Soulmated

by Diane Darcy

  The only décor was a huge painting against one wall, with a long, sturdy table underneath. A man leaned against it, and he straightened when he saw her and she knew him instantly.

  So much for being early and scoping the place out while she waited for him. It looked like he’d been doing the same. And there wouldn’t have been anywhere to hide, anyway.

  William’s picture didn’t do him justice. He was absolutely stunning, out-of-her-league gorgeous. Six-and-a-half-feet of muscle-packed male, dressed to the nines in a dark suit and tie, and shined shoes. Thick dark hair, gorgeous face, and a smile that showed straight, whiter than average teeth.

  She swallowed. Dang. If she’d spotted him first, she’d have been so out of there.

  He was a male model, wasn’t he?

  Or there was something really wrong with him if some girl hadn’t already locked him down and called him her own.

  The hostess moved unobtrusively forward to wait at the entrance to the restaurant.

  Lena wanted to turn around and hurry away, but he was coming closer, a red rose in one hand that he extended as he approached. “Hello, Lena.”

  So much for the sudden wish that he might not recognize her.

  At least he didn’t look disappointed. In fact, if she was reading him right, the awe and fascination in his expression were for her. That was a good sign, right? Not that she suffered from low self-esteem or anything. Well, maybe she did, just a bit, after her last three dates hadn’t led to a second, but still.

  She let out a breath. “Hi,” she said, and the word came out shy, and demure, two personality traits she’d never associated with herself before.

  “It’s very nice to meet ye.” He handed her the rose.

  She carefully took it, noted it had been dethorned, and smiled. “Thanks.”

  He held out a hand. “I’m William Murray.”

  “Lena …” she hesitated a long moment remembering that boyfriend number two from high school still did a bit of amateur stalking.

  “DeVille,” she finally admitted.

  She took his hand, expecting him to shake hers, but instead he engulfed it in both of his own. Heat flamed all the way up to her shoulders and goosebumps rose on her skin.

  Uh … wow.

  And the way he was looking at her made her breath catch. For the first time she thought maybe there was something to this matchmaking business. “It’s nice to meet you, too,” she said. She was breathing too fast, and nerves clenched her stomach. She pulled her hand free and the friction of his skin sliding along her own made her shiver.

  She was being ridiculous. There was no such thing as a soulmate, and she’d never inspired any kind of lasting love. Even a second date was getting rarer these days as she wasn’t into casual hook-ups, something of a black mark on today’s dating scene.

  Well, and sometimes dating could get strange. Like the last one where her date grabbed her leg and his food flew into his lap. His entire plate of steaming food. She still wasn’t sure how that happened. Or the one before where he’d kept saying inappropriate things, but swearing he hadn’t. That had made for an uncomfortable conversation, of both their parts.

  Her dating life was weird.

  William swallowed, the sound loud, even with all of the kitchen noise one way, and the muted sounds of the restaurant the other. He was nervous too?

  The realization, strangely, made her relax a bit.

  The hostess cleared her throat and Lena’s cheeks heated at the realization that they had an audience. She probably looked like a fool, staring at William, and behaving awkwardly. A quick glance showed the hostess staring at him too. Not that he seemed to notice, as he wasn’t taking his gaze off her.

  Lena gulped in a breath, took a step toward the waiting hostess, and William was quick to follow.

  The woman led them into the restaurant, with its red and white décor, past booths and tables to the best view in the place. Their spot overlooked the Bellagio fountains down below which were right in the middle of a show.

  She smiled at him. “Nice table.”

  William lifted his shoulder, his expression pleased.

  He was pulling out all the stops to impress, which actually made her a little uncomfortable. She’d been on dates with men who thought her standing as a gypsy/fortuneteller, combined with her curvy body made her an easy target for a one night stand.

  She supposed by the end of the night she’d find out whether he was a gentleman. And he’d find out who he was dealing with.

  She decided not to let it bother her, to just enjoy the meal, the company, and if it was all ruined later, well, at least she could say she’d finally eaten at The Paris.

  “What is it? We can certainly move if ye’d like.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  He searched her face for a moment, and then relaxed back in his chair. “Tell me more of yerself.”

  Breathe. This was what they were here for, after all. To get to know each other, to see if they suited. Her lips twisted. To see if they were soulmates. “I told you I work as a psychic.”

  His expression lit with admiration. She hadn’t been mistaken. The man really did like her profession, which was a relief, because she had no interest in changing it, nor did she want to be with a man who thought less of her for it.

  A young man came over and introduced himself as the Sommelier and handed them a wine menu. The prices about made Lena choke. William chatted with him and invited him to return and give them advice after they’d ordered.

  When the waitress handed them menus, the prices once again made Lena swallow. Should she order the cheapest thing on the menu? If their date was a flop, she didn’t want to feel guilty about the money he’d spent on her.

  “Anythin’ ye like, lass. Anythin’ at all.”

  Heat rushed into her face. She was supposed to be the mind reader here. Taking him at his word, she ordered the filet mignon. Mind reset. She didn’t anticipate eating here again anytime soon and it would be a shame to pass up her favorite meal.

  The waitress came out with water glasses, and an assistant brought a bread and cheese platter.

  William ordered several types of meat and a bottle of Merlot made especially for the restaurant that no doubt cost an arm and a leg.

  He really was pulling out all the stops and she wondered if he was showing off or not. She decided not to worry about it. His choice, his consequence.

  After they were alone again, William encouraged her to go on. “Tell me more about yerself.” His interested gaze truly was flattering, and she found herself relaxing.

  “As I said, I’ve lived in Vegas my entire life. I went to college here at UNLV.”

  “Truly?” Once again he looked impressed. “What did ye study?”

  Her chin rose. “Horticulture.”

  “Horticulture?” He breathed the word like she was a genius or something. Was this flattery? It didn’t seem to be, he truly looked impressed, but if he was, he’d be the first.

  She shrugged. “I like plants.”

  “Did ye ever work as a horticulturist?”

  She shook her head. “No, Mom and Grandma own a psychic shop, and I work for them. I grow the herbs and plants we sell.”

  Had she told him too much? If the date didn’t work out, she didn’t want him to know where she lived.

  But there were a lot of psychic shops in Las Vegas. Most of the time she was out drumming up business or working on Fremont Street, anyway. She didn’t stay in the store that often and when she did, was rarely alone. “I like it, it pays well, and has a lot of freedom. Besides, I never really planned to use my degree. I just wanted to know more about plants.”

  “I see.” The way he looked at her, with interest, made her feel beautiful.

  She lifted a shoulder. “Anyway, I tell fortunes, read Tarot cards, and we sell wholesale novelty items as well. I truly enjoy it.”

  William nodded. “No doubt ye’ve met many interesting people, and foretold the things they would do. A
very helpful skill.”

  “Um …” He didn’t truly believe she was psychic, did he? He didn’t exactly look the gullible sort, but she wasn’t going to flat out state she was a charlatan, so she moved on. “Yes, I suppose I do. What about you? You said you work in security?”

  “I watch over the casino, tis my domain.”

  “Really?” She leaned forward. “So tell me, are the rumors true about you guys having a dungeon you throw people in if you catch them cheating at cards?”

  “O’ course. Tis how we keep the riffraff in line.”

  She laughed at his joke. “I wouldn’t mind a tour of the place one of these days. I expect you know all the secret rooms and hallways. It’s supposed to have an interesting history.”

  His eyes lit with excitement. “I’d be glad to show ye everything. Every hidden room, every nook and cranny. Anything ye wish to see.”

  He sounded so sincere, and she relaxed back against her seat. “Have you worked there long?”

  He seemed to ponder the question for a moment, and then shrugged. “Many a year, now. And to think ye lived in this town the entire time, so close to me. How could I no’ have known?”

  That was a pickup line if she’d ever heard one. But her heart still melted, just a little bit.

  Chapter 6

  Their salads arrived and they both dug in. “Okay, so, have you held anyone in the dungeon recently?” she asked.

  William was grinning again, he couldn’t seem to help it. He was here, with her, and she was his soulmate. The moment she’d walked up to him he’d known as a current, fiery and electric, seemed to spark between them.

  The moment he’d touched her, he’d confirmed as heat and longing coupled with a sense of peace and comfort in her presence.

  And she smelled divine. He’d heard nothing smelled better than one’s mate, and Lena was the realization of all his dreams.

  He wanted to throw her over his shoulder, take her home, and keep her forever. She was part human, that much he could tell, but he wasn’t sure what else. He was leaning toward Fae even though she’d shown no overt signs. It wasn’t like he could ask to see her ears without seeming rude.

  She seemed slightly skittish, and while he couldn’t blame her, as he was big, bulky with muscle, and intimidated most of those he came across, he suddenly wished that wasn’t the case. Not with her.

  If she’d been a werewolf, she would’ve recognized him immediately as her soulmate. She would’ve grabbed him, marked him with her teeth, and never let him go.

  While he’d longed to take a werewolf as a mate, now that he’d met Lena, he yearned only for her. He’d woo her in any way she liked. In any way that worked.

  “So, tis a story ye’re wanting, is it?”

  “Do you have one?”

  Her head was slightly tilted as she gazed at him, waiting for his response. He would do anything to keep her attention, and so racked his brain for something that would be of interest to her, but it couldn’t be too gruesome. He certainly couldn’t tell her about the rogue vampires he’d staked. The fights where he been forced to decapitate with his claws. The tribunals he participated in, where the sentence was death, and he’d carried it out.

  He wanted to amuse her. “I recently stopped a robbery at the casino. It involved many players.”

  She was playing with her salad now, and he wasn’t even pretending to eat. “You’re not going to describe the plot of Ocean’s Thirteen are you?” she asked.

  He laughed, enjoying her more by the second. “Nay, ’twas a bit trickier than that.”

  “The guys in the movie were pretty tricky.”

  He grinned. “I chanced to come across a group of men with no scent.”

  “No scent?”

  “Aye.”

  “I don’t understand. How could you know if someone had a scent or not?”

  He stared at her across the table. Surely, she knew the traits of his kind? Everyone knew they were relentless trackers, known for their sense of smell.

  Was she Fae? Sorceress? As a psychic, it was more likely she had ties with witches, but he quickly discounted the idea. They were mercenary, sly, and dangerous. She was the opposite and obviously teasing him, and he laughed, appreciating her dry sense of humor.

  “As I say, he had no scent. Now, this in and of itself, would no’ cause suspicion. There are many who cloak their smell: trolls, ghouls, or shapeshifters, for example. And ye can hardly blame them for no’ wanting to be identified the moment they walk into a place. Witches are always eager enough to earn coin in exchange for the spell.”

  Lena’s eyes narrowed on him.

  If she had ties to witches, he’d not meant any offense so was quick to insert, “No’ that there’s anything wrong with that, o’ course.”

  “Of course,” Lena said, her tone neutral.

  “Anyhow, twas the very lack of smell that ended up giving him away, as one man sat at one table, and his companions sat at two others, and the cards they used had the exact same lack of scent.”

  Lena was giving him a blank stare. “The cards also didn’t smell?”

  “Nae, the dealer, a changeling, was in on it and somehow switched the decks, then dispersed them to his cohorts.”

  “Anyhow, I noticed something was off, and didn’t quite know what it was. So as I made my way through the tables, it finally occurred to me when the cards lacked their usual scent, what must be going on.” He looked at her expectantly.

  Her eyes were wide, interested. “You must have a really good nose.”

  “I do my best,” he said modestly. “Anyhow, we rounded up the perpetrators, and —”

  “Threw them in the dungeon?”

  “Ye’ve heard this story before.”

  Apparently, he told the story well, because she laughed. “I have to admit, I haven’t. What else does your job entail?”

  Gratified that her entire attention was on him now, and that any nerves or fear were completely gone, he quickly answered her question. “I oversee security at the casino, and in the hotel. I also keep track of my men. They’re a rowdy bunch, so it takes some effort.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “I’ve a room at the top of the hotel. The hotel manager could, of course, claim the space, but for obvious reasons, she prefers absolute darkness so it went to me.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  “It is! A lot of light, of space, plenty of room to raise a family.”

  “Uh ...”

  When she looked uncomfortable, he realized what he’d said, and tried to smooth it over. The last thing he wanted was to make her nervous again. “Though I’m kept busy, I’ve men to delegate to so I’ve still time for other things.” He didn’t want her thinking he’d be unable to spend time with her.

  She looked slightly panicked.

  He thought back over what he’d said, could find nothing odd in his conversation, and decided not to second-guess. He’d simply try harder.

  He’d be on his best behavior.

  Chapter 7

  It took Lena a moment to realize the man wasn’t looney tunes, but rather, working for The Hemlock Hotel like he did, was trying to be funny.

  The place was notorious for its medieval and paranormal themes: vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. So, this was simply a slightly awkward date, and that kind of put her at ease.

  The guy might look perfect, but he wasn’t. So that allowed her to be less than perfect as well, didn’t it?

  She wasn’t going to borrow trouble, or worry about things she couldn’t change. She decided to sit back, relax, and enjoy her dinner — the likes of which she hadn’t eaten in a long while.

  Their meal arrived, and Lena cut a small piece of steak and took a bite. She closed her eyes. “Mmm.” It tasted divine. The restaurant certainly lived up to its reputation. “This is good.”

  William, eating his own rather large steak, seemed as pleased as if he’d made it himself. “I’m glad ye like it.” He pointed with a fork. “Try the w
ine. What are some of the things ye enjoy doing in this town?”

  She shrugged, picked up her wine glass and took a sip. “Shopping, hiking, concerts, shows. I’ve done all the touristy things at one time or another. After college I jumped out of an airplane with some friends.” She lifted her glass. “This is delicious.”

  He smiled again. “Have ye been to the top of the Eiffel Tower here at The Paris?”

  She nodded. “My mom brought me here when it opened. I came again later with friends. The view was amazing.” She glanced around at the luxurious dining room. “But I’ve never eaten in any of the restaurants before.”

  “What about the roller coaster over at New York-New York?”

  “When I was younger, it was my favorite thing to do. I must have ridden it about fifty times. What about you?”

  “Aye, my pack mates and I have done just about everything. Multiple times. But, I’ve never done them with ye. Twould be like the first time again.”

  Pang, right to the heart. The guy was a sweetie. Between watching her, he was also tucking into his own steak like it would be his last. Which was also kind of endearing, though she couldn’t say why. Maybe the fact that the guy ate more than she did, far more, allowed her to relax and eat her meal, rather than pick at it and worry about looking like she had the appetite of a linebacker.

  “I’d like tae get to know ye better. Do ye mind if I ask ye some more questions?”

  She hesitated, then finally shrugged. “I guess that’s what we’re here for.”

  He let out a breath and nodded. “Aye. I’ll start, but feel free to ask me anything, as well.”

  “Sure.”

  “What is yer favorite color, lass?”

  She relaxed a bit. If they could keep it impersonal, it wouldn’t be too bad. “I have two actually. Red and black? You?”

  “I used tae like red as well, but now,” he looked into her eyes. “Tis definitely green.”

  She smiled and raised a brow. “Is it now?” What a flirt.

  He crossed a finger over his heart. “Tis.”