Dangerous Destiny: Romance with BITE (League of Guardians Book 1) Page 6

  When Carolyn gave her a wary look, she chuckled. “Trust me. What I have in mind will knock your man’s socks off.”

  Carolyn frowned. How did this woman know about Darius? “My man?”

  “Sweetie, we all know about you and the boss. The way he was barking orders this morning, there was no missing it. That vampire has staked his claim on you. Besides, I can see his mark on your neck. It’s quite faint but there. It looks good on you, by the way.”

  Carolyn gaped at Vera. She didn’t know what to say to that.

  “Go on now. I’ll be in with your costume in two shakes.”

  Carolyn lurched to her feet from the dressing room settee when Vera rushed in. That woman could give a hurricane a run for its money. She only knew it was Vera because of the gray hair that stuck up in disarray above the stack in her arms. She couldn’t even see Vera’s eyes for the pile of black fabric, wig, and high heels. It was surprising the woman didn’t run into a wall. The most frightening of all was the wig on top seemed to be the majority of the heap.

  Vera helped her wiggle into what she now realized was an Elvira costume. She smoothed a hand down the silkiness of the body-hugging gown. It was soft under her fingertips, like silk or expensive satin. The extreme expanse of naked skin down the front made her blush all over again.

  The dress definitely walked a thin line between jail time for indecent exposure and effectively covering all of her private parts. The dang neckline plunged to her navel, and the skirt was slit clear to her hip. How was she supposed to wear underwear with this thing? Hell. The wig covered more of her assets than the stretchy black dress ever would.

  Scrunching up her face, she turned to look into the three-way mirror expecting a train wreck…. Daaammmnn, she looked freaking good if she had to say so herself.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jeff gathered Carolyn’s purchases from the cashier and walked with her out the door. “Where to now?”

  She checked the time and grinned. “The spa.”

  “Nice. My girl loves our spa.” He laughed softly as he led the way. “Thank God I get an employee discount, or I’d be broke.”

  “Wow. That’s a nice perk. I wish my employer offered things like that.”

  “Darius is the best.” He held the door open for her, then followed her to the spa’s reception desk. “I’ll keep your things with me. Call when you’re done, and I’ll escort you to your next appointment.”

  “Thank you, Jeff. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” She waved as he left and turned to the woman behind the counter. “Hi. I’m Carolyn Soucek. I have an appointment.”

  “Good morning, Miss Soucek. My name is Julie. I have you scheduled for a massage, leg waxing, mani/pedis, and then a facial before your makeup is done. Did I miss anything?”

  “That sounds like everything. Lunch is provided as well, right?”

  “Yes. I’ve ordered the salad you wanted to be brought in from our restaurant here in in the hotel. Melanie is preparing the massage room, would you like something to drink while you wait?”

  “May I have a bottle of water?”

  “Absolutely, I’ll be right back.”

  Left to her own devices, she checked out the front lobby. The smoky blue walls were very calming, and the gurgling water features, burning candles, and Zen music created a relaxing atmosphere. She took a seat in a leather chair and closed her eyes. She would love a room like this in her place.

  Julie returned with a cut crystal glass of water that was infused with fresh berries and orange slices. “Here you go. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  Carolyn accepted the glass using two fingers. The odds were good she wouldn’t crush it that way. “No, thank you.” She took a sip and gave Julie a smile. “This is wonderful.”

  “We pride ourselves on healthy, yet flavorful beverages.”

  A few minutes later, Carolyn looked up as someone came into the room.

  “Miss Soucek? I’m Melanie, I’ll be your masseuse today,” the woman said softly.

  “Hello. Please call me Carolyn, Miss Soucek makes me feel like a kindergarten teacher.”

  Melanie laughed. “Carolyn it is.”

  She followed Melanie into a small, darkened room with a table in the middle. A Himalayan salt lamp glowing in the corner provided the only light source. From somewhere the sounds of rainfall and frogs croaking played softly. All in all, the room was warm and inviting.

  “Undressed as much as you’re comfortable with. You can keep your panties on if you prefer. Then lay face up on the table and under the sheet. I’ll give you a few minutes.”

  Carolyn had no problem with nudity when it came to other women, so she stripped to her birthday suit. She laid face up on the table and moaned. The bed was warmed and seemed to invite the occupant to take a nap.

  A soft knock preceded Melanie’s return. “Are you ready?”

  “Mmm,” was her response.

  Melanie chuckled softly. “I get that a lot.” Wet squishy sounds joined the frogs as she coated her hands in oil. “I’m going to start with your hands and arms. Then I’ll have you flip over. Let me know if you want me to use more or less pressure.”

  When it came time to flip over, Melanie started at Carolyn’s shoulders, working out knots that she didn’t even know she had. For a small woman, Melanie had the strength of a man in her fingers. The scented oil was warm and penetrated into her muscles like melted butter on toast. Heaven. She’d gone to heaven.

  After the hour-long full body massage, Carolyn was more relaxed than she had thought possible. Why hadn’t she done that before? Weekly massages were definitely required from now on. Who knew having a stranger’s hands all over her body could be pure bliss?

  When she was done, Melanie pulled the sheet over Carolyn’s body and rubbed her back to absorb any excess oils. “Your wax is next. I’ve hung a robe on the hook for you to wear. Take your time getting up. I’ll meet you outside with a glass of water. You need to hydrate well after a massage.”

  Carolyn had never felt such pain in her life. As another strip ripped the hair from her leg, she grit her teeth to hold back a shriek. How did women endure waxing delicate areas? One strip even close to down there, and her blood-curdling screams would’ve brought Jeff running.

  Shaving. Shaving was good. She couldn’t stop the process halfway through, but she would never wax any part of her body ever again.

  Fifteen minutes later, she met Julie in a little kitchen area where they had a glass of water and her salad waiting for her. “Thank you. This looks yummy.”

  “You’re welcome. Take your time. When you’re finished come back to the front desk, and I’ll take you to have your mani/pedi.”

  “Okay. I won’t be long.” In truth, she was starving and would more than likely inhale the salad. She forked a slice of strawberry into her mouth as she rubbed her tortured legs. There was nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned razor when one was needed. And in the colder months, she didn’t exactly keep her leg hair fashionably shaved anyway. Her motto was if it couldn’t be braided, there’s no need to worry about it.

  When Carolyn walked into the main lobby area, Julie smiled so brightly she lit up the room.

  “Are you ready for more pampering?” Julie gestured for her to take a seat at a pedicure station.

  “Yes. After the waxing, I need something soothing.” She suppressed a shiver at the memory.

  Julie winked at her and whispered, “Don’t tell anyone, but I don’t care for waxing either.”

  Carolyn slipped off the slippers the spa provided with the robe and dipped a toe into the water. Mmm, nice and warm. Her soles thanked her when she rubbed them across the rocks in the basin.

  A door opened across the room, and a woman with long black hair emerged. Carolyn wasn’t surprised when she sat down on the low rolling stool at her feet. “Hello, I’m Mina.”

  “Hi. I’m Carolyn.” She closed her eyes and breathed out a sigh when Mina took her left foot from the water and mass
aged the arch. “Ahh. That’s amazing.”

  “I bet. You have a lot of tension in your feet. What are you worried about?”

  “Nothing,” Carolyn denied. She wasn’t about to get into witch hunters with a stranger.

  Mina made a harrumphing noise but didn’t push for information.

  “Mmm, that feels fantastic,” Carolyn purred when Mina pressed the pressure point connected to her calf.

  She picked up the other foot and paused. “Are you having your hair and makeup done, too?”

  “Just my makeup. I’ll be wearing a wig with my costume tonight.”

  She nodded and then spoke again, “I foresee a hot date in your future.” A slight frown pinched her features, but she didn’t elaborate on why.

  Carolyn wasn’t sure why, but her behavior was unsettling. “You’re right. I’ll be with Darius tonight.”

  “Good. That’s good,” Mina murmured.

  They didn’t speak again until she was finished. Carolyn couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you reading me?”

  Mina winked and stood to move to the next station. “I don’t read others on purpose, but sometimes information is given to me, and I feel obliged to pass it on.”

  She followed Mina over to the manicure table thinking over what she said.

  As she took the chair on the other side of the table, Carolyn wiggled her fingers. “I’m excited to get my nails done. I haven’t had a manicure in ages.”

  Mina adjusted the light over her hands. She filed away. Every once in a while she turned Carolyn’s hand over and frowned.

  Finally, Carolyn blurted, “What?”

  Mina shook her head. “Don’t ask things you may not want to know. Sometimes readings don’t go the way you want them to.”

  “That’s true, but I have a feeling I should hear what you have to say.”

  Mina sighed heavily. “You’re keeping a secret that could get you killed. Be very aware of your surroundings tonight. Evil lurks near and means you harm.”

  She glanced up, and then returned to filing and buffing.

  “I know about that. Darius has taken steps to ensure my safety, so I think I’ll be fine.”

  Mina nodded. “That’s true, but he can’t be in two places at once. Whatever you do, stay out of the shadows.”

  “All right, I can do that.”

  Mina gave her a weak smile. “Good. Now, what color polish would you like?”

  “Red. I’m going as Elvira tonight.”

  That brought a real smile to Mina’s face. “Excellent. You’ll be a knockout.”

  When Mina finished, Carolyn wiggled her fingers again, admiring the flash of color. “That’s the perfect color of red! When I do my nails at home, they never turn out this good.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad you like them. Time for a facial and your makeup and then you’ll be ready for your date.”

  Carolyn leaned back in the beauty chair as yet another woman gave her a facial. She smiled as her mind replayed the night before. To be the center of Darius’s attention made her feel gorgeous and loved. She basked in the memories while the technician exfoliated her face.

  When the woman finished, she smiled at Carolyn and gave her a thumbs up. “What are we doing with your makeup?”

  “Do you know Elvira from that old late night show?”

  “Yes.”

  “I need to be made up like her.”

  The woman clapped her hands and gathered supplies. “This is going to be fun.”

  Carolyn laughed at her excitement.

  Twenty minutes later she looked at herself in the mirror and gasped. “I look amazing! Girl, you have mad talent.”

  The technician grinned. “Thank you. I enjoy my work. When I can do makeup like yours, I feel like I’m creating art.”

  “I appreciate your talent, but frankly I think you’re being wasted here. You should be painting masterpieces.”

  The lady shrugged. “Oh, I do that too, but this pays the bills.”

  Carolyn slipped her a tip and rose from the chair. “I can understand that. Thank you again.”

  “You’re welcome. Have fun tonight.”

  Carolyn went to the front to pay for her spa day and called Jeff. “I’m ready.”

  “Great. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  *****

  Security guards certainly are useful. Carolyn thought as they rode the elevator to her floor. “Thank you so much for helping me get all of this to my room.”

  Jeff gave her a friendly wink. “You’re welcome, Ma’am. I’m looking forward to seeing Darius’s face when you show up in this tonight.”

  “You’ll be there tonight?”

  “I never miss it. The Halloween Ball is the event of the year at the hotel. I’m working security for the first hour, and then I’m free to enjoy the party.”

  “Great! Now I’ll know two people at the party. I hate not knowing anyone.”

  “I’m bringing my girlfriend, and I’ll be sure to say hello when I see you and introduce the two of you.”

  “That’s even better. I’ll have another woman to talk to.”

  They were a few feet from Carolyn’s door when Jeff grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held a finger to her lips and tipped his head toward the door.

  “Oh my God,” she mouthed. Her door was ajar.

  Jeff motioned for her to stay where she was and sat the packages on the floor. Silently, he pulled his gun from his shoulder holster and edged along the wall until he could peer in through the crack in the door. As quietly as possible, he opened the door farther all while staying to the side with his gun at the ready.

  When he disappeared inside, she held her breath. She expected to hear a scuffle, perhaps shouting, even a gunshot or two. Silence reigned. Seconds felt like hours. The suspense and fear for Jeff’s safety increased until she was ready to rush in after him.

  She expelled her breath and sagged against the wall when he stepped out again.

  “Whoever it was, is gone. I’m sorry to say they left quite a mess behind.” He scooped up her bags and continued his report. “I called the police. They will be here in a few minutes. You’ll have to stay out here or return to the lobby until they complete their crime scene investigation.”

  “I think I’ll stay here in case they have questions. I may need to look the room over. There might be things missing.”

  “That’s a good plan. While they do their thing, I’ll review the security feed. When the police are done do you want to stay in the room or would you like me to move you to another?”

  “I think I’d like another. I won’t sleep a wink in that room. Every little sound will scare the daylights out of me.”

  “Another good plan. I’ll have reservations assign you a room and make sure housekeeping has it ready for you.”

  “Thank you, Jeff. I appreciate it.”

  *****

  Two hours later, she was finally allowed to see what had become of her belongings.

  “Miss Soucek, if you would join us in your room, I would like you to take a look around and tell me if anything is missing,” Lieutenant Hurley requested.

  Systematically, she opened drawers and checked the bathroom. Lastly, she looked inside the safe. She was shocked to see her cash and credit cards still neatly piled where she’d left them.

  “Everything seems to be here as well as something extra,” she said, still staring into the open safe.

  Lieutenant Hurley joined her to peer inside without disturbing the contents. “What do you mean?”

  “That.” She pointed at a tiny clear bottle. It looked suspiciously like a liquor bottle you get on an airplane. “What’s in it?”

  The Lieutenant took the bottle and carefully unscrewed the cap. He glanced at his partner and then took a delicate sniff of the contents. He frowned and sniffed deeper. “I’ll have it tested, but it appears to be water.”

  She stared at the clear liquid and then the officer. “Why would an intr
uder break in here to leave a bottle of water?”

  Hurley’s partner shrugged. “Who knows why criminals do what they do. Half of the time their crimes make no sense at all.”

  Hurley frowned at the evidence. “It could be some kind of warning. But of what? I have no idea.”

  “What’s that on the outside of the bottle,” the other officer asked.

  Hurley turned it around to see what he meant. Scratching into the glass was what looked like a cross. “It looks like they took something sharp and scratched a crucifix on it.”

  The other man nodded. “This close to Halloween, it might be occult related. A religious nut who’s left the reservation so to speak. I’ll check the local and national database to see if there are any reports of holy water left at the scene of a crime.”

  Hurley turned back to Carolyn. “At this point, we don’t have much to go on. The room was wiped clean of prints, so unless Jeff gets something from the security camera, there’s nothing we can do. This person may be crazy enough to come back. For your safety, I suggest that you take another room.”

  “That’s already taken care of. The front desk brought me a key to another room while you were checking this one. All I need to do is pack my things. Am I allowed to do that, or are my belongings evidence?”

  Lieutenant Hurley held out a business card. “There’s no need to take your belongings. If you find anything strange while you’re packing, please don’t touch it. Give me a call, and I’ll take it into evidence.”

  “Thank you.”

  As the men left the room, Hurley turned back. “Please be careful, Miss Soucek. We don’t know what this person wants or how dangerous he is. Don’t take any unnecessary chances.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Carolyn waited until the door closed and then rushed to throw the deadbolt and flip the security bar. Taking a deep breath, she got started. She couldn’t get out of that room fast enough. Scooping up the cash and cards, she emptied the safe and closed it. In no time she had all of her clothes in the suitcase and headed for the bathroom.