Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(23)
Before Allison could answer, Luc’s phone rang, filling the gift shop with hard-edged music.
“Hang on,” he said, pulling the phone from his pocket. He looked as if he were bracing himself as he pressed it to his ear. “Good news or bad news?” he asked without even saying hello.
She watched in curiosity as he listened.
“Are you serious?” His eyes widened with excitement. “You checked everything?” More listening, and then he thrust a fist into the air. “Yes! That’s freaking awesome. Have you unlocked the folder? I have to see for myself.… Great, I’ll call you back.” Ending the call, he looked at Chloe. “Do you have WiFi?”
“Of course.”
“Then, oh man, would you mind if I grabbed my laptop from the car? If you have things you need to do anyway, I can get some stuff done online while you finish up.”
“Certainly. You can use the music room, if you want. We have a desk in there for guests.”
“Killer. Thanks!”
She watched as he dashed for the front door. The minute he vanished, she turned to Allison. “Well, what do you think? Is he hot or what?”
“Very,” Allison agreed, smiling in approval. “Do you have any idea what that call was about?”
“I would imagine something to do with his software company.”
“He owns a software company?” Allison raised her brows. “Impressive.”
“Well, I think so.” Chloe laughed. “How about we finish shooting these dolls?”
Her aunt’s brows snapped back down in amused disapproval at her choice of words.
“Figuratively speaking,” she added, eager to be done so she could spend time with Luc.
Chapter 7
Luc raced to his car, grabbed his computer bag, and jogged back to the inn. He came to a halt, however, when he stepped back inside and realized he didn’t know where to find the desk Chloe had mentioned. Glancing into the gift shop, he saw her standing behind a camera mounted on a tripod.
Her aunt stood nearby, ready to assist, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Chloe.
As if sensing his gaze, Chloe glanced over her shoulder and smiled. The tears had vanished, thank goodness, since crying women unnerved the heck out of him. Her smile, however, was just as unnerving. He still couldn’t believe they’d kissed last night. And whoa, what a kiss!
When he’d woken up barely an hour ago, after pulling an all-night coding marathon, he’d been even more convinced that he’d dreamed the whole thing. Yet, there she stood, an utter knockout in a tropical-colored outfit that made her tanned skin glow and her hazel eyes gleam. Even with the apron obscuring her curves, he knew what lay beneath. He’d never forget the way that body felt pressed up against his.
“Yes?” she said with just enough amusement for him to realize he was gawking.
“Um.” He pulled himself together. “You said the desk was where?”
“The music room. Here, I’ll show you.” Turning to her aunt, she added, “I’ll only be a second. Swear.”
“Chloe,” the aunt laughed, “take your time.”
As Chloe walked toward him, his body came alive.
“It’s this way,” she said, joining him in the central hall.
Leading the way toward the grand stairs, she gave him a sideways glance that held the promise of more kissing in his not-so-distant future. Heated images made his pulse quicken.
“You certainly seem excited about something.”
Startled, he wondered if she’d read his mind, then remembered the phone call. “Oh, yeah, that was Zeke, the head programmer on my team. I think we finally busted through a bug on the newest version of Vortal last night. He swears we nailed it, but I need to get online to confirm.”
“Well then, let’s get you online.”
Was there a sexual suggestion in that statement? he wondered. Man, he couldn’t think straight around her. The moment they entered the music room, the fanciful décor provided a much needed distraction.
“Wow,” he said, gaping at the high ceiling covered in frescoes of cherubs playing among peach-tinted clouds. Gold draperies flanked the tall windows, while a white, baby grand piano, embellished with gilt and more whimsical paintings, dominated one corner.
“A fitting room for an opera singer, wouldn’t you say?” Chloe asked, clearly amused by his reaction.
“No kidding.” He walked farther into the room and turned in a circle to take it all in.
“Always makes me think of Marguerite as a songbird trapped in a gilded cage,” she said with a wistful sigh.
“A what?” He pulled his gaze away from the room to look at her.
“I don’t suppose you read the Legend of Pearl Island on our website.” She ran fingertips over the curved edge of the baby grand.
“I’m afraid I only skimmed it,” he confessed, wishing now he’d paid more attention.
“Marguerite, one of our resident ghosts, agreed to marry the shipping baron who was courting her because he promised he’d buy this island and build her a grand house as a wedding gift. She wrote in her diary that it wasn’t the extravagance of the gift that seduced her into agreeing. It was the thought of having a home where she’d be safe from all the people who tried to use her.” Chloe looked at the frescoes overhead, admiration clear on her face, but the pleasure faded quickly. “The sad truth is, he built this house on a private island to keep her prisoner, locked away from anyone who might help her leave him.”