“Science fiction and fantasy mostly,” she said. “I love the pure escapism.”
I nodded. “That, I can understand completely.”
I looked around and flagged down Andrea. She trudged over to the table, that artificial smile back on her face, though in her eyes, I could see a smoldering anger and disappointment. She looked at both Piper and Astrid with barely veiled contempt. But she managed to hold herself in check – barely.
“We're celebrating here tonight, Andrea,” I said. “Can you please bring us a bottle of that special dessert wine? The one in the cabinet in my office?”
She gave me a tight smile and nodded. “Of course.”
She turned and walked away without another word. Piper looked at me and raised her eyebrows.
“Is it me or did it just get colder in here?” she asked.
I sighed. “I apologize,” I said. “Andrea is good at her job and a sweet girl. But she's got some rather – inappropriate – ideas about her place in my life.”
“So, you're just leading her on?” Astrid asked.
I looked at her and she bit her bottom lip, quickly averting her gaze. Frankly, I was offended by the accusation. But I held my temper in check. There was no need for me to get upset over an off the cuff remark like that.
“Actually, no,” I said. “I've laid out very clear boundaries with her. With my entire staff. I've been very clear about what is appropriate and what is not. Andrea is just a young girl with a crush. Nothing more.”
“I – I'm sorry,” Astrid said. “I didn't mean to say –”
“You'll have to forgive her,” Piper jumped in. “She doesn't get out much and is a bit lacking in the social graces department.”
We all shared a bit of a laugh, but I could see that Astrid still seemed stiff. Embarrassed.
“So, how long has your bookstore been open?” I asked.
“A little over a year now,” she said. “It's actually doing a lot better than I'd anticipated.”
“That's wonderful to hear,” I said. “It pleases me to know that hum – that people – still value the written word.”
“I deal with words all day long,” Piper said. “I'll just watch the movies, thanks.”
I gave her a small smile. “But books are always so much richer.”
“I keep telling her that,” Astrid said.
Andrea arrived and set the bottle down along with three glasses. She cast another look at the two women before departing without another word.
“You really should try Chef Maurizio's dessert,” I said. “I'm not sure what he whipped up for you, but I can already vouch for it. The man is a wizard in the kitchen.”
“Thank you,” Astrid said. “You're being very kind.”
I shrugged. “Just doing my best to provide excellent customer service.”
They both picked up a spoon and dug into the dessert. Warm white chocolate flowed out of a dark chocolate cake that had been drizzled with what looked like a strawberry glaze and white chocolate shavings. It looked really good and I made a mental note to have Maurizio make me one.
“Oh, my God,” Piper said. “This might be the best thing I've ever tasted.”
I grinned. “I told you he was a wizard.”
I poured three glasses of the dessert wine I'd had brought out. It was a special vintage you'd never find on a menu anywhere. At least, not in the world of man. It was a wine from Chondelai. Every once in a while, I indulged in a glass or two and enjoyed a little taste of home. Because my duties kept me here, I didn't often travel back to my homeland and I sometimes missed it.
I handed each of the women a glass and then picked up my own. “A toast,” I said. “To new career opportunities – congratulations, Piper.”
She smiled and nodded at me. I cut my eyes over to Astrid and gave her a gentle smile.
“And, to new friends,” I said. “I'm very glad the two of you came in tonight.”
“To new friends,” Piper said.
“To new friends,” Astrid repeated – though much more quietly.
We clinked our glasses together and took a sip. I let it roll down my tongue, savoring the essence of the wine. Astrid and Piper's eyes grew wide and they made noises of delight every bit as much as they had when eating Maurizio's cake.
“This is amazing,” Piper said. “What is it?”
“It's a special vintage,” I said, staring into the dark red fluid in my glass. “From my homeland.”
“Where are you from?” Astrid asked, her eyes locked onto mine.
I gave her a small smile. “A long way from here,” I said. “Are you both from here originally?”
“Yeah,” Piper said. “Native girls.”
“Born and raised.”
“This wine really is amazing,” Piper said. “I've never tasted anything like it before.”
I shrugged. “It's a rare vintage,” I said. “I'm pleased you like it.”
Over the next few hours – and another bottle of wine – the three of us had a great conversation full of fun and laughs. Even Astrid loosened up quite a bit and allowed me to get to know her a little more. And yet, I still couldn't figure out what it was about her that compelled me. What drew me to her.
Eventually though, it was time for them to go. I stood up with them and when Piper dug into her purse for her wallet, I put my hand on her arm gently and gave her a warm smile.
“It's on me,” I said.
She shook her head, “Oh no, we couldn't possibly –”
“Call it my way of saying congratulations on the promotion,” I smiled. “And to thank you both for a wonderful evening.”
“Thank you, Quint,” she said. “That's very kind of you.”
“Yes, thank you,” Astrid said, her voice growing softer again. “That's incredibly generous.”
“Think nothing of it,” I said. “I appreciate you two letting me crash your night out.”
“Well, I'd at least like to leave a tip,” Piper said.
She pulled out her wallet and dropped a hundred-dollar bill down on the table.
“Andrea will be most appreciative,” I said. “Please, let me walk you out.”
I strolled with the both of them out of the restaurant and back to the valet station. There was a strange sensation in my stomach, knowing I was about to say goodbye. Part of me was afraid that I was never going to see Astrid again – was never going to unravel the mystery she presented to me. And part of it, I feared, was nervousness. It was an odd feeling – one I never had. Not even when going into battle.
I took Piper's claim ticket and handed it to the valet, passing him a twenty as a tip so Piper wouldn't have to. She gave me a sweet smile and thanked me. We all stood in an awkward silence again and I noticed that Piper had drifted off a couple of feet, standing away from us. It was as if she was trying to give us a little space and giving me a subtle signal to ask Astrid out. Again, that fluttering in my stomach came on, confounding me.
I cleared my throat. “Astrid,” I said. “I was wondering if perhaps, you would allow me the pleasure of taking you to dinner one night. Maybe some place other than here.”
I gave her a soft, but genuine smile. She looked at me with wide eyes and I watched the expressions on her face shift from shock to fear and back again. It occurred to me that she, for whatever reason, wasn't used to receiving attention from a man. Though, it honestly baffled me. I would have thought a woman like Astrid would be drowning in invitations out from men.
“I – I don't know,” she stammered. “I mean, I appreciate it but –”
The valet arrived with Piper's car and I looked at Astrid feeling something akin to shock. I wasn't used to being turned down. I honestly couldn't recall the last time a woman declined an invitation to dinner from me. It was surprising and yet – intriguing. It was a new experience.
Of course, I was going to have to change her mind.
I fished a card out of my pocket and presented it to her. “Please,” I said. “If you change your mind
–”
Piper snatched the card out of my hand and flashed me a mischievous grin. “Trust me, Quint,” she said. “Astrid would love to see you again. I'll make sure she calls you. Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
“Y – yes, thank you,” Astrid murmured.
I laughed and shook my head. It had been a wonderful night full of intrigue and surprises. And as I watched Piper usher Astrid to her car, getting her into the passenger's seat before hustling around to the driver's side, I still felt that invisible pull to the mysterious redhead. She watched me from her seat, her eyes still full of wonder – and questions.
Piper waved at me as she drove off, leaving me standing there smiling. I wondered what was going through Astrid's mind as she looked at me. Wondered what she was feeling.
I had a million questions and I was looking forward to getting answers to them all.
Chapter Seven
Astrid
I woke up the next morning feeling a little fuzzy in the head, but overall, not too bad. Which was something, given how much wine I'd had the night before. I wasn't normally a drinker, so it seemed like even the smallest amounts could turn me inside out. But I had to admit, that dessert wine Quint had served us had been pretty amazing and I'd had more than I probably should have.
Thinking about the night before brought me to the inescapable thought of Quint. Yeah, that hadn't been awkward or anything.
I looked at the business card sitting on the counter in wonder. Things like that didn't happen to me. Quint looked like he had stepped out of the pages of a fitness or fashion magazine. He was tall, incredibly well built, and with his dark hair and unusually green eyes.
Men like that did not hit on me. Ever. And they most certainly didn't ask me out on a date. Guys like that usually went for Piper – and with good reason. She was gorgeous and with her tight, toned body, she could have been a lingerie model herself. I wasn't anything like her.
But the way he'd looked at me – it ignited fires deep within me I hadn't felt burning in ages.
I shook my head. No, I couldn't let myself get caught up in that. Men like Quint were usually after one thing – conquests. He probably saw me as a challenge because I wasn't throwing my panties at him like that snooty little waitress who'd served us.
I looked at the clock and groaned. The one bad thing about being a business owner – you never got weekends off. I crawled out of bed and hopped into the shower. I let the hot water sluice away all the cobwebs in my head and let myself soak in the near scalding water until my skin was bright red.
Getting out of the shower, I toweled off and got ready to head into the bookstore. Locking up my apartment, I made the short walk to work, stopping at the nearby Starbucks to grab a drink on my way. When I came out of the coffee house though, I stopped. Standing directly across the street from me was a man in a dark gray suit. Even from where I was standing, I could see that it was ragged and torn. His hair was disheveled and he looked dirty.
He was obviously homeless. But that wasn't what sent a tendril of ice slithering up my spine. It was the fact that he was just standing there, still as a statue, staring at me. Feeling a presence to my right, I turned and found another man standing about twenty feet away, staring at me just like the homeless man across the street was. This man though, didn't look homeless. He was neatly dressed in jeans and a button down shirt. He had ebony skin, a shaved head, a neatly trimmed goatee, and looked to be in terrific shape. But he too, was standing statue still, just staring at me.
It was a creepy feeling and one that had me edging closer to a panic attack.
I considered going back into the coffee house, but opted against it. Instead, I turned and hurried down the street to my bookstore. I unlocked the doors as quickly as I could, getting inside, closing and locking the door behind me again. When I turned and looked out the front windows, both men were standing across the street, staring at me. The blank expressions on their faces was creepy – and made me think they'd been possessed or something.
I shook my head. Too many horror books and movies in my day.
Still, the way they stared at me, the way they'd followed me, and that blank expression on their faces was beyond creepy. I ran over to the counter and tossed my purse down, fishing my phone out of it. When I turned back to the window as I punched in the number for 911, I froze in place again. Both of the men were gone. Gone as if they'd never been there in the first place.
Looking up and down the street, I didn't see either one of them. It was like they'd evaporated or something. But that didn't necessarily make me feel any better. Canceling the call, I held on to my phone and slowly unlocked the door. Stepping outside, I looked up and down the street again, half expecting one of the men to materialize in front of me.
But there was nothing. Nothing at all.
If it had just been the homeless guy, that would have been one thing. I could have chalked it up to his eccentricities. But to have two of them – and quite obviously, two of them from very different socioeconomic backgrounds – staring at me with the same dead-eyed, vacant expression – it was unnerving, to say the least.
I jumped and let out a small scream of fright when my phone rang in my hand. Feeling the adrenaline coursing through my body, I raised my trembling hand and looked at the caller ID.
It was Piper. Even though I wasn't close to being sure that I was safe, just seeing her name pop up on my phone still flooded me with a powerful sense of relief. I walked back into the shop, making sure to close the door again, and picked up the call.
“You are so going out with that man,” she said by way of greeting.
“Well, good morning to you too,” I said.
She paused a moment. “You okay?” she asked. “You sound stressed.”
I looked out the windows again and still saw nobody – the coast seemed to be clear. I told her what happened anyway, and she sounded horrified.
“You called the cops, right?” she asked.
“I was going to, but then the creepers were gone and I guess, I didn't see the point of it. I'm sure they've got better things to do than hunt down phantom stalkers,” I said and laughed nervously.
“Yeah, like planting evidence and framing people,” she said. “At least, if you listen to my clients.”
I laughed again and this time, it felt a little more normal and a little less forced. Piper had always been able to talk me down from any ledge and make me feel better when things were going sideways. It was something I loved about her.
“Maybe you should call them though,” she said. “Just in case. Maybe they can send out a few more patrols and keep an eye on the area.”
“Yeah, you might have a point,” I said. “I'll do that.”
“Great. You should absolutely do that,” she said. “Now, back to my original point in calling – you are going out with Quint.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I haven't decided yet.”
“That's okay,” she said. “I decided for you. And you're going out with Quint.”
“Why is it that important to you?”
She laughed. “Well, remember last night when I said I was going to get you laid?” she asked. “Well, I'm pretty sure Quint could do the job. Did you see that guy? I mean, talk about drop dead gorgeous.”
“Maybe you should go out with him,” I said. “You seem pretty into him.”
“Oh, I'd do him in a heartbeat, don't be a fool,” she said. “But he wasn't into me. He was into you. As that old song goes, he only had eyes for you, my dear.”
“Now, who's being a fool?” I giggled.
“Yeah well, I'm not the one he asked out,” she said. “Or gave his business card to. That would be you. So, you are going to go out with him.”
I laughed. “You're persistent.”
“I'm a lawyer,” she said. “It's in the job description.”
“I dunno, Pip –”
“I do know,” she cut me off. “Getting out and having something resembling a social life would
be good for you. Seriously, Astrid, I worry about you sometimes. Your aversion to – people and life in general – it kind of scares me.”
“I don't think it's all that scary,” I said. “I think what's scarier are people in general.”
“That's what I'm talking about, hon,” she said. “I mean, what if something happens to me – God, forbid – I worry that you're just going to become this recluse. I joke about you being a shut-in, but it's really not all that far off the mark. If something were to happen to me – I really don't know what would happen to you and it worries me.”
“It's not all that bad,” I said.
“Other than me, who do you go out with, hon?” she pressed. “What other connection to society – and the world – do you have?”
I thought about it for a moment. “Well, there's always Pete.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, that settles it. You're going out with him,” she said. “So, when you hang up with me, you call him. Thank him again for a wonderful evening last night and make some plans to see him again.”
“Wow,” I said and grinned. “Anything else I should do while I'm at it?”
Piper seemed to think it over for a moment. “Well, a cut and a style might not be a bad idea,” she said. “Maybe go out and get yourself some dresses that just ooze sex appeal.”
“Yeah, because that's really me.”
“You should've seen yourself last night,” she said. “And the way Quint couldn't keep his eyes off you. Yeah, I'd say that's you, babe.”
I laughed. “I have to go,” I said. “Some of us have to work today.”
“Sucks to be you, hon,” she replied. “I'm gonna lay in bed for a couple more hours and then head out for a leisurely breakfast somewhere that has a patio. It's a gorgeous day.”
“You suck.”
“That's why the boys love me,” she said. “You should try it.”
“Goodbye, Pip,” I said. “Love you.”
“Love you back.”
I disconnected the call and felt a chill wash over me. Still holding onto the phone, I walked back over to the front windows, half expecting to see the two men from earlier peering back in at me. But the street outside was empty, save for a few people taking walks, joggers – the usual weekend morning traffic.
Fawks (Dragons of Kratak Book 4) Page 114
