Desire Me (6 page)

“You may call me Max.” He pulled her hand to him and placed a kiss on the top of her wrist.

Sabine momentarily got caught in the blue trance of his gaze, then jerked her hand back. “I don’t believe I shall call you
anything. Is there something else I can assist you with?” She wanted him out of her shop. Though she did need his map, discussing
the map or anything else related to Atlantis was far too dangerous with other customers about.

She supposed she could simply ask him if she could see it, but at what cost? Last night, with a simple wager, he’d requested
a kiss. What more would he require for a look at the map? Not to mention she could easily tell from this conversation that
he was a curious sort. He would have questions. Questions she could not answer.

Besides, the more she thought about her plan, the more certain she was that tonight she would sneak into his house. “Perhaps
you need some hair tonic? Our products have been known to invigorate new growth.”

Smiling at her again, he said, “Trust me. I’m quite vigorous.”

She stepped away from the counter. “Then I suppose that shall be all.”

He grabbed her arm and stilled her. His rich azure eyes met hers and did not waver. Was this to be some sort of
contest? She
always had a difficult time walking away from a challenge. Fair enough, she met his stare and did not move. She could outlast
him. The corners of his lips tipped in a smile.

Before either of them could speak again, the tiny bells rang through the shop. Sabine looked away. Customers were a priority
over her silly pride.

A woman entered and hadn’t even closed the door behind her before speaking. “Well, well, well, the Marquess of Lindberg. I
certainly hadn’t expected to see you,” the woman purred as she stepped forward, her kohl-lined eyes roaming boldly over the
marquess. Her lips were painted with red rouge, drawing attention to their fullness. She was a tall woman. Unlike most women
of height, she was not lithe or overly thin, but lush and curvaceous, soft and round in all the appropriate places. No doubt
a much-admired creature among the men of London.

He turned at the sound of her voice. “Cassandra, you know there is no need for such formalities.”

She sauntered forward, then held her hand out to him. As he leaned over it, she positively glowed. “Max, it’s been far too
long.”

“Has it?” he said playfully. “Whatever are you doing here?”

“Surely you know,” she said. “Tobias’s is fast becoming the most sought-after beauty product in all of London.”

For the time being, it appeared that Sabine and the marquess were finished with their brief confrontation. The interlude wouldn’t
last long, though. Eventually this woman would leave the shop, and the marquess would continue his questions. She might not
know him, but Sabine could tell that Max Barrett was not a man who gave up all that easily.

“May I help you with anything today?” Sabine asked. Intentionally she faced the woman, putting her back to the marquess. “We
have many products designed for the modern woman; which did you have in mind?”

Cassandra turned her icy gaze to Sabine. “The Tobias Miracle Crème is the
only
item I require,” she said, then she shifted her attention back to Max.

Sabine ignored the woman’s superior tone. “How many jars would you like?”

“If it’s as good as I’ve heard, I should probably start with several.” Cassandra touched her pale blonde locks and smiled
coolly. “You’ve been selling out, yes?”

“Every day for several weeks.” Sabine couldn’t help noticing how the marquess appeared rather amused, standing there with
his smug smile as he looked from one woman to the other.

“Three will be good then.” The woman held up three long fingers, but never once met Sabine’s eyes.

“Whatever are you doing in here?” Cassandra asked Max. “Buying a gift for a new love?” She ran a finger down the marquess’s
arm.

Sabine went about packaging the three jars, all the while watching their exchange.

“A friend’s wife, actually,” he said.

Sabine was amazed at how easily the lie slipped off his tongue. She’d have to remember that in her future dealings with him.
Not that she planned on having any.

“It’s her birthday,” he added with a smile.

“Lovely,” Cassandra said. “How very considerate of you.”

Now at least Sabine knew that the man was not married. It mattered not, though she supposed it was nice to know she hadn’t
kissed a married man.

“Madam,” Sabine said as she held out the bag with the three jars.

Cassandra sauntered over to the counter and counted out her money, then instead of putting it in Sabine’s outstretched hand,
she dropped it onto the countertop. As she turned to leave, she paused and leaned in close to Max’s ear and whispered something.
With a saucy smile, she made her way out of the shop’s door.

He turned to face Sabine once again, and there on his left cheek was the perfect imprint of the woman’s red lips.

Sabine chuckled.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. Let him walk around London with rouge on his cheek. “Friend of yours?”

He paused and then recognition lit his eyes. “Ah, Cassandra, she was a”—he paused—“friend. I suppose you could call her that.”

Clearly they had been more than merely friends at some point. For reasons she did not want to consider, her amusement went
sour in her stomach. He could have all the
friends
in the world, and with his dashing good looks, probably did.

As Sabine crossed in front of him to one of the display shelves, he placed a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly it was as if all
the air in the room had been removed. His warm fingers held tightly to her sensitive skin, and she knew he could feel her
pulse racing beneath his touch.

She pulled free. “Sir, I do not know you and would prefer you not handle me in such a manner.”

A few customers shot them questioning looks.

“I do wish you’d leave,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Not before you tell me why you were after my map.”

With less grace than she would have liked, she stepped away from him. “There is nothing to tell. I have a fondness for maps.
You could say I’m a collector. I heard you had a rare one in your possession.” She shrugged and hoped she looked casual. “
’Tis all.”

His eyebrows quirked. “You would have me believe you are merely a simple shopkeeper with an interest in an extraordinary map?”

She
was
nothing but a simple shopkeeper. That he thought her more both thrilled and saddened her. “Yes, indeed, quite simple.”

Tonight while he was out, no doubt losing more of his fortune in frivolous games, she would sneak into his house and take
what was rightfully hers.

“And you just happened to learn about my map?”

“Purely by luck,” she lied.

He eyed her suspiciously, clearly not believing her poor attempt at deception.

“Pardon me, ma’am,” a woman said. “I have a question about these products.”

“I’ll be right with you,” Sabine said, then turned her attention back to Max. “I have customers to attend to. If you’ll excuse
me.” Sabine stepped away and gave the woman her attention, but she remained oh-so-aware of Max’s presence. When she glanced
back to where he’d been standing, he was gone. He’d vanished with a stealth she found unsettling.

The customer, who realized Sabine was no longer listening to her, cleared her throat loudly. “Is something wrong, miss?” the
woman asked when Sabine turned back to her.

“No, it was nothing.” Sabine forced a smile.

Max was a distraction she could not afford. She could only hope that’s all he was, for she had the feeling he would be a most
formidable foe.

Cassandra St. James climbed into her carriage with a smile on her face. She opened one jar and inhaled the rich herbal scent.
There were definite hints of rosemary and jasmine, perhaps lavender, but she was unsure. With the end of one polish-tipped
finger, she scooped a bit of the crème and smeared it across her cheek. The luxurious crème slid over her skin, absorbing
immediately.

She had heard the gossip around town about the new beauty crème and had noticed a marked difference in several of her friends’
complexions. But this could be even better than she’d hoped. This could be what she’d been searching for—the fountain of youth,
jarred, and on sale in the heart of London.

What other reason would Maxwell Barrett have for being in such a shop? He would never purchase such a personal gift for another
man’s wife. No, his presence there could mean only one thing.

Atlantis: that mythical land that he had once told her had been the home to the fountain of youth. Somehow that Tobias woman
had made the ultimate discovery, and Cassandra would definitely uncover whatever beauty secret the woman hid.

She was an odd woman, dressing in a boring, ill-fitted gown of gray wool. Yet somehow, instead of making the woman appear
drab and dull, the steel-colored dress had contrasted nicely with her darker complexion. Her dress, though, was not what interested
Cassandra.

She had to find a way to get into that shop to see what
ingredients that woman was hiding. If she had found the Atlantis secret
to eternal beauty, Cassandra wanted it for herself.

Tonight she would send Johns and his men to see what they could find.

W
hat was the lovely Sabine Tobias hiding?

She was a woman of mystery. Last night at the poker game, she’d been a temptress. Her dress had been daring with its plunging
neckline. Yet today when he’d gone into her shop, she’d been dressed plainly, though her thick chestnut locks had been unbound,
draped around her shoulders. Rather inappropriate for a young woman, though Max found it utterly appealing.

If she wouldn’t be forthcoming with him about why she wanted his map, he’d find out on his own. There were other ways to uncover
such information. But for the time being, he had decided a little covert investigation of his own was the appropriate choice.

Which was why he was currently hiding in the darkened alleyway behind Miss Tobias’s shop. He withdrew a tool from his pocket
and slid the sharp point into the keyhole of the shop’s back door. A few moments of maneuvering the piece, and he heard the
lock give way. He pushed open the door, and it moved without a sound.

The room was dark and quiet and clearly served as a storeroom. He stood still for a moment, allowing his eyes to grow accustomed
to the darkness. Fortunately, the two windows against the back wall allowed enough light to give adequate visibility.

It was a tidy space, sparsely furnished. A large shelf lined the far wall and various ingredients and empty jars crowded the
surface. Herbs tied in bunches were hung to dry above the windows. Ahead of him was the curtained doorway to the front of
the store, and on either side of that doorway were some cupboards. To his left was a stairwell. His preliminary research indicated
it would lead up to the living quarters above, where Sabine and her aunts had resided for the past seven months. It was not
an uncommon practice among merchants.

Max moved farther into the room. He wasn’t even certain what he searched for specifically. But Sabine Tobias must know something
about Atlantis. Why else would she be so secretive about her desire for his map?

He knew there were other people, besides himself, who sought the lost land. Some searched for treasure, as it was said that
Poseidon had built the entire central palace out of gold. Some searched for ancient texts with secrets to medical cures, because
Atlanteans were rumored to have achieved advancements in all areas of science. Still others sought the fountain of youth or
healing waters that were rumored to flow through the canals in Atlantis.

Max, though, wanted it all. He wanted to find the actual city. Just as Pompeii had been lost beneath mounds of ash, so he
believed Atlantis survived beneath the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He was not foolish enough to believe it would have remained
unscathed. Water erosion certainly would have altered much of the rumored land. But
something existed below the surface, and
he intended to find it.

He couldn’t resist pursuing the possibility that there was a new clue, especially not when it came wrapped in the tantalizing
package that was Miss Tobias.

He crept forward to better examine the items on the shelves. Along with dried herbs and oils, he found lanolin and glycerin
and all other manner of ingredients. A basket of ribbons sat next to the empty jars.

What was the crème Cassandra had purchased? Some fashion of smoothing crème. And Sabine wanted his map. She, too, sought treasure,
though of a different sort. She was after the fountain of youth; that had to be why she’d come in search of him.

He continued sifting through the shelves, but there were no secret texts or books or anything that would hint at what Sabine
might know of the map.

Thus far his search had been futile. He should probably turn and leave. Chances were if Sabine had something to hide, she
kept it upstairs in the living quarters, and he couldn’t risk sneaking up there. But he’d never been able to walk away from
a worthy puzzle, and it would seem that Sabine Tobias might be the most interesting mystery he’d come across in a long while.