A Million Shadows

1. Endings and Beginnings-2

The weather didn’t help my mood when I arrived at Logan International Airport in Boston. My nose was stuffed up from the airplane pressure changes, and the low clouds spat a misty rain that I knew would wreck my dark hair into a cloud of frizz even if I pulled it back.

Suddenly my strategy of pretending this trip was a new triumphant beginning—well, allowing my mother to bully me into it in the first place—seemed the dumbest thing I’d ever done. Second dumbest thing. The first, of course, was letting my doctor talk me into the contaminated flu shot that gave me CLS. Okay, this would be the third dumbest thing, the second being pursuing Leo Bowman, who’d dropped me for someone less attractive but smarter.

Well, maybe the fourth…

I was so caught up in my self-recrimination, having documented at least six instances of my stupidity by the time I wheeled my small suitcase outside, that I missed the Salem shuttle by a few seconds. The next one wouldn’t be for another hour.

I cursed to myself, particularly since the rain blew sideways in hard wet drops, finding the cracks between and below the departures drive above. Just my luck, the terminal was under construction, so I’d had to walk to where there was a gap in the cover to find the shuttle. I blinked the water from my eyes, not caring if it was tears of frustration or raindrops. So what if I arrived at the coast looking like a frizzy wet rat? It wasn’t like I needed to impress anyone.

A large black car swerved to the curb and found a puddle, splashing the gray suede ankle boots I’d indulged in just before leaving Arkansas. Of course I hadn’t checked the weather. I cursed, this time not under my breath, at the driver and stepped back to inspect the damage.

Unfortunately I didn’t look behind me and bumped into something solid, which I bounced off of, twisted an ankle, and landed straight on my ass, soaking my designer jeans.

No, I wouldn’t be making a great impression on anyone soon.

“Why don’t you watch—oh, Miss Ellison. What are you doing there?”

I looked up into the hazel eyes of Jared Steel, billionaire and the man who was supposedly the world’s most eligible bachelor. At least he had held that title when I’d done business with him, but the lack of a ring on his hand told me he had likely not been snatched up yet. Plus, even in my isolation, I was pretty sure I would have heard something if he had paired off.

He held out a hand and lifted me easily to my feet. His driver picked up my bags and tossed them into the trunk of the car. I kept my purse.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked. I’d met him on a few occasions in my old life and found him to be as handsome, charming, and sexy as gossip made him out to be.

Jared gestured to me, and his mouth twitched like he tried not to smile. “Well, obviously since I’ve ruined your boots, soaked your jeans, and knocked you on your ass, I’m going to have to at least buy you dinner to make up for it all.”

“Thank you, but no.” I walked to the trunk and tried to keep the driver from closing the lid on my stuff. “I was on my way to grab a rental car. I have an important meeting on the coast.”

“Then let me take you. It will be more comfortable than driving yourself, and you can get out of your wet clothes.”

I arched an eyebrow. “I’m not interested in that kind of ride, Mr. Steel.”

His dimples showed when his lips reminded me of how his smile had always threatened my resolve to not mix business with s*x. “I meant I’ll take you to my condo first, let you change, then take you to the coast. Please let me do it to make up for this harsh welcome to Boston. I can also lend you a car while you’re here.”

“Going to your condo sounds equally suspicious.” But the water was seeping into my underwear, so his offer sounded quite tempting. All I wanted was a hot shower and a good meal. And dry undies, which would be easy to find in my little suitcase. I was thankful I’d carried on, whereas before I was missing my large wardrobe and multi-piece set of matched designer luggage.

“Don’t worry, my sister and brother are there. Cindy will make sure nothing happens to you. You can trust me.” He gave me that crooked megawatt smile that graced the covers of magazines and the front pages of websites that pretended to be about news.

Jared Steel was known to be a gentleman without even a whiff of scandal around him, but still… He might have good people for damage control.

Meanwhile, an uncomfortable chill, damp sensation was creeping up my ass crack. My mother always said that wet underwear muddles a girl’s thinking. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t talking about rainwater, but…

“Thank you,” I said and tried to seem my old haughty self. “I’ll take you up on that offer to grab a quick shower and to change clothes.”