Chapter 6
“You see the truth,” he stated it as a fact.
A fact that seemed to impress him greatly.
He paused, studying her expression for a moment before he went on.
“All the people around me are my family. My Clan. I do not have a girlfriend among them. It’s been…
a while…since my last relationship. I got a little tired of the vapid human women who were all too easy to catch and only interested in what my money could buy them.
My beast prefers a more delicate hunt, and as I get older, both parts of my soul would prefer to find a single, true, mate.
Someone to share the rest of our life with.
Someone my Clan could accept as Alpha female.
Someone who could accept them. Love them the way I do.
My Clan needs strong leadership. I’ve managed on my own for a long time, but they need a steadier influence.
A mated pair would help the Clan get to the next level.
A stability in which to forge families and raise the next generations. ”
Whoa. She liked that he was being honest with her, but what he was talking about was a little too intense, so soon into their acquaintance.
She put both palms on his chest and pushed back, just the slightest bit. She liked that he immediately moved back, giving her more space, responsive to her desires.
“I can’t speak to all that right now, but I’m glad you’re being honest with me.
I’ll return the favor.” He hadn’t asked, and she was almost positive his security team had run a detailed background check on her already, but it was only fair to tell him where she stood.
It would also give her a chance to catch her breath, both physically and mentally.
“I’m single. I haven’t been in a relationship in a very long time.
I’ve been disappointed by men a few times in my life, and that has left me somewhat gun shy.
So, if you want to start something here…
well…you’re going to have to bear with me.
” She looked down at her hands, still resting on his muscular chest, feeling a bit shy now that the bare truth was out there.
One of his hands came up to stroke her cheek. “I can be patient,” he whispered, then chuckled. “Not easily, but for you, I can try.”
She grinned, looking up to meet his gaze once more. “Well, at least you’re honest.”
“Honesty,” he repeated, pausing slightly. “That is vital between us. It’s what I want, always. A firm foundation on which to build.”
“You might regret that. I’ve been told that, sometimes, I’m a little too honest for my own good.”
And she had. Her big mouth had gotten her into trouble more than once.
“Never worry about that with me. I read something once that stuck with me. The naked truth is always better than the best-dressed lie,” he quoted.
“Who said that?” It sounded familiar, but she wasn’t sure where she’d heard that before.
“Ann Landers,” he told her, grinning widely. She had to laugh. Big, strong, burly man read advice columns? “My cousin, Nicole, texts me these things, and some of them are actually pretty good.”
“Nicole sounds like quite a character,” Shelly allowed.
She liked the warmth in his voice when he talked about his relative. She could tell he truly loved this cousin of his, which was somehow reassuring. The heartless playboy the press had painted was nothing of the sort, she was happy to learn.
“She is. But you’ll get to meet her tomorrow if you come to the island.”
Was he concerned she would back out now, after having given her word? He’d soon learn she was made of sterner stuff than that. Her word was her bond.
“What time do you expect we’ll get started in the morning?” she asked, moving away.
The intimate interlude was at an end, and rightly so. She didn’t want to end up in bed with this guy on their second encounter. She might be able to stretch and call this a date because he’d brought a meal, but their first encounter had been anything but pleasant in the beginning.
Still. She wasn’t the type of woman who fell into bed with a man on their first date. Or pseudo-date. Or whatever this was. Best he realize that now. Though she was having a hard time controlling her impulse to tackle him down to the sofa and have her wicked way with him.
Acting on every impulse was a good way to get into trouble. She knew that from harsh experience.
He allowed her the space she needed and seemed to accept that she was hitting the brakes for now. A true gentleman. Nice.
“Is eight too early?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t mind an even earlier start if it means more daylight to scout the building site,” she offered.
When he grinned, she knew she’d said the right thing. “How about I send a car for you at six? We can be in the air as soon as you make it to the airport, and hopefully, nobody will discover we’re going someplace together. I assume you like your low profile?”
“I enjoy the notoriety my last name garners in some quarters, but you’re right. I prefer to stay off the society pages and out of the gossip columns.” She reached for her glass, taking a sip as she put even more space between them.
“That may not always be possible when you’re with me, but I promise to do everything in my power to keep things quiet as much as I can. In fact, I prefer that myself, believe it or not.” He gave her a rueful grin.
“You may prefer it, but the papers seem to follow you wherever you go. Must be hard to live your life in the spotlight like that,” she commiserated.
He shrugged. “You get used to it. Up to a point. I let them see as much as will benefit my Clan and keep the rest as quiet as we can. Some of my reputation and supposed exploits is a carefully constructed smokescreen designed to keep the secrets of my Clan. Sort of hiding in plain sight.”
She nodded slowly. “I see. That makes a devilishly clever sort of sense.”
They talked for an hour or so more until, finally, Nick knocked on the front door with a reminder that Mark probably ought to be seen leaving during daylight hours. Mark shut the door in Nick’s face and tugged Shelly into his arms for a long, lingering kiss goodbye.
Her head was still spinning as she watched his car disappear down her long driveway. A slinky shape was outlined briefly in the red glare of the brake lights, and Shelly could swear a feline head turned to stare at her, nodding once before loping off into the trees.
She realized she was clutching one hand to her heart, holding her breath.
He’d really left some jaguars on her property to guard her.
Sweet stars above! What would the neighbors do if anybody caught a glimpse of the prowlers in the woods—either in human or cat form?
She could just see it now—local police with German shepherds and searchlights streaming through the woods looking for intruders.
She hoped like hell that the jaguars knew what they were doing.
Then again, they were part of Mark’s Clan, and Mark Pepard had a reputation throughout the world for hiring and working with only the best of the best. She knew now that those closest to him were like him.
Shapeshifters. Members of his Clan. By all accounts, these shifters were very accomplished people.
That thought firmly in mind, Shelly turned and locked the door. She had a few hours of daylight left and she knew just how she would spend them. Pencil in hand, drawing up lists the old fashioned way. And packing. She was already thinking of what she would need.
But first, she cleaned up what little remained of their lunch. Mark and Nick had taken out the items they’d brought with them, but she’d made coffee using her cups and spoons. She set the dishwasher to run and headed up to her studio to gather a few things she’d need for the trip.
Dawn would come early, and it was time to get ready for what could very well be the biggest adventure of her life.
*
As Mark sat in the back of the black town car, allowing himself to be driven away from Shelly’s house by one of his people, he read the encrypted report the wolves had sent through on his phone.
Shelly had been hassled by someone on her way out of the hotel.
He knew that already from the quick debrief.
But the wolves had done a deeper investigation.
His eyebrows rose when he reached the part where Cassius had positively identified a Venifucus tattoo on the man’s inner wrist. This was not good news.
Mark had known he was a big target for anyone aligned with evil, but to have someone with the might of the secretive Venifucus behind him on his trail was troubling, indeed.
Mark had no doubt now that the man who had shot at him had merely been a stooge for this other character.
For the Venifucus would know all about shifter weaknesses and try to exploit them.
Hence the silver hollow point bullet filled with pure silver dust.
A bullet designed to take down shifters. A bullet designed to maim and kill with as much agony as possible. For evil fed off such things.
If the Venifucus was gunning for him, Mark and his people would have to be extra cautious.
Mark forwarded the report to Nick, adding a few comments of his own.
He was especially glad now that Shelly had agreed to accompany him to the island tomorrow.
She would be out of harm’s way once they arrived.
Nothing and no one came to the island without the entire Clan knowing about it. She would be safe there.
*
The next morning, Shelly was ready and waiting at six a.m. when the car pulled up.
The chauffeur was tall, dark and handsome.
Had to be a shifter, Shelly thought as he introduced himself as Mario and showed her an employee I.D.
card that said he worked for Pepard Industries as a security consultant.
He was driving a long black limousine with darkened windows. As he took her bags to put in the trunk, Shelly’s cell phone rang. She answered, surprised to find it was Mark on the other end.