by V. A. Dold
“Good morning Mr. Le Beau,” the valet said cheerfully as he held out his hand for the car keys.
Smiling, he handed the young man his keys. “Good morning, Jeff.” Most people saw him as a glowering, brutal man. But then, most people only saw him when he was hunting something that threatened his family. Truth be told, when he wasn’t working, he was a rather happy soul. Quiet, yes. He didn’t feel the need to talk unless he had something to say or was teasing one of his brothers or nephews. But overall, he was content.
Jeff broke his line of thought when he spoke again. “Oh, hey. I’ve meant to ask where you get your suits. I need something sharp for a friend’s wedding.”
Marcus smoothed his hand down the front of his tailored jacket. As always, he was impeccably dressed. He had an image to uphold, after all. “Check out Brooks Brothers at Canal Place.”
“Thanks, Mr. Le Beau. I should’ve thought of that.”
Marcus gave Jeff a nod. “Any activity this morning?” Every morning he asked the valet the same question. This was his section of town, his domain. If something was happening, he wanted to know. The locals all knew that if there was trouble, Marcus was the man to go to.
Jeff shook his head. “All’s quiet.”
Marcus glanced at his watch, knowing his father was waiting for him. They always took a few minutes to go over the day’s scheduled meetings. He had a few minutes to spare.
He pulled out his wallet and extracted several hundred-dollar bills. “That suit’s on me. I need another sharp-dressed man around here.”
Every person at the Le Beau corporation knew that Marcus was the only member of the family who wore a suit. All of the others wore casual attire and teased Marcus unmercifully. It didn’t bother him a bit. He wore what he wanted, opinions be damned.
Jeff’s eyes bulged. “Wow, thanks. I’ll repay you as soon as I can.”
Marcus waved the comment away. “Don’t worry about paying me back. Take a lot of pictures at the wedding, and wear that suit to work at least once a week, and we’ll call it even.”
“You’ve got it. But I’ll still owe you one.”
Marcus clapped Jeff on the back. “All right, you can owe me one favor to be named at some point in the future.”
Suddenly his inner alarm went off. He needed to get his ass moving. Something tugged at him from just inside the building. The compulsion worried him. It was strong and growing stronger by the second.
Grinning, Jeff moved to take the driver’s seat. “Deal. Have a great day, Mr. Le Beau.”
Marcus gave the valet a little smile. “I’m sure I will. See you later, Jeff.” With that, he palmed his handgun and headed for the lobby. He pushed the door open with his left hand, all while keeping his gun hand hidden inside his jacket.
Moving out of the stream of foot traffic, he paused to pinpoint the threat. As a voice drifted from the hallway to the right, his head snapped that direction. The sultry tones vibrated through him, tightening his body. A moment later, his father, Isaac, escorted a dowdy brunette to the receptionist’s desk. It wasn’t his father that caught his attention or made him stand utterly still. It was the woman beside him. His gaze narrowed on the female. Why was his body responding to her? She wasn’t his mate. She couldn’t be. His mate was the pretty blonde from the picture he’d seen.
Every hair on Marcus’s body rose, his body heating, hardening. He drew in a deep breath and caught a scent that could only be his mate. His breath hitched. His heart stuttered. He was sure women didn’t typically walk around, smelling like a mouthwatering combination of oranges, grapefruits, and peaches. The fierce need to strip the woman bare and make her his almost got the better of him.
Marcus shook his head to clear the fog. It was impossible for a shifter to have two mates, and he knew the woman his mother texted to him was his. So, who was this woman, and why did she trigger the mating signs?
“I want to thank you again for giving me this opportunity, Mr. Le Beau,” the brunette said, her demeanor as serious as her appearance.
There was a note of something in her voice that set Marcus’s alarms off. Why? What was this woman up to?
Marcus’s heart hammered. Her voice stroked his senses with a seductive finger. He pressed the heel of his hand into his chest, right over his heart. Was she a witch? Had she spelled him? But why? Why would a complete stranger hex him?
The shifter instincts swamping him were unlike anything he’d ever felt. They were intense and made him a bit dizzy. There was nothing casual about the need he was feeling. He had to have that woman. That thought slapped him hard and brought him back to reality.
* * * * *
The entrance door opened and a blast of hot, humid air swept into the lobby, drawing her attention away from what Isaac Le Beau was saying.
A small movement in the shadows drew her gaze. Marcus Le Beau stared back. He was even better looking in person—and oozed predatory danger. He was a big son of a gun too, definitely every inch of the six-foot-four she’d read in his file.
Damn, the man looked good in a suit. It was custom-tailored to accommodate his broad shoulders and muscular arms. He was clearly not an up-close and personal mark. He’d overpower her with one hand tied behind his back. If he did, she’d have to break out her martial arts training, and she preferred not to kill in such a fashion. Not because she disliked her many black belts, but because she honored them by utilizing them for defense only. Just another thing Jones despised about her.
A quick glance around the lobby told her the employees respected him. Interesting. One after another, the employees smiled at him but just as quickly dropped their gaze and gave him a wide berth. There wasn’t a woman who wasn’t eyeing him with interest, yet at the same time keeping their distance. She didn’t sense fear, more of a heightened alertness. Clearly, he was a man they liked and respected.
He never turned his head, but she felt his eyes sweeping the room. Just before she turned her attention back to Isaac, Marcus’s eyes flicked back to her. Held. Narrowed.
She felt the impact of his gaze like a physical blow but managed to hide her flinch.
* * * * *
Marcus forced his feet to stay put. He needed to solve the mystery of his reaction before approaching her. He studied her body, taking in every detail. Her overlarge clothing, unflattering makeup, and hairstyle. There were curves hiding under that ugly suit. He’d bet money on it.
She was average height and moved gracefully like a dancer. He zeroed in on the way she moved, the way she flowed rather than walked. Regardless of the heels she wore, her balance was perfect. She kept her muscles loose and ready for action. Everything about her shouted—trained fighter.
He studied her with the eyes of a predator. Oversized clothing, smooth moves, ugly appearance. What was she hiding with her lame disguise of frumpy clothing and demure facade? That was when he picked up on the scent of deception. Demure my ass.
Marcus moved swiftly to intercept them. He needed to put his body between that woman and his father. Halfway across the lobby, her head came up, and she made eye contact. His heart stuttered.
Dang, he’s as hot as a ghost pepper. It’s a shame to kill a man that fine. Who in the world took out the contract on him? A scorned ex-lover? She snorted in her mind. There’s a reason for that saying.
Marcus’s stride faltered at that. What? She’s here to kill me? He shook off the information to reexamine later and continued across the lobby.
As he closed in on his prey, he caught the scent of synthetic fur. No, not fur, a wig. The woman was wearing a wig. That was when it dawned on him. It could very well be his woman under that hideous disguise. He zeroed in on the hairline. There! One strand of blond hair peeked out at her temple.
Cassidy watched him make his way toward her, and her heart did a little flip. He was all fluid and grace, like a wild beast on the prowl, and she felt like prey.
She never felt anything for a mark. Never. For some reason, Le Beau shook her to her very core. Ev
erything about him screamed confidence. She’d studied his file more thoroughly than any other she’d been given. He was an exceptional fighter, both hand-to-hand and with every weapon known. But that wasn’t what bothered her. It was… something else. Something she didn’t understand.
She couldn’t breathe. The sexual need overtaking her body stole the very air from her lungs. What was wrong with her? One moment she was perfectly fine, working the job, and the next, she was gasping for air like a fish out of water. For the first time in her life, every fiber of her being screamed for her to run. She felt like one of those idiot characters in a horror movie who was too stupid to live. That scared her more than her reaction to the man bearing down on her.
Her nipples hardened, and her breasts ached. Her unexpected desire not only baffled her, it alarmed her. Physical attraction wasn’t something she was accustomed to. She clenched her fists to keep from reaching out to touch him. Lowering her gaze, she forced air into her lungs. She had to get control of herself before she blew the entire operation.
“Good Morning,” Marcus all but growled.
At his first words, Cassidy’s gaze jumped to his. She felt Marcus Le Beau’s voice vibrate through her body like a tuning fork. She scowled at her reaction to that deep sultry voice. Then just as quickly schooled her expression to one of mild interest.
His dark eyes were filled with distrust, with knowing. Did he know who she really was? She pushed the irrational panic down. There was no way he could know her true identity. Her name yes, but not what she looked like.
Isaac’s smile widened. “Marcus! Your timing is impeccable. I was about to give Miss Ryan a new employee packet and a tour. Now that you’re here, you can do that. Miss Ryan, this is my son, Marcus. He’s in charge of the Le Beau Corporation’s security.”
Marcus’s gaze drifted so intently over her face and hair she had to fight to keep from showing signs of nervousness. He looked hard at her ill-fitting suit as if he could see through the fabric to her weapons beneath. Very slowly, his hand rose offering a handshake. “Welcome to Le Beau Corp, Miss Ryan.”
Cassidy slowly exhaled the breath she’d held. His examination had been far too thorough for her comfort. Her chin rose slightly, belying her resolve. She’d work for this man as long as it took to complete her investigation. If that meant being extra careful and growing a thick skin, she was up to the challenge.
She had to be absolutely sure before she made a move, mistakes were never an option. Her gut told her that touching him was a bad idea, but it was what a new employee would do.
Taking a deep breath, she extended her hand. “I’m pleased to be here.” She trained to keep emotions from her expression and voice, only giving away what she wanted seen. Touching Marcus Le Beau tested every lesson she’d ever learned.
Marcus’s hand wrapped around hers, engulfing her as if she were a child. Then to her utter mortification, he raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them.
Panic got the best of her, and she yanked her hand away before she could squelch the reaction. Marcus Le Beau was a threat to her in ways she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t trained to withstand sexual attraction. How was she going to deal with that?
Four
Marcus turned his focus to his father. As they discussed the day’s schedule, Cassidy took advantage of the opportunity to observe her mark.
Up close, Marcus towered over her. He had full lips, a stubborn jaw, and his eyes were fascinating. She’d never seen such an intriguing shade of blue. He had the kind of thick, dark hair that made her want to run her fingers through it, which wasn’t ever going to happen.
The contrast of his long dark lashes with his gray-blue eyes was incredibly attractive. And his cologne was amazing. She swore she smelled the fresh, crisp air of a morning after a thunderstorm. She took a deep breath and smiled. In her opinion, nothing smelled better.
Marcus turned his penetrating gaze back on her, effectively ending her perusal. He glanced at his designer watch, then said, “Miss Cassidy, I have an hour before my first meeting. There’s a coffee shop a block down that serves the finest café au lait in the city. If you’re hungry, they have beignets and sweet rolls as well. I would like to get to know a bit about you before we start our day.”
She cocked her head and looked pointedly at the coffee shop across the lobby. “You don’t care for the coffee served here?”
“Their coffee is adequate but not the finest.” He mimicked her pointed look by glancing around the lobby. Several people quickly pretended to be busy. “Besides, I dislike being the goldfish in a bowl for all to gawk at. I value privacy.”
“I see what you mean. I’ve been looking forward to trying café au lait, and of course, I want the best the city has to offer.” This was the perfect opportunity to ask Marcus Le Beau a few questions out of the earshot of others. If he lied to her, she’d know. If he answered correctly, this final job could be over before days end.
As they walked side by side, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. His elegant attire may fool others, but she noticed the telltale bulge of a firearm in a shoulder holster. She’d bet her life that wasn’t the only weapon he carried. Hell, his body was a weapon. But that wasn’t enough to condemn the man. She wanted Marcus le Beau to be innocent. For some unexplainable reason, she liked the man.
A breeze kicked up, and she got another nose full of his fresh scent. Her knees went weak. Was there something in his aftershave that compelled a woman to lust after him? She’d heard of pheromones one could apply to attract the opposite sex, but why would a man like Marcus resort to that kind of thing?
She was still puzzling him out when he looked down at her. The impact of his eyes, combined with his aftershave, was enough to send her heart racing. Suddenly his head jerked up. She followed his gaze to a man walking toward them at a fast clip.
In a swift movement that almost knocked her off her feet, she found herself staring at his broad back. “Stay behind me.”
She peeked around his large frame to see what the fuss was about. The man had stopped right in front of Marcus. “Le Beau, fancy meeting you today, and with a woman, too. The odd man sniffed the air. Is she your mate?”
Mate? What the heck was he talking about?
“Move along, swamper before you get hurt,” Marcus growled.
The man’s menacing gaze fixed on her. She took a breath and wrinkled her nose. He stunk of putrid water and rotting vegetation. But it was his eyes. He had the eyes of a killer without mercy. Cassidy’s blood chilled, and she reached into her pocket to palm the knife hilt. That man was definitely a killer. He reeked of malevolence.
She cringed when he licked his lips like he wanted to take a bite out of her. He stared at her like she was a tasty treat he wanted to gobble up. His hungry gaze didn’t waver until Marcus grabbed him by the front of his shirt.
“Don’t look at her.”
The man jerked out of Marcus’s hold with a sneer on his lips. As if to make a point, he gave his shirt a tug and straightened his collar.
A low animalistic growl emanated from Marcus. What the hell is wrong with him? People didn’t growl like that.
Then the slimeball smiled an evil, dangerous grin. “Interesting. The Benevolent Sovereign will be intrigued by this little tidbit of information.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Marcus pulled her out from behind him and took her hand. The jolt of his touch shot through her body. For some reason, that was foreign to her make-up, she allowed his familiarity when she rarely allowed anyone to touch her. There was more to Marcus Le Beau that met the eye. He might be a security chief, but she had the feeling he was a hell of a lot more than that. She just wasn’t sure what.
“What the heck was that all about?” she asked in a low voice.
He lifted her hand to his chest and pressed her palm over his heart. Cassidy could hardly breathe with his gaze boring into hers. Why did he have such an effect on her?
He bent and lowered his hea
d until she felt his breath on her lips. “Just a little feud between my family and his people.” For a moment she feared he’d kiss her. She could see the heat of desire warm his eyes. Swore she heard the thought cross his mind, but then he pulled back and grinned.
“Come on. Let’s get that coffee.”
Cassidy stepped inside the quaint little shop and breathed deep. Freshly brewed coffee, the only thing that smelled better was Marcus. Quickly, she squelched that thought. Not only was he the mark, but for now, he was her boss. Totally inappropriate thoughts to be entertaining.
She stepped aside as Marcus talked to the hostess. The place was fairly crowded, but there were a few tables open. She saw him nod toward an open table at the back and whisper something to the woman.
He stepped to her side and placed his hand at the small of her back as they followed the hostess through the tables to snag the one he wanted. Interesting. It was the table she would have chosen. The location was well suited for personal protection. With her back against the wall, she could see the entire shop and an attack coming. Marcus handed her into the booth and then to her shock slid in next to her instead of taking the opposite side of the booth. The move made her uncomfortable, to say the least.
A waitress rushed to their table, her face flushed and eyes bright with sexual desire. “Mr. Le Beau, it’s wonderful to see you today.”
He barely glanced at the drooling woman. Instead, he gave his order while gazing into her eyes. “Good morning, Kathy. We would like two café au laits. Would you like anything else, Cassidy?”
Cassidy shook her head. “No, thank you, the coffee is all I need.” She flicked a glance at the waitress and noted the woman’s jealous glare. Waiting until the waitress left, she asked, “Is she an old girlfriend?”
“Kathy? Hell no. Why would you ask that?”
“I think you just broke her heart.”
Marcus snorted. “I doubt it. I come in here almost every day. We’re mere acquaintances.”
