Craving (Legacy Book 2) Read online

“Fae.”

  “Who can we ask?”

  “Lucan Zalfar. He sits on the Council of Seven as representative of the Fae.”

  “Isn’t he related to King Michael?”

  “Yes, through his mother. She was sister to King Michael’s mother.”

  “Will you ask him for me?”

  “I will.”

  “Thank you. When can we do this?”

  “Let me contact Lucan and find out his availability. In the meantime, you have important work to do here.”

  “Yes, I know and I will start immediately.”

  “Excellent.” Severin stood and offered John Luke his hand as John Luke got to his feet. “I bid you both a good day.”

  “And you,” John Luke said.

  “I’ll walk Severin out.” Ily rose.

  Once outside, she took Severin’s arm. “What aren’t you telling me about all this?”

  He stopped to turn and face her. “Your presence here will be discovered and the Dark Fae will come for you.”

  “I know.”

  “Please do not pass it off as if it was of no consequence, Ily. They will see you as their one chance to open the Portal and either return home or bring millions of their followers here to enslave the people of this world.”

  “But my phasing ability won’t work as long as Michael’s enchantment is in effect.”

  “True, but they will not believe that and would torture you to try and force you to do their bidding.”

  It suddenly dawned on her. “You’re worried about me.”

  “You are the only person I have ever trusted implicitly. Now that you are back in my life, I do not want to lose you. That pain was—great.”

  Ily threw her arms around Severin and hugged him tight. “I love you too, and I promise I’ll be careful.”

  “See that you keep that promise,” he said when she released him. “I will be in touch soon.”

  Ily smiled. “Walk well, my friend.”

  Severin smiled at her words. It had been their parting phrase since they had first become good friends.

  Ily watched him get into the backseat of the limo and then watched until the taillights disappeared. When she turned to walk inside, John Luke was standing on the front porch watching.

  “What now?” he asked.

  She reached for his hand. “Well, the way I see it, we have two choices. Start work before sunrise or go back to bed.”

  In lieu of an answer, he scooped her up and carried her inside. That was what she’d hoped. She’d face the problem with the virus and the potential threat of the Dark Fae knowing she was here. But first, she’d make love to the man who had taken control of her heart.

  *****

  Beau Legacy was on his way to the new headquarters of his family business. Last month his father had called for a family vote on moving the company headquarters from Houston to the town of Legacy. In light of the startling revelations about their family, everyone had agreed.

  Logan James and John Luke seemed to be handling the news about the family better than he was. He didn’t want to believe it was true and had pretty much refused to—until his cousin Ezra paid a visit, dumped Beau’s bottle of allergy serum down the sink and would not leave until Beau experienced a transformation.

  He’d not come out and said it, but the whole thing scared the living hell out of him. There was nothing pleasant about feeling your body contort as it completely changed shape and form. It was unnatural, and being in animal form felt alien and uncomfortable.

  There was nothing he liked about it, and he’d refused to do it again. Ezra had tried to convince him of the need to master the process, but Beau was having no part of it. He was quite happy the way he was.

  That wasn’t the truth, but he hadn’t let Ezra know. As far as Ezra knew, Beau was practicing on his own. He snorted at the idea. His interests were in the family business. Logan was still CEO, but he’d taken a backseat in both the day-to-day company management and running the family ranch. He and his new wife, Sabine, were expecting their first child soon, and he was focusing on getting their home built in Colorado where he had land near their Uncle Elijah, Ezra’s father.

  John Luke had agreed to run the ranch, and Beau as COO was given more control over management. Today he was interviewing for a new executive assistant. The woman who’d worked for him in Houston did not want to move to Legacy. Beau understood, gave her a year’s salary and a glowing recommendation.

  He had two applicants to meet with today and hoped he would get lucky and find one of them qualified and to his liking. So far, the move had gone smoothly. All the offices were set up, employees settled in, and at last report, all the employees who’d uprooted their families to come to Legacy were now moved into new homes.

  His sister, Mysti, was due the credit for making that happen so quickly. She’d personally taken on the task of getting employees who owned homes set up with Realtors to sell their Houston properties as well as find them new houses in or near Legacy.

  The company had paid all moving expenses and had even rented out the entire Town Center Hotel in Legacy to accommodate employees who were still closing on new homes or had not yet found something to their liking. They and their families could stay at the hotel as long as necessary, and the costs would be covered by the company.

  So far, not one employee had done anything but express gratitude, and that made Beau feel they were doing things right. Despite what some of his contemporaries in the industry thought, he believed what his father had taught: that employees were more than people who worked for you—they were part of the family and the team. It took everyone to make a business succeed and everyone who put their energy into making that happen deserved a portion of the rewards.

  That was the reason Legacy consistently was named one of the best companies in the world to work for and rated among the top in employee satisfaction. Beau intended for it to stay that way.

  He pulled into the parking lot and found a spot with his name on it. The company had owned the block of buildings for several years, but until recently had not put them to use. As much as Beau loved Houston, he had always loved the town of Legacy more.

  It had a small-town feel with the amenities of a big city. Nice restaurants, a beautiful hotel, and several upscale bars. Shopping was ample, and the town always seemed busy with people who greeted one another like friends.

  Beau entered through the front of the building and greeted several people in the lobby. As had become his habit, he ignored the elevator and took the stairs to the third floor. His offices and those of his siblings took up the entire floor.

  When he entered the reception area of his office, two women were waiting. One, a very attractive blonde in a tasteful business suit, stood. “Good morning, sir.”

  “Good morning,” he returned the greeting. The other, a young woman in a very short skirt, looked up from her phone but did not stop texting until she saw him. Then she shoved her phone in her purse and shot him a flirtatious smile.

  He didn’t return the smile, but turned his attention to the temporary receptionist. She smiled at him. “Good morning, Mr. Legacy. Your 9:00 a.m. and your 9:30 are both here.” She handed him two folders.

  “Yes, so I see.” He accepted the folders. “Give me five minutes and then send in the first.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thank you.” Beau headed into his office. He noticed there was a fresh pot of coffee on the bar and poured himself a cup. He sipped it as he read through the information in the folders. A soft tap on the door drew his attention. “Come.”

  The door opened, and his receptionist announced the applicant. “Miss Candace Smithfield, sir.”

  “Yes, please come in, Miss Smithfield.” He did not rise but gestured to matching chairs placed in front of the desk.

  While the young woman wearing the short skirt entered and took a seat, he opened the folder of her information and placed it in front of him. “Good morning, Miss Smithfield.”

  “Good
morning.”

  “I see from your résumé that you have three years of experience working for Garen Oil?”

  “Yes.”

  “What prompted you to leave that job?”

  “Just wasn’t going anywhere there and got bored.”

  “I see. What made you interested in Legacy as a potential employer?”

  “Are you kidding?” She scooted to the edge of her seat and gave him a look he recognized but didn’t exactly appreciate in this setting. “When I heard you were looking for an assistant I knew it was fate. I mean, everyone knows that Legacy treats its people well and I hear this is a decent place to live.”

  “We do try and treat our employees well.” He agreed. “I should tell you that the position can be demanding. I do not always work a normal schedule, and there is a bit of travel involved, so if you have a husband or small children, you may—“

  “No. No, I’m available. I mean, I’m not married.”

  He got the message from the tone of her voice and the look on her face, but told himself not to be foolish. Just because others had acted less than scrupulously in the past didn’t mean this young woman was trying to insinuate herself into his life with more than business in mind.

  “I see. So, you’re free to travel?”

  “I’m free to do anything you want me to, Mr. Legacy. And I mean anything.”

  So, he wasn’t wrong after all. In a way, it was a relief. There was something about the young woman that put him off. Perhaps it was the skirt that was several inches too short, or the eye makeup that was several degrees too heavy. Whatever the case, her answer gave him all he needed to reject her as a serious applicant.

  “Well, I appreciate your time, Miss. Smithfield.” He didn’t bother to stand or to offer her a hand to shake. “Have a pleasant day.”

  She seemed genuinely surprised. “Oh. Oh, yes, yes. You too. Talk to you soon, I hope.”

  Beau didn’t comment; he just looked down at the folder on his desk, closed it, and put it to one side. As she turned and headed for the door, he punched the intercom button on the phone. “Could you please send in the next applicant?”

  “Yes, Mr. Legacy.”

  A few seconds later a tap on the door preceded the door opening. “Ms. Heather Monroe, sir.”

  “Thank you.” Beau stood as Heather Monroe approached the desk.

  “Mr. Legacy, it’s an honor,” she said as she stopped in front of the desk.

  “A pleasure.” He extended his hand, which she accepted in a firm grasp.

  “Please, have a seat. Would you care for coffee?”

  “No, thank you, sir.” She took a seat.

  “Your resume is impressive,” he commented after sitting down. “But I’m curious why you’d consider leaving your current position. You’ve earned a good deal of advancement as well as considerable increases in pay.”

  “All true, and I have enjoyed working there, but as my direct superior will tell you, I’ve reached the highest rung of the company ladder I’ll ever achieve. I will not make senior management nor will I be assigned my own accounts. I’m looking for a company with more upward mobility.”

  “It’s a definite step down to take a position as an executive assistant. Not to mention a cut in pay.”

  “You’re right, and if I hadn’t been frugal, I wouldn’t be able to take this type of risk.”

  “Risk?”

  “Yes. I’m risking that, if given the job, over time you’ll see that I have more to offer than as an assistant. If you as the COO are as progressive and fair-minded as you’re reported to be, then you’ll offer me bigger challenges and opportunities to prove myself to you and the company.”

  Beau was impressed, both with her answers and the manner in which she delivered them. She met his gaze without hesitation and held it. Her resume told a lot about her. She had a Master’s degree in business from an Ivy League university and an excellent work history.

  And while it had nothing to do with her ability to do the job, she was drop-dead gorgeous. Shoulder length, honey-blonde hair cut in layers framed a face that could stop traffic. Her figure was the kind women try to insult and men lust after. Big breasts, small waist, and generous hips. Her shape was reminiscent of the sex symbols of his father’s time. Marilyn Monroe came to mind, and it dawned on him that her features were similar to the long-dead starlet.

  If he was going to have to put up with spending long hours with an assistant, it might as well be one who was smart and easy on the eyes. He’d never act on his appreciation of her appearance. He prided himself on his professionalism. Touching was against the rule, but he could still enjoy looking.

  They chatted for a good half hour, and he was surprised how fast the time passed. “I’m so sorry,” she said when he looked at the clock on the credenza. “I’ve taken up too much of your time.”

  “Not at all. In fact, I’d like to offer you the position, but with a small change.”

  “What type of change?”

  “Based upon your qualifications and what I’ve learned today, I’m willing to up your starting salary to something more comparable to what you’re accustomed to earning. I won’t go the full amount, but I will match seventy percent.”

  “That’s more than fair. When would you like me to start?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “I can give notice today. The company knows I’ve been wanting to make a move and I’ve already trained my replacement. I can start next week. Oh, wait. I suppose I should hold off giving you a firm date until I find a place to live.”

  “I believe we can help with that.” He picked up his office phone and dialed an extension. “Mysti? Could you possibly meet with Ms. Heather Monroe this morning? She’s joining the company as my new Executive Assistant and needs to find a place to live here in Legacy.” He looked at Heather as he listened. “I don’t know. Let me ask. Putting you on speaker.”

  “Hi, Ms. Monroe, Mysti Legacy-Richard here. Tell me, do you have a property you need to sell in order to make the move?”

  “No, I’ll hold onto my condo and rent it. But I would like to buy rather than rent here.”

  “I think I can help. There are two condos for sale in the new development just outside town, and I know of at least three houses in the community that just went up inside the town limits. Additionally, if you’re interested in town living there are apartments for sale above some of the storefronts.”

  “I’d love to take a look,” Heather answered.

  “Okay, great. Beau, how about you get Heather set up with HR and let her get all the paperwork taken care of, and then we meet for lunch at the café across the street. After lunch, I’ll take Heather and show her what’s available.”

  Beau looked at Heather, and she nodded. “Thank you so much.”

  “Don’t mention it. Let’s meet at noon. And welcome to the family, Heather.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Legacy-Richard.”

  “Don’t mention it. See you soon.”

  Beau ended the call and smiled at Heather as he rose. “Okay, let me walk you down to HR.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Mr. Legacy. Just tell me where to go.”

  “Second floor, office 206,” he responded and rounded the desk to offer his hand. “And welcome, Heather. I look forward to working with you.”

  “Thank you, sir. It’s an honor, and I won’t let you down. So, should I wait for you downstairs or go on over to the café when I’m finished?”

  “Wait for me in the lobby, and we’ll walk over together.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  “Thank you.” He watched her leave the office and then returned to his seat at the desk with a smile on his face. It was such a relief to have the position filled. He didn’t anticipate Heather having any trouble learning the ropes.

  And he didn’t anticipate finding it a chore to see her smiling face every day.

  Suddenly he felt lighter than he had in weeks. He knew nothing had changed. His family was s
till some kind of mutant strain of human or alien or whatever, and there was still a whole race of supernatural beings on Earth that only a few knew about, but for the moment, he was happy focusing on his very human business and very human male appreciation of an intelligent and beautiful woman.

  Chapter Ten

  Ily hurried to the door the moment she heard the sound of a vehicle outside. Sure enough, it was John Luke. She could have walked to meet him, but she just loved watching him walk. Despite his years spent in service to the government, he had not lost that loose-hipped, low center of gravity walk that was sexy enough to have a fire ignite inside her in seconds.

  “Gotta tell you that the look in your eyes isn’t inspiring me to get back in the truck and head for town,” he said when he reached the door.

  “Watching you walk is almost a religious experience, John Luke.”

  “Wicked.” He grabbed her and pulled her in for a kiss that was potent enough to curl more than her toes.

  “You’re making dinner with your brother less appealing by the moment,” she said when the kiss ended.

  “Don’t I know it, but we promised, so you ready to ride?”

  “As I’ll get. Unless you think I should change?”

  “Oh hell no.”

  Ily grinned and pulled the door closed behind her. John Luke was definitely good for her ego. She didn’t have the most extensive wardrobe and wasn’t sure the black skirt, knit top, and low heels were appropriate. It was generic enough that she hoped she wouldn’t be over- or under-dressed.

  They got into John Luke’s truck and spent most of the drive to town talking about her work with the serum his mother had created and given to him. “I’ve basically backward engineered it and know all of the ingredients but one. Its structure is familiar, but I can’t figure out what it is for the life of me. I talked to Severin, and he said he knew a researcher who might be able to help. He’s going to try and get the guy on board.”

  “And until then?”

  “I don’t know.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Whatever that mysterious substance is, I did find traces of it in the blood samples Augustus had sent to me.”

  “Well, that’s a start, isn’t it?”