Chapter 36
36
T hey entered the grocery store, and Pari couldn’t help noticing the looks they got. And why not? Melvale was incredibly handsome, and so was the couple accompanying them. Kwaku and Zara looked like they stepped out of a fashion magazine. But this was New York, and there were plenty of people in the city with looks and then some. You just didn’t see many of them in her grocery store of choice.
A woman gave Melvale an appreciative look, then smiled at Pari, whose cheeks heated in response. She wasn’t used to such attention. If anything, she made sure her looks kept people away. She was cute, maybe even pretty at times, but now… she didn’t know what to make of herself.
Kwaku began sniffing the different fruits and vegetables and putting them in a basket Zara had the foresight to grab when they entered. Pari was so wrapped up in the looks they were getting, she hadn’t thought to get a basket.
She blew out a long breath to calm herself and tried to focus on why they were here. She glanced up at Melvale who was staring at the packaged carrots like they were from outer space. Of course, to him they were.
“Um, carrots,” she said and nodded at them.
“Yes, they are.” He pointed to the broccoli. “Tiny green trees.”
She laughed. “You are such a dork.”
“Why, because I said what they are?”
“Brah-co-lee,” she sounded out.
He smiled, his eye alight with… oh my, what was that? Not desire, this was something else. Affection?
She cleared her throat. “It’s called broccoli.”
“Of course it is.” His smile grew. “Do you need some?”
“I… well…” what could she say? Sure, I’ll get some, seeing as how I’m not going back to your palace with you? But Dr. Charles was still out there, and without these people to protect her, she was a sitting duck. “Will I have time to make something with it?”
He closed the distance between them as Kwaku and Zara moved on to another section of the store. Melvale took her hands in his. “You can bring it with us, if you like. But you cannot stay behind, my little one. No matter how much you wish to.”
Pari swallowed hard as tears stung the backs of her eyes. That’s not what she wanted to hear, but he was right. She was going to have to suck it up and return to the palace with them. “What about my uncles?”
“They will be watched. We have warriors trained to be discreet. If that foul doctor and his men are still sniffing around, they won’t know the difference between a Muiraran and a human.”
“How can you be sure? They managed to get their hands on you,” she pointed out.
“They got lucky. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”
“But…”
He gave her hands a squeeze. “I saw you were in danger the first time I saw you and attacked on pure instinct to rescue you. Perhaps if I’d had better self-control…”
Pari shook her head. “No, Melvale.” She looked at their hands. “Bondrah… he had control.”
He let go a shaky breath. “You have no idea how hearing you say that name affects me.” He held her hands tighter and pulled her close. “Pari Mae, my sweet little kitten.” He gave her a wide smile. “Allow me to get to know you better.” He bent to her and drew in a long breath through the nose. “You smell of summer and happiness, did you know that?”
She shook her head. “You are so odd.” Her voice came out a whisper.
“Better odd than insane,” he quipped. “I might have a few eccentricities, but there are those that are mad, such as that doctor fellow.” His eyes narrowed a moment before he let his smile take over again. “Come, before Kwaku has to fetch us.”
He led her by the hand through the produce section and rounded the corner. Kwaku and Zara were inspecting the meat; neither looked their way as they approached, and Pari had a feeling the two had zeroed in on their conversation. Didn’t Raina tell her Muirarans had excellent hearing?
When they caught up to them, Pari noticed they had the ingredients for stir fry in the basket. There was also an assortment of fruits, some sausage links, and a loaf of French bread.
Melvale discreetly sniffed the air before his head snapped to Kwaku.
“Yes, you can smell it,” Kwaku drawled.
Pari’s heart rate picked up. “Smell what?” she asked in a quiet voice.
Melvale squeezed her hand. “Gun powder. Someone in here is armed.” His eyes narrowed again, and his upper lip pulled back from his teeth a bit.
Pari watched him carefully. No fangs descended, but she noticed how his muscles had tightened. He was on high alert. She looked at Kwaku and Zara, who looked as relaxed as before. Like they’d just come from a photo shoot depicting a tennis match at a country club.
Kwaku closed his eyes a moment, his head slightly cocking to one side. “It is not a concern, Alpha.”
Melvale looked at him, his eyes turning a light blue. “Outlaw?”
Kwaku gave him a single nod. “Let him pass through. De police here take care of such men.”
Melvale gave him a single nod in return, put an arm around Pari, and pulled her against him.
She swallowed hard. “What do you mean, outlaw?” If someone in the grocery store had a gun, then shouldn’t they hightail it out of there? Was the man going to rob the store? Could it be a security guard or an undercover cop?
“Do not fear, Kahtala Miah,” Melvale said, his voice deeper.
Oh no! “I’m good.” She plastered on a smile. The last thing they needed was to have even more attention brought to them. In fact, would Dr. Charles have access to camera footage of today? Had he found a way to access it and watch? Did he know she’d returned to her apartment with Melvale and the others?
“What is it?” Melvale asked. “Your heart is beating like a hummingbird’s.”
She shook her head. “I… it’s nothing…”
“Tell me.” The command in his voice was hard to miss.
“Cameras.”
He arched an eyebrow at her, then looked at Kwaku. “Is she right?”
“Could be, but den, we are here, and dere has been no trouble, and I sense no ill-intent toward us. Can you smell dem?”
He shook his head. “There are too many scents. But the doctor and his men are not among them.”
Kwaku nodded. “Dey doctor, he knows we may hunt him. He has crawled into some dark hole to hide for a time and regroup. But soon enough he will be on de hunt for you. Dat is a guarantee. We can spare some time but den you must return to de palace.”
Pari watched Melvale’s eyes soften. “You are right.”
She sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted was to get kidnapped again, locked up, then poked and prodded like a guinea pig.
Melvale tightened his hold on her. “Chocolate. You need chocolate.”
She laughed. “Um, yeah. I think you’re right.”
“Let’s get some.” He took a small sniff, then pulled her along and went right to the candy section. Pari grabbed a chocolate bar. Melvale grabbed six. He smiled at her and handed her the candy. It was a bit much, but who knew how much chocolate was in the Muiraran palace?
Melvale helped himself to a few other goodies, then returned to Kwaku and Zara. He tossed them in the basket, and Pari thought of all the times she’d done the same when she was young. In fact, Kwaku was eyeing Melvale much the same way Uncle Leo used to eye her when she’d toss junk food into the grocery basket without asking if she could have it.
She giggled, unable to help it, drawing Melvale’s attention. “What is it, Kitten?”
“Don’t take this wrong, but you sort of remind me of, well, someone younger.”
He frowned. “I am not a juvenile.”
“No, but…”
“Do not finish that sentence,” he commanded with a grin.
She pressed her lips together at his light tone. He was teasing her, and she liked it. When he turned serious and his eyes began to turn blue, she didn’t know what to expect. There was no controlling him, that’s for sure, and part of her feared for those that might wander too close. She had to learn to deal with this man if she was to spend any more time with him, and from the sounds of it, she might be getting to do a lot of that.
Pari thought of their upcoming date and had to ask. “So, where did you want to go when we… um… go out?”
He smiled. “Leave that to me. But we must do it soon if it’s to be here.” He looked her in the eyes. “Is that what you wish?”
Pari nodded. “I do. I need… normal. I don’t expect you to understand, but if there’s a chance for some, then I want it.”
His head cocked slightly, and his face softened further. “I will grant you this. We will have a normal date.” Melvale smiled. “But first, let’s make our purchases then return to your uncles so they can see you are still here. For now, anyway.”
She stared at him a moment, then smiled. “Thank you!”
He gave her a single nod then surveyed their surroundings. He was still on high alert, and she hoped he didn’t sense anything. She didn’t know what to do with herself when that happened.
They purchased their groceries, and everyone carried a bag. Aside from dinner, they bought things for breakfast and a few lunch items. Pari wondered how long they planned to stay. One day, two? Would her date with Melvale be tomorrow night? Her eyes widened as she realized he was pursuing her on her terms. Could it be…?
No, no one was ever interested in her… oh, wait. Jeffrey was more than a little interested, but in a twisted way. Why did she always attract the weirdos?
Her heart sank, and she gave Melvale a sidelong glance. She’d been accompanied to the grocery store by this godlike specimen, and she was wondering if he was a weirdo? Get a grip, Pari! He’s a freakin’ alien! Weirdo didn’t begin to describe him.
Okay, so Melvale was more of a dorky alien. Pari’s smiled before another thought struck. He was also Bondrah Miah, whatever that meant, and could turn into a brutal savage in the blink of an eye. But he’d never hurt her. She could sense it, and he himself had told her several times. But she still didn’t understand why he wanted to pursue her.
“You are confused,” Melvale stated as he walked next to her.
Pari looked up at him. “How do you do that?”
He gazed at her. “I can smell your emotions, Kitten.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Wow, that is so weird.”
“But handy,” he tacked on.
Pari laughed. “I guess.”
He looked at her again. “You will see just how handy it is, my little one.”
Pari wasn’t sure what to make of that and didn’t ask. She knew he would protect her, but what else would he do? There was still no logical reason to pursue her in a romantic way. She might smell nice to him, but romance? Ha!