However, as much as she longed to shut out the world and lose herself in him, she couldn’t afford to get fired. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss and lowered her head as she tried to get her thundering heart under control.
She took a deep breath and dropped her arms from his shoulders. Her body screamed in protest, and she clasped her hands together to keep from grabbing him back again.
This was happening so fast, and it was all so much, but as it overwhelmed her, she craved more. Dante studied her with a confused gleam in his eye. She completely understood his confusion as she felt it too.
Except, she at least suspected what this could be between them, but she doubted he did. She’d told him about mates, but if he’d never been around mates before, then he wouldn’t know what to look for or expect it to be happening to him. She’d be amazed if he remembered the conversation given everything that happened since then.
“I really should get home so I can change,” she murmured.
“I know.”
“If it’s okay, I’d like to go with you to speak to her tomorrow.”
“I already told her I’d be bringing a friend.”
A friend? Cassidy thought as she fiddled with the edges of her shirt. But then, what else was he supposed to call her?
“Good,” she said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Dante stiffened when she glanced nervously at him before looking toward the family photo on the bookshelf. “What is it?”
“I know someone who can track others. He can’t track the dead, and he can’t track someone if they’re around a lot of other people, like in a city, but he could help if Julie isn’t in the city anymore and if…”
Her words trailed off as she glanced at the photo of his family again. She couldn’t bring herself to say that Brian might be able to help if Maya was still alive. She couldn’t give him that hope and tear it away again. Mate or not, she cared for this stubborn, determined man with a damaged heart of gold, and she couldn’t stand the idea of hurting him.
“If Maya isn’t dead,” Dante said.
He didn’t know how to react to this revelation. His heart raced with excitement as dread coiled inside him. He believed Maya was dead, but what if she was still alive? What if, after all these years, he could finally find her? And what if this person could help find Julie?
“Are they willing to help?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I won’t turn their help away,” he said. “The less time Julie spends out here alone, the better the chance I have of bringing her home alive.”
“I’ll let him know.”
“This person is trustworthy?”
“He’s my brother-in-law.”
“Great,” Dante said. “More brothers.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was almost eleven thirty when Cassidy finished her last song of the night. She smiled as she descended the stage to a raucous chorus of applause and whistles. A group of young guys, out celebrating their friend's upcoming marriage, entered the bar about an hour ago.
They weren’t the typical crowd for Addy’s, but they’d become her biggest fans. Many of them stood near the stage with their drinks in hand. However, the soon-to-be groom was propped in a booth with a glass of water. She doubted he would remember much of this night.
She headed toward where Dante sat at a table closer to the bar. He’d entered the bar before she started singing and hadn’t left. Kyle was giving him drinks without a hassle, but Julian and Aida had stayed for longer than usual.
“Can I buy you a drink?” one of the guys asked.
“No, thank you,” Cassidy said and went to step around the young man.
Before she could get around him, another guy blocked her way. Cassidy tried not to roll her eyes as the man swayed drunkenly toward her. “I know my friend over here is an ugly SOB, but I’m pretty cute. Why don’t you let me buy you a drink?”
“No, thank you,” Cassidy said.
Dante rose from the table, and if the look on his face were any indication, it wouldn’t matter how drunk these guys were tonight, he would beat every one of them bloody.
“Excuse me,” Cassidy said and pushed past them before things got ugly.
“Aw, come on, beautiful. We’re only looking to have a little fun,” the first guy called after her.
Cassidy didn’t look back as she approached Dante. He’d taken a few steps away from his chair. Hostility simmered in his eyes when they met hers before returning to the men.
Cassidy stopped before him and rested her hand on the table. When his gaze met hers again, the corners of his mouth lifted his smile. That smile and the twinkle in his eyes stole her breath. Before she knew what she was doing, she rose onto her toes to kiss him.
Dante rested his hands on Cassidy’s hips and drew her closer as the kiss deepened. It was so easy to become swept up in the desire she effortlessly evoked in him. He forgot where they were and the patrons surrounding them as he tasted her. The brush of her breasts against his chest, her smell, and her tongue stroking his became the center of his world as blood flooded his cock.
A loud clearing of the throat and a glass banging against something jerked Cassidy back to reality. A blush burned up her neck and into her face when she turned to discover Kyle standing across the table from them with a fresh drink for Dante in front of him.
“I thought you might like your shift drink,” he said to Cassidy.
“Oh, ah… yeah… thank you,” she stammered.
He stared between her and Dante before shaking his head and walking away. Music came over the speakers as Rick turned on the radio behind the bar.
“You were amazing tonight,” Dante said as he reluctantly released Cassidy. He tried not to tug at his jeans as his erection softened.
“Thank you.”
“Have you considered singing for
