Her knees felt fluid. She so desperately wanted to tell him she was finished, that she'd had enough of his stupid dance and magnificent but uncaring body. But she'd couldn't. She was snared by the very net she'd thrown, and she had no choice in this now. But she had a horrible suspicion she'd better find
Savannah's attacker fast, before this man destroyed her. Tell me what you want. Aloud, she added, 'Anything else with that, sir?'
His smile was slow and sexy and sizzled heat across every nerve ending. 'Oh yes,' he said softly. 'But we'll discuss that a little later.' When the diner isn't as full. She flipped closed her notebook and all but ran back to the counter. Where she stood, back to him, taking deep breaths as she tried to control the shaking. She couldn't go into the kitchen like this. Her dad would know something was wrong and be out her e in an instant searching for the troublemaker.
Ari came around the counter. 'He has that sort of effect on me, too,' she said, voice sympathetic, 'And I haven't been anywhere near him.'
'I'll be fine once I catch by breath,' she said. Which certainly wasn't a lie.
'So what does he smell like?'
'Like a warm whisky on a cold night,' she said without thinking.
Ari chuckled softly. 'You have got the hots for him real bad, don't you? Shame your old man is next door. You could've dragged our sexy stranger into the storeroom and had a quick dance with him.'
That was certainly a possibility anyway, if the heated promise in his eyes was anything to go by. 'Of course, you'd have to dust yourself off with bicarb afterward,' Ari continued blithely.
Neva blinked and looked at her. 'What?'
'Bicarb absorbs smells, does it not?'
'Yeah--so?'
'So, you don't want your straightlaced parents knowing you've actually gone out and enjoyed yourself, do you?' She winked saucily. 'Works a treat, believe me. Been doing it for years.'
Neva laughed softly and pushed away from the counter. 'You're incorrigible.'
'But a hell of a lot more satisfied than you'll ever be if you don't start pulling your act into the twenty-
first century.' She waved a hand toward the kitchen. 'Your dad may be the head of the Future's
Committee, but both your parents are still acting like they were brought up in the fifteenth century.'
'Okay for you to say,' she said dryly. 'You don't have to live with their fifteenth century ideals.'
'Neither do you. You moved out two years ago, remember?'
Moving out was easy. Ignoring the twenty-six years spent under their roof, absorbing their influences and ideals, was not. She wasn't even sure she wanted to ignore them.
'I'm trying, Ari, believe me.'
'Not hard enough if you let that delicious stranger slip through your fingers.'
She forced a smile and walked into the kitchen, handing her dad Duncan's order. When it was ready eight minutes later, she grabbed the plate and his coffee, took a deep breath, and walked over.
'Here you go, sir,' she said, placing his plate in front of him.
'Thank you.' He let his hand slide across hers as he reached for his cutlery.
It felt like flame caressing her skin, and she jumped. The coffee cup she still held tumbled sideways, splashing heated brown liquid all over the table and him. 'Oh God, I'm sorry,' she said, horrified. 'Are you all right? Are you burned?'
His raised eyebrow suggested he didn't believe the sincerity of her words. 'No. Just clean up the table, and me, and it'll be fine.'
She pulled the towel from the side of her apron and mopped up the worst of the spill. Ari tossed her another towel, and she finished it. Luckily, the burger had somehow avoided being drenched. She didn't fancy going back into the kitchen right now. 'What about the parcel?' She flicked her cloth in the direction of the brown wrapped box.
'It's fine,' he said softly. 'But you did still miss a bit.' She frowned. 'No, I haven--' Her voice faded as he shifted, revealing the dots of coffee on his sweater and groin.
Surely you don't expect me--The thought froze as she met his gaze. He would. And he did.
She took another deep breath, then quickly dabbed the stains from his sweater and jeans. And couldn't help noticing--or feeling--the huge bulge of his excitement. An odd slither of feminine satisfaction ran through her. At least he couldn't deny his interest in her when the evidence of it was so clearly visible.
'Will there be anything else, sir?' she said, voice a little more breathy than she would have liked. His smile smoked her insides. 'Not right now.' She nodded and retreated to the other side of the diner.
'Impressive move,' Ari whispered in admiration. 'I'll have to remember that one.'
Her smile felt tight. Ari wasn't likely to believe it had been an accident any more than Duncan had. The time dragged by. He finished his meal and sipped his coffee, which she kept topped-off. Everything she did, everywhere she went, she could feel his gaze on her --a heated caress that promised far more than it would probably deliver.
By three, with the crowd thinning out, she was close to nervous exhaustion. Her dad came out of the kitchen, folding down the collar of the jacket he now wore over his uniform. 'I'm heading over to pick
Mother up at the hospital. You coming?'
She shook her head. She didn't need to go into that sterile place to see her twin. She could see her anytime she liked by simply opening her thoughts. And she would know a lot sooner than any damn doctor when Sav had woken.
'Your mother thinks you should.'
'I hate hospitals, you know that.' They were too full of pain, too full of misery and hurt, and it overwhelmed even the strongest of her shields. 'Savannah will understand, believe me.'
'Your mother won't.'
'Mom doesn't run my life any more.' Though she certainly tried. Neva had images of being sixty and still crossing swords with her disapproving parent. 'I'll finish up here and close once the last of our customers leave.' He nodded. 'Don't forget dinner.'
As if she dared.
'Now's your chance,' Ari whispered the minute Levon walked out the door. 'Go chat with that delicious man.' There were three customers still in the diner, and Ari herself. If Neva was going to confront
Duncan's demands, she'd rather do it when they were alone. 'I don't know.'
'Oh for moon's sake, he's been watching you all afternoon. What have you got to lose?'
Nothing but my sanity, she thought. And what remained of her self -esteem. But she took her apron off, grabbed the coffee pot and a cup for herself, and walked across to his booth.
'Sit,' he said, voice soft but holding no inflection. She slid into his booth and poured herself a coffee.
She didn't refill his, simply shoved the coffee pot his way. A tight smile touched his full lips.
'No longer the charming host, I see.'
'I'm on a break. What do you want?' Her voice held an edge.
'You,' he all but drawled. 'Why else would I be here?' Something in the tone of his voice sent a tingle of anticipation crawling across her skin. Which was ridiculous when the only pleasure he seemed to care about was his own.
'Well, we do make the best burgers in town.' Amusement touched his obsidian gaze, a warmth so fleeting she wondered if she'd imagined it. 'But they're not as tasty as the morsel I tried from here last night.' Her cheeks flamed in memory, and she dragged her gaze from his. It was far safer to stare at her coffee than into his soulless eyes. 'Tell me what you want,' she repeated.
He crossed his arms and leaned forward. 'Look at me,' he demanded.
Almost against her will, her gaze rose to his. How could a man with a face so beautiful be so totally devoid of anything resembling humanity?
'My pack is having a fancy dress dance tonight, separate from the main one. You will accompany me, and you will wear the outfit I have in this box.' She stared at him, her stomach churning. 'I won't be shared. I don't care what your sordid dance rules say, you can't demand that of me.'
Amusement touched his lips, but again held little warmth. 'Have no fear there, little wolf. You are mine, and only mine, for the remainder of the week.' Relief slithered through her--though it was hardly much comfort
