Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (13 page)

Energized by the
possibility of finishing soon, I put more effort into looking for clothes that
I liked.

As we wandered around,
Theo asked, “So, Haley, what’s your favorite color?”

“Sapphire blue,” I
responded instantaneously.

He peered down at my
right hand. “I’m not surprised, considering your ring. And it’s your
birthstone, right?”

How did he know when
my birthday was? Oh yeah, Knox or one of the others must have mentioned it.
“Yes. The ring was actually my mom’s.” I bit my
tongue.
Why did I tell him that?

“It’s a beautiful
ring.” He must have sensed that I was feeling uncomfortable because he
continued on and changed the subject while he gathered more clothes for me to
try on.

This was one of the few
stores we had shopped in that also had men’s clothing, and apparently Theo
couldn’t resist the allure. He fingered collared shirts in a variety of colors
and patterns, and I could hear him muttering excitedly to himself. Stopping at
a plaid one, I heard the name “Ethan” as he nodded to himself.
Does he shop
for Ethan too?

When I entered the
fitting room this time, the bar was full of clothes to try on, mostly selected
by Theo. I noticed several pieces in blue and smiled. Apparently he approved of
my favorite color.

I made quick work of
the pile, finding many options that I loved. Since Theo had already established
my general style and size, pretty much everything he picked out worked. But
when I got to the last dress on the bar, I groaned. It was gorgeous, but I
would never pick it out for myself. I was tempted to put it with my other
discarded items but doubted Theo would let me get away without at least showing
it to him.

As I slipped it on, I
relished the feel of the silky fabric against my skin. The dress was a
beautiful sapphire color and fit me like a glove. My bra peeked out from the
thin spaghetti straps, but I didn’t dare try the dress on without it. The
neckline dipped into a deep V, showing just enough cleavage to draw attention
without exposing too much. It was fitted down to my waist and then flared at my
hips. The short hem was somewhat extended by a few alternating stripes of white
and sheer fabric, each about an inch in width.

I smoothed my hands
over the fabric and sighed. I was slightly uncomfortable with how revealing the
dress was. But I also knew that I had never looked better. It actually reminded
me of the dress I’d worn on my birthday but was much nicer and definitely more
flirtatious.

I stood fidgeting and
looking in the mirror, still wondering if I could avoid showing Theo. I sucked
in a few deep breaths.
Come on, Haley. Just do it.
I pushed back the
curtain and took a small step out of the fitting room. I expected Theo to walk
toward me like usual, but he appeared to be frozen to his chair. He blinked
rapidly before continuing to stare, his focus unwavering.

“Sweet Sassafras.”

He twirled his finger
once again before resting it momentarily on his lips; I obediently turned in a
slow circle. As he approached, I hesitantly asked, “It’s too much, right?” I
had no idea what he was thinking, but I was certainly feeling self-conscious.

Theo looked stunned.
“Too much? Are you kidding me? You are absolute perfection in that dress.”

I nervously twisted a
strand of hair around my finger. “Are you sure? Don’t you think it’s, um, a
little too tight? And too short?” I glanced down my body, still a little
surprised to see so much uncovered skin.

Theo gently pushed up
my chin with his finger and said, “Haley, look at me.” I forced myself to stare
into his eyes and for the first time noticed that they were an intriguing shade
of hazel instead of brown like I’d originally thought. With dark green around
the edges and a coppery brown toward the pupil, I stood transfixed.

“The fit is divine. I
promise.” He gently turned me until I was facing the mirror. Pointing to my
shoulders, he continued, “See how these delicate straps show off your lovely
collar bone and décolletage?”

I blushed and looked
away, but he pressed on. Lifting the fabric away from my stomach, he said, “See
how the fabric lays against your skin but doesn’t cling?” He lightly placed his
hands on my hips and my skin burned at his touch. “The seam here even falls
right at your natural waist, showcasing your hourglass figure.”

He paused for a moment,
skimming his eyes down to the hem. “And, this dress is in no way too short. Why
not show off your legs?” His grin widened as he likely noticed the rapidly
spreading pink staining my cheeks.

I stared into the
mirror, astonished by Theo’s appreciative comments. I considered myself pretty
in a normal girl sort of way, but his reaction to seeing me in this dress made
me feel extraordinary.

Theo stepped back and
leaned against the wall outside the fitting room, letting out a breath. “Haley,
this dress is obviously outside of your comfort zone, but I really hope you’ll
get it. The fit and color are perfect for you, and I think you’ll end up
regretting it if you don’t.”

Unsure what to say, I
slowly nodded, “I’ll think about it.” I shut the curtain and carefully removed
and hung up the dress. I sat down on the bench and slumped against the wall.
Who knew trying on a dress could be so . . . 
I searched
for the right word . . . 
intense?

Despite my initial
hesitation, I had truly enjoyed the day with Theo. He intrigued me. He clearly
had a vast wealth of knowledge and yet, he seemed very creative, artsy, sensual
even. Although I had just met Theo this morning, I already felt like we had
been friends for years.

Sneaking
Suspicions

I stood in front of the
guest room closet, debating my options. Since I didn’t know what I would be
doing today, I finally selected pink shorts and a lightweight navy and white
striped sweater. After slipping on my new pair of gray canvas sneakers, I considered
my reflection in the full-length mirror and smiled. For the first time since my
birthday, I looked like my usual self, although somewhat improved due to the
nicer clothes. I had to give Theo credit; he knew how to pick out clothes that
were both flattering and comfortable.

I should have felt guiltier
about letting Theo spend Knox’s money to buy me clothes. But Knox’s hand in my
kidnapping helped assuage some of that guilt. I knew it probably wasn’t
rational to blame him for the decision to drug me and bring me to Santa Cruz,
but I didn’t care. Although the guys had never stated that Knox was in charge,
his authority at the cabin was obvious. His unapologetic attitude when I
confronted him yesterday still made me grind my teeth in frustration.

As annoyed as I was
with Knox, I felt the most betrayed by Ethan. After opening up to him and
sharing memories of my mom and the constellation story, I could have sworn we
had a connection. While he genuinely seemed to care about me, the phone
conversation I overheard shattered that illusion. And, technically, if I
couldn’t trust Ethan, that meant I couldn’t trust any of them.

After just a week
around these guys, I felt like I was riding on a perpetual roller coaster. One
minute they were sweet and thoughtful, the next they were controlling and
acting shifty. I knew I was perhaps overly suspicious thanks to my dad’s
influence, but I couldn’t ignore all of the signs that things didn’t totally
add up with these guys.

Part of me screamed to
run away as fast as I could. But another part knew my best chance of finding
out more information about their intentions and my dad’s disappearance was to
stick around. And, as much as I hated to admit it, I was relieved that they
hadn’t left me alone in the woods with no money and nowhere to go. I hadn’t
been able to justify making the decision to go with them, but now that I was
here, I planned to take advantage of it.

Deciding that I’d spent
enough time lost in my thoughts, I grabbed my crutches and headed toward the
living room. Theo was there, putting his laptop in a beat-up brown leather
messenger bag.

He looked up and gave
me a welcoming smile. “Good morning, cutie. Love the outfit,” he said with a
wink. “I’m actually heading to the library to work on a group project. I left
bagels on the counter, or help yourself to anything in the fridge.”

I sat down on the sofa
and watched him get the rest of his stuff together. “Okay, thanks.”
He was
leaving me alone?
And did he just call me “cutie”?

He walked toward the
door, pulling his bag over one shoulder. “Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll
see you later.”

Sitting on the leather sofa,
I remained the picture of calm relaxation, but my insides danced with
anticipation. As soon as the door shut behind Theo, I jumped up.
I was
alone. Alone in the loft.
I had been itching to explore, to see what the
rest of the space was like and to find out more about Theo and Knox. Now I had
my chance.

Although I had already
seen the kitchen, living, and dining room, I used this time to take a closer
look. Admiring the work and design that had gone into their home, I couldn’t
possibly imagine them anywhere else. Thanks to the light-filled interiors and
wood floors, the space felt airy. And yet, the large furniture in heavy
materials and the metal accents on the railing and fixtures kept it grounded.

Despite its industrial
framework and overt masculinity, their home was still inviting and homey. I
supposed it was thanks to all the details throughout, definitely Theo’s doing.

Walking toward the
immense bookshelves, I tried to gauge their size. With such high ceilings,
everything had to be oversized to not be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the
building. Not only were they tall, the shelves spanned two walls forming a
large L-shape.

I marveled at the
number of books; it almost looked like they had raided a library. Running my
fingers along their spines, I scanned the titles. Some looked newer than
others, and they seemed to be organized topically. The books ranged in subjects
from woodworking and criminal psychology to fashion and art history. There was
even a large fiction section, complete with many of the classics.

Even with all the
books, the shelves had more than enough space for other items. There was a nice
balance of decorative items and books, creating an overall effect that was
pleasing to the eye. Their extensive record and movie collection took up
several shelves. I hadn’t even noticed the TV, large as it was, distracted by
all the books.
Who needs TV when you have all these books?

I scanned the rest of
the living room and stopped when I reached a giant trunk on wheels. Reminded of
the old movies I loved to watch, I laughed.
Maybe they’re magicians too?
They certainly did a good job of making me disappear.
I was curious about
the trunk but had more important things to explore, like Knox’s room and the
rooms upstairs.

I turned and headed
toward the dining room. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were combined
in one large area, but there were still clearly defined rooms. The areas were
designated by the furniture yet flowed seamlessly from one to the next.

I skimmed my fingers
along the rectangular table top, admiring the beautiful wood grain. Stopping, I
leaned forward, unable to detect any seams and very few knots. I couldn’t
imagine how large the tree would have to be to get a single piece this large.

The sun streaming in
the kitchen windows blinded me momentarily. Apart from a large island that ran
parallel to the dining table, most of the cabinets and appliances were placed
in an L-shape, mirroring the bookshelves. Unlike my kitchen in Coleville, this
kitchen had no upper cabinets, leaving the space nice and open.

The dark gray cabinets
contrasted nicely with the wood floor and the light stone countertops. Despite
the ample counter space, the countertops were mostly bare. I took a mental
inventory: a fancy looking coffee maker, a knife block, and a container holding
cooking utensils.

Walking along the
length of the table, I eyed the second floor. I set my crutches against the
wall; then with one hand on the metal rail, I hesitated at the foot of the
stairs.
How much time do I have before someone returns?
If I went
upstairs, I couldn’t just sprint back down to the living room and pretend I
hadn’t been wandering around. Curiosity got the better of me, and I shrugged.
If
I get caught, I’ll come up with something.

I held onto the rail,
using it as a crutch to help avoid putting too much weight on my ankle. It was
cold and hard beneath my hand. Climbing the stairs, I reassured myself I was
making the right choice. I felt entitled to some snooping; after all, they had
kidnapped me.

The wood floor and
metal stair railing continued up the stairs and onto the second floor. I
reached the second floor landing and turned right to continue down the walkway.
I noticed that thick wood beams ran in parallel lines across the second-floor
ceiling.

To my right was the
metal railing overlooking the kitchen, dining room, and living room; to my left
was a concrete wall with several doors.
Behind door number one,
I
thought. I knew the first door belonged to Theo’s room, although I had yet to
see it. The door was partially open and I peeked my head in. With no one in
sight, I listened for any sounds of movement.

I entered the room
tentatively. I felt slightly guilty entering Theo’s personal space without
being invited since Theo had been so kind and welcoming to me.

The wall in front of me
was red brick, like the one in the room I was staying in downstairs. Apart from
the placement of the door, and what I assumed was an extended closet, the size
was much the same. But, the ceiling was different; the parallel wood beams continued
into the bedrooms.

Although the style of
the room matched the rest of the loft, it definitely had its own flair. It even
had its own scent. I sniffed, trying to put my finger on it. The smell was
inviting, calming even. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. There were notes of
citrus, lavender, and perhaps rosemary. Combined, the flavors created a scent
that was at once clean, refreshing, and relaxing. I smiled.
The perfect
complement to Theo.

The headboard backed up
to the wall with the windows, the bed facing the closet. Two nightstands
flanked the bed, each with a lamp. The one to the right of the bed held a tidy
stack of books and a square leather tray with various items in it: loose
change, a pair of sunglasses. I scanned the titles, wondering what Theo found
interesting:
George Washington
, by Alexander Chernow;
Willpower
,
by Roy Baumeister; and
The Count of Monte Cristo
, by Alexander
Dumas.
I’d like to read all of those!

The brick wall had
framed pictures on it, much like the ones in my room. While those downstairs
were mostly landscapes, these were a mix of cities, famous landmarks, and other
travel-related scenes. Many of the photographs had the same feel to them, and I
wondered if maybe Theo or Knox had taken them.

A few feet away from
the foot of the bed a long and narrow wooden desk spanned much of the wall. The
desk chair was wooden with wheels and looked like it belonged in someone’s
office long ago. There were few items on the desktop and any papers were sorted
into trays and folders. The top paper in the tray appeared to be some of Theo’s
homework. I was impressed by the bright red “A” before I even realized he was
listed as “Theodore Bennett.” I smiled; the name had a nice ring to it.

A large calendar hung
on the wall above the desk next to a bulletin board. I leaned forward to get a
closer look. There was a picture of two children I assumed were Knox and Theo,
magazine clippings of bikes and men’s fashion, a cocktail recipe, and some
random quotes.

Opening the door to the
right of the desk, a light immediately flickered on. I stood speechless,
admiring the lines of clothing hung in neat rows on matching hangers. Long and
narrow, the closet stretched the length of the room. Toward the end, a set of
shelves several feet wide went from floor to ceiling. Pairs of shoes were lined
up on display.
What guy owns this many shoes?
This many clothes for
that matter?

I closed the door
gently and returned to the upstairs walkway. I peeked my head in the next door.
Realizing it was a bathroom, I didn’t linger. The next door was open, revealing
another bedroom.
Does someone else live with Theo and Knox? If not, why do
two guys need four bedrooms?

The room was decorated
much like the bedroom downstairs with several noticeable differences. The
ceiling of this room had wood beams, the windows were larger and arched, and
there was slightly more space. I wondered why Theo chose the room he had. Given
the choice, this was the room I would have picked.

I quickly surveyed the
furnishings but sensed it was another guest bedroom. The closet was empty of
clothing, confirming my suspicions. Still anxious that someone was going to
return to the loft, I hurried out of the room.

Arriving downstairs, I
felt calmer, although I still felt like I was being watched.
Don’t be ridiculous,
Haley.
I grabbed my crutches and then turned left, heading down the hallway
toward my bedroom. I breathed a small sigh of relief.
At least they would
expect to find me down here.

I knew that a bathroom
and guest bedroom lay behind the doors to my left. What I really wanted to know
was what hid behind the door on the right and the one at the end of the hall.
Assuming Knox didn’t have an opaque glass door for his bedroom door, I figured
the one on the right side of the hall must lead to his room.

I stared at the door,
wishing I could see through it. I didn’t want to imagine how Knox would react
if he found me snooping around his room.
Wait, why am I even hesitating?
I straightened and took a deep breath. Grabbing the handle, I swung the door
open defiantly. I quickly glanced around and released my breath when I saw that
the large room was empty of anyone else.

In front of me was a
window as wide as the bed centered beneath it. I tilted my head to one side,
eyebrow raised. With no bed frame, the mattress rested directly on a large rug
placed on the wood floor.

I stepped onto the rug,
feeling its soft fibers respond beneath my feet. The bed was inviting, covered
in plush layers of sheets and blankets in varying materials and shades of gray
and white. If the bed had been a person, I would have said it was in a state of
undress. It didn’t look sloppy, it just looked relaxed; I wanted to fall into
it.

On each side of the
bed, a dark metallic lamp was attached to the wall, pointing toward the
pillows. There were no nightstands, but I figured the bed was so close to the
ground you could just set books or items on the rug.