Mia understood even though she knew her motives were dual. Julia embarked on a beautiful life experience which a woman couldn’t help but want to share with another woman. Plus she was so far away from home and any friends or family in Italy. “Well, I’m happy to be your gal pal for as long as you’re here, going through whatever you have to go though with your doctor.”
“Thank you, Mia. That means a great deal to me.”
“For the record, I’m not going anywhere. I won’t lie. Nathan freaked me out the other night, but it was ridiculous for him to feel jealous. I’ve been straight with him from the beginning. I’m an employee. Nothing more, and I aim to keep it that way.”
“Of course. I completely understand. However, the fact you felt it necessary to say that leads me to believe you have sensed some sort of attraction between the two of you, no?”
Her look was sly and frustrated Mia. She rolled her eyes and flopped back into her seat. “I’ve got blood running through my veins, Julia. Of course I find him attractive, but I’m not stupid. I’m sure on many levels he’s a great guy. He’s been nothing but kind to me. I just have no interest in being his flavor of the month. We have zero in common. And I’m a long haul girl. I don’t do casual hook-ups.”
“Believe it or not, darling, neither does Nathan. Of course he dates, but he has never had a serious relationship with any woman.”
If Julia thought that statement one to bolster her confidence in Nathan, she’d just bombed big time. “Great. He’s what, thirty-five maybe a little older? If he’s never had a serious relationship, it’s obvious he has some commitment issues.”
“He has no commitment issues, I assure you. He longs to find his life-mate and he will not settle for anything less.”
Mia realized Julia loved Nathan, and being his friend she couldn’t see him in the clear light of the dating arena. “Well I’m not his life-mate. Strange term. I guess it must be a French or European. Whatever. I don’t know where all this is coming from on your part, but my convictions are solid. Nathan wouldn’t mean to intentionally hurt me, but dating a man like Nathan is a high risk proposition, and I’m pretty sure I’d wind up on the losing end. Sorry. I just can’t do it because I know full well what it feels like to be used and have your heart stomped into the dust.”
“You speak of your ex-husband?”
`Yeah’ was all she said because she wasn’t about to open that nasty can of worms. She and Daniel had been high school sweethearts, marrying right after graduation when they were both still seventeen. Their life had been simple, yet hard running his father’s dairy and cattle farm and raising three girls when they had been kids themselves. She’d cried herself to sleep many nights over the poverty which had plagued them for so many years. By the time the girls were in high school, financially things were much better and their marriage too, or so she’d thought until that day she arrived home from work early and discovered him in their bed with Tiffany’s best friend, Reanna.
That summer, Daniel totaled their truck. His arm and several ribs had been broken and he couldn’t milk. Mia as well as her girls had other jobs. Tiffany suggested they hire Reanna because she’d been on the hunt for summer employment. Apparently, the girl had been on the hunt for more than work. Mia still couldn’t wrap her mind around how it had happened. She’d asked few questions. It simply had been too sick and she hadn’t wanted to know.
The betrayal had sliced her soul into ribbons, but what it had done to her girls, especially Tiffany, had been catastrophic. Chelsie and Danielle eventually forgave their father, who ended up marrying Reanna, but Tiffany still to this day hadn’t forgiven him and refused to see or talk to him.
She’d forgiven Daniel too, because as a Christian she had no choice, but a part of her still resented him for the train wreck he’d made of their children’s lives.
“Whatever happened to you, Mia, must have been awful. You appear crushed, cher. If you ever feel inclined to share your past with me, I will listen and not judge. However, take it from a blissful happy woman who has been married for many years, love does not always fall within logical perimeters. True soul mates might have oodles of things in common or nothing at all. I had very little in common with Dimitri when we met, yet once we fell in love, we made our own world and learned to accept each other for who we each were. You are too beautiful of a person not to find that yourself someday.”
“No offense, but I think your pregnancy hormones have sucked the sense out of your brain. I don’t believe in soul mates. At one point I did. Now I’m at a place in life where logic needs to prevail. If I find someone great. If not, I’m going to look forward to the day I become a grandma.”
Julia appeared a bit troubled by the comment, yet said nothing.
Settling down with someone would be awesome if she could find a faithful man who shared her value system. She’d thought about it, but dating hadn’t been a priority. Work and her children had kept her far too busy to seek a relationship over the last five years. Putting three girls through college at the same time had saddled her with seventy plus hour work weeks, at least when Joe had the hours to give her. Working for Nathan would give her much more free time. If God brought a man into her life, fine. She wasn’t going to go beat bushes for one.
Maybe she wouldn’t have to. She thought of Dr. La Mond. He was gorgeous, plus they had common backgrounds. “Julia? Just out of curiosity, how old is Dr. La Mond?”
Her brows knit and after a long pause she said, “Mid to late thirties, I believe. Why?”
Mia would have guessed him a bit younger, but probably because of his casual dress that night. “I know you think highly of Dr. La Mond and you said he was a friend. By any chance would you know anything about his religious beliefs?” For Mia, spirituality had to be commonality number one.
Julia’s eyes widened with what Mia could only describe as horror.
“What? He’s not married is he?”
She swallowed hard. “No. I’ve had a few conversations with him over the years regarding his beliefs. He’s not a particularly religious person, but he certainly believes in God.”
Mia smiled. Maybe she would take him up on his offer to go out dancing, if they should ever meet again. If it was meant to be, then they would.
She glanced back at Julia, who was now chewing on her lower lip. “Something wrong?”
“No. Christian is a wonderful man. So is Nathan. Just keep on open mind, my darling. Life is full of surprises and miracles.”
Mia didn’t reply, although she agreed this job was a surprise, but as to a miracles? That remained to be seen. For reasons Mia felt certain Julia wouldn’t share, she seemed to be pressing her Nathan’s direction. She didn’t like it. She’d meant it when she’d told Julia they had zero in common. She was attracted to him, but she wasn’t crazy enough to throw caution to the wind and delve into a relationship that had little chance of success.
Moments later, Mia felt the limo come to a halt. She glanced out the heavily tinted windows noticing they were in the parking lot of the Canal Place mall. Mia knew it to be a trendy retail center and would probably have all the baby delights Julia ached to discover. Indeed it had. Julia nearly filled the trunk of the limo in the very short time they’d shopped.
The limo driver opened the door for her and Julia. Mia started to climb in, but paused when she glanced to her left and noticed three men in dark blue suits getting into an SUV several parking spots over. She recognized them, because earlier, all three had been hovering outside two of the stores she and Julia shopped. She’d found it curious, but chalked it up to mall security. No longer. Now it was just plain creepy.
When they settled inside and the limo started moving, she looked through the back window. Her heart lurched in her chest when she noticed the same SUV following them.
“Don’t be alarmed, Mia. Those men are security, hired by Nathan to follow us. It’s standard procedure with him.”
“For what?” She knew her eyes were probably round as sau
cers.
“Mia, a man like Nathan has many reasons for security and he provides it for all his friends and close employees. You’ll have to accept this as a part of life while working for Nathan.”
Mia scowled out the back window at their tail. She didn’t like that news one bit. She relished her privacy, because all her life it had come at a premium. Heck, going to the bathroom without a kid running inside or pounding on the door had been something she’d once considered a luxury.
“I can see this troubles you. Trust me, they won’t be intrusive. Just close enough to make sure we aren’t bothered.”
Mia could tell by her tone and expression she sought to put her at ease. Obviously, Julia felt no discomfort over being guarded, so she said nothing more. A man like Nathan probably had enemies and those closest to him, like Julia, could certainly become pawns. However, Mia knew how to take care of herself and if Nathan thought to have his security follow her on her own time, she’d set him straight soon enough.
As the limo pulled up to the curb of Tavania’s, Julia said, “Today was very nice. Thank you for going with me.”
“Anytime, girl.” She meant it. Julia was one of those rare people with a precious heart anyone would be hard pressed not to take a shine to. She leaned forward, gave her a quick hug, then exited the limo to start her work night.
***
“I think we’re going to have great success with the team I put together, Nathan.”
Nathan nodded and stared at Dominic’s image on one of the screens bolted to the ceiling in front of his desk. They’d been conferencing about a team of top notch investigators and assassins Dominic secured to hunt down Isabella. Nathan knew she had a lair somewhere in the New Orleans area and he hoped these men Dominic hired could track her down. Once he found her, she’d be making no more surprise appearances to wield threats in his life or any other unfortunate vampire she’d created.
“You said two of the men were vampires. Not to question your judgement, but you’re certain they have no ties to Isabella?” The human men Dominic hired, Nathan had no concerns with. Dominic would have penetrated their thoughts to discover whether they could be trusted to assassinate a feral, female vampire. He couldn’t do that with the two of their kind. A vampire could only read the thoughts of another if they were blood bonded or life-mates.
“Positive. They’re both born vampires. I had them thoroughly researched. Both are ex-military and have been involved in a number of high security operations. They’ve located and brought down some of the worse terrorists, drug lords and international criminals in the world.”
“Good.” Dominic was always thorough, he thought, as he paced behind his desk. Nathan was lucky to have him. Dimitri had been disappointed when Dominic chose to leave Chauvenski International to work for him in the states ten years ago, but he’d accepted his son’s choice. Dominic’s position with Davenport Enterprises was singularly unique and gave him the opportunity to coordinate missions with a nature such as this one, because Nathan’s status had garnered him many enemies. However, Nathan had never attempted to employ such violent measures in the past because most of his enemies were human and a threat to his finances or reputation, not his life.
Generally, Dominic’s job was to dig up dirt on a person threatening Nathan’s business or holdings. Blackmail was the boy’s specialty and he enjoyed it, loved living on the edge. Nathan knew this work to be a good distraction for his un-life-mated status, just as his own had always been until recently.
“The flight should be arriving shortly after two p.m.. I’ve arranged for you to conference with them at the hotel at three so you can brief them on anything I might not have covered.”
Nathan glanced back at the screen and nodded. A knock sounded at his office door. He sniffed. “You’re parents have just arrived. Come in,” he called out.
“I’m talking to Dominic,” he told them as they entered.
Julia trotted toward him, turned and beamed up at the screen. “How are you, my darling? You look a little peaked. Have you been getting enough rest? Feeding and eating properly?”
Dominic leaned back in his chair and raked a hand through his spiky, black hair as his green eyes, replica’s of his mother’s, rolled upward. “Mom, please, you’re embarrassing me.”
All three of them started laughing. Dominic was seventy two years old, but Nathan knew that in Julia’s eyes, he was still her little boy.
Julia and Dimitri spoke to him for several more minutes. Once he’d disconnected the call, the couple took a seat in front of his desk. Their smiles faded into dual troubled expressions.
“What’s wrong?” Nathan demanded.
Julia spared a quick glance at Dimitri and let out a shuddered breath. “Nathan, I have been laboring with the decision to tell you this for the last three days because the information I need to share with you feels like a breach of confidentiality.”
Nathan’s brows knit. “I’m not following. What’s this about?”
“Who and Mia.” She swallowed hard. Dimitri took her hand.
Nathan reached up and scratched his jawline. This did not sound good. “Continue.”
“Mia may have developed an interest in Christian.”
The news hit him like a bolt of lightening and the resounding thunder of curses he bit out, had Julia wincing.
“Now, I said, may have. When we were shopping on Friday, she asked me some pointed questions about him. She was interested in his spirituality, which I suspect to be very important to her.”
Nathan released a vampire growl, imagining some creative ways to send La Mond’s miserable soul to the Pearly Gates.
“I wouldn’t worry, Nathan. They are not likely to run into one another,” Dimitri said.
Julia added, smiling, “It is not all bad news, my darling. Mia is very much attracted to you. However, she is also determined to keep your relationship a working one.”
He knew that all too well. He began to pace again. When his mind wasn’t swarming with dark thoughts of Isabella, they were centered on Mia and ways to convince her to let down her guard with him. Most of those ideas involved slow ways to gain her trust. With this nauseating news, they needed to all go out the window. He had to up his game and quickly.
He stopped and faced them. “The three of us are going out tonight. Be ready by eight.”
“I assume we are going to dine at Mia’s restaurant?” Julia asked, her eyes bright with intrigue.
“Yes,” he answered as he strode past them toward the door. He added as he opened it, “One way or another, after tonight, I plan to make sure she can’t even remember the name of that damned doctor of yours.”
***
Joe had such a thriving business. By the time Saturday night service had ended, the only thing on Mia’s mind was a hot steaming tub sporting some lavender salts and her soaking in it until her skin pruned. She hurried to get her end of the kitchen cleaned so she could go indulge that fantasy.
Mia was wiping down the last fridge when Tina walked into the kitchen. “Mia, I have a three top who requested to see you. One of the guests is your new employer.”
Mia smiled at the mousy girl, not especially surprised by the news. She hadn’t talked to Nathan since dinner at his house last Wednesday night. He probably wanted to discuss her start date or something involving her job, which he could have done by text or phone, but she was learning he preferred face to face conversations. “Tell them I’ll make an appearance shortly.”
Before she headed to the floor, she shucked her chef’s jacket and stepped into the employee bathroom to spruce up a bit. She wore a faded pair of Levis and a muscle shirt; the attire casual, but normal for a long workday in a baking hot kitchen.
When Tina referred to Nathan’s table as a three top, she suspected Dimitri and Julia to be with them, so she snagged a glass of wine from the bar, figuring socializing to be involved in this visit.
When she arrived at the booth where they’d been seated, with bar menus, Nathan scoote
d out and stood. “How are you, Mia? Join us please?” He gestured for her to sit.
“Not to complain, but tired and hot. Joe believes air conditioning in a restaurant kitchen a waste of money. I consider the lack of it a company benefit. A free sauna of sorts.”
Julia giggled. “You are so funny, Mia.”
She grinned at her, then scooted into the booth and placed her wine glass on the table. Nathan sat down next to her. His proximity had her immediately sipping her wine for re-enforcement. God, he smelled good. Whatever cologne he wore needed to come with a warning label, bearing the skull, crossbones and whole nine yards of risks.
“Oh my goodness, Mia. Since we shopped the other day, I’ve been so bad. I’ve bought so many things for the baby, it’s going to cost us a fortune to have them shipped to Italy.”
Mia shook her head. “Dear Lord, Julia. I think I’m going to write Dr. Phil about your shopping addiction. You need an intervention.”
That caused everyone to laugh.
Dimitri said, grinning, “I’ll give a testimonial if necessary.”
Julia poked him in the ribs and gave him a playful, chiding look.
That made Mia giggle even more. Nathan’s friends were a delight. “Do you have any idea how long you two will be staying in New Orleans?”
“Until the baby is born,” Julia supplied, sobering. “I have a high risk pregnancy. Christian wants me close.”
She hated to hear that, but she offered her a bolstering smile. “Understandable. That means I’ll probably get to meet your little one. I really am excited for you guys.”
“Thank you,” Julia replied, her expression drenched with love as she stared at her husband. Dimitri leaned in and gave her a steamy kiss.
Mia had been avoiding a glance Nathan’s direction, but to afford the couple privacy she cast one his way.
He shrugged and said, “You’d best get used to those two. Ever since Julia found out she was pregnant, they’ve been like newlyweds. Let’s leave them alone. Want to go for a walk?”
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