by Lisa Kessler
Tegan pressed her lips together. If she leveled with him about Gabe, it might ease his worry, but it could also ruin the peace for her mother.
“Does Mom know about any of this?”
“Yer mother isn’t of Welsh blood. Dragons and demons are fairy tales for her. I thought it best they stay that way.” He paused and glanced at the door. “I want you to take the ledger and show it to yer friend. He believes more than you realize. He carries a dragon dagger in his coat.”
“Gabe hunts and kills demons, Dad.” Tegan sighed. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” She clutched the ledger to her chest and looked at her dad again. “I told him it would worry you and Mom if you found out I hired a private eye.”
He leaned back in his chair. “The hand-holding, that kiss, was all for show?”
She nodded. “Yes, but please don’t let Mom in on it. She hasn’t looked this happy since before the attack.”
“Why do you think I brought you inside, eh?” He smiled, and the knot in her stomach loosened.
They walked back toward the party. “You tell Gabe something for me…”
“Sure, Daddy.” She looked up at him. “What?”
“Tell him to kill that dragon.”
When they got back outside, her gaze locked on Gabe’s, and her breath hitched. Her mind replayed the feel of his warm lips brushing her cheek, and the all-too-familiar heat swamped her. The strong angle of his jaw, the bright green of his eyes, his broad shoulders, every part of him made her pulse race. Then his voice echoed through her mind: just doing my job. This time she was grateful for the reminder.
Tegan raised her chin and walked to her seat. Gabe got up, but she plopped down and scooted her chair in before he could help.
He sat down again and leaned in close. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “It’s fine. Can you put this in your pocket?”
He took the leather journal and slid it inside his coat without asking any questions or making any effort to read it. He was a pro, she’d give him that much.
Her mother chose that moment to stand up and clink her fork against the edge of her wine glass. “Can I get everyone’s attention? We’re going to move this party poolside for cake and dancing.”
The volume increased instantly with guests moving chairs and talking. Gabe took her hand, halting her before she could get up.
“What happened?” His gaze searched her as if he might find answers in her facial expressions.
Keeping her voice low, Tegan answered. “What happened out here? I thought we agreed no public displays of affection.”
He released her hand like it burned his skin. “Sorry about that.” He shook his head. “You looked scared and I…” He glanced her way and then tossed his napkin on the table. “I made a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
Gabe got up and followed the crowd to the pool, leaving Tegan behind. She couldn’t take her eyes off his back. What was happening here? They had a deal. And she should definitely not be disappointed that he wasn’t going to break it again.
That’s when it hit her. Tonight was a charade, and that made it safe. She could give in to the physical desire her body had pent up for the past four years without having to deal with any relationship ties.
She worried her lower lip, giving herself one last chance to come to her senses, but seeing Gabe down by the pool watching her made the choice simple.
Chapter Seven
Gabe went down to the pool area and headed straight for the table of filled champagne glasses. He knocked one back without hesitation. The deejay had “The Electric Slide” blaring beside him. He picked up another glass, emptying it while watching some of the partygoers attempting to master the dance.
He shouldn’t have kissed her. Even on the cheek. He’d fucked up the second his lips brushed her skin. Royally. He’d misjudged his own control over his attraction for his client. Not Tegan, his client. His client who was being hunted by a Hingo demon.
But he’d seen her face afterward, her eyes, and he’d have sworn she’d enjoyed it, too.
Damn it. Now he felt like a complete asshole. And worse yet, he still wanted her. He had no business wondering what her mouth would taste like or how her hands would feel sliding up his chest.
This was his fault. When had he forgotten this was not actually a date? Rookie mistake.
“There you are.” He turned to find Nancy reaching for him. “We lost our honored guest.”
He gestured to the stairs, watching Tegan. “She’s on her way.”
With every step, her gaze stayed locked on his. He should break the connection and save what was left of his pride, but seeing her with the moonlight on her hair, her dress revealing bare shoulders that begged to be kissed, he couldn’t look away.
He was so screwed.
The crowd parted as Tegan came through, walking directly toward him. His pulse quickened in anticipation.
Of what, God only knew. Maybe that was part of what made this woman so irresistible.
Now standing toe-to-toe with him, her hands slid across his abdomen and around his waist. She rose up on the balls of her feet, her eyes on his. Her lips parted, drawing him closer, and her whisper brushed over his mouth.
“Kiss me.”
He brought his hands up, not letting himself do anything but obey, and buried his fingers in her silky hair, his lips claiming hers. Her tongue slid past his lips. Deep in the back of his throat he growled with desire. She tasted like honey and raindrops. Heaven right there in his arms.
Applause broke the kiss.
He glanced at the crowd and smiled. Tegan turned around slowly. He could see the blush creeping up her cheeks. Taking her hand he addressed the other guests. “Sorry about that, but her birthday kiss couldn’t wait any longer.”
Her mother laughed along with the rest of the crowd, easing the tension. Tegan’s fingers stayed laced with his, leaving him to wonder what the hell had just happened.
Trying to second-guess Tegan was like trying to track a tornado.
A tornado he had no business chasing.
Once everyone had champagne, Maddock raised his glass. “A toast to my beautiful Tegan. May this birthday lead to many more years of happiness and joy. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy.” Tegan clinked her glass with Gabe’s before being hustled into the crowd for more good wishes and toasts.
Gabe stayed by the edge of the pool. He nursed his champagne, watching her move.
“You take good care of her.” Maddock clapped him on the back.
“I’ll do my best.”
“You better.” He squeezed Gabe’s shoulder until he looked over at him. “She told me yer a dragon slayer.”
Gabe frowned, and it took a second to find his voice. “What?” He forced a laugh and shook his head. “No, I just have the dagger for it.”
Maddock chuckled and lowered his voice. “According to my girl you have more than just the weapon.”
After all their plotting, she’d told her father anyway? He cleared his throat and kept his voice down. “Slayer. Demons. No dragons. Least, not yet.”
“Dragons were the demons of my homeland.” He took a swallow of his champagne. “I gave Tegan a book. It’s been in our family for two hundred years. It’s the record of our ancestors who were taken by the dragons. Attacked.”
“By demons.”
“Suppose you might call them that.” Maddock shrugged. “I don’t understand why our family line was targeted, but the killings eventually stopped. I thought the shadow over our bloodline had ended, faded into old legends.” He finished his drink and met Gabe’s eyes. “Find the connection.”
Tegan’s laughter made them both turn, watching her until she smiled in their direction.
Maddock raised his glass and nodded. “She’s a fighter, my girl.” He glanced at Gabe with a spark in his eyes. “And some fights are worth every second, eh?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, almost a smile. “Yes, sir. They
sure are.”
Her father chuckled and walked to his daughter, pulling her into an embrace. Gabe stared up at the moon. He had to keep her safe.
Kissing her put her in danger. It had to stop.
The memories of finding Laura’s body crept into his head, turning his stomach.
He almost flinched when Tegan nudged him. “Cake?”
“Nah, I’m fine. Thanks.”
“A bite?” She waved a forkful of cake around his face.
He rolled his eyes. “How can I refuse?” His gaze locked on hers as his mouth closed over the cake.
“Isn’t it amazing?” She grinned up at him, licking some frosting from her fingertip. Those perfect lips were going to be his undoing.
“Definitely.” He wasn’t talking about the cake, but he didn’t tell her that.
She set her plate over on the table as the deejay cranked up the music. “Want to dance?”
Across the pool a few couples started dancing, and Gabe shook his head. “I believe I was promised we could leave after cake.”
“Oh.” Her grin faltered. “All right.”
As they said their good-byes, he reminded himself of the danger, of the demon, and that Tegan was his client, not his date. No more kissing.
…
Tegan caught herself watching Gabe’s profile while he drove. Her lips still tingled from their kiss. She wanted more.
But now it was just them, no audience, no one to fool. Did he even enjoy kissing her? The way his fingers had clutched her hair and that deep throaty moan into her mouth made it seem as though he had, as though he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
But now he just drove. Silent.
“Thanks for making me go to the party. It was good to see my folks.”
“You told your dad I was a slayer.” He glanced her way for a second. His hands never left the steering wheel.
“You showed him a dagger that mentioned a dragon. He figured it out.”
He nodded and remained silent.
Tegan crossed her arms, watching buildings pass by while she waited for him to go on.
Finally, Gabe grumbled from behind the wheel. “Mind explaining that kiss? Seemed like a major infraction against your ‘no public displays of affection’ rule.”
She shrugged. “Must’ve been the sangria or something.”
He exited the freeway, stopping at the light. “Sorry, but I call bullshit. Two minutes before you were reading me the riot act for kissing your cheek, so you can’t blame the lip-lock on alcohol.”
“You’re right. I didn’t hire you to kiss me.” Her arms tightened around her. “I’m sorry you had to endure that.”
“Endure it?” He scoffed and chucked her chin until she met his eyes. “Nothing to endure. It was a helluva kiss, but I need to be sure we’re on the same page. There’s a demon looking for you, and until we nail him, we have to stay focused.”
She nodded while his words “a helluva kiss” played on repeat in her mind. He enjoyed it as much as she did. She hadn’t imagined it.
Which changed absolutely nothing.
“Sorry about the kiss.” She stared out the window. “It’s been so long. I’m glad I remembered how.”
Gabe chuckled. “No worries there.”
She glanced his way. “But you’re telling me we can’t do it again?” They were adults, and her body was awakening from a very long dry spell. What was the harm if neither of them wanted a relationship? They could focus during the day. She bit back the sly smile that threatened to curl her lips.
Gabe sighed and made a left turn. The opposite direction of her dojo.
“Where are we going?”
“We need to talk.” He stopped at a light, but he didn’t look her way. “There’s a blues band playing at the Belly Up bar tonight. We can talk there. With any luck there’ll be enough people that if the demon sends out anymore scouts, they won’t be able to pick up your scent.”
Gabe was still stoic when they walked into the Belly Up. Without a word, he took her hand and went with her to the bar. She’d lived in San Diego County all her life, but she’d never been inside.
Nearly 150 people were gathered all over the club. Some were dancing, some seated on couches, a few at the bar. She imagined there probably used to be a thick layer of smoke in the place when it opened back in the seventies.
“What do you want to drink?”
She looked up at Gabe and noticed the huge shark suspended from the ceiling. “Wow!”
He almost smiled. “Great decor, isn’t it?”
She nodded. “This is fun.”
“What’ll you have?” The bartender wiped down the bar and tipped his head to Tegan.
“Tequila sunrise.”
“I’ll have a shot of whiskey.” Gabe pointed to the band. “I love these guys. They came through one of the clubs in Anaheim a few times. Great sound.”
Tegan watched the band and started to smile. They were older guys, but they could definitely rock. The lead singer pulled out a harmonica, playing along with his bandmates on the guitar, stand-up bass, and drums. Another guy kicked over his stool at the keyboard, banging the keys and humming some harmonies into his mic.
Gabe leaned in close to her ear. “This is classic Sonny Boy Williamson, ‘Don’t Start Me to Talkin’.’”
Smiling, she gestured him closer and said, “I thought the blues were…sad.”
Gabe shrugged. “Some are, but most have a groove to them. Everyone gets knocked down by life. The blues turn it around ’til things don’t seem so bad.”
The bartender delivered their drinks, and Gabe put a bill on the bar.
“That’ll be on my invoice, right?”
Gabe shook his head and knocked the whiskey back. “No. Tonight is…” His green eyes searched her features. He put his empty shot glass on the bar. “It’s just tonight.”
What did that mean? Part of her didn’t want to know. Being out with a man reminded her of all she was missing while she honed her roundhouse kicks. She sipped the tequila sunrise, pondering how she might balance her life when this mess was over.
The alcohol quickly numbed her lips and warmed her stomach. Her body swayed with the beat. Gabe was right. The blues had a definite groove to them, a strength.
Bad things happen. Roll with it.
Gabe took her hand. “The music’s too good not to dance.”
“So dancing is okay, but kissing is off-limits?”
“We’ll see how you dance. That might be banned too.” His eyes sparkled in the dim light.
She laughed and got to her feet, her body warm and ready to move. Buzzed but not drunk. Perfect for dancing.
They found a place on the dance floor, and Gabe took her in his arms. He grinned. “‘Cry to Me.’ Solomon Burke.”
The song picked up, and she grinned. “I recognize this one. I think it was in Dirty Dancing!”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Follow my lead.”
He made it easy. He kept her body close to his, his leg pressed right between hers, their hips grinding slow and steady together. He planted his feet and slid his hands up to her bare shoulders, sending heat to all the right places. Dipping her back, he slowly swooped her torso around and back up to meet his eyes. When she came back up she fought to keep her hands from exploring his chest.
Fire and hunger filled his gaze. He took her hands in his and put them up around his neck. He bent down, resting his forehead against hers while they moved to the slow, sexy beat of the tune. She caught the sweet smell of whiskey on his breath, tempting her to taste his lips.
Her entire body was scorching, and it had nothing to do with the tequila.
Gabe moved her around the floor, leading her as though they’d danced together for years. Her pulse thrummed. Being this close to him was more intoxicating than any drink at the bar. She wished the song would never end.
“You make my better judgment fly out the window.” His voice was deep, his lips so close to hers that his words brushed across her ski
n. “I wish…” He shut his mouth and straightened, pushing her away into a turn.
He tugged her hand, and she wound into his arms again. “Should I be sorry?” She wet her lips. “Because I don’t think I am.”
“That’s the rub.” His gaze dipped to her lips, then back to her eyes. “I don’t want you to be sorry later.”
He pulled her closer, swaying with the music. His lips caressed her bare shoulder. She trembled and nuzzled into his chest, breathing him in. His scent enticed her desire until her body ached for him.
The song ended, breaking the spell. Gabe stepped back and applauded the band. Tegan clapped and stopped Gabe before he could walk away.
“I don’t care about later.” She swallowed. “What if all we have is right now?”
***
He stared into her eyes, tormented. She was right. There was no guarantee they’d win this fight with the Hingo demon that marked her.
But he still shouldn’t put her life in further jeopardy. Part of him screamed to walk away, and another part of him couldn’t walk away if the devil himself threatened to kick his ass.
“You might change your mind about that.” He took her hand and walked her back to a quiet table.
She sat beside him, staring into his eyes, and the last thing he wanted was to tell her about Laura. What he wanted was to untie the back of that dress and… And he’d never get through this if he didn’t stop thinking about getting her naked in his arms.
Focus.
“I’ve taken plenty of demons out of this world, and it pisses them off. Since I’m a slayer, I’m tough for them to kill, but demons are bastards. It didn’t take them long to find my weak spot.”
“You have an Achilles’ heel?”
He shrugged. “If you want to call it that.” He needed another whiskey. Maybe five or six more. “They hunt the people I care about…and kill them.” He waited for the information to sink in.
“They killed your girlfriend.” Tegan squeezed his hand.
“My fiancée.” He swallowed the knot of guilt clogging his throat. “I was supposed to be with her that night, but I smelled a demon and went hunting. I didn’t think I’d be gone long.” No amount of whiskey would ease this pain. “I found him attacking a woman. We fought, and she ran away during the fight. I never saw her face, but judging by how fast she got out of there, I don’t think he had hurt her yet. The demon ended up getting away, but the woman did too, so at least it wasn’t a total loss. And I’d still make it to dinner.”
