Chapter 21
21
“ T urn left up here,” Vanessa instructed, pointing to the next intersection.
Tonight, Cole had decided to take the Land Rover, since the Aston Martin would attract too much unwanted attention in the neighborhood where Vanessa wanted to patrol. He was still ticked off that she insisted on working tonight despite what had happened the night before. But he could be insistent too, and there was no way in hell he’d let her go out there alone.
He made the left turn. “Where to?”
“Middle of the block, on the right. You can partially block that driveway with the black SUV. I won’t need long to change my clothes.”
Cole pulled to the curb, blocking part of the driveway that had space enough for two cars side-by-side, leaving enough space so the SUV could leave without him having to move his car. He switched off the engine. Vanessa already jumped out of the car, and by the time he reached the sidewalk, she was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs leading up to a large Edwardian mansion. His gaze was drawn to the house. Fuck, he’d been here before. In fact, he’d been here earlier today. How had he not put two and two together as to who Vanessa really was?
Vanessa already put a foot on the first step, pulling her keys from her handbag, when Cole touched her arm to get her attention. She looked at him, but continued walking up to the entrance door.
“This is your parents’ house?”
She inserted the key in the lock. “Yes. Nice, huh?”
“You’re Gabriel’s daughter?” The assumption wasn’t too farfetched. How many satyrs could there be in a city the size of San Francisco? Not too many, that was certain.
She cast him a quizzical look. “You know my father?”
“Long dark hair, big scar?”
She nodded. “Small world.” She pushed the door open and waved him in.
Cole followed her inside the foyer and let the entrance door snap closed behind him. The house was quiet, though he could hear footsteps from one of the upper floors. It appeared that somebody was home.
In his mind, everything he’d told Gabriel earlier in the day came back in a flash. How would he make sure that Gabriel didn’t find out that his daughter had been in a brothel and slept with him pretending to be a prostitute?
“Let’s go to my room, so I can get changed,” Vanessa said, and took his hand. “And then you can tell me how you know my dad. He’s never told me about you.”
As he walked to the second floor with her, he wondered how to explain to Vanessa that once her dad found out that she was the woman he’d been talking about, the woman who’d made his second cock appear, Gabriel would know the circumstances under which they’d met. He didn’t want Vanessa to be judged for it. Fuck! He should have never told Gabriel that his intended mate was a prostitute. Why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut? Maybe because Gabriel had been so helpful and understanding.
Vanessa opened a door on the second floor and ushered him inside. He was surprised to find himself in an enormous self-contained suite with a living area, a sleeping area, and an ensuite bathroom.
Vanessa opened the door to a large walk-in closet and grabbed a pair of pants, a T-shirt, and a sweater from it.
“So, how do you know my dad?” she asked, while she started to undress.
It was hard to think straight looking at her like this. The self-confidence with which she took off her clothes, knowing that she had an absolute perfect body that he couldn’t get enough of, made him want to toss her on her bed and make love to her again. But this wasn’t the place for such thoughts—or deeds—not with her parents at home—which they probably were, since Gabriel had said that everybody worked the night shift.
“Cole?”
“Sorry, yes, your dad… I only met him yesterday for the first time. He’s the one who told me that I’m a satyr.”
She gave him a quizzical look. “Unless he saw you naked, how would he know about you?”
“This doctor referred me to him. Drake. He’s got a clinic in—”
“Drake, the psychiatrist?”
“You know him?”
“Yeah, he’s the go-to guy that everybody from the office consults when they have issues.” She smirked. “He’s a pretty odd duck.”
“Have you ever been to his practice? The furniture is more than just odd.”
Vanessa slipped into the T-shirt and smoothed it down. “I’ve never been to his office, but I’ve heard his décor is a bit goth.” She pulled the sweater over her head and fed her arms through the sleeves. “Done,” she declared. “Let’s go.”
Cole stood closest to the door and opened it for her, letting her step into the hallway ahead of him. When he followed, he was forced to stop right behind her. The reason was the couple that had just descended from the third floor and now stood only a few feet away from him and Vanessa.
The man was Gabriel. The woman was as stunningly beautiful as Vanessa, and looked barely a few years older than her. She had the same long, dark hair as Vanessa. There was no doubt that this was Vanessa’s mother. They were carbon copies of each other.
“Cole?” Gabriel stared at him in utter surprise, his head ping-ponging between him and Vanessa.
“Gabriel,” Cole said, searching for what to say.
Gabriel turned to his wife. “Maya, this is Cole, the man I told you would make the perfect mate for Vanessa.” He looked back at Cole. “So, uhm, wanna explain to me why you’re coming out of my daughter’s bedroom, when your intended mate is a prostitute?”
“Gabriel, I’m really sorry,” Cole started. “I think I wasn’t very clear earlier this morning when we talked. I might have given you the wrong impression—”
“You were here this morning?” Vanessa interrupted, touching his arm.
“He was,” Gabriel answered in his stead. “He had some important news.”
Was Gabriel trying to suppress a smirk, or was his scar twitching?
“No wonder I went into heat,” Vanessa added.
“I think you two are making our visitor uncomfortable,” Maya said and extended her hand. “I’m Maya, Vanessa’s mother. It’s nice to meet you, Cole.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Maya.” Cole shook her hand, then addressed both her and Gabriel, sweat building on his forehead and nape. He wasn’t prepared for this meet-the-parents thing. “I uhm, I don’t want you to think badly of your daughter, because of how we met…” Fuck, this wasn’t easy.
“Vera’s?” Maya asked, addressing Vanessa.
Vanessa nodded, smiling. “Must have been fate.” She slipped her hand into Cole’s.
Maya gave them both a warm smile, and Gabriel put his arm around his wife, then offered his hand to Cole. “Welcome to the family.”
Surprised that neither Gabriel nor his wife seemed to judge Vanessa for having slept with him pretending that she was a prostitute, and him for believing that she was, he felt his worries dissipate into nothing.
He shook Gabriel’s hand. “Thank you, Gabriel, Maya. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
Gabriel chuckled. “See, I told you I had a beautiful daughter.” He exchanged a loving look with Maya. “I should have been a matchmaker.”
“A matchmaker, you, Dad? No way!”
The young man who’d spoken, came out of a room on the same floor. Cole recognized him as the driver of the Lamborghini, Vanessa’s brother.
“That’s Ethan,” Vanessa said.
“Hi, Ethan, I’m Cole.”
“Hey. What’s up?”
Gabriel looked over his shoulder. “You on patrol duty?”
Ethan nodded. “Chinatown’s mine tonight. Better get going.”
“Want us to drop you on the way?” Gabriel asked. “We’re leaving in a minute.”
“No, I have to drop the Lamborghini at the dealership on Van Ness first.”
“I’m glad you’re not keeping it,” Maya said. “It’s so impractical in the city.”
He winked at his mother and pressed a kiss to her cheek as he squeezed past her. “Yeah, but it would be a total chick magnet. See you guys.” Ethan hurried down the stairs.
“Well, we’d best be on our way too,” Maya said.
“I’m leaving too,” Vanessa said.
“Where are you patrolling?” Gabriel asked.
“Tenderloin.”
“Yeah, about that,” Cole interrupted, addressing Gabriel. “Could you please talk Vanessa out of going out there at night, putting herself at risk?”
Gabriel looked at his daughter, then back at him. “That’s Vanessa’s job. I’m sure she’s told you that.”
“She has. But now I know who she’s up against: vampires, vile bloodsuckers. I can’t let her go out there. Please talk some sense into her, because she sure isn’t listening to me.”
Gabriel and Maya exchanged a quick glance. “Vampires? You know about vampires?”
“I do. Don’t you?”
Gabriel stared at Vanessa. “You told him?”
“Vanessa didn’t have to tell me,” Cole said quickly. “I was attacked by one last night.”
“Oh.” Gabriel motioned to Vanessa. “A quick word in private.” He gave a curt nod. “Excuse us.”
Vanessa and Gabriel disappeared in Vanessa’s room, and Cole was left with Maya. Given the surprised, almost shocked look on Gabriel’s face, there was a good chance that Vanessa’s father would make her see reason.
“Cole, why don’t we wait downstairs for them?” Maya asked with a pleasant smile.
“Of course.”