by Lori Sjoberg
Cassie’s grin widened to a smile. “Your reaper’s jaw is going to hit the floor when he gets a load of this outfit.”
“And that’s a good thing?”
Antonella nodded. “That’s definitely a very good thing.”
Downstairs, the doorbell rang.
“Sounds like he’s here.” Cassie winked as she started toward the stairs. “I’ll keep him busy while Antonella does your hair and makeup.”
“Makeup? I never agreed to makeup.” She’d been a good sport about letting them dress her like an oversized Barbie doll, but she drew the line at painting her face with a bunch of cosmetics. She’d tried it once, many years ago, and didn’t like the feel of it on her skin.
Antonella motioned to the seat in front of the vanity. “Come on, sit down. I promise not to put too much on you.”
Marlena eyed the chair as if it were alive. “Promise?”
“Promise. And if you don’t like it, I’ll let you wash it off.”
With a sigh, Marlena took a seat and folded her hands in her lap. She heard the faint sound of the front door opening, followed by muffled conversation. Try as she might, she couldn’t make out the words, but the tone seemed light and she heard Cassie laugh. She fidgeted in her seat, eager to see Adam but nervous about how the evening was going to play out.
“Relax, you’re going to look great,” Antonella said as she finger-combed a glob of clear gel into Marlena’s hair. The young witch picked up a large round brush and turned on the hair dryer, drowning out any further objections. When she finished a short time later, Marlena’s blond hair looked shiny and fell past her shoulders in choppy waves.
She had to admit, it looked pretty, fancy but not so fancy she’d mess it up if she ran her fingers through it.
“What do you think?” Antonella asked.
“I love it.” But the warm fuzzy feeling turned to dread when Antonella opened a giant makeup case. “Oh, come on, do we have to?”
For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why the witch owned that much makeup. With her smooth olive skin and classic Italian features, she was drop-dead gorgeous even when she was sick with the flu.
“Yes, we do. A deal’s a deal.” Antonella chuckled. “Relax, I won’t make you look like a hooker. I’ll just put on enough to highlight your best features.”
“Okay.” Still, it took almost every ounce of her self-control to keep from bolting out of the seat. With her body turned away from the mirror, she couldn’t see what Antonella was doing. What took a few minutes felt like hours, until the young witch set down the mascara wand and said, “See, that wasn’t so bad.”
Fearing the worst, Marlena twisted in her seat to check the results of the young witch’s handiwork. It looked like she barely had anything on, just a light foundation, mascara, lip gloss, and a natural eye shadow that brought out the color in her eyes.
“Do you like it?” Antonella asked.
She nodded. “I think I owe you one.” She met the witch’s gaze in the mirror. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now get your butt downstairs before Cassie steals your date.”
After slipping on a pair of tan dressy sandals, Marlena hurried out of the room. She followed the sound of Adam’s deep voice and found him and Cassie sitting in the living room. The cat was sprawled across Cassie’s lap, while Adam had made himself comfortable on one of the leather recliners.
As usual, he looked incredible. He wore a dark red shirt over black denim jeans that fit him in all the right places. His jaw was shadowed with stubble, and she couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel against her thighs. They both looked up at the sound of her footsteps, and all conversation stopped.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Cassie smiled.
Adam nodded, his gaze moving up and down Marlena’s body and pausing at the show of cleavage. “Definitely worth the wait.”
He stood and walked toward her. Taking her hand, he pressed a kiss against the backs of her knuckles. The feel of his lips against her skin sent tingling warmth up her arm. Then his eyes met hers and everything inside her clenched.
“Hungry?” he asked, his voice low and husky.
“Starving.” When she licked her lips, his eyes darkened with lust. Electricity arced in the air between them, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe.
Cassie coughed, breaking the tension. “I’ll leave the porch light on,” she said, the smile on her face reaching her eyes. “You two have fun tonight.”
“Thanks, Cassie,” Adam replied, his focus still riveted on Marlena. One corner of his mouth tilted up in a sexy grin. “We better get going. The restaurant is clear across town and our reservation is for six.”
The Polish restaurant was located in a strip mall between a dry cleaner and a computer repair shop. Inside, the place had a cozy feel. The décor was kitschy, but in a good way, with plush burgundy seats, vintage-style pendant lights, and dozens of pictures of Poland and its people in a variety of mismatched frames. The waitress, a sweet-looking older woman with a puff of white hair framing her face, greeted them at the door and led them to a table by the window.
Once seated, they ordered red wine with their pierogi and split a basket of challah bread.
“See, what did I tell you?” Adam asked as he relished his meal. He paused to wipe his mouth with his napkin. “They’re the best pierogi in town.”
Marlena shrugged, holding back her smile. “Mmm. They’re good.”
“What do you mean, good?” he said, as if offended. “They’re freaking fantastic.”
“Okay, they’re fantastic.” She reached for her glass and sipped her wine. The red he’d chosen went well with the food and tasted absolutely delicious. “How did you become such a connoisseur of Polish cuisine?”
“It came with being part of a big Polish family.”
“How big?”
“I was the second of seven and the oldest boy.”
Marlena let out a low whistle. “Wow, that is a big family. That must have been a lot of fun.”
In contrast, she’d been an only child, an oddity in a time when large families had been the norm. Her mother had disappeared when Marlena was only four, leaving just her and Papa. If he wasn’t working the fields, he was passed out drunk, and she’d quickly learned how to fend for herself.
“I guess you could say that. With that many people in the house, though, you couldn’t get away with much of anything.” A troubled look crossed Adam’s face, but then he blinked and it was gone. He smiled as if remembering something funny. “The mornings before school were always a pain. All of us kids had to share one bathroom, and if my older sister got in there first, she’d use up all the hot water.”
Marlena laughed. “Are you close to any of them?”
His expression sobered. “Not anymore. You can’t when you’re a reaper.”
Aw, crap. She was such an idiot. She should have known he couldn’t keep contact with his mortal family now that he was no longer human. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m the one who screwed up.” He picked up his glass and drained half of the wine before setting it back on the table. “How about you? Any family?”
“Just Cassie.” And that was all she needed. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. Still, there were times where she longed for something more, something that couldn’t be satisfied through companionship alone.
“I’ve been meaning to ask about her. Dmitri said she’s your daughter. Is that true?”
She nodded, understanding his confusion. “Adopted.”
“Ah. How did that come about?”
While they finished their meal, she told him the story of how she’d found the young orphan on the streets of Paris, taken the girl back with her to the United States, and raised her as her own.
“Why were you in France to begin with?” he asked. “Wasn’t that during World War Two?”
“Yeah. I was in Munich when the war started.” Talk about lousy timing. Restless and lonely, she�
��d traveled to the region in search of kindred who used to live there. Less than a month later, Germany invaded Poland. “I managed to cross the border into Switzerland and stayed there until the war ended. Then I made my way to France and booked passage on a ship to the States.”
She smiled at the memory of the grubby little girl who’d tried to pick her pocket. The fire in Cassie had called out to her and touched something she’d long considered dead. Maybe it was because they’d both been alone, or maybe she just couldn’t bring herself to leave the girl on the streets to fend for herself. Either way, it was a good thing she’d brought enough money to bribe the right people. Otherwise, the little witch would have been trapped in an immigration nightmare.
Adam wiped his mouth and set the napkin on the table. “So how’d you become a shifter? Were you bitten or something?”
“No, you’re thinking of the old werewolf legends.” It was a common misconception, even among non-humans. “Shifters are born, not made. We age just like humans until we reach about twenty, then the process slows down a bit.”
“How much is a bit?”
“About a year for every century.”
Adam didn’t say anything for a second or two. “And you’re how old?”
“Four hundred twenty-three.” Although there were days when she felt closer to a thousand.
Adam’s eyes widened. “Wow, you must have some stories to tell. Were you ever married?”
Christopher’s face flashed through her mind, and grief and guilt squeezed her heart. Had he survived, the mate bond would have slowed the aging process and prolonged his natural life. She still would have outlived him, but barring injury or illness, he could have lived for a couple hundred years. “I was married once, but he died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“No, it’s okay. You had no way of knowing.” She tried forcing a smile but failed. It felt weird to be talking about her deceased husband with the man who harbored his soul. “We were married for a year before, well …” Her voice trailed off.
“And you never remarried? After all this time?”
“How could I? I was mourning the loss of my mate.”
“Yeah, but—didn’t you miss”—he made a vague gesture with his hands—“you know?”
“Not really.” That was a lie. Even now, she yearned for her mate’s touch. Shifters were sexual creatures by nature, but they usually bonded for life. Losing her mate at such a young age had been crippling, especially when she went into season. She’d tried a few times to satisfy the cravings but found all of her partners lacking. Eventually, she’d just given up.
“Maybe you never found the right person.”
“Maybe.” She looked into his eyes, darkened with lust and hunger. Wicked awareness sped through her system, making her wish they were alone. She blinked, forcing her gaze away before she did anything stupid. “What about you? Married? Engaged?”
“No on both counts.” He paused to drink the last of his wine and signaled the waitress for another. “I had a baby girl, though. She’s ten now.”
Ah, there it was, the reason for the frown lines. “You must have been young when she was born.”
He nodded. “I’d just graduated from the academy when Sherry found out she was pregnant. We tried to make a go of it, but in the end we both wanted different things.” A faint smile creased his mouth while storm clouds gathered in his eyes. “She’s a beautiful little girl. And smart. Even when I was working undercover, I figured out ways to sneak over and visit her at least once a week.”
“What’s her name?”
“Kaitlyn. She has my eyes and hair, but the rest of her looks like her mother.”
The waitress stopped by to refill their wineglasses and to see if they needed anything else. Marlena told the woman she was fine, while Adam asked for a dessert menu.
“Be right back,” Adam said as he stood. He walked toward the rear of the restaurant where the kitchen and restrooms were located.
Marlena glanced down at her purse, temptation nagging her brain. She unzipped the main compartment and brushed her fingertips against the small vial inside. The restaurant was quiet, and no one would notice if she slipped Cassie’s potion into Adam’s glass. The wine was strong enough to mask the bitter flavor. He’d never know until it was too late.
But was that what she really wanted? He’d regain the memories of their love and their mate bond, but he’d also remember the gruesome details leading up to his death. Was it fair to force those memories upon him without his knowledge or consent? Not to mention she still didn’t know the full effects of the potion. What if it caused him irrevocable harm?
Besides, if she were being honest with herself, she liked the man Christopher had become. Adam was a good man, funny and smart, and the more time she spent with him, the more attracted she became. The admission gnawed on her conscience. It felt like a betrayal, to choose the man he was now over the man she’d fallen in love with and had chosen as her mate. Christopher had lost his life because of her, and here she was, ready to cast him aside in favor of the updated version.
No. She couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not now at least. Besides, she could always slip him the potion later if she changed her mind. Decision made, she zipped her purse closed, picked up her fork, and polished off the last of her pierogi.
Adam returned a few minutes later and slid back into his seat.
“Ready for dessert?” he asked as he lifted his wineglass and took a sip.
Marlena looked down at her empty plate. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten that much, and her clothes were starting to feel tight. “No, thanks. I’m full.”
“Oh, but you have to try their strudel. It practically melts in your mouth.”
It sounded delicious, but if she ate another bite, she’d probably pop like a tick under a match flame. “I wish I could, but I’m too full.”
He stared at her for a long moment as if trying to figure something out. “This isn’t some kind of girl thing, is it? Where you don’t want a guy to see you eat too much?”
“Hardly. You just watched me polish off half a loaf of challah bread and six pierogi.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He grinned, and it melted her bones. “Come on, live a little. We’ll split the strudel and then take a walk downtown to burn off the calories.”
That actually sounded like a good idea, although her hormones were thinking of other ways to work off dinner and dessert. With her assailants at large and Cassie afraid for her safety, she’d agreed to the witch’s request that she curtail her outdoor activities. But her daughter wouldn’t mind her going out in public if Adam was by her side. Not only was he a reaper, he was also a trained law enforcement off icer. She couldn’t be in safer hands.
Marlena picked up her glass and sipped her wine. It went down smoothly, leaving a warm trail in its wake. Just a few bites, she told herself, and a nice walk to help settle dinner. Then she thought about what might happen next, and her heart pounded with anticipation.
Chapter 13
Adam was right. The strudel was incredible.
An hour later, they were walking along the streets of downtown Winter Park. The brick-lined roads and canopy of oak trees gave the area a cozy feel. Even for a Wednesday, the place was quiet, probably because the night was young and the evening crowd had yet to filter in. Another couple hours, and the bars and restaurants would be filled with people in search of a good time.
“Do you come down here often?” Marlena asked Adam. A cluster of people waited for the light to change, and when it did, they crossed the street as one big herd.
“Yeah, but it’s been a while.” His posture was relaxed, but those cop eyes of his never stopped scanning their surroundings. He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers with hers, and the simple contact warmed her inside. “The last couple times I was here was for jobs, and I usually steer clear for a month or two after those.”
> Made sense. “So where did you want to go?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Are you in the mood for drinks, entertainment, or good old-fashioned people watching?”
They stopped at the intersection of Park and Morse. The SunRail station was off to the right, just past the park with its beautiful rose garden. A group of young men walked by wearing baggy pants that hung low enough to expose the top half of their underwear. One of them kept a continuous grip on his waistband, probably to keep his pants from dropping to his ankles.
Marlena glanced up at Adam. “I know a place where we can get all three.”
His eyes sparked with interest. “Where? Is it new?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s been around a while, but it’s a few blocks away from here. Are you up for a walk, or would you rather drive?” They’d parked his truck a few streets away, but it wouldn’t take long to retrieve it.
“I’m good for a walk. Lead the way.”
The crowds thinned as they moved away from the downtown area, until they reached a building with apartments on the upper floors and shops at ground level. It was a part of the city that hadn’t been fully revitalized but had made strides in that direction over the past couple years.
Adam didn’t visit the area very often, mainly because he didn’t care for the snobby college kids that hung around the main drag. The only reason he’d suggested it was because it was a relatively safe place to walk at night, and after everything Marlena had been through, he didn’t want her to worry.
“Here it is,” she said as she stopped in front of a shop with “Beltane Apothecary” written on the front window in fancy script lettering.
He eyed the storefront, with its quaint little planters beneath the window and a bicycle rack off to the side. “Is there something Cassie needs?”
“No, this is the place I was telling you about.”
Okay, that didn’t make a lick of sense, but he decided to go with the flow. He held the door open and followed her inside. The place was neat and brightly lit, with shelves of dark-colored bottles lining the perimeter walls. The cool air smelled of incense and wax. An antique counter made of stained wood stretched across the back wall, where a middle-aged brunette wearing a white smock and wire-framed glasses poured liquid into a bottle.