Free Tangled Sin (A Dark Realm Novel) by Georgia Lyn Hunter Page A

5
     
     
    Saia tracked Riley as he got out of the Escalade and rounded the hood to her side.
    The steady rain made reading his expression impossible, not that she ever could. She dragged in a deep breath. Make or break time , she thought wryly.
    She opened the door before he did and forced a bright smile. He helped her down, then she grasped his hand and dashed through the rain. Under the shelter of the portico, she stopped, and he stunned her into silence by pulling off her beanie. Her long hair cascaded past her waist. She raked back the heavy strands and glanced at him curiously.
    He wrapped a wavy lock of her hair around his finger. “So why the subterfuge?”
    She grimaced, aware he was asking about their pretend dating. “Mother’s in her match-making mode.”
    He didn't say anything for a second. Then he nodded, let go of her hair, and pocketed her beanie. “Don’t wear these again, I don’t like your hair hidden.”
    Pleasure lit within her. Even if her mother did throw a tantrum, she would never regret this time with him. Riley made everything seem better, brighter.
    Her gaze slid over him. Drops of rain sparkled on his bronze hair. His earrings winked between the shaggy strands. He wore jeans, teamed with a finely knit dark blue crewneck sweater beneath his leather trench coat. His sedate state of dress did little to tone down the devilish glint in his green eyes or the badboy persona.
    Being who he was, what he was, it would be a damn miracle indeed.
    “So, are we going in, or do we stay out here and stare at each other? Though that has possibilities.”
    She laughed. “In—”
    The giant maple front door with its exquisite carving of an abstract design opened.
    “Saia Rae.”
    At the sound of that cool, clipped voice, Saia tensed, a little surprised her mother had opened the front door instead of a maid. Riley’s hand lowered to her waist, steady and supportive.
    As usual, her mother was dressed far too formally. Her sleek gray pants teamed with a pink Chanel sweater were more suited for a political tea than an afternoon at home. Straight black hair skimmed her shoulders with no hint of gray—it would never have a chance to flourish there.
    “Hello, Mother.”
    Not a flicker of emotion showed on her mother’s angular features or in her dark eyes. “You’re late.”
    Of course, she was. Saia had no plans to spend any more time than she had to at home. “Mother, this is Riley. Riley, my mother, Jemima Sen-Grayson.”
    “Mrs. Sen-Grayson,” he said politely.
    Her mother's cool gaze skimmed over him.
    “Yes…hello. In the sitting room, Saia Rae.” Then she glided off, her gray stilettos clicking softly on the marble floor.
    Saia’s lips tightened at the snub. She wanted to apologize for her mother’s rudeness, but if she started now, she'd spend the entire weekend apologizing. Once her mother made up her mind, there was no changing it.
    Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the foyer and shook her head at a new maid, who’d hurried to take her coat.
    “I got it.”
    The place was humming with activity and already decked out for the party. Christmas garlands snaked around the two soaring pillars in the huge foyer. Pedestals laden with colossal displays of flowers in crystal vases stood guard on either side of the central sprawling staircase. Wreaths adorned the balustrades. Christmas was still a full four weeks away.
    Saia hung her coat in the closet off the foyer then turned and nearly collided into Riley, who was shrugging off his coat.
    She smoothed her long, loose, emerald sweater, almost the exact color of his eyes. When he looked at her, she asked, “What? No comment?”
    “Am I supposed to?”
    “And that attitude won’t work.” Rolling her eyes, she took his coat and hung it alongside hers. “You need to work harder, pretend I'm the center of your world.”
    Shouldn’t be too hard.
    Saia whipped around and met his blank stare. “Did you say something?”
    His brows climbed up.