“Okay, here I come,” Rook warns politely. “Are you ready?”
I give him a stiff nod and brace myself for the physical contact that I know is coming. Strong arms wrap around me from behind, locking me against a firm chest. For an instant, panic creeps into my thoughts, but I push it aside and try to focus.
Rook has been training me for two weeks now. This is our sixth session. I’m starting to instinctively trust him, and it’s getting easier to have him touching me. It helps that he always warns me before he puts his hands on me, and that he’s always so professional about it.
Rook’s thoughts are similar to my own. She’s doing great. Relaxing. She hardly flinches anymore. We’re going to have to start practicing without me warning her every time so that she can get used to being taken by surprise.
I’m not looking forward to any surprise attacks, but he’s right that I need the practice. It would be nice if I didn’t practically jump out of my skin every time someone touches me.
Releasing a slow, calming breath, I brace my foot, drop my shoulder…and flip a six-two one hundred eighty-five pound man onto his back. His grunt as he hits the mat is highly satisfying. My small audience cheers and whistles. Okay, Oliver claps and Ren whistles. Cecile, Wulf, and Enzo aren’t paying me any attention. They’re too busy planning my stupid underworld coming-out party.
“Excellent job, Nora. You’ve already got it down,” Rook says without a hint of a groan.
I’m envious of his werewolf genes. If I’d been slammed to the mat as many times in a row as he has now, I’d be sore for days. We’ve been at this for two hours, and I’m drenched with sweat and on the verge of collapse. He’s got a sexy shine to his skin and looks like he’s ready to run a marathon.
I hold my hand out, offering to help him up. “Great. Now if only I had a tenth of your werewolf stamina.”
Rook accepts my hand with a laugh and easily climbs to his feet. Our hands clasp just in time for me to catch his internal response. If only. Before I can let go of Rook’s hand, he gently tugs me to him. I stumble forward, and my hands fall against his chest. “You would be glorious as a werewolf,” he murmurs in a low voice.
A shiver runs up my spine that I’m not quite able to hide. Rook cocks a brow, then laughs when I scramble to put a little space between us. I glare at him, and he gives me an impish grin. “Sorry. My wolf enjoys teaching you as much as I do,” he admits. “He’s a little closer to the surface during our sessions.”
I’m always fascinated when Rook speaks of his wolf. It’s as if they’re one and the same and yet separate at the same time. I know what he means about his wolf rising to the surface, though. Something about Rook changes when his wolf is awake or whatever. He gets more confident, more forward, more primal. You’d think it would scare me, and maybe it does make me a little nervous, but there’s also something undeniably sexy about Rook the wolf. Of course, Rook the man knows that, and likes to mess with me.
I roll my eyes. “Well, make sure you keep wolf Rook on his leash when we practice, because I can barely keep up with Rook the man.”
“Aww.” Rook playfully chucks his arm over my shoulders and leads me toward the small group of people who have agreed to hang out while we train. “You’ll get in better shape the longer you work out—nothing comes overnight. But you do have some natural ability. Maybe you can’t run three miles yet, but you’re picking up these moves like you’ve been doing them in your sleep your entire life.”
“And you look sexy doing it,” Ren says, grinning at me. He turns his smile on Rook and adds, “And so do you. You sure you don’t like men even a little bit?”
“I’m sure, Ren,” Rook says with a grunt.
Ren frowns. “Such a pity.”
“You’re right about her ability,” Wulf says to Rook, saving his brother from Ren’s advances. He eyes me suspiciously. “You’re picking it up quickly, almost too quickly. You’ve really never had training before?”
I crash to the small bleachers, shaking my head. And yes, Wulf’s home gym is big enough to have its own small set of bleachers off to the side of the room. It also has a track, a boxing ring, a pool, and all the workout equipment a person could ever need. The man renovated an old warehouse solely for workout purposes since he’s a wolf living downtown and doesn’t get the chance to go running in his beast form as much as he’d like. It’s a great setup.
“I’m sure I’ve never had any training. I had to defend myself plenty of times growing up, but no one’s ever even shown me how to throw a proper punch.”
“Maybe it’s one of your gifts,” Rook says.
I shake my head again as I grab a towel and wipe the sweat from my body. Rook has been making me train in a sports bra and shorts while he’s in a tank top and shorts because he wants me to get used to having to fight while being bombarded with thoughts. It’s a smart idea, but exhausting as well. “My gifts are all psychic-based abilities. It’s a mind thing. I’ve never had any physical advantages.”
“You’ve never tried before,” Wulf argues. “If you really, truly have some underworlder blood in you, then it’s a good possibility you have at least a hint of physical superiority over normal humans. Most underworlders do.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll take it. I could use an advantage with as many people who try to attack me.”
Rook and Wulf frown matching sexy frowns. Beside me, Ren lets out a soft sigh and releases enough of his incubus pheromones to make everyone in the room shout at him to knock it off.
“Don’t worry, Nora,” Rook says, still glaring at Ren. “Give me some time, and I’ll whip you into a proper badass.”
I’m still trying to catch my breath from Ren’s little lust roofie, but I grin at the idea of me in some tight leather outfit, throwing punches and wielding a Katana sword like the heroines in all of those urban fantasy books. I wouldn’t mind being a badass. Not that I’d go looking for fights, but they certainly have a tendency to find me.
“Every woman should know how to defend herself,” Cecile chimes in, in her singsong voice. “But don’t worry too much, Nora. Because after this party, everyone in the city will know and love you. You don’t mind if we move the location from my penthouse to Terrance’s club, do you?”
My eyes narrow at the sweet smile she shoots me. I don’t believe her innocence for a second. “Why would we need to do that? You promised this thing would stay small.”
She waves me off. “Small is a relative term, darling. There are a lot of underworlders in this city, and word about your party has gotten out. I’ve got people ringing my phone nonstop, asking for the details.”
“Just tell them it’s private.”
Cecile cocks an eyebrow at me. “The point is to make people like you, and denying them invites to the party of the year would hurt their feelings.”
I groan. “Ugh, whatever. I’ll talk to Terrance about it.”
Cecile beams a victorious smile. “Thank you, dear. And don’t worry, you’re going to love it. I promise.”
“If you say so.”
Oliver, who’s once again sitting back letting the others do the talking, shares a secret smile with me, knowing I’m going to hate this party. I’m so glad he’s promised to come. He said he’d hide out with me somewhere, but I know that’s only wishful thinking. Cecile is never going to let me escape the spotlight. But I’m still glad Ollie will be there. Seeing him in the crowd, just knowing he’s there if I need him—like right now—always calms me down.
I make my way to my quiet friend and bump his shoulder with mine when I sit down beside him. Since he knows how much I hate hugs and handshakes, shoulder-bumping in greeting has kind of become our thing. “Thanks for coming,” I tell him. I’ve made sure to tell him thanks each time he’s shown up. He’s my only friend who’s been at every single session. “You don’t have to come to them all, you know. If it’s too much…”
“I don’t mind.” He pats the computer in his lap. “I can do my homework from anywhere.”
I eye the computer with doubt. “Homework? Or Dragon Quest X?”
He chuckles, flashing me the cutest guilty smile. “Always a little of both.”
He closes out of his homework and sobers up. “What is it?” I ask, startled by his grave expression.
“I spent the week looking through FUA records for cases that sounded like your mom’s.”
My stomach leaps up into my chest. “And?”
His face falls. “I found nothing. I’m sorry, Nora. I looked at everything over a five-year span, and there wasn’t a single report about rogue vampire killings.”
So much for that. I don’t know what I expected anyway. Finding out the people who killed my mother were caught wouldn’t bring her back. “Thanks for looking, at least.”
A pained expression crosses Oliver’s face, and he bites his bottom lip. “Nora…”
“No, it’s okay. I’ve been dealing with not knowing for nearly twenty years now. I’ll just have to make peace with it going unsolved. Maybe I really do need this vampire party.”
“There are other ways we could look into this. I could hack the Detroit PD’s database. Maybe there were other cases like yours, and the FUA just never flagged them. I mean, you fell through the cracks somehow. What’s to say others didn’t, too?”
I swallow hard. Part of me really wants to look into this deeper, but another part feels it’s a hopeless case and a useless cause. Finding my mother’s killers might give me closure, but it wouldn’t make me fear vampires any less. “No,” I say with a heavy sigh. “It’s all right, Oliver. You’re awesome for trying, but it’s probably best just to move on. Case closed.”
Oliver hesitates, but then gives up and nods. “If you’re sure.”
I hesitate, too. “Yeah. I’m sure. Thanks, though.” I shake off my melancholy and force my attention to my small group of friends busily plotting my demise—or, my underworlder coming-out party, but it feels like the same thing. “So!” I clap my hands and smile with false cheer. “Who are all these decent vamps that I’m not going to be scared of?”
“Why look for others when you’ve got the best of the best, right here?” a velvety voice says.
I’m startled to see Parker walking toward me. What’s he doing here, and who spilled the beans of my schedule to him? I want to ask, but the words stick to the roof of my mouth. All I can croak out is a small, “Hey.”
Parker smiles hesitantly. “I am going to make it on the coveted guest list, right?”
Cecile’s eyes light up, and she claps her hands together. “Of course you are! You were first on the list.”
Parker looks almost relieved. Then he takes a seat on the bleachers in front of me, and his smile turns to a look of sheer determination. “I’m not letting you avoid me any longer.”
I wince, and at the same time, my pulse reacts to his dominant alpha male act. Cecile interrupts our staring match. “Oh! Parker, darling.” She snaps a couple times to gain Parker’s attention. He looks her direction, and I suck in a deep breath. I hadn’t realized I was holding it.
“Since we have you here,” Cecile says, “would you be a dear and help me come up with a few more names to add to the guest list? You know most of the vampires in the metro area. The point of this party is to introduce Nora to as many nice vampires as possible, after all. We need to get our girl used to your kind.”
Cecile winks at Parker, and he chuckles. “I’m sure I can come up with a few names for you, though…” He looks my way and pins me with another determined stare. “I know a better way for you to get used to vampires. Have dinner with me.”
Everyone around us falls silent. Parker holds my gaze, refusing to let me look away. I want to say yes. I know I need to get over both my fear of vampires and of men in general, and I know Parker would be a good person to start with. He’s a good guy, and there’s no denying he makes me feel things I thought I’d never feel for a man, but he’s Henry’s right-hand man, and I hate Henry.
“I—”
“Please, Nora. I really need to talk to you.”
His deep blue eyes are pleading with me, making it hard to stick to my plan—which was to never spend time with him again. The truth is, I’m scared of him. Or, I’m scared of myself around him. He lowers my defenses in a way I don’t like. And he gets my blood pumping in a way I like too much.
“You’re here,” I say stubbornly. “Let’s talk.”
Parker sighs. “I need to speak to you privately. It’s important, Nora. Please.”
I think I surprise everybody when I break down and agree. It’s just that I don’t think he would lie to me or try to trick me into hanging out with him, so whatever it is he wants to tell me, he must really think it’s important. I’m intrigued. “Okay, fine. But dinner’s on you, and I’m not dressing up.”
Parker’s mouth curves up into a smile that reaches his eyes. “I can live with that.”
“Fine,” I say again. “I’m going to hit the showers. Don’t give Cecile too many names while I’m gone. This is supposed to be a small party.”
I glare at Cecile, and she simply waves me off with a beautiful smile.
Once I’m clean, I change into the only clothes I brought with me—a pair of jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and Rook’s jacket that he told me to keep. It’s not much, as far as date outfits go. I also don’t have a blow dryer or any makeup. “Stop it, Nora,” I chide myself when I realize I’m stressing over what I look like for Parker. “This is not a date.” But I can’t help thinking that the last time I went out with Parker strictly for business, it totally ended up being a date.
Parker likes to push my boundaries. On our not-a-date-date last month, he struck a deal for a kiss good night that I ended up not being able to follow through on. I’d nearly had a full-blown panic attack right there in front of the restaurant. I’d rather not have a repeat of that tonight, and at the same time, I can’t stop thinking about that almost-kiss. “Get a grip, woman.”
With a deep breath that I let out in a long puff, I zip up the track jacket that’s too big for me and head back out into the gym, where Parker is still talking with Cecile. Ren and Enzo are involved in the conversation now, too, and Cecile is scribbling down notes in a notebook with a look of delight that makes me groan. “Small, Cecile!”
“Themed!” she replies.
I shoot Oliver a help me look, and he lifts his hands, palms out, as if to say What can I do about it?
“You ready?” Parker asks, rising to his feet.
I have to push down a bundle of butterflies when he offers me his arm like a true gentleman. As I accept it, I look over my shoulder back at Oliver. “You working tomorrow?”
He nods.
“Great. I’ll stop in before I go to work and bring you dinner.”
His face lights up at that. His eyes flick to Parker quickly, and he says, “It’s a date.”
I almost laugh when Parker’s jaw clenches. Oliver, the rascal, only said that to annoy Parker. Usually, Oliver is sweeter than sugar, but he’s not a big fan of Parker. Aside from having his own feelings for me, he doesn’t like the way Parker pushes me until he gets his way—like with dinner right now. His attempt to be rude and overprotective is adorable. I find myself grinning and winking at him, even though I shouldn’t be encouraging his behavior.
Parker takes the high road and doesn’t comment as we head out into the small parking lot in front of Wulf’s warehouse gym/home. He clicks his key fob to unlock his black Mercedes and quietly says, “Thank you for agreeing to dinner tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” I huff into my hands, jumping from toe-to-toe. I didn’t realize how cold it’s gotten just in the last week. “It’s freezing out here.”
When Parker opens my door for me, I dive into the car and rub my arms while I wait for him to get in and turn up the heat. As soon as he’s in and he shuts the door, instead of reaching for the heater, he breathes in a deep breath and wrinkles his nose. He eyes me for a long moment, chewing on his thoughts while I continue to warm myself with good old-fashioned friction. “Okay, I’m sure vampires must be impervious to the cold and all, but the human needs heat.”
“Are you wearing Rook’s jacket?”
“What?”
He’s eyeing the jogging jacket I have on with distaste. My cheeks flush. I’d forgotten all about the jacket and the fact that I would smell like werewolf all night. “Sorry. It’s the warmest thing I’ve got at the moment. I keep meaning to go buy a coat and just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Right.”
Parker finally turns up the heater and buckles his seat belt. When he heads away from downtown instead of toward it, I frown. “Where are we going?”
“Macy’s.”
“Macy’s?”
“We’re going to buy you a coat before dinner.”