Thomas’s heart actually stopped, then began to pound. He gripped Alexandria’s arm and began to shove her back toward the theater.
“Thomas, what are you doing?” she demanded.
“Don’t you see it?” He pointed in his excitement. It was Savage somehow, he was certain of it. “It’s him, I know it is. He’s here.” Heads were turning at his raised voice.
“Thomas.” Her voice was soft and soothing. “Tell me what’s wrong. You’re very pale. What did you see?”
He forced himself to look more closely. The shadows were deep and dark—and empty of wildlife. He could see a large planter where the wolf had been. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he allowed himself to breathe.
“You’re shaking, Thomas. Come on, let’s get to the car.” Concerned, Alexandria took a careful look around, scanned the area, and found only humans. You’d better not be tormenting him again, she warned Aidan, but she could not tell if he heard.
“I swear I’m seeing things, Alex. The planter over there looked like...” He trailed off, not wanting to admit his imagination was out of control. What was wrong with him, anyway, that his obsession with Alexandria Houton and Aidan Savage, coupled with his macabre imagination, was producing all-too-real hallucinations?
“It moved?” She was looking at the offending redwood box suspiciously.
“No,” he admitted. “It just looked... strange.”
“Well, I had a great time tonight. The play was wonderful,” Alexandria said softly.
Little liar.The words taunted her, male amusement mocking her.
Her chin lifted, and deliberately she placed her hand in the crook of Thomas’s arm as they headed for the limo pulling up to the curb for them. “Did you like it?” she asked sweetly, her voice oozing syrup. She could almost feel Aidan wince, and he retreated immediately.
Once in the car, Thomas slid close to Alexandria. His thigh rested against hers, and he could feel the soft swell of her breast against his arm. His hand found her chin. “I know you don’t know me very well, Alex, but I’m deeply attracted to you, and I’m hoping the feeling’s mutual.”
His mouth was mere inches from hers, and under his mouthwash and breath mints Alexandria could smell everything he had eaten for dinner—the pasta with garlic, the salad with tarragon-vinegar dressing, the red wine and coffee and mint. She nearly gagged and tried to put some distance between them. “We’ll be working together, Thomas. This isn’t a good idea. At least not so soon.”
“But I have to kiss you. I have to, Alex.” He was leaning into her, breathing heavily.
She made a sound, shrinking back, but in his ardor he took it for consent. As he lowered his head, his eyes caught the glint of red. He cried out and fell away from her toward his door, staring at the rear window, through which two glowing eyes watched him with clear malice. To his horror the window bulged inward, then shattered, spraying glass fragments all over him. The huge wolf thrust his muzzle right into the car, fangs exposed and dripping, diving right for his head. Those red eyes glowed eerily without blinking, boring right into him. He could feel the hot breath on him as those white fangs thrust closer still. Thomas screamed and ducked, covering his face with both hands.
“Thomas?” Alexandria touched his shoulder lightly. “Have you been doing drugs this evening?” She already knew the answer; she could smell it in his bloodstream. “Perhaps we should take you to a hospital. Or a private doctor.”
Slowly, in fear, Thomas lowered his hands. The rear window was intact. There were no shards of glass. Alexandria was sitting calmly in the seat, her blue eyes anxious.
“This has never happened before. I’m hallucinating. It was just a little coke in the men’s room. Maybe it was some bad stuff, I don’t know.” He sounded scared.
“What did you see?” Again she scanned the area, trying to find evidence of Aidan or any other danger, but they seemed to be alone. Maybe it really was the drugs. “Should I tell the driver to take you to a hospital?”
“No, no. I’ll be all right.” He was sweating profusely.
She could smell his fear.
“There’s nothing out there, Thomas, really. I sometimes sense things before they happen, and I don’t have any strange feelings,” she offered, trying to be reassuring.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized hoarsely. “Have I ruined the evening?” His eyes kept shifting from side to side, and he seemed to have developed a nervous tic on the left side of his jaw. He looked far older than he had at the beginning of the evening.
“No, of course not. I had a wonderful time. Thank you for thinking of the theater. I really needed to get out,” she assured him. “But Thomas, I don’t believe in taking drugs. I have my little brother, Joshua, to think about. I realize it isn’t my business what you choose to do on your own time, but I’m not comfortable with cocaine or any other drug.”
“It’s not like I’m some junkie. I just use it occasionally for recreational purposes.”
“Not around me.” That alone was a good enough reason not to be with him. She thought much less of him now, knowing that he would use narcotics to enhance the evening, as if he was incapable of enjoying it on his own.
“Fine,” he said sulkily, “I won’t.”
The car was already pulling into Aidan’s circular drive. The wrought-iron gates had been left open in anticipation of her return. For a moment she sat still, staring at the heavy gates. They represented a loss of freedom. She wasn’t ready to go back to the house and admit defeat. So Thomas Ivan and she didn’t have the least bit of chemistry between them. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t find another man.
She slid quickly out of the car, eluding Thomas’s clinging hand. “Thank you again, Thomas. I’ll see you soon. Be sure to get back to me on your ideas for the designs.” And before he could get out to accompany her to the door, she was running lightly up the marble steps to the wide front porch. She waved once and slipped inside.
Thomas swore and sat back in the seat. Before he could close the door, he saw the heavily muscled wolf stalking him across the lawn. “Go! Go!” he shouted to the driver, slamming the door hard.
The driver fishtailed out of the driveway and away from the house, and Thomas breathed a sigh of relief. All he wanted to do was get home and get very drunk.
Alexandria moved through the house without turning on a light, found the phone, and made a call. She could see perfectly in the darkness and ran easily up the stairs. Aidan thought he had won—he had monitored her all evening—but it wasn’t over yet. She was not ready to concede defeat.
In her bedroom, she removed the black velvet dress and reached for her faded, comfortable, worn blue jeans and a simple pale blue shirt. The change took only minutes, and she tugged on tennis shoes and headed back downstairs. The cab she called had not yet arrived, so she sat outside on the marble steps and waited.
“And where are you off to now?” Aidan asked silkily, appearing out of nowhere to loom over her, making her feel small and fragile.
“I’m going dancing.” Her eyes dared him to deny her.
His body tightened. “Dream date didn’t go well?”
There was the briefest glimpse of amusement in her eyes, but her mouth frowned severely. “As if you didn’t know. Try not to look so innocent. It doesn’t suit you.”
He was unrepentant, grinning at her, turning her heart over. Just the sight of him brought her body surging to life. “Go away, Aidan. I don’t want to look at you.”