Running her finger over the screen to wake up her phone, she glanced at the time. Five a.m. No point in going back to sleep now. She texted Natasha to call her as soon as she woke up and made her way to the shower.
When she emerged from the steamy bathroom twenty minutes later, the message light on her phone was blinking. Tugging the towel tighter around her chest, she retrieved the device and returned her Mambo’s call. “I’ve got a problem. Several.”
Dishes clanked in the background, followed by the sound of a refrigerator door opening and closing. “I’m listening.”
“Where do I start?” Odette sank onto the edge of her bed. “My offering to Erzulie Dantor didn’t work. I saw James last night…then I dreamed about him.” A shiver ran up her spine at the memory of her dream.
“I didn’t figure she’d be much help in your case.” Her smile was evident in her voice. “He’s a good man.”
“I know, and he wanted to ask me out, but I told him it wouldn’t end well.”
The muffled sound of liquid pouring into a glass filled the silence, and more shuffling ensued before the fridge door opened and closed again. “And what did he say to that?”
“He said that maybe it didn’t have to end.” A dozen butterfly wings flitted against her abdomen. Under normal circumstances, his words would have thrilled her. “He doesn’t have a clue.”
“If you’re going to be with him, you have to tell him. Did you ask him about his readings? I think he’ll understand.”
“No, I was too busy trying not to like him. I was hoping if I could avoid falling for him, the monster wouldn’t come for us. If we can keep our distance and not start a relationship, maybe we can keep our lives too.” She inhaled deeply and blew out a hard breath. “But there was a demon in my backyard last night. James called it an imp. I mean, the monster that’s always killed me before is bigger than a man. This one was two feet tall, but…”
All sounds of movement on Natasha’s end of the line stopped. The Mambo didn’t speak for a moment, and the silence grew heavy and foreboding.
“Are you familiar with imps? He said they’re lower-level demons who get summoned by something bigger and nastier.” And her fated murderer was both of those. She’d never encountered imps in her past-life regressions, but the moment James had mentioned what summoned them, the first inklings of terror had clawed through her mind.
“He knows what he’s talking about. Was it just the one?”
“There was one other, a few days ago. He said he killed it outside Rusty’s.” Her heart sank. “This is it, isn’t it? The beginning of the end?”
“We don’t know that. It’s possible he has enemies, and the imps are targeting him. It could have nothing to do with you.”
The Mambo had a point. James was the common denominator here, not her. Then again, all her friends were at Rusty’s the night he killed it. Odette could have been there too. “Or it could have been sent to kill me. I’ve met my soulmate. Maybe I don’t have to fall in love with him to trigger the curse. Maybe it’s already happening.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at home.”
“Stay there. Work from home today; you’re safe inside. I’ll prepare a ceremony for this evening, and I’ll pick you up at six. We’ll contact the Spirits and see if they can guide us.”
She rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes for a long blink. “I’ve been asking for guidance since the moment James walked into my life, but my prayers have gone unanswered.”
“You know why. Unless you’re ready to let go and embrace your gift, you’ll continue to be left to go it alone.”
“My powers are not a gift.” She bit her tongue to stop herself from continuing. The argument would get her nowhere.
Natasha clucked her tongue. “Don’t let the Baron hear you say that. And don’t worry. If we gather enough vodouisants, the Spirits are bound to show up.”
“I’ll see you tonight. Thanks.” She pressed end and slid the phone onto her nightstand. Working from home wasn’t an issue. She was the boss, after all. But being home all day meant she’d be spending all day with James.
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of seeing him again, and she groaned. She wasn’t ready for her life to end.
James parked in front of Odette’s house and slid out of his truck. A spark of excitement tingled in his chest at the sight of her car sitting in the driveway, but his anticipation of seeing her again crumbled into worry as he tucked a basket of kitchen towels under his arm and paced up the walk.
He’d watched her house himself most of the night, until Cade showed up insisting the alpha had ordered James to get some sleep. Though he hadn’t caught so much as a whiff of demon, his wolf had protested leaving her the whole way home and most of the night.
The few hours of sleep he’d managed were plagued with confusing dreams. His mystery woman appeared as usual, making his heart swell with what he wanted to call love, though he had no experience with the romantic side of the emotion. His heart didn’t normally react to women at all, leaving the swelling to his dick instead.
But the mystery woman hadn’t stayed in his dream for long. As soon as he’d taken her hand, she’d morphed into Odette, and damn it if the L-word feelings hadn’t intensified when he’d looked into her dark-brown eyes.
Now, the sun peeked from behind the mansions on Millionaire’s Row, casting the sky in shades of deep pink and orange. The bougainvillea mixed with the scents of fresh paint and sawdust, and he inhaled deeply, letting the familiar aromas calm his nerves.
A werewolf manual laborer had no chance with a woman as polished and professional as Odette Allemand, but his wolf sure seemed to think he did. He glanced at his right hand. Hell, he wasn’t even a whole werewolf. He’d spent his entire life trying to hide his slow healing and prove his worth to the pack. Now he was setting himself up to have to prove himself to a woman too. He exhaled a curse and rang the bell.
A tiny smile lighted on Odette’s mouth as she opened the door, and she didn’t try to hide it this time. Screw it all; he needed to get a taste of those lips.
“You could’ve let yourself in. You have a key.” She stepped aside for him to enter, and he shuffled into the foyer, a smile tugging at his own lips as he took in her outfit. She was barefoot again, and her dark-blue skinny jeans emphasized the length of her legs. Her black silk shirt flowed over her hips, and with the top two buttons undone, it revealed just enough skin to make him yearn to see more.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you in a color other than black or purple.” He gestured to her jeans.
“I’m working from home today.” She paused in front of him, holding his gaze as if trying to gauge his reaction.
He arched a brow, his heart rate kicking up at the thought of spending the entire day with her. “Everything okay?”
“Natasha, my Mambo, thinks it’s best if I stay home until we figure out where the demon came from.” She nodded to the basket under his arm. “What’s that?”
“Oh.” He clutched it with both hands and held it out to her. “I couldn’t get the blood stain out of that towel, so I bought you new ones.”
Her smile widened as she took the basket and ran a hand over the lavender cloth. “It was one towel. You didn’t have to buy me an entire set.”
Heat crept up his neck, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. Get over yourself, man. “Consider it a housewarming gift. I thought they’d look good in your kitchen when it’s finished.”
“Thank you.” She lifted her gaze to meet his, and the corners of her eyes tightened in uncertainty for a moment before she straightened her spine. “Do you have time for a cup of coffee before you get started?”
He glanced at his watch. The crew would arrive in fifteen minutes, and he liked to do a sweep of the property before they began work. But he couldn’t refuse Odette. He’d make time. “I’ve got a few minutes to spare.”
“Good.” She motioned for him to follow her to the kitchen, one of
two rooms that had furniture. “Have a seat. I just made a fresh pot.”
She’d set up a workstation at the breakfast table, her laptop and notepad occupying one of the spots. James sank into the opposite chair and watched as she took two mugs from the cabinet and filled them with coffee. She had the posture of a ballerina, and she moved as gracefully as if she’d spent years in a dance studio. The woman was alluring, and that was putting it lightly.
She smiled as she glided to the table and set the mugs down. “Do you need cream or sugar?”
“Black is fine.” He sipped the coffee, and his admiration of her intensified. Bold and robust, the rich aroma of the coffee went well with her personality. Any woman who took her coffee this strong was a keeper. Wait. It was way too soon for thoughts like that. He cleared his throat. “Were you ever a dancer? Ballet or anything?”
She sat next to him. “No. I don’t dance. Not even at our ceremonies. Why do you ask?”
“You’re built like a dancer. Graceful.” He took another sip, eyeing her over the rim of the mug.
Arching an eyebrow, she inclined her chin. “Is that your way of hinting that you like my body?”
He nearly choked on his coffee. A trail of the warm liquid rolled down his chin, and he wiped it with the back of his hand. Setting the mug down, he squared his shoulders. “Who says I like graceful women? Maybe I’d prefer a klutz.” With a grin, he took a successful sip from his cup, silently congratulating himself for grabbing control of the conversation before she could turn him into a babbling idiot.
“That’s a shame.” She traced her finger around the rim of her mug. “I seem to have a thing for men who are good at restoring things. Bringing life back to something nearly lost to time.”
He opened his mouth to respond as she held his gaze, but the words didn’t come. Something had changed between last night and this morning, and whatever it was, James wasn’t about to complain. He also wasn’t letting her have the upper hand.
He swept his gaze across the room, doing his best to act like her comment didn’t faze him. “I’ve admired this house since I was a kid, and I’ve always wondered what it would look like on the inside. Restoring it is a dream come true.” He locked eyes with her. “What do you dream about, Odette?”
A blush spread across her cheeks, and she cleared her voice. “Natasha told me I should ask you about your readings. She said you’ve been into the temple a few times, and she expected to see you again soon.”
Heat crept into his ears as he ground his teeth. He had planned to make another appointment, until he met Odette. “So much for her readings being private. What else did she tell you?”
“Nothing.” She held up her hands in a show of innocence. “She didn’t tell me anything about your reading; she said I should ask you about it. With the ghost here showing so much interest in you, and then the demon last night…I guess she thought it might be related.”
He let out a slow breath, quelling his frustration. What would Odette think about his dream woman and the fact that she herself was now battling for control of his wolf? He’d rather not know. “The ghost hasn’t bothered me since the first time. Why do you think he’s showing interest in me?”
“Because he’s been present since you got here this morning. I think I upset him earlier, and he hasn’t shown himself…until you knocked on the door. He’s been watching you ever since.”
He cut his gaze to the left, following her line of sight, but he couldn’t see the ghost. “What’s he doing?”
“Staring at you. He looks confused but also…interested.” She focused on the empty space in the corner. “Why are you looking at James like that? Do you know him too?” Her shoulders drooped as she picked up her mug. “He disappeared again. Every time I start asking him questions, he vanishes.”
“That’s weird. Maybe he doesn’t want you to know.”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Maybe, but…does the name Serafine sound familiar to you?”
The syllables flowed in his ears like music. Was it the name or the way Odette said it? His chest tightened, and he wracked his brain for the memory that skittered around the edges of his mind. “I feel like it should, but it doesn’t ring a bell. It’s a pretty name, though. Why?”
She chewed her bottom lip and drummed her manicured nails on the table. “Nicolas, the ghost, mentioned the name. I thought maybe she was someone famous…or infamous…in New Orleans that I hadn’t heard of.”
“It’s possible.” The sound of an engine rumbled from outside, followed by doors slamming and the clanking of equipment. “That’s my team. I better get to work. Thank you for the coffee.”
He rose, but she caught his hand. “What were you looking for in your readings?”
A low growl rumbled in his chest, so quiet she couldn’t have heard it, and he lowered himself into the seat. The imploring look in her eyes drew the words from his mouth before he could think twice about telling her. “My wolf is restless. It’s time for me to settle down, but…”
She leaned toward him. “But?”
He couldn’t tell her about the dreams; they were crazy. He was going crazy for having them. “I haven’t had good luck in the love department, so I was looking for guidance.” Smooth move, Romeo. Why didn’t he tell her about his broken wolf too? That would really impress her. Get it together, man.
He looked into her eyes. “But things have changed since I met you.”
She started to speak, but the front door swung open and boots thudded on the wooden floor. “Hey, James. Can we get started?”
Damn you, Noah. “Yeah. We’re good to go.” He stood and carried his mug to the sink. “That’s my cue. We’ll try not to make too much noise inside, but I can’t make any guarantees.”
“Of course.” She fumbled for something next to her computer and lifted it in the air. “I’ve got headphones, so…no worries.”
“Good deal. I’ll be around if you need me.” He turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen.
Sweet Spirits, that was not what she’d expected to hear. The headphones slipped from her trembling hand as she sank lower in her chair. Things had changed since he’d met her. If he thought meeting her meant his luck in love was getting better, he was in for a rude awakening.
He’d be better off single for the rest of his life than to fall in love with Odette and deal with the tragedy her love would bring.
Natasha wasn’t convinced the imps were a sign of things to come, so maybe there was still a chance. Maybe she could convince him she wasn’t the one he was looking for. If they never fell in love, maybe…
A clank sounded in the foyer, and she leaned to the side to see James setting up a ladder beneath the chrome light fixture. Two other men held either side of a refurbished nineteenth-century crystal chandelier and waited as he removed the fixture from the ceiling.
As he reached his arms overhead, his dark-blue T-shirt lifted above his waistline, revealing smooth skin and a hint of the delicious V disappearing into his pants.
She bit her lip. How could she convince him she wasn’t the one when her insides melted from simply looking at the man?
He caught her gaze and grinned. “The new one’s going to look so much better. You’ve got good taste.”
She couldn’t help but return the smile. “Thanks.”
The rest of the morning crawled by. She couldn’t focus on her work when the sexiest werewolf she’d ever laid eyes on kept coming into view. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was purposely working on little things close to the kitchen so he could steal glances of her the way she’d been doing him.
Nicolas followed him around too. Could the ghost be jealous of the time James was spending with her? With the way Nicolas had looked at her this morning, it made sense. She’d have to find a way to convince him she wasn’t his former mistress, but she’d hold off on that conversation until after the ceremony tonight. The loa may have been ignoring Odette, but they wouldn’t ignore the whole Ho
use.
When James moved to work upstairs, taking the temptation with him, Odette finally focused on her job. She plowed through her inbox, reviewing reports and crunching numbers until her eyes stung. She’d instructed her assistant to call if any emergencies arose at work, but her phone had remained silent all day. Her company ran like a well-oiled machine, both the office end and the distillery.
Why couldn’t running companies be her gift? She didn’t mind her simple psychic medium powers. Having the ability to see and speak to the dead meant she’d never been afraid of ghosts, even as a child, but she could do without the other magic Baron Samedi had granted her when he’d brought her back to life.
Boots thudded on the staircase, pulling her from her thoughts, and she glanced at the clock. Five p.m. The afternoon had flown by.
“Y’all go ahead.” James’s deep voice drifted in from the foyer. “I’m going to walk the property with the client to make sure she’s happy with the progress.”
“I bet you’ll make sure she’s real happy.” That voice came from the younger man with auburn hair that she’d heard James call Noah.
Leaning off the edge of her chair so she could see the men, she caught a glimpse of James punching Noah on the shoulder. “Watch yourself,” James said.
Noah chuckled. “Sorry, man. Have fun.” The men left, and James shuffled into the kitchen.
Odette fought the grin tugging at her lips and folded her hands on the table. “All done for the day?”
“Do you want to do a walk-through? Make sure everything meets your expectations?”
“I’ve done my own walk-through every day, and I saw you working today. You’re exceeding my expectations.” In every way imaginable.
He held her gaze with his smoldering blue eyes and cocked his head slightly. “I live about fifteen minutes away. If I run home and take a quick shower, could I come back and take you out to dinner?”
A Deal with Death Page 9
