Of course, I’d been a child, not yet discovering that he was an arrogant ass.
He was completely casual about the moment, sitting back in his chair and swirling the glass his long, muscular fingers were wrapped around. “Ah, perfect little witch, the true question is what are you doing here? And without your guards?”
I tossed a laugh out as if his finding me was no big deal. How in the hell had he managed to do so? Had he been watching me the entire time? “You bastard.”
“Mmm…” He scanned the room while taking a sip. “Number three showed promise. Until he showed you pictures of the kids. Now, number five was… Just horrific. I’m surprised there are so many repulsive men in town. Is polyester still popular? At this point, I’m not surprised they are lonely. Please tell me you don’t see anything in these… men.”
His expression of disdain was annoying as everything else about him. While the age difference between us wouldn’t ordinarily be a big deal given we were adults, he acted as if six years gave him the right to be a second father.
I leaned forward, fighting very hard not to launch my body over the table. It was a very good thing we were in a crowded bar. “I’m going to make this perfectly clear. Bubba. Get. Out. Now.”
Why was his jaw clenched more than usual and why was he allowing me to see the clear ridge of one of two weapons he carried? It wasn’t about intimidating me. He knew better. He was also aware of my skill as a marksman.
He’d been told to hunt me down.
“Bubba? I’m afraid I can’t do that, little witch.”
“Stop calling me a witch or I’ll put a dark and evil spell on you.”
“Il mio angelo, I would absolutely love for you to try. However, since I’m evidently Satan’s son, I doubt your spell will be as effective as you would desire. But the foreplay will be… tasty.”
Oh, the man drove me insane.
Not only because he was like a dog to a bone, but also because he was without a shadow of a doubt the most handsome stud muffin in New Orleans. If not beyond. “I’m not your angel. In fact, I’m not your anything and you know that. Now, get out. This is my night and I intend on enjoying every moment. Without you. A third person on a date is considered very strange.”
“You shouldn’t have ditched your detail. You know that.”
“I’m a big girl. I think I can handle a night on the town.”
He stood, immediately buttoning his jacket. “I have my orders. I’ll be watching.” Before he turned away, I noticed another grin on his face. He was loving the hell out of this. Was there nothing I could do on my own? I was twenty-eight years old, for fuck’s sake. I owned a business. I was by my own hand a millionaire a few times over. That should provide me with clear autonomy in my life.
“If you interfere, you’ll leave the bar bloody and bruised.”
With quick actions, he was right by my side, leaning over until his face was mere centimeters away. “You seem to forget who and how important you are, little witch.”
His scent was exciting, musky and full of the man’s heightened testosterone. While I’d always thought him handsome, tonight he was close to befitting the term debonair with a deep burgundy shirt, a dark charcoal suit, and a tie other men might consider garish.
It was also last year’s Christmas present from me. He’d admired the Jerry Garcia tie I’d stocked in the Indulgence boutique and on a whim, I’d wrapped it up for a Sexy Secret Santa, which the family and the Capos engaged in every year.
With his eyes glimmering, he noticed what I was looking at, even adjusting the knot in acknowledgment.
Damn that man. Not only because of his sarcasm and innate ability to track me down, but also because he was far too handsome for his own good.
“How did you find me?” My demand was met with a twitch of his upper lip. I’d almost call it a sneer.
“Now, I can’t share all my secrets with you. You know that.”
The bell finally dinged, taking me out of my misery. “Then since I’m so important, I am easily able to tell you to get the hell out.”
“No can do.” His voice was gruff. “I’ll just be standing over there out of your way. Be careful. The predators are out to play. But don’t worry. I won’t allow anything to happen to you.”
He pointed to the wall near the entrance before grabbing his drink, refusing to provide me with an opportunity to issue a harsher command.
Oh, this was one of those times I could barely contain my fury. My family had been controlling every aspect of my life since I was born. Yes, I was a mafia princess. Yes, I realized danger could be around any shadowed corner. I wasn’t a stupid woman, but my God, I was finished with feeling suffocated.
CHAPTER 3
Emmeline
