Dara Girard - Secret Paradise

“Look!”

Nikki turned and saw a massive form appear out of the cave—a head first, then gigantic forearms covered with muck and mud. Nikki gasped, remembering a horror film she’d once seen as a child about a swamp creature that had terrified a town. She knew he was a man, but he didn’t look like one. He resembled some dark creature of brutish strength rising from the underworld. He had a large gash, with a thin stream of blood running from it, on the side of his head, and his cream shirt and dark trousers were soaking wet. But there was still something captivating about him that kept her gaze transfixed. He rested on his knees and reached inside his shirt and pulled out a little object. It looked like a drowned rat, but Nikki guessed it was Pauline. It lay lifeless on the ground.

“Poor thing,” Kontos said with a sad shake of his head.

Callia cried out in despair and escaped his reassuring grasp. She pushed through the crowd and fell on her knees beside the body. “She killed her.”

The other man silently picked up the kitten and blew into its mouth and nose and pumped its chest. It gasped, then threw up water, but remained limp in his large hands. The man began to rub it.

“What the hell is he doing?” Kontos said.

Nikki knew, but she also knew that his hands were too large to perform the delicate task. She pushed through the small crowd and took the kitten from him. She didn’t know if he spoke English or not, but she didn’t feel in the mood to explain herself. She knelt in front of him and rubbed the kitten, then shook it up and down. Come on, she silently prayed, hoping that she was doing it right. She’d once seen Monica’s friend Treena, a veterinarian, do this on a runt puppy. Slowly she felt life returning, and the kitten opened its eyes and released a weak cry.

“You saved her!” Callia said, giving Nikki a quick hug. She kissed the other man on the cheek, took an offered towel and wrapped the kitten, then raced away. Kontos handed the man the wooden cane.

The man turned to Nikki. “Thanks for all your help,” he said softly. He had ruggedly handsome features, ink-black hair, compelling green eyes, a hard mouth, and slowly a realization surfaced. Yes, this was the type of man who would stay in the shadows, who would shy away from photographs. His commanding stance was a clear indication that he was a man of power, used to having people follow his orders. She saw scars on his arm and another on his neck. This must be Lucian.

Nikki stared at him, knowing she should say something, but unable to get her lips to move. This was the man her sister had spoken about in such glowing terms? It had been a strange first encounter. Even though she couldn’t speak, she forced her mouth into a smile.

That effort caught his attention and his piercing emerald eyes turned to her. “You must be the goddess Artemis,” he said, his beautifully accented voice now taking on a husky tone. “You’ve made a young girl very happy. I know that it’s customary to worship at your feet, but please allow me this one little exception.” He drew her close and kissed her.

Nikki was too surprised to protest and expected to be disgusted by his bold action, but she wasn’t. His mouth, which she’d only seconds ago thought hard, was as supple and sweet as melted caramel. Then, too soon, it was over, and he drew away, leaving her lips warm and tingling.

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes blazing. “I’ll make sure to get you a new uniform.”

Nikki blinked. Her voice hoarse, she said, “Uniform?”

“Yes, your clothes are ruined.”

Nikki glanced down at her blouse and skirt, which were covered in mud and muck. “Oh, that’s okay. It was all for a good cause.”

He stiffened, surprised. “You’re American?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you might be—” He stopped and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Maybe I should make some introductions,” the other man she’d mistaken for Lucian said, amused. “I’m Basilio, Lucian’s brother.”

Lucian kept his gaze on her. “It’s rare to have an American working here.” He shrugged. “But the economy is so bad, people get work where they can. Where are you staying?”

“Here,” Nikki said.

“On the island?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

She gestured to the mansion. “At the house.”

He rested a hand on his chest. “My house?”

“Yes.”

He tilted his head to the side. “I thought I’d seen you before. There’s something familiar about you. We must have met in passing?”

“No, but you met my sister, Monica Rozan.”

His face split into a warm smile. “Yes, that’s it. I see the resemblance.”

“Few people do.”

“Then they are blind.”

Nikki blushed and looked away.

“What brings you to the island?”

Basilio broke in. “Why don’t you get changed first, then talk?”

Nikki frowned. “I came because of you.”

Lucian raised a dark eyebrow. “Me?”

Basilio shivered. “Don’t you think it’s gotten a little chilly? We should go inside.”

Nikki ignored him. “Yes, to design a few rooms for you.”

Lucian sent his brother a hooded glance. “Yes, the rooms,” he said in an odd tone, the warmth in his gaze swiftly disappearing. “I’d forgotten about them. Let me change. Then we’ll talk. Excuse me.” He walked away.

Nikki felt her heart sinking as she watched him go. “He didn’t know I was coming.”

“No,” Basilio said quickly, keeping his voice light. “As he said, he just forgot.”

“He’s not the type of man to forget anything. He didn’t expect me to be here.” She turned to Basilio. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about it. He’ll get used to the idea.”

“So you’re behind this?”

“Well, your sister thought—”

“My sister, too?”

“Nikki, please give this a chance. He needs your help. He just needs a little convincing, that’s all. With you here, it will be a lot easier.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Ready to go home?”

She knew it was a challenge—a dare. Was she brave enough to stay? Nikki thought about her office. Before she’d left New York, her office had been restored, she’d received a glowing report from the mistresses on their new place, she’d cleared her schedule for the next three months and she’d left Benjamin, who still expected a solid answer. No, she didn’t want to go back to her old life. At least not just yet.

She drew her shoulders back and lifted her chin. “I want to stay. Let me show you how persuasive I can be.”

Basilio smiled. “A woman after my own heart.” He took her elbow. “Come on. Let me walk you back to the house.”

She turned and saw a black animal jump from one tree to another. She stepped back.

“Oh, don’t mind him,” Basilio said gently, nudging her forward. “That’s just Lethe, Lucian’s cat.”

“Wasn’t Lethe the river of forgetfulness in a myth?”

“Yes, that’s my brother’s strange sense of humor. There are many things he would like to forget.”

Nikki glanced up at the golden eyes, which seemed to be following them.

“Don’t worry. He rarely attacks.”

Rarely didn’t mean never. Nikki picked up her pace and changed the subject. “What did Callia mean when she was talking about ghosts?”

Basilio shook his head. “It’s all her imagination. Pay no attention to her. She hasn’t been the same since the fire. She sees things that aren’t there. That’s why Lucian hired Kay to stay with her.”

Nikki nodded, not knowing what else to say. If it was all just Callia’s imagination, why did Kay seem so on edge? But that wasn’t her problem. She was here to redesign the house and nothing else.