Page 20 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

VANESSA

I didn’t drive my car because it had a good parking spot in the residents-only area.

Finding a parking spot close to my apartment was rare, so I avoided using the car unless it was for grocery shopping or big art supplies.

I usually had my large canvases delivered because my silver Honda Civic wouldn’t fit large canvases.

Across the street, an old couple prepared for the oncoming bus. I rushed over, got on, paid, and sat across from the loving couple. Three other people occupied the back of the bus.

His wife appeared more fragile than him.

“Do you want soup? It’s your day, Martha. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Martha leaned into him. “I’m just happy to be out of the hospital.”

He took her hand. “You’re healthy now. So we need to celebrate.” Then he kissed her on the head.

Would I ever find someone who loved me like that? I wished my mom could experience this love too. For some strange reason, I imagined Attikus treating me with love and care like this old man. Could he be that caring?

Why? He’s only your fake husband.

I didn’t know why the thought came into my head.

It brought me back to the contract. The no-sex thing was to protect myself from doing something I might regret.

That provocative dream of him had set my body ablaze all day.

If only he could see my nerves or how wet my panties had been from remembering that dream, he’d probably think twice about having me in his home.

The dream was powerful. Even now, my body shivered from remembering his touch.

Having the fine print to state the boundaries would protect both him and me.

When the bus stopped, I got up and smiled at the couple. “You make a lovely couple. I wish you great health and happiness.”

Martha and her husband beamed and wished the same for me. I just made their evening better by offering them kindness. Those priceless gestures were rare these days.

I walked into Elegant Cosmetics, which wasn’t too busy. Three other customers were in the shop. A sales associate adjusted a sign that promoted a discount on a new makeup product.

I spotted Theabehind the counter, wearing the black uniform with the shop’s name on it. She had light brown hair and a pretty face.

I walked up to her and smiled. “Hello. I see you have new makeup.”

“Yes, we do.” She beamed, looking like her brother. “These are all organic. I’m wearing the foundation and eyeshadow. Do you want to try it?”

“Sure.” I slid onto the stool. “I only have a little makeup on.”

“You have nice skin.” She cleaned my face with gentle aloe wipes and added a toner.

“You look familiar,” I said as she tested a foundation.

She paused and studied me. “I don’t know you.”

I tapped my head. “Yes, I remember you now. Emmanuel showed me pictures of you and him. We dated for a short time.”

Fear splashed onto her face, and she whispered, “I don’t want any trouble.”

Surprised by her response, I said, “I’m not here to hurt you. Emmanuel was good to me when we first started dating, but then he changed. Now, I don’t even recognize his character.”

Sadness stirred in her eyes. “I know.”

“Did something happen to him?”

She bit her lip, ignored my question, and added foundation to my face. “This suits your skin tone perfectly.”

“He’s been threatening me,” I said. “But I don’t understand why.”

She arched her brow. “What do you mean?”

I gave her a brief account of his blackmail but kept out the part where I’d already paid him some money.

Thea glanced around, making sure no one was nearby. “Some powerful people did something to him. He’s not the same person anymore.” Tears brimmed in her eyes. “He told me to stay away from him because they’ll hurt me.”

Was Emmanuel being blackmailed too?

“Who’s blackmailing him?”

She looked at me, and I could tell she was weighing how much to trust me.

“I don’t want to hurt Emmanuel. Someone is forcing him to hurt me. I want it to stop. What if these people are forcing him to hurt others? Those people might not be as considerate as me. What if they retaliate with violence?”

Understanding flashed in her eyes. “I don’t know who they are. He called me from the hospital one day, and I took him home. But from that day on, he acted differently.”

“Did he say why he was in the hospital?”

She shook her head. “He wouldn’t tell me. He said it was best I didn’t know.”

My intuition was right. Something had happened to Emmanuel. What did they have on him? How did these people know about the event in the alleyway?

I looked in the mirror, loving the makeup Thea had used on me. “I love the casual, yet elegant look. What’s the eyeshadow color?”

“Lavender pink.” She smiled. “It looks great on you. You have naturally long lashes. You don’t need extensions.”

I loved my lashes, but since I worked in my art studio most of the time, I didn’t wear makeup unless I had to go out.

“Thank you. I’ll take everything you used on me,” I said, slipping a tip into her pocket.

“Oh, no. It’s okay. We let the customers try new makeup all the time.”

“I know. But you did an exceptional job. And thank you for the chat.” I leaned in. “I’ll try my best to find these bad men. If you remember anything important, call me, okay?” I wrote my number on a perfume card.

“Thank you.” She wrote down her number. “This is mine. When you find them, can you let me know? I’ll contact Emmanuel again.”

“Let’s keep this conversation between us, okay?”

She nodded.

Stepping out of the shop, I inhaled the fresh air.

I’d missed the bus, so I walked to the strip mall.

I strode by a jewelry shop and clothing boutique before stopping in front of a bakery.

A customer walked out, and the sweet scent from the store snuck into my nose.

I walked in and bought a brownie and a large chocolate chip cookie.

I had a weakness for sweets when I was overwhelmed.

They were like remedies to fill a void that couldn’t be filled.

I needed something to comfort me.

As I paid and headed out, I noticed a man sitting at a table with the redheaded woman I’d seen on Emmanuel’s social media post, but I didn’t recognize the man.

Nerves stirred in my stomach as I walked to a table behind them and nibbled my brownie.

I took out my earbuds from my purse and pretended to watch something on my phone while listening to them.

“You need to make him do it, Becca,” said the man.

“I’ve tried.” She sipped her drink. “He’s stubborn.”

“Give him another shot.”

Her jaw tensed. “Enzo, he’s already on edge.”

The man shrugged. “I don’t give a shit.”

His phone rang, and he glanced at it. “We have to go.” He rose, and the woman did the same.

I slid my brownie into the paper bag and left too.

Outside, he spoke on the phone while walking down the street. I couldn’t hear his conversation over the loud traffic.

Someone yanked my arm, and before I knew it, I was flush against the wall of a brick building. My heart raced as I looked into Attikus’s intense eyes.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

His body pressed into mine, and my earlier nerves were now replaced with something entirely different.

“Saving you.”

“What do you mean? I was just?—”

His lips landed on mine, angry and hungry. I was confused and aroused at the same time. I kissed him back with the same intensity. He tasted so good, better than the brownie. I wanted more.

But he drew back, grabbed my hand, and led me to his car, which was illegally parked in the no-parking zone. He opened the passenger door, ushering me in. I looked around for the couple, but they had already disappeared.

He dropped his cane onto the back seat before sliding behind the wheel. I looked at him. Oh, he was pissed. What happened? Why was he here?

I wanted to ask those questions, but I needed my heart rate to slow down first. I licked my lips, remembering the kiss. It was even better than the dream. This wasn’t good.

He drove in silence, and I stared out the window. Sexual tension throbbed in the car, but neither of us said anything. He waited for a vehicle to leave and slid into a parking spot behind my car.

“I’ll walk you up.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you don’t understand the danger around you.” He flicked me a look that sent a zing down my spine. “Besides, it’s only natural that I get to see where my fiancée lives, right?”

He licked his bottom lip and swallowed as though remembering our kiss from earlier.

“Fine. Just so you know. It’s not a fancy mansion like your house.”

We got out, walked into the building, and headed up in the elevator. He looked around as though surveying for threats.

“I think we’re safe,” I said, unlocking the door.

“I love your positive outlook, but you placed yourself in danger today. I didn’t like it.” He stepped in, closed the door, and locked it. He stared at the lock for a moment. “You need a better lock.”

I rolled my eyes, but he didn’t see it. “I’ve lived here for a long time. It’s safe. Plus, I’m moving in with you. I’m not wasting money buying a lock for an empty apartment.”

Our eyes connected, and he knew I was right.

Dropping the topic, Attikus leanedhis cane against the wall near my shoe rack and walked around my apartment. “It’s a quaint apartment.”

I didn’t know why, but embarrassment flushed through me.

He was the first wealthy man to enter my one-bedroom apartment.

I had an old but comfy couch in the living room with casual furniture.

None of these things measured up to his fancy mansion or wherever he lived.

Usually, I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of me, but I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t worthy of being his fake wife.

What was wrong with me?

I placed my purse and the bag of pastries on the counter.

“Would you like anything to drink?” I walked over to the refrigerator.

“No, thank you.” He ambled over to my rack of plants and picked up my largest terrarium. “This is cool. Looks like a little world.”

I gulped down cold water, hoping it would settle the nerves still ringing inside me. Was I the only one affected by that contact? He seemed like he’d already forgotten about it.

“Where did you get this terrarium?” He returned it to its spot.

“I made it.” I placed my glass of water on the counter.

As I walked past him,he grabbed my hand and ushered me against the wall. His body was flush with mine. Heat throbbed between us.

“You’re very talented. How about I commission you to create a terrarium for my office,” he said, looking down at me.

The heat from earlier returned, stronger and more palpable. This relationship was becoming more and more confusing each day. And we weren’t even married yet. What kind of chaos would our relationship be when we were actually married?

His cologne snuck up my nose and tantalized my body. My core tightened, and my panties grew damp.

What the hell?

A shiver ran through me, and I tried my best not to show what had just happened. I’d never lost control like this. I blamed it on my nerves from the past few days and not on this magnetic man who could elicit powerful sensations from me.

He brushed his fingers down my cheek. “If I hadn’t been there today, that man with the redhead would’ve suspected you.”

“What do you mean?” My cheek heated where his knuckles had brushed.

“Enzo Stevens is part of a dangerous organization. Now that I know he’s associated with Emmanuel, this entire situation just got more complicated.”

Attikus told me he had work to do and reminded me not to leave my apartment for the rest of the day.