Chapter 14
Fleur
Trial and effort.
That’s what driving out to Montgomery’s house had felt like. His car hadn’t been in the driveway. I’d knocked on the door in case he’d parked in the garage, even walking around the house to try to see any sign of life.
All that had accomplished was chilling me to the bone, not only from the frosty air, but also because I’d had the strangest feeling I was being watched.
I’d experienced that for weeks after moving to Stowe.
I’d had very good reason at the time and it had nothing to do with the unusual attributes I’d had since I was a child.
However, as with most innate fears, the ugly sensations had slowly faded with no evidence I’d been right.
This time, the sensations were different.
The reasons were impossible to explain. I’d studied the surrounding forest, insistent a pair of eyes were watching me. That’s where the bravery had ceased.
Some experts had called me an empath, capable of strongly feeling the emotions of others.
The closer I was to someone, the more gripping the connection.
However, my abilities were stronger than that.
Not quite a telling of the future but something akin to reconnaissance.
In the case of being at his house, I’d experienced encroaching danger.
But there’d been no sign of anyone else, certainly no tracks for other vehicles. While I’d chalked it up to the text from my brother, the effects remained, even as I climbed from my vehicle heading to Tilly’s.
As usual, Bekka had blown up my phone, demanding I stop by and have a drink with her.
I had no intention of heading to the bar, perhaps ever again.
Who hadn’t seen me leaving with the gruff man?
I might as well get the public humiliation over with.
After the weird day, nothing would faze me at this point.
Once inside the warm diner, I felt all eyes on me, only instead of scrutinizing my every move, everyone sitting at the counter was grinning. Really? This was how it was going to be? Perfect.
Bekka was on her feet, beckoning me toward the booth she’d grabbed near the back. Even before I settled in, I had a margarita placed on the table.
When Tilly winked, I gave her the evil eye. “Don’t say it, Tilly. Not a word.”
“I’m not saying anything, honey. Except that you deserve to be happy. You got yourself a good catch.”
“Yeah, well, he threatened poor Randy last night, a perfect gentleman.”
The glare I threw toward Bart was tainted with harshness. Maybe not so perfect.
I was beginning to wonder if Bart’s wife knew he was keeping regular hours at the diner instead of being home helping his wife keep her feet propped up.
“Poor Randy my ass, Bart,” Tilly spit out. “He said how much he wanted to go down on our sweet girl here. That’s not tendencies of a gentleman. More like a lecherous old man.”
There was no chance of running out the door. I concentrated on my drink, waiting as they argued about the basic requirements of being labeled a nice guy.
Tilly patted me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you enjoyed your long night.”
“Tilly. Did you know Baptiste Prince was murdered over a year ago?” I wasn’t certain why I’d blurted out the question. What I did was garner the attention of about five people sitting in close proximity.
“No,” she said, her face falling, her hand on her heart. She even made the sign of the cross. “That’s terrible. Did they ever catch who did it?”
“I don’t know.” The fact his death hadn’t made a big enough impression to create a dozen articles was surprising.
“I adored Baptiste. If he hadn’t fallen for my best girlfriend I would have married him. I’ll need to give Analise a call. Poor woman. All those kids to handle on her own.”
“Tilly. Those kids are pretty much all in their thirties.”
“But you know boys aren’t considered all grown up until they get married.” Tilly was serious.
Something I didn’t want or need to discover.
Bekka and I had a tough time not laughing. Tilly was one wild older lady.
She patted me on the shoulder again, but this time as if I was suffering from the news. “Give Montgomery my condolences. Please.”
Sighing, I was shocked Bekka didn’t launch into me as soon as Tilly walked away. She was clicking the tips of her recently manicured nails on the table.
“What?” I finally tossed out.
“How was he? Was he a gentleman?”
“Hell, no.” Just being able to blurt it out caused us both to laugh. “It was good to escape everything last night.”
“I bet it was.” She fanned her face, the noises she was making far too erotic.
“Oh, stop that.”
“So a match made in heaven?”
Leaning over, I lifted a single eyebrow. “I don’t think so. It was one night. Nothing more.”
“Oh, come on. Why not see him again?”
“Various reasons including that he’s not the best person for me.”
“You’re being cryptic.”
“Because that’s the smart thing to do.”
“What really happened with his father?” Bekka wasn’t going to let it go.
I leaned even further over the table so no prying ears could listen in on our conversation. “The family is mafia.”
She reared back, twisting her drink back and forth. “Well, that could make for some interesting conversation at your wedding reception.”
“Bekka. I’m not going to see him again.” The necklace weighed heavily on my mind.
I had left him a note with my phone number just in case, but by no means did I anticipate seeing him again.
Even if he found the necklace, I’d have him drop it off at the house when I wasn’t there.
“On my list of desirable men and their professions, being involved with a dangerous crime syndicate isn’t one of them. ”
“I don’t think you have an option.”
“Why is that?” She didn’t need to answer my question. Her eyes were opening wide, her head tilted as if someone very tall was walking in our direction.
“Oh, he looks even hotter close up.” She dared fan her face again.
I casually looked over my shoulder. My bestie had no idea just how awesome he looked up close and personal. He was stopped every few feet, customers providing their condolences. A small town struck again.
As soon as he noticed me, he stopped moving forward. I wasn’t a girl usually blinded by some gorgeous man or influenced by the way someone was looking at me, but when he lifted his head, locking eyes with mine, everyone else in the diner slowly faded.
He was polite but pushed his way through the crowd toward me. When he was close, Bekka slid from the booth. “I need to go to the ladies’ room.” Her wink was as annoying as her insistence on seeing me.
Before I had a chance to stop her from leaving me alone, Montgomery was standing at the edge of the table. Today’s outfit was black jeans and a matching shirt. How appropriate for a gangster.
“You left something at my house.” His deep voice was a reminder of the passion we’d shared. Low and husky, he was being the gentleman others assumed him to be, keeping the volume low. He placed a box on the table.
“You found my necklace.” I was elated, immediately opening the box. The necklace was nestled inside. “What did you do, have it cleaned?”
“The least I could do. The clasp was broken so I actually found a jeweler in this town.” His arrogance was showing once again.
“Thank you.” I tilted my head, uncertain what to say. “You didn’t need to go to all that trouble.”
“It was my pleasure.” The same chemistry we’d experienced was intact, but the silence was one of knowing. “You were checking on my family.”
His statement wasn’t exactly an accusation, but I sensed some discord. “I like to know who I’m dealing with.”
“A smart girl.”
“Are the articles true or embellished?”
“A little of both.”
Nodding, I felt even more uncomfortable. Not because I was frightened of him, but more to the opposite. I wasn’t. I was nervous maybe, but more because of the effect he had on me. I scanned the people around us, fighting the questions that I craved answers to. “I’m sorry about your father.”
“He was much loved. I understand the same holds true for the people in this town.”
“So I heard. I haven’t lived here very long and I’m very curious about who he was as a man.”
“Mmm…” He nodded as if he’d also investigated who I was.
“I’ll ask you one last time. Should I be afraid of you?”
Every action he made was deliberate. He placed his hands on the table, leaning over so I was allowed a full-blown experience of the insanely handsome man and his rich, masculine scent. I sensed everyone in the diner was watching our interaction.
“That’s entirely up to you. La peur est un aphrodisiaque très puissant. La passion s’ensuit généralement par vagues d’extase intense et délirante.”
Fear is a very powerful aphrodisiac. Passion usually follows in waves of deliriously intense rapture.
He dared lower his face by a few inches and there was no doubt at least two people had moaned.
With a rumbling chuckle, he brushed his knuckles across my cheek before rising to his full height.
I finally noticed he had his cane in his hand.
Maybe what I’d told him had done him some good.
I was right too. He was sexier than ever.
After narrowing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he turned and slowly walked toward the exit.
“You are going to ask him to dinner. Right?” Bekka was right in my ear, jolting me out of the sweet fantasy.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because he brought you back your necklace. He fixed it for you. Your favorite necklace that your brother gave you for Christmas. Come on, my bestie. I know you’re uncertain about him and I would be too after what you told me, but I can tell how much you like him.
And if looks that man was giving you is any evidence of how much he enjoys your company and what he thinks about you, I can only imagine what he’s like in person.
Give it another shot. Just enjoy yourself.
Besides, what he did by fixing your necklace at least deserves a thank you. ”
“She’s right, Fleur. Trust me. If he’s anything like his father, he’s a good man underneath all that bullshit mafia bravado.” Tilly’s comment wasn’t a surprise. The woman knew everything about everyone and was a damn good judge of character.
What could one little dinner hurt? Right? As soon as I slid from the booth, I felt all eyes on me. He’d already made it outside, his SUV in a close parking space. If I didn’t hurry, I’d lose him and I refused to go to his house like I was desperate for a date.
Snatching the jewelry box and shoving it into my jacket pocket, I gave Bekka a look.
“Don’t worry. The margarita is on me,” she threw out. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
I made it to his vehicle just before he jumped inside.
“Montgomery.”
A slow and easy smile crossed his face and he ripped off his sunglasses, leaning against his car. “Did I forget something?”
I glanced across the street buying time, which was ridiculous. “I wanted to give you a proper thank you. You have no idea how much the necklace means to me. Anyway, I should quit stalling. I know what I said to you earlier, but I think enjoying dinner together as friends would be fine.”
“You’re asking me on a date?”
Why was his voice so gravelly, reflecting her personality perfectly? “How about we call it a thank you dinner. Why don’t you come over tonight? If you’re free.” I was positively stumbling over my words.
“Are you afraid to be seen with me in public?” He was thoroughly amused.
“Not at all. I just make a mean lasagna and I thought you might like a decent home-cooked meal. Maybe around seven?”
He chewed on the earpiece of his sunglasses, narrowing those sexy green eyes of his. “I think I can handle that. Make a large pan. I’m a very hungry man.”
I backed away, far too eager for the night to arrive. What was wrong with me? All the conviction in the world didn’t apply when it came to the man standing studying me with a wry look on his face. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
Bastard.
I was already on the road before I tossed a look in either direction, laughing to myself about being in a daze.
Movement to my right caught my eye, a sudden blur as something veered around the corner. There was no screech of tires, the only sound of a rumbling big block engine coming from a truck gunning it for me.
An instant moment of terror spiraled through me, panic rooting me to the spot. All I could see was a blur as the driver floored it.
I was going to die.
A split second before impact, I was pitched into the air, yanked away.
Just as the truck and the driver roared past.
Not stopping to see if I was okay.
Instead throttling the engine to high and disappearing around another corner heading out of town.
Shaking, I clawed at whoever had saved me, lifting my head to see I’d somehow managed to survive. Montgomery had saved my life.
Gasps from behind us continued to power my fear.
“My God. He’s a hero.”
“Just like his daddy.”
Montgomery’s eyes reflected rage, the emotion so strong I was confident he had plans on going after the perpetrator. There was also something else.
The promise of revenge.