When Will I See You Again (11 page)

This wasn’t going to be easy all the way around, was it?

The car wasn’t as cramped as he thought it would be, but it was very close quarters. Especially considering Raoul sat in the passenger seat wearing nothing more than a thin sheet. He tried not to peek too much, but the man was right there, after all, and Alexx was only human.
Having seen the total package—complete and in the buff—and having that image indelibly seared into his brain wasn’t helping either.

Focus on the car. Let’s get it started.
Key in hand, he turned his attention to driving. His exuberance dissipated as soon as he caught his first glimpse of the Ferrari’s control panel. He blinked at the alien looking gauges. They reminded him of something he might expect to find in a space ship.

“Holy shit!”

A car horn blatted loudly. Alexx jumped. He thought it was something he’d done, although he was sure he hadn’t touched anything yet. But when he looked behind him, he realized it wasn’t him, it was Officer Friendly. He’d pulled the patrol car into position behind the Ferrari and was waiting for Alexx to start the car and drive.

Yeah, start the car. Easier said than done.

“The ignition switch is next to the big red button marked Engine Start.” Before he could move—or perhaps he didn’t move fast enough—Raoul laid his palm over the hand that held the key, adjusting its position. “There. Insert and turn.”

Trembling, Alexx did as he was instructed, and the Ferrari purred to life once more.

“Here, just a minute.” Raoul draped his body across Alexx’s, pushing buttons and making mysterious adjustments, the heat he gave off matched by the warmth that suffused Alexx. Straightening at last, he slumped back into his seat. “There, the computer will take care of everything. Just drive it like you would yours. You won’t have to worry about changing gears.”

“Okay.” Good thing. Alexx didn’t know the first thing about driving a stick.
“It’s not a stick.”

Did he just read my mind?

“That’s what everyone expects, but it’s not. Like I told you before.”

Oh yeah, when he’d obviously been too distracted to listen
properly.

“Go ahead, put it in gear. There.” He pointed to the console between the seats. Alexx pushed the button he indicated, and stepped on the gas. The car choppily lurched a few feet.

“It won’t break.” Raoul snorted. “And be more even with how you step on the gas, will you? I’d rather not get whiplash. And I’d rather not have Ivan rear-end me.”

Alexx blushed, mumbling an apology.
Let’s try this once more.

He pressed on the accelerator again—more firmly, less jerkily, gaining a smoother forward momentum as he guided the car toward the parking lot exit. “Which way?”

“Take a left on the outer road and just keep going ’til I tell you.

It’s a little ways out.”

“All right.”

Again, having a map of the area would have been helpful. Or GPS. Come to think of it, something this swanky probably came with its own private navigation system. Not that he needed it, not with his own personal pilot aboard.

Alexx glanced in the rearview mirror. The policeman was right behind him, maintaining a close but comfortable distance. Not that he was thinking about trying to outrun him. Alexx wasn’t the kind to blatantly break the rules. He’d always obeyed them. He’d never even received one speeding ticket in the few years since he first started driving. But if he were thinking of speeding, this would certainly be the car to do it in.
He cautiously glanced at Raoul. The man stared out the windshield, his brows slightly furrowed. Alexx resisted the temptation to reach over and smooth his troubles away. He couldn’t stop thinking about last night. About the wolf who’d saved his life, taken an injury on his behalf, and then cuddled up against him all night long in the shelter of the small cabin. About waking in the morning to find the wolf gone and a naked man in his place, and not just any man, but Raoul Marchand.

He had so many questions he wanted to ask, things he wanted to know. But he’d already noticed that this man wasn’t exactly amenable to being asked questions. In fact, he tended to dodge them rather handily.

When he glanced back at Raoul, he found those gray eyes fixed on him with a gaze that sent shivers coursing down his spine.

Somehow he found the courage to speak.

“I never got a chance to say thank you, Raoul.” Alexx’s tongue felt thick in his mouth. He licked his lips and swallowed, trying to dispel the furry feeling. “For last night, I mean. You risked your life for me. I’m sorry you were hurt protecting me.”

“Don’t be. I told you, we heal fast.”

“I know, but he could’ve killed you. He
would’ve
killed me if you hadn’t come along.”

“It did seem that way,” Raoul admitted. “Do you know why he wanted to hurt you?” Alexx noticed he seemed interested, in spite of his pretense of indifference.

“I have no idea.”

“Did he talk to you inside the club, maybe? Hit on you and you rejected him for someone else? Someone younger or better looking?”

Alexx bristled, irritated that Raoul could think he only came to
his nightclub in order to get laid. “I didn’t go to Charisma to pick anyone up. Like Miller said last night, I’m writing a story for the
Chronicle
and I wanted to do research for it.” He stiffened, turned his attention back to the road, and counted to ten before he relaxed enough to continue.

“I guess I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I dunno. I was standing in the middle of the parking lot, looking for Miller, and this guy came out of nowhere. It was so dark, I’m not even sure I could give a useful description of him to the police.

Plus everything happened so fast.”

“Hmmm.”

Alexx watched him place one shapely thumb between his teeth, biting at it thoughtfully. “Why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me everything you do remember? That might help you sort it all out.”

That seemed like a sensible idea. A good reporter had to be able to remember important details, even if he was personally involved in what happened. Taking a deep breath, Alexx began with the point at which he and Miller were released into Foster’s custody, omitting what came right before, when he and Raoul had so briefly met. He wasn’t about to admit to the attraction he felt then—still felt. He continued with what he remembered of being in the gallery, partying in the private rooms with people he didn’t know, losing and looking for Miller, and then on to the events in the parking lot, ending with the chase into the woods. When he was done, he waited to hear what Raoul had to say.

Alexx watched Raoul frown, as if mulling over his words.

“You say you don’t think he was inside? Didn’t give you a drink?

Maybe one with a drug in it?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Alexx shook his head. “Besides, I only
took sips out of each drink. I don’t think I had enough of any one of them to get drugged or anything.”

“But you were buzzed, weren’t you? Feeling no pain?”

Alexx blushed, remembering that he’d felt just that way.

“So let’s go with the supposition that he was not inside Charisma, but happened to wander into you in the parking lot by chance. Why did he deliberately chase you into the woods? Seems like a better way of losing a victim than keeping one.”

“Maybe he thought I’d be stupid enough to go back into the club with him and he wasn’t thinking about that?” Alexx didn’t have any other theories at the moment.

“Maybe.” Raoul didn’t sound convinced. “Turn left here.”

Alexx peered ahead of them. “Where?” All he could see on the left were trees and more trees. No sign of a turn-off or another road.

“There.” Raoul pointed to a barely visible thoroughfare that touched on the outer road. There was no road sign. In the dark, it would be impossible to find, if you didn’t know where it was.

Alexx turned the Ferrari onto the narrow road, expecting the worst.

He was surprised to find that it was well-paved, and just as smooth as the interstate, if not smoother.

“It’s my road,” Raoul explained, although Alexx hadn’t asked.

“Does it have a name?”

“Yes. Keep Off.”

Alexx snickered. “Keep Off My Road?”

“That’s it.”

“I bet the postman loves that.” He turned his head, in time to see the grin that flitted across Raoul’s face just before it disappeared.

“I don’t get any mail here.”
“Oh.”

They fell silent, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Alexx continued to eye Raoul, looking for more of that smile, another flash of his special humor.

Raoul met Alexx’s glance with one of his own and for a long moment they stared at one another, before Raoul turned his head away. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

This road was only wide enough to allow one vehicle to pass at a time. Alexx wondered what would happen should a second vehicle try to get by at the same time. One would be forced off the road, undoubtedly, but trees loomed along almost every inch of the way on either side. That would be a difficult feat to accomplish.

Luckily, it appeared that no one else traveled along this path.

“Right here,” Raoul instructed. This time Alexx had a better idea what he was searching for, and he found the indicated turn without as much trouble. Except it wasn’t a road, it turned out to be a driveway. No wider than the road, it led to a house set inside a small clearing in the trees.

Alexx was surprised. He’d expected Raoul to live in a fancy condo, or a large mansion, or something that was elegant and expensive. Just about anything other than a log cabin. That would not have been his idea of Raoul’s home. Yet here it was.

It wasn’t large, although it was bigger than the place they’d slept together the night before. Where that one seemed designed for utilitarian purposes, this one had a pleasing aesthetic beauty about it that the other lacked. The narrow-chinked logs looked like they might be cedar, as did the front porch that ran the width of the front, overhung by the pitched roof. And yet it was a sterile beauty.

It didn’t look lived in, despite the curtains at the windows. There was no rocker on the porch, no welcome mat on the stoop, no
flowers anywhere—none of the many simple touches that turn a house into a home.

Alexx almost asked was this really the place, but he held his tongue and brought the car to a halt near the cabin. He managed to park it without asking. Twisting in the seat, he glanced behind him.

He saw no sign of the police car. Surely the driveway wasn’t too narrow for him to navigate?

As if reading his mind again, Raoul offered, “He’s waiting out on the road. He knows better than to come up here. And he also knows there’s no other way out.” He climbed out of the Ferrari.

Alexx mulled over his words as he followed suit, but his attention was quickly diverted by the sight of Raoul’s sheet-clad body striding quickly toward the house. He stood uncertainly by the car, the key in his hand, until he heard, “Are you coming?” and he hastened after Raoul, who by that time was already inside.

He found himself in a large open wood-paneled room that seemed to comprise most of the interior living space of the house.

It served as living room/family room/kitchen all rolled into one.

Against the far wall sat stove, refrigerator, cabinets, sink, and shelves—everything you’d look for in a kitchen. But there was no evidence of food, and no kitchen table. Alexx wondered if he opened one of the cabinets would he find that the cupboard was bare?

In the living portion of this room were a sofa, table, lamp, and one armchair. So there must be electricity, Alexx surmised, although there was no sign of a television or stereo, or anything else that might be considered a form of entertainment. Not even a bookshelf. And no curios or knickknacks here either. A small hallway led off to the left. He could see two closed doors, and an open one which revealed that the cabin did indeed have indoor
plumbing.

Raoul was shedding his sheet as he headed toward one of the closed doors. Alexx found himself staring at his glorious ass, fantasizing about touching it. He squirmed uncomfortably, trying to mentally force down his rising erection as inappropriate to the time and place. Raoul entered the room, leaving the door open. His voice carried easily back to Alexx. Peering after him, Alexx could make out the corner of a bed, but nothing else.

“So what is this article you’re researching, anyway? And why were you doing your research at Charisma? Or was that just an excuse to party at the
Chronicle’s
expense?”

“Um, I was assigned to do something about the supes— supernaturals,” he hastily amended, “in Crescent Bay, and their impact on the local economy.”

Raoul’s dark head hove into view, his eyes boring into Alexx’s.

“So you chose Charisma. Why? Because of me?”

“Well, not just you. Miller said it was the place to start. So I started there.” It sounded so lame when he put it like that.

“Did you learn anything of value?”

“I met a nice werewolf,” Alexx offered, hoping to make Raoul smile at least a little.

The other man disappeared. Moments later he walked back out of the bedroom, shrugging into a white button-down long-sleeve shirt. He’d pulled on camel trousers, but they hung open, unbelted, while he carried shoes in one hand for his now-stockinged feet.