9. Man On A Mission
Chapter 9
Man On A Mission
A few days later, Jim and Carl were providing dinner service, so Marcus booked a spot for himself and Elina. The men had turned the old parlour into a dining room with tables for two and four. If a large group came, they pulled the tables together.
Marcus had spent the past few days haggling with the owner of the telegraph office to get the best price he could. Then, he’d worked on the deluge of paperwork that came with funding. Nothing was for free.
Now, he wanted to spend an intimate dinner with Elina. Well, as intimate as it could be in a public dining space, with Jim and Carl watching their every move.
At least she’d extended her stay. Now, he had to work on getting more time with her. Then, he’d work toward getting a truly intimate dinner with her at his place.
Marcus rang the bell at the B&B, pleased with the additional security the men had installed. After the incident with Piper, they’d upped the security, and he hoped it all helped Elina feel safe. She hadn’t had enough safety in her life.
Carl opened the door a crack. He held the grey cat, Jem. “Come in quickly.”
He did, and Carl closed the door as soon as his heels crossed the threshold. “Which one’s on the loose this time?”
“Boo. Again. He’s definitely the most adventurous. Seems like we should have named him Scout. Although, he heads for the shadows, and that’s a Boo trait. Hmm. Maybe the name fits better than I thought.”
Marcus spotted an odd shadow in the space under the piano. He kept his pace measured and calm, treating the kitten like he would a criminal who didn’t think he’d been spotted. When he reached the piano, he bent and scooped up the cat without pausing. The little guy’s eyes widened as Marcus lifted him to eye level. “You need to stop driving these guys nuts, Boo. Where’s your guardian angel? Shouldn’t he be rounding you up?”
On cue, the Great Dane pup trotted into the room from the back with the third kitten on his heels. It only took a second for the dog to spot his two charges and come over to check them out. Once again, Marcus squatted down to let the dog check over the kitten. The group had clearly bonded, and he wondered what the hell had happened to them. If someone had tossed them into the road, it would be a great pleasure to throw the jerk in jail.
Finch licked the kitten, then stared down Marcus until he set the feline down. The dog sniffed his buddy all over and then licked Marcus’s hands.
He ruffled the mutt’s giant head. “You’re welcome, bud. They’re a lot of work for one guardian, but you’re doing a great job.”
Finch’s sigh sounded like it emanated from the dog’s toes, making Marcus and Carl laugh.
When he stood, his gaze immediately caught Elina as she descended the stairs. Another pretty dress, another brilliant smile. He knew he grinned back like a kid looking at an ice cream sundae. And he couldn’t have cared less that Carl watched.
When she reached the bottom, he held out his hand, and she took it. He leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. “You’re stunning. Pretty enough to gobble up in one bite.”
He kept his words for her ears only. Her skin flushed, and her eyes sparkled as she thanked him and squeezed his hand.
Carl led the way to the dining room as if they both were newcomers. He gestured to a table in a corner, offering them as much privacy as they could get. A candle burned in a small lantern on the table, and the lighting was dim. A group of four tourists sat at another table but Marcus barely spared them a glance.
He held Elina’s chair for her and took the seat across from her at their small table. Unable to help it, he reached across and laced his fingers with hers. “How was your day?”
“Fun. Piper and I made final decisions on the characters, and then we posted options on the website as a poll.”
“I haven’t had a chance to look yet. Tell me about them all.”
Her face lit up. “We decided on three options for each. A male, a female, and a gender neutral. There are foxes, fireflies, snails, and leaves.”
“Leaves?”
She laughed. “Leaves. From trees native to the area. Maple, birch, and walnut. Some might prefer that instead of the animals.”
He shrugged. “I’m betting on the animals. Everyone around here is pretty pet friendly.”
She leaned forward. “Finch and the kittens slept in my room last night.”
“Lucky group.”
Her eyes widened as she caught his implication, and then she laughed.
Jim arrived at that moment with a bottle of wine and filled up their glasses. “I’ll bring out your salads in just a moment. Enjoy.”
Because it was a new enterprise for the men, they’d decided on only one choice for the menu each night they opened. Tonight was a vegetable lasagna with Caesar salad and fresh bread.
Over the meal, they talked more about the mascots, but he didn’t pull out his phone to check them out. He wasn’t wasting his time with Elina on a phone.
“How is the paperwork for the funding going? Any problems with it?”
He shrugged. “No problems, but a full mountain of paper. So many forms that want all the same information in a different way. Paperwork is the worst part of this job, even though most of that is online and not on actual paper.”
They chatted easily over the delicious meal. He found out she’d listened to different styles of music as she’d driven across the country. “I never had much chance to listen to the radio when I was young. Most of the music I experienced was live and not in English. It’s fascinating to hear the different styles.”
“What are your favorites so far?”
Another of those laughs that was pure joy. “All of them. They’re all so different and compelling. Jazz is full of rhythm and emotion. Country bumps that up with beats that echo music I heard in Africa. Pop lifts my spirits. Rock is pure fun. And while I can’t understand most of the words in the rap songs I’ve heard, I love it. Reminds me of so many cultures. Powerful story-telling with a beat.”
Marcus laughed. “I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of anyone with quite such eclectic tastes.”
She waggled her eyebrows and made him laugh again. He loved that she flirted so comfortably and easily with him. Whatever had happened to her overseas, it hadn’t stolen this from her.
Jim arrived with two plates holding cheesecake. “Sea salt caramel cheesecake with chocolate shavings. Carl was experimenting today, and it’s delicious. Enjoy.”
Elina’s eyes lit up as she picked up her fork. “I might explode if I finish this but I suspect it’s going to be worth it.”
Marcus watched her taste the dessert. Her entire body softened with the first bite. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she slowly eased the fork between her lips. She moaned softly, and his body tightened instantly.
His imagination put her in his bed with that look on her face and those sound coming from her throat.
This date wouldn’t end that way, but he hoped another would soon. Very soon.
W hen Elina couldn’t eat another bite, she pushed her plate to the middle of the table. “All yours, if you have room.”
Marcus smiled and reached with a fork to snag a bite. “Always room for one of Carl’s creations.”
His lips closed around the fork, but his eyes remained locked on hers, sending her imagination to what else he could do with that mouth.
Was she ready to jump into bed with Marcus? He was an incredible man. The chemistry between them was explosive. She knew sex with him would be amazing. Mind-blowing.
But she also knew her heart would be lost to him. If it wasn’t already.
She hadn’t committed to staying in Phail yet. Sleeping with Arrow—Marcus—would require that. She wasn’t the type to have a quick affair and move on. Her heart wasn’t made that way. It would be easier if it was.
Marcus touched her hand where it rested on the tabletop, making her jump and pull her mind back to the present. His serious eyes watched hers, and she wondered how much he saw.
Confirming her thoughts, he rubbed his fingers lightly over her hand. “There’s no need to worry. We’re not rushing into anything. I won’t ever push you. We’re getting to know each other. Which is a little weird, seeing as we’ve kind of known each other for years.”
That made her smile. “But we’ve never had a chance to really talk, to see how much is there beyond the chemistry.”
His eyes flared in the candlelight. “There’s a lot there. I’m looking forward to finding out more about you.”
“Not all of it’s good.” Oops. She hadn’t meant for that to pop out.
He chuckled softly. “That means you’re human, like the rest of us. Good to know. It’s too much pressure to be perfect.”
The things this man did to her with his sincere words and direct gaze.
He squeezed her hand. “Now, it’s a beautiful autumn night. Why don’t we walk off some of that cheesecake?”
She laughed. Marcus had the body of a warrior, and she doubted he needed to worry about eating dessert. She nodded, and he stood, keeping her hand in his as he walked around the table.
Instead of heading to the front door, Marcus led her to the kitchen. Carl sat on the floor playing with the kittens while Jim dried a large pot.
Finch jumped up from where he’d been supervising Carl, and came straight to them. He sniffed at their joined hands and sent them both a quizzical look.
Marcus scratched his head. “It’s okay, bud. I’m planning to take good care of her.”
Elina’s cheeks flushed as she realized how that statement could sound in a non-platonic way.
Jim laughed as he put away the pot. “It’s a beautiful evening for a romantic stroll. Not quite a full moon, but no clouds, so you’ll see some stars.”
Marcus grinned. “That’s our plan. Just wanted to thank you both for the meal. It was amazing.”
Elina nodded. “Delicious. Thank you.”
They both nodded and then ushered them out the back door. They’d reached the bottom of the stairs when a loud whine had them turning back.
Finch stared out the window at them and whined again.
Jim arrived beside the dog and patted his head, but they couldn’t hear his words. Marcus looked at her, eyebrows up. “Want to take your buddy with us?”
Another sign of this man’s kindness and easy-going nature. He wasn’t going to push her to have sex until she was ready. She’d believed his words but his actions spoke even more loudly. As soon as she nodded, he headed up the stairs with a smile.
When Jim opened the door, Marcus squatted down to talk to the dog. “What do you think, Finch? Do you want to go for a walk with us? You can be my wingman and get a break from kitten duty.”
Soon, Finch wore his harness, and Marcus held his leash. They strolled toward town again, the dog prancing as if he were leading a parade.
They walked along the streets, talking about everything and nothing. Climate change. Town improvements. Books they’d enjoyed. Movies he thought she’d like to see. Her comic strips and his funding. Even politics. They mostly had similar tastes, but debating different ideals was fun, too.
They stopped in front of the soon-to-be police station and Finch sat to study it with them. “When do you get to start working on it?”
He shrugged. “I think the paperwork mountain is almost done. I’m hoping to get the keys tomorrow but it’s not a guarantee until the lawyers have done their thing.”
She shuddered. “That’s not a job I’d enjoy.”
He nodded. “Same. The paperwork is bad enough in policing. I think lawyers must drown in the stuff.”
“Let me know when you get the keys. I want to help.”
His arm came around her shoulder, and he tucked her into his side. Finch leaned in as well, and she breathed in the contentment.
A beautiful evening. A sweetheart of a dog. A man she was tumbling for. It was more than she’d dreamed of and all she’d ever wanted.
When she tipped her head back to look at Marcus, he was watching her with the intensity she was coming to crave. She might not be quite ready to tumble into bed, but she was close.
She reached up on her toes, and Marcus leaned down at the same time. The first brush of their lips was as gentle as the breeze.
The second brought them closer. Deeper.
The third made her heart thump.
Finch growled low in his throat, and she grinned, thinking he was jealous of her kissing Marcus.
But Marcus’s body tensed, and his head whipped up even as he pulled her more tightly to him.
The steeliness of his body and the switch in mood had her senses opening.
And she felt it.
The weight of someone watching. Someone who didn’t like her.
Like in Seattle. And Albany.
Maybe it hadn’t been her imagination.
Finch growled again.
Maybe it was real.