A series of knocks followed by another doorbell ring prompted her to move faster. “I’m coming,” she called, peering out the peephole before pulling open her front door.
A man in a courier service uniform held two white boxes in his hands. “Elise Blanchard?”
“Yes.”
“Please sign here,” he said, producing a clipboard from beneath the packages.
“Who are they from?” she asked, staring at the receipt, looking for a clue.
“Paperwork says they are from a guy named VonBand, VonBrand…I don’t know. It was a weird name.” He took the clipboard from her and shoved the boxes at her.
“VonBrandt?”
“Yep, that was it. Have a great day, ma’am.”
A gift? He spent a god-awful amount of money on the date. Why would he be sending me a gift too?
Elise set the boxes on the coffee table. Reaching for the smaller one on the top, she untied the purple bow and gasped. Gorgeous suede blue Gucci heels. “Oh my God! How did he know my size?” She slipped them onto her feet and stood. Amazing. She’d never felt so sexy. So desirable. Nearly a thousand dollars for shoes after he’d spent thirty thousand on a date with her…a nobody, from nothing. Who was this guy?
She tore into the next box and bit back a squeal. A knee-length couture black dress made of panels of black satin and lace was nestled between several layers of white tissue paper. “There’s no way this will fit? He barely saw me.” Elise undid the heels and put them back in their open box, then grabbed the dress and went to her bedroom.
A few seconds later, she was zipping up the cocktail dress and sliding her fingers over the gorgeous lace and satin panels. It fit like a glove. Like he’d had no trouble at all deciphering her size.
Who had he talked to? Someone had to have given him that information.
Mary.
She snatched her cell phone off the nightstand and dialed her one and only friend at TechCorp Industries. Mary Hardin was Pier’s direct subordinates’ administrative assistant and their desks were less than two feet from each other. She was the only person in the whole company Elise had ever socialized with outside of work. If anyone had coughed up her shoe and dress size, it was Mary. They wore the same size everything.
“Mary?” Elise asked, when the line picked up.
“Did you get something?” Mary failed miserably at containing her giggles of excitement. “Well?”
“How did he find you? It’s been less than twelve hours.”
“He said my boss, Carol, gave him my number after pestering her for nearly an hour. She wouldn’t give him yours. What did he send you?” Mary asked, her voice just a hair shy of a three-year-old’s squeal.
“Gucci shoes and a couture cocktail dress. It’s amazing. I’ve never owned anything so nice in my life.”
“Wow. I want a millionaire to buy me nice things, too. Too bad Pier didn’t ask me to step in for the auction. I’m very generous with my time.”
Elise laughed. “It was terrifying, Mary. If this VonBrandt guy hadn’t out bid Pier, I’d be going to dinner with that slimeball tonight instead.”
Mary’s fake vomit noise through the line was exactly how Elise felt about Pier. It was exactly how every female at the office felt about him. He was sleezy and harassed just to the line of staying out of trouble—usually. Still, he owned the company. Even if he crossed a line, no one was going to report him. They usually just quit when he got to be too much to handle.
“Well, I don’t know what Mr. VonBrandt looked like, but he sounded sexy as hell over the phone. I’m so jealous.”
“He is really handsome . But looks don’t always denote good character. Pier Nelson is proof of that.”
“It’s true. Mother Nature wasted her effort on that jerk. He’s gorgeous enough that when the slime starts to ooze out of him, it catches his unsuspecting victim totally unaware.”
“Truth,” Elise said. “I’ve got to run a few errands, but I’ll catch up with you tomorrow at work.”
“Have fun with the out-of-town hottie, sweetie, and let yourself have a little fun, okay.”
“I’ll try.”
Chapter Three
Jared walked into the Triton Grand foyer. The marble floors and old world lighting, mixed with the French decor was stunning. He loved New Orleans. Even the newer hotels still managed to bring in the ambiance of the city. There wasn’t another place quite like it in the states. At least not one he’d been to yet. Even though he mostly worked from home, charity events around the country allowed him to earn air miles about once a month.
He approached the hostess station for the smaller VIP hotel dining room.
“VonBrandt for two.”
The hostess smiled and nodded. “Yes, sir. Welcome to the Triton. We’re glad you dining with us tonight. Your plus one hasn’t arrived yet. Would you like to be seated while you wait?”
“Yes, thank you,” he answered, and followed the young woman into the lavishly decorated dining room that held probably no more than twenty tables.
Several couples were already enjoying their dinner and the scent of the steaks on their plates made his stomach tighten. He was hungry, not only for food, but to see Elise again. To see if her scent affected him as strongly as it had last night. To see if he’d imagined that she was indeed a werewolf like him.
He also couldn’t wait to see if she’d be wearing his gifts. Her friend had been reluctant at first, but when he’d told her what he wanted to send, she’d caved completely, giving him not only Elise’s sizes, but her address.
“Enjoy your evening, Mr. VonBrandt.”
“Thank you,” he said before the hostess left him alone at the table.
He only had to wait a few moments before she appeared at the doorway. The hostess led her to the table.
Jared stood, and helped her sit in the chair opposite him. “You look lovely.”
Her entire face blushed a rosy pink, and she smiled. “Thank you. The gifts are amazing.”
“Mmmmm, I meant you. The dress and shoes are just an added bonus. You are spectacular.”
She was speechless, but the warmth in her dark amber eyes said his words were taken to heart and appreciated deeply.
“Why did you spend so much money to eat dinner with me?”
To the point. He liked that. “I wanted to know more about you, and I wasn’t about to let the jerk at my table steal what might be my only chance.”
“I’m not a debutante. I’m an administrative assistant. I’m a no—”
“I’ve never met a nobody in my life. Everyone has purpose and value. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She blushed again and Jared resisted the urge to lay his hand over hers on the table. It was too soon. He barely knew more than her name. But something about her called to his soul. She was important to him. To his wolf.
“What family are you from, Elise? Or should I say what pack do you belong to, since I’ve never heard of the Blanchard name in association with our people?”
“Our people? Pack?”
“Yes, pack,” he said. “Though I’d rather not say more specifics in this public area, about our penchant for running through the woods on a full moon.”
“You’re a—” she gulped from her water glass and stared at him, wide-eyed and nervous. “You really are, aren’t you?”
“Why does that surprise you? Couldn’t you tell from last night?”
“Tell how?”
“Scent.” He reclined in his chair. She was a puzzle wrapped in a conundrum. Not only did she act like she didn’t have a pack, Elise was behaving as though she’d never heard anything about werewolves—possibly never met one. How did that happen?
Her hand trembled, sending the slightest of vibrations through the thick dining table. Jared reached out and touched her, laying his palm over hers and squeezing gently. Energy flowed between them and his heart sped up, thumping louder than a bass drum at a rock concert.
His body was behaving like a te
enager out on a first date with a girl he’d been crushing on for years. He never did anything on a whim. Why had she drawn him in so fully and completely? What was it about this quiet little woman who didn’t seem to have a clue in the universe about anything—even how to smell another werewolf in the room.
She was nibbling on her bottom lip and the only thing he could think about was how much he would like to taste that same piece of it.
“I’ve never smelled anyone like you before. Geez, that sounds like a really weird thing to say.”
“You never met another…” Jared couldn’t say it. They needed to leave the restaurant. “Would you like to have dinner in my room instead, so we can talk? I just…This isn’t the place for this discussion.”
Elise yanked her hand from beneath his and swallowed audibly. Her head moved side to side, but her gaze hungered to have her questions answered. He recognized another hunger too, but the ball was in her court on the physical aspect of their evening. If she moved in that direction, he was more than willing to meet her halfway.
Sleeping with a stranger wasn’t Jared’s style, but he’d be lying if he thought he could deny her, if she asked. Every cell of his body wanted to peel that lacy number off and taste every inch of her delectable skin.
The hesitation in her gaze made his heart stand still for a few seconds.
“Yes.”
He sighed. “Yes, what? Yes to dinner in my room?”
“Just dinner?” she asked, fear creeping into her gaze.
“Nothing will happen that you don’t initiate. I have a distinct feeling you have a lot of questions for me.”
Elise nodded.
Jared raised his hand, signaling the waiter to the table side. “Please send the chef’s special to room 416. And a bottle of the red I was drinking.” He pulled out a hundred dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to the young man.
“Yes, sir. Have an excellent evening, Mr. VonBrandt. Ms. Blanchard.”
“Thank you.” Jared stood and helped Elise up and wrapped her arm around his. She didn’t pull away from the closeness, and it pleased him more than it should.
They rode the elevator in silence. There were several other passengers enroute with them. Once he’d safely closed his hotel door behind them, Jared breathed a little easier. He followed her in the sitting area of the hotel suite. Touching her again was his main focus, but she snuggled herself into the end of the couch, cutting off access to her gorgeous body. Her creamy skin beckoned his mouth, but right now she needed to feel safe. Him coming onto her too quickly was going to achieve the opposite.
“Why don’t you know about werewolves?” he asked slowly. “You’re obviously one of us.”
“I was raised in the foster care system. I don’t know who my parents were. There’s no record of them. I was found at a house in New Orleans. The landlord didn’t know who I was. So I have no history. No past. No pack, as you mentioned. I started changing when I was a teenager, and I’ve been on my own ever since. I ran away from my foster parents because I was terrified of what someone might do to me.”
He sat down in a chair across from the couch where she’d taken refuge. Elise’s shoes were abandoned on the floor and she was doing her best to fold her legs beneath the rest of her body, but the tight dress was hindering much movement.
Not sure what he’d expected, but that avalanche of a confession hadn’t been it. “I’m from a little town in Texas, called Somewhere. Most of my family lives there on a big ranch outside of town. We have extended relatives that visit often. Sometimes other werewolves even wander in unannounced, though that doesn’t go over well with Aaron. He’s the alpha of the VonBrandt pack.” Jared studied her for a few moments before continuing. “I’m surprised the pack here in New Orleans hasn’t found you.”
“There’s a pack here?” she squeaked.
“Yes, a large one. You must keep a very low profile for them not to have found you.”
“I go to work. I come home. Sometimes I go to the pub around the corner with Mary. That’s about what my life consists of. Then I move on.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You move on?”
She nodded. “Every couple of years. I have since I ran away. People only accept my explanations for monthly howling for so long before I start getting the weird stares or feel like there are eyes watching me all the time. It only takes one neighbor seeing me sleeping naked in the garden for rumors to start.” She smiled. “My wolf cooperates for the most part now that I’m older, but it was very difficult earlier on.”
“Where do you go to run?”
“Nowhere. I hide in my apartment.”
“Shit! You’re kidding, right?”
“No.” Her dumbfounded look told him she was being completely serious.
“Doesn’t your wolf go stir crazy?” Jared asked.
“I bought a treadmill a couple of years ago. I usually turn that on before I shift. Before that…it was problematic.”
He snorted, trying not to laugh. A treadmill? She ran her wolf indoors on a treadmill. No way.
“Don’t laugh at me,” Elise whined, but her eyes were squinting and the corners of her mouth had already turned up. “It’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny,” he answered. “Have you ever lived anywhere in the country?”
“No. I have to live where the jobs are. Jobs are much more plentiful in a big city. Plus it’s easier to remain anonymous to your neighbors.” She grabbed a throw pillow off the couch and hugged it against her belly.
Shit. He was making her insecure. “I’m sorry. It’s hard to imagine growing up the way you did. I wish a pack had found you sooner.”
“I’m nobod—”
“What did I say about that?” Jared cut her off before she could finish. “There’s no such thing.”
A knock on the door interrupted the flow of conversation and she turned toward the door. “Food’s here.”
Jared let in the room service waitress and cart.
“Would you like me to set it out on the table for you?” the woman asked.
“Yes, thank you.” He stepped out of her way.
The waitress moved to the dining table and carefully arranged their dinner. “I can leave your dessert on the counter or in the fridge if you have space.”
“Yes, please. There should be room. I haven’t put anything in it.”
The waitress carried two dishes to the mini fridge below the TV and then returned her cart. “Have a great evening. Please call if you need anything else.”
“Will do.” He handed her a twenty from his wallet and locked the door behind her.
When he turned, Elise was already standing next to the table scoping out the food.
“Hungry?”
“Yes.” Her eyes widened.
Jared was staring. She looked and smelled better than anything the waitress had brought up. Her long bare legs tempted his hands and the curve of her ass and breasts made him want to press her up against the wall so he could feel how well she might fit to his body.
Elise looked like a perfect fit and he was dying to test his theory.
Chapter Four
If he kept looking at her like he was, she was never going to make it through dinner. The food smelled amazing. It probably tasted even better, but all she could think about as she licked her lips was getting a taste of him and running her fingertips over the most adorable dimples she hadn’t realized he had until just now.
What would Jared VonBrandt taste like? Would it be different kissing a werewolf than a human? Oh, God! Do I taste strange to a human? Her mind raced through the few men she’d kissed over the years. No one had complained. Maybe there wasn’t a difference.
She looked up again, meeting his smoldering gaze again and her panties dampened with pure lust. He was gorgeous. A little over six feet tall. Dark hair. Brown eyes. Enough scruff to make her think naughty thoughts about how his face would feel against her skin.
Touching him. God, she wanted to touch him. His
face. His body.
He approached purposefully, not one step was hesitant. There was no going back. In mere seconds he’d be next to her.
Elise took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
He cupped her cheek with one hand and she opened her eyes, meeting his direct gaze. The need reflected in them was equal to her own. She mirrored his movement, placing her opposite hand along his strong jawline.
Please kiss me.
“I would love to,” Jared said.
Had she spoken aloud? Her mind tried to race away with her thoughts, but the second his lips came down onto hers, it came to a screeching halt. Energy flowed between them, lighting every nerve left that wasn’t already on fire. His tongue swept through her mouth and she melted into him as his hands moved from her face to her shoulders, to close around her back, pulling her firmly against his chest.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in harder.
“I thought you were hungry,” he murmured, trailing kisses along her jawline and down the side of her neck.
A moan filtered between her lips. “I was. Now I want something else.”
“What might that be?” he asked, caressing her breast through the thin fabric of the lacy dress with one hand, and dipping down to kiss along her collarbone.
She nibbled at his ear and ran her fingers through his wavy dark hair. “You.”
A growl vibrated through Jared’s chest and his hands maneuvered into her hair, searching for the zipper. He tugged gently and she shivered as the dress parted slowly, falling away from her body more and more the lower his hands got. His mouth never left her bare shoulders once, not until the dress started to slide down her body.
Then his mouth followed the dress, kissing down her cleavage, then her stomach. Finally, he put his mouth over the triangle of fabric covering her sex and breathed in deeply.
Elise moaned and nearly fell into a wibbly-wobbly pile of goo on top of him. Her bones had turned to jelly and all reasoning had fled her mind. Primal instinct took over. She wanted this man. Needed him desperately. Even her wolf, who was usually calm, was restless and pacing, waiting for her to take what her body was demanding.
To Win A Mate (A Western Shapeshifter Werewolf Romance): Somewhere Texas Saga (VonBrandt Family Book 3) Page 2
