“Wow. I never would have thought that.” When he raised a brow in question, she laughed, and a light red tinge covered her cheeks. “I would have said wilderness guide or wildlife photographer, maybe that you worked on the oil rigs or fishing. Something more physical.”
“Ah.” Most folks looked at him, noted his size, and couldn’t see past it. He’d expected better from her.
“I’m so sorry. I know better than to judge people by their looks.” She leaned forward and reached out to him. “I truly am sorry. That’s the second time I’ve judged you unfairly this morning.”
He couldn’t even be mad with her, because he wasn’t exactly what he was presenting himself to be. Unwilling and unable to reject her overture, he took her hand. “It’s okay.”
Her smile was so very sad. “No, it’s not.” She stared out the small window at the snowy landscape. “People are always more than what they seem. Everyone has a story.”
“And what’s your story?” He had to ask, even if it drove her away. Sure enough, she withdrew her hand and sat back. He missed her touch, the heat from her skin.
“You really want to know?”
His heart raced. He had no idea if a vamp’s heart actually needed to beat, but his big bear heart did. “Yes, I really do.” Would she lie? She wouldn’t tell him the whole truth. No one ever did. It would be up to him to figure it out.
His bear rippled beneath his skin, wanting out, wanting to shield her from whatever was making her sad. And she was sad. He could smell it, sense it. And her normal vibrant personality dimmed as she drew inward and collected her thoughts.
Cassie rested her elbows on the table and propped her chin on her hands. “It’s a family thing.”
Seeing his obvious surprise, she wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, not very original.”
He wanted to smooth the lines of worry from her forehead. Her hair was sticking up in dark tufts on the top of her head. It gave her a sleepy, tousled appearance that made his jeans feel about two sizes too small.
Attraction sizzled between them. He did his best to ignore it, which sure as hell wasn’t easy, and really listened. His instincts, which had always been good, had been enhanced, continuing to develop as the years passed.
Silence made people uncomfortable. Most would rush to fill in the gaps rather than allow the quiet to grow.
Eventually, she sighed and rubbed her face. She looked tired. He wanted to pull her into his arms and cradle her while she slept.
That would not go over well. Instead, he fisted his hands in his lap.
“I was in the family business. Never wanted to be, but didn’t have a choice, either.” She drew her feet up onto the chair and curled her arms around her knees.
Cassie was always in motion, something he’d noticed when she was working. He wasn’t sure if it was natural or due to nervousness. When she tilted her head back, the earrings she wore reflected the light. They were different from the pair she’d worn last night. These were a trio of silver stars in each ear, the stars getting larger as they dropped.
After five minutes passed, he realized she wasn’t going to tell him anything else. That made her rare, as most people would have spilled their guts by now.
Once their basic needs were met, everyone desired love. But what all creatures craved even more was someone to listen to them, to honestly see them and care.
He sincerely did care, as he was usually tasked to assassinate whoever he was sent after and didn’t want to make a mistake. People sensed his genuine interest and talked to him.
He waited a few more minutes before quietly prompting. “You left?”
She nodded. “I left. But my family is not the kind you can walk away from without consequences.”
Who the hell was her family? And what was she? This wasn’t some mafia hit. They had people to handle that kind of thing. It was also something he and his immortal brethren would never involve themselves in. The mafia—Italian, Russian, Chinese, and the rest—had learned that a very long time ago after an incident that had resulted in most of a mafia family being slain by a very pissed-off member of the Brotherhood.
They’d been given a very large berth by that type ever since.
She swallowed the last of her coffee and stood. “Thanks for breakfast.”
It was a dismissal. Deciding not to push his luck, he stood and started clearing the table.
“I’ll do that,” she told him.
She was pushing him away. He understood that she sought her space back, needed to rebuild the walls she’d erected around herself. That was fine. For now. He’d chip away at them bit by bit until he could get through. Most people would expect him to use brute force, but bears were well known for their intelligence. And their stealth.
He set the dishes down, pulled on his sweater and hat, and faced Cassie. She seemed so alone standing in her kitchen with her arms wrapped around her.
“Can I call you?” He knew the answer before he asked.
She shook her head. “It’s probably best if you don’t.”
He reached into his back pocket and drew out a card. It had no name. Just a phone number. He didn’t try to hand it to her but placed it on the table. “If you need me, call.”
He left her alone, fighting the instincts urging him to stay. Pausing on the landing, he waited to see if she’d call him back. When she didn’t, he headed down the outside stairs.
With the memories of the past so fresh, she would be trying to distance herself from him and everyone else.
But he couldn’t stop himself from glancing back. Sure enough, she was standing in the window watching him leave. He didn’t raise his hand. This was not goodbye.
Inhaling the cold air, he sauntered back to town. It wasn’t snowing, but the temperature had to be well below zero. A perfect day.
…
Cassie watched him walk away and shivered. How could he not be cold? She zipped her hoodie, chilled now that she was alone.
What had prompted her to tell him those things?
She turned away rather than keep on watching him. “You didn’t tell him anything. Not really. Lots of people decide not to work in their family business and walk away.”
To keep busy, she piled the dishes in the sink and ran hot water. The apartment didn’t include a dishwasher.
Alexei was different from most men. There was a stillness about him. He put her in mind of an animal on the hunt. He might be into real estate, but he was no stranger to the outdoors, either. He was an enigma. An unknown.
She should pack her bags and run, far and fast. Her family might have hired him to find her. Except that wasn’t their style. They handled this sort of thing on their own without involving outsiders.