I blinked at the animal, wondering if I should shake his paw. Instead, I went for a little wave. “Hi there, Bones.”
I swear the dog gave me a dirty look. Wait a minute, was he a shifter?
“She’s all right... most of the time. Be nice to her, Bones.” Jake patted the dog’s head and started walking toward a door at the back of the foyer. “C’mon, at this hour, he’s probably in the kitchen.”
“Who’s probably in the kitchen?” I asked, following him and giving Bones a wary glance as he padded next to me as if making sure I wouldn’t steal any of the many vases and gilded portraits hanging from the walls. The place was Fancy with a capital “F.” Polished wooden staircase. Marble tables with fresh, aromatic flowers in porcelain vases. High ceilings. Lush rugs and a color scheme clearly envisioned by a professional interior decorator.
We traversed a mile-long hall lined with black-and-white photographs of wolves in wooded landscapes. I wanted to pause and look at them closer, but Jake’s strides were long, so I barely had time to drink everything in. At the end of the hall, my phone buzzed. I checked it quickly, screening another call from Mom. I put the cell away as we entered an ample kitchen flooded with the mouthwatering smells of cooking.
Bones rushed ahead and curled up on top of a huge fluffy pillow. The kitchen was the size of Rosalina’s entire apartment. An eight-foot island sat in the middle, lined with stools. Cherry cabinets ran up to the tall ceilings and stainless steel appliances shone like mirrors.
A man with gray hair stood in front of a massive gas stove, cooking what looked like ribeye steaks on an indoor grill.
“Hey, Grandpa,” Jake greeted the man.
I skidded to a stop. Grandpa?! Why had he never talked about him? The man turned to face us with a smile as bright as a 100 Watt bulb.
“I just dropped another rib eye on the grill,” he said. “You should’ve let me know we would have company.”
Jake leaned close and gave him a man-hug, thumping him hard on the back. They were both the same height and build, and I swear, the old man’s profile looked as if someone had traced it to make a mold for Jake’s. The resemblance was uncanny.
“So this is the famous Toni,” the old man said, setting a large pronged fork next to the stove and walking in my direction with open arms. “It’s good to finally meet you.” He gave me a warm and welcoming hug.
His friendliness and words took me aback. From the sounds of it, Jake had told him a lot about me. I glanced at Jake over the man’s shoulder, but he wasn’t making eye contact. Instead, he busied himself with picking a cherry tomato from a salad bowl and popping it in his mouth.
“Um, it’s good to meet you too, Mr.... ” I didn’t know what to call him.
“My name is Walter, Walter Knight.” He continued smiling warmly and held me at arms’ length.
His eyes were deep brown and stared down into mine with an intense quality that seemed quite opposed to his gentle smile. He held me there for a long moment, his gaze drilling into mine. My eyelids fluttered as a strange thrill went through me. Something in my chest felt disarmed and analyzed by his stare as if my soul had been rendered naked for him to peruse, as if he could decipher my deepest secrets as easily as if I were a large-print, open book—no reading glasses needed. After a long moment, he finally pulled away, patting my shoulder and letting me go. I lurched forward and caught myself on the island.
What the hell was that? I wanted to demand, except I wasn’t so sure anything had happened, and the sense of disorientation was quickly dissolving.
I glanced up as Walter walked away, his back to me. Jake had a questioning look on his face and was pointedly staring at his grandfather. The old man shook his head slightly and a wave of disappointment seemed to wash over Jake’s face and body. His gaze lowered to the floor, and his shoulders fell as if he’d received a wealth of bad news.
Still dizzy, I filled my lungs with a deep inhale. My eyes roved around the kitchen searching for something, but I didn’t know what. What had just happened? We walked in... Jake’s grandfather introduced himself and then... he’d gone back to the stove. So why did I feel so weird? I tried hard to put a finger on the strange sensation, but it quickly dissipated, leaving me questioning my sanity.
Walter picked up the large fork and flipped the steaks. “Why don’t you two set the table outside? It’s a beautiful evening.”
“Actually, I need your help,” Jake said.
“Oh?” The old man gave his grandson a raised bushy eyebrow.
“Yeah, we need you to help us locate a vehicle. Can you put your people to the task?”
“Does this have anything to do with Stephen Erickson?”
Jake nodded.
“Good,” Walter said, causing a regiment of questions to march into my head.
Why was that good? As if he’d heard my question out loud, Walter elaborated.
“I don’t like to owe Ulfen any favors. If we find his son, that’ll wipe the slate clean, don’t you think?” he asked, sounding amused.
Jake smiled crookedly. “I’d say so.”
What favors? God, my head was going to explode with questions.
“Write down the details,” Walter pointed the fork toward a desk area that held a few notepads and pens in a wooden holder. “Then fetch me the phone and set the table as I asked, will ya?”
I was flabbergasted, to say the least. Jake had a rich grandfather that he’d never told me about, and apparently, the man had people who could potentially find kidnapped, rich heirs.
Jake jotted down the information on a notepad and set a cordless phone, which he’d retrieved from the wall, on top of it. Then, he walked to a cupboard and started pulling out plates and wine glasses. From a drawer, he withdrew cloth napkins and silverware. I helped him with the latter and walked through a set of French doors and onto a covered patio.
A huge, manicured yard extended past the patio. A bottom-lit, kidney-shaped pool sat in the middle of the backyard. Up-lit trees and bushes created a boundary that extended about forty feet in every direction. Flowerbeds overflowed with seasonal blooms, leaving me no doubt that Clyde spent many hours landscaping to keep things looking tiptop.
Out on the covered patio, Jake and I set an intricately designed, wrought iron table with fancy dinnerware. Jake moved so fast, I didn't have a chance to even form any questions before he was headed back to the kitchen.
“Why don’t you let Toni pick a bottle of wine to go with dinner?” Walter said.
“Sure. C’mon.” Jake gestured for me to follow.
A moment later, we walked through a heavy oak door and descended a wide stone staircase into a semi-dark wine cellar. The temperature dropped several degrees as we reached the bottom of the stairs. The room’s dim lighting brought a calm to all of my senses.
I frowned at the rows and rows of wooden shelving, replete with bottles of wine. There had to be a fortune stored here. More than Rosalina and I had made during our entire lives.
“Um, Jake, I don’t know anything about wine and what goes with what. Can you pick?”
“Of course.” He walked down the line of shelves then took a right and disappeared.
I followed him, walking leisurely as I admired the abundance. I found Jake frowning at a dusty bottle and reading the label.
“You don’t know what you’re doing either, do you?” I asked, amused.
“Not really.” He glanced over at me. “Google it. See what goes with red meat?”
I pulled out my phone and typed in a search.
“So it says here that a Petite Sirah or Cabernet Sauvignon would go well with a rich cut of beef.”
I glanced up from the phone to find Jake’s attention immersed in my features. A thrill went down to my lower belly, tightening my muscles. It was like an electric jolt, something that no one else but Jake had made me feel.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he said in a heady voice that made me slow-blink and go all tingly in places.
Shit, Toni. R
eally?
Without taking his eyes off me, he slid the wine bottle back into the rack and slowly turned to face me. A current of palpable energy flowed between us. He took a step closer until we were about an inch apart, the tips of his boots touching mine, the back of his hand brushing my hip.
A voice in the back of my head was screaming for me to run upstairs and jump inside the fridge until my ovaries turned into popsicles. Sadly, the voice was weak, and it didn’t compare to the stronger one that told me to stay put, and overpowered every rational thought in my being. Because when it came to Jacob Knight, logic didn’t seem to count.
Only instincts.
His darkened gaze fell to my lips. He inhaled sharply, leaning closer. He had told me before that my scent drove him crazy, that it did things to him that he’d never experienced before. Did it still work the same way? I really hoped it did because otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair—not when his intoxicating smell could send my thoughts into the gutter from zero to sixty in under a nanosecond.
He let out a trembling breath through parted lips. His large hand snaked around my waist and pulled me against him. My breasts nestled perfectly under his pecs. He hissed in a breath as our bodies fit together. I slid my fingers up his side, enjoying his solidity.
I was dying to kiss him, but this slow way was delicious, like savoring a favorite dessert to make it last to the last bite. His other hand cupped my face.
“Toni, why can’t I resist you?” he said, his sweet breath brushing my lips and sending a spark of heat to my core.
“You’re asking me?” My voice sounded husky, deep, and it seemed to undo whatever shred of willpower he was holding onto.
His lips crashed into mine. The world exploded with sensations I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. My entire body tingled and became alive with desire. His tongue slipped into my mouth, hungry to taste me. Memories washed over me, his naked body on top of mine, the rocking of his hips against my own, expert fingers caressing secret places.
He slipped his hands around my ass, picked me up, and walked me to the wall. He pinned me there, a barrier of hard muscle and sinew conquering me. I felt his erection against me, and I let out an involuntary moan. His chest rumbled, and his mouth left mine to explore my neck. His tongue traced a pattern over my jugular.
I whispered in his ear. “Jake, I’ve missed you so much.”
Damn! Where did that come from? That wasn’t something I wanted to admit. I needed to stop this. I needed to push him away and let him know this was unplanned and meant nothing. I didn’t forgive him for leaving me. I wasn’t opening the door to invite him in again, even if my legs were wrapped tightly around him as inviting as ever.
And why was he doing this anyway? If he wanted me this badly, why had he left me in the first place?
Gah, the hell with all the questions.
His stubbled jaw scratched against mine as his lips returned to my mouth. There, his tongue ran the length of my lower lip, tasting me. I knew his kiss well and loved the fullness of his lower lip. It gave me something to bite, to suck, to delight in.
He tugged at my blouse, pulling it from my waistband. His hand slid over my stomach, and suddenly I wished the entire world would disappear, leaving only the two of us, wrapped together in heat. His finger traced a path toward my breasts. I raked my own fingers into his hair and arched my back.
“You’d better stop that and bring the wine up,” Walter called from upstairs.
Jake jumped away from me, panting, his eyes wide, his lower lip swollen. I felt bereft and cold without his body pressed against mine.
I shook my head, feeling angry at myself. “Shit, what are we doing? We shouldn’t have...”
“I’m sorry, Toni. You’re right. We shouldn’t.” He raised a hand through his light brown hair and turned his back on me.
I hastily stuffed my blouse back into my pants and smoothed the front, stretching the wrinkles out. I patted my hair down and wiped a hand over my lips, trying to ignore the lingering feeling of Jake’s weight against my body.
He walked down one of the wine aisles and quickly selected a bottle. “Cabernet Sauvignon. All right, this should do.”
Turning, he walked past me without a glance. “Take your time.”
He started climbing the stairs, leaving me standing there, still bereft and confused.
After this, he couldn’t refuse to talk to me and tell me why he’d left. If the same attraction still existed between us, if I still had this effect on him, he owed me an explanation that made sense. All this time, I’d imagined he’d grown tired of me. I told myself that he’d gone to find someone new because I’d bored him. But maybe, there was another reason, one I couldn’t begin to fathom or understand.
A moment later, I stepped into the kitchen. It was empty. I found Jake and his grandfather sitting outside, impatiently waiting for me so they could dig into their steaks. Feeling self-conscious, I joined them. Gratefully, Walter acted normal, ignoring what he knew well had happened in his cellar.
I barely touched my food, even though it tasted delicious. The steak melted in my mouth and was cooked to medium-rare perfection. The steamed broccoli was bright green and crunchy, and the homemade vinaigrette went wonderfully over the lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes.
A few times I met Jake’s gaze. He seemed preoccupied, though he had no trouble devouring his steak and later polishing off two slices of apple pie.
Walter made pleasant conversation about the wonderful spring weather and the bats that flitted over the yard as they came out of their hiding places when the evening settled. He was talking about what to cook for lunch tomorrow when the phone in the kitchen rang. He excused himself and left for a few minutes. When he came back, he had a notebook in his hand.
“I got someone who spotted a van that fits the description.” He tossed the notepad in front of Jake. “They’re tailing it as we speak. That’s the latest location and the number where you can contact my guy.”
Jake grabbed the notebook and rushed into the house.
“Jake, wait!” I caught up with him as he exited the kitchen.
He glanced over his shoulder.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No. Too dangerous.”
I rushed after him, jogging along the corridor that led to the front door, Bones trailing behind us. Jake left the front door ajar and when I got there, he was already on his bike, cranking the engine.
“You can’t leave me here!” I yelled over the revving motorcycle.
Jake released the brake and tore off in a squeal of rubber and acrid smoke.
I watched him leave, fists clenched at my sides.
Walter appeared next to me, huffing and shaking his head. “Always acts now and asks questions later.”
That was Jake all right.
“Where is he going?” I demanded, turning to face the old man.
Walter offered me a folded piece of paper. “I just received another call. It seems the van may be in need of a little maintenance.”
I unfolded the note and read it.
“Stan’s Auto & Truck Repair” the paper read. I glanced up and met Walter’s eyes.
“Why?” The question came out before I could stop it.
“You wanted to go with him, didn’t you?”
I did, but why would Walter go against his grandson’s wishes to protect me? Or men’s general need to keep women safe and on a leash?
“I’m not your mommy or his... for that matter.” Walter turned on his heel and walked back inside.
I pondered what to do for a long moment, then ordered an Uber.
Damn if I was going to let Jake take all the credit for finding Stephen. In the end, this high-profile case might turn out good for my tracking business. At least that was what I told myself as I climbed in and gave the driver the address to the repair shop.
Chapter 33
I fidgeted in the back of the Uber, my thoughts going back and forth about whether my decision to follow Ja
ke was brilliant or down-right stupid.
The fact that I’d created a justification for my actions didn’t escape me. The agency focused on mate tracking, not kidnappee tracking for Pete’s sake. So what was I doing? True, finding Stephen would put us in the news spotlight, but that sort of attention didn’t fit what Rosalina and I were looking for. In fact, we wanted to stay away from that.
More than once, I leaned forward and started to tell the driver to turn around and take me home, but every time I would recline back and chew on my bottom lip while the driver gave me a pinched glare in the rearview mirror. I did call Ulfen and left a voicemail when he didn’t answer. I told him we might have a lead on Stephen’s location and spelled out the address. If there was trouble, maybe he and his pack would get there in time to help.
I realized that I’d rationalized my decision to come, but in truth, I needed to admit that logic had nothing to do with what I was doing. A strange resolve and—if I was being honest—a craving for danger were driving me onward, making my body sing with anticipation. My skin itched more furiously as I thought about helping Jake rescue Stephen right from the jaws of his kidnappers.
“Are you sure you’re getting off here?” the driver asked when we reached the corner of Warne and Lee Avenue. I glanced around, hugging my purse closely. This area of town was certainly not the safest, and at this time, there were no signs of life.
A big full moon shone in the sky, for which I was grateful since all the lampposts appeared broken. It illuminated the scraggly trees, cracked pavement, and weedy empty lot across the street.
Go home, Toni. Stay alive. The voice of reason in my head made itself heard, but when it came to Jake, reason took a back seat.
“Yep, this is it,” I told the driver, putting on a chipper smile.
When I got out of the car at the corner and the driver disappeared, leaving me standing there all alone, I seriously reevaluated my decision.
Gah, what’s wrong with me?! I’m losing my sanity.
Never mind the iffy neighborhood, vampires and werewolves stood at the brink of war. If things got hairy, I might get eaten alive. I tried to draw comfort from the gun in my purse, but it might as well have been a banana.
The Tracker's Mate: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 1) Page 18
