by Lia Davis
She swatted at her sister but met his gaze with an embarrassed smile. “If you want. We aren’t cooking tonight, but tomorrow works.”
“Sounds great. I don’t have plans tomorrow.” Unless Liam showed up.
“Good. Is seven okay?”
Slowly, he nodded, allowing his lips to lift in a full smile. “It’s perfect. See you then.”
“See you then. Have a great day.” Nadia closed the door.
“You, too,” Owen whispered. What the hell had he been thinking, agreeing to dinner with his mate? His dragon celebrated. What harm could it do to get to know the sisters a little better so he could protect them if Huff came sniffing around?
Yeah, he should eat them.
Owen took off on his run, grinning the whole way to the general store. He grabbed snacks he was sure Courtney wouldn’t have gotten when she put in the order to stock the lake house, plus a bottle of wine. He also picked up the newspaper as he approached the cash register.
Putting his loot on the counter, he pulled out his wallet. A boy no older than eighteen, by Owen’s guess, set his cell down and rang Owen up. “Staying for the weekend or longer?”
Owen studied the boy for a long moment before answering. “Not sure yet. What’s there to do around here?”
“Not much. Fishing, if you like that. You can rent a boat or kayak over at the marina, but that’s a ways around the lake, nearly the other side. Oh! There will be an end-of-summer gathering at the old Sanderson place next weekend, if you’re here that long.” The kid bagged Owen’s purchases. “The hostess dropped off some flyers last week. Looks like a fun time.”
Owen paid for his things. “Old Sanderson place? What’s that?”
“Yeah. It’s an abandoned farmhouse—a big one. I’ve always thought it was odd to have a farm on a lake, but hey, who am I to judge? It’s a great place for a party.” He reached behind the counter and pulled out a five by nine piece of yellow paper. “This is the info. The address is on it.”
Taking the flyer, Owen glanced at it, memorized the location, then folded the paper in half and stuck it in his bag. He never knew what information would be useful in an investigation, so he gathered everything he could. An abandoned house was a suspicious location, for sure. He’d have to check it out. “Thank you.” A party could be the lure Huff needed to scope another victim.
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your stay.” The clerk went back to tapping on his phone.
Owen gave a short nod as he left the store. He knew he should go to the Council land a few miles north and shift, so the humans wouldn’t see him, but his dragon wanted to go back to the lake house to be close to Nadia.
Fuck. How could this happen?
He had a mate.
But he had an assignment. The timing couldn’t be worse.
Would his human accept him and his dragon? And how was he going to deal with the case and his newly found mate?
Typical Liam. Fucking everything up even when he didn’t realize it. One thing was for sure, Owen wasn’t going to let the bastard anywhere near Nadia or her sister.
2
Ugh. Sage and her matchmaking impulses.
Nadia shook her head at Sage as the nineteen-year-old bounced off to her room. “Why did you say we’d make dinner for that man tomorrow night?”
“His name is Owen.” Sage’s laugh echoed down the hallway. “Because men like women who can cook. And you are amazing at it. Besides, he’s hot.”
“I know his name.” Rolling her eyes, Nadia headed to the kitchen and inspected the food situation. She’d paid extra for the property manager to have groceries delivered so they wouldn’t have to go to the store on arrival. Since they’d rented the same house for years when she and Sage were younger, the owner hadn’t had a problem with the request. Her parents and the owners had become fast friends. Nights out by the lake, a small bonfire, and roasted marshmallows were all good memories.
Opening the freezer, she pulled out frozen steaks. “How about grilled steaks?” She held up the package.
Sage emerged in the doorway. “Perfect. They should thaw by tomorrow. Did Barb get your wine?”
Nadia crossed the room to the wine cooler. Yep, stocked with her favorite reds and whites. Nice. Frowning, she faced her sister. “Yes, she did, but what if he doesn’t like wine?”
Sage shrugged. “What if he’s a vegetarian? Or gluten intolerant? Or doesn’t even like to eat?”
Dread churned in Nadia’s gut. “Should I go ask?”
“I’m sure he likes to eat.” Sage stuck out her tongue.
Nadia let out a huff as she placed the frozen package of steaks in the fridge. “You’re not funny.”
“Of course, I am. And you love me. More than meat.”
Nadia gave Sage her back to hide the smile tugging at her lips.
“So. You’re going over to hottie’s house to ask him if he likes meat?”
A laugh burst from Nadia, turning into a fit of giggles. “Stop.” She tried to frown at Sage.
“What?” Sage held her hands up, clutching her phone. “You have to now because it will bug you not knowing what he likes. Or what he might not be able to eat.”
Shaking her head, Nadia closed the refrigerator. “I’ll cook a vegetarian side dish and make a salad, too.”
Sage nodded as she typed on her phone. “That’s good. Then if he is a meat eater, he’ll think you’re a freak.”
“No, he won’t.”
“Maybe. I’m going to go unpack.” Sage left the kitchen. “I have a lot of stuff to put away.”
“Yes, you do. I still don’t understand your packing strategy. It’s just a week.”
Nadia stared out the kitchen window to the lake. The sunlight gleamed off the still water. An image of Owen flashed in her mind—his warm, gorgeous smile, the slight huskiness in his voice when he spoke. What would it hurt to go over and ask? She needed to know what to cook, after all. Plus, what if he didn’t like wine? He might not drink at all…
She blew out a frustrated groan. When she opened the front door, she heard Sage laugh and say, “Take your time.”
Brat!
A warm breeze blew through the trees, and two birds chirped at each other, the only sounds she heard. The scent of gardenias fragranced the air. She stopped to take in the loveliness of the lake property with its natural beauty. So relaxing.
The silence calmed her spirit. This is what she needed—nature and peace.
Living in the city, she never took alone time. Everything was rush, rush, rush. Here at the lake, she could truly relax. The setting also brought back memories she wasn’t sure she was ready to handle. Although the grief of losing her parents hadn’t choked her as badly as she’d thought it might, the house and land reminded her of the days when they were a family of four.
Sage was right. The two of them needed the time away. Sister time.
A snap of a twig startled her out of her thoughts. She whirled around and sagged in relief. Owen stood about a yard from her in nothing but a pair of black jeans. His dark hair was damp as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. The image almost made her groan. Heat traveled up her body to her cheeks before coiling in her core.
Good grief, the man was hot.
“Is everything okay?”
Nadia nodded. “I was…coming to see you.”
“I thought our dinner date was tomorrow.” One dark brow lifted. “What can I help you with?”
“It is. I was prepping for it.” She studied him, trying like hell to ignore the sensual smirk on his lips. “Do you like meat?”
Oh great. Now she sounded like Sage. A soft chuckle escaped him. “Yes, I like to eat meat.”
Why did it feel like her knees were about to give out at the sound of his statement? “Do you drink wine?”
Because I sure need some now that I made a fool of myself. This man caused her to feel like a teen with her first crush—helpless and awkward.
“I like a full-bodied red on occasion.”
Why did everything he said sound so sexy? She took a deep breath. “So do I. Wine, that is.” Oh God. She was an idiot. “Okay…I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow night?”
“Yes, you will.”
She turned to leave then stopped. “Want to go for a walk? This time of day is so lovely.”
He leaned against the doorframe. “Sure. I need to get my shirt first, but that sounds great.”
“I’ll wait out here on you.”
“Would you like to come in? I’ll finish dressing and grab a few things, then we can go to the lakeshore or maybe the dock.” He held his hand out to her.
Butterflies swarmed her belly, but she placed her hand in his. He linked their fingers as they walked to his house. She couldn’t shake the oddly comfortable feeling that they fit together.
That was crazy. Wasn’t it?
She glanced at him briefly. Yeah, it had to be the fact she hadn’t dated anyone for a year. Or had it been longer?
After climbing the steps to his porch, he released her hand and held the door open. A gentleman. “Thank you. Let me text Sage that I’ll be home later.”
Sage was going to laugh at her for inviting him on a walk. She shot a text to her sister.
He gave a nod. “Sounds like a plan.”
She followed him down the short hall that led from the front door to the living room.
Inside, the house was cozy. The windows were open, and the breeze blew through the place, tugging at the white curtains and giving the room a comfortable feel. Wooden floors in deep yellow oak warmed the room, and area rugs were scattered in high-traffic places. He had his computers set up on the table, but she scanned past them to the old paintings on the wall. The furniture, puffy and large, was an invitation to stay and talk—or do other things.
Her face heated.
She stopped next to the couch, not sure where she should wait for him. Then he leaned toward her, reaching around her at the same time. Their faces were inches apart for a brief moment before he lifted his shirt off the couch to show her. Her heart pounded as he brushed against her hair.
“Just getting my shirt.”
“Yes.” Too bad he was putting it on. She shook her head. If she didn’t get a grip over her feelings—it was going to be a long night.
The woman tempted him on a level he’d never known. Then again, he’d never met his mate. Her scent teased his dragon, and it ached for her, sending Owen’s insides into knots. He had to have her.
He could drop his head and claim her lips…
Yeah, bad idea. They’d end up in his bed. Now wasn’t the time. He had a job to do and needed to stay focused on taking out the rat bastard who’d murdered his sister and the other women. Still, he’d spend time with her tonight. He had to protect Nadia and Sage.
The Fates really had bad timing.
His dragon hissed.
Turning away, he went to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of wine he’d bought while at the general store, then pulled out two glasses from the cabinet. Having a drink on the dock seemed like a great plan. Nadia’s scent drifted around him, and he closed his eyes, knowing she’d followed him. His dragon smiled.
A series of chiming bells rang.
Her nervousness reached out to him as she fumbled for her phone. “Sage said take our time. She’s texting friends and watching TV tonight.”
“Great. We’ll do just that.” He held her gaze, then lifted his hand to cup her cheek. When he touched her soft skin, he almost groaned aloud, and he had to rein in his dragon. Hard. The beast wanted to claim her.
Right now.
After a moment, she let out a nervous laugh and stepped away. “We should be going. It’ll be dark soon.”
Nodding, he motioned to the door. “After you.” A small pang of anxiety hit him. “You sure Sage will stay in the house?” If Liam were to come by…
“Yes, why? She’s tired from lugging everything she owns up here.”
“Okay. Wouldn’t want her to get lost.”
“She’s not a child.” Nadia took a deep breath. “She wouldn’t go anywhere without letting me know.”
“Let’s set the wine out on the dock so I don’t have to carry it.”
“Okay. I’m pretty tired, too, so it’ll have to be a short walk.”
They crossed the distance between their houses in silence, heading toward the dock that jutted from the shore.
Nadia’s aura surrounded him, and he let his dragon enjoy their closeness. He could sense her love for nature as she took in the world around her. She breathed in the air and spread her fingers to let the breeze pass through them, then followed a small, fluttering butterfly as it skipped from flower to flower. She probably didn’t even realize she did it.
He noticed.
Being a hunter for the Eastern Dragon Council, he’d been trained to spot the smallest things about people. Observe and record. He never knew what information would lead to breaking a case wide open. Since Nadia was his mate, his dragon noted everything about her.
Maybe too many things.
The dock creaked with the slow movement of water underneath, and they headed toward the end of it where a small bistro table and two chairs faced the coming sunset. He set the wine and glasses down and looked out over the lake.
Liam Huff was out there somewhere. He put his hands on his hips.
Nadia stepped up beside him. “Why so serious all of the sudden?”
“It’s nothing. I guess I needed this vacation more than I realized.”
“I know that feeling.” She stared at the ground. “I’ve been coming here since I was a child. I love this lake.”
“It’s beautiful.” Like you.
She paused. “You’re on vacation, but you have a lot of computers set up at your house. Why?”
“I wanted to get a little work done.”
“I understand. But don’t forget the vacation in your vacation.”
“Let’s not talk about work tonight,” he said.
“Agreed.” She looped her arm in his. “Let’s go for a little stroll along the shore.”
They walked the length of the dock and Nadia led him along the water’s edge, the opposite direction of his house. A few boats sailed on the glassy surface of the center of the lake, but otherwise, it seemed like they were the only people in the world. Birds called to each other, and a few squirrels chattered to their friends. Everything smelled alive and green and so pure, untouched by city filth.
He could get used to it.
She stopped at a large boulder and leaned back on it. “We used to play here when we were younger.”
“I can see why. It’s a beautiful spot.”
She pointed to the center of the water. “This is one of the widest points on the lake. If the sun is shining brightly, it masks the other shore. We used to pretend we were at the edge of the world here.”
“Almost like being at the ocean.”
She nodded. “Without the sand.”
He stooped to pick up a small pebble. “Know how to skip rocks?”
She gave him a look he couldn’t decipher. “Of course I do. Want to have a little contest?”
“Best throw out of three?”
She grabbed a couple of stones. “You’re on.”
“Ladies first.” He stepped closer to the water’s edge.
“You just want to scope out my throwing skills.”
He held his hands up in mock defeat. “You caught me.”
“Watch this.” She sidearm flung one of the rocks.
It bounced across the surface of the water. One, two, three skips.
“Not bad,” he said.
“I’m out of practice.” She dropped the rocks she had left and searched for others.
“What are you doing?” He bent to see.
“Looking for a better rock. Here’s one. And another.”
“Here goes nothing.” He pitched his rock out over the water.
One, two, three, four skips. He let out a yelp of excitement.
“Good job.” She set her mouth in a firm line. “But I’m going to beat that.”
“Go for it.”
She sent her rock sailing across the water, matching his four skips. His next throw was a dud, only earning him three skips. Nadia rubbed her last rock.
“I want six skips. I used to be able to get eight.”
“I’m sure you can do it.”
She sent the rock sailing, and it bounced five times.
“Shoot. I know I can do it.”
“We can try again another night. You’re ahead now. Here’s my last throw.”
He focused on the rock and flung it with all his might. It hit the water at the wrong angle and made a big splash before sinking.
Nadia had her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. “You aren’t letting me win on purpose, are you?”
He shook his head. “No way.”
“Good. I wouldn’t like that.”
“I’d never do that. Let’s head back for some wine. I’m thirsty.”
She closed her eyes and let the breeze blow her hair. “And I’m tired.”
* * *
The wine went down smoothly for such a cheap vintage, and Owen leaned back in the chair. The sun was beginning to set, sending orange fingers across the water. He glanced at Nadia. She stared at the sunset, too, but her mind was clearly on something else.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said.
She broke her reverie and took a long drink of wine then set the glass down. “Thinking about Sage heading to college in a few weeks and how lonely it’s going to be at home with her gone.”
He reached across the table and held her hand. “I’m sure she will keep in touch.”
“She better.”
“You’ll be alone? No boyfriends or anything?”
“No time for boyfriends.”
“That’s too bad. Boyfriends can be a good thing.” He squeezed her fingers gently and rubbed along the back of wrist with his thumb.
His dragon nearly sang a song, he was so happy.
Nadia pulled away. “Maybe. It will be the first time in a long time that I’m not caring for someone else. I’ve taken care of Sage for so long, it will be weird for a while. But she needs to go to college. Be independent.”