“Are you okay?” Ruby asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, just had a little… cramp.”
A little while later we were ensconced at a corner table at Chipotle while we ate our food and I questioned my client.
“Do you know any of the other women who were stalked?” I asked, giving her their names as a reminder.
“I mean, I know them because they were on our team for the International Games and we all spent a lot of time together over the summer,” Ruby responded. “But I wouldn’t say that I know any of them well.”
“Who on the national team do you know well?” I asked.
“Jamie Dunphy. Lisa Jonsson. And of course Eleanor.”
“Your friend was on the team too?” I asked, scanning the list to confirm.
“Yeah, we were roommates in Paris and everything. That’s why I’m surprised that I never even had an inkling as to what… who she was.”
“Supes learn early on to blend in,” I explained. “It’s to everyone’s benefit if humans don’t freak out about us. No one wants some kind of a species war, especially when we can all get along together the way we do.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
Ruby was quiet while she finished her lunch. I watched her covertly while eating my own food. I needed to tell Lois that Ruby was my mate. Then again, it felt weird to tell my boss before Ruby herself knew. I hadn’t decided whether I would pursue Ruby or not yet, and if I did, I wasn’t sure when I should tell her, and how I should break the news. Her wolf friend knew already, but she wouldn’t break the supe code and spill the beans before I did.
Maybe I should get a hold of Darla. I’d watched her dance around her mate, watched her juggle her urge to claim her mate with her job as bodyguard. In both cases, she was obligated to provide protection, but we all knew that giving in to your inner demon’s desire to claim a mate made your judgement impaired. At least in the beginning. Your entire body was focused on sex, and sex clouded your perspective, made you careless and sloppy.
I couldn’t afford to be distracted, not when this stalker was after my mate. Not when I didn’t know what I was dealing with. And not on one of my first solo protection gigs. No, I needed to keepRuby at arm’s length, at least until we solved this case, then I could decide if I wanted a mate or not.
I frowned as I replayed our conversation. “You said Eleanor was in Paris with you, right?”
Ruby nodded.
“But she’s not had anything weird happen?” I confirmed. “No notes or messages?”
“No.”
“I should probably talk to her anyway,” I said. “She might not be aware that she’s being watched.”
Then again, if the stalker knew that Eleanor was a wolf shifter, he or she might know better than to go after her. Wolves were vicious fighters, especially if cornered or attacked. I mean, they weren’t as good as vampires, but they held their own.
“We have a home game tomorrow night. I could invite Eleanor to go out for a drink with us afterwards. We sometimes do that anyway, so it won’t look suspicious.”
“Do that,” I responded.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “Bossy, are you?”
I leaned forward, then regretted it when the sweet scent of my mate only grew stronger, muddying my mind with pure, unadulterated lust.
“My job is to protect you,” I said firmly. “This isn’t a democracy. We are not making decisions by consensus. You do what I say, and I keep you alive.”
Most people were intimidated by my no-nonsense voice. Not Ruby. She burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I snapped.
“You do what I say and I keep you alive,” she mimicked, lowering her voice in what I assumed was an imitation of me. “You sound like something out of a bad movie. For the record, I intend to follow your recommendations, and I understand that your goal is to keep me safe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be polite. Apleasegoes a long way you know.”
I stared at her for a long moment and then to my surprise, I laughed. I didn’t normally do a lot of laughing but Ruby was just so cute, like a ferocious little kitten, that I couldn’t help it.
“Please make arrangements for us to spend time with the wolf,” I said when I recovered.
