by Susan Hayes
“Why those places? And no, I don’t think it’s greedy. It’s a big world out there.” A world she would soon be leaving behind forever. He’d have to show her the wonders of Pyros, instead.
“I want to visit the cities where some of the true masters learned to be artists. To sit in little restaurants, eat the same food they did, listen to the same languages, immerse myself in another culture and then try and capture it all in my art.”
“And then what? Sell your artwork there? Is there a demand for the work of artists from other countries?”
Her brow furrowed. “Then nothing. I’d stay as long as I could, then come home again. I might be able to sell a few pieces and extend my stay, but eventually, I’d come home. This is where my life is. My friends. I want to see the world, but I don’t want to stay gone forever.”
“Why not? One place is really like another, isn’t it?”
This time she didn’t frown, she stared at him in outright confusion. “Of course it isn’t. When you come back from your travels, don’t you feel better for being home? Back to the one place where you have friends and family and well…everything that really matters to you?”
“I have residences on several pla—in several places.” He shrugged. “They all feel about the same to me.”
“So, you don’t have a place you consider home? What about your family?”
“I have no family.” The words came easily after all this time. A simple statement of fact, nothing more.
“Oh.” Instead of looking uncomfortable or spouting an empty platitude, she reached out and covered his hand with hers. “Me either. But I made a family of my own. Friends that are more like sisters. Isn’t there anyone in your life like that? Or are you alone as well as homeless?”
“I’m not homeless. And yes, I have friends.” He turned his hand over to take hold of hers and tried to ignore the surge of desire that slammed into him at that simple touch.
“I grew up in foster care. I know the difference between having a place to live and having a real home. If you had a home, you’d know the difference, too.”
He considered that for a moment, surprised to realize that she was right. After his father’s death, he’d been shuttled between relatives. Once he was old enough to take care of himself, he had always lived alone. And not one of the places he lived had ever felt like home.
Before he could admit to that, his phone chimed at the same time the communicator in his pocket vibrated softly. Unwilling to let go of Lisa’s hand, he managed to pull out the phone with his off hand and check the screen. It was Commander Denza. If he was trying to reach him right now, it was important.
“You need to answer that, don’t you?” Lisa asked.
“I should.” He looked up to find her looking at him with an expression of amused understanding.
“Go deal with your empire. I’m not going anywhere. But if you take too long, I’m eating all the breadsticks.” She was smiling as she shooed him off with a wave of her hand.
He rose to his feet without letting go of her hand, bringing to his lips for a brief kiss before releasing her again. “I won’t be long. You’re the only important thing on my agenda tonight.”
He found a quiet corner where he could speak in private and contacted Kash, voice contact only. “You’re interrupting a life-changing moment. What is it?”
Kash chuckled. “Not you, too? The prince has reported that he has his mate with him, and the Scorching has been initiated. I thought to warn you it was possible.”
“You’re a bit late with that information. I’ve also experienced the Spark with my match.”
“How long do you have?”
Vadir sighed. “Not as long as I would like. We’re still conversing in the middle of a very public eating establishment. I can hardly drag her out of here and teleport her back to my ship like a Romaki barbarian without explaining matters to her.”
There was a brief pause. “The prince found it necessary to do just that. You might want to move things along quickly, or risk having to make the same choice.”
“Joran took his mate? The queen will set his hair on fire when she finds out.”
“He claims he had no other choice.”
Vadir considered that for a moment and decided it was time he returned to Lisa. He didn’t want to be faced with the same choice as Joran. Not if he could avoid it. “I’ll try to avoid that outcome. Unlike his Highness, I have some experience with high-level negotiations.”
Kash chuckled. “Then I’ll wish you luck and leave you to it.”
Vadir tucked his communicator away and headed back to his table. It was time to set the next stage of his plan in motion.
4
Lisa watched her date walk away and took note that the back of him looked as good as the front did. Broad shoulders, trim waist, and when she had hugged him she’d gotten a good feel for the muscular body he was hiding beneath his hand-tailored shirt. She had enough friends who did cosplay and costuming to recognize a hand-crafted garment. Nothing he had on was an off-the-rack purchase. At least, nothing she’d seen so far.
She sipped her wine and sorted through her first impressions. He was gorgeous. Well mannered, and clearly intelligent. He was also in dire need of someone to loosen him up a little. What kind of man could think one place was the same as another? Even in Vancouver, different parts of the city had their own flavour and pace.
Lisa recognized his type, though. Years in the system had taught her that most children had one of two responses to losing their parents. They either shut themselves down and tried to control the world-- and their grief--in any way they could, or they went wild and pushed every boundary they could find. He was clearly the first type. She’d taken the wild path, hurling herself into new experiences just to try and feel something that wasn’t grief.
She was one of the lucky ones. Her friends had been there to stop her from doing anything too reckless. They had both closed down in their grief, and while they helped to ground her, she was coaxing them back into the world. Lisa believed her mother had guided her grief-stricken daughter towards the two souls that could help her heal and keep her safe after she was gone.
Smiling, Lisa chuckled to herself before taking another sip of her wine. Her mom was probably the reason she was out on this date in the first place. Even from the other side, she was still trying to do her best for the daughter she had died protecting. When she was alive, her mom had taught her to be strong and self-reliant. She hadn’t wanted Lisa to make the same mistakes she’d made. You’ve got to trust in yourself, baby. Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life, or what you’re worth.
Her mother hadn’t chosen well for herself. Lisa’s father was a jealous, violent son of a bitch who had hunted down his wife and killed her because he believed he had the right.
“Nice pick, Mom. Smart, hot, a gentleman, and gainfully employed. But really, a suit and tie guy? It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
A second later a pulse of heat bloomed deep in her chest. For a second it was as if she was standing in front of an open kiln, and then the sensation was gone. And that’s what I get for trying to argue with my mother instead of accepting that she knows what she’s doing.
Another sip of her chilled white wine banished the last of the strange warmth, though she was feeling the effects faster than usual. She felt mildly tipsy already. Probably because she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch. Time to make good on her threat to eat all the breadsticks. She’d taken her first bite when a stranger’s voice interrupted.
“Now this is a tragedy. A beautiful woman dining alone.”
Lisa glanced up to see a blond, heavily tanned man a few years older than her standing at her elbow. He was dressed in the standard uniform of every travelling businessman she’d ever seen: a creased and rumpled dress shirt and a red and blue striped tie that was slightly askew.
“I’m not alone. My date had to step away for a moment. He’ll be back any minute.”
�
��Honey, you can do better ‘n him. If I had a beauty like you sitting across from me, I wouldn’t leave you alone for a second.” The blond plonked himself down into Vadir’s empty chair with a sly grin. “See? Now you’re with me. I’m Mike, your date for the rest of the evening.”
“My name isn’t honey, and you are most certainly not with me. I’d like you to go away, now. You’re interrupting my dinner date.”
The blond snorted. “I don’t see your date or any dinner. Why don’t you relax and talk with me until one or the other of those things makes an appearance? You might decide to change your mind.”
The jerk reminded Lisa of her father. The bravado, the disrespectful way he spoke to her. He made her uneasy, and she wanted him gone. “I’m not going to change my mind. You need to go, now.”
Of course, the bastard didn’t listen to her. He grabbed one of the breadsticks and broke it in two, sending bits of crust flying across the tabletop. “Why would I go when we’re having such a nice chat?”
She eyed her glass of wine and briefly considered tossing the contents in the asshole’s face, but she knew better. Escalating the situation wasn’t in her best interest. Mike was bigger, stronger, and she had no doubt that he’d had enough to drink that he wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate if she pushed him too far.
“We’re not chatting. You sat down uninvited and started harassing me. Now, I’m asking you to please leave me the hell alone!” She raised her voice so that the people seated nearby all heard what she said. None of them reacted beyond a few uncomfortable glances in her direction.
Cowards. She was on her own.
“No need to get bitchy, hon. How about you pull those claws back in and behave?”
She ignored his taunt. She knew how bullies operated and had long ago learned how to deal with them. Be strong. Be confident. Be ready to run if necessary. She carefully toed off her high-heeled shoes, then laid her hands flat on the table and leaned in. “You haven’t seen bitchy, yet. But if you don’t leave right now, you’re going to.”
His eyes widened, and for a moment she thought her message had finally gotten through his thick skull, but then a hand touched her shoulder.
“Lisa, are you alright?”
Vadir was back. Mike hadn’t been reacting to her at all. The jerk only cared that her date had returned.
She glanced up at Vadir and offered him a tight smile. “I’m okay.”
He squeezed her shoulder gently, keeping his hand in place as he took a step toward Mike. “You’re in my seat.”
Mike gave him an insincere grin. “You can’t blame a man for trying. You shouldn’t leave a beauty like that alone so long.”
“Oh, I do blame you. There’s no honour in poaching on another man’s turf. She’s with me.”
The booze-addled fool turned red and started to bluster, but Vadir cut him off with a sharp gesture. “I think it’s time you went back to your friends.” He nodded towards a small group of middle-aged men huddled over their drinks, all of them watching the confrontation with interest.
“Yeah, fine. Whatever. She’s not worth any more of my time, anyway.” Mike lumbered to his feet.
Vadir’s fingers tightened on her shoulder, and his voice lowered to a dangerous rumble. “Apologize to my fe—to Lisa. Now.”
Mike turned a darker shade of red, and his bloodshot eyes narrowed to slits.
Vadir let go of her and stepped between herself and Mike. She got to her feet, ready to get out of the way if things got violent.
“Apologize, and then you can go buy you and your buddies a drink.” Vadir reached into his pocket and pulled out a money clip heavy with bills. He peeled off several and tossed them onto the table in front of Mike.
Mike’s gaze dropped to the table, his anger losing out to greed. “Sure. I’m sorry I bothered the little lady.”
It wasn’t much of an apology, but she’d take it if it meant the ass finally left her alone.
“Her name is Lisa.” Vadir interrupted Mike as he reached for the cash.
“Huh? Fine. Yeah. I’m sorry I bothered you, Lisa.” Mike grabbed the money and left, weaving unsteadily between the tables.
Vadir turned to look at her, his expression solemn. “I’m sorry. I should not have left you alone. I had thought this would be a safe location, but it appears I was wrong.” He glanced around at the nearby tables. “I cannot believe that no one came to your aid.”
She shrugged. “People don’t like to get involved in someone else’s drama. I appreciate that you did. Get involved, I mean.”
His expression softened, and for a second his eyes seemed to flash a bright gold. “Of course I’d get involved. You’re my fe—my date.”
That was the second time he’d changed his phrasing at the last minute. Before this night ended, she planned on finding out what he was almost saying. Something told her it was important.
“Would you like to continue our date here, or would you prefer we moved to another location, away from them?” Distaste dripped from the last word as he gestured vaguely to where Mike and the others were seated.
“I’m happy to stay here, but only if you promise not to leave me alone for too long the next time something comes up.”
Vadir pulled out her chair and helped her sit, then took his seat and pulled out his phone. He made a show of turning it off, then put it away again with a smile that made her pulse race. “No more distractions, I promise. I’m all yours.”
They made their orders and started talking again. It took a while for Lisa to relax again, but Vadir’s charm and attention helped. He asked her about her work, her goals, and more about her dreams of travelling. By the time the appetizers arrived, she was enjoying herself again.
“I’ve talked enough. Tell me something about yourself,” she prompted him.
“What would you like to know?”
“What’s your worst bad habit?”
He gave her another of his sinful smiles, reaching across the table to stroke his fingers over the back of her hand. “I’ve got more than one. One of the perks to being rich, I can afford to indulge myself from time to time.”
“Tell me one of them.”
He was quiet for a moment and his expression changed from flirtatious to serious. “I think my worst habit is that I work too much.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d been expecting. It was surprisingly honest.
“Why do you do that?”
“Because I don’t like to delegate. I need to be in control.”
There was that control issue again. Why had her mother and the universe picked someone like him? She wanted to like him. Hell, she did like him. But…
“Do you think you could ever find a reason to stop?”
His gaze met hers, and the heat in his made her ache and tingle on the most interesting places.
“I think I might have found one. Now, I have to convince her to come away with me.”
She felt like she’d been dropped into the middle of a furnace. Licks of flame danced across her skin where he touched her, and a searing heat blossomed deep in her chest.
“Where would I be going?”
“With me. I told you, I travel a great deal.” He closed his hand around hers. “I’d like you to consider coming with me.”
Stunned to speechlessness, Lisa could only gape at him.
He pressed on. “You’d have every luxury imaginable. The best of everything.”
“But my friends are here. It’s the height of tourist season. I need to be working. I can’t run away with you.” She flashed him a smile. “Even if I am very tempted.”
“You want to stay here and work? I thought you wanted to travel. This is your chance, Lisa. I promise I can show you places and wonders you’ve never dreamed of.”
“And it sounds amazing. But I’m not running away with a man I barely know just because he offers me money and adventure.”
He looked at her with bewilderment. “But you signed up for the Star-Crossed Dating Agency. I’m offe
ring you exactly what you signed up for, an out-of-this-world adventure.”
“Ask me again when we know each other better.”
“I don’t need to know you better to recognize the bond between us. Can’t you feel it? It’s like a star is burning inside me right now.”
She pulled her hand away from his. “I don’t feel anything like that.” She was lying, but there was no way in hell she was admitting to that and fueling whatever delusion Vadir was under. He might be sexy and rich, but that didn’t mean she was going to fall at his feet and let him take her away from her life and her friends.
“I think you do. You must.” He ran a hand through his hair, rumpling the perfect style. “Scorching,” He muttered the word so softly she barely heard it.
“Maybe you have a fever. Are you sick?” That might explain his strange behaviour.
He gave her an odd smile. “Oh, I definitely have a fever, but I’m not sick.”
“I think maybe we should call a raincheck on this date, then. If you’ve got a fever, then you need to go home and rest. You can text me when you’re feeling better.”
“What I need is to find out what would tempt you to come away with me. I have to leave in a few days, and I want you to be with me when I do.”
She was still trying to find something to say when she was saved by the arrival of their entrees. He was making her uncomfortable, and she decided she needed a few minutes alone to decide what she was going to do about it.
The moment the server left, she stood and gave Vadir her sweetest smile. “I need to wash my hands before I eat. Sorry, I should have done it sooner, but I got distracted by our conversation.”
He rose as soon as she did in an old-school display of manners that would have made her smile if she wasn’t already feeling off-balance. “Do you want me to escort you?”
She glanced over to the table where Mike and his buddies had been sitting. The space was empty. “No, I’ll be fine. Be right back.”
She managed to subtly snag her purse as she left, but by the time she remembered her shoes, she was a few feet away from the table and didn’t feel like going back in case Vadir started pushing her again.