Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(21)

Waiting to see if Lucian would appear was killing her.

He’d shown up tonight for the debriefing and barely looked at the valkryie’s file. Abbey had made the introductions, eying the petite blond warrior-woman. Lucian liked a good battle of wits. He might have met his match tonight.

Which meant she’d just sit here, an empty wineglass next to her and an unread book in her hand. She couldn’t even think of flirting with the handsome man down the bar who’d been sending her suggestive looks for the past ten minutes. A few days ago, she would have been happy to strike up a conversation but right now he seemed too…human.

She sighed. Damned vampire was addicting. She knew the dangers associated with his nature, but every time he started to tease her, all her concerns went out the window. Well, at least the life-or-death concerns. The keep-my-panties-on concerns were ever present.

“Would you like another, miss?” the bartender asked.

Abbey glanced at her watch. Seven minutes to go. “No, thanks,” she replied. “I’ll be heading out soon.”

Would she be alone, though? That was the question of the night.

She pushed the book back into her purse, admitting defeat. Despite her best intentions, she was going to sit here and watch the clock for the next few minutes and hope for a miraculous appearance from the man who had haunted her dreams last night. She knew she should be wishing he’d find his mate and save Fated Match, but a selfish, insidious voice within her only craved a few more moments of feeling special. All Lucian had to do was look at her and her heart thundered in her chest.

As if her thoughts had conjured him, she felt his long finger run up the back of her neck. She tried not to smile as she twisted around on her stool.

“Not the one,” he said, looking at her as though he could devour her whole.

“You can’t possibly know that so soon.”

“Trust me.” He caressed the back of her neck, playing with the strands of hair escaping her clip.

“Then what now?” she asked. Her professional side wanted to call back the words. That woman wanted to shake his hand coolly and walk off with her head held high.

The teenage girl inside, however, just wanted to stare at him dreamily and imagine his lips on hers.

“I know a place I want to show you,” he said. “Will you come?”

“Only for a little while,” she said. “To debrief about the valkyrie.”

His finger brushed along her jaw before he dropped his hand. “Whatever you wish.”

Grabbing her purse, she jumped down from the barstool. Lucian’s hand rested on the small of her back as he guided her outside.

“My car is waiting,” he said.

She glanced at him. “You couldn’t have known this date wouldn’t last either.”

The vampire looked down at her with amusement in his eyes, as if she’d said something endearing. Or naive.

“I knew,” was all he’d say.

He held the door for her as she slipped into the car before proceeding to his own side. The driver took off, needing no explanation.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“A surprise,” he replied smoothly. “No more blaring music and clashing colors.”

She grinned. “I like those places.”

“The place I’m taking you has one of the best views in the city. You’ll enjoy it.”

“So sure of me?”

His lids dipped to half-mast over his eyes. “Cautiously optimistic.”

He wouldn’t say more no matter how much she badgered him for information. When they stopped before a building on the Upper East Side, she frowned in confusion.

“This way,” Lucian said, escorting her from the car.

She glanced at the doorman as they entered the lobby and would have sworn she saw his eyes flash yellow before he dropped his gaze.

A werewolf?

“Where are we?”

“Not quite yet,” he said, pushing the elevator call button.

When the doors opened, Lucian ushered her into the elevator with utter calmness.

As the elevator car rose, she studied him from the corner of her eye. He looked as devastatingly handsome as he always did. All his new clothes must be black, she thought with a critical eye. Not that the color did him any injustice. She thought of her own wardrobe and the variety of colors that delighted her senses when she opened her closet. Tonight she’d paired a blue buttoned shirt with a yellow polka-dotted skirt. She didn’t have it in her to do monochromatic.

One more difference between us, she mused as the floors climbed. And this building better have a nice, tasteful bar on the top floor or I’m going to kill him. It seemed more like an apartment complex than a happening hot spot.