Shay
She spun at the touch, jumping in shock as her gaze locked onto a pair of grayish-blue eyes set into a gorgeous face. It was mounted atop the body of a god, with more thick muscles and bulging power than she thought was fair to exist in a single man.
“Hi,” Justin Renne—like the pasta, she thought—said to her.
“Hi,” she echoed, words failing her as she realized she was still holding onto his hand, having grabbed it when it fell on her shoulder.
Awkwardly she let it drop from her grip, her own hands staying down at her sides.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
His voice washed over her like the fresh water of a spring, bringing her skin to life as tingles broke out all over her body. Swallowing, she worked some saliva into her suddenly dry mouth, forcing it to make noises that he could hopefully understand.
“I’m, uh, looking to see if anyone has seen my father,” she said. “He mentioned coming to the harbor several times.” She shrugged. “It’s a long shot, but I have to try. So far though, I’m coming up short. I was just about to give up and have some dinner.”
Justin brightened visibly at the change of subject.
“Let’s go get some food,” he suggested, “then, if I can get off work, I’ll help you look for your father.”
She frowned. “You’re working right now?”
He shrugged. “Sort of.”
Shay thought she heard a buzzing in his ear. “Is everything okay?”
Turning, he pointed out the earbud lodged into his right ear. “Just my partner asking who I’m talking to.” He then reached up to his neck and seemed to flick something. “There, now he can’t hear us.”
She smiled. “What do you do, Mr. Renne? So mysterious. Your partner, earpieces, and secret communications. So mysterious.”
Her voice was light, but Shay knew she should be very worried by everything she had just said.
So why do I suddenly feel calmer, safer, and more at ease with him around?
“I try,” he said with a wink. “I can tell you that what I do helps many others. I’m a good guy,” he said seriously.
To her continued surprise, Shay found that she believed him. Realizing that she was still holding the picture of her father in her other hand, Shay stuffed it away into a pocket and smiled at him.
“Dinner you say?” she asked. If she got him to sit down for a period of time, then perhaps she could get a bit more information out of the secretive shifter. “Know anywhere good?”
Justin positively beamed at her words, looking extremely happy. “I sure do,” he said. “This way,” he said, gesturing with one arm down the street, toward the thick of the marketplace. “You’re okay with seafood?”
Shay laughed. “Well, we’re in the harbor district. So I may as well see what your city has to offer.”
They walked along the street. Around them, the signs of commerce were everywhere. Vendors hawked their wares at passersby. Fresh fruits and foods from dozens of countries were on display, each one looking more tantalizing than the next. Elsewhere store owners proudly served customers, showering them with gratitude for their purchases.
Flags of all shapes, sizes, and colors whipped in the wind, creating a craze of color that should have assaulted her senses, but instead made her feel like she was exploring a new country with every few steps. The smells of hot spices made her eyes water at one stop, and the sizzle of fresh meat on a grill made her salivate at the next.
Street performers abounded, the sounds of their native music blending together in a whirl of noise that seemed pulse from the very walls of the buildings, giving everything a fairy tale aspect to it.
“This is incredible,” she said, subconsciously leaning closer to Justin as they passed a spinning man, whirling around a fiery stick as he went, drawing patterns in the air.
The big shifter stood tall, the crowd splitting around them as they moved upstream with an ease that would make the salmon in the bin next to her jealous. His presence kept her calm as they moved. Dependable. Reliable. Two words that came to mind just then when she thought of him.
Sexy. Gorgeous. Those work as well. She pushed back against her internal voice, not willing to give in to its thoughts.
Not yet.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve come here and just enjoyed it for what it is,” he rumbled, his own voice sounding humbled by the throng of humanity around them.
“You don’t get out much, do you?” she asked softly during a momentary lull in the background roar.
He looked downcast for a second, but quickly covered it up. “No,” he admitted. “Not much.”
Shay frowned. He wasn’t lying to her; she had never gotten that sense from him, but he was definitely holding back. There was something about his work that was eating away at him, that he was uncomfortable with. Was it the secrecy, having to keep it all from her? Or was there something about the job itself that bugged him?
A street performer bumped into Justin from the side. Although Justin barely budged as he swayed lightly in her direction, it was enough for their arms to come into contact. As they did, her fingers brushed the back of his hand, sending an electric shock racing up her arm and spreading out into her core, leaving a visible presence behind. Goose bumps rose along her exposed skin, and her nipples hardened instantly in arousal as she inhaled sharply at the jolting sensation.
That was immediately followed by another thought. He’s so hot. His skin had literally been near feverish to the touch, so much so that she had felt it with such brief contact. Even now as she looked at him, Shay expected to see the air shimmer with the heat he had to be exuding.
“Whoa,” she whispered to herself.
“What was that?” Justin said, turning to face her. He had half-turned to put himself fully between her and the street performer, who was now apologizing profusely to the colossal mound of muscle he had collided with.
“Nothing,” she said far too quickly, trying to keep her face calm and cool.
You will not turn into a giddy little girl who just caught the eye of the captain of the football team. You will not. You won’t. You—
Oh hell, it wasn’t every day someone like Justin walked into her life. She was melting already as his eyes fixed on her once more, a muddling pile of goo that he could have done anything to just then.
Her stomach rumbled, signaling it was hungry, and suddenly the moment passed. Her defenses and inner strength returned to her with a snap that straightened her spine.
“Food?” she asked, trying to act like she hadn’t just done what she did.
Justin arched an eyebrow, flashed her a smile, and pointed. “Two places up,” he announced, starting forward again.
Phew, that was close. He had caught on that something was happening in her brain, but it would seem like he didn’t actually know, which worked out just fine for her. She could go another date or two before completely embarrassing herself.
“Sammie’s Shellfish and Eatery,” she said, reading the sign as he showed her inside. “Sounds good to me.”
The inside was typical of a small ethnic waterfront restaurant, clean but well-used tables and chairs lined the left-hand side. There were two bigger ones near the door, then a small handful of four-seater booths after that. To her right were two bar stool-style tables. The bar was next, and behind that was the kitchen. It was small, seating no more than forty people at absolute maximum.
Two fans spun crazily from the roof, the sole source of air movement in the place. The temperature immediately climbed as the door closed behind them. Part of her idly wondered why it wasn’t propped open. There was a chalkboard that told them to seat themselves, and they did, with Justin showing her toward one of the booths on her left.
“Interesting décor,” she said, eyeing up the vintage wallpaper that showed a picture story of what looked to be a ship chasing after a giant squid. It was faded and yellowing along the edges, but not quite ready to start peeling. “Oh my,” she said in surprise, looking at the giant squid that was painted onto the table in exquisite detail.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” he said with a chuckle, pulling the chair out for her before she could seat herself.
Shay smiled shyly at his chivalrous action. It was unnecessary; she was more than capable of seating herself of course, but something about the casual, caring manner with which he moved to do it told her this wasn’t him trying to show off, but simply a part of who he was.
Her stomach fluttered as he sat down opposite her, his muscular form overflowing from the small chair. Big forearms placed themselves on the table, corded muscle in plain sight. All she had to do was reach out a few inches to touch him, to feel the firmness of his physique. It would be so easy…
Something buzzed in his pocket, causing Justin to sit upright, his spine rigidly locking. He continued to stare at her, ignoring it, even though she could hear it from across the table.
“Ah, menus,” he said awkwardly, picking up the laminated sheet from in front of him, pointedly not reaching for his pocket.
It buzzed again, and he jerked in place.
Shay arched an eyebrow at him the next time he glanced at her. “Do you need to get that?”
“No,” he said tightly, saying one thing but clearly meaning another.
“Pick it up,” she said gently. “They wouldn’t be calling you if it weren’t some sort of emergency. Is it your mysterious super-secret spy agency calling?”
That brought a more natural smile to his face, his shoulders bouncing as he laughed. “Yes, yes it is.”
“So then answer,” she urged, reaching out and pushing his hands back from the middle of the table, trying not to shiver with delight as she touched him, her fingers tingling from the contact.
“Are you sure?” he said, looking regretful.
“Yes!” she said firmly. “You’re still supposed to be working, so they’re probably going to fire you for slacking off to come take me to dinner. I refuse to be responsible for you losing your job.”
“They might find firing me a bit difficult,” he said with a grin. Then he sagged in a combination of relief and apology. “Thank you,” he said, pulling the phone from his pocket with one hand.
His other hand reached out, resting gently atop one of hers for a long, drawn-out moment as he put the phone up to his ear. Shay couldn’t hear what was said, but it wouldn’t have mattered if they were yelling in her ear. Her attention was focused on the table between them, where Justin’s hand was casually folding around hers, as if completely at random.
She jumped when his hand suddenly tightened. Her eyes jumped to his face, which was also looking slightly drawn. He said a few words into the phone, then put it away.
“You have to go.” It wasn’t a question.
He winced. “I have to go.” His voice was tinged with frustration.
“Work?” she asked.
“Family.” He frowned. “Which is also sort of work.” Justin shook his head. “It’s complicated.”
Shay smiled gently. “Come find me when you’re actually off work,” she teased, using her hands to shoo him toward the door. Shay didn’t want him to leave, but whatever it was, it seemed important. The fact that he had already skipped out on work once to spend time with her was charming enough. She could tell he would prefer to stay with her, but obviously he had a strong sense of loyalty to whatever, or whomever it was that had called.
So mysterious.
“I’ll find you again,” he promised, rising from the table and looking unhappy about it.
“I know. Now go!” she urged, not wanting him to get in trouble on her behalf. Any more trouble, that was.
He hesitated, then dropped his hand back over hers, gave it a gentle squeeze as he looked into her eyes, then darted from the restaurant with a speed that surprised her. Whatever it was, it must have been more urgent than she imagined.
She watched him go.
Who are you, Justin Renne?