Page 31 of The Jilted Jinn


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Thirty minuteslater I looked more than presentable. I'd let down my dark hair and brushed it with a little coconut oil until it gleamed under the light. My eyes were lined with black kohl and I'd pumped up the amount of mascara I wore. A little nude lipgloss and a bronzer, and I was ready togo.

I stepped out of the room and made a turn to go to the kitchen, but Martin was in the way. His eyes widened when he saw me and he dropped his paintbrush. He let out a harsh curse and rushed into the bathroom to get something, assumably to clean it up. I grinned at his back and went to get myself a glass of water. Martin came out with a rag and something else and proceeded to wipe every bit of paint up. When he finished he stood and color was present on hischeeks.

"Sorry about that. I was just surprised." He smiled at me. "You look amazing, by theway."

I felt amazing. "Thanks, Martin. A friend is dropping by to pick me up fordrinks."

There was subtle change in the atmosphere. Martin's expression darkened for a moment before he gave me a grin. "Awesome!" he said, his voice too cheery for the moment. "Have fun! I'll just clean up here and get out of yourhair."

"No hurry," I said, confused about the change in hisdemeanor.

Martin stalked away from me and I watched as he threw things into his bag. The doorbell rang, startling me. I watched for a second as Martin stalled, stiffened, and continued packing his bag as if he couldn't get out of here fastenough.

When the doorbell rang again, I moved away from him to answer it. Harry stood there, casual yet chic in a pair of dark wash jeans and a pulloversweater.

"I'm a little early," he said. "Sorry."

I motioned for him to come in. "No problem. I need to get a few things and I'll beready."

I glanced over to see Martin standing in the doorway of the bathroom an absolutely murderous expression on his face. I frowned at him but he wasn't looking atme.

He was looking atHarry.

Harry, to his credit, seemed completely oblivious and was looking around at my place. Granted, it wasn't in the best condition right now, but it was starting to cometogether.

I excused myself, shaking my head at Martin's odd behavior. I grabbed my purse from the bedroom, took a final glance in the mirror, and slid a pair of low heeled kitten heels on myfeet.

When I came back out, Martin and Harry were standing in front of each other. Harry reached out his hand and Martin paused a little too long before takingit.

I stepped in to defuse whatever situation was brewing and introduced them both. They shook hands, grudgingly on Martin's part. Harry tilted his head and a small look of confusion turned his browsup.

"I'm pretty sure I know a friend of yours," Martin said as he adjusted the bag over hisshoulder.

Harry's face brightened. "Oh! I'm sure you do. I'm involved in quite a bit of charity work around thetown."

Martin's smile was positively feral. "She doesn't live in this town. Her name isLila."

The smile fell of Harry's face like ice cream sliding off a cone. He blinked for a couple of seconds and blanched bone white. I stared between them wondering what the hell was goingon.

"Lila?" I inquired. "Where's shefrom?"

Harry stammered for a second before recovering admirably. "She's a woman I helped with a...situation. It's delicate." He gave a weird chuckle. "I'm not at liberty to discuss it, but I also wouldn't call her afriend."

Martin smirked. "It was nice to meet you, Harry," he said. He nodded to me, told me he'd be back first thing and left us standingthere.

Harry stared at Martin's retreating back with an expression on his face I didn't particularly like. "Everything okay?" I askedgently.

He shook himself out of it. "Yeah," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Just a total blast from the past. None of my mutual friends know Lila. It was a long time ago." He opened his mouth to say something else, but then closed it and let out a harshlaugh.

"What isit?"

"It's not a bigdeal."

I rolled my eyes. "From whatever that was, it seems like it's a very bigdeal."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, Lila wasn't exactly a friend. She's an ex-girlfriend."

Now that made a lot more sense. "Oh?"