She hung up and he picked up the cooler, waiting patiently for her to show up. He saw her walking across the lobby and his heart rate picked up. She wore a white blouse with a charcoal grey vest buttoned over it. Slim black pants covered her hips and legs, falling to the top of heeled black boots. Her fiery red hair was pulled up into a sleek ponytail that fell down her back, swaying with each stride.
She looked lean, professional, and dangerous.
A tingle of inspiration struck the back of his neck. Oh, she would make a magnificent character in one of his books. This tough warrior woman with a vulnerable streak that she kept well-hidden.
Astra smiled as she approached the door and opened it. “Hi, Rune.” Her eyes flicked down to the cooler bag in his hand. “What’s that?”
“Lunch. While I’m a decent cook, I ordered this from my favorite deli. I can promise it’s delicious.”
Her grin widened. “That sounds good. Why don’t we drop that off in my office while I show you around?”
He followed her to the elevators, trying not to stare at the way her pants clung to her hips and ass. Wow, she was in great shape. He’d noticed during their first date, but assumed it was due to Pilates or yoga rather than the fact that she was literally a warrior from mythology.
He tore his eyes away from her posterior because he wasn’t a complete caveman and asked, “What floor is your office on?”
“The third, which is also the top. Second floor is for our employees and conference rooms, and most of this floor is dedicated to client space and our own security team.”
“Wait, the security firm has a security team.”
She shot him a sidelong glance. “Of course, we do. We’ve made a few enemies after all.”
Okay, he hadn’t expected that.
“So, we’ll start with the top floor and work our way down,” she continued. “Though I’m not going to show you my parents’ or sisters’ offices because I wouldn’t want them invading my privacy like that, so I won’t do it to them.”
He lifted his free hand. “That’s fine. I’m more interested in the general set up and kinds of things you do here.”
She smiled at him as the elevator went up. When the doors opened, she said, “This way please.”
He followed her past a reception area and down a long hall. There were offices on each side with names next to the door.
Sylvie Falk. Sirena Falk. Devorah Falk.
Finally, they stopped in front of an open door. The name plate affixed next to the jamb readAstra Falk.
While her office was large enough for a desk, several file cabinets, and a four-top table, it wasn’t exactly something he would expect from a partner in a big firm of any kind. It was functional and simple. The furniture was large, but not fancy. There were a few photographs on the wall as well as several certificates. And more than one degree.
He put the cooler on the table and wandered closer to the wall. There were three degrees, all in heavy, ornate frames. His eyes wandered over them. Psychology. Criminal Justice. Another psychology degree, this one a Master’s.
Astra came to stand next to him. “What are you looking at?”
He turned his gaze to her. “Probably the smartest woman I’ve ever met.”
The corner of her mouth turned upward. “I doubt that.”
“I don’t know. I’m a little afraid to talk to you now that I know you could psychoanalyze me.”
As he hoped, she didn’t take offense. Instead, she laughed. “Don’t worry. I only psychoanalyze people I consider a threat.”
He mocked outrage. “You don’t consider me a threat?”
For the first time since they’d met, she turned a critical eye to him. Her entire demeanor changed, and ice trailed down his spine. He’d never seen a tiger without bars or Plexiglass between them before, but he got the distinct impression that it would feel a lot like this.
Her gaze was that of a predator—bright, distant, and a hairsbreadth away from attack.
“I think you could be a threat if you chose to,” she said, her tone flat. As cold as her eyes. Then she blinked and the tension faded away. “But you seem more like a lover than a fighter to me.”
“Yeah, I am.” He fought the instinctive responses of his body. As a vampire, when he felt threatened, his fangs wanted to descend, but he was old enough now to control the urge. “And remind me not to challenge you like that again.”
