by Dold, V. A.
When he reached for the scrap of paper, contact with her fingers caused a zing to run up his arm. Waiting until tomorrow to see her would kill him.
“Would you have dinner at B’s with me tonight?”
“Really? I’d like that.”
He heard a nervous quaver in her voice. She was absolutely adorable. He took the one step needed to reach her. Wrapping his arm around her waist he paused for a pounding heartbeat, a chance to say no. She held her ground, licked her lip unconsciously. The glimpse of her little pink tongue made him want to growl.
Drawing her carefully, he kissed her. More passionately, with this second kiss. Enough to satisfy his wolf, but not too much to scare her away.
“Should I pick you up at seven?” He didn’t want to keep her out too late on a work night.
“Seven is perfect,” she whispered.
He squeezed her hand one last time and forced himself to leave. His wolf fought him all the way out the door.
Practically dancing down the sidewalk he called the restaurant to secure them a table for 7:15 sharp.
He was getting the best table in the house. Due to owning businesses all over the city, everyone knew him in the Quarter and he had no problem getting a reservation anywhere, anytime.
Excitement raced through him and the next few hours were going to kill him.
Cade knocked on her door at exactly seven, giving them plenty of time to reach the restaurant. His sweat dampened fingers tugged at his stiff shirt collar.
Anna answered the door in a clingy royal blue wrap dress. Perfect cleavage was his only thought before his brain stuttered to a halt.
She cleared her throat, calling his attention to her eyes. “Hello.”
His brain kicked back into gear. “Um... Hello. Are you ready?”
She laughed quietly. “Yes, I’ll grab my sweater and lock up.”
The view from behind was just as good as the front. He felt his slacks getting tight. The walk to the restaurant might be a bit uncomfortable.
They entered B’s a few minutes later, a blessedly short walk in his condition.
The young woman reviewing the reservation ledger at the maitre d’ stand greeted them. “May I help you?”
“Cade Le Beau,” was all he said.
“Please follow me. We have your terrace table waiting.”
The hostess led them to a corner table upstairs, overlooking the beautiful courtyard below. The view was breathtaking.
He watched as Anna spent a few minutes looking at the lush tropical plants, a few were in bloom. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, prompting a small smile to play across her lips.
Anna’s attention was drawn from the courtyard when the waiter came to their table. “Mr. Le Beau,” the young man greeted. “How nice to see you again. Would you like to see a drink menu, or should I bring your usual?”
Cade turned to Anna. “I usually get a wonderful red wine here. Would you like to try it, or do you prefer something else?”
“The wine sounds perfect.”
After the waiter left, Anna asked, “How often do you come here?”
“I don’t know, once a week or so. I’m in the Quarter quite often and this place is one of my favorites. I’m a bachelor, or at least I used to be.” He gave her a lopsided grin and winked while taking her hand from across the table. “Eating at a good restaurant is pretty much essential to survival for single guys. Most of us can’t cook and we’d just starve.” He chuckled. “Have you eaten here before?”
“I have, not as often as you, but I’m not a bachelor,” she teased back. “I must say, their food was really good.”
“I for one am very glad you aren’t a bachelor.” He laughed.
Anna looked back to her menu but must have felt his gaze on her.
She flicked her eyes back to him. “What?”
He rested his chin on his hand and continued gazing, a slight grin to his lips. “What?” he asked back.
She leaned forward. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered.
“I can’t help it. You look amazing.”
She lowered her eyes to her lap, laughed and shook her head at his antics.
The waiter returned with the wine. “Are you ready to order?”
Cade looked at her. “I really like the blackened redfish and the shrimp creole. Would you like to share with me again?”
She smiled. “Deja Vu, just like lunch. Sounds perfect.”
Cade handed him the menus and sat forward. “You make me happy just being with me.” He took her hand into his and held it as if it were a fragile family heirloom.
About half way through their meal, the hostess passed the table leading another couple to the other end of the dining room. Anna glanced at them--her ex-husband Tim with a bottle-platinum blond in tight, revealing clothing. She looks like a hooker, she thought.
Tim pulled up short the instant he saw Anna.
She derived a small, evil bit of satisfaction at the surprise on Tim’s face at seeing her with such a handsome man.
Tim raked Anna with a sneer while his date openly drooled over Cade. The woman cleared her throat, to get his attention.
Cade slowly stood, he towered over Tim’s five foot eight stature. As he glared at Tim he took a deep breath, memorizing his scent.
Tim sidestepped away from the perimeter of their table, avoiding getting too close.
Cade took his seat and turned back to Anna, looked deeply into her eyes and took her hand.
She was relieved there hadn’t been a scene.
“That was my ex, sorry about the interruption.”
“Not a problem, now I know who he is.”
That was an interesting response, I wonder what he means by it?
She watched him make a pretty good dent in the two dinners. He had a very healthy appetite. She paused from eating her redfish. “I would love to know your secret.”
“What secret?” He frowned
“How do you eat the way you do and stay so fit?”
He laughed. “I must have a fast metabolism, all my brothers eat as much as I do.”
“Your parents must have had a huge grocery bill,” she said, grinning.
“I imagine they did, I never really thought about it.”
The rest of the meal was wonderful. He treasured this time with his mate.
Setting his empty wine glass on the table, he stood and helped her with her chair. “Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?” he whispered in her ear.
“No, but thank you.” Anna blushed again, and he secretly hoped the day would never come when she stopped blushing.
As they exited, Cade glanced to Tim’s table. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. The table was empty. Where has the little weasel gone?
He relished the walk back with Anna. The cool night breeze ruffled wisps of hair by her cheeks and gave her skin a light blush. A full moon added a shadowy glow to the street lamps’ wattage. When she took his hand, his heart skipped a beat. His wolf howled joyfully at their mate’s initiative. If only they had further to walk, like fifty miles.
Entering her courtyard, he caught Tim’s scent. A VERY fresh scent. A low growl rumbled from his chest.
Anna stiffened.
He saw her trying to see into the shadows. His warning had startled her. He scanned the area but hadn’t located Tim yet.
As she unlocked the door she turned to him. “Would you like to come in?”
“More than anything.” He felt like he was grinning like a fool but didn’t care. He had hoped she’d invite him in. He could make sure Tim wasn’t inside, among other possibilities.
She laughed. “You are so funny.”
As they entered, he breathed deeply. Thankfully Tim’s stench wasn’t here.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked.
“I would love a beer if you have one.”
Cade texted his brother Stefan while Anna was getting their drinks. Giving him Anna’s address he sent, Meet
me at Anna’s near the fountain.
Settling on the couch, he patted the cushion next to him. “Come, sit by me.”
As she joined him, he felt her heat, like fingers searching for him. Taking her hand, he kissed the center of her palm before lacing his fingers with hers.
“Do you have a lot of work tomorrow?” he asked.
“I have one large project to present, so maybe a half day’s work. How about you?”
“I’ll be in town for meetings until after lunch and then free the rest of the day. Would you like to spend the afternoon with me?”
“I would love to. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”
“No, darlin’, my mother taught me to always go to a lady’s door. I will come for you when you call to say you’re ready.” He leaned in and kissed her to make his point.
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t go against your mother,” she teased. “I had a wonderful time tonight, Cade, thank you.”
“I had a terrific evening as well. I should say goodnight, you have a busy morning and I’m keeping you up,” he said. He gave her one last kiss and was gone.
As much as he wanted to stay forever, he needed to find out what Tim was up to. A nagging in his gut said Tim was coming back.
Tonight.
Chapter 4
Cade noted the fifth and eighth stair treads creaked. Security lighting was almost nonexistent. Neighbor and foot traffic also nil. To him, Anna was a sitting duck. Silently passing through the jungle in the courtyard he approached Stefan down wind.
“Thank you for coming, Stefan.”
“Always, what’s going on?”
He brushed fingers through his hair. “My mate was married before. Her ex followed her here from Denver and has been harassing her. She told me about their history and he sounded desperate and a bit unstable. I met him tonight at B’s. His scent became laced with aggression the moment he saw her. When I walked her to the door, his scent was everywhere. He had lingered outside her door for quite a while. I believe he may come back tonight.”
“Not good, desperation makes a person do stupid things. What do you want me to do?”
“I’ll stay in the shadows in the alcove near her door. You stay out of sight down here watching for him to come through the courtyard.” Cade tilted his head toward the staircase. “Go to her door and get his scent, then we’ll take positions.”
He stepped into the shadows as he waited for Stefan.
“The man reeks of deception,” his brother said when he returned.
“I agree. If you see him coming, signal, but let him pass. I need him to go into her apartment. I can’t take action against him without cause. I won’t give Anna any reason to doubt my intentions.”
“If I’m going to let him pass, why do you need me?”
“To stop me from killing him.”
“Good point.”
“All right, go wolf. You will be less noticeable.”
Cade was a whisper as he made his way to the alcove, skipping stairs five and eight, then disappearing into the shadows.
For almost an hour, only the occasional dog barking in the distance broke the silence. Then he heard a creak, a heartbeat later, another. Cade saw Stefan’s signal and remained completely invisible to Tim.
A door handle jiggled, then scratching of metal on metal. Tim turned the knob and entered.
Cade was inside in a flash, two steps behind Tim, not making a sound. If the moron threatened his mate, he was in position to act. He needed Anna to wake and catch Tim in her apartment if he wanted any hope of her leaving with him. He knew she wouldn’t agree any other way. She didn’t see Tim as the danger he presented.
They neared her sleeping form. A few heartbeats passed before Tim extended his hands toward her throat. The instant skin contacted skin, Cade struck.
Anna screamed long and loud. The bedside lamp crashed to the floor as she fumbled to light the room.
Stefan joined Cade in the apartment the instant he saw him move from the alcove. With a flick of the light switch by the door, the room was alive with light.
Anna scrambled, flattened against the headboard. Her eyes shot to Cade holding Tim prone on the floor. “What …Why…”
“Stefan, I’m going to let this idiot up, if he moves take him down.”
Cade reached for his mate cowering in her bed. Her eyes, wide and brows pulled tight, tracked him as he approached. “May I sit with you, cher?”
She scooted over, her eyes never leaving his.
“I caught Tim breaking into your apartment. He was about to wrap his hands around your throat.”
She leaned forward to see her ex. Her expression melted into a scowl. “Are you insane!” she yelled at Tim.
Sneering, Tim said, “Who is this?” pointing at Cade and raking him up and down like he actually thought he could take him.
She raised her chin higher in defiance. “That’s none of your business. I should call the police and have you arrested.”
Tim bristled. “I don’t want a strange man in your apartment. He needs to leave. Now.”
She scooted around Cade and stood almost nose to nose with her ex. She narrowed her eyes. “No, Tim, YOU need to leave. Preferably leave the entire state. Why did you move here anyway?”
Cade flexed his shoulders, deliberately allowing a visible ripple of muscle under his skin-tight, white t-shirt. To the human world, he strove to be a perfect gentleman, but actually he was a lethal predator when the need arose. Tim needed to know how dangerous he was, in no uncertain terms. He was like a dog rising slowly, menacingly, with its hackles raised and canines displayed in a vicious snarl.
Anna shook her head and turned to leave the room. Tim snatched her by the arm and swung her around.
An ominous snarl from Cade made her jump.
Before Tim knew what hit him, he was face down on the floor with the hand he dared to touch Cade’s mate with twisted behind his back.
Painfully, and at an unnatural angle.
Tim screamed like a little girl and cried from the pain of his now broken arm. Anna covered her mouth to hide a grin. She felt a little bad about actually being happy Tim had gotten his due. What is that saying about Karma? Tim just got bit in the ass.
Cade glanced at her. “Cher, what would you like me to do with this trash? You want me to hold him here while you call the police?”
She gave Tim a good long look, she was rather enjoying him whimpering on the floor. With one last dismissive glance she said, “No, I prefer to not tell my children I put their father in prison. Regardless how much he’s earned his orange jumpsuit. I’ll file a restraining order against him tomorrow.”
He wasn’t happy about her ex running loose but he saw her point. “All right, the police need a statement about tonight to give cause.”
“Okay, give me a couple minutes to call them,” she said.
“Do you want me to hang around?” Stefan asked.
“No, I have this. Thanks for coming.”
Stefan gave him a mock salute and left.
Moments later her voice floated in from the living room as she called 9-1-1. Within minutes sirens blared in the distance, and then footsteps of several police officers pounded in the courtyard.
Cade held Tim on the floor until the first officer entered the bedroom. He knew all the officers in New Orleans personally. “Good evening, Al.”
“Hello, Cade. What’s the situation here?”
He dug his knee into Tim’s back as he stood. The added pressure caused Tim to scream like a little girl again.
Al jerked him off the floor and slapped cuffs on him, eliciting another howl.
“This is the ex-husband of Anna, the woman who lives here. He broke in and was reaching for her neck as she slept when I disabled him. Anna would like to get a restraining order on him tomorrow. Will you be able to push through the report tonight?”
Al glared at Tim, “Absolutely.”
“Also, please have the judge draw up the strictest restraining
order available and deliver it to her.”
“Consider it done.”
Minutes later, Tim was riding to the station.
“Cher, are you okay? You’re trembling.”
“Yes, it’s rather terrifying to wake up with a man standing over you. He’s never acted like a crazy person before.”
Taking her hand he led her to the couch. “Let me hold you.” Comforting her, he quietly hummed a love song from long ago.
“You have a wonderful voice.”
As he ended the song, she snuggled closer to his chest. “Thank you for coming back.”
“I will always protect you, cher. Since we’re on that subject, we need to talk.”
She sat straighter to see his face. “All right.”
“You’re not safe here with him on the loose, even with a restraining order. I’m not sure what his game is yet but I’ll find out. In the meantime I would like you to stay in a hotel where he can’t find you. In a public place with lots of people.”
“What do you have in mind? You’re right after tonight, I don’t want to stay here.”
“Pack a bag and I’ll take you to the hotel on Canal.”
“Okay, give me a minute and we can leave.”
They entered the lobby and he went directly to the registration desk and asked for the manager. She was confused, what the heck is he doing? You don’t need the manager to get a room.
Within minutes the manager came from the back. He took one look at Cade and a huge smile broke across his face. “Cade! It’s wonderful to see you. What brings you in tonight?”
“Hello, Miles.” He reached out and shook his friend’s hand. “I’d like a suite for the lady here for at least three nights, possibly a little longer, while we find her a place to stay.”
Miles tapped keys on the computer keyboard and handed him two key cards. “Suite 2615 is all yours for as long as you need. Just drop off the keys when you’re ready to check out. No rush, no charge.”
She was floored. Did he actually get her a free suite for an unlimited time? Good grief, she needed to learn more about this man. They rode the elevator in silence. She was unsure how to even begin the conversation currently running through her brain.