'Your mother wants to know if you'll come for dinner tonight,' he said.
She stared at him for a second, her heart feeling like it was about to race out of her chest. 'Is this a request or a demand?'
He grimaced. 'You know your mother.'
A demand. By the moon's light, what on earth was she going to do now? 'I--' She hesitated, but knew it was better to tell a half truth than a straight out lie. 'I was planning to go out later tonight, but I can come over if dinner is early enough.'
He nodded and raised his eyebrow. Curious, but not overly so. 'Anywhere in particular?'
She shrugged nonchalantly. 'They're reshowing Charade at the Playbox. Thought I might catch that.'
She'd actually caught it two nights ago, but he didn't know that. Her dad snorted. 'How many times will that make it?' She grinned. 'Only fourteen.'
He shook his head. 'You're never going to catch a mate if you keep spending your time down at that old movie theater lusting after ancient actors.'
'Well, until I meet a man with Cary Grant's looks, charm and style, that's exactly what I intend to keep doing.'
'We're never going to get grandkiddies, that's for sure,' he muttered. He slapped her leg, amusement dancing in his eyes. 'Go set the tables before I get inclined to lecture on the virtues of finding a good man.'
Grin widening, she slipped off the bench, planted another kiss on his cheek, and headed off to work. The morning rush came and went. Arianne, a fellow waitress and long-time friend, swept in at eleven, all color and energy and smiles.
'Such a wonderful day,' she all but trilled, shucking off her coat and grabbing an apron.
'Got lucky last night, did we?' Neva commented dryly. Ari grinned. 'No, but I'm intending to tonight.
Hooked myself a fine specimen last night.'
'And you didn't dance? Good grief, girl, are you sick?'
'Nope. He was with another mate at the time, and it's not polite to steal, you know.'
'Since when has that stopped you?'
Amusement twinkled in Ari's dark green eyes. 'Since his mate was double my size.'
Neva snorted softly. 'Good enough reason, I suppose.'
'Generally. You filled the salt shakers yet?' Neva shook her head, and the two of them got to work.
Lunch was busier than normal, thanks to the rising influx of fly-fishermen wanting to take advantage of the early season warmth. At one, when there was a brief slowdown in customer traffic, Neva grabbed a soda and leaned wearily against the counter. Lack of sleep was beginning to tell. Thank God it was
Monday, and the diner was closed tonight.
Then she remembered what she had to do, and a shiver ran down her spine.
Ari joined her near the fridge, leaning her forehead against the cool glass. 'Man, I'm hot.'
She raised an eyebrow. 'Can't wait for tonight, huh?' Mischief danced in Ari's eyes. 'Well, now that you mentioned it.' She hesitated as the doorbell chimed. 'Maybe we should put the 'Closed' sign up.
Otherwise, I don't think we're going to get out of here today.' Neva smiled as she glanced toward the door--and felt her smile freeze on her face. It wasn't just any old customer who'd entered. It was Duncan
Sinclair.
Ari's soft gasp of admiration seemed a hundred miles away. Neva could only stare at him, her mind whirling with a thousand different thoughts and fears. What on earth was he doing here? Was it just chance that brought him here or something more? He adjusted a small brown-wrapped box tucked beneath his arm and took off his dark glasses, his gaze skating across the crowded room. No, she thought, knees weak, heart straining with fear. It wasn't chance, but something more sinister.
'Now there's a honey I wouldn't mind wrapping my legs around,' Ari whispered. 'Moons, what a delicious bod.'
He certainly had that, Neva thought with a chill. She'd thought him dangerously handsome last night, but now, when he was wearing dark jeans that hugged his legs with such thigh-defining tightness, and a black sweater that fitted his lean body and seemed to show every ripple of muscle, the impression of a dark angel was doubled. Tripled.
His gaze collided with hers, and something trembled deep inside. Whether it was fear or anticipation, she wasn't sure.
Which of the free tables are yours? His mind voice was brusque, unemotional. A tight beam only the two of them could hear--thankfully, given her dad was next door in the kitchen.
Booth second from the end. She kept her tones as clipped as his.
'God,' Ari continued. 'Hope he chooses one of my booths.'
'Thought you had a date tonight?' she said, hoping Ari was too intent drooling over Duncan to notice the slight tremor in her voice.
'Are you crazy? That honey gives me the slightest indication of interest, and I'm a puddle at his feet.'
Neva watched him stride to the booth and had to admit, if only to herself, that if he'd shown the slightest bit of interest in her, she would have puddled right alongside Ari.
But he wouldn't. She knew that without a doubt. Whatever his reasons for coming here, it had nothing to do with interest or pleasure-- at least not for her, anyway. Why the hell was he here? She'd promised the nights, not the days. What was he up to? And why did she feel with such sick certainty that his appearance here boded her no good?
He slipped into the booth she'd indicated, and Ari sighed. 'Typical. The best looking man I've ever seen walks in here, and he sits at one of your tables.' She hesitated, visibly brightening. 'Can we swap?'
She would have liked to, but there was something in his ebony gaze that suggested retribution if she tried. 'Sorry. No can do.'
'That's right, be greedy. Keep the hunk all to yourself.' She raised an eyebrow. 'And you wouldn't?'
'Beside the point.' Ari waved a dismissing hand and slapped a menu into her hands. 'Go get him, tiger.'
Neva took a quick drink of soda, then made her way around the counter and walked toward him. He watched every step, his dark gaze as impassive as his thoughts. By the time she'd reached the halfway point, her stomach was tumbling worse than a clothes dryer, and she was seriously regretting her quick drink of soda. 'Care for a menu, sir?' she asked, forcing a cheerful smile to her lips.
I think we both know what I came here for. He took the menu from her trembling hands and casually opened it.
It felt like he'd clubbed her in the stomach. She stared at him for a second, knuckles white as she gripped her notepad for dear life. What the hell are you talking about? Aloud, she said, 'The specials today are spicy chicken burgers with chips and salad, or minestrone soup with a small platter of homemade breads.'
I told you to wait for me last night.
So? You also said you'd take the time to pleasure me more fully, and that didn't exactly happen now, did it? Though there was not the slightest flicker in his shuttered eyes, she knew her barb had hit home. His anger boiled around her, a distant touch of thunder only she could hear.
You agreed to mate with me. You had no right to leave. He studied the menu for a moment, then ordered the chicken burger and fries.
And you have no right to come here chasing me. 'Would you like a coffee with that, sir?'
I have every right. 'Black, thanks.'
She wrote it down, mouth dry. What do you mean? It's one of the more obscure rules of the dance. If a female who has agreed to a mating does not fulfill her promises, then the male has every right to pursue her and make her. He hesitated, his gaze snaring hers with deadly intent. No matter where she might be.
Oh God. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Surely he wouldn't. Not here in the diner. Even he couldn't be that wild. That uncaring. But as she returned his gaze, a tremor of fear began deep inside.
She may have studied this man, but she didn't know him. Didn't have a clue as to just what he was capable of doing.
I agreed to the nights. I intend to uphold that bargain. Not last night you didn't.
We mated. If you could call what happened between them the second time mating.
You ran. I was far from finished, believe me. The trembling was beginning to work its way down her legs.
