The Golden Bell Read Online Free Page A

though
more personal, the packages of underwear and socks shouldn’t
embarrass her beyond recall. Annoyed, he realized he’d forgotten to
order a coat, but she could wear one of his when they went shopping
tomorrow. He glanced at her to say as much, and stilled. Her eyes
were wet.
     
    She was staring at a new hairbrush, but
didn’t seem to be looking at it. “Thank you.” The words were
strained, almost whispered. “Nobody’s ever…” she broke off and
swallowed.
    Awkward. He didn’t do tears well, but Fallon
instinctively understood the basics. Moving to her side, he
gingerly wrapped an arm around her, carefully patting her shoulder.
He was tempted to say, “There, there” like a fool, but resisted the
urge.
    Rain sucked in a breath and stiffened her
spine. “Too much wine,” she said a trifle damply, wiping her eyes
with the back of her hand. “I need to sleep it off.”
    Relieved, Fallon stepped back. “Good idea.
You’ve had a rough day. I’ll carry this stuff up for you and let
you get settled.”
    She leapt on the idea, padding behind him up
the stairs. He entered one of the guest rooms and set the bags on
the floor. For a moment they just stared at each other. “There’s a
lock on the door, but you won’t need it. Nothing is going to bother
you here.” He looked at her gravely, hoping she’d believe him. The
girl deserved a little peace.
    She wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Thanks. I
mean it. You’ve been…really nice.”
    Hm. He’d had more gushing comments made about
him, but none quite as warming. The girl was refreshing and he
wouldn’t mind keeping her around for a while. “You’re welcome, and
good night.” Closing the door softly, he left her to her
dreams.
     
    It wasn’t that she wasn’t grateful. Rain cast
a guilty look up the stairs. At 2:00 AM in the morning, it was
deathly quiet save for the muted hum of appliances. Stealthily, she
lifted the phone from its cradle and dialed the cab company. With
great care, she shut the phonebook and tucked it back in its place
in the hall secretary.
    Leaving this way rankled. She hated taking
anything he’d given her because it just drove the guilt deeper, but
she’d desperately needed the socks and underwear, so she’d left him
the last of her European money with the rest of her new clothes
folded on the bed. She’d doubted he’d want the toothbrush back.
    It had been a trick to lock her door from the
outside, but she was resourceful, and it made the illusion of her
sleeping in more real. She had to get away from there before the
council found out where she was. If she waited that long, it would
be too late. Her father had waited on the council and paid for it
with his life.
    “You’ve reached the Artic Cab Company. How
can I help you?” A sleepy voice answered on the other line.
    Straightening, Rain opened her mouth to give
directions…
    “Put it back.”
    Swearing, Rain whipped around at the cold
words and stared. Just beyond the reach of the desk light’s glow,
Fallon stood there in jeans and nothing else, staring at her with a
hot golden glow in his normally jade eyes. Shivers chilled her.
Even with her sharp ears strained for any sound, she hadn’t heard
him coming.
    “Hello? Is anyone there?”
    Fumbling with the phone in her lax hand, Rain
quickly said, “Wrong number,” and hung up. Guiltily, she shifted,
waiting for Fallon to explode.
    His eyes narrowed. “Am I such a poor host
that it’s worth risking frost bite? It’s cold as sin out there, and
you’ve got nowhere to go.”
    She drew a deep breath. “I had a plan.”
    “So do I. Get back to bed.” The lethal words
warned of impending retribution unless he was obeyed.
    She wasn’t stupid enough to attack a
full-blood Haunt in his prime, so she eyed him, wondering if he’d
move or force her to slip past him, passing through his personal
space as she did. Intimidating thought, and she was already
nervous.
    Slowly, he moved aside, never taking his