Dark Masterpiece (Serendipity Series 3) Read Online Free Page A

her stop and marvel. She had never seen
such long hair on a man. At least not on a man who wasn’t a sleazy,
old biker, or a Native American. Then again, maybe he was Native American… She
wouldn’t know… And his hair wasn’t frizzy and scary like those
eighties rockers. It was shining ebony that looked like it would
feel like silk.
    “Can I help you?” he queried.
    Evie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
He was absolutely, breathtakingly…beautiful. Beautiful like art,
like the covers of fantasy books with the rugged, manly, yet
gorgeous hero. His features were harsh, all hard lines and sharp
angles, undeniably masculine, but there was a strange, elegant
beauty around his sensual lips and light green eyes that made Evie
feel like she was looking at a living masterpiece.
    Seth cleared his throat discreetly, which
brought Evie out of her stupor, and she gave a nervous cough.
“Excuse me, I am looking for Traevyn Whitelaw,” she murmured.
    His facial expression remained impassive,
and he merely shifted his weight in a lazy manner. It was a languid
movement, like a jungle cat stretching. He sighed. “And you
are?”
    “Um…I—I’m Evelina Austin,” she stammered.
“I’m—uh—supposed to be studying with Mr. Whitelaw for the summer…
As his apprentice.”
    His pale eyes seemed to look her over for a
moment before they fixed on her own. “I am Traevyn Whitelaw,” he
stated.
    She swallowed.
    “Who is your companion?”
    “Oh, this is my brother, Seth.” She flashed
a nervous smile. “My parents dumped him on me last minute. There
was no one else to watch him all summer. I called Professor Roth
and he told me it should be okay if I brought him with me.”
    His dark eyebrows drew together in a frown
and he stood up straight. “Oh he did, did he?”
    It was almost a snarl. Evie retreated a step
as his presence seemed to suddenly fill the entire world.
    “It is most
certainly not okay,” he spat, his voice a menacing growl. “Let me make one
thing perfectly clear to you, Miss Austin. This apprenticeship
program was not my idea, or my doing. Professor Roth approached me
with it, and it was out of respect and gratitude for him that I
reluctantly accepted. If not for him I would never have made it to
where I am now. So, yes, you will be my apprentice. I will teach;
you will learn what you will. What you do with that knowledge is
entirely up to you. It is not any fault of mine if you fall flat on
your face in your desired career. Professor Roth recommended you,
so you must have some talent, but I want to get one thing straight,
Miss Austin. I have better things to do than entertain a
starry-eyed college student and her delinquent brother.”
    Seth frowned. “Hey,” he protested.
    “I am doing this out of obligation,” Traevyn
finished, “not by choice.”
    Evie stared at him, dumbfounded. He moved
quickly, making her jump, and motioned her inside. She hurried to
obey, grasping Seth’s wrist and hauling him in after her.
    “Follow,” Traevyn commanded, shutting the
door.
    Evie trailed behind him up a staircase, her
hands shaking horribly. The entire house was so dark, full of
mahogany, black leather furniture, and wrought iron. She could even
see a few tapestries on the walls, but her chance to take a look
was limited as she hurried after Traevyn.
    He led them down a hallway to a door, which
he opened. “This will be your room,” he stated. “The boy can have
the one across the hall. You will find it slightly less prepared as
I was not expecting him.” He fixed his eyes on Seth.
    Seth retreated behind Evie.
    “The kitchen is downstairs
and the guest bathroom is at the end of the hall. If you have a
problem that you can’t seem to solve on your own, my room is at the
far end of the other hall, if you make a left at the top of the stairs instead of
a right. When I feel like teaching, I will find you. Otherwise,
please do your best to stay out of my way.” He turned and strode
back down the