Collateral Damage_A Tethered Novel Read online

  But as she watched him carefully handling each object and telling her the date and origin just by looking at them, she found herself intrigued for the first time by the man below the armor she so easily saw now.

  What was it that had the head of McGinley Antiquities so hardened on the outside?

  He stripped off his gloves, and she handed him the tablet and did the same, then followed him back to the elevator.

  “So, do you do that every day?”

  “Typically, three times a week.”

  Oh yay, she thought to herself as the doors closed in front of them, the short answers are back.

  Once they were back in his office, she followed him over to his desk. She wanted answers, and even if they pissed him off, she was going to pepper him with questions until he told her what she wanted to know.

  “So, what’s your deal?” She wondered and sat on the corner of his desk. He looked up at her, and she ignored the way her blood warmed.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Where are you from?”

  “Ireland.”

  “No shit? I thought you were from Queens,” she responded dryly. “What part of Ireland.”

  “A part you have probably never heard of.”

  “Try me.”

  “Why the questions, Paislee?”

  “You know everything about me, and I know nothing about you.”

  Timothy pinched the bridge of his nose, he thought he’d bought himself more time by taking her downstairs. Had hoped that she would have been too excited to remember the fifty-question game she seemed to enjoy playing.

  “I don’t think it’s necessary to share my backstory with you.”

  “But it was necessary to share mine with you? Malcolm is after you too, which means there’s a reason. I want to know what that reason is.”

  “Paislee,” he warned.

  “No, I want answers, Timothy.”

  He stood so quickly she nearly fell off his desk. She followed suit and folded her arms as he began to pace.

  “You aren’t going to drop this are you?”

  “No.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  She thought for a moment. “Why are you so interested in my painting?”

  “You mean my painting.” His eyes narrowed. “I bought it from you.”

  “Okay fine but answer my question.”

  “It reminds me of someone I lost.”

  She straightened, that was not the answer she had expected from him. Was she actually getting a glimpse of a man with a heart? One who had at one point, actually cared for someone other than himself?

  “Who?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yes, it really does.”

  He let out a breath. “My wife.”

  She unfolded her arms, and they fell slack at her sides. “You were married?”

  “Yes, a long time ago.”

  “Oh yeah because you’re so old.”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  “How surprised? What are you, thirty?”

  “Have I answered enough of your questions?”

  “Hardly.” She studied him. “How old are you?” Something wasn’t adding up.

  The man in the painting had resembled the one before her, there was no question about it, and it was something she’d known from the moment she met him. She had contributed the likeness to her own imagination and bad lighting whenever she’d been looking at it, or even mere coincidence. But now, hearing him say the woman reminded him of his wife combined with the flash of pain across his face, she was starting to think there was perhaps more to the story and she wanted to know all of it.

  “I was born August 7th.”

  “What year?”

  He stayed silent, his jaw taut and his body barely leashed.

  “What year, Timothy?”

  “1787.”

  Her mouth fell open, and she stared at him searching for the humor that would surely be in his eyes.

  Did he honestly expect her to believe he was two hundred and thirty-one years old? What the hell answer were you expecting Paislee? She asked herself.

  The paintings, the knack he had for being able to date artifacts, the fact that he had been studying magic. All signs pointed to him telling the truth.

  “Are you kidding me?” She started laughing and before long, was completely unable to stop herself.

  “This is funny to you?” The look on his face was annoyance, but his tone was more than that. He was angry.

  “No wonder Malcolm sent his guy after you. He is obsessed with old things, and you are literally an antique!” She continued laughing while Timothy stared at her. How in the world was this funny to her?

  “Did you just call me an antique?” Hadn’t he referred to himself as just that? So why did it bother him so much to have her think of him that way?

  “You are an antique.”

  He crossed the distance between them in an instant and pressed her back against the wall with his body.

  He smiled down at her menacingly, “Do I feel like an antique to you Paislee?” He pressed against her and leaned down, so his breath was on her neck, causing goose bumps to flare on her skin. She fought the urge to press back against him, to pull his mouth down onto hers and give in to the urge she’d felt since the moment she met him.

  She did her best to summon strength in her voice and responded, “You do smell a little musty.”

  He glared at her but moved away, and she relaxed against the wall. Both grateful for and regretting the space between them again.

  “At least that explains why you’re so damn incorrigible. You’ve had two hundred years to get set in your ways, and you know what they say about old dogs.” She folded her arms unsure who she was more pissed off at the moment. Him for what he’d done, or herself for the way her body had responded.

  “I assure you I’m not incorrigible. I just know when I’m right.”

  “And when you’re wrong?”

  “I’m still right.”

  “Ugh.” She walked back over to the couch. “So how is it you are so old?”

  “Technically, I’m only twenty-eight, give or take a few years based on when my curse was apparently broken.”

  “Curse?”

  “A naïve witch cast a spell which in turn trapped me in time with her and her brother.”

  “So, this witch, was she like me?”

  “If by ‘like me’ you mean had magical powers, then obviously. I thought that was a given based on the fact that I called her a witch.”

  “Okay, smart ass. That’s not what I mean. There are different kinds of witches correct? Some that possess different types of magic?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, did she have the same type of powers as I do?”

  “Yes.” He took a seat across from her. “You have the ability to utilize light as a weapon as well as provide healing. Those are two powers that typically go hand in hand together. She also had the ability to move objects and project images.”

  “Can I do those?”

  “I’m not sure, and frankly I don’t care.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that I am not interested in your magic or exploring what it is you are capable of. The last time I was near a witch I ended up frozen in time.”

  “If you aren’t going to help me, then why the hell am I here?”

  “Because until I can find out just how exactly to get to Malcolm Gentry, you are the only lead I have.”

  “I’ve already told you everything I know.”

  “And yet, I’m still no closer to finding out just how it is he came to know about me.”

  “I’m telling you that me learning how to use my magic is the only way.”

  “The last time magic was the only way I ended up not aging and having to watch everyone around me die.”

  Paislee visibly winced at the anger he wore on his face. No wonder he was so bitter, what must
it have been like to see everything around you changing while you stayed the same? Having to bury everyone you ever loved?

  “I’m sorry that happened to you,” she said softly and reached forward to touch his arm. “I can’t even imagine having to experience that.”

  The fleeting tenderness on his face surprised her, but his arrogant façade showed up so quickly that she was sure she’d imagined it.

  “Yeah, well, it happened, and it’s in the past. The fact that I nearly bled to death proves that.”

  “You think the curse is broken?”

  “Any time before I would have healed nearly immediately, this time was different.”

  “Have you looked into it yet?”

  “Why would I do that? It won’t change anything. Either I’m going to continue existing, or one day I’ll die.”

  “I would have to know.”

  “I’m not interested.”

  He walked to his mini bar and poured a glass of whiskey.

  “Can I have one?” she asked.

  He silently poured another, and she joined him to look out at the darkening sky.

  “It’s beautiful up here,” she said easily. “It’s like being on top of the world.”

  “I enjoy it.”

  “How long has it taken you to build this?”

  “A hundred years, give or take a few.”

  “That is insane, the things you must have seen!”

  “They aren’t as great as you would have imagined.”

  “Maybe one day you can tell me about it?”

  “Not likely.” He downed the rest of his whiskey. “See you tomorrow.” He grabbed his jacket off the chair and headed towards the elevator.

  “Hey, Timothy?”

  He stopped but didn’t turn around.

  “Thank you for helping me.”

  He nodded and walked to the elevator without another word.

  Chapter 9

  Paislee shot out of bed at the sound of a loud buzzer. She checked the clock next to the bed and groaned. It was six thirty am. So, who the hell was buzzing to come up?

  “Who is it?” she grumbled into the speaker.

  “Is Mr. McGinley around? It’s Jake Parish, I have something for him.”

  “He’ll be in about eight,” she responded sleepily.

  “Can I bring it up? I can just leave it on his desk if that’s okay? The time change is not working with me so I am wide awake. I wanted to get this dropped off so I can head straight down to the store room and get to work on the new arrivals.”

  “That’s fine.” She buzzed him up and then went back to lay in bed.

  A minute later, the elevator doors opened, and the scent of coffee filled her nose. Oh please, please, please let that be for me. She got out of bed and yawned just as Jake came into view.

  “I am so sorry for waking you up!” He looked appalled and turned around immediately which is when she remembered that she’d gone to sleep in her underwear.

  “Oh, crap hang on, sorry.” She grabbed a blanket off the bed and wrapped it around herself. “Okay, you can turn around now.”

  Jake turned around and smiled, showing a dimple near his mouth. “I’m so sorry Paislee.”

  “You’re fine. Even more fine if one of those coffees are for me.”

  He stared at her for a moment confused and then grinned. “Yes! You can absolutely have one. For some reason I thought it was later than it was, and I was going to leave it on his desk with this.” He held up a folder. “But I suppose it will probably be cold by the time he gets in.”

  “Probably.” She smiled and took the coffee and then made her way over to the sitting area. “So, how was London?”

  “It was amazing.” Stars still in his eyes over his trip, he took a seat across from her. “I had the best time. It’s the first time I’d ever been.”

  “That’s awesome, it’s on my bucket list.”

  “Maybe we can go together sometime, now that I’m practically a native and all.”

  They laughed, and Paislee couldn’t help but feel herself relax around Jake. He was kind, funny, and attractive.

  “Maybe.” She smiled. “So when you aren’t running off to London, what do you do?”

  “I help categorize the items Mr. McGinley authenticates. I handle all of the shipping and receiving and do the first pass through the crates.”

  “Sounds important.”

  “I’d like to think it is, but truthfully Mr. McGinley does all the real work.”

  Paislee took a sip of her coffee. “What do you do for fun?”

  “I play video games.”

  She nearly snorted out her coffee, that was not something she thought this guy would want to do for fun. He looked like an absolute anti-nerd.

  “You okay?” he asked with a laugh.

  “Yeah, sorry. I guess I never pegged you for a video game nerd.”

  “What did you peg me as?”

  “I don’t know, a wrestler, boxer maybe?”

  Jake laughed. “I don’t only play video games. I do go to the gym daily, but it’s mainly because I have to.”

  “Seriously?” She eyed him, he was in incredible shape. She could see as much from the black long sleeve shirt he wore.

  “I used to be a big guy in high school. When I went to college, I started eating healthy and working out daily, and now here I am.”

  “Okay, I get that. What kind?”

  “What kind of what?”

  “Video games.”

  “Oh.” He let out a nervous laugh. “PC mostly, although I do enjoy some console games now and then. What about you?”

  “Oh, I like to read I guess. I don’t have time for much else.” She sipped her coffee and hoped he didn’t ask any further questions. She was a terrible liar and felt guilty even considering having to lie to her new friend.

  “I see that.” He picked up one of the magic texts. “Into magic?”

  Her cheeks turned red. “A little. It fascinates me.”

  “So, what are you doing here? With Mr. McGinley?” he asked and set the book back on the table.

  “We’re friends, I needed to have something authenticated, and he is letting me stay here until I go back home.”

  “Where’s home?”

  “South Carolina?” It came out more like a question, but Garth finally decided to make his presence known, and padded over to jump in her lap.

  “You have a cat! Wow, you and Mr. McGinley must be great friends.”

  “Yep, that’s us, ‘great friends.’”

  Jake laughed, “How long have you two known each other?”

  “Not long,” she admitted. “But it feels like forever.”

  Jake smiled, and silence fell over the two of them. Paislee’s mind wandered to last night, and the dreams she’d had after feeling Timothy’s hard body pressed against hers.

  “So, I was wondering,” Jake started and brought her back to the present.

  “Yes?”

  “If you wanted to maybe get together for dinner tonight?”

  Before she could answer, the elevator opened and an incredibly pissed off Timothy stepped into the room. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, his typically styled hair was messy. He wore loose pants that hung low on his hips and a plain black hooded sweatshirt.

  “What the hell are you doing up here?” He directed his steel gaze at Jake, who shot out of his seat as if it had been on fire.

  “I uh, I brought you the information from the London museum on the chalices.” He stuttered and stepped away from Paislee.

  “That couldn’t wait until eight?”

  Paislee was so in shock by the level of anger on Timothy’s face that it took her a moment before she stood.

  “Who the hell pissed in your cheerios this morning?” She stepped in front of Jake as if her presence would protect him.

  “Excuse me?” Timothy’s eyes narrowed on her, and his nostrils flared.

  She realized at that moment, the blanket had fallen off her, and s
he stood between both men wearing nothing but her underwear and a tank top. She should have been embarrassed, but she was so pissed off that she didn’t care.

  “Get the fuck out of my office Parish,” he growled, and Jake ran for the elevator.

  “Who the hell are you to come in here yelling at him like that? He was only doing his job!” Paislee screamed as the elevator carrying Jake began its descent to safety.

  “Why in the fuck are you in your fucking underwear? And why the fuck did you let him up here when I am not here!”

  He was so angry that Paislee nearly backed off. Not once in her entire life, had she understood the phrase ‘shooting daggers from their eyes’ until this moment. But she was just as pissed at the look of horror on Jake’s face as he’d fled.

  “I am a grown woman, Timothy, I can answer the door fucking naked if I want!”

  Timothy was on her so fast, she hadn’t had time to react. Before she knew it, his mouth was hot and furious on hers, and she could feel his arousal against the thin fabric of her underwear.

  She buried her hands in his hair and gave him back every ounce of anger he fed to her. She bit his lip, and he groaned under it, pressing against where she was already ready for him. His fingers dug into her ass, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, giving herself over to him completely.

  Of all the ways she’d thought to start the day, being ravished by a two hundred and thirty-year old millionaire was not one of them.

  Just as quickly as he had rushed her, he was gone, leaving her standing there more aroused then she’d ever been and shivering from the cold.

  “Don’t you ever let anyone up here when you’re alone again,” he growled. “Especially not when you might as well be fucking naked.”

  He stormed out of the office and Paislee could do nothing but stare at him.

  * * *

  After a freezing cold shower, Timothy made his way back into work. When Ashton had called him after the guard let Jake up to his office, he’d rushed out of his apartment and over to his office.

  Ashton had offered to go in, but after witnessing her in shorts, Timothy had known she didn’t sleep fully clothed, and as much as he respected the head of his security, Ashton seeing Paislee in her pajamas would have been unacceptable.