“Listen to me,” he told her. He sounded odd. “You need to get my client into that house.”
“What? How am I supposed to do that?” And why should she? It was private property. It wasn’t for sale. What didn’t he get about that?
“I don’t care how the fuck you do it. Just do it or it won’t just be my head on the chopping block, understand?”
What? “Are you all right? Are you being threatened?”
“Fucking hell. Fucking nosey bitch. All you had to do is one simple thing and now I’m having to hide in a fucking shithole because you’re fucking incompetent.”
“I’m ending this call now,” she told him stiffly. No job was worth this. Frankie and Eden were right. She needed a new job. Fast.
And she’d thought he was looking after his sick mother, not hiding.
“No, wait. Just get my client that house when there is no one else around. Or you’re going to be sorry. I’ll be in touch.”
She quickly ended the call, her hands shaking. She took one trembling breath then another to try and stave off all the fear coursing through her body. What the hell had just happened? Had he really threatened to hurt her if she didn’t get his client into the Clacka house? What was going on here? She rubbed at her aching temples. All of her time at the spa had just been undone with one phone call.
All she wanted to do now was go home, crawl under the covers, and forget about everything else. Her disastrous date last night. Nax. Her boss.
What was she going to do? Did she tell Nax? His brothers? She bit her lip. Why did Pete’s client want to get into their house? She remembered what Frankie and Eden had said about the break-in. Shit, were they related?
She pinched the bridge of her nose. She needed to go home and think about this. She didn’t know what to do.
* * *
The knock on the door woke her. She looked around in confusion. She was lying on the couch in her tiny living room. She glanced at her watch.
7 pm.
Shit. She must have fallen asleep while she was trying to decide whether or not to call Ioin Clacka and warn him that something odd was going on. She’d been putting off the call, because she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. And because Ioin kind of scared her.
“Phone’s ringing,” her mother said.
“Thanks, Mom,” she said softly. She didn’t bother to correct her. She stumbled her way to the door, still half-asleep.
She opened the door, stifling a yawn, and froze as she saw who stood on the other side.
Nax. Shit. The date. With all that had happened, she had completely forgotten that he’d told her he would collect her tonight for a date. She’d meant to call him and tell him it wasn’t happening. Probably. Maybe.
But she hadn’t. And now he was here. Panic filled her.
“Nax.” He was dressed in a button-down blue shirt that almost perfectly matched the color of his eyes, making them even more striking. Dark blue jeans and a pair of black shoes completed the outfit.
“Crista.” He greeted her with a nod, running his gaze over her. “Are you ready to go on our date?”
What? Was he joking? She looked down at herself. She was dressed in a pair of old, comfy sweatpants, a huge t-shirt that had a chicken printed on it, along with the words: Chicken. The pet that poops breakfast.
Her hair was pulled back in a rough ponytail and she had no make-up on. Ready?
“I’m afraid I fell asleep and lost track of time. Probably because I was so relaxed after leaving the spa.” Then so stressed after talking to Pete. “It’s pretty obvious that I’m in no way ready to go out.”
He frowned slightly. “I see that.”
“So perhaps—”
“You need shoes.”
“Shoes? You think shoes will fix this?” She ran her hand through the air, indicating her body.
“Fix what?”
“Nax, you can’t be that oblivious. I’m wearing sweatpants. A shirt that is four times too big for me. My hair is a mess. I have no make-up on. I go out looking like this and I’m going to make small children cry.”
“I think you look perfect.”
She gaped at him for a moment. Then for some stupid reason, tears filled her eyes. There would have been few times she’d looked worse.
And he thought she looked perfect. And she could tell it wasn’t a line he used to get women into his bed. For one thing, he was gorgeous enough not to need some sort of play to get women’s attention. For another, he was way too blunt and honest to carry it off.
So he meant what he’d said. Jesus.
And just like that she changed her mind about turning him away. How could she not go on a date with a man who thought she was perfect?
“It’s going to take me about fifteen minutes to get ready,” she told him. “Would you like to come in?”
Nax stepped into the small apartment.
He was not certain what she needed to do to get ready that would take so long. It would surely only take a minute to choose different clothing. Another minute to brush her hair. But he shrugged it off. And he was interested in seeing where she lived anyway. So far, he was not impressed.
The building didn’t have any security. Anyone could just wander in. At least Crista didn’t live on the ground floor. But the elevator hadn’t been working, meaning he’d had to walk three flights to get here. That did not worry him, but he wondered how she did that every day when she had packages or food to bring up.
The door was flimsy. One strong kick and he could have shattered it into pieces. He turned to look at the locks as she shut the door. Not bad. But again, there was no security system. She did not even have one of those peepholes that so many older apartment buildings on Earth had.
He ground his teeth together. Not good enough. Anyone could get to her. Harm her. And he would be able to do nothing to protect her.
She should be living with me.
He sighed. He had spent the whole day in his garage, wondering why he had felt compelled to interfere in the little female’s life. Why he felt so protective of her. Why he’d demanded that she come on a date with him tonight. Date. That was something humans did. Not Sky Warriors. He had never been on a date. Frankie and Eden had given him a quick overview of what to do before he had driven over here. They had even made him a booking at a restaurant.
He did not like crowds. Did not really like eating out. He did not like noise. Or small talk.
So why was he here?
Oh yes, because sometime today he had come to the same conclusion Ioin had.
Crista was his mate.
And even though he thought he should be able to just inform her of the fact and move her in with him, Frankie and Eden had told him he absolutely could not do that.
Really, that would make life so much simpler.
To his mind, humans just liked to jumble things up with emotions and rules and laws. Why did they have to have so many rules about things?
So here he was standing in his mate’s tiny, rundown apartment with its lax security, thinking that it was absolutely ludicrous that he should allow her to live like this when she should be with him. Under his protection and care.
He scowled, ignoring the pull on his bruised eye as he took in the worn, brown sofa with a couple of folded up rugs at one end. The scratched coffee table, the stained carpet, the puke-green kitchen cupboards and the cracked linoleum on the kitchen floor all displeased him.
“Nax? Everything okay?”
“What?” He turned to look at her. She had a red crease across one cheek from where she had obviously been sleeping.
“You were frowning and muttering to yourself. Is everything okay?” She looked around her apartment. “I know this place isn’t much but it’s all I can afford at the moment. Once I’ve sold a few more houses I might be able to move us someplace better. Why am I telling you all this? It’s none of your business where I live.”
“It is my business. This place isn’t safe. There is no security. Anyone
can walk in and have access to the building.”
“Yes, but we’re on the third floor. I doubt anyone is going to climb that many flights of stairs to try and break in here.” She waved her hand around. “Not like I’ve got much to steal.”
“What if they are not looking for something to steal? Someone could be watching you, could follow you in here, could force their way through that flimsy door and hurt you.”
She stepped closer, her eyes flashing with temper, her cheeks flushing red. “What? Like how you were doing?”
He leaned in. “I would never harm you. I was trying to protect you.”
“News flash. Don’t need your protection, hot shot. I’ve lived in this apartment for a year and nothing has ever happened.”
“You were attacked just a few nights ago!” he roared. “Your cheek is bruised.”
“That didn’t happen here!” she yelled back.
“You are infuriating!”
“I’m infuriating? You’re a freaking pain in the ass.”
“I can give you a pain in the ass.”
She stared up at him, her breath heaving in and out, her face flushed with anger, and he’d never seen someone so beautiful. He wrapped his hands around her waist and drew her close, so she was pressed against his body.
“You just try it, bud.”
He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her face up. “You try a male’s temper.”
“You’re not exactly the epitome of sane and easygoing,” she told him.
“I am going to kiss you now.”
“Not stopping you.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. Softly at first. But just one taste of those plump lips and he needed more. The kiss grew hotter. Harder. He ran his tongue across the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. She opened to him and he groaned. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her.
She slid her legs around him, her arms clasped around her neck and heat filled his body from the inside out.
Mine.
Forever.
He needed her. Needed to take her. Make her his.
“Hello, who are you?”
Like a bucket of water thrown over him, the voice made him freeze. Crista tugged away from him.
“Oh, shit,” she muttered. She pushed at his chest. “Put me down.”
He glanced over to see a small, older woman standing into an open doorway. From what he could see beyond, it led to a bathroom. The woman had gray, wispy hair, was fine-boned, and stared up at him with his mate’s eyes.
Her mother.
Frankie and Eden had warned him. Had told him her mother had a disease that ate at her brain. He did not like the sound of that. Especially when they had told him there was no cure.
“Mom. Sorry.” Crista glared at him. “Put. Me. Down.”
He didn’t want to. Really, he didn’t. But he let her slide down his body, setting her on her feet. She pulled at her t-shirt and then ran a hand over her hair. “Mom, this is Nax.”
The older woman tilted her head as she stared up at him. “You’re tall.”
He nodded. “I am.”
“Nax, this is my mother, Abigail.”
His mate’s mother stuck her hand out. “Call me Abby.”
Crista sucked in a breath and he glanced over at her. “What?” He stared down at her hand. He knew about this. Humans liked to shake hands. Odd custom. No wonder so many germs got spread. But he forced himself to shake the older woman’s hand. It felt fine and delicate in his.
“Nothing. It’s just, she doesn’t usually tell people she’s just met to call her Abby.”
“It’s what Jerry likes to call me. It reminds me of him. Sometimes it makes me sad,” her mother said. “But you’re handsome, like he was. And big. You can reach the top cupboard.”
He glanced over at Crista.
“Jerry was my dad,” Crista explained. Her eyes glimmered with tears.
“Come. Come.” Abby gestured at him.
“Mom, if you need something from the top cupboard, I’ll get it.” Crista followed Abby and grabbed one of the old chairs from the small table. It was one of those chairs that folded up. Not sturdy at all. He watched as Abby pointed to a high cupboard. Crista set the chair down then placed her foot on the seat. He quickly moved, grabbing her around the waist right as the chair wobbled.
“What do you do?” he demanded.
“I’m getting something out of the top cupboard for Mom,” she explained, looking up at him as though he were the crazy one. He looked up at the cupboard, which obviously neither woman could reach.
“Why would you put something up there? You cannot reach it.”
“I can if I use the chair. And in case you haven’t noticed, this apartment isn’t big. I need to store things up there.”
“It is not safe to use this chair to reach it.”
She sighed. “It’s only a couple of feet high. Can’t do much damage falling off it.”
He disagreed.
“Will you get it from the top cupboard?” Abby asked impatiently.
“Yes.” He sent a glare at Crista. “Do not climb on top of this chair again.”
She placed her hands on her waist. “You know, there’s a point where protective bleeds over into ludicrous.”
He opened the cupboard then quickly jumped back, grabbing both women around their waists and hauling them back with him as items tumbled out onto the ground.
“Goody!” Abby said when things stopped flying. “There it is.” She reached down and picked up a small box.
Nax turned and gave Crista a chiding look. “If that had happened while you were standing on the chair, you would have fallen.”
“Obviously I didn’t expect everything to fall out.” She moved around, picking everything up and placing it on the kitchen counter. “I didn’t even know that box was up there.” She looked over at her mother, who had the box open on her lap. “It’s some old photos of our family.”
He helped her pick up the bits and pieces then put the chair back from where she had gotten it. “Would you like me to put these things back?”
She bit her lip. “If you wouldn’t mind. I’ll get ready quickly.” Then she looked over at her mom. “Only, I forgot to check that Mrs. Johnson can come over and help Mom get into bed. I don’t like to leave her too long.”
“What do you do during the day when you work?”
“That’s the good thing about my job. I can do lots from here. When I have to go into the office or to showings, Mrs. J stops in as often as she can. I’ll call her.”
She moved to grab her phone and made a quick call, talking quietly. Then she ended the call and looked over at him. “Nax, I’m sorry. She has her grandchildren over tonight and can’t come over. I really can’t leave Mom. I’m sorry you came all this way, but—”
“Bring her with us.”
She stared at him, obviously lost for words. “Sorry, what?”
“Bring your mom out to dinner.”
“On-on our date?”
“Is that not allowed?” Was it one of their rules? Frankie and Eden had not mentioned it.
“No, um, it is. It’s just not normal.” She glanced over at her mother. “Are you sure? We could reschedule.”
Wait for another night and let her have time to change her mind? He did not think so. He was here now. “It is fine.”
“Mom? Would you like to come out for dinner?”
“No, thank you,” her mother muttered.
“Are you sure? Nax and I would love it if you came.”
“Nax, who is Nax?”
“I am,” he said calmly.
Her mother looked over at him. Then she smiled. “You’re handsome.”
“Thank you.”
“You remind me of Jerry.”
He nodded as though she hadn’t just said that. He saw the way Crista’s face started to crumble, tears threatening before she seemed to rally herself.
“Mom? Nax and I are going to dinner, want to come wi
th us?”
“Oh, you don’t want an old woman to go to dinner with you. I will be fine here.”
Crista bit her lip and gave him an apologetic look.
“You are not an old lady, Abby,” he told her warmly. “And I would like very much to have two beautiful women accompany me.”
Crista stared at him. Then Abby smiled. It was bright and infectious. A giggle broke free.
“Okay. Thank you.”
* * *
Crista walked next to Nax down the hallway towards her apartment. Tonight had not gone as she’d expected. She turned to look up at him.
“I’m sorry this wasn’t the date you were hoping for.”
“I do not understand.”
Her mom was a few steps ahead of them, talking quietly to herself.
“Well, I’m thinking you didn’t expect there to be three of us on this date.” The restaurant certainly hadn’t, although they’d been gracious when they’d set another place at the table. “I’m guessing you’ve never been on a date with someone’s mom tagging along.”
“I have never been on a date before.”
“You’re joking me.”
“No. I am not.”
Of course he wasn’t. “This is your first date?” What did he do? Just take women straight to his bed?
“Yes.”
They reached her apartment and she moved ahead to unlock it. Nax held her back before she could enter.
“Wait here. Both of you.”
He moved inside while she stood there with her mom.
“Why are we out here?” her mom asked.
“I really don’t know.”
Nax returned quickly. “All clear.”
He was clearing her apartment? Who did he expect to be in there?
Her mom sailed inside. “I’m going to bed.”
“Okay, Mom. Night.” She kissed her mother on the cheek as Nax stepped inside and shut the door. He turned and pulled the bolt across. She didn’t bother to set the other lock, since he’d be leaving soon.
Her mom disappeared into the bedroom. She turned to Nax, giving him a nervous smile. “Alone at last.”
“You are nervous. Why?”
“Um, no reason.”
Nax Page 11