“They could but I’m here and I don’t think I’m going to go all stealth and backstab the backstabber.”
What an amazing woman. I’d have done much worse to the guy if it were me. I sighed. I could see the bewildered hurt the betrayal had made her feel written all over her face. It caused my protective instincts to rise in response, and I wanted to smash the man who’d made her feel this way. I wanted to retaliate against him in some fashion for doing this to her.
She shook her head, turned around, opened the dryer, pulled out my clothes, and set them in the basket. Then she began folding them and placing them on the ironing board.
Get out of here, Cade. This is too much.
I wanted to. It was essential for me as well. I didn't know whether to be even more turned on that she was folding my clothes, or pissed off at whoever had gotten her into this state, or frustrated that I couldn't seem to turn my ass around and hightail it out of there.
She stopped folding one of my shirts. “Lulu, the placemat girl was just afraid she might have missed a place setting on the list. She was just doing due diligence and couldn't figure out who she might have left out. So, she’d left a message with me to verify. That’s how I knew for certain what was going on.”
Now I got it. Those questions she’d asked were her way of voicing her disbelief.
I stared at her getting a bad feeling. “I’ll help you in any way I can.”
She placed all of the shirts in one pile that she’d started, and then began folding my pants. “Mr. Turner has contacted my builder. He’s the connection between Slade’s Creamery and the clothing store. He’s the one who would have constructed the new store that I had proposed. The pitch that my boss claimed was a bad idea.”
I understood. She’d been stolen from. When I was young, a man could have lost a hand, or worse, a head for stealing.
“I still didn't think that anyone could sink so low as Mr. Turner.” She was down to folding my last pair of jeans. “I couldn’t find anything when I searched on your phone for updates on the builder’s company. I went to Slade’s competitor’s website instead.”
She looked like she'd been sideswiped, and she re-folded my last pair of jeans. I could tell by her stiff and jerky movements she was now more stunned and possibly furious. Hell, I was angry at the injustice of what her boss had done. This was definitely preferable to her tears.
“I found a statement there on their homepage that said, and I quote, ‘We are making company-wide changes, implementing a new company structure, and planning to expand into other industries.’”
Augusta had finished folding and now was organizing all of my clothes. She turned and stared at me. “I’ve been screwed a thousand ways.”
She gathered the clothes together and bundled them into her arms. I was fairly certain that she planned on putting them away for me.
I moved until I was right beside her, and I placed my hands on top of the stack of clothes she held. Then I took my clothes from her and put them back on top of the dryer. Trying to soothe her, I rubbed her arm and looked into her eyes. “Augusta, you didn't have to do that.”
She stared at me, and I saw something in her eyes. Maybe I was getting to her the same way being in this unlit room and watching her handle my clothes had gotten to me. I didn’t think the dilation of her pupils had anything to do with the dark.
Her breathing picked up. “I had to do something.”
“What I'm trying to say is, thank you,” I said.
She stepped closer to me, and likewise, I was drawn to her.
“Is Mr. Turner a human?” I asked.
She nodded. “Both my bosses are. Mr. Smith isn’t as bad as Mr. Turner, though. I think Mr. Turner is lying to Mr. Smith as much as he can get away with about this deal. I know he is.”
With us being so close, me smelling the vanilla scent of her hair, and now hearing her fury mixed with disappointment, I slowly dropped my hands from her arms.
Maintain distance. That means keep your damn desirous thoughts to yourself. But one thought slipped through.
I want you, Augusta.
“You do?” she asked.
Had I said that out loud?
“I don't think so,” she answered in a voice that sounded just as mystified as I was. “It’s just coming at me, in my head. Some shifters can communicate telepathically. I never have before.”
“How can this be? I’m not a shifter and I’ve never been able to have a back and forth conversation with anyone inside my head.”
“Maybe we’re true mates,” she said her gaze less watery. There was a hint of teasing to her tone. She said it lightly, speaking as though she was trying to assure me she’d bounced back from her earlier upset. “I’ve also known telepathy to happen between those who are.”
Surprised and wary, I spoke what I was thinking. “You’re not a vampire.”
She looked down uncertainly. “I heard you, though. But it's not what you truly meant, is it?”
In record speed, I moved closer to her and lifted her face to look directly at me. “I wouldn't have thought it if I didn't mean it.”
And the next thing I knew, I leaned down, while she stood up on her tippy toes. Our lips met and our tongues meshed. As we kissed, the thrumming of her heartbeat grew louder. The drumbeat of mine deafened me.
I tasted sweetness and the liquid silk of a chocolate milkshake she must have found in my fridge. I groaned against her mouth. She whimpered against mine.
Our hands were frenzied against each other’s clothes, and as I kissed her, I couldn't get enough. It was more intoxicating than my desire to feed, and holding her against me was more necessary than the blood that coursed through my veins.
I had to have her. I backed her up against the wall, and our bodies melded together. My cock strained against my jeans. Her graceful fingers fluttered down to unbutton my pants and lower the zipper. As she did so her fingers brushed against me, and I shattered.
This was sweet torment. I would have her. She would be mine.
What are you doing, Cade? The thought cut through the haze of my lust. And with it, I reluctantly recalled that she’d just had a devastating disclosure.
I'd vowed to protect her, and now I was mauling her like some callow youth. I couldn't continue this with her after she’d just experienced such an overwhelming betrayal. She needed someone to trust—not me taking her hard in my laundry room. I tore my mouth away from her, and gently pulled her hands away from me.
“We can't, tonight.” No one regretted having to say those words more than I did. As they left my mouth, I would have given anything to take them back when I saw the pain waver a moment in her eyes. It was followed quickly by her taking a deep breath.
“I thought you wanted this.”
“I do, but I've never done this the way you need…that is I rarely stay with a woman after the night.”
Her eyes widened, and pink blossomed on her cheeks. “Oh. You don't have to explain. Rejection’s everyone’s prerogative, right?”
And just like that, I’d never felt so cold and callous. I despised the very nature of what I’d become at that moment. Why was I a man who couldn’t give more than his body? One who had long since stopped trying to?
When she gathered herself, she grabbed my clothes again and then turned to me. “Where do you keep these?”
I spoke without thinking. “In my room...”
She gave me a brief and strong nod. It contrasted with the fragileness I saw peeking from her gaze. “Don’t worry. I'll put them away and then be out of your hair.”
“Hey,” I said touching her back before she left. She turned around. “Get some rest tonight and take it easy tomorrow. Maybe you can meet up with those girls Christie, Diana, and Fifi. I don’t know, have lunch with them or something. Get ready for the night, though.”
“Where am I going tomorrow evening?” she asked.
“On a date, with me.” What was I doing or thi
nking? I didn’t even know, couldn’t even guess. “The case we’re working. Tomorrow’s Friday, and tomorrow night, we’re going on a date.”
I thought she was going to refuse.
She glanced at me and then back to the pile of clothes in her arms. “For the case, I’ll go.” Without saying another word she walked away.
On an indrawn breath, I watched her as she disappeared. I was going to have the longest night.
CHAPTER TWELVE
*Augusta*
CADE HANDED ME A PHONE early the next morning when I came out to grab a piece of fruit for breakfast. “Use this for as long as you need it.”
“Thanks,” I said.
He picked a stack of papers and photographs up off of his coffee table. He must have laid them out last night while I was sleeping. I assumed they were regarding the case.
“Stay inside until we work out who your late night visitor was.”
“Normally, I go for a run first thing. I get this pent up energy and it makes me ping from the walls if I don’t get rid of it. I’d stay close and because it’s so cold, it wouldn’t be for long.”
“Not today,” he said. At my questioning glance, he clarified. “You can’t go alone.”
I cleared my throat and presented him with a compromise. “Maybe we could run together.”
He shook his head. “I don’t run with anyone.”
His voice was gruff and he seemed preoccupied or possibly even frustrated. I didn’t know what had annoyed him but he didn’t say much to me beyond that.
It was just a social thing to ask another person to run. I hoped he didn’t think it meant I was still lingering over the amazing kiss we’d shared last night.
I mean in my circle of friends, sometimes shifters who were interested in each other ran together but that’s not what I was getting at. I’d gotten his message loud and clear the night before. We weren’t going to get physical.
Time to change the subject and maybe the direction of Cade’s awful mood. “What’s this on the table?”
Cade pierced me with his gaze. “Odra. Went to lunches during the day. Did things like getting her nails done at the Polar Ice Salon, too. Liked to ice skate.” He pointed at the stack. “It’s all in there.”
I shrugged deciding maybe he wasn’t used to seeing anyone else so bright and early. After saying that, he left and was gone for the rest of the morning.
With a sigh, I found Fifi’s phone number online. She owned an exotic animal shop. Eagerly, I read through the list of creatures she sold. Her homepage listed things like snakes, wild cats, and interesting rodents. I grinned. What a fun job. She even had exotic bugs—like hissing cockroaches, ants, and large spiders.
Not knowing if she’d remember me, I called the number listed on her contact page and re-introduced myself.
“Yeah, I remember you. Your phone goes straight to voicemail,” she said.
I blushed guiltily recalling I’d given them the number from my old phone. “I got a new one. Can you see the number? If you call me on this, I’ll answer.”
“Well, I forgive you,” she said with a breathy laugh. It was quite an unexpected sound coming from such a timid looking woman. “Anyway, perfect timing, Augusta. I’m getting off work early today and inviting Christie and Diana over to have lasagna with me for lunch. You game?”
“I just sat down to eat breakfast,” I said. “Probably won’t be hungry for lunch.” Would I get struck by lightning for such a bald-faced lie? I would be hungry for lunch—extremely so. But I wasn’t too great with hanging around girls and listening to idle chat.
“Oh,” she said. I heard her locking things in the background and then walking—probably she was leaving her store. “That bites. What about if we did something later?”
“Like for dinner? I—”
“Before you say no, I didn’t mean that late. The girls and I were thinking about going to get our nails done after lunch. It’s not like what they have in the city but they do have a spa,” she said. “Would you like to come?”
Fake nails and I didn’t get along too well. In fact, we had a horrible relationship—it was the embarrassing kind. They never stayed on. But even I wouldn’t turn down a person twice. “If they don’t mind, I’d like that.”
After lunch, Christie called. She said she hoped it was all right that Fifi had given her my number. Then she raved about the lasagna. And last, she confirmed I was joining her, Diana and Fifi on their spa day.
This will be fun, Augusta. Those three women seemed nice enough. Besides, hadn’t my gracious host recommended I spend time with them?
Also, going to the nail salon was a great way for me to show some initiative in this case. Of course, I’d run it by Cade, but I saw this as a great opportunity to ask them and the salon ladies about Odra.
****
Right before I met Christie and Fifi at the Polar Ice Nail Salon, Cade called.
Without preamble, he jumped right into where he’d been. He’d gone to Dayle’s office where the gift had been originally delivered.
“The ‘D’ on the card for the gift sent to Dayle’s building was signed for at his office. Diana and Dayle aren’t here at the moment, unfortunately. The receptionist says Diana’s taken leave.”
Immediately, I grabbed a pen and paper and began writing down everything he said. I wanted to keep track of where we’d looked and what we needed to do next. “Who signed for it?”
“I managed to get the receptionist to show me their log. She said someone tried to erase it but she keeps copies. I’m looking at the carbon of Diana’s signature, right now.”
“Diana?” I frowned. She wasn’t going to be with the girls at the nail salon. I couldn’t ask her anything. “Okay, I’m meeting those girls you mentioned last night,” I said.
“For?”
“Girl stuff—okay—we’re going to get our nails done. It’s at the salon you mentioned Odra frequented. I thought, wouldn’t it be smart for me to ask some questions of her friends and contacts?”
“Do it. Just remember to be natural. Also, ask them about Betty’s gift shop.”
I couldn’t believe it. He was allowing me to investigate. I grinned, widely, and then tried to drop it. It just got bigger. This was what a partnership felt like.
I got off the phone with him and hopped onto my four-wheeler. Then I revved up the motor and raced to join Christie and Fifi at the nail salon.
As we all walked in, I stood to the side and watched as the nail ladies greeted them with familiarity. I wasn't used to being one of the girls, and this was new for me, but I had to admit that I liked the feel of hanging out with Christie and Fifi.
Keep your mind on what you're trying to do here, Augusta. Don't forget to ask what you need to ask.
I hoped that my gentle reminders would make me remember what to say when the time came. Cade was obviously working on his end, and I needed to be effective on mine.
There were six nail stations in the small salon. I took the seat on the farthest left, while Christie sat next to me, and on the other side of her, Fifi sat.
The three ladies that worked on our nails were bear shifters. I believed they were all from the North—I was guessing polar bears. They were all taller than me by about a foot. I hadn't met many bear shifters, but the ones that I had met, had been nice.
“They do massages also, Augusta,” Fifi said leaning back in her seat so that she could look behind Christie to see me.
Honestly, I wasn't too certain I was going to go through with the manicure. I even put my hands on my purse in a gesture that meant I was about to change my mind. It wasn't that I was not used to manicures, I'd gotten more than a few for the many business meetings that I went on. It was more along the lines that with my hormones acting up the way they were around Cade, I wasn’t certain getting nails put on was such a good idea.
I had a crazy vision of my claws coming out in the middle of Cade and I getting close and personal, an
d the fake nails popping off. It wasn't a great thought.
Why are you even thinking that, Augusta? You’re not getting fake nails and you and Cade aren’t getting that close, all right?
Cade had already said he wasn’t interested in anything other than a one-night stand. And he wasn’t even interested in that with me. If any claws popped out, chances are, he wouldn't notice.
The thought sobered me, and I concentrated on the reason that I was here. “I don't usually get tips, normally I just have my natural nails touched up.” I looked at Mara, the lady doing my nails with a non-threatening smile.
She bared her teeth at me. Scratch that—most bears other than polar bears were nice. These ladies were intimidating.
I tried another tactic—one less likely to get me on Mara’s bad side. “So this was Odra’s favorite salon. I hear that everyone likes it,” I tried to say in a nonchalant manner.
The three nail ladies all looked at me over their spectacles. Though I tried to sound like I was just making conversation, none of them were treating it as offhand.
“She came here every week, never fail.” This came from the ruddy-cheeked, thick-haired brunette, Lisa, who was doing Fifi's Nails. “She was almost as faithful a customer as my Fifi here.”
Fifi blushed becomingly and shrugged her shoulders. “Hands down, you guys are the best, no pun intended.” She giggled softly.
Whereas I had gotten stiff stares, and finally an answer, not so with Fifi. The moment she spoke, all the nail ladies seemed to relax and smile fondly at her, and then they began talking immediately.
I could hardly make out anything with everyone suddenly speaking all at once. What I gathered, though, was Odra did come here a lot. Which meant that she very well could have come here to get ready for her date with Slade the night of their murder.
“Was she here last week?” I asked not looking at any of them in particular and hoping that at least one of them would give me an answer.
The Vampire's Alpha Mate: A BBW Tiger-Shifter Romance (Arcane Affairs Agency) Page 9
