“I’m just here for the coffee,” I say, folding my arms. “Should I be worried, seeing as you seem to be following me now?” I ask pointedly, referring to him standing behind me in the line.
His serious face lights up momentarily before the shutters come back down. “I’m just here for the coffee,” he says dismissively.
I turn my back to him as my turn comes up. “Black coffee,” I order, “and whatever he’s having.” I point over my shoulder.
“Same,” he says, “But I will buy my own, thank you.”
“I can afford it, really, it’s okay,” I say mockingly.
“So can I,” he says, ignoring my tone.
Rah! He is so frustrating, worse even than CK, and that is saying something.
“Fine. Buy mine for me then,” I demand.
He does, with bad grace, and I smile inwardly. Progress.
“Where are you connecting to?” I ask as we step aside.
“Nowhere,” he says.
“You live here in New York then?”
“Yes.”
“So why are you buying coffee in the airport instead of heading home?”
“I’m waiting for someone.”
I blink at him and he blinks back. Sighing, he asks politely, “Where are you connecting to?”
I say, “LAX.”
“Well, I should go and wait for my…someone,” he says as Devon steps up to my other side with a suspicious look on his handsome face.
“Wait, I didn’t thank you for the coffee…”
“Not a problem,” he says, ignoring my attempt at gaining his name. He turns and walks away as Devon says, “Time to fly, Kitten. The G6 is refueled and waiting for you, with a very crabby passenger on board.” I sigh, and turn away, but for a split second I see Mr. AB Neg pause and look back, much as he did in Milan.
“Who is that?” Devon asks as he drapes his arm casually, yet possessively, over my shoulder.
“No one,” I say, slinking my hand around his waist and sliding my hand into the back pocket of his jeans in a familiar gesture.
We head to the escalator and step on.
“Liv, I know that look,” he says in warning. “Don’t go on the prowl,” he says with a sigh.
I glare at him, irritated that he knows me too well. Stepping off the escalator, I turn to lean over the railing to find Mr. AB Neg staring at me from the level below. I focus my attention entirely on him as he does to me.
With my Vampire hearing, I hear him whisper, “Call me Cade.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Did he know I’d hear him even from here? That is somewhat worrying. I watch him disappear into the crowd.
Cade.
Not much to go on, but I’m sure it’s enough.
“Lizzie?” Devon snaps at me.