Chapter Four

As soon as Cassie woke, she glanced at the clock and her mouth fell open. It was nine o’clock.

Now for most people that would be normal, maybe even early since she hadn’t crawled into bed until three in the morning, but she wasn’t anywhere near normal. Cloaking her abilities made it necessary for her to sleep, yes, but never for six hours straight. A couple of hours or so, and then she’d spend the rest of the night fooling around on her computer or watching movies or reading. She never let down her guard that much.

Last night, she had.

And the reason for that was sleeping out in her living room.

She pulled her pillow over her head to smother a groan. She’d brought a strange man home last night, got herself off while listening to him shower, and then slept like a baby.

I’ve lost it.

There was no other explanation. Why was she so drawn to him? Was he more than just a nice guy who was totally hot?

Since staying in bed wasn’t going to resolve anything, she flung the pillow to the side and crawled out of bed, all the while listening intently. Was he already up? Was that rustling she heard?

Wasting no time, she yanked off her nightclothes and pulled on fresh underwear, jeans, and a long-sleeved purple T-shirt. She enjoyed wearing colors, something she hadn’t been able to do in her previous occupation.

Death favored black. And they had a dress code.

She topped it with a purple hoodie and a pair of canvas sneakers. Even with the heat blasting, there was still a nip to the air in the apartment. A pair of her favorite earrings, a glitter of stars for each ear, finished her look.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. The couch was empty, and the blankets were neatly folded and sitting on one end with the pillow beside them.

“Good morning.” The deep rumbling voice coming from her tiny galley kitchen made her blood thicken. Rumpled and as sexy as ever, he leaned against the doorframe, coffee mug in hand.

He was only half dressed, his T-shirt tossed across the living room chair beside his sweater. But a partially naked Alexei was simply too much to ignore.

His impossibly broad chest tapered down to a lean waist. His abs were the stuff of wet dreams. And the muscles in his arms flexed and rippled with every move he made.

Was her tongue hanging out? She feared it might be but didn’t want to reach up to check.

I’m supposed to be angry that he’s made free with my kitchen.

“Here.” He handed her the mug of coffee. “No milk and two sugars, right? That’s how you had it last night.”

And her anger fizzled and died. How could she be upset with a man who not only made her coffee but also remembered how she liked it? Not to mention he’d folded the blankets she’d given him.

“Ah, thanks.” Their fingers grazed when he handed her the mug. Goose bumps raced up her arm. She took a healthy swallow, needing the shot of caffeine.

“You’re welcome.” He turned away, treating her to a view of his back. His amazingly wide and sexy back. The man was incredibly built without the bulkiness of a weight lifter. All his muscles had to come from physical labor of some kind.

That just made him even more appealing.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he continued. “But I made breakfast.” He stuck his head back around the divide. “I’ll replace the groceries as soon as the stores open.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “I was hungry.”

It was the grin that did it. Not a wholehearted smile. Just a tiny curve of the lips, but it was enough to have her almost melting at his feet.

The man was lethal to her senses.

“Why don’t you sit down,” he continued, “so I can serve you?”

She could think of a hundred other ways he could serve her, and none of them had to do with food.

Down girl. She made her way to the small table and sat, giving herself a perfect view. And not at the landscape beyond the window. No, she was much more interested in what was inside.

Not the least bit chilled anymore, she unzipped her hoodie. With a dishtowel slung over one shoulder, Alexei finished scrambling eggs.

No one had ever cooked a meal for her. She didn’t include eating out. She’d paid for those. But this—her traitorous heart skipped a beat—was different. He was cooking for her, just because.

Because he’s hungry.

Maybe so, but logic was taking a backseat to emotion at this particular moment.

He turned, pan in hand, and poured the eggs into a large bowl. “I would have gone out for breakfast, but I wanted to do something to thank you for letting me crash here last night.”

Okay, it was official. This guy wasn’t for real. He couldn’t be. “You’re a serial killer, right?”

Unable to believe she’d blurted something so stupid, she was tempted to bang her head against the table. Control was her strong point, what she was known for. Being around Alexei was turning her into a blithering idiot.

In her defense, she was used to knowing these things. It had been her job to be aware of every death. On the flipside, she also recognized the murderers. Having to figure this stuff out on her own wasn’t easy and gave her a new appreciation of what people dealt with on a daily basis.

Was it her imagination or did those big shoulders slump slightly?

He gently placed the pan in the sink, walked to the living room, and pulled on his T-shirt.

“I’m sorry.” She jumped out of her chair. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that—” How could she explain this? “No one has ever made breakfast for me before.”

He slowly turned and faced her. “I’ve never made breakfast for anyone before.”

Wow, now she felt extra special, and twice as bad. “I really didn’t mean to call you a serial killer. It’s just that you seem too good to be true.”

He flinched slightly and raked his fingers through his thick head of hair. The arms of his shirt strained around his biceps. She was sorry he’d put it on and had no one to blame but herself.

“I’m not perfect,” he told her in a quiet voice. He was so still it was almost unnerving.

“Neither am I.” She reached out and touched his arm. “Obviously. Now why don’t we enjoy this wonderful breakfast you’ve made?”

“You’re sure?” That he would ask made her caution thaw the tiniest bit. And what a liar she was. She didn’t seem to have any caution around Alexei.

“I’m sure.” She went back to the table, took her seat, and gave him a look of expectation.

The grunt he gave was indecipherable, but he went back to the kitchen, picked up the bowl, and brought it to the table.

…

He’d almost blown it. Of course she’d be suspicious of a guy who stayed the night and then took over her kitchen and cooked her food. He’d already established she was friendly but kept people at arm’s length. Just allowing him to sleep on her couch—she didn’t know he’d slept on the floor—was a huge deal.

She was probably hoping he’d be gone by the time she woke up. Maybe he should have left, allowed her to wake up in privacy, but he hadn’t been ready to let go.

He’d told himself it was for work. There was so much more he needed to know about her. But he also hadn’t been ready for the evening to end.

A sleepless night spent on the floor, not even in the same room with Cassie, was one of the best of his life. What that said about him, he wasn’t sure. Maybe it was a testament to how much she drew him in.

Maybe she was a siren. Not that he was sure they even existed. He’d heard rumors, but no one he knew had ever actually seen one. And if they were real, they would probably congregate nearer warmer waters. Not as many men to lure to their deaths around here.

And it was all nothing but speculation.

They were mostly silent as they devoured breakfast. He’d found bacon and ham and eggs and bread and had used it all. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he was hungry. As soon as he left here, he was going to hit up a couple of restaurants for their breakfast specials. Until then, this filled a hole.

“So what are your plans for today?” It was the first time she’d spoken since asking him to stay.

“I’ll probably wander around town. See what there is to see.” There had to be something he could do to pass the time. He could always go back to the place he was currently staying and sleep.

Unlike most vamps, Alexei could be up and about during the day, thanks to his shifter side. But he wasn’t at his strongest or his best and tended to nap a lot.

Cassie picked up her mug and drank the last of her coffee. “You said you’re traveling, but what do you do for a living?”

Without her asking, he retrieved the pot and poured them both another round before settling back at the table again. This was a question he was frequently asked when he was out in the world so he was ready with an answer.

“I buy and sell real estate.”

She paused in the act of adding sugar to her mug. “Real estate?”

He shrugged. “People always need places to live.” That had always been true. And he’d picked up land over a hundred or more years ago for a song that was now worth a fortune. Rather than sell, he’d developed apartments, malls, and subdivisions all over the world. Or at least his company had.

That was the problem with living for so long—he couldn’t be as hands-on as he’d prefer. But he managed. The people who worked for him thought him the great-grandson of the founder. Or was it great-great-grandson? He’d lost track.

“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.

“Maybe that’s reason enough. It’s not something I would expect.” She cleaned the last dish and placed it on the drain tray before sliding the pans into the sink to soak.

“And you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to reason things out.” Being alone a great deal of the time meant she talked to herself too much. Didn’t mean she was going to stop.

Maybe that’s why she found Alexei irresistible. He asked questions and then really listened. Fisting her hands in her hair, she pulled and released a short scream.

“All I want is to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?” She knew it was. A reaper reaped souls. It was as simple as that.

She should catch the first flight out of here to anywhere. Somewhere hot and remote, far away from the ice and cold of Alaska. The heart of the rainforest would work.

It was tough to imagine Alexei trekking through the thick rainforest. She tried but just couldn’t picture it. He belonged in the colder climes with his long hair and bushy beard.

Of course, he’d also look hot as hell with a sweat-covered chest, his hair pulled away from his face, his beard neatly trimmed, and a machete in hand. She sighed and forced the fantasy away.

If she ran, he wouldn’t follow.

Alexei had wiggled his way into her life without really trying. Now he was gone. She’d never see him again, not after sending him away.

He was male and had to have a healthy ego. And he didn’t strike her as the type to stalk a woman. But, then again, what did she really know about such things?

She’d always shown up at such scenes as they were coming to their horrible conclusion.

Not pleasant. So many times, she’d been tempted to take the stalker’s soul instead, putting the woman back in her body. But that wasn’t done.

The universe was a delicate balance. And those that kept it would tolerate no interference. Kill one person or refuse to do your duty and you could start a ripple that might end in the total destruction of the world.

And that wasn’t just a theory or cautionary tale. A dereliction of duty had led the world to the brink before Death righted the situation.

It had been a horrible time.

She dried her hands on the towel, went over to the table, and stared down at the small white rectangle resting there. The only thing on the card was a phone number in black ink. No name, no business number. Nothing.

What kind of man walked around with a card with only a phone number on it? The short hairs on the back of her neck rose.

Whoever Alexei Medvedev was, there was a whole lot more to him than the drool-worthy outer package. She’d barely met him, yet he’d gotten closer to her than anyone since she’d run.

Self-preservation was high on her list of priorities, but she couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not until she uncovered who or what he really was and who’d sent him. Maybe he was nothing more than he seemed, but she was beginning to believe that less and less.

If survival was her goal, it was time to be smart.

She picked up the card and tucked it into her back pocket for safekeeping. Since there was plenty of time before she had to get ready for work, she retrieved her laptop and set it up on the kitchen table.

Time to do some research.