by Sammie Joyce
Marcel hadn’t been lying about the food at Kelly’s. To my utter surprise, the burger and salad I got was absolutely mouthwatering.
“I told you,” he said gleefully when he saw the expression on my face. “Harry’s an artist.”
“He should open his own place!” I moaned, taking another bite. “This is amazing.”
Lucy, the server, overheard and laughed.
“Don’t give him any ideas. He’s been threatening to do just that since he started here twenty years ago.”
I grinned at her and ordered another martini. It was going to have to be my last as I still had to drive home to Bend but I was relishing the buzz I had going on. I had to wonder if it had more to do with the way that Marcel was looking at me than the alcohol but whatever it was, I loved it.
Two hours had gone by like nothing, the two of us discussing everything from politics to the weather.
He makes me really comfortable. I like being here with him.
I could tell the feeling was mutual, his gorgeous eyes taking me in from across the booth and I knew before the night was over, I was going to steal a kiss from him.
“Is your family around here?”
Suddenly, the headiness evaporated as Charlie’s face popped into my mind. I nodded but kept my eyes fixed on my almost finished plate of food.
“Uh…my brother is,” I mumbled. “My parents retired to Florida a couple years back.”
“That’s good. It’s important to have family nearby.”
You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew my brother, I thought.
“How about you? You have family around here?”
“My family is…everywhere,” he said, faltering slightly. “But yeah, they’re around.”
The answer was slightly curious but I didn’t press it. I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it anymore than I did, even if he had been the one to bring it up.
When Lucy came back around with the drinks and cleared off the table, Marcel got up.
“I’ll be right back,” he said and I nodded, assuming he was off to use the washroom. Lucy winked at me.
“He’s a catch, that one,” she said slyly and inexplicably, I felt a rush of jealousy shoot through me.
How do you know? I wanted to ask but I wisely held my tongue.
“He’s a good guy,” I agreed, forcing a smile.
“I haven’t seen much of him or his friends lately,” Lucy continued, stacking the plates up skillfully on her arm.
“Oh? Did he used to come around a lot?”
“His friend Matt owns a construction company, I think. Marcel would pop by when they were in town. I guess there’s not much being built here in the middle of winter, though.”
“I guess not,” I agreed. I wondered if I would ever get a chance to meet Matt.
Maybe our next date won’t be in the middle of nowhere, I thought. I chided myself for getting ahead of myself. I had no idea if there would be another date. Yes, things had been going well but Marcel had also wanted to meet somewhere out of the way for a reason.
The juke box kicked in and my ears perked up to hear one of my favorite Beatles songs piping out of the speakers. When I turned my head to look, I saw Marcel standing by the stereo, a wide grin on his face.
“I love this song!” I exclaimed when he returned to the table.
“I know,” he replied lightly. “You’ve got nothing but Beatles memorabilia all over your Instagram account.”
I blinked, stunned that he had bothered to check me out on social media.
“You were looking me up?”
His eyebrow rose.
“You didn’t look me up?” he replied. I blushed crimson and looked away.
“Maybe a little,” I mumbled and he laughed loudly.
“Care to dance?”
My head jerked up again and I gawked at him. Did men still ask women to dance?
“No pressure,” he said, mistaking my look of disbelief for displeasure.
“No! No, I want to dance!” I choked, worried that I missed the opportunity. He extended his hand and I took it, sliding out of the booth to fall effortlessly into his arms as “Yesterday” continued to play in the background.
Marcel moved as well as he looked, his feet gliding effortlessly along the floor like he was born dancing. I felt stiff in his arms at first but as he pulled me closer, I felt the stress in my body dissipate.
When was the last time I slow danced with anyone? Seventh Grade? Prom?
I couldn’t even remember those dances. In fact, I couldn’t remember anything in that moment but being in Marcel Rhodes’ arms. I was swept up in the moment, savoring the musky scent of his cologne but there was something else, something stronger and more powerful.
This man had a hold over me, one that I could feel in every fiber of my body.
“Maybe next time, we’ll go to a club or something,” he murmured in my ear and elation shot through me.
“Next time?” I echoed, pulling my head back to look into his face. He nodded.
“Or am I being presumptuous?” he asked quietly. I shook my head.
“No,” I breathed, dropping my cheek back against his toned pec. “You’re not being presumptuous at all.”
So there was going to be a next time.
I could hardly wait.
7
Marcel
If I’d had a hard time getting Vivian out of my head before, it was impossible after our date. Gone was the reasoning I’d used before to justify keeping her at bay. The scent of her perfume lingered in my nostrils days after our date and I kept thinking I got flashes of her in places where I knew she couldn’t possibly have been.
I was distracted at work, my mind wandering as my clients discussed the affairs of their lives. In my mind’s eye, I could see Vivian in that black dress, clinging to all her curves as she held onto me.
Every night after work, I went home and logged onto Instagram, looking for her newest posts and suddenly, I felt like she was posting only for me. I couldn’t deny that she had captivated me; mind, body and soul.
And I knew I needed to fight it.
I had no one to blame but myself for letting it come to this. I’d known from the start that going on the date with her was a bad idea. After all, nothing could ever come of it, not when I was a wolf and a Protector. For all I knew, Vivian was a vigilante herself.
I scoffed aloud at the notion. She was a healer, not a disenchanted psychopath. The one therapy session I’d had with her had told me as much. Her heart was warm and caring, not out for revenge. Of course, we’d never discussed shifters but I wondered if she knew about us at all.
And she doesn’t ever need to know about us! That stubborn inner voice snapped at me. You’re not seeing her again.
We texted every day and it was on the tip of my fingers to ask her out on another date, somewhere more public where I could show her off and maybe alleviate the guilt I was feeling but I held back. I couldn’t be sure if it was because she had been my client for fifty minutes or because it was a blatant disregard for the Council’s rules but whatever the reason, I didn’t ask, even though I knew she was waiting for me to do just that.
Three days after our date, I picked up my phone after my last client and turned it on. As I was expecting, there was already a text from Vivian.
-How’s your day going? She asked.
I smiled to myself, sitting back in the leather swivel chair and spun around like a little kid. I looked forward to these texts much more than I wanted to admit. I knew at the end of the day, Vivian would have fired one off, no matter what she was doing.
-Just finished work. What are you up to? I replied. Courtney knocked on the door and let herself in without waiting for a response. I glanced up at her, my peripheral vision still on the screen as I waited for Vivian to respond.
“I’m heading out,” Courtney announced in her usual fashion. “Need anything before I go?”
I shook my head but before she turned away I thought
of something.
“Hey Court?”
“Hm?”
“How many days are you supposed to wait between dates?”
She turned and eyed me warily.
“With the same people or different people? Because Tinder dates have no time frame. You can go on three dates on the same night if you want.”
I laughed.
“I mean, what’s the social etiquette of asking someone out again?”
I didn’t add, “with humans” which was what I was thinking. Courtney was a human and while sometimes I suspected that she knew the truth about me, she never let on.
The secretary scowled.
“Seriously?” she scoffed. “You’re a grown ass man, Marcel. Since when do you need to abide by immature dating rules.”
Shaking her head, she muttered something as she saw herself out of my office, leaving me to feel slightly foolish for having asked.
She’s right though. I shouldn’t be worried about stuff like that.
The cell rang in my hand, startling me and I answered it, barely registering who was calling.
“Marcel Rhodes.”
“Hey, it’s me,” Vivian said breathlessly. I blinked at the unexpected sound of her voice.
“Hey…everything okay?” I asked. This was the first time she’d called me and while I was happy to hear her voice, I felt a fission of alarm.
“Yeah,” she laughed. “I just had a quick minute. I’m at work.”
“Oh. Well, I just finished. What time are you off?”
“I’m working a double tonight,” she explained. “I’ll be off at six a.m.”
I found myself disappointed at the information. I had been gearing up to ask her out but she would be too tired now.
“But I’m off this weekend by some freakish coincidence,” Vivian added.
“Really?”
“Yep. Starting tomorrow night and all the way until Monday morning.”
“Well that’s something.”
“It doesn’t happen often,” Vivian replied and I could hear a wistful note in her voice. She was willing me to ask her out again.
And I’m going to do it. We’ll still keep it low profile for now. Maybe next time—
“You still there, Marc?”
“Oh yeah,” I said quickly, not realizing that a silence had lapsed. “I was just thinking.”
“Me too,” she replied. “I was thinking that we should go up to my family’s cabin this weekend.”
Surprise struck me and I was at a loss for words for a moment.
“Marcel?”
“Uh…where is that?”
“It’s just a little hunting cabin that my family’s owned for generations. It’s up in Mount Bachelor—unironically.”
I knew Mount Bachelor well. The Protectors often met in that area. The thought alone gave me pause.
But we won’t be out in the wild and even if we are, the Protectors wouldn’t come near any buildings. We would be safe—
“No one will be up there, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Vivian added and again, I realized I’d fallen silent as I remained lost in thought.
“No no,” I said quickly. “I’m not worried about anything.”
I hoped my lie was well hidden in my words.
“I was just trying to remember if I had anything going on this weekend.”
“Oh.”
“No, I don’t,” I continued, almost slapping a hand on my forehead as I heard how I must sound. “Sorry, you just caught me off guard.”
I laughed and she chuckled too.
“I know,” she agreed. “It was a spur of the moment thought and I wanted to ask you before I lost my nerve.”
Her confession made me smile. At least I knew I wasn’t alone in this schoolchild-like way of feeling. She was just as much on pins and needles as I was.
“I’d love to go,” I told her without hesitation this time, even though I couldn’t deny I was having reservations.
“Yeah?” Her voice perked up and any doubts I had disappeared.
“Yes, of course,” I replied. “It will be good to get into the mountains for a couple days. Wait…is there plumbing?”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of using an outhouse,” Vivian chided before laughing. “There’s plumbing and electricity. The place is perfect for an escape. You’ll see.”
“In that case, I’ll bring the wine.”
I head the scream of ambulance sirens suddenly and I knew that was Vivian’s cue to go.
“Damn. Looks like we’ve got a live one,” she sighed. “I’ll call you tomorrow to go over the details?”
“Sounds good,” I agreed. “Have a good rest of your shift.”
“Shifts,” she corrected. “Talk to you later.”
She disconnected the call and long after she’d hung up, I found myself staring at the phone in my hand, wondering if I’d committed to doing something I might regret.
Sensibly, I knew I should be putting more distance between Vivian and me, not agreeing to spending overnights with her. There would be no going back from having a weekend together, assuming all went well. If I was already smitten with her then, I would be addicted come Monday.
It could go terribly, I thought with dark optimism. And then you won’t feel bad about letting her go.
But as I finally rose from my desk and collected my items to leave the office for the day, I knew that this weekend was going to be the end all and be all for us. It was either going to make or break us and I wasn’t sure which idea was more devastating.
* * *
Matt was inside the trailer when I arrived back on the scene. He looked at me in surprise as I sauntered inside, rubbing my hands together for warmth.
“You again?” he asked teasingly. “Now what?”
“I thought you might have missed me,” I joked, flopping down onto the worn loveseat in the corner of the cramped office trailer. “Was I wrong?”
“I barely see you for months and suddenly I get the honor twice in a week. If you keep this up, I might start thinking you like me,” Matt teased. He put the blueprints back on the desk and sat back, folding his arms over his burly chest. “What’s wrong?”
“Something has to be wrong for me to—”
“Cut the shit, Marc. I can see you’re worried about something. What is it? Council or Protectors?”
I snorted.
“Are those my only two options?”
“Work?” Matt asked, brow furrowing. “I’ve never really heard you complain about work.”
The smirk on my face faded slightly and I leaned forward, contemplating his words.
Am I that boring and predictable? My only issues could be pack or work related? He doesn’t even assume I have a life.
“Oh!” Matt laughed, clapping his hands suddenly. “This is about that woman! The one you were talking about the last time you were here. Did you go for it?”
My mouth parted slightly. I’d forgotten I’d mentioned Vivian to him but I didn’t need to speak. Matt read my expression clearly. He hooted loudly.
“Good for you! What’s the problem?”
“I already told you what the problem is,” I grumbled. “She’s a human.”
“Semantics. Love is love.”
I groaned loudly at his spin, as if it was all so simple.
“Thanks, Dr. Phil,” I said sarcastically. Matt snickered.
“What did you come here for then, if not a pep talk?” he demanded. “Not that I mind you being here.”
I paused, glancing at the closed door of the bathroom but Matt shook his head.
“There’s no one else here,” he assured me.
“I’m going away for a few days,” I explained. “I’m going to put you on-call if the Protectors need backup but I’m sure Dalton and Inigo can hold down the fort.”
Matt blinked, a pleased look overcoming his face. I knew how much he’d wanted to be a Protector himself and even though I knew that the others wouldn’t call on him, even
if they needed him, just pretending they might was enough to make him feel special.
“Sure!” he said brightly. “I-I’ll keep my phone on. Where are you going?”
“Mount Bachelor for the weekend. Little getaway.”
Matt’s eyes widened with interest.
“With your human girlfriend?”
I scowled slightly.
“You will keep this to yourself, right?” I asked, unnecessary as it was.
“What do you think?” Matt demanded, exasperated. “Anyway, I still think you’re more worried about this than you should be. You know how the Council gets. They have their waves of being worried about the humans, go into defensive mode and then we’re all back to business as usual.”
I stared at him, wondering if he genuinely believed his words or if he was just saying them to make me feel better.
“It’s different this time,” I said begrudgingly. “Anticlaw is getting bigger, more dangerous…”
I trailed off and Matt darted his eyes about nervously.
“This isn’t the best time to bring this up,” he said. “But since we’re on the topic…”
My neck stiffened.
“What?” I demanded.
“I heard the crew talking earlier today and they have a name.”
I stared at him blankly.
“A name?” I repeated.
“The name of one of the leaders of Anticlaw. I’m not sure how valid this info is but word around here is that he’s a dangerous prick without any filters. I can’t be clear just how up the food chain he is but it’s something.”
I stifled a groan. I didn’t want to hear about this today, not when I was supposed to be preparing to go away with Vivian.
Your loyalty is to the Council and pack first and foremost, I reminded myself but for the first time, it felt like a burden, not an honor.
“Who is he?” I sighed, knowing that I had to take whatever information I could get. I still had a day to investigate and I could leave this with Inigo and Dalton if anything shook out.
“I only have a first name,” Matt explained and I didn’t bother to contain my groan this time.
“What the hell good is that going to do me?” I demanded. “Unless his name is Jambalaya or something.”