Marie Harte - Below the Surface

The minute her eyes met those of her boss, the large man nodded and waved goodnight. He turned slowly, as if to prove he was no threat, and closed himself in his office.

Marcus took a step from Tessa, intent on having it out with Chase here and now, when Tessa grabbed him by the arm and clung like a burr.

“Oh no you don’t, Marcus. It’s not Jonas. I know it’s not.”

“Why’s that? Because you like it when he touches you?” he asked coolly, unaccountably angry she defended her boss when he could feel the truth pulsing within him. Jonas Chase was dangerous, period. Why he hadn’t seen that before he didn’t yet know.

“No, because you’re blinded by jealousy,” she said plainly, taking the bluster out of his rage. “Like I was when I heard you had a meeting with Sheila Covington this morning. Funny, you didn’t mention that part of your schedule last night at dinner.”

Suddenly the threat to his well-being came not from Jonas Chase, but from the deceptively calm redhead eyeing him like a male she’d like to neuter.

“Covington, right.” He took hold of her elbow and dragged her to the elevator. How the hell had he forgotten something so important as what had happened this morning? This was one conversation they definitely needed to have in private.

Tessa slammed the main door to the house shut and followed Marcus’ stiff back through the foyer to the kitchen—the source of the wonderful, if distracting smells that made her stomach growl. “Marcus, if you don’t tell me what I want to know in the next five seconds, you can forget about ever sitting comfortably again, because my foot will be so far up your ass—”

“Tessa, Marcus, glad you finally pried yourselves away from the office,” Cadmus interrupted with a large, toothy grin.

“Just in time for machia .” Aerolus watched them from the stove, his grey eyes unblinking.

Distracted by food and irritated because she knew Aerolus intended the diversion, she muttered, “What the hell’s machia ?”

“A traditional dish in Tanselm. It’s perfect on a day like today.” Cadmus fetched them plates of the thick, aromatic stew.

Shelving a glare for Marcus, she took a reluctant bite, then another. “Wow, Aerolus, I can’t believe you made this. Did you, you know?” She wiggled her fingers.

“No magic, Tessa. I made it from scratch, allowing for the difference in vegetation between my world and this one.” He nodded to her. “You like it?”

“It’s about the only thing saving me from choking the life out of your brother.” She continued to eat, amazed at her hunger. And the more she ate, the better she felt.

She glanced up to see the others eating as ravenously as she was. “Hey, Cadmus.” She stared at him in confusion. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

He shrugged. “I’m taking a sick day.”

Marcus stopped eating and stared at his brother. “Darius never took a sick day. And you’re not sick, at least not physically.”

“No, I’m a regular nutcase.”

Tessa stared in concern. For once the jovial Cadmus sounded strained and not at all easygoing.

“Cadmus.” Aerolus stared at his brother and shook his head. “I can’t help if you won’t let me.”

“Hey, this isn’t about me. It’s about Marcus.” Cadmus pointed a finger. “He knows exactly who set Tessa up and why, but he’s too afraid to tell her.”

Tessa blinked in amazement, riveted to Cadmus who resumed eating as if nothing had been said. “Say that again.”

“He’s too afraid—”

“No, you idiot.” Marcus’ gaze narrowed, his next words like ice. “She wants to know what Sheila Covington did. And if you already knew that, why didn’t you mention it before now?”

Aerolus appeared to track the conversation, but Cadmus and Marcus were giving Tessa a headache. “Would someone please explain this to me?” Her voice rose and a flash of energy flooded the room.

She flushed at losing control, aware she’d siphoned energy not just from Marcus, but from his brothers as well. Instead of the usual accompaniment of psychic skills, however, she absorbed only pure energy, releasing the backwash she couldn’t contain into the room.

“Nice,” Aerolus said as he stared around them at something only he could see. “You’ve adapted to our elemental natures remarkably fast.”

“That’s elemental power?” she asked, somewhat dazed. But the discussion between Marcus and Cadmus reminded her to stay focused. “No, no, don’t answer that. No more questions. Marcus, I want answers. Now.”

He shrugged and his face took on an imperious cast, making her grit her teeth. Whenever he grew overly arrogant, it was a sign of his unease. And his tension set her on edge.

“Sheila requested a meeting with me late yesterday, and I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to worry you.”

“He didn’t want to make you more jealous than you are now,” Cadmus corrected.

She fumed but didn’t correct him. Why bother hiding from the truth at this point?

Marcus shot him an irritated scowl and returned his attention to Tessa. “That’s not exactly true.” He looked uncomfortable and glared at his brothers several times. When they showed no signs of leaving, he cursed, making Tessa want to grin despite her upset with his hesitation.

“Sheila Covington is unbalanced. The woman lied about sleeping with me to everyone at the office. She fixated on me, for some reason.”

Tessa stared in amazement. “For some reason?” She eyed him up and down, giving no question as to what the woman found alluring.

His eyes glinted and he gave her a heated glance. “Obviously she’s enthralled by my good looks and killer body.” He pulled off the conceit naturally, and for some odd reason his snottiness only added to his allure. “And I am known for certain other…talents. In one particular area I’ve never had any complaints.” His eyes laughed at her knowingly. “But marriage?”

His arrogance faded when he realised how he must sound to Tessa, like the commitment-phobic playboy she’d once thought him to be. Instead of being bothered by his objection, however, she was amused. She understood his point. Hell, she wouldn’t want to be married to Sheila Covington either. The woman had looks but was a complete shrew.

Tessa wanted to laugh at Marcus’ discomfort as he eyed her warily. Was she now supposed to jump on the bandwagon and demand he marry her? Ha. Tessa Sheridan didn’t grovel. Period. When she was through with Marcus, he’d be begging to propose.

“As I said, the woman is unbalanced,” he grumbled and dug into his food.

“Crazier than a shiiman eating worms.” Cadmus nodded, scooping another bowl of machia .

“Not that I know what you’re talking about, but I get the gist.” She turned to Marcus. “So she’s into you. Why come after me?”

“Apparently rumours have been flying that you and Marcus have been engaged in a secret affair for weeks,” Cadmus explained with relish, his previous bad mood gone. “Nice work, bro.”

Marcus ignored his brother’s thumbs up, and Tessa barely managed to avoid giving Cadmus her own hand gesture. “It’s not funny,” she snapped at him, incensed when his grin only widened. “This is my reputation we’re talking about. I don’t suppose you know who started the rumour?”

Cadmus shrugged and Marcus shook his head. “Tessa, before Chase put you to work with me I only knew you as the leggy redhead all the men fantasised about.”

All the men…fantasised? She blushed. He had to be kidding.

Marcus frowned. “Just yesterday I put my fist in Davis’ face for—”

“You did what?” She stared in amazement. “What happened?”