"Can I have a glass of Pinot Noir, please?"
"Yes, ma'am." Mr. Keats fetched a bottle and poured her a glass. Thankfully, he moved on to other customers, leaving her alone to brood.
Tammy planted her elbows on the bar top, nursed her drink, and reflected on the significance of nine months. Nine months could upend a woman's entire world... and she wasn't just talking about Mary's marriage and new baby.
It'd been just over nine months since that eerily compelling tarot reading had given Tammy a much-needed confidence boost. The very next week, she'd asked the handsome Sheriff Aaron Sanchez out on their first date. A few days later, Mary had dropped a bombshell when she confessed that shape changers were real... and her new husband was a rugged ram-shifter.
Never one to be satisfied with half measures, Mary then went on to deliver a dire warning. "Aaron Sanchez is a panther, Tammy. He's dangerous, so be careful. Predators can't be trusted."
"Well, you were wrong," Tammy muttered, talking to her absent friend. Maybe not all predators were honorable, but Aaron had proven himself to be strong and trustworthy...
Just as the cards had said. In fact, Aaron had turned out to be everything Madame Claire had predicted... and more. If the man had a fatal flaw, it was punctuality. Tammy pursed her lips, checking the time on her phone. It showed she'd been sitting here for well over an hour now. Yep, late again. At least he's predictable...
Warmth washed over her back. The hairs on her neck stood on end, and she sensed a male presence directly behind her. She sat straighter, envisioning Aaron's dark bedroom eyes and muscular torso. She smiled, thinking he'd arrived, only to crash into disappointment when a stranger spoke.
"Hello, gorgeous. Is this seat taken?"
Tammy tensed and drew away. She turned to confront the man standing over her. What had been a welcome intimacy when she'd believed he was Aaron became a creepy invasion of her personal space. The guy had the rough and tumble look of a ranch hand; she guessed he worked on one of the local farms.
She offered the man a cold stare. "Sorry, that seat is taken. I'm waiting for someone."
"I noticed you were checking your phone. Is he late?"
The cowboy's boldness caught her off guard. Tammy blinked and answered without thinking, "Yeah, but he's always late."
"Would you like to dance while you wait?"
"No. Thanks."
"How about I buy you a drink."
"Again, no thank you."
"How long have you been waiting now? You say he does this all the time?" The cowboy kept going without waiting for her answer. "How does this man deserve your loyalty? If you ask me, you're way too beautiful to be neglected like this." He flashed an easy smile, propping his hand against the bar. The maneuver allowed him to lean in closer.
Smooth, real smooth. Tammy had to give him points—the cowboy had great lines and a charming delivery. A year ago, she might have even fallen for it, at least enough to allow him to buy her that drink. Back then, she'd swapped out men as easily as purses—whatever went with her outfit. Times they were a changing, however, and so was she.
"Luckily, no one asked you. Now no means no. It's time for you to move along and annoy some other lonely woman." Tammy noticed movement out of the corner of her eye—Mr. Keats was edging closer.
Aggression crunched the cowboy's face. She tensed, praying the guy would finally take a hint and just leave. A violent confrontation was the last thing she wanted or needed. The sinking sensation in her gut told her it was too much to hope for.
"I'm with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department," Aaron said. His deep baritone came from behind her. "Is there a problem here?"
Finally! Relief swept through Tammy. She bit back a smile, twisting around on her stool. Light glinted off the gold when Aaron flashed his badge. A burst of impressions flooded her senses: the hard glint in his eyes, the smoothness of his chiseled jawline, and the spiciness of his aftershave. He wore civilian attire: a tailored suit that hugged his muscular physique. But even out of uniform, he exuded authority.
The cowboy gave Aaron a quick once-over, sizing him up. The roughneck had his hands in the air before his eyes reached the sheriff's feet. He backed away. "No problem at all, officer. I was just leaving."
"Good. Get lost before I arrest you for harassment." Aaron rotated in place, keeping his opponent in front of him.
The cowboy beat a hasty retreat, vanishing into the crowd.
"My hero," Tammy intoned tartly, "but I was handling him."
Aaron grinned, showing off his even white teeth. "I know you were. I just never want to miss a chance to claim you as my woman."
His woman. A thrill of exhilaration shot through Tammy but she controlled it, determined not to appear too excited. She had too much self-respect to swoon after the man had kept her waiting. He'd have to work for it.
"You're late," she said, clipping the words.
"I'm sorry, baby. I picked up a drunk driver right before my shift ended. While he was being booked, he turned rowdy. Forgive me?” He leaned in, and this time so did she, lifting her face. Their breath mingled.
"You had enough time to stop and change."
"I shaved and showered at the precinct. I had the suit with me." He scanned her face, searching for a hint of true anger. His powerful body thrummed with tension.
Tammy opted to relent. She'd learned early on that Aaron's ex-wife had held his constant tardiness against him and used it as a weapon. She kept hoping he'd learn she was different and finally come to trust her, but so far, no luck. She sighed and smiled, setting her hands on his forearms. "It's okay, hon. I understand the demands of your job. There's nothing to forgive."
"You mean that?" A tentative smile curved the corners of his sensual mouth.
"One hundred percent."
She both loved and hated the power he held over her. The giddiness and uncertainty. The man was a walking, talking rollercoaster and she was the thrill-junkie that kept getting in line over and over. Willing to wait indefinitely for the opportunity to ride him again. Yeah, she loved it and she hated it... Oh, who am I kidding? I freaking love it... love him.
Aaron claimed her mouth in a sweet hello kiss. She clutched at his forearms, digging her fingers into the solid muscle beneath the fine material of his suit coat. He cradled the back of her skull, and his other hand grasped her jaw. The pressure intensified; his lips crushed hers beneath them. He tasted fresh and minty on her tongue. Sparks flew. An electric current coursed through her whole body and her toes curled in pure pleasure.
He broke the kiss. Panting, they clung to each other. Aaron brushed the back of his finger across her cheek. "I really am sorry. I hate keeping you waiting."
"I know you are, but it's okay..." A daring impulse seized Tammy, boosting her courage to terrifying heights. Without conscious consideration, she chose to risk rejection for the sake of letting him know how much he mattered to her. "You know you're worth waiting for, Aaron."
He met her gaze. While she watched, his cat gained ascendance. Minute but unmistakable changes: the expansion of golden irises eclipsing the whites of his eyes, and the protrusion of razor-sharp incisors visible past his lips. The way he looked at her, like a tasty morsel to be gobbled, spiked her adrenaline. Her heart skipped and then beat in triple time. Aaron's true nature was not a secret, but he so seldom shared this aspect of himself with her. Her spirits soared with what she hoped and prayed wasn't a wind of false promise.
The panther receded. He asked in a husky voice, "You mean that?"
"Cross my heart." She sketched the mark over her breast.
He smiled and the tension seemed to bleed out of him. The man always held himself at ready—projecting the confidence of a deadly predator—but now he also radiated an air of rare relaxation. "Thank you for saying that."
"You're welcome." She grew weak in the knees. Taking a chance had been the right call. She was so glad she'd done it.
Aaron stroked her body with his regard, lingering on her
low-cut cleavage. Her nipples hardened; a visceral tug pulled at her core. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"
"As a matter of fact, you didn't."
"That's on me. Tonight, you're the loveliest woman in the room."
"Just the room? The Watering Hole isn't even all that big." Tammy fluttered her eyelashes, playing the shameless hussy. Why not? She behaved brazen for him alone.
"Obviously, I misspoke. I meant you're the loveliest woman in the whole world."
She shivered. Damn, how I wish he meant that for real.... But, careful... don't push too hard. One step at a time.
"Are you ready for dinner?" Tammy asked.
"I'm starving." Aaron wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. Her body tucked naturally against his muscular form.
Safe and sheltered. She sighed with deep contentment. Then his breath huffed across her skin and the back of his hand grazed against the side of her breast. She burned with molten desire. When his stomach growled, she giggled. Safe and sheltered and on the menu...
And she wouldn't have it any other way.
"We could just go back to my place," Aaron said with a suggestive eyebrow waggle. Despite his light humor, a definite growly note underlay his tone.
"Later," Tammy said, snickering. "You promised me an evening out at El Salvaje and I intend to collect. I've been wanting to eat there for months." She tried to hide how much going to the exclusive winery and restaurant meant to her, but she was positive she failed.
Besides, there was a lot to be said for waiting. They were past the shiny, novelty phase where they jumped on each other at every opportunity. Fairly recently, they had entered new and uncharted —and frankly, terrifying—waters. Mentally, she had labeled this the stability-and-maybe-commitment stage of their relationship. Tammy had never been here before and it scared her silly.
He swooped and nibbled her earlobe. His electrifying touch caused her every hair to stand on end. "I always keep my promises," he said, somehow managing to make it sound like a threat.
Honorable: just as Madame Claire had promised.
Eight of Swords & The Devil
The fortuneteller turned over a card depicting a woman who had been bound and blindfolded. She announced ominously, "Eight of Swords."
A gasp escaped Tammy. Her hand flew to the base of her throat. The seeming overreaction to the disturbing imagery embarrassed her, but fear got the better of her. "Well, that can't be good," she said, fidgeting. "What does it mean?"
Madame Claire frowned. "I am unsure. I will seek to clarify its meaning." Before Tammy could respond, the seer flipped over another card that landed partially covering the Eight of Swords.
Tammy shivered. "I know nothing about tarot and even I recognize this one: the Devil..." She gave a nervous laugh. "Guess it's time to leave town, change my name, and join a nunnery, huh?"
Madame Claire smirked. "Ah, darling. This man is a hunter. No matter how far you run, it won't be far enough. He will always find you.... However, don’t allow the devil to intimidate you. He understands you, perceiving your secret desires, sensing your fears and insecurities. His will is unbreakable and his patience inexhaustible."
* * *
The convertible rolled along the coastal highway, hugging every turn. Starlight stretched overhead. The earth slumbered beneath a blanket of darkness broken only by the beams from the headlights. Tammy's imagination filled in the blank canvas with visions of rolling green hills and sandy shores and the roaring Pacific surf.
Blonde hair whipping about her face, she inhaled a deep draught of the ocean air. The safety harness pressed uncomfortably across her throat so she hooked her thumb beneath it, tugging the strap away. The February evening was chilly, but not freezing. She pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, enjoying the sensation of huddling for warmth.
Aaron reached across the gearshift and took her hand in his own. His skin radiated heat. The first time she'd ever noticed and commented on it, he'd explained that shifters ran hot—their baseline body temperature being several degrees above the norm. He shouted over the wind noise. "Are you cold?"
"I'm fine!"
"I could put the top up."
She squeezed his fingers to convey assurance. "Really, I'm fine!"
Aaron nodded, finally seeming to take her at her word, and returned his attention to the road. He always demonstrated an almost exaggerated concern for her comfort.
Tammy blew out a sigh, thinking how long it'd taken them to get to the point where he didn't automatically suspect her of lying about something as trivial as whether she was too hot or too cold. Nine months... and there are moments I'm not sure we've actually arrived. I blame his ex-wife. That bitch did a number on him.
Sometimes Tammy wondered if she could ever undo the damage that'd been done to Aaron. True to his cat-nature, he tended to be aloof and a loner. "Emotionally unavailable" in pop-psychology jargon. She tried not to dwell on it, telling herself that everything took time. But in her more morose moods, she turned to Google, reading countless articles on the rehabilitation of feral cats.
The deceleration and turning motion of the vehicle alerted her that they'd exited the main highway. Tammy yanked her head out of the clouds, paying attention during the remainder of the short drive to the remote coastal winery. The wrought iron gated entrance to El Salvaje struck her as the fulfillment of a promise: exclusive, elite... expensive.
They turned the convertible over to valet parking. Aaron went to impressive lengths to be the perfect gentleman. He made her stay in the vehicle until he could open the door and help her out.
"Thank you. It's funny how self-conscious this makes me feel." She leaned on him for support without hesitation, never doubting his strength. They linked arms and headed inside.
"What do you mean?"
"The whole old-fashioned thing. Don't get me wrong, I like it. It's just odd."
"Good. I'm glad you like it. I'm an old-fashioned guy."
"I know that. I like that, too."
They unlinked arms while he got the door again. Afterward, he tucked his hand against the small of her back in an intimate gesture. Tingles traveled along her nerve endings. She imagined him reaching lower, caressing her backside. The naughty musings sent a surge of desire through her intimate areas. She inhaled sharply, slamming on the mental brakes. Whoa, easy girl. Dinner before dessert.
Temperance
Tammy found herself shaking her head, even though she was unsure exactly what she was refusing. "So, you're saying my one true love is a devil man with eight pointy swords? I'll admit to entertaining the occasional kinky fantasy. What woman doesn't? But this guy sounds like he has a serious Fifty Shades complex. Thanks, but no thanks."
The thought crossed her mind to stand. Getting the heck out of there struck her as an excellent plan. She only hesitated because she needed to pay Madame Claire first. Regardless of whether Tammy liked the reading, she still owed the old woman for services rendered. She reached for her wallet.
Madame Claire turned over another card: an angel. "Temperance."
"Temperance?" Tammy stilled, despite common sense which urged her to run.
The seer bobbed her cleft chin. "Temperance. Your Leo lover will need you as much as you need him. Perhaps more. The demands of his profession have exacted a high cost on his personal life. He gave his heart to a woman only to have it broken because she was too selfish. He was badly injured. Because of this, he will find it difficult to take a second chance on romance. Only a woman capable of great persistence and patience may prove herself worthy of his love."
Tammy sank down onto the velvet cushion, abandoning all plans of departure. "Do you think I'm worthy?"
Madame Claire looked her straight in the eyes. "I do not know. Are you?"
"Tough question." Tammy tried to shrug it off but self-doubt plagued her. She'd always wondered if she was somehow to blame for her past romantic failures. Despite years of dating, she had never connected with any man
in a truly meaningful way. Her fault? Or was it simply that she'd never met the right man?
"To conquer the lion, you must first surrender to him. Under his coaxing, you will confess your wanton and wicked fantasies. In return, he will devote himself to fulfilling your wishes, satisfying your every need. His embrace will become a crucible of the sweetest torment."
* * *
True to its name, the restaurant had an authentic Spanish style. A waterfall cascaded into a pond full of lilies; the indoor tropical-style garden included palms, bamboo, and other jungle plants. The waiter seated them in a secluded alcove. He took their orders and poured their wine. After he left, they shared a peaceful bubble of intimacy, making small talk and catching up on how their days had gone. The whole thing struck her as perfectly ordinary until Aaron caught her hand and looked her straight in the eyes. The intensity of his regard caused her heart to skip.
"What's on your mind, baby?"
She blinked, but mustered a smile. "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
"You've been quiet tonight. You seem... pensive."
She scrunched her nose. "Maybe I am, just a little."
"Want to tell me about it?"
She gnawed her lower lip. "I do, but I'm not sure I should."
He scowled, sipping his wine. Tammy did the same. The rich red wine had notes of blackberry and currant. Delicious, but it hit her empty stomach and went straight to her head. Giddiness unsettled her emotional balance, leaving her lightheaded.
After a pause, Aaron said, "I want you to feel safe enough to be honest with me."
What she imagined to be an ironic smile split the sides of her mouth. "Trust is a two-way street, Aaron."
"I know that."
"Do you?"
"I think so," he said, but doubt shadowed his face.
Crimson Kisses: Valentine’s Day Edition: A Zodiac Shifters Paranormal Romance Anthology Page 4
