Darby Shepard knew the back alleys and all the little shortcuts between the school and her new apartment off St. Charles. Aidan considered the trouble he’d run into last night and decided that New Orleans in the daylight was a much less bothersome place.
Just before she moved onto the side street that would lead to the rear courtyard of her building, Darby hesitated, surveyed the pedestrians on the street. Aidan ducked into a doorway a split second before her gaze lit on him. He could feel her searching the crowd. She’d felt his presence. A ghost of a smile tugged at his mouth. She knew he was there on some level, though she might not be certain just yet what the sensations meant.
He would need to be very careful now. She would be cruising for him even when she didn’t realize her mind was doing just that. Their bond was too strong to ignore. Even O’Riley would be startled by the strength of the connection. He had warned Aidan to tread carefully. O’Riley knew more than he was telling. Touching the director’s mind was strictly forbidden. Perhaps he should have taken the risk, but his training had long ago become instinct. It was second nature for him to obey the director. But there were things the director didn’t have to know. Such as just how close he got to Eve…Darby, he reminded himself.
As long as he didn’t blow his cover, he could get as close as he wanted and no one had to know.
All day he’d struggled with the dilemma she represented. Part of him wanted to proceed with caution, but another part of him needed to explore this bond between them. After all these years, how could it still exist? That was the part that baffled him, intrigued him. Sixteen years stood between them. Her memory had been wiped. And yet she still drew him like a moth to the flame. The heat was incredible…burned through him as nothing else ever had. Reason told him it was simply genetic manipulation; they were designed for this bond. But the less rational, more human side of him wondered if part of it could be pure chemistry. A volatile mix just waiting to explode.
He felt her move on. A few moments later, he followed. She hurried across the courtyard and through the rear entrance of the building. Maybe thirty seconds later, she moved onto her balcony, the cordless receiver in hand. He watched until she’d gone back inside, then he crossed the courtyard and entered the building. When he opened the door her cat, Wizard, scampered out without giving Aidan so much as a second look.
He took the stairs two at a time, reaching the third-floor landing in less time than it would have taken to summon the ancient elevator.
Aidan unlocked the door to his apartment and went inside. He moved through the cool, dark interior and paused at the French doors. Opening them wide, he stepped out onto the balcony. He surveyed the grounds, appreciating the fact that the media apparently had not discovered her new place of residence. His next move would be to make her acquaintance. He wondered if she would remember him on some long-buried level. Not likely.
Minutes later, a car sporting a pizza delivery logo pulled up to the back gate. The driver got out and waited to be buzzed in. As Aidan watched, the guy, pizza box in hand, opened the gate and strolled into the courtyard.
A rush of raw energy surged inside him and he knew instantly that it was her. He looked to his left, toward her balcony, just as she breezed through the French doors.
“Up here,” she called to the deliveryman. “Take the lift to the third floor. I’ll be waiting in the hall. Oh, and let my cat in, would you?”
“No problem,” came from the man striding across the courtyard.
Darby suddenly stilled. For three long beats, she didn’t move. Slowly she turned her head in Aidan’s direction. Their gazes locked. Electricity crackled between them and for a time they could only stare at each other.
“Hey lady! You gonna buzz me into the building or what?”
She blinked, stumbled back a step.
Before Aidan could speak, she’d vanished into her apartment.
Aidan did the same, shedding his leather duster and tossing it onto the sofa as he moved toward the corridor entrance to his apartment. He opened the door and leaned against the frame just to watch her. She paid the pizza guy and he thanked her before heading off.
Her gaze shifted to Aidan and he straightened. “I didn’t mean to startle you on the balcony,” he said quietly. He moved away from his door, taking a step closer to her. “I’m Aidan.” Another step disappeared between them. “Your new neighbor.” He thrust out his right hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She was still searching his face, scrutinizing him, when she shifted the pizza to her left hand and placed her right in his. The skin-to-skin contact created a sizzle that made her gasp before she quickly drew back her hand. Startled him just a little as well.
“Darby Shepard. I…didn’t know anyone had moved in,” she said, her eyes clearly telegraphing her confusion. Her cat strolled up to her door, then wound around her legs before vanishing inside.
“I just moved in last night.”
She blinked and thought of how she’d felt his presence this morning. He smiled. Couldn’t resist.
“It’s quiet around here at night,” he noted. “That’s good.” Considering the rest of the city, it was very good.
She nodded. “Most of the time.”
“Well.” He glanced at the box in her hand. “I don’t want to keep you.”
When he would have turned away, she stopped him.
“I’m sorry.” She shook her head and laughed softly. “Where are my manners?” She produced a smile in hopes of shielding the awkwardness. It made his heart beat faster. “Please join me. I can’t possibly eat all this by myself.”
He declined with a wave of his hand.
