Lead Me From Temptation (Divine Darkness Book 1) Read online

  “Thanks,” he said, flashing me his million-dollar smile.

  I walked closer to him. My face said everything I couldn’t. “Are you okay?” he asked as he took me by the shoulders and bent his knees to look me square in the face. The dark wavy tendrils I found so sexy had turned into spiral curls. I touched the side of his face and wiped away the water that glistened on his square jawline. “Here’s your other towel,” I said, my hand still holding it down at my side as he stared at me with concern.

  “Indie, what’s wrong?”

  I blinked hard and shook off everything and everyone. “Nothing. I’m sorry,” I said as I handed him the towel and stepped away. “It’s just been a lot, you know?” I sat on the couch, hands tucked under my thighs as I rocked back and forth just enough to seem anxious. “The job, the car, the luggage. I lost two patients this week, witnessed a car blowing up…”

  “Indie, I can go and leave you to eat dinner if you want to be alone. I didn’t mean to intrude.” I could tell David was genuinely concerned. He pulled the towel from around his neck and hung it carefully over the chair across from me.

  “No!” I shouted the word and then realized how loud I’d been. “I’m sorry. It’s just…I don’t want you to go.”

  David sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulder, giving me a side squeeze and I felt my body stand at attention and meld into his at the same time. “Then I won’t,” he whispered into me. “Just tell me what you need.”

  “I think I need to know that I’m not losing my mind.”

  “What?” he asked with a smile. “You’re not losing anything, Indie. You’ve had a bad week for sure. But that’s all about to change. Because tomorrow you’ll start your job at GlobalTech and in a week we will be walking the streets of Rome. And I promise you won’t lose your mind in Rome.”

  “How can you promise that?” I looked up and into his eyes as they sparkled in the candlelight.

  “The only thing anyone loses in Italy is their cuore.”

  “What?”

  David slowly touched the center of my collarbone for a brief moment, daring not to go lower. “Your heart.”

  A clap of thunder shook the house and I jumped, causing David to pull me closer to him. “I don’t think the storm is over yet,” I said as I felt my heart race.

  “Good thing we have candlelight and Kung Pao.”

  I smiled at him and he returned the look, giving my arm a squeeze. “Now let’s eat before the Chinese gets too cold.”

  “Okay,” I said as he stood and took my hands, walking me to the table.

  “I didn’t know what you liked so I got a little bit of everything.”

  “I hope you didn’t forget the fortune cookies.”

  “I don’t need a cookie to read your fortune, Indie.”

  After I’d had too much food and one glass of wine, my magic pill finally kicked in and I was feeling very relaxed. The storm had all but subsided as we ate out of cartons, passing them back and forth and laughing over my inability to eat with chopsticks and David’s masterful use of them. It was one of the best times I’d had in a long time. David made me feel wonderful about myself. I felt confident when I was with him. More confident than I’d ever felt before.

  “Tell me about your week,” he said. “I mean other than getting a new job and a new car and planning to leave for Italy.”

  “I dunno. It was rough.” I confessed my feelings and looked into the carton of shrimp lo mein for answers.

  “You lost patients this week? I mean, I guess I knew that. Why else would you be starting your job tomorrow? Right?” I could see the concern in his face and I worried that talking about death wasn’t such a good idea in the wake of what was to come in the next few months with his father. “Really, it’s okay. I want to hear about it,” he said with a nod.

  “He was a decorated Marine, she was a little girl who didn’t even get a chance.” I sat back and thought about my two sweet patients and their families. It was never easy, no matter how many times I witnessed the crossing over of the person, no matter what I knew of their destiny.

  He put his chopsticks down and took a sip of wine. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure,” I said sheepishly. “I had a special relationship with both of them. Little Ellie would always draw me pictures,” I said as I touched the Hamsa necklace still hanging around my neck and deep within my shirt.

  “That’s very sweet.”

  “She was sweet.”

  David sat back and raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m just telling you now, don’t expect that kind of thing from my father.”

  “One eyebrow…never a good sign,” I said with a ring to my voice.

  “The old man can be a challenge, but I’m sure in the end he will appreciate all that you do for him.”

  I nodded and did my best to give David a smile. He had no idea what we were in for. The nausea, the pain, the bedpans when he would no longer rule the world from the confines of his expensive office—it would be more than either of them in the end would be able to bear. I knew what was coming and even if I could prepare David, it wouldn’t be enough.

  “He’s big on notes. You probably won’t get a drawing, but I can guarantee you’ll get a note from him at one time or another.”

  I paused and thought of my note from George and replayed the conversation from earlier with his daughter. “That reminds me,” I said as I rose from the table and took a candle with me to where I’d left my box and messenger bag. I began to rummage through everything and pulled out the small piece of stationery. “George left me a note to read after he passed,” I said, holding it up and bringing it back to the table with me to sit. “His daughter stopped me today and said her father wanted to make sure I got my note.”

  I opened the paper and read the words that had baffled me before. It must’ve shown on my face because David wasted no time asking me about it. “What did it say? I mean, if you don’t mind sharing.”

  I read the words aloud as the candlelight glowed through George’s handwriting on the thin paper. “Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

  David leaned back in the chair and looked away as a chill ran through my body and I sat at attention, realizing these were the same words Aunt Sally had muttered today.

  Just as I was about to verbalize my discovery out loud, I noticed David’s sullen expression. “What is it?”

  “Nothing.” He looked back to me and smiled. “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing, David. I can see that much on your face. Do you know this passage?”

  He took a deep breath and began to roll his chopsticks over and over between his fingers. Without looking at me he recited the words again. “Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. First Peter, chapter five, verse eight.”

  “Wait, how did you know that?”

  David still had not looked at me and it was if he had suddenly slipped away. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. How did you know that?”

  “I know the Bible, Indie.” His voice had gotten softer, more solemn and the light-hearted David was gone. “My father made sure if it.”

  “What do you think George meant?” I asked as I looked back at his messy handwriting and thought about Aunt Sally. George couldn’t speak let alone hold a pen in his last few weeks, which meant he’d written it months ago.

  “Who knows? Even the devil can quote scripture for his purpose.”

  “The Merchant of Venice.”

  “Nicely done,” he said as he finally looked back up to me with a huge smile.

  “Still,” I said as I turned the paper over and noticed in the corner two numbers—one and two—and the words doseogwan wi. “I don’t know. I loved the man. But I have no idea what he was thinking. I mean, do I look like someone who needs to watch out for prowling lions? I’m a hospice nurse, for pity’s sake. I’m onl
y on guard for the next infection we have to fight due to chemo complications.”

  I noticed David was still looking away and I felt as if I’d said too much. It was hard trying to remember he was part of a patient’s family and I needed to censor my thoughts and words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I should be more sensitive to what’s going on in your life.”

  “No, it’s fine.” He took a deep breath and sighed loudly as he ran his hands through his dark hair. I hung on his every move. “Let’s hear some good news,” he said as he handed me a cookie wrapped in clear plastic. The cellophane crunched beneath my fingers as I tore the edge and pulled the cookie from the wrapper.

  “Now,” David began. “You have to read your fortune and then say, in the bedroom immediately after.”

  “I know this game.” I shot him a smirk and raised one eyebrow. “You’re trying to embarrass me.”

  “You could say, like a boss instead. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable—ever.”

  I broke the cookie in half, pulling the tiny paper slip from its remains. “Love awaits if you’ll only open the door…in the bedroom.” I giggled and dropped the paper out of my hands placing them over my face, embarrassed. “I should’ve said like a boss, but…”

  I peeked at David laughing through my fingers and dropped my head. “You go.”

  “Look around. Happiness is trying to catch you…in the bedroom.”

  We both broke out in hysterical laughter. It wasn’t that it was funny, it was uncomfortable and I felt the need to apologize. “I’m sorry. I’m such a dork.”

  David stood and took my hands, asking me to stand with him. Face to face, we looked at each other and yet said nothing. He squeezed my fingers and I felt the charge of pure electricity course through my body. Every moment with him seemed fun and exciting. I’d never had that before. I’d had complicated, I’d had ugly and selfish. Fun and exciting was new to me. I felt like a really good version of myself when I was with David, and when he touched me I felt like I could rule the world.

  “I don’t want you to change one thing about yourself. You’re perfect just as you are. And I, for one, am all the better for knowing you. I understand George’s note to you.”

  “You do?”

  David brought me in for a quick hug and then took me by the shoulders. “You’re special, Indie. George knew it and I know it. You seem to be the only one who doesn’t. I think George wanted you to be aware of how truly beautiful you are. You should never let anyone tell you otherwise, or let anyone take that away from you.”

  “You think I’m beautiful?” I asked as his words went all through me and a giddy feeling filled my stomach.

  “I think you’re more than beautiful. You’re gorgeous—luminescent, Indie Luce.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to let go of his hands and yet I knew I mustn’t blur the line between my work and my personal life. I’d already danced on the edge of it so I said the only thing I could say. “Thank you.”

  David turned to leave and as he opened the front door, the rain had finally stopped and the skies seemed to be clearing. “Will you be okay in the dark?” he asked.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said.

  With a nod he said, “Goodnight.”

  “Thanks again for dinner.”

  “It’s just the first of many I’m afraid. You’ll be tired of sharing a table with me soon.”

  “I doubt that,” I said as I hung on the door and leaned into it. “But I would be lying if I said I was comfortable with all these gifts. So no more, okay?”

  “We’ll see about that,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’m serious, David.”

  He waved his hand without looking back at me. “Tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be there.” I shut the door and as I turned the lock, the electricity came on and every light in my tiny house illuminated at once. “Well, lookie there,” I said aloud.

  I immediately went to the bedroom to check on the water in the tub. With the lights on and still feeling the charge of energy I got from David I was ready to face whatever was waiting for me.

  I opened the door and found it filled halfway, still waiting for me to finish my bath. I put my hand into the now frigid water and pulled the plug. I was seeing things.

  Sliding to the floor of the bathroom, I felt the cool tile beneath my hands and feet. “Jacob,” I said into the air. “If you are filling up this bathtub, please stop. You’re making me feel like I’m crazy. Maybe I am. But could you please…not?”

  For the first time I felt as if I needed to tell Dr. Nabi what was happening to me. If I was on the verge of a psychotic break, I needed to know before it happened while I was in another country and they locked me up in an Italian asylum.

  I walked around the house, turning off all the lights and decided to call in the morning. I would be missing our appointments for the next two weeks and I needed to see him before I left the country. I wrote a reminder to myself on the back of George’s note and stuck it to my messenger bag so I wouldn’t forget in the morning when I wasn’t feeling crazy and the events of today were long behind me.

  I began packing up what was left of the Chinese food. As I cleared out the bags I found one last fortune cookie in the bottom and plopped down at the table, folding my leg underneath me as I sat.

  I opened the package, snapping the cookie in half and pulled the white sliver of paper from the tight crevice. I smiled as I read the fortune aloud, “Every person is the architect of his or her own fortune. Amen, cookie. Amen.”

  SIXTEEN

  I arrived at work early knowing I would need to go through the security fingerprint deal again, not to mention I wanted a chance to set up my new office with a few items I’d brought from home before Lewis and David began my day of briefings.

  I had no idea what I needed to be briefed over, but my GT app buzzed me this morning to let me know a briefing was indeed what was in store for me.

  After Six met me to take my car, I got out and thanked him and wondered if the man ever went home.

  I wore a dark pink Isaac Mizrahi sheath dress that came to my knees and hugged my thin frame. I’d tossed a black sweater into my bag in case it was cold in the office, as it always seemed to be when men were in charge of the thermostat. I chose nude heels for the day—not too tall, not too short—comfortable. And I wore my hair down, which was something new for me. I told myself I wasn’t trying to impress Lewis or turn David’s head, but I knew I really was.

  I’d tried to take the Hamsa necklace off for the day as there was really no good way to hide the leather cord and it didn’t go with my dress. The cord was tied in a knot I couldn’t loosen and the necklace was too short to fit over my head. I would’ve had to cut the cord from my neck and I wasn’t willing to do that. The necklace was my one physical link to Mike and all that had transpired. Instead I wore a strand of my mother’s pearls. They were large enough to cover the round collar of the dress and subsequently the leather that held the hand of protection around my neck.

  I walked through security as they waved me in and explained that the tech department would be in touch shortly to take my fingerprints yet again. I gave them a smile and headed to the main bank of elevators.

  “Miss Luce?” the security guard called to me.

  “Yes?”

  “You are to take the express elevator.”

  “But my office isn’t on the express elevator floor.”

  “Yes, ma’am. It’s one floor below. Just hit the forty-nine button and not the X.”

  I shrugged and hit the button for the express elevator and watched it open immediately. I’d never noticed the other button, always hitting the X since it had a red ring around it.

  As the door opened on my floor I saw two women walk past, giving me the once-over. I recognized the tall blonde from the night of my interview, the other was older—gray hair but still an amazing figure and killer legs. “Good morning,” I said with a
ring in my voice and a smile plastered to my face. The last thing I wanted to be was the girl nobody liked.

  They said nothing but at least gave me a forced smile. If I was going to work around here I would need to bring in some cupcakes to soften everyone up. I watched their tight butts walk down the hall and realized the beautiful people of GlobalTech probably never ate sweets or, God forbid, a carbohydrate. Maybe that’s where all the fruit came from. I snickered at my own thought and began walking the hallway to my office.

  The door was ajar and I pushed it open to find the morning sun had just begun to shine through my windowed wall. On my desk sat a new MacBook Air, a vase of red roses, no doubt from David, and a red apple—Lewis. I sat my box, purse and messenger bag on the mammoth empty desk and took a look around the room. This was going to be base for a while. I didn’t know how I’d stay or what I’d do after Lewis crossed over, but I decided to save that head-battle for another day. For today I was just going to enjoy my new digs.

  I pulled my iPad, phone and notebook from my bag and sat them all side by side on the desk. Opening the file drawer, I found empty folders and enough space to store my bag full of leftover crap including Post-it notes to myself, Altoids and Advil.

  I carefully took the items out of my small box one by one, including three picture frames featuring my parents, Jacob and even a photo of Aunt Sally, Grandma Indie and me. It was one of my favorites. I was only fifteen in the picture, but I loved that I had the same smile as my grandmother and aunt.

  I carried the box into the bathroom and flipped on the light only to find it was stocked with fresh towels, soap and lotion already displayed on the vanity. I opened up one of the cabinets to store my toiletries in case I had to work a long day and found everything a girl might ever need right there at my disposal—hairspray, shampoo and conditioner, soap, bath gel, lotion, even tampons. “Wow,” I said aloud as I shoved my deodorant and body splash from Bath & Body Works into the cabinet. My stuff seemed to pale in comparison to the expensive notions left there for me.