by Lynsay Sands
“Are you going to stand there gaping at her, or open the door to let her in?”
Santo glanced around at that dry question. Julius had joined him in the room and was looking out the window on the other side of the French doors. Santo’s guess would be that his uncle had seen the lady with the schnauzer, noted her shock, and come to investigate as well. He knew he was right when Julius spoke again.
“I’ll handle the dog lady while you tend to Pet.” When Santo just stared at him, Julius then raised his eyebrows. “Well? Let her in, nephew. She has no idea where to go. The front door is just wood nailed over the frame still.”
When Santo glanced back to see that Pet had mounted the porch and now stood staring with dismay at where the front door used to be, he quickly moved to the French doors and opened them for her.
“Oh, thank God!” Pet rushed forward. She actually tried to race past him, but Santo caught her by the shoulders to stop her and frowned when he noted her pale and distressed face. He hadn’t noticed that as he’d watched her boobs bounce up the front lawn.
“What is it? What’s happened?” Santo asked, and couldn’t imagine what the answer might be. She’d been sleeping peacefully when he’d checked on her before heading over here, and Marguerite had been there to watch her, which made him ask, “Where is Marguerite?”
“I don’t know,” Pet gasped, clutching at his arms. “And Parker’s gone! They both are!”
Santo felt himself relax at once. He had no idea where his aunt was, probably in the backyard with J, but he did know where Parker was. Trying to sound soothing, he growled, “Parker is fine. He’s at school.”
“What?” She seemed shocked at the possibility. “How?”
“I drove him,” Santo said, and her eyes widened at the news as if she could hardly take it in.
“Oh,” she breathed finally, and sagged slightly in his hold. “When I woke up and he wasn’t there . . .”
“I am sorry,” he said stiffly, thinking he should have left her a note. But he’d expected Marguerite to tell her where Parker was when she woke up. He’d never imagined Pet would have been left to panic at the boy’s absence.
“No. Don’t be. I just didn’t know . . .” Giving her head a shake, Pet managed a weak smile and offered, “Thank you. It was kind of you to take him to school and I appreciate it.”
“My pleasure,” he muttered. Feeling uncomfortable with her gratitude, he turned it elsewhere by saying, “Marguerite called your work.”
Pet’s eyes widened incredulously. “Oh, God, I was so panicked about Parker I forgot all about missing work.”
“Marguerite called,” he repeated, thinking that should be sufficient to calm her again.
It was Julius who added, “She spoke to the head of your department and explained about the intruder, the destroyed door, and your being up all night. They were very understanding and said your . . . TA?” he queried, and when she nodded, he finished, “Your TA is taking your classes. You are to take as much time as you need. Just to let them know.”
“Oh.” Pet relaxed again.
“My wife also called the housekeeper, Oksana, and gave her the day off,” Julius added. “There seemed little need for her today and we suspected the state of the door would just upset her.”
That made Pet’s lips quirk up with amusement, and she nodded. “No doubt.”
Santo relaxed now that she was no longer distressed, and then, realizing he still held her by the shoulders, removed his hands and took a step back before her scent could tempt him to do something foolish like pull her into his arms and kiss her again right there in front of his uncle. Shifting uncomfortably, he tried to think of something to say, and then straightened slightly and asked, “Would you like coffee?”
Pet perked up at the word. “Is there some?”
“No,” he admitted and when she started to droop again with disappointment, added quickly, “I will make it.”
“Oh, dear God, no,” Julius said abruptly. “You are not making coffee. Not after that mud you made this morning. I will make coffee.”
Santo watched his uncle storm off to the kitchen, and then glanced to Pet to see her staring after him with twitching lips. When she turned to peer at Santo, the twitching turned into a smile that sucked all the air out of the room. At least that’s how it felt. Santo suddenly couldn’t breathe. She was so damned beautiful to him. Part of his brain could acknowledge that while she was pretty, she was no Helen of Troy. But that was only a corner of his mind. To the rest of his mind, she shone like spun gold, sparkled like diamonds, and was breathtakingly, heartbreakingly perfect.
“Oh.”
When she glanced down suddenly, Santo followed her gaze and saw the cat had followed her in through the still open French doors and was winding around her feet, rubbing her sides against Pet’s lower legs in a bid for attention. Santo turned to close the door as she bent to scoop up the cat.
“Did Parker feed Mrs. Wiggles before he left for school?” she asked as she straightened with the furball in her arms.
Santo shook his head. Parker had eaten his breakfast and then rushed over here to get ready for school. He probably hadn’t even thought of the cat.
“Then I’d better go see if Quinn has some tuna or something to feed her,” she said, turning away to head to the kitchen.
Santo automatically started to follow, but then paused as he recalled the task that he was here to do. Still, he stood, listening to the soft patter of her footsteps until they faded. Only then did he start breathing again. Giving his head a shake, Santo turned and moved back to the window. But while his gaze moved over the scene outside, his mind was full of Pet.
“Coffee will be ready in a minute,” Julius announced, sliding the coffee carafe into the machine and turning it on as Pet entered the kitchen.
“Thank you.” She offered a smile but passed him to begin opening cupboard doors in search of some kind of canned meat for Mrs. Wiggles.
“Ah, yes, cat food.”
Pet glanced warily around when Julius murmured that, wondering if he’d read the concern from her mind or just guessed what the issue was. It was impossible to tell from his thoughtful expression. Shrugging the matter aside, she turned back to the cupboard and had just spotted a can of salmon when Julius spoke again.
“Would dog food do, do you think?” he asked, and then explained, “Marguerite spoils J horribly and will not feed him anything but the best canned food. I could go grab a can.”
Pet considered the offer briefly but then shook her head as she retrieved the salmon from the cupboard. “That’s kind, but I’m not sure what’s good for dogs is good for cats. I mean we eat chocolate, but that kills dogs. Maybe there’s something in dog food that’s not good for cats,” she pointed out, and then set Mrs. Wiggles down so that she could find the can opener and a bowl. “She can eat the salmon while I dress, and then I’ll run out and pick up some cat food . . . and a litter box and litter and . . .” She shrugged helplessly, not sure what all she would need. The mental list she’d made last night had apparently fled her mind, chased out by the panic she’d experienced on finding Parker missing. She’d have to make a written list and maybe add to it when she got to the store and saw what was available. Pet had never had a cat. Dogs, yes. Cats, no. Patrick wasn’t the only one allergic to the felines; her adoptive father, Randall, was too.
She should probably get two litter boxes, Pet supposed as she opened the can and then turned the salmon into the bowl. One for Mrs. Wiggles to use here until they left, and one for her apartment. It would be easier to sneak a clean, unused litter box and a container of litter into her building than a litter box full of used litter.
“Shopping.”
Pet glanced to Julius with curiosity when he murmured that word. Her gaze narrowed warily when she noted the way he was looking at her. “What?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking,” he said, and then smiled wryly and commented, “I am sure you noted the state of the front door?”
Pet snorted slightly at the question as she picked up the bowl of salmon and set it on the floor for Mrs. Wiggles. “It would be hard not to. Where did you guys get the wood you nailed over the frame?”
“We used the coffee table and a headboard from upstairs.”
Pet straightened abruptly at that news, her eyes wide with alarm. “What?”
Julius nodded but shrugged his shoulders at the same time. “It was all we could think of at the time. Which is why, when you mentioned shopping for cat items, I thought . . . We need to replace the coffee table and headboard too.”
“Oh, yeah, we do,” Pet agreed, her tone dry as dust. She could just imagine Quinn’s reaction if she came home to find them missing. She’d never hear the end of it.
“Of course, we will pay, and I had intended on sending one of the boys out later today, but it occurs to me that they might not be able to find the exact same table and headboard.”
Pet frowned slightly as she considered that possibility. Good Lord, the truth was, styles changed so quickly, it wasn’t likely the stores would have the exact same coffee table, or possibly even the exact same headboard still in stock anywhere.
“Perhaps it would be a good idea if Santo went shopping with you for the cat items, and then the two of you could stop at a furniture shop to select a new coffee table and headboard that, if not exactly the same, might be acceptable to your sister.”
Pet had stiffened at the suggestion of Santo going shopping with her, but by the time Julius finished speaking, she was seeing the sense behind his words. They needed to replace the items that had been broken up to block the door, and she would really rather have a say in what they were replaced with. She was the one who was likely to take the heat when Quinn got home and noticed the changed items if they couldn’t find exact replacements.
“That might be a good idea,” she agreed on a sigh, and glanced down to see that Mrs. Wiggles was gobbling up the salmon with enthusiastic speed. Fetching another bowl, she moved to the sink and began to run water into the dish as she added, “But I need to shower and dress first.”
“Of course,” Julius said solemnly. “I will have a word with Santo while you do.”
Pet merely nodded and set the water dish next to the nearly empty salmon bowl and then led the way out of the room. She was aware that Julius followed her until they reached the stairs, but while she jogged lightly up the steps, he continued on into the living room. The soft rumble of the men’s conversation started as she reached the bathroom, but Pet didn’t stop to try to listen. The day was wasting away and she only had so much time before she had to go pick up Parker. A quick shower, a coffee to wake herself up, and they should be on their way if they were to get everything done in the allotted time.
That thought in mind, Pet was in and out of the shower rather quickly. She grabbed two towels from the cupboard under the sink, wrapped one around her long hair and used the other to quickly dry her body. Once that was done, though, she paused and looked around blankly as she realized she hadn’t thought to stop off at her room to collect clean clothes to put on afterward. A really stupid oversight, Pet acknowledged, and not one she could explain, except that she hadn’t had coffee yet and was still rather muddle-headed.
Blowing out an exasperated breath, she wrapped the damp towel around herself, snatched up her pajamas, and moved to the door. Much to her relief the hallway was empty when she eased the door open. She was able to slip out and pad to the guest room she always used while here at her sister’s home. After a quick perusal of the clothes she’d brought with her, Pet settled on a pair of white capri pants, a red polo shirt, and a pretty pink bra and panty set. She dressed quickly, ran a brush through her damp hair, put it back into a ponytail, and then bypassed bothering with any makeup in favor of heading down to find the promised coffee. She seriously needed something to help wake her poor sleep-fogged brain.
Pet didn’t encounter anyone on the way to the kitchen and couldn’t hear the murmur of voices anymore from the living room either, so assumed the men had finished their talk and returned to their spots to watch the house next door. The coffeepot was just spitting out the last of its liquid when she entered the kitchen. Pet grabbed a cup, the sugar bowl, and the cream from the fridge, and set them down by the coffeepot. She then hesitated and glanced toward the door.
The polite thing would be to ask the men if she could get them a cup too, she supposed, and after debating the matter for a moment, clucked her tongue with irritation at her own reticence to deal with them. She found Julius in the den, peering out the window like a cat watching the world go by, but when she asked, he smiled and thanked her but said no. He’d had quite enough coffee that morning already.
Nodding, Pet backed out of the room and headed along the hall to the living room. Like Julius, Santo was positioned at the window, his gaze fixed on the house next door. But he turned to eye her the minute she stopped in the doorway.
“I was going to make myself a coffee and wondered if you’d like me to get you one too,” she explained as her gaze slid over him. Dear Lord, he was something. Pet had a lot of varied interests on her bucket list. Mountain climbing wasn’t on it, but this mountain of a man made her think it should be. She was quite sure she could spend hours exploring his peaks and crevasses.
Realizing where her thoughts had wandered, Pet stomped on them at once. She’d decided last night that those kind of thoughts were a no-go zone for her. Whether or not Santo had controlled her and made her feel the passion she’d experienced, or they had been a natural result of her attraction to him, it didn’t seem like a good idea to get involved with the man. Her prior experience with immortals convinced her that they were not safe to be around.
“Thank you.”
The soft rumble of sound drew her gaze back to his face, and Pet’s eyes widened slightly when she noted the surprise and pleasure on his face. It seemed obvious he hadn’t expected such an offer. It made her wonder if maybe in her worry and fear, she hadn’t been a bit rude when she first got here. Tilting her head, she asked, “That’s a yes, right?”
He nodded, a smile claiming his lips, and Pet went completely still for a moment. The man was good-looking to begin with, but when he smiled like that he was absolutely gorgeous, she decided, barely restraining herself from fanning her face with one suddenly shaky hand.
Damn. He should come with a caution sign, Pet thought faintly as she turned away and hurried back to the kitchen. The sooner she got everything done and could head to her apartment, the better, she decided.
Pet was pouring the coffee before she realized she hadn’t thought to ask Santo how he took his. That being the case, she ended up putting together a tray with two coffees, sugar, cream, and spoons on it to take everything out to the living room. She’d decided they’d have a quick coffee together before they left to go shopping. She had some questions to ask.
Santo was watching for her return and moved quickly to take the tray from her almost the minute she entered the living room. Pet murmured a polite “thank you” and then sat down in the chair next to the end table he’d set the tray on and quickly doctored her coffee. She watched Santo then prepare his own coffee, noting that he drank it regular like her.
Pet allowed herself a few moments to sip at her coffee, and then her gaze wandered to the boarded up hole that used to be the front door. She grimaced as she took in the table and headboard, or what was left of them.
“They’ll be replaced,” Santo assured her.
Pet glanced at him quickly to see that he had followed her gaze to the door. She nodded, and peered at him solemnly, wondering over the fact that the man rarely pieced more than three or four words together when he spoke. He was obviously one of those man-of-few-words kind of guys. Still, she needed info. “Do you know if Marguerite called about getting the door repaired? Or should I do it?”
“She did it.”
Pet waited, and when he didn’t elaborate, asked, “Is someone coming?”
“Sì.”
When he didn’t volunteer anything else, she forced a smile and asked, “When?”
“In . . .” he paused to glance to his wristwatch “. . . about half an hour.”
Pet glanced around for a clock and saw that it was nearly noon now. It didn’t help her much. She had no idea how long it would take to replace the door. Hopefully it would be done before she had to go pick up Parker, though. Or shortly after she returned with him. She didn’t want him staying here any longer than necessary today. In fact, she would have packed some clothes for him and not brought him back at all, but wasn’t sure what he’d need or want to take with him and Parker could be particular.
Her gaze slid out the window to the Purdy house, and she peered at the windows, noting the tightly closed curtains that covered each one, before her attention went to the newspapers stacking up against the front door. There had to be half a dozen of them, delivered but never collected. Between that and the sad state of the garden and the fact that the yard was in need of mowing, the house almost looked abandoned.
Frowning, Pet cleared her throat and said, “I know Mr. Purdy’s cousin is a bad immortal, a rogue, I think you called him last night?”
“Sì,” Santo agreed. “A rogue.”
Pet nodded. “A rogue then, but just how bad is this guy?”
Santo didn’t hesitate. “The very worst.”
“How?” she asked.
“In all ways.”
Pet stared at him briefly and then heaved out an exasperated breath and asked, “Do you think you could elaborate on that a bit? Like tell me how he’s the very worst?”
Santo didn’t look as if he wanted to tell her anything else, but finally said, “He is dangerous.”
“He’s dangerous?” Pet echoed, her voice somewhat strangled with the frustration building in her. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say? He’s dangerous?”
When Santo nodded, she set her coffee cup down with a sharp click and stood up. “We should get going. It’s already noon and I need to pick up Parker at three o’clock.”