyes, Melinda flipped off the light switch and shut the door.

  “You should join forces with Nathan.” She eased the jacket from around her shoulders. “That way you can both drive me to an early grave.”

  Chapter 10

  “Ellie, he’s driving me nuts,” Melinda told her friend as they sat at a table outside the Café au Lait Coffee Shop. “I’ve gone to three meetings so far this week with him and it has been unbearable. You should see the images that keep popping into my mind about the two of us.” Melinda rested her head in her hands. “I had to leave in the middle of a meeting yesterday and go to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I kept seeing these visions of him going down—”

  Ellie held up her hands, interrupting her. “I get the idea, Melinda.”

  “Every meeting where I’m supposed to be reading the others in the room, all I can see is him. Sometimes I even glare at him to let him know I can see his thoughts, and the son of a bitch just grins at me.”

  Ellie let out a loud belly laugh. “He’s probably having the time of his life. He can think out all of his fantasies and you can see them.”

  Melinda lifted the coffee cup to her lips. “It’s not funny. I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything since I moved into his building.” She drank from her coffee.

  “He certainly has found a way to push your buttons.”

  Melinda put her coffee down. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ve never wanted any man before Nathan Cole. Look at the line of losers you’ve gone out with over the past few years. You were just passing time with them, but this man … well, he’s found a way to make you want him.”

  Melinda fingered the rim of her coffee cup. “You almost make it sound like he’s planning this.”

  Ellie tilted closer. “Isn’t he?”

  Melinda shook her head. “I told you, he wants to keep it platonic. He doesn’t want sex to interfere with my job.”

  “I think that’s exactly what he does want, kiddo. It’s almost like he’s baiting you, waiting for you to crack, so he can have you in all those ways he keeps seeing in his mind.”

  Melinda bit her lower lip, flustered. “So what should I do?”

  “Sleep with him!” Ellie shouted.

  More than a few of the other patrons of the coffee house seated outside on the sidewalk gave the woman with the shocking pink hair a bemused look.

  Melinda glared at her friend. “Are you kidding me? And lose my job?”

  Ellie reached for her coffee cup. “He’s leaving the first move up to you, Melinda, can’t you see that? Hey, some guys get off when the woman pounces first. It sounds like Nathan is doing the same thing with you.” Ellie took a sip from her coffee.

  Melinda drummed her fingers on the table, thinking. “He really does seem to be enjoying my frustration more than showing his own.”

  “Any idea when you might strike?”

  Melinda shrugged. “We’re together every day, but we’re with people most of the time. Either at meetings or in his office with his secretary Edna looking on. The only time we are alone is when he walks me back to my apartment at the end of the day, and even then he never comes inside.”

  Ellie returned her cup to its saucer. “Didn’t you say something about a party tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah, so he can talk to some socialite about his deal.”

  “Perfect.” Ellie flaunted a mischievous grin. “Tomorrow night after the party, when he escorts you home, make him come inside.”

  “Make him? How?”

  Ellie sat back in her chair, enjoying her dilemma. “Just invite him in and let nature take its course.”

  “I never thought seducing a man would be so … trying.”

  “Just think of it as a game, but you both win in the end, because you both get what you want.”

  A game? She had never considered dating men to be a game. For Melinda, the ins and outs of being with a man had always reminded her of something akin to the invasion of Normandy—terrifying, rife with booby traps, and sure to leave you shell shocked when it was over.

  Raising her head to the sky, Melinda cleared her head with a deep, calming breath. “Thanks for talking to me this morning, Ellie. I’m glad we could meet before you hit the Square.” She briefly contemplated the other patrons in the coffee house. “How is everyone there? Does anyone ask about me?”

  “Jack’s fine, Melinda,” Ellie uttered, reading her thoughts.

  “He could have at least called and asked about my new job.”

  “You know how he is. Give him time.”

  A shadow crossed in front of their table. “Is she complaining about me again?”

  Melinda jumped from her chair. “Jack!”

  Jack eyed the dark blue skirt and creamy silk shirt Melinda had on. “This isn’t you, Maddie. You can cut your hair, put on fancy clothes, and even put makeup on the right way, but you’re still not fooling anyone.”

  Melinda’s excitement evaporated into thin air. “I’m glad to see you haven’t changed.” She flopped back down in her chair.

  “Is Nathan Cole responsible for this magical transformation?”

  Melinda sneered up at him. “If you must know, Nathan’s credit card paid for the transformation, but it was Ellie who made the magic happen.” Melinda waved to Ellie across from her.

  “You have unknown talents,” Jack commented to her.

  “I used to be a woman in my youth,” Ellie remarked. “So I know a thing or two about how to dress them.”

  Jack pulled a chair away from an empty table next to them and dragged it to Melinda’s side.

  “So, do you like working for Nathan Cole?” He pointed to her clothes. “Any other fringe benefits you want to tell me about?”

  Melinda rolled her eyes. “Jack, don’t start.”

  “No, Maddie. I want to know. Are you sleeping with the boss to earn your keep?”

  “Dammit, Jack!” Ellie admonished. “I invited you here to see her, not to act like—”

  “You invited him?” Melinda snapped.

  “I had to do something to break the silence between you two,” Ellie conceded. “All he’s done for the past
two weeks is ask about you. All you ever do is ask about him. It was driving me to drink.”

  Jack faced her, hope brimming in his eyes. “You asked about me? You couldn’t pick up the phone and call me?”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Melinda debated. “I left Ellie the address and phone number, but you—”

  “Guys, please.” Ellie banged her coffee cup on its saucer. “If you can’t be civil, then go out in the middle of the street and play in traffic, so you can spare me the headache of having to listen to your constant bickering.”

  Melinda and Jack sat quietly, avoiding looking at each other.

  Ellie leaned into the table, entreating Melinda with her eyes. “I invited Jack to come and see you because he has something to—”

  Melinda’s cell phone interrupted her. Snatching her iPhone from her purse, Melinda checked the caller ID.

  “Since when can you afford a new iPhone?” Jack grilled.

  “Nathan got it for me.” She took the call. “Hello, Nathan.” Melinda turned away from Jack’s furious, hazel eyes. “Yes, I’m just leaving the coffee shop. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” She paused as she listened to the voice on the other end. “I can take a cab from Canal Street, no need to send Bob.” She smiled and added, “No, I won’t be late.”

  Jack watched as she replaced the phone in her dark blue leather handbag. “Was he checking up on you?”

  “No, he was calling to remind me not to be late for our lunch meeting.”

  “Does he call a lot?” he pestered.

  “He calls when he wants to know where I am.”

  “Why does he need to know where you are?”

  Melinda rose from her chair. “I really don’t have time for your questions, Jack. I have to get to City Hall.”

  Jack stood up beside her. “It sounds like he’s keeping you on a pretty short leash.”

  “Jack, enough,” Ellie scolded. “He’s Melinda’s boss, and he’s got a right to know if she’s going to be on time for meetings. It’s perfectly normal.”

  He glowered at Ellie. “It’s weird.”

  Melinda slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I have to go.” She nodded to Ellie. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know how it goes.” She slowly faced Jack. “It’s good to see you, Jack.”