Page 14

By the end of the evening, there was a group of rejected men eyeing me, and the Goldrings were twitterpated. Jane had even asked if I was more interested in women. I put that rumor to rest immediately.

“Girl!” I pushed at her shoulder. “I know you didn't just imply I'm a lesbian because I'm not interested in the selection here tonight. That's something one of them would say.” I nodded at the men.

“Oh!” Jane covered her mouth with her hand.

“I'm so sorry, cherie! You're right. Frankly, I love seeing them put in their place.

Look at them. Like a pack of dogs waiting for a bone to be thrown their way.

Men who normally wouldn't spend more than a minute together are gathering to lick their wounds in unity.”

“I'm not throwing anything their way. As I said, I'm here for the art and to support a worthy charity. That's all. If I wanted a man, I'd find one who wasn't so wealthy.”

“Really?” Goldring asked, leaning toward me. “Why?”

“Because, no offense, wealthy men tend to rule the house.” I pointed at myself and added, “I rule. Always.”

“My wife rules my house.” He kissed Jane.

“That's right, sugah. And don't you forget it.” Jane stroked his cheek. Then she looked at me. “You just need to find the right man. You're obviously not impressed by money, but don't let the size of a man's wallet—large or small—blind you to his other attributes.”

“Fair enough.” I got my large wallet out. “Now, where do I pay for my painting?” I grinned. “I feel as if I stole it!”

“You did indeed get a wonderful price. I suppose having mature taste can pay off.”

“Thank you again for inviting me. I'm so excited about hanging my painting in my new house. I know exactly where it's going.”

“Oh?” Jane asked.

“Yes, you should come see it. And by that, I mean come and see my house. I'd love to reciprocate the hospitality. Although, it won't be such a grand affair. Maybe some iced tea and cake?”

“I love iced tea and cake!” She clasped my hand. “Just give me an address and a date.”

I paid for my art, made plans with Ms. Jane, and headed off in my car, leaving my admirers staring after me on the steps like a bunch of sad puppies.

I should have felt wonderful. The evening had been a success and putting those egotistical men in their place was a bonus.

But something clawed at my chest. I couldn't go home.

I needed . . . something. Food! That's what I needed.

How could I forget that I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted?

I drove around until I spotted a restaurant that looked and smelled promising.

I found Cleo's—a Mediterranean place open 24 hours.

I scored a table—an achievement since the place was packed—and was soon groaning through a feast of shwarma, hummus, fresh pita, grilled steak, and baklava.

The night was warm, so I left my jacket in the car.

With my bare elbows braced on the table, I devoured the meal, enjoying every bite.

“Woohee, sugah! You can eat!”

Hearing the masculine voice, my groaning nearly took on an irritated tone.

But then I looked up. Oh, yes. Hello, hot country boy.

Or are they called swamp boys in Louisiana?

Who knows? And it didn't matter where that beautiful man was from.

After being around those snobby champagne-sippers all night, he looked like a happy meal.

So bad for you, but so delicious. A meal to go with my meal.

Licking my lips, I looked him over. “Sit down.”

“Pardon?”

“I said. Sit. Down.” I lifted my glass of sweet tea and motioned at the chair across from me.

“Yes, ma'am.” He grinned and sat down. “I'm Remy.”

“Of course you are.” I rolled my eyes. You could throw a stone and hit a Remy in Nola. “I'm Salina. You here alone, Remy?”

“Naw. I'm with my boys.” He nodded at a group of men a few tables over who were gaping at us.

“And they dared you to come over here?”

“Now, how'd you know that?”

“I know men.” I went back to eating.

“Uh. You mind if I bring my plate over?”

“By all means.”

Remy tried to bring only his plate to my table, but his boys followed him with the whole fucking table. Yep. They lifted the table and set it down next to mine since there weren't any other open ones near me. Then they crowded around me. If I hadn't been in a restaurant, I would have been worried.

“Come on, boys. Don't be like that.” Remy pushed them back. “You're gonna scare her.”

“We gotta make sure she's safe for you to flirt with,” one of them said. “Not a vampire.”

The word sent a blast of cold down my spine. I sat back and stared at my food.

“Shit. I'm sorry, cher. Did I upset you?” the man asked. “You know they ain't real, right? I was just teasin'.”

“Oh, I know.”

“You need to return to your own table,” a low, masculine voice said.

Every eye in the room turned toward that sound.

It was impossible not to gravitate toward the voice.

It was the audio equivalent of desire without being overtly sexual.

He hadn't even said anything sexy—quite the opposite—but I still shivered in response.

My body instantly forgot about every other man in the room and swayed toward the owner of that voice.

I looked up. And up. The voice belonged to a big, brawny, and beautiful man. Despite having never met him, I recognized him immediately. Even if I hadn't felt the preternatural waves of energy radiating from him, I would have known that face. It was very similar to his brother's. And his daddy's.

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered and looked away. I wiped my lips and was about to tell the hound to scram when my new friends did it for me.

“Fuck off, asshole. The lady invited us over.”

“She did not. She invited him over.” The hound pointed at Remy. “And she shouldn't have done that.” He leveled a look at me.

Green eyes. Oh, that was nice. Especially with his tan. Yummy.

Nope! I will not be manipulated before I even consummate our . . . union.

“I hereby invite them all,” I said. “Now, mind your own business.”

“You are my business, Salina.”

“Trying to shock me with my name?” I snorted. “I recognize you too. Your brother is Cyrus, so you must have a C-name too. Let me guess; it's Cu—”

“Jake,” he cut me off. “Or Jacob if you prefer.”

“Jake is fine. So, we've met. Now, go away.”

“Not happening.”

“What is happening?” Remy asked me.

“I have a stalker,” I said to him. “Actually, three of them. This guy and his two brothers.”

Oh, that did it. Country boys can be bastards just like any other type of guy. But put them in public with a damsel in distress, and they rally like no other. All six of the boys stood up and glared at the hound.

“Remy, call the cops before we beat this guy to death,” one of them said.

“Ayup.” Remy pulled out his phone.

The hound had that phone in his hand two seconds later. A second after that, pieces of the phone rained onto Remy's lap. People got up from the nearest tables and backed away.

“Hey! You take that shit outside!” my server shouted.

“After you.” The hound dusted off his hands and waved toward the door.

Now, smarter men would have seen that display and known that a guy who can crush a cellphone with his bare hand—that's hand, singular—is not someone to mess with. But these guys didn't have a lot of brains. What they did have was numbers and they let the size of their group make them even dumber.

The country boys, led by Remy—who was steaming mad about his phone—followed the hound outside, cracking their knuckles.

I sighed, shook my head, and went back to eating.

Through the window, I watched my would-be mate pummel my would-be suitor. In their defense, the humans were rather good at brawling. But good doesn't cut it with a demigod. Even after jumping him in unison, they got their asses handed to them and had to run off in shame.

During the not-so-epic battle, I finished my food and picked over their plates. When I noticed Jake wrapping things up, as it were, I said, “Check please.”

The server hurried over. “Do you need to go out the back, miss?”

“Yes, thank you.” I pulled two hundred dollar bills from my wallet and pressed them into his hand. “This is for their food as well.” I waved at the abandoned plates. The restaurant shouldn't suffer just because a hound showed up. “And a little extra for your gallantry.”

“No problem, miss.” His gaze shifted from me to outside and back. “Come on, now! Hurry!”

He rushed me into the back, through the kitchen, and out a side door.

“Thank you again! The food was delicious.” I waved at him.

The cooks, who had all gaped at me as I passed by, grinned and waved back. Chuckling to myself, I hurried to my car. I had just slid the keys into the lock when someone grabbed my arm. I knew who it was, but that possessive, assuming grab pissed me off. So I punched out blindly with my keys.

“Fuck!” the hound cried and clutched his arm. “It's just me!”

“You don't get to say, 'It's just me.' I don't know you!” I pointed my bloody keys at him. “And I'm not ready to get to know you. Which I'm certain Cyrus explained. So that is the least you deserve.” I unlocked my car and got in.

Before I could close the door, Jake pressed the button to unlock all the doors, and then, in an eye blink, appeared at the passenger door. He opened it and slid into the car before I could react.

“Get out of my car,” I said.

“No.” He crossed his arms.

The wound I'd given him was already healing.

“Get out or the next stab will be in your neck.”

“What is your problem?! Cy said you made a deal with Hades.

I don't really understand that since it's supposed to be a spell that draws our mate to us, but there's no denying the connection between us.

You're her. You're the one we’re meant to be with.

And yet, you're out here flirting with humans?”

“Men have always gotten to sow their wild oats before they get married. Some don't even let marriage stop them. This is a new age. Women are as free as men now. So, I'm gonna do some sowing. I'll let you know when I'm done.”

“The fuck you will!” He leaned in and narrowed his eyes.

“If you hadn't run into Cy, that would have been fine.

The Gods know we haven't been celibate. But it's too late, sugah.

We've got your scent now, and we know you're ours. The animals inside us will not abide another taking our mate. Best you just come home with me now and meet Lex.”

“No, and who the fuck is Lex?”

“Our third packmate.”

“Weird names,” I muttered.

“Haven is an unusual name too.”

“I picked it out.”

“Actually, it's kind of perfect. That's what you'll be to us.”

“Okay, you're fucking creeping me out now. If you really want me to go through with this, I suggest you get out of my car and give me some time to adjust.”

“What do you mean, if ?” Jake braced a hand on my headrest. “You belong to us. It's done. Not only is it your destiny, but you also agreed to it. You made a deal with the Devil, cher. There is no if.”

“You see, that's where we disagree.” I pushed his hand off my seat. “There's always an escape clause. And if you keep pushing me, motherfucker, I'm gonna find it.”

Jake jerked back. “You can't escape. This isn't about escape. You should want to be with us. You're—”

“If you say that I belong to you one more time, you pig, I will drive to the nearest police station, scream for help, and then speed away as the police keep you occupied. And I'll keep driving until I'm out of your territory.”

“It doesn't matter where you go.” He tapped his gorgeous nose. “We'll find you. And we'll bring you back, mate .”

“Now, that sounds like a threat. I don't take well to threats.” I turned on the engine.

Jake climbed out of the car, but he didn't shut the door. Instead, he braced himself on it and the hood, then leaned in to say, “Don't run, Salina. We'll see it as foreplay.” Then he shut the door.

“You're sick!” I shouted as Jake walked away. With the car running, I watched him leave, trying my best not to stare at his phenomenal ass. How I could be attracted to that asshole after he threatened to hunt me down, I have no idea. In my defense, I was furious as well as turned on.

Bad move on Jake's part. I'd been wavering before, but after that bullshit, I was determined to find a way out of my contract—a way that would keep me living and living the lifestyle I was getting accustomed to.