He started to leave the room, but walked back to her. He reached out, holding her by the shoulders gently. “I’m sorry about the child that didn’t make it. I don’t know how you do it, Natalie. You’re made of stronger stuff than me.”
“Thank you, Vince,” Natalie answered, shifting her eyes from his to his chest. “I can usually get through it, but it just gets to me sometimes.”
He kissed her forehead chastely. “I can see how it would. But, now, this is all about you relaxing, decompressing. No stress, no expectations, no pressures. Just let all your cares go and relax. Okay?”
Natalie nodded. “Okay.”
“I’m going to grab the menu for room service so we can choose dinner; go ahead and strip down and climb in the tub,” Vince kissed her forehead again and pulled the door closed behind himself. He went to the front door and made sure the lock had engaged, then he locked the deadbolt. He went into the bedroom and insured the exterior sliding doors were locked, and the metal rod that stopped entry from the outside was laid neatly in its track. He walked around the suite, flipping on lights and turning off others to give the suite a softer appearance. He turned on the T.V. in the bedroom and flipped it to the Hallmark Channel, and did the same with the T.V. in the living room.
Satisfied he’d secured the suite and made it as homey and welcoming as possible, he grabbed the menu and flipped through it before heading back to the bathroom. He stopped halfway to the bathroom and headed back into the bedroom. He opened the closet and grinned. There were two fluffy, overly thick and comfy bathrobes emblazoned with the hotel’s logo hanging there. He reached for one of them and found it was a 2XL, he tossed it on the bed and reached for the other — a Large. He smiled and draped it over his forearm as he returned to the bathroom.
“Natalie, honey?” he called. He could hear the soft purr of the bubbly jets of the hot tub running. He smiled when he heard her lazy reply.
“Mmhmm?”
“I’m gonna come in, I promise I won’t look.”
The door opened and he peeked inside. To her credit she didn’t even flinch.
Natalie heard Vince announce his presence, then tell her he was coming into the bathroom. She didn’t open her eyes, didn’t adjust herself to be sure she was under the water, didn’t even consider covering herself. She trusted him that much. He said he wouldn’t look, and she trusted that he wouldn’t. And even if he did, truth be told — today, she didn’t really give a damn.
She heard him come in and take a seat on the cushioned bench seat against the wall near the tub. Still, she didn’t open her eyes.
“I brought you a bathrobe, it’s really fluffy,” he said, trying in vain to keep his eyes on her face.
“Thank you,” she said, keeping her head leaned back against the curved edge of the tub, her body submerged and being gently battered by the bubbles and jets of the hot tub.
“I have the menu here. Anything in particular you want?” he asked, the laminated pages making a faint slapping sound as he turned them and allowed them to fall onto one another.
“Nope,” she answered, completely lost in luxuriating in the tub.
“Anything you particularly don’t want?” he asked.
“Pizza. And real sushi. I’ll eat the California rolls and crab rolls, but the real raw fish… can’t do it. Otherwise, I’m good with whatever you choose.”
“Okay, I can take it from here,” he responded.
Almost two minutes went by without another word, and no sound of him leaving the bathroom. Natalie peeked at him with one eye. He was sitting there, watching her in the tub — just gazing at her. She lifted her head and looked at him, raising one eyebrow.
He met her gaze and smiled at her, shrugging. “I tried not to look at you. But I failed. You’re just so damn beautiful.”
“I’m nothing special, Vince. Just an average girl, with an average life, trying to find a reason to get up every single day and go through my average existence.”
His brows furrowed. “Not to me. To me, you’re everything. Everything! And there is not a damn thing average about you.”
He allowed his eyes to travel down her body one more time before standing and walking to the door. He pulled it open, then without looking back at her he spoke, very softly. Almost as though he was afraid to speak the words aloud. “Your reason is standing here, right in front of you, if you care to claim him.”
Then he used his boot to kick her scrubs out of the bathroom and was pulling the door closed behind him without saying a word.
Vince went to the living room and phoned room service . Then he phoned the boutique the desk clerk had told him about and placed an order with them, too, based on the size of the scrubs he’d taken out of the bathroom.
He sat back on the couch and started making phone calls.
“Val! You doing okay?”
“I’m good, just can’t freaking move anymore! I swear I feel like a damn doodle-bug when I try to get out of bed or off the couch!” Valerie answered.
Vince laughed, the sound deep and rich. “Well, I’m sure it’ll be worth it when you have those little babies in your arms looking at you lovingly.”
“Havoc and Hellion? More like snapping at me with their little Wolfy teeth!” she answered laughing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“You good?” she asked. “I know there’s something going on with Brandi and Natalie, and Bam and Bane are nothing but mumbles and no straight answers when I try to get any information out of them.”
“I’m good, really good. That’s why I’m calling. Basically, I’ve spoken to Brandi. Explained that Natalie is my One.” He laughed, pure joy sounding clearly in his laughter. “She’s my One! I found my One, Val!”
“I’m so happy for you, Vince. Really happy for you.”
“It took me a little time, but I tracked her down. I’m on the South Shore with her now. We’re in downtown New Orleans. I’m not sure for how long. But, if you go into labor, call me. Please, call me. I’ll be there as quickly as I can drive the Causeway.”
“I think I’m good for now. I have a little time. And I refuse to have these two without Maverik. When he gets back, we’ll see how I feel, but for now, it’s all good. I’m comfy.”
“You’re also alone,” Vince said.
“I’m not alone!” she objected.
“No she’s not!” several voices yelled from the background.
“That’s Avaleigh, Janie and Daisy. We’re eating popcorn and M&M’s and having a movie day.”
“Perfect. Please let me know how you are. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but as long as it takes is what I’m planning on.”
“I will keep you posted,” Valerie promised.
“Good. I love you, I’ll be home soon,” Vince said.
“Love you, too.”
Vince hung up the phone and started to dial again. Then he realized he was being watched. He looked up and found Natalie standing there, leaning against the doorjamb leading to the bathroom. She was all snuggled into the bathrobe he’d brought her and looking at him as though he was a stranger.
“Done already?” he asked.
Natalie nodded.
“Do you want to come sit?” Vince asked, patting the bench beside himself.
Natalie shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Safer here.”
“You're safe everywhere when I’m beside you.”
“Except from you.”
“I’d never hurt you,” Vince answered, sitting forward and setting his phone on the coffee table, while looking intently at her.
Natalie smiled at him, allowed her eyes to gaze around the room again, before allowing them to settle on Vince once more. “Why are you here?” she asked.
Vince looked at her curiously. “For you.”
“Why? You don’t even know me.”
Vince’s smile was strained. He sat forward even further and rested his elbows on his knees, his fingers steepling in front of hi
m. He stared into Natalie’s eyes, then he spoke. “I know that since the moment I saw you waiting for Kaid and Barron at the end of the hallway, I’ve been yours. I know that you are in my every waking thought. I know that I actually sat on my kitchen floor, methodically calling every single hospital in New Orleans asking to speak with you until one of them finally told me to hold on while they put me through to you. I know that all the little details that make you who you are, are just beneath the surface waiting for me to discover them. And I know that every moment I’m around you, I’m even more convinced, that this is my place. Right here, beside you, wherever you are.”
Natalie had been leaning against the door jamb before he began speaking. And with every word she stood a little taller until she was no longer leaning. She was standing in the doorway, facing Vince, taking in every word he said. Her arms wrapped around herself, holding herself tight in the fluffy bathrobe Vince had left in the bathroom for her. His words were everything she wanted to hear, promises she only dared to dream of.
As he sat eerily still, waiting for her reply, his Lion sat up and peered through his eyes.
Natalie’s eyes rounded. She’d figured he was a shifter, but she’d not seen evidence of it until his eyes shifted to the gold of his Lion, and then back to the soft brown that were Vince’s natural color. She decided to face the obvious straight on. “I’m human.”
Vince was surprised she knew he wasn’t human. “And?”
“And you’re not. We can’t be together, like Mates, right?” Natalie said.
Vince huffed a laugh. “Wrong. You mate your One. The true soul mate meant for you and only you. Human, shifter, other. It doesn't matter.”
Natalie’s forehead crinkled as though she was confused. She was thinking of her brother and the fact that he’d lost his life over loving a shifter.
“Natalie?” Vince asked after a few silent moments.
Natalie’s eyes moved to Vince.
“What is it?” Vince asked.
“My brother was killed because he refused to stop seeing a woman he’d fallen in love with. She was a shifter, and her clan killed them both when they wouldn’t give each other up.”
Vince stood up and moved closer to Natalie. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am.”
Natalie just kept looking at Vince’s face. Searching for any bit of insincerity.
“There are some clans, packs, prides — whatever they call themselves — who are so stuck in the old days, the days of complete secrecy and ostracizing all humanity. It sounds like he was involved with a member of one of them. We aren’t all like that. And I’m truly sorry that was the kind of clan he was involved with.”
Natalie nodded. “Me, too.”
“I’m sorry for the loss of your brother and his Mate. If you know who she was, have an idea of where she came from, I’d be honored to try to seek justice for you and your family.”
Natalie looked up at Vince, shock on her face. “No! No, of course not! And have you be killed, too?” she asked animatedly, her voice rising with each word.
“Shh, it’s okay. Bad idea, I’m sorry. Calm down, I’m not going to be killed. I’m right here,” he rushed out, moving closer to her and placing his hands on her shoulders to anchor her in the present and stop her anxiety.
She jerked in his arms when there was a strong knock at the door.
“It’s probably just room service,” he said to calm her.
Natalie nodded, taking a deep breath as Vince stepped away from her to answer the door. At the idea of him being injured, her heart had nearly jumped out of her chest. Him being hurt was something she couldn’t even consider.
Chapter 14
Vince looked through the peep hole in the door, then turned to her. “Yep. That’s room service. Give me just a minute to get the door, then we’ll finish our talk, okay?” he asked.
Natalie nodded.
While Vince grabbed his wallet off the coffee table, Natalie took a seat on the couch. She looked down at his phone and saw that he had a green light flashing — it meant he had a message. And it reminded her Vince was telling someone he loved them and that he’d be home soon when she first exited the bathroom.
Vince and the waiter were busily setting up more dishes of food than could feed her whole family. They were making small talk, and he was not paying attention to her at all. She decided to use it to her advantage.
“Who do you love, Vince? Who are you going home to when we leave here?” she asked, hoping to catch him off guard and get total honesty.
Without missing a beat, not even turning around to face her, he answered with no hesitation at all. “I love you, my Mate. I’m not going home without you.”
He and the waiter placed the last few bottles of varying soft drinks and juices into the mini fridge, then Vince tipped the waiter. “We should have a delivery from the boutique down the street sometime this evening. When it comes in if you could have it delivered to our door, I’d appreciate it. Just hang it on the doorknob, and I’ll get it later.”
“Yes, sir. I will,” the waiter responded, smiling widely and pocketing the cash Vince handed him.
Vince saw the man out, then locked and dead bolted the door behind him. He turned to Natalie and approached her slowly. There is no other word for the way he approached her than stalk. He stalked her, his eyes glued to hers, taking in her every move. His Lion was clear and present and had decided he wanted to scent his Mate, and Vince decided to let him. “I love you, Natalie.” He repeated, his voice growly. “The phone call you heard me on was to my sister. Her husband is out of town at the moment, and she’s very near to delivery. I wanted to be sure she knew I was out of town as well, and to call me if she went into labor. I want to be there to greet my niece and nephew.”
“Oh, I see,” she answered breathlessly as she watched him approach and take a seat right beside her, every inch of the side of his body touching hers.
“And home? I live above my bar. I own a bar outside of town… Vince’s Place. I live there in one of the apartments above it. My sister used to live in the other, but now a friend of mine, Brandi, is staying there.”
“Brandi is the girl from the hospital?” Natalie asked.
“She is. She is not my girlfriend, nor do we have any kind of arrangement, other than she’s a friend I watch over.”
Natalie nodded. “It seemed like more. You looked like you felt guilty, and she looked completely unaware.”
Vince closed his eyes. “You’re right. Come on. Let’s have dinner, and I’ll tell you everything.” He stood, waiting for her to join him. Only after she stood as well, did he walk over to the table and start taking silver covers off of decadently filled plates.
Natalie’s eyes grew huge. “Oh my gosh! What did you do? Order one of everything?”
“Pretty much,” he acknowledged, grinning as he waited for her to choose. “Take anything you like,” he encouraged.
She looked at all the food he’d ordered and slid into the chair he held out for her. Natalie reached for the Pasta Alfredo and the dish of shrimp grilled in butter and garlic. She lifted the dish of shrimp and slid them off their plate and into the Pasta Alfredo.
“Somehow, I knew you’d do that,” Vince chuckled.
He pulled the T-bone steak and loaded baked potato toward himself and started cutting up the steak.
Natalie swirled her fork in the pasta, sure to get lots of Alfredo sauce on her pasta, then topped it off with a garlicky, buttery shrimp. She placed it in her mouth and closed her eyes while she chewed. A moan came from her throat as she savored the flavors.
“Good?” he asked.
“The best.”
They ate for several minutes until Natalie finally prompted him. “Tell me?” she asked.
Vince nodded. “I thought that Brandi was mine. She wandered into my bar, and she was alone, obviously distraught and lost. My Lion decided to protect her.”
“Lion? Is that what you are? A Lion?” Natalie asked.
“Ye
s. What did you think I was?” Vince asked.
“I… I’m not sure. I knew it was something big and powerful, I just… Wow, Lion.”
He set down his fork and knife and clasped his hands before his plate. “We know you at all times. When Lion is in control, he knows who you are. You are never in danger from either of us.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m not afraid of you. I just… I didn’t really consider what you were other than a shifter and a Lion is just so…” she looked at him, at a loss for words. Then she grinned. “Noble. A Lion is such a Noble animal. So majestic.”
Vince smiled.
“And you're grinning because?” she asked.
“My last name is Nobles.”
“It’s fitting. I like it.”
Vince nodded. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I do. So, Brandi is not your Mate?” she asked.
“No, she’s not. But I thought because of the protectiveness that she brought out in me, that she was. I promised to take care of her, to watch over her. And I never, ever break my word.”
Natalie watched Vince speaking, while she slowly ate her meal.
“When I saw you, I was so conflicted. I’d spent weeks trying to convince Brandi that she needed to live here. That she could trust me, that I’d always keep my word and watch over her, take care of her. She never, not one time agreed to any of it. She’d smile, make some comment, but never any more than that. Then you happened and my Lion was pulling me toward you, and I was basically arguing with him and myself. I wanted you. But there was no way I could break my word to Brandi. A man is only as good as his word. To promise to take care of a woman, then to leave her for another — it’s just inexcusable. And no matter how badly I suffered, I wasn’t going to be that man.”
Natalie put her fork down. “But you're here now,” she said simply.
“She called me on my shit.”
“She what?”
“She asked me what was wrong with me. Asked me what was going on in the hospital room. I told her. I assured her that I was going to stand by my word. She said, paraphrasing of course, that why did I think that we had to be together for me to watch over her. She’d seen me watch over my friends over and over again, and I wasn’t mated to any of them, so why did I think I had to be her Mate in order to watch over her. Then she told me to go get my woman and stop trying to be so damn noble.”
Vince's Place Page 13