by Elsa Jade
Oh, God. Oh yes, he is.
She slapped at his hand. “You bast—” Her voice was too loud. God, what if Mom heard? “—ard.” She finished the word with a hiss.
He smiled, took his hand off his zipper.
She tore her eyes away from that area.
That’s not even like me. I don’t look at men’s crotches. She focused on his face.
He was way too handsome. And tall. Jesus.
Nice chin, nice jaw. Even nicer lips. Perfect lips.
She had to stop that. She had to take care of this business about her mother and father.
“That’s not what I need,” she snapped.
He quirked a brow, a sarcastic yet amused look on his face. “Okay. What do you need me for?”
“Don’t look at me like that,” she huffed.
“Like what?”
“You know.” She glared at him so he’d get the message. “Like this has anything to do with S-E-X.” She spelled it out for him, then wondered why the hell she’d done that.
Oh, shit. Mom’s still on the phone.
She ran toward the counter, threw the towel off, and picked up the phone. “Sorry, Mom.”
A dial tone greeted her.
Damn, just when she thought her plan to bring them here and then shuffle them off would work.
“Fuck. Fuck. And fuck.” That was all she could think to say. Her parents were going to go to her place. They were going to find Scotty.
She’d be so screwed.
Chapter Five
‡
Rafe couldn’t help himself. She was so damned pretty when she was angry. There was something about the fire that lit in her brown eyes. Eyes the color of dark chocolate, and ebony hair that framed a face that was so much more than simply pretty. It was downright striking.
He watched her as she leaned over, body sprawled across the counter to get the phone. His mind went to all the wrong places, and yet they were places that were oh-so-very-damned right.
That ass. Lickable. He tore his eyes away before she could turn around and catch him.
It wasn’t just that she was pretty. She had an energy that flowed through her and straight into him.
His tiger rumbled his approval.
Rafe knew he shouldn’t, knew it would distract him completely, but he let a visual imprint on his brain.
Her.
Bent over the counter, undressed.
Him.
Behind her.
He swelled, straining his pants.
That’s exactly why I shouldn’t have gone there. Damn.
“Fuck. Fuck. And fuck.” She turned around and gave him a dirty look. “This is all your fault.” She stalked toward him. “All yours.”
She set her lips in a straight line. Tears appeared in her eyes.
One minute there was nothing there, the next minute…
Poof!
Tears.
And of course, that was Rafe’s downfall.
“How bad can it be?” He wished he hadn’t asked that.
Asking that was tantamount to asking how he could help. As if he didn’t have enough on his mind with Vax and Callie in town. As if he didn’t have enough with Gio being so pissed about the changes in the organization and the infractions against the shifter codes. As if he wasn’t expected to run all the family’s business interests now that Vax had moved and had made it clear he didn’t intend to return.
As if he didn’t have to deal with the strain among the shifters in Europe because of the codes that were being broken, stretched, and bent, left and right.
The stupid old-school codes of conduct that the Tiero had. They’d had those stupid codes for so long, but no one knew why. Not really, or at least not to Rafe’s satisfaction.
No human mates. No mates of other species of shifters.
Practically every Tiero in America had strayed from that code. It didn’t help that Rafe refused to side with Gio against Vax and his choice to have a human mate.
She was staring at him without answering, so he repeated himself. “So how bad can it be, then?”
“You have no idea,” the curves-on-curves hottie said. She shook her head. Her eyes became hard. “Can you go?”
She turned away and went to the register. After she’d locked it, she put the key in her back pocket, turned off the lights in the pastry display case, flipped off the switches on the coffee machines and blenders, then looked at him as if she was surprised he was still here.
Suddenly he wasn’t her savior; she merely wanted him gone.
A flare of anger rose in him and in his tiger. Anger that she had a boyfriend who was more boy than man, and much less than she deserved. Anger that…
Rafe didn’t know why he was so angry.
His tiger released a roar.
“I don’t think so.”
She whirled around. “What? What do you mean, you don’t think so?”
“I’m a paying customer. I think I’ll stick around.”
“No.” She took a deep breath as if to gather control over her outburst. “You have to go.”
“Give me a good reason why I should get out of here.” Rafe sat down in the chair again, crossed his legs, steepled his fingers, and put the tip of the steeple against his lips. “Go on.”
A beautiful shade of red rose up her neck, coloring her face. Her eyes flashed lethal anger, and her full lips, made for kissing and other gloriously naughty acts, drew into a thin line.
An odd thought crossed his mind. She’ll make a great mother one day.
What the hell kind of thought was that?
*
Jax had to get him out of there. What the hell was wrong with him? Didn’t he understand the urgency of this situation?
Her eyes traveled from his thick, black, curly hair, down that awesome olive skin, his dark blue eyes, full lips…
One word came to mind.
Adonis.
Why the fuck had she thought of that word? The mythology class from her freshman year came back to her, but wow. Weird thing to think of now. Freshman year had been so long ago, considering the two years she’d taken off from school. Two years that had greatly disappointed her parents.
“Look, you.” She reached behind her, untied and yanked off her apron.
“Rafe.”
She glanced back at him, missing her throw. The apron landed on the floor instead of the counter.
Shit. Nothing is going right tonight. Not a damned thing.
“What?”
“Rafe. That’s my name. Not ‘you’.”
“Oh, now you tell me.” Where had that information been when she’d needed it so badly?
He cocked his head and gave her a shrug that was so very European.
“I need you to go. My parents are going to my place. I’ve got to intercept them.”
“Why?”
She wasn’t going to answer that. None of this was any of his damned business.
“Because.”
“Why don’t you let the guy with the holes in his ears let them in?”
She grimaced. How would this perfect guy, with his perfect looks, his perfectly awesome muscled body and his casual but classy clothing, get it? He was probably the apple of his parents’ eyes.
“You wouldn’t understand. Parents. Expectations. Like I said, you wouldn’t get it,” she scoffed.
“You have no idea.” His eyes were hooded, his expression stoic.
“Yeah, well, I don’t have the time to wax sentimental about our parents. I’m not going to compare mine to yours.” She grabbed her bag. “Can we just go?”
She made an up, up, up wave with her hand.
“I wasn’t really done with my coffee.”
She glanced in his cup. “It’s empty.” Why was he doing this?
“Perhaps I want another.”
“You’re fucking with me,” she fumed.
“Hardly. You’re dressed, neither of us is sweaty, and you’re not moaning my name.”
“As if I wo
uld.” She leaned over, snatched his empty cup and walked it to the counter. “Now. Rafe.”
He crossed his arms. “That’s some customer service, miss. What’s your name?”
She ground her teeth. “Please.”
“Since you ask so nicely.”
She followed him to the door, digging her keys out of her bag. She could lock up and then she’d run the four blocks to her place. She’d run her ass off and beat her parents there.
He reached for the door and held it open for her. Jax glanced at him sideways. Now he has manners? Too little too late. She grumbled a “Thanks,” turned around and tried to slip the key into the lock.
Fumbling with the keys, she dropped them. “Damn,” she murmured, and reached to pick them up.
Except she bumped heads with the Greek god and fell backward. Quicker than a man should be able to move, he helped her regain her balance and then assisted her up.
Holding her keys, he said, “Let me,” and locked the door for her.
“Thank you.” She took the keys.
“Give you a lift?”
Jesus. He was a lifesaver. Maybe she stood a chance of beating her parents there.
Chapter Six
‡
Rafe wanted to curse.
Had he really just offered her a ride? Like he needed to take this girl’s problems on. This girl with the funky toenails, curvalicious body, and an ass that was begging for someone’s tongue to pay it homage.
He sure had.
Fool. Sucker for a pretty face and a killer body.
And a train wreck of a life, clearly.
He unlocked the car, held the door open for her.
He’d barely gotten it started, and was turning left like she’d told him, when she said, “Can you pick up the speed, please?”
“Sure.” He shoved his foot onto the gas pedal.
She squealed and grabbed the door handle. A laugh slipped out, followed by another.
He couldn’t help but smile at her delight.
“Right there.” She pointed less than a minute later.
He pulled in, got out, and opened the door for her.
“Let me walk you to your place.” He closed the passenger door.
“No.” She put a hand on his arm. “But thank you. I owe you a coffee. I need to run up there and make sure my life hasn’t ended.”
“That’s a little melodramatic, don’t you think?”
“You don’t know my parents. You don’t how they feel about Scotty. About me in general.” She glanced up at the building. “The lights are off.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Hopefully that my parents haven’t beaten me here. And that Scotty isn’t here either.”
“So, how do they feel about—” Rafe could barely say his name. So not worthy of this girl. “—Scotty?”
She gave him a look of disgust. “They don’t.”
She looked up at the window again, nervously, and plucked a pencil from her hair. “Thanks again. I’ll buy your next espresso.” She turned toward the metal staircase, glancing back at him.
That was it?
His tiger snarled.
Guess so.
“Jaclyn?” A woman’s high-pitched voice came from across the street and down the way. “See, Major? I told you that her apartment was on this street.”
The curvy barista paled and grabbed the metal banister for support.
“Yoo-hoo, Jaclyn!”
*
No. Fucking. Way.
Jax felt like her stomach had slipped through her body and landed on the concrete below with a thud.
“Mom,” she whispered.
And just like that, her life went to hell in a handbasket. She glanced at the window. If Scotty was up there, she couldn’t take her parents in. What if he was there, and gaming, with the lights off, the way he sometimes did?
I’m fucked, that’s what.
She felt unsteady, like she was going to collapse. She held on to the railing tightly, gripping it as if she could squeeze the life out of this damned moment.
“Hi, Mom. Major.” Her father’s nickname was Major. Everyone called him that, including his wife and their daughter, Jax.
The Greek god didn’t move. He stood there, watching her with an intensely interested look.
“Don’t you need to go?” she whispered to him.
“I’m not in a hurry,” he said. Except he didn’t whisper it.
No, that would have been too right. He said it loud enough for Major to hear.
“Who’s this?” Mom piped up. “Is this your boyfriend? You didn’t tell us you had a new one.”
Her gaze traveled up and down Rafe’s body. Jax was sure her mother was looking for tats or gaping holes in his ears.
“Good evening,” the Greek god said.
Rafe. His name is Rafe. I need to quit thinking of him like that.
“Good evening,” her mother parroted, practically swooning.
Oh, for shit’s sake. She’s acting like he’s George Clooney or something. And she’s acting totally smitten.
Jax held back the eye-rolling she was dying to give in to.
“I’m Mrs. Vasquez.” Her mother blushed. “But you can call me Beth.” She waved toward Jax’s dad. “He’s Major Vasquez.”
“You can call me Major,” her father said.
“Major. Beth.” The man she needed to start thinking of as Rafe held his hand out. “Rafael Tiero. Nice to meet you both.”
“Oh, Major. He speaks English,” Mom drawled. “How long have you known each other, Rafael?” She held her hand out.
“You’re welcome to call me Rafe. That’s what my friends and family call me.” He smiled at them.
He’s perfect. Perfect boyfriend-meeting-parents material. And he’s gorgeous. And charming. And drives a Porsche. I bet his girlfriend doesn’t have to pay for his whiskey.
A twinge of jealousy nipped at Jax, stinging her.
Why the hell did I have to go think of that? What do I care if he has a girlfriend?
And why the hell are we standing out here? We shouldn’t be doing this. God.
It would be her luck that Scotty would either walk up with his bottle of Jack—that I paid for—or that he’d actually be upstairs and come outside to smoke, since Jax didn’t allow him to smoke inside. Though God knew, she was plenty aware that he snuck one in every so often.
A light in her peripheral vision caught her attention.
Oh, God. Her apartment. The light was on. That meant that Scotty was there.
What if he opened the door? Or looked out the window?
She looked at Rafe. Then at her parents. Then back at the window.
“We were just going out to eat, Mom. Want to join us?” Jax wrapped her fingers around Rafe’s arm and squeezed. “Weren’t we, babe?”
He looked at her as if she’d lost it.
I probably have. This will never work. I’ll be caught. My parents will know I’m a liar and I’m still with Scotty. And Scotty will dump me.
She paused.
Why isn’t that as devastating as I thought it would be?
She’d never admit it out loud, but she wasn’t sure she cared. Scotty’s burping, farting, smoking, never getting a job ways had begun to grate on her nerves.
It’s temporary, she told herself. He’ll straighten his act out. She was almost done with her Master’s degree. Surely he’d get it together before she started work on her doctorate.
The hunk next to her was still looking at her, one brow raised, wearing a slight tilt of a sardonic smile.
Why is he so damned sexy?
She tugged on his arm. “Rafe? Weren’t we?”
“Of course.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Won’t you join us, Mrs. Vasquez? Major?”
She choked on the sigh before she could finish it and pinched his arm.
He was not supposed to do that. She was supposed to slip away with him, then when her parents were gone, sh
e’d slip away from him and get her coursework done.
Jax glared at him.
He had no idea what he was getting her into.
God. Dinner with her parents.
Rafe smiled at her and leaned close.
Oh, what the fuck is he thinking?
She regarded him with as much trust as she’d have for a cobra while his head lowered, his face coming closer, his lips…
She fought the desire to keep her gaze locked on his lips. And she lost that battle, watching those full lips with a tiny scar just above the corner.
She gulped down the wheelbarrow of chalk in her throat.
Surely he’s not going to kiss me? Not in front of my parents. Not when we need to get the hell out of here.
So why wasn’t she moving away from him, then? What’s wrong with me?
He paused, adjusted his lips’ path, and gave her a peck on the forehead, then chuckled softly.
A laugh that she was sure no one else heard.
Anger burned in her, but it merged with something else and left her confused.
“Let’s go.” He peeled her hand off his biceps, removing her vise-like grip, but didn’t release it, and led the way down the sidewalk. “I know the perfect place for a nice, light, late dinner, Major. You’ll like it.”
Oh, he did not. No, he didn’t. He did.
I’m going to kill him.
He leaned close. “Would you rather just take your parents upstairs?” A very knowing gleam in his eyes mocked her.
“You’ll pay for this.” She gritted her teeth around the words.
“You owe me.” He lowered his voice. “Unless you want me to shed some light…”
She uttered a curse word under her breath.
“Do you or not? It seems I’m saving your ass.”
“Fine. I owe you. Okay?”
“Long as you don’t forget.” There was a threat in his tone that made a delicious shiver run up her spine.
Chapter Seven
‡
Dinner was served, though Rafe noticed that the curvy Jax didn’t eat. She fretted, fumbled with her fork, and seemed ready to jump out of her seat.
He wasn’t going to lie, he enjoyed her discomfort. It was fun watching the little hellion ill at ease with her parents. This was a very different girl from the one with the attitude in the café.