Tiger Born (7 page)

Chapter Five

The dinner party broke up soon after Ward collected a few more details about Tina’s cousin. Deja watched in amusement when Tina’s frustration surfaced because Heath and his dad saw Joe off and then went to another part of the house to discuss matters, putting Heath out of her reach. Deja laughed and shook her head.

“Coreen, thanks for dinner. It was delicious, and most of the company great.”

“Deja,” Coreen scolded.

Deja widened her eyes. “What?” She smiled and hugged the older woman before stepping out of the house onto the front porch. A chill stirred the night air, and she stretched her arms over her head before zipping her jacket. An odd stirring started inside her, and she noticed a longing to shift and run off into the trees for a bit of exercise. She frowned. Sure, many of the citizens of Siberia did just that, but she’d never given into such an impulse. The thought of being alone out there in the darkness didn’t appeal.
No, on some level it does. Well, forget it, little tiger. I’m still a woman. Settle down!

A step behind her brought Tina’s scent, and her mood plummeted. She turned and scowled as the woman slipped by her and stepped off the porch. Deja curled her hands into fists at her sides. Clenching her jaw didn’t keep the words from popping out of her mouth of their own accord. “Stay out of Heath’s face.”

Tina, in the act of walking away, stopped and spun slowly toward her. The Cheshire cat smile spreading over her face brought up an urge for violence in Deja, but she tamped it down. Tina took a step back toward Deja.

“You don’t even understand what you are and what Heath needs from you.”

Deja’s hackles rose. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I satisfy my man just fine. He’s never found a need to complain.”

“Your man?”

To keep from advancing on her, Deja looked away, but Tina had no such reservations or apparently weakness of control. She approached Deja, moving with the sensual grace of the big cats. Deja could almost see her shifted as one. No one exuded confidence and even satisfaction in what she was like this woman seemed to have.

“Really?” she said. “Because it’s getting around town that you and Heath are on the outs, that you’ve broken up. In fact, don’t you two live apart?”

“Fuck you. What we are is none of your business.”

Tina went on as if Deja hadn’t spoken. “The problems you’re having are unheard of among our people, not among mates, not to this extent. Once two people have discovered they are mates, they are as one, bound to each other and unable to be apart. Maybe you’re not really one of us.
Maybe
you’re defective.”

Anger clouded Deja’s mind and robbed her of the ability to think of a good comeback—that and the fact that she feared Tina was right. She’d second-guessed the mates thing from the start. She and Heath were pretty much broken up. She’d seen a few shifter couples in town, and they walked in harmony, “in sync” as Coreen had called it. Oh, she wasn’t so naive as to think every couple didn’t have their issues, but what if she
was
broken? After all, they were manufactured in a lab. Wasn’t it reasonable to suspect any one of them could vary from the norm in their DNA?

She stood there so long, frozen in fear and doubt, Tina flashed her a triumphant smile and spun her heel to walk away. Deja opened her mouth to shout after her, but what was the point by then? She’d lost the argument, and it pissed her off beyond belief. Alone, the dark trees no longer called to her to run among them. She’d snuffed out the voice of the tiger, and the prospect of going on like this, in a state of uncertainty, had her stumbling home in a daze as if she’d drunk the night away.

* * * *

At work the next morning, Deja stared out the window of the office. Three letters sat in her carrier bag waiting for when she would close and go out to deliver them.
Big whoop
. She sighed, remembering her conversation with Tina. The problem was that no matter whether she was meant to be with Heath or not, she still loved him. Sleeping alone sucked ass, and when she had the occasional nightmare, he was not there to hold her and whisper comforting words until she slept again. The advantage for him, of course, was he’d been born the way he was, but she knew he also hurt seeing her so shaken up from her memories.

She groaned in frustration and stood to find a broom. Maybe a little sweeping would distract her. No one had come in so far that morning, which made it pointless to even be there. As soon as she walked away from the desk, her cell phone rang, and she darted back to it. Her heart slammed against her ribcage at the caller ID.

“Heath.” She cleared her throat and said his name again without sounding like a lovesick idiot. “What’s up?”

“Have dinner with me tonight.” Did his voice sound rough as well?

“Dinner? We just had dinner at your parents’ place last night.” The eagerness to see him again would not be squelched. The beast within almost purred in anticipation. She wanted to beat her into silence.

“That was with a crowd. You and me alone,” he promised. “Say yes, Deja. I’ve missed you. We have our problems, but I think…I
know
…we belong together. Please.”

“Yes.” Her voice came out in a featherlight whisper, and she wasn’t sure he heard until he spoke again, excitement in his tone as he explained when he would pick her up and where they would go.

“Wear a dress, a short one.”

She frowned.

“You’re always so beautiful in a dress, and I think I may go crazy if I don’t get to see you in one again soon.”

She laughed. “Flattery will get you far. I had on a dress last night.”

“I noticed.”

Her breath rattled in her chest. “Okay, fine. Pick me up at seven. I’ll be ready.”

“Perfect.”

She’d said the words—I love you—before she could stop herself, but he’d already broken the connection. After dropping into her chair, she put her head down on the desk and shut her eyes. Which dress should she wear, or should she buy a new one? Hell, maybe she should ignore Heath’s request since he did sound like he just wanted to tell her what to do and just go in a pair of jeans. Then again, the restaurant seemed like a nice one from the name, unlike the casual ones here in Siberia. Decision made, she popped up from her seat, locked the broom in the closet, and snatched up her message bag. No one would care she closed shop a couple hours early. She could deliver the letters and spend time shopping. Her budget didn’t exactly allow for anything new, but she could eat ramen or whatever for the next week and be fine. Heath would soon regret being so stubborn.

By late afternoon, Deja had selected a little black cocktail dress. The back was cut low, and the trimmings that surrounded the hole in back extended up over her shoulders to the front were decked in jewels. The bodycon fit of the dress showed off her figure and displayed much of her legs since it stopped just past her ass. She already owned a pair of silver slingbacks, which went perfect with her outfit. After she’d showered with her favorite body wash, a scent that had never failed to leave Heath panting after her, she donned her clothing and put her hair in a loose bun to complete her makeup. Heath liked her hair down, so, she let that be the final touch, her braids fanning around her shoulders.

Heath arrived at her apartment promptly at seven. Before she answered the door, she scanned the tiny place with a critical eye. Having little furniture because not that much could fit into it, she could at least be glad she’d cleaned it the day before. The couch and armchair—no room for a loveseat—were gently used. Even while she appreciated having them, she couldn’t help recalling she and Heath purchased brand-new furniture for their house, paid for with the money Tate left him when he died. While Heath still hurt to know Tate wasn’t his real father but in fact an operative for Spiderweb that fell in love with his mother, she believed Heath forgave him because Tate took care of him from day one and provided an incredible inheritance for Heath when he died. Heath kept trying to get her to let him help her financially, but while they were apart, she refused. That would give him a toehold back into her life, and she had to get her mind right before deciding whether she wanted it or not.

She pulled the door open and winced at the squeak in the hinges she hadn’t oiled yet. “Hey.” She smiled and turned with deliberate movements so he could take in the back of the dress. “Let me get my purse and a cover-up just in case it gets chilly later.”

“You’re playing dirty, Deja.” The rumble in his voice brought goose bumps to her arms.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m wearing a dress like you asked me.” She peered over her shoulder at him and warmed at the raw hunger in his eyes.

“You’re showing so much skin, and you smell delicious.”

“I’m guessing you like the dress. Dude, seriously, work on the compliments.” With a matter-of-fact attitude, she gathered up her purse and sweater and started past him. His arm shot out, and he dragged her into his embrace. Deja turned her head when he tried to kiss her. “Aren’t we going to be late for our reservation?”

Heath stared into her eyes for a full minute and then released her. “Fine. Let’s go.”

The restaurant in McAllen turned out to be a nice one with seating outside as well as inside. A bar took up one end for casual dining, and romantic seating at the tables lit with candles occupied the rest of the floor space. In a spot near a pair of French doors, someone played a grand piano, and the soft, classical music set the tone of sophistication and elegance.

“Wow, how did you know about this place?” she asked, breathless.

“Coreen suggested it. I take it you like?” His eyes sparkled, making her chest constrict. Deja took his arm and leaned into him to offer her lips. Heath didn’t hesitate to cover them with his own, and a tingle of pleasure found its way between her legs. She followed close by his side as the waiter led them to their table.

Heath pulled out her chair and waited until she sat down before he occupied his own. She watched him unfold the cloth napkin and lay it across his lap then copied him. All day, she’d anticipated him falling prey to her charms, but she was the one who couldn’t take her eyes off him. He’d dressed in dark colors, stylish clothes that complemented his broad shoulders and chest. Even while the collared shirt fit him well, it did not disguise how big his arms were, reminding her of how they felt trapping her between them. His blond hair lay in disordered curls, a deliberate style that brought out his boyish good looks, and the blue eyes caught and held her attention without his saying a thing. She hung on his words, enjoying even the movements of his lips. All she wanted was to jump across the table and sit on his lap to feel him grow hard under her.

Heath reached over the table and brushed his fingertips against hers. “Are you okay?”

Electric shocks radiating from the simple touch made her jerk away, her body twining tight in need of a lot more than that. “I’m fine. Sorry, what did you say?”

“I was saying I’d like to talk about us.”

She licked her lips and looked down at her hands in her lap.

“You can’t be happy with how things stand, Deja. Baby, I saw how you’re living—”

She frowned at him. “I know you’re not about to dis my apartment.”

“I’m not.” He held up his hands. “At least let me help you financially. You can live anywhere you want.”

“I’m living where I want, on my own terms, Heath. If you can’t accept that, then we have nothing to discuss.”

They both fell silent and concentrated on choosing their meal. Deja didn’t have much of an appetite, but she would eat anyway. She hated arguing with him, and why did she have to get an attitude in the first place? He was only being nice, and she recognized that, but Heath had the type of personality where he felt obligated to take care of those in need. She put it down to the trait of the alpha, and her stubborn independence didn’t help matters. The waiter strode up to the table.

“I’ll have the barbecue chicken, the mac and cheese, and the broccoli,” she told him.

Heath gave the waiter his order as well. When the man had gone, he folded his hands together and leaned forward on the table. “Sweetheart, let’s take this a little slower. I’m not wrong in thinking you want to be with me, am I?”

She took a sip of wine Heath had ordered for them. “You’re not wrong.”

“Good, and I want to be with you too. I think we’re putting the cart before the horse.”

She frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

“Marry me.”

Nothing prepared her to hear those words. She never thought in a million years this was what he’d had in mind when he asked her to dinner. One side of her wanted to scream yes. The other held back. They had issues, ones that wouldn’t get fixed just because he popped the most important question in a woman’s life.

“I…”

He took her hands, guaranteeing her reasoning would cloud over, but Deja didn’t have the strength or will to pull away. “You’re wanting a baby, but we haven’t even gotten married yet.”

She swallowed and dropped her voice lower. “You might be right, but most shifters don’t bother with a piece of paper. The state’s view of a bonded couple means little to them once they’ve found their mate. Even those that choose humans don’t worry with it.”

He stared at her for several minutes still holding her hand. “Does that mean you don’t want to marry me?”

A lump rose in her throat, and wetness gathered in the corners of her eyes. “I’d marry you in a heartbeat.”

He squeezed her fingers. “Then let’s do it. Marry me, Deja. Say yes, and we will tie the knot as soon as we come back from getting Tina’s cousin.”

Happiness bubbled up inside Deja until she neared bursting. “Yes. Yes, I will!”

Heath blew out a relieved breath and tugged her closer to kiss her lips. He poured more wine, and they toasted to a long life together. When dinner concluded, he picked up the tab and escorted her out of the restaurant.

“You want to go down to the lake?” he offered. “I hear it’s a beautiful spot over this way where couples like to stroll in the moonlight. Plus, it’s much bigger than anything we’d find in Siberia.”