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Silver (Date-A-Dragon Book 2) Page 7


  She stepped out into the store’s entrance and watched a group of three guys walking down the hall away from them, then let out a sigh of relief.

  Robbie was so dominant, so powerful in her personality, that Kelsey hadn’t ever thought she would see her scared of something.

  “Who were those guys?”

  Robbie gave her a wary glance. “I don’t know if I can explain it,” she said.

  “Come on,” Kelsey said. “I know what it’s like to have some guys you’re afraid of. I have a few I wouldn’t want to see. Is one of them an ex of yours?”

  “Um, something like that,” Robbie said.

  “How so?”

  “Come on. Let’s go get your makeup before they decide to come back this direction or something.” Robbie darted back out into the hallway, and Kelsey followed.

  When they entered the store, one of the associates, a beautiful, skinny woman with immaculate makeup, came over to greet them.

  “This is my friend,” Robbie said. “And I want her hooked up with everything she could possibly want.”

  The woman grinned brightly. “Anything for you, Robbie.”

  “Business still going well?” Robbie asked.

  “Yes, so much better ever since you,” the woman said.

  “Glad to hear it, Glory,” Robbie replied.

  As Kelsey sat in a chair in front of a makeup station with a mirror, she looked between the two women curiously.

  “Robbie came in and did some management training for our store,” Glory said, answering Kelsey’s silent question.

  As Glory began to put makeup on Kelsey, showing her different shades and getting her opinion, she couldn’t help watching Robbie, who continued creeping to the store entrance and peeking out as if still nervous about the guys from before.

  Glory had to go to the back to grab something, so Kelsey waved for Robbie to come over.

  Robbie’s forehead was still creased with stress. “Yes?” she asked. “You look gorgeous by the way. Not that you already didn’t.”

  “Not that I don’t appreciate your flattery, because I totally do, but what is going on? Come on. You can tell me.”

  “I don’t know,” Robbie said. “It’s not something I really talk about.” She snuck another peek outside. “But since you’re probably thinking I’m pretty weird anyway, I guess it can’t hurt to tell you. Just don’t… tell anyone else, okay?”

  Kelsey pressed her lips together. If Robbie was actually in danger, was that a secret she should keep from the others? Especially since they all worked together.

  Still, once she gave her word, she kept it. “I won’t tell. It’s your secret. But if I think someone should know, I might tell you I think you should tell them.”

  “I know. Okay,” Robbie said. “So here it is. That guy out there? He’s from my hometown. He and the other guys. They… have probably been trying to find me. I mean, that’s probably not why they’re here, but let’s just say if they knew I was here, they would want me to leave with them.”

  Kelsey found that confusing. “Why?”

  “He’s… sort of my fiancé,” Robbie said.

  Kelsey sat up with a start. “Are you serious?”

  Robbie shrugged, sitting in a chair next to her with a sigh. “Yeah.”

  “Um, I’m going to need more info,” Kelsey said.

  “About having a fiancé or about the fact that if they saw me, they’d try to take me back by force?”

  “Both,” Kelsey said, a lump forming in her throat. Robbie was so positive and friendly and take-charge, but she was hiding something so dark and not telling anyone about it. Even the guys, who presumably would protect her. “Why would they do that? I don’t get it. That isn’t allowed in this day and age, right?”

  “It’s complicated,” Robbie said. “It was sort of an arranged marriage. I guess you could say it has to do with… my heritage.” She got a distant look in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself and looked out at the mall and the people walking back and forth.

  “I think you should tell the guys, given that you’ve seen him in the area,” Kelsey said. “What if he knows you’re here?”

  “I doubt it,” Robbie said. “And they… they were probably just here shopping like anyone else.”

  “But is this close to your hometown?”

  “About an hour away,” she said. “But I don’t know. We didn’t have any shopping areas like this. It’s just… I haven’t run into them before.”

  “But…” Kelsey had a bad feeling about the whole situation, but Robbie was a strong, independent woman. If she wanted to take care of it herself, Kelsey supposed she had the right to do so.

  “It’ll be fine,” Robbie said. “They’re gone now, and with luck, I won’t run into them again.”

  Kelsey knew it was pointless to ask about it any further, so she just finished up with Glory and then walked back out into the mall with Robbie, holding her bags with a warm feeling of contentment.

  They were walking to the elevator to take it down to the parking garage when she heard Robbie let out a gasp and stop abruptly. Her gaze was pinned over Kelsey’s head, and she looked in that direction to see the guys from before.

  But this time, they were facing toward Robbie, and by the intense, angry expression on the leader’s face, they’d seen her.

  “Run,” Robbie said, grabbing Kelsey’s arm and jerking her down the hallway in a full run.

  Kelsey struggled to keep up, having much shorter legs than Robbie, but luckily, there was a single bathroom just to the left of them, and together they darted inside, shutting the door behind them and shoving the lock into place.

  “Phew,” Robbie said. “Safe for now.”

  Kelsey’s heart was pounding. She had no idea what had happened. This morning, she’d been looking forward to a simple shopping trip. Now they were somehow in danger.

  She eyed Robbie, who was pacing worriedly.

  No matter what, if Robbie was in trouble, Kelsey was here to help however she could.

  Robbie ran her hand through her hair, pulling out a few of the curls from her elegant up-do to fall alongside her face. “Hm. What to do? I could call Ella, but she’d tell Dante.”

  “We could call Adrien,” Kelsey said, causing Robbie to look at her sharply.

  “He’d tell the others,” Robbie said.

  “If you’re in danger, maybe they should know,” Kelsey said.

  “No… I can’t. I can’t explain why. The fewer people who know, the better,” she said, folding her arms and lowering her head in thought. “Let’s see.”

  “I think Adrien can keep a secret if you ask him to,” Kelsey said.

  She wasn’t sure, but what was their other option, really?

  “I suppose I have no choice,” Robbie said, pulling out her phone. “I want you out of this safely, and I already feel bad for getting you involved. I’ll call Adrien and see if he can pick us up.”

  They’d taken a cab over here, but that wouldn’t be safe now that Robbie’s stalkers could be following them.

  “Damn,” Robbie said, dialing a number and putting the phone up to her ear. “I haven’t seen them in years, and now I’m out with you and this happens? Unreal.”

  Kelsey bit her lip nervously. It was pretty bad luck, but Kelsey was more worried about what would happen to Robbie if she put keeping her secret above ensuring her own safety.

  “Hi, Adrien?” Robbie said into the phone. “Yeah, it’s Robbie. … Yes, things are fine. We’re at the mall. … No, she’s fine.” She sighed. “Anyway, can you come pick us up?”

  There was a pause, and Kelsey held her breath. Had she overestimated Adrien’s kindness?

  “Thanks,” Robbie said. “Yeah… uh, we’re sort of in the family bathroom on the second floor. Just take the elevator by the north parking lot and you’ll end up right by it.” Robbie’s face winced, and Kelsey could hear that Adrien’s voice was raised. “No, nothing in particular is wrong. We just can’t… leave the bathr
oom.”

  Kelsey watched Robbie pull the phone away from her ear, grimacing at what must have been Adrien ranting. Then she said good-bye and hung up the phone.

  “Phew, he was pretty pissed, but he’s coming,” Robbie said. “Should be here in about five minutes.”

  Kelsey nodded. “Pissed?” She hoped she hadn’t interrupted something. He’d already done enough for her; she didn’t want to cause more issues.

  They spent a tense five minutes in the bathroom, Robbie bantering to try and lighten the mood, and then her phone buzzed with a message.

  She looked down and nodded. “He’s here.” She stepped toward the locked door. “Adrien, you out there?”

  “Yes,” a muffled, annoyed voice retorted. “So come out and tell me why you’re locked in the bathroom. It’s ridiculous.”

  “Is anyone else out there?”

  A pause and then, “No. Why?”

  His tone was terse, and Kelsey winced. Was he mad that they’d dragged him down here? Was he working? She sort of didn’t want to go out and face him, but she didn’t want to stay in a bathroom either.

  “Okay, we’re coming out,” Robbie said, stepping in front of Kelsey just in case and cracking the door open.

  Looking over Robbie’s shoulder, Kelsey could see Adrien’s nonplussed face. His arms were folded, showing off buff muscles in a light-blue dress shirt. He was wearing a tie and dress slacks as well.

  “Sorry,” Kelsey said, walking out behind Robbie. “Did we interrupt a meeting?”

  “Just a staff meeting,” Adrien said, sending Robbie an annoyed glare. “I had to make something up to leave so Citrine wasn’t suspicious. I hate secrets.”

  Robbie flinched. “I’m sorry. But—”

  “I know, I know,” he said grumpily. “But I’m not happy you put the two of you in danger, and I think I deserve to know a bit more about the situation.” He looked Kelsey over as she came up to walk alongside him toward the elevator. “Are you both okay? What happened?”

  “It’s not mine to tell,” Kelsey said shyly, holding her bags.

  He looked over at them and then reached out a hand impatiently.

  He wanted them? She stared at him in confusion.

  “Let me carry those for you,” he said. He also gestured to Robbie. “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t.”

  Kelsey reluctantly handed him the bags, but Robbie shook her head.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” she said. “I can carry my own bags.” Her spine was a little too straight as they took the elevator down to the parking garage.

  Adrien was quiet, but she could almost feel him stewing. The only thing she knew for sure was she was glad he’d come for them.

  It was nice to have someone to depend on, and now that she was seeing him as simply another employee, there was less distance between them.

  Kissing had helped with that as well.

  “Robbie, you go ahead and get in the car,” Adrien said. “I need to ask Kelsey something.”

  Robbie gave Kelsey a curious look but then got in, taking the bags from Adrien to situate them in the trunk.

  Of course Adrien would drive a Mercedes.

  Maybe they weren’t so even after all.

  He looked at her awkwardly, dark hair lifting in the wind blowing through the garage, silver eyes grayer than usual due to the lighting. “I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me tonight,” he said awkwardly.

  She stared at the handsome man in front of her in shock. “What?”

  “I’d like to take you out to dinner. And whatever else you’d like.”

  “Why?”

  He shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. “Because I want to court you in earnest,” he blurted out, looking frustrated, more with himself than with her.

  “Oh,” she said blankly. She’d never been asked out like this. It would be fancy. She’d thought even if something did happen between them, it would happen at the club. Just hanging out casually.

  Was he really saying someone like him wanted to pursue something serious with someone like her?

  “But… we’re from totally different backgrounds, and you don’t know anything about me.”

  “That seems like something that can be fixed over dinner,” he replied flatly. “Besides, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. We can start as friends. As for the difference in our backgrounds, that doesn’t matter to me. What matters more is your values. You stand up for your friends. You’re honest. You work hard. What do I care about your past?” He looked her square in the eyes, sending a shiver down her back. “I want to be your future.”

  Holy shit. Holy shit! Things like this didn’t happen.

  But there was something so honest and genuine in his eyes. And life had been so ridiculously unfair against her up to this point. Why couldn’t it make sense to be ridiculously fair in her favor for a while?

  She took a deep breath. “Okay. I’d like that.”

  A small smile quirked the corner of his lips, and his eyes seemed to light up, telling her she’d made the right decision. “Good. After the last appointment tonight, I’ll pick you up at your room.”

  “Okay,” she said nervously, getting in the car as he opened the door for her.

  “What was that all about?” Robbie asked, leaning forward.

  “I’ll tell you if you tell me why you were locked in a bathroom,” Adrien retorted.

  And that was that.

  But Kelsey couldn’t help being a little worried about the whole Robbie situation on the way back.

  Hopefully, it wouldn’t come up again.

  Ten

  Adrien nervously waited in the hallway, checking his watch and wondering when Kelsey would be coming out.

  He was determined not to screw things up tonight. Determined to be polite, caring.

  All the things he’d never openly been before.

  Yes, he’d been protective of his friends and the people in his village and circles. But that was different.

  He had still been standoffish and surly, because he hadn’t particularly cared if anyone liked him.

  Now he cared intensely, and he didn’t even have time to think about how weird it was that his mate was human, because he was too busy trying to win her for himself.

  He stepped forward and rapped on the door lightly. “You okay in there?” He guessed she was probably getting ready, using the stuff in those bags she’d brought back from the shopping center.

  “Yes,” she said in a muffled voice, as if she were changing.

  He’d dressed a little differently for their date as well, in jeans and a nice tee shirt with a sharp blazer over the top. A mix of casual and tailored that he felt suited him nicely.

  He tapped his designer shoe on the ground as he waited.

  “Be out in a minute. Sorry,” she called.

  He frowned. She apologized far too much. “It’s fine,” he said, his tone overly sharp. He took a deep breath, telling himself to relax. The more nervous he got, the more uncomfortable he was, the more he tended to put his foot in his mouth and say things he would regret.

  He was pacing back and forth, muttering, when he heard her door click open. He whirled around to see her and had to fight letting his jaw drop when he did.

  She looked beautiful.

  Well, she always had. But now?

  It wasn’t the clothes or the makeup or jewelry. It was the way she held her head up, the pride in her eyes, the way he could tell she felt beautiful, and that made all the difference.

  “You look… Wow,” he said, hating he didn’t have better words or a mouth that was less dry with desire so he could say them.

  She’d pulled her curls back from her face with a few pins, and with a bit of makeup darkening her lashes, her green eyes looked positively luminous.

  She was wearing a black tunic, belted in the middle, emphasizing her feminine shape. She wore tight, dark jeans that hugged her legs almost obscenely and black boots with wedges that gave her a li
ttle bit of height.

  She looked like a curvy little dream, and he wanted to just grab all of her, pull her in against him, and never let go.

  He also wanted to drag her into her room, lock the door, and order in takeout so no one else saw his mate like this.

  But that wouldn’t be fair, and he was positive no matter where they went, he’d be able to protect her.

  He put out his arm for her to take it, and she glanced at it curiously, clutching a small purse in both hands.

  “I want to escort you,” he said, wondering if men in this day and age had any manners at all. “Is this not how it is done?” Maybe he should have paid more attention to Citrine about modern women after all.

  “I mean, it is,” she said hesitantly, flushing, taking his arm. “I guess it’s just… kind of old-fashioned.” She walked forward with him, keeping her head up. “I guess I have to get used to the fact that you’re a little bit old-school.”

  “Old-school?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.

  “Um, you like things that are a little more traditional, from an older time in the past.”

  He fought back a grin. She had no idea. “I suppose that’s true.”

  “So where are we going?” she asked.

  “It’s a surprise,” he said. He’d looked up restaurants and decided on a French establishment downtown. It would be fancy and a long enough dining experience for him to get to know her.

  Dante had said he should try and figure out more about her past, see if there was anything he could do for her to help her, and really work to understand her.

  Dante had said until he really understood his mate, he hadn’t been able to win her.

  And that made sense in some ways. If Kelsey was going to be Adrien’s—and she was—he wanted all of her. Her secrets, her past, her dreams.

  Especially her dreams.

  When he had his powers back, he could make them all come true. Sure, he’d be expected to help humanity now and again, but his main focus would be on his mate.

  No one should expect otherwise.

  They drove in his car, and he saw her adjust her tunic before putting the seatbelt on, as if she wasn’t used to her new clothes.