Free The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] by Lorie O'Clare

worn Gothman dresses. If anyone found the outfit, it could mean her death. But leaving it at Reena’s would endanger the woman’s life. Too many people moved through that house for Tara’s liking.
    She grinned as she recalled how she’d managed to pack the Runner outfit without Reena noticing. Tara stroked the silky headscarf and fingered the embroidered symbol of her clan, then wrapped her Runner clothing around the landlink from her bike. She grabbed the bundle and was looking around the room for an appropriate hiding place when she heard voices coming up the stairs. Quickly, she stuffed it back into her bag and put it under her bed. Then, she straightened and walked out of the room as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
    Hilda and Torgo were climbing the stairs; she went down the hallway to meet them.
    “So, you’re coming to live with me, now?” Torgo didn’t hide his pleasure as he grinned from ear to ear. “Do you want to see my room?”
    “Ah, all in good time, my child.” Hilda patted the boy on the head. “Tara, have you met Torgo?”
    “Only for a moment.” Tara almost caught herself clasping her hands behind her back, the pose of a warrior. Instead, she relaxed her features and stared at innocent gray eyes. “We’ve not been properly introduced, though.”
    “Well, this is my youngest son, Torgo. He is quite the handful, he is.” She hugged the boy and ruffled his hair. “Go play, child. Tara and I have work to do, we do.”
    “Will you spend time with me later?” Torgo asked Tara.
    “I look forward to it.” Tara winked at the boy and his face lit up before he took off running down the hallway.
    “It’s too bad for the boy, it is. He has no papa to teach him how to be a man. His mama might as well be his grandmama, and Darius is so busy he’s no time for him, that’s for certain.” Hilda walked down the stairs with Tara. “He’s a good boy, high-spirited like they all were at that age.”
    “Maybe I could spend some time with him,” Tara said quietly.
    “Ah, that would be nice, it would. It’s the training of a man he needs though.” Hilda led Tara to the kitchen and opened up a back pantry. “Well now, here are all the supplies. You’ll be cleaning the house for now, you will. Over time, I’ll teach you how to prepare Lord Darius’ favorite dishes. Until then, I’ll keep doing the cooking. I like to cook, I do.” She laughed and patted her stomach. “I like to eat my cooking too. It wouldn’t hurt you to eat my cooking either, you know.” She laughed again, then turned as the kitchen back door opened.
    Lord Darius entered the room, his hair tossed wildly. Tara concluded that he was the rider of the motorcycle in the hills.
    “Glad to see your help has arrived,” Darius said as he studied the young woman standing in his kitchen.

* * * * *
    The light material of her dress made it easy for Darius to see how toned her body was. This woman hasn’t birthed a child, he reasoned, and she sure doesn’t look like she spent a lot of time sitting and chatting the day away like so many other Gothman women. He imagined her to be full of energy and always busying herself with one task or another.
    He noticed the intelligence in blue eyes fighting not to return his stare. She struck him as someone with whom he could have a conversation. And from the spark in those sapphire eyes—that dared him to end his mental evaluation—he imagined she could get a bit feisty, as well.
    He chuckled to himself. Whoever had taught her how to be a lady had failed. She didn’t appear shy or humble in his presence, like all the other females he’d known since boyhood, and he found her demeanor refreshing. Darius smiled, having caught himself deciding a strong woman might prove welcome.

* * * * *
    For the first time, Tara saw a genuine smile light up his face. The transformation of his already devastating looks was almost more than her heart could handle. She felt like her insides were melting