Claiming Jade

by Teresa Gabelman

  “No, you don’t. Your eyes give you away. No one I’ve ever met has eyes the color of yours.” Drake’s observation shocked her. “And for what’s going on… you have a full-time bodyguard.”

  “But it’s my brother who’s really in danger.” Jade felt self-conscious as he continued to stare deeply into her eyes. His remark about their color surprised her; they were just green. Though her mom did name her Jade because of her eyes, or so she said. She mentally cursed herself to focus on something other than what this man thought of her damn eye color.

  “If they can’t find your brother, they’ll come after you.” Drake headed toward a car, sticking close to her side, but he kept himself between her and the street. “You said they already broke into your home, so obviously they know about you.”

  Jade figured that but didn’t want to think about herself. It was her brother she was worried about. She’d promised her father on his deathbed she would take care of Clyde, and it was a promise she took very seriously.

  He put his large hand on her lower back as he led her onto the street. He stopped her as a car passed. Drake then used his key fob to unlock the vehicle before opening the door for her. “My car’s back there.” She pointed over her shoulder but allowed him to help her into the passenger seat in his car. “I really need my car to get back and forth to work.”

  Her reaction to this man was nothing she had ever felt before. Her body was on fire, her mind scattered, and she felt absolutely 100 percent perfectly protected, as if she could put her guard down. It was such a freeing sensation that she had to mentally give herself a slap as a reminder of the independent woman she was.

  “Someone will bring your car to you and until this is settled, I’ll also be your chauffeur,” Drake replied, and made sure all her body parts were inside the car before closing the door.

  Taking a deep breath, Jade watched the man walk around the front of the car. Her hands nervously ran up and down her jean-clad legs. What in the hell had she gotten herself into? Better yet, what in the hell had her brother gotten them into? Never in a million years had she ever expected to leave the Elite Crime Unit with a bodyguard, especially one who looked like this man and—she took a long whiff—who smelled better than any dessert she’d ever eaten. Yes, his car smelled of him and she couldn’t get enough of it. How sad was that?

  Trying to calm her pounding heart and nerves, Jade closed her eyes and counted to five—since that’s all the time she had before he was inside the car staring at her as he started it.

  “Buckle up.” He remained still with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the gear shift as he waited for her to do what he ordered.

  Reaching over her shoulder, she grasped the seat belt strap, giving it a tug and only got it so far. Letting it go, she tried again, but it still wouldn’t go across her body all the way. Okay, this was a little embarrassing. “I think it’s broken.” She hoped it was; maybe then she wouldn’t look like such a fool.

  Before she knew what was happening, he was practically in her lap reaching around her. His arms brushed her breast, and she moaned inside her head, God help her, she hoped it was inside her head. Pushing herself as far into the seat as she could, she sucked in her breath as her eyes studied his face, which was so close she could lick him. What the hell…? Where did that thought come from? She had never wanted to lick a man in her life, yet here she was looking at him like he was a double chocolate scoop ice cream cone.

  Drake carefully pulled the strap out, wrapping it around the front of her body, and then snapped it closed. He didn’t move away but stared into her eyes. They were so close she could feel his breath on her face. She had to forcefully keep her tongue in her mouth.

  “Just takes a special touch.” His voice was low and deep; then he was gone.

  Jade had to blink a few times as well as slow her heart rate down before she had a damn stroke, and wouldn’t that be her luck? She knew he was playing with her. Seriously, look at him with all his handsomeness and then look at her, plain Jade. That was what she needed to keep in mind and not get all hot and bothered about a man who could obviously have any woman he wanted.

  “Where to?” His voice was back to normal, not the sexy low deepness it was before, and she sighed with disappointment before mentally smacking herself.

  Glancing down at her watch, she frowned. She barely had time to run home, eat, change, and get to work on time, but she needed to run to the house real quick. “I guess home. Then I have to work the dinner shift to close tonight.” She rattled off her address as he pulled out onto the road. He obviously knew where he was going since he turned the right way and didn’t question her anymore, so she kept quiet.

  The more she thought about having a bodyguard, the more nervous she became. And the closer to her home they got, the more she began to hyperventilate. Was he going to stay with her all night, alone?

  He pulled into her narrow driveway to her tiny home. She was impressed he seemed to know exactly where to go without hesitation. Before she could even open her door, he was there opening it, his large hand reaching for hers. Never had a man done this before. Usually, she was stumbling out of the car herself, which she had been fine with because she didn’t know anything other than that. Her hand touched his, and she felt his strength. It was a comforting sensation, and she decided then and there, she really enjoyed that feeling.

  She noticed he wasn’t even paying attention to her; instead, he searched the area. His face was set in stone, his silver eyes missing nothing. He closed the car door, then led her to the front door of her house. She fumbled for her keys, found them, but before she could unlock the door, he took the keys from her. Drake carefully moved her aside as he unlocked the door, then stepped in, blocking her from entering.

  “Those bastards,” he cursed, and she cringed. She hadn’t had time to clean all the mess the pixies had made since they broke in. “Or have I made a mistake and you’re this messy?”

  She quickly glanced up and saw the mischief in his eyes. Jade realized he was teasing her, trying to lighten her obvious discomfort. “Total slob,” she teased back, feeling better than she had in a long time.

  Chapter 3

  Drake sat at a table inside a little mom and pop restaurant, called BJ’s. Okay, the name threw him for a minute, but he got over it quickly. He assumed the food must be amazing since the place was packed, and people were waiting to be seated. It was Friday night, but his guess was that didn’t matter. The aroma coming from the kitchen was mouthwatering to say the least.

  He scanned the area watching for trouble, but so far, all that had entered the door were hungry families. He was also gaining quite a few stares, but that didn’t bother him. He was used to the stares, the whispers, and even sometimes the hostility humans threw his way. It was all a different song and dance when they had to call them for protection against a more sinister para, though.

  An older couple walked in and waited in line, the woman leaning heavily on a cane. Drake stood, glanced toward the food bar and spotted an empty chair. Walking toward the man and woman, he smiled at them. “You’re more than welcome to my table.” He nodded behind him at the table he just vacated.

  “Are you sure, young man?” The old gentleman looked from the table back to Drake.

  “Why, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?” The woman’s frail voice would have been hard to hear over the noise of the small restaurant to mortal ears, but Drake’s hearing was superb.

  “I can take my meal at the bar.” He smiled down at her, touched she had thought about him.

  Most humans he could tolerate, others not so much. This little old lady was very sweet. He gently took her elbow and led them to the table. He knew they were being watched by the diners in the restaurant, but he ignored them. He was used to it—his silver eyes did tend to set him apart.

  Once they were seated, he started to leave, but the woman’s words stopped him. “Is Jade here?”

  Hearing Jade’s name sent a bolt of awaren
ess through his body, which was odd. No woman had ever affected him like that, but the mention of just her name to cause such a reaction scared him a bit. He’d never fucking admit that to anyone, but he could be honest with himself.

  “Now how in the world do you expect everyone to know who Jade is, Sue?” Her husband shook his head, glancing at the menu.

  “Everyone who comes in this restaurant knows Jade.” Sue huffed, giving him a pointed look. “And there are only two waitresses on staff. Now hush and stop looking at that menu like you’re going to order something different. You’ve ordered the same thing for years.”

  Drake chuckled as he searched around, his eyes finding Jade, who was watching him with those beautiful-colored eyes and a soft dazed look on her face. “Yes,” he said, before pulling his eyes away from hers to once again smile down at the woman. “I’m sure she’ll be right with you. Have a nice dinner.”

  “You also, young man.” The woman touched his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And can I just say you have pretty eyes.”

  “Stop flirting with the man, Sue,” her husband scolded without heat to his words. Actually, a loving grin tipped his wrinkled lip. “And men don’t have pretty anything.”

  “Oh, hush, Bill,” she chided. “They’re pretty if I say they’re pretty.”

  Drake’s laugh was loud and full of warmth. “Thank you, Sue.” He patted her hand. “You better watch her, Bill. I might just steal her away.”

  “Oh, you stop that.” She swatted at him, then smiled at someone behind him. “Jade. I’m glad we came on the night you worked.”

  Drake moved out of the way for Jade to move closer to the table. “I’m always here, Sue. I doubt you’d miss me.” She grinned holding her pad ready to take their order. “Now what can I get you all today? The special is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas.”

  “Is Butch still putting them pickles in the meatloaf?” Bill frowned, making a nasty face.

  “Yes.” Jade chuckled, and Drake realized it was the first time he had really heard her laugh. He liked it a lot. The sound comforted him.

  “Ugh, pickles don’t belong in meatloaf.”

  “Bill, calm down before you give yourself another heart attack.” Sue rolled her eyes. “Just get us our drinks, dear. We’ll know when you get back.”

  Drake walked toward the single seat at the bar and sat down. Glancing to his left, he noticed a few men watching him closely. Obviously, they didn’t get many paras. Drake gave the one who was staring him down the most a nod, as if saying, yeah, I see you, bud. No doubt the guy was probably trying to impress his lady friend, who was giving him an opposite look, which a lot of females did. Not that he was bragging, but men either stared at him with fear or hate, while women tended to throw him an “invitation to their bed” stare.

  He watched as Jade made the old couple’s tea. Then she turned toward him and laid a menu out in front of him. “I’ll take your order in a second.” When he started to decline and push the menu back at her, she shook her head. “Order. I know you’re hungry.”

  With that, she walked around the bar toward the old couple. He angled himself so he could not only keep an eye on her but on the door as well. He seriously doubted the pixies would cause trouble in a packed restaurant full of humans, but then again, he wouldn’t put it past them.

  As he sat and observed, it didn’t take him long to figure out Jade was well liked. She made sure all her customers were well taken care of with a smile, a pat on the shoulder, as well as listened with care about their day. His eyes followed her as she rushed around the bar toward him.

  “Sorry about that.” She huffed out of breath. “I think word got around we have a special guest here tonight, and everyone is coming in. Not every day we have a paranormal at BJ’s.”

  “Okay, about that name….” He grinned, shaking his head.

  “Butch said he wanted it unforgettable and his last name is Jackson.” She tapped the pencil to her lips. “Sooo… he made the name unforgettable.”

  Drake chuckled but shook his head. “And I think they came in to see you, not me.”

  “Nah, I’m old news around here.” She held her pad and pencil up. “Now, for your order, the chili is to die for, but Butch makes a mean burger deluxe.”

  Acting as if he was thinking about it hard, he leaned over the bar toward her. “How about both?” He then leaned back. “I mean, how can I pass up either?”

  “True.” She smiled as she wrote his order. “And what to drink?”

  “Water is fine,” he replied, then glanced toward the door when he heard the small bell above it ring. Two men walked in, and he noticed the bigger of the two studied the room before his eyes landed on Jade, and stayed there.

  The other waitress, Marsha, who was working with Jade went to seat them. The man’s eyes met his, and the tension between them was instant. So instant in fact he wanted to stand up and punch the man in the face for staring at Jade so long. The man looked away first, making Drake smirk. Good thing because the motherfucker didn’t even want to ride on that train.

  As Jade set his water in front of him, Drake noticed her eyes were on the men. She wore a defeated frown, but when she returned her focus to Drake, she smiled before walking away.

  Marsha came around the bar, heading straight toward Jade. “Sorry, honey.” She shrugged. “He refused to sit anywhere else.”

  Hearing that, Drake knew for a fact he and this prick who just walked in were going to have issues. What kind of issues was going to be up to the asshole who had a staring problem. Drake gazed at the men, and sure enough, the man’s stare was fixed on Jade. Looked like a throat punch and maybe a few eye gouges were in that man’s future.

  A startling thought entered his brain as he pictured different ways to torture the asshole. Was he jealous? He was a dark elf for shit’s sake. He didn’t get jealous. Never in his life had he been jealous of anyone or anything. No, that wasn’t it at all. He just hated rude assholes, yeah. He actually snorted to himself.

  He wasn’t jealous.

  Glancing back to see Jade taking the older couple their food, he watched her closely and realized she was taking her sweet time with them. She then hesitated before plastering a fake smile on her face and turned toward the man with the staring problem and his buddy. How did he know it was fake? Because he knew her expressions that well already. “I’m not fucking jealous,” he growled to himself, but got an odd look from the man seated next to him. Drake just waved it away, then cursed to himself, trying to remain calm.

  Of all the nights to have Ray and his brother, Trey, come in. She tried to focus on delivering Sue and Bill’s food, but knowing she had to face Ray in the next few seconds was totally bumming her out. With a sigh, she turned slowly to check her other customers in hopes one would wave her down, but no such luck. Defeated, she sucked it up, plastered a fake smile on her face and moved toward their table.

  Once there, she felt Ray’s eyes looking her up and down. A sudden ping of nausea hit her just like clockwork. She really didn’t like this man or his brother, but they were customers, and she had a job to do.

  “What can I get you boys to drink?” She stopped at their table, her eyes greeting each of them but landed and stayed on Trey. She felt less threatened by him since he hadn’t asked her out on a date every single time they came in to eat, which was a lot more than she was comfortable with.

  “I think you’d know the answer to that. We’ve been in here nearly every day and always order the same drink and plate,” Ray said, then laughed the most obnoxious laugh that automatically had her hand clenching in a fist, eager to clobber him upside the head. “And I’m far from a boy, sweetheart.”

  The way he said sweetheart sent her smile to a frown, then to a sneer in an instant. She looked up from her pad to the customers enjoying their family time and calmed herself. So instead of interrupting them, she gave the jerk a nod and walked away, calling him every foul name she could think of, and even some she made up as she went to ge
t their drinks. She had a knack for making up curse words.

  Once behind the bar, she grabbed two glasses and slammed them down, then counted to ten before fixing their soft drinks. “Sweetheart my ass,” she mumbled to herself.

  “I can take their table, Jade.” Marsha was eyeing her as she grabbed her order from under the heating lamps at the window that connected the dining area and kitchen. “Or I can spit in his drink. Your call.”

  Marsha always knew what to say to get Jade to laugh. “Thanks, but I’ll manage.”

  “You sure?” Marsha frowned, then shrugged. “I can work up a real good spit.”

  “That’s gross,” Jade said, admittedly after thinking about it for a second longer than she probably should have. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”

  “That’s my girl.” Marsha chuckled, heading off to deliver the meal to her hungry table.

  “He bothering you?” Drake’s voice stopped her exit from around the bar.

  “Yes,” Jade answered honestly, but then hissed when Drake stood up. “No! I’ve got it. It’s not anything I haven’t dealt with before. Now sit down. Your food should be up any time.”

  Jade held the drinks but didn’t move until Drake finally sat down. He watched her closely and then nodded. Holy crap! Drake was actually going to do something because Ray was bothering her. The thought sent her emotions all over the place. Her heart skipped beats while her hands shook, splashing soft drink all over the place and well, it felt damn good to think for just one tiny second she had a knight in shining armor. Thoughts of Drake beating the crap out of Ray played through her head. And when he was done rescuing her, he’d bend her backward for a kiss that would beat all kisses ever given.

  Before she realized it, she was at their table, her toe hitting the leg of one of the chairs, tripping her up. Luckily, she caught herself without dropping the drinks in their laps. Thank God. She knew her face was red with embarrassment, but this was her life. She was a klutz, especially when her mind was thinking of… other things involving a sexy man and lips.