She found herself sitting on a very uncomfortable fence. At some point soon she would have to have to decide which side to plant her feet.
Nathan told her he only wanted her to cover lunch and dinner for the household. Jazerra handled breakfast. It was nice to know she wouldn’t be putting in as many consecutive hours a day as she had at Tavania’s. She could come in at ten in the morning and leave by eight or nine and even have a few hours off in the afternoon. For a chef, that was an easy day.
For lunch, she made chicken, pineapple pecan salad sandwiches, along with a cucumber tomato salad and some fried green tomatoes. The fourth of July was day after tomorrow and it was the height of produce season in Louisiana. She’d visited a farmers’ market early this morning to snag all the produce she’d need for the next few days.
It was twelve thirty, the time he’d requested lunch. She was in the process of setting out the plates in the breakfast nook of the kitchen when Nathan sauntered in.
The look in his eyes when he caught sight of her sizzled with a hunger that had nothing to do with food. He gapped the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “God, I’ve missed you, woman.”
Without permission, he leaned down and kissed her. Mia couldn’t have offered a protest if she’d wanted. Every melting look he gave her, every touch moved the earth beneath her feet, but his kisses siphoned rational thought from her head and purpose from her soul. At the moment she was merely a passenger on the erotic ride he provided. When he finally pulled back and released her, she teetered on her feet and stumbled backwards.
“Sorry,” he said, appearing marginally embarrassed, but mostly smug.
“You can’t keep doing that if you expect work out of me, Nathan.” She tried for a chiding look, but knew she’d failed because she was drunk on lust at the moment.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here,” he said slowly in that sexy, southern drawl of his.
She was glad to be here too, but she was in no frame of mind to get into a personal relationship conversation. The man was entirely too overwhelming to her senses. “Lunch is ready. Where are Julia and Dimitri?”
“They had a doctor’s appointment this morning. They should be back soon. Eat with me, please.” He gestured for her to take a seat.
Mia sat and he took one opposite her across the table. He stared at his plate, his expression curious. “Are these fried green tomatoes?”
“Yeah. Try the sauce.” She pointed at the little portion cup she’d sat on the edge of the plate. “It’s a southwestern ranch.”
“I haven’t had these in a very long time.” He indulged and when he finished the first one, he groaned, his eyes ripe with enjoyment. “Make these for me often.”
“No problem.”
They began eating and silence ruled for awhile. Eventually, Nathan said, “How was your last week at work?”
Mia smiled wistfully. “My co-workers threw me a going away party last night. It was awesome, but sad. Joe made some pizzas and provided free liquor so everyone got wasted. I tried to be good, but I’m still sporting a headache. Since the fourth is two days away, we finalized plans for a get together on Thursday at Chris’ for a cookout and fireworks. We do it every year. He and his wife have a really nice hobby farm in the country. That is unless you need me on the Fourth. I know I’m suppose to have holidays off, but I’ll be here if you need me.”
“No. You spend it with your friends. I have nothing planned.”
“Thank you. I’m going to miss them all, but Joe assured me if things didn’t work out, he’d take me back.”
Nathan’s gaze narrowed. “Things will work out, Mia. Surely, by now you know I care about you and have no intentions of taking advantage of you in any way.”
Mia wanted to believe that. Yet the contract they’d signed had gone up in smoke the minute she’d kissed him. Neither of them had given a care to the consequences at the time. Even now in the light of sound reasoning, she wasn’t sorry, but she was nervous.
Whatever sprouted between them was exciting and Mia loved it to a point. The ever present fear that he’d grow bored with her remained. They had so little in common. Eventually, he was bound to realize that and the day he did would unquestionably be the worst of her life.
Nathan had broken through her emotional defenses that night. She liked him so very much and dear God—the attraction between them was so smoking hot, it was all she could do not to jump across the table and attack his sexy ass.
Still, nothing regarding her concerns for common interests between them had changed. Their worlds were polar. As far as his spiritual convictions? At this point she hadn’t a clue. Then she remembered Julia’s comment about having little in common with Dimitri, yet making their own world. Could that happen with her and Nathan? She didn’t know, but she was very tempted to take the chance.
Last Saturday night ranked as one of the best evenings she’d ever experienced next to some with her daughters. As far as any intimate encounters with a man, nothing had ever come close. At this point, her intention was to do a job. In time if something serious developed with Nathan, she’d explore it with a healthy seasoning of circumspection.
He sat his fork down, his expression businesslike. “We’ve never discussed your days off. As you know from our contract, you’ll have two. Any preferences?
“No. Truthfully, Tavania’s left me with no social life. All I need is time to do laundry, grocery shop, clean and sleep. You can be the judge of those days. But there is something I need to tell you, which I didn’t think about initially. At some point this summer my girls are coming to the city for a visit. They’ll be here soon and I’m suspecting the dates to be sometime late July, early August. They’re still trying to work out the details. It’s a lot to ask, I know, but I’d really appreciate that week off to spend with them.”
Nathan nodded, his expression warm and understanding. “Of course. Take all the time you need with them.”
Affection and appreciation flowered inside her heart for his kindness. Joe wouldn’t have been that understanding. “Thank you. I’ll let you know the dates as soon as I have them.”
“May I ask what sort of plans you’ve made for their visit?”
Mia smiled wistfully, thinking of some of her ideas. “In all the time I’ve been here they’ve never visited me because college and work kept them too busy. We’ll spend some days doing the basic tourist thing, maybe a spa day and we’ll probably eat at as many restaurants in the city as I can afford. Of course I’ll cook them a few of their favorite meals, but they’re anxious to experience everything they can New Orleans.”
“They’ll be staying with you?”
She nodded. “It’ll be fun. I told them to bring their sleeping bags because I only have a one bedroom apartment. It will be like camping out, minus the bonfire.”
“I own a couple five star hotels in town. I’d be happy to provide them suites. Once you give me the dates, I’ll reserve as many as necessary to house all of you in style.”
The genuineness in his expression made her take a moment to choose an answer he could both understand and would not sound ungrateful on her part. She didn’t need or want high class accommodations and to accept his offer would only sprout suspicions in her kids’ minds.
Eventually, she’d tell the girls about this job, but she wasn’t about to tell them her and Nathan were developing a thing, when she was still clueless as to what this thing was about.
She attempted a sweet smile. “With the obscene amount you’re paying me, I could afford to put them up in a hotel and I might a couple of days. Our family grew up in tight quarters. Not only are we used to it, we thrive on it. We’ll be just fine, but thank you for the offer.”
He nodded, then took a bite of his sandwich. Mia wondered what thoughts meandered through his head, because he suddenly seemed a bit dismal. Then she remembered he said he had no plans for the Fourth. Maybe he would spend it with Julia and Dimitri. Then again maybe they’d want that day to them
selves. The two were so happy at the moment, they were probably eager for as much alone time as they could get.
She considered it a long shot that he might want to go slumming with her common folk friends, but decided to ask. “Nathan? You mentioned you had no plans for the Fourth. Would you like to come with me to the cookout? I warn you my co-workers are all crazy. It’s hard to work in a restaurant and not have some sort of worm in your brain.”
He shot her a calculated grin. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
She threw her napkin at him. “That was mean.”
“I was just teasing. You’re beautifully intelligent and a salt of the earth person, with one minor flaw.”
She pursed her lips. “What’s that?”
“You haven’t yet realized you’re crazy about me or that I’m even crazier about you.”
His words and the seriousness in his tone and expression took on the effect of a lasso snaring her heart with an anvil attached to it. She swallowed hard and stared at him.
Responses were stolen when a cell began to ring somewhere on his person. He leaned back and pulled a smart phone from a pocket of his grey slacks.
“Son of a bitch,” he spat, glancing at the screen. “Sorry, Mia. Excuse me.”
Mia watched him stalk out of the kitchen, phone in hand. A business call, she reckoned, and apparently not one he relished receiving. She shook her head, then dug into her meal. Mia had no idea what Nathan’s life was truly like. Riches had benefits, no doubt, but she had a feeling such a life wasn’t all a bed of roses.
***
Once Nathan was inside the privacy of his office, he placed his cell to his ear. “What the hell do you want, Isabella?” How had she gotten his personal cell number? Apparently, she had her own team of investigators since she’d located him in New Orleans so quickly.
His phone chimed with an incoming call. He looked at the screen and saw it was Dominic. His gut told him, Dominic knew this call from Isabella to be forthcoming. He ignored it and put the phone back to his ear.
On the other end of the line he heard her say, “My patience has expired with you, Nathan. I want an answer to my proposal and you know there is only one I’ll accept. I’ve drawn up a prenup which I don’t think you’ll find unfair. I’ll settle for ten years of marriage along with a generous divorce settlement, which I assure you will not completely drain you of you’re wealth. Of course have Dominic review it. I’m sure you’ll find it mostly generous, considering the alternative option. I’ve already faxed it to little Dominic, whom I video conferenced with this morning. He was a tad nasty, but it rather excited me. He’s grown into such a handsome vampire man/child. I think he’d make an incredibly delicious fledgling. Don’t you?”
It took all the self control he possessed not to squeeze the phone in his hands until it shattered into microscopic fragments. He drew in a couple of deep breaths and forced back his rage in order to scrape up a sensible response. Not that it would matter. A feral had no power for sane logic or reasoning. They had one singular purpose and that was to achieve whatever pleasure they currently hunted.
“Give me an amount, Isabella. I’ll write a check today and have it deposited into any bank account you want as long as you’ll take it and agree to leave me alone.”
Her dark laughter echoed in his ear. “Caro, if money was the only issue, I could have had that weeks ago. I told you what I want, a slice of the life I birthed you into. I want to be the richest, most envied woman in the world, the wife of the most rich, envied man in the world. There isn’t another male, human or vampire who could come close to giving such delights to me. Negotiations are no longer a factor between us, Nathan. You have one week to come to your senses.”
Nathan snorted. “I told you to do your best, Isabella. Everyone I care about is covered.”
“Oh? Just how many employees work for Davenport Enterprises? When they start dying in plague fashion, how soon before you have no business left, do you suppose? Not to mention the investigation process your human American government will unleash upon you. I know where Dominic resides and I’m very tempted to pay him a visit. It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed a born vampire lover. They are very skilled, willing or not. You know better than to underestimate me, Nathan. You also know my threats are solid.”
Indeed he did, but he couldn’t bare another minute speaking to this maniacal bitch. “You are not bullet proof, Isabella. This game you’re playing will backfire in your face, wait and see.” Enraged, he threw the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall, pieces flying everywhere.
He grabbed the receiver of the land line on his desk and immediately called Dominic. He answered on the first ring, obviously awaiting his call.
“Isabella…”
Nathan cut him off. “I know. I just heard from her. She has to die.”
Dominic let off a deep sigh. “She will. I’m working on making that happen. Just give me some time.”
“Neither of us may have much more. Go under, Dominic. She’s after you now too.”
“Come on, Nathan. You know I can take care of myself. Just take care of my parents. I have no doubt they’re next on her list. I’ve hired a few assassins, but I need more.”
Nathan scratched his jaw. “Little good that will do if we can’t find her.”
“I’m working on that. I will find her. She’s clever, but not impenatrible.”
Nathan snorted. “Yes she is or she wouldn’t still be alive. Cover your ass, Dominic. I mean it. Go under. I’ll do what I can to protect myself and your parents, but from here I can’t protect you.”
“I’m not afraid of that bitch. Well, maybe a little. I’ll take your advice, though. Give me a week. I promise I’ll have the manpower resources in place, even if I can’t locate Isabella.”
Nathan stifled a sigh. He trusted Dominic’s abilities, but Isabella seemed to always be a step ahead of them. “Just find her. All I need is her location. From there I’ll do what I should have done long ago.”
“I’ll be in touch, but you can’t do that without resources.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Nathan placed the receiver on the phone’s base and let loose the breath he’d been holding. He knew Dominic would provide him men to take down Isabella. The torture she’d visited upon his life, Dimitri’s and Julia made him ache to kill her himself, but all that mattered was stopping her before she destroyed the life someone he loved or Davenport staff.
He thought of Mia and groaned. Her proximity to him placed her in danger. Until now he’d been more furious with Isabella than scared, but the notion she might discover Mia to be his life-mate terrified him. The security he’d hired to protect her, Julia and Dimitri were by no means enough.
Nathan grabbed the phone and redialed Dominic. The men Dominic hired thus far might not be enough for a confrontation with Isabella, but they’d suffice for additional security. He intended to have them here by day’s end.
Chapter 8
The fourth of July turned out to be a gorgeous hot, sunny day, perfect for the festivities ahead, Mia thought, as she finished pouring the last of the homemade lemonade she’d made into a gallon thermos. Mia grinned as she put on the lid. Excitement for the day and night ahead had her a bit giddy. Joe always closed the restaurant on the Fourth, and for the last four years, the staff celebrated at Chris’ place because he had a great little country home in the bayou with no fireworks’ ordinances.
The doorbell rang and Mia’s smile widened, knowing her caller to be Nathan. He’d accepted her offer to celebrate the day with her and her co-workers. She’d told him to dress casual. When she opened the door, she saw he’d taken her advice. He wore some faded jeans, a black wife-beater and a pair of well worn cowboy boots. He had his hair pulled back and sported a generic ball cap. She glanced over his tan arms and stifled a sigh. Lord, he had some guns. He was a huge man and today looked redneck hot with a capital R and H. She licked her lips and he gave her a sultry grin.
&nbs
p; “Happy Fourth of July, Mia.”
She gave him an appreciative smile. “You too. Come on in. I’m just about ready. I have a cooler that needs to go. I made blackberry cobbler, potato salad and lemonade as my offerings for the party.”
He walked in and glanced around. “Your place is pretty and earthy just like you.”
She thanked him then pointed to a cooler and blanket on the couch. “If you can grab those, I’ll get the lemonade. It’s in the kitchen. Be right back.” She grabbed her MSU ball cap off the coffee table, shoved it on her head, settling it over her twin braids, bill to the back, then went to retrieve the lemonade.
When she returned, Nathan stared at her, a shadow of a grin on his face. “What?” she prompted.
“You look cute.”
She offered him an appreciative one. Popular fashion hadn’t been her intent today, rather comfort. She chose an old pair of cut off shorts, a tank top and running shoes because she knew there would be a softball game at some point.
Nathan donned a pair of dark, tinted sunglasses just before they exited her building. Mia noticed his shiny black limo parked several spots down the street from her Ford diesel. He started toward it. “Hey,” she said, halting him. “We’re taking my truck. If we show up in that thing…” She nodded toward his stretch. “…I’ll be getting crap from everyone for the rest of the day.” She probably would anyway when she arrived with the Nathan Davenport on her arm. Oh well.
He grinned, then followed her to her truck and loaded their party offerings into the back seat. “I have another cooler. I brought some beer, pop and water. I’ll be right back.”
Once they were on the road, Mia said, “My friends are cool, Nathan, but they’re going to be wondering about us socializing. I can deal with it, I just wanted to give you a head’s up. They all know who you are. Who doesn’t?”
Forever and a Night_A Vampire Romance Page 10
