Coyote Gorgeous (11 page)

"
So what’s
the problem? If she comes, she is yours. It’s about time you got
laid.
"
Darryl winked with a
devilish grin.
"
I’ll see to
it.
"

"
Thanks. I
appreciate it.
"
But what
Darryl alluded to was out of the question. Evil could strike at any
time, and any woman Kaletaka dated would be in great danger. He
didn’t want Madison to be the first human casualty. He couldn’t
bear to lose her.

Darryl slapped his
shoulder.
"
Relax, man, you
look apoplectic.
"

Barely able to breathe,
Kaletaka loosened the collar of his turquoise suede shirt.
"
It’s hot in
here.
"
He pointed to his new
snakeskin boots.
"
And these
hurt my feet.
"

Darryl reached for a glass
of champagne on a passing tray and offered it to him.
"
Here. This might
help.
"

Kaletaka took the glass and drank it
in one gulp. He barely felt the bubbles tickling his
throat.

A whiff of gardenias after the rain
made him spin toward the glass door just as Madison appeared at the
entrance. His heart stumbled in his chest. What a vision, so
elegant and feminine, in a seductive dress of fluid blue metal that
complimented her eyes. She looked different, so soft, so
approachable. And for once, she wasn’t wearing a gun.

"
Is that
her?
"
Darryl whistled softly
then slapped his shoulder.
"
Lucky bastard. I’ll see you later.
"

How could Kaletaka
possibly resist her? How could any man? Yet, he must. But his steps
led him straight to her, and he couldn’t help the grin on his face.
It felt so good to see her again, he couldn’t help the elation in
his voice.
"
Look at you, so
sexy tonight.
"

She blushed slightly,
making his pulse race, but she kept her eyes on him.
"
Thank you.
"

When he dared press his hand against
her slender waist, she flashed a guarded smile. Then he guided her
further inside, through the crowd and around his sculptures, toward
a couple of stools at the quiet end of the open bar set up for the
event. The very contact of the small of her back through the flimsy
material made him wish they were alone.

She straightened, away from his hand.
Did she have second thoughts? He hoped not. Now that she had come,
Kaletaka wouldn’t let her escape. He wanted to break down her
barriers. Yet, he must keep his cool. This woman was off limits if
he wanted her to live. But just for tonight, he wanted to keep her
all to himself.

He watched Madison accept a chocolate
covered strawberry from a passing waiter and set it on a napkin
with dainty fingers. Hard to believe such fingers could hold a
gun.

To erase the thought,
Kaletaka lifted two glasses from a tray.
"
Dom Perignon?
"
he asked in his most charming tone.
"
Don’t tell me you are on
duty.
"

She chuckled.
"
Not tonight. But I’m
driving.
"

"
Just a sip,
to go with the strawberry.
"
He handed her one glass.

When Madison reached for the glass, he
brushed her fingers. She looked down at her hand then glanced up at
him, arching one eyebrow.

Kaletaka raised his glass and watched
her take a sip and lick a small drop with a flick of the tongue. It
reminded him of their kiss, and his leather pants seemed to shrink.
How he wished she could be his. Impossible. Yet he wasn’t ready to
see her pay attention to any other man. Not tonight.

*****

As the party wore on and the crowd
thinned, Madison felt more confused than ever. Kal never mentioned
the kiss. Had she imagined it? No. The memory still tingled on her
lips and stirred her very core.

Standing next to her by
the sculpture of the Great Coyote, Kal laughed at a man’s joke then
shook his hand in farewell.
"
See you on the green.
"

Madison moved aside to make room as
more guests on their way out gathered around the statue.

"
About this
sculpture
...
"
The tall blonde in a bronze silky gown slurred and smiled
dreamily.
"
Looks
Egyptian.
"

"
Yes.
"
Kal glanced at
Madison with an apologetic smile.
"
Anubis very much resembles the Great Coyote of the Native
American tribes, the jackal being the Egyptian equivalent of the
coyote of Mesoamerica.
"

The group of guests milling around the
metal statue nodded appreciatively and murmured
understanding.

Madison smiled.
"
I made the same connection, the
very first time I saw that sculpture.
"

"
It’s
striking.
"
The blonde missed
a step and almost spilled her glass.

"
I
agree.
"
Madison couldn’t get
enough of Kal’s proximity and didn’t want the evening to
end.
"
It almost looks alive,
doesn’t it?
"

"
That’s the
effect I was going for.
"
Kal
took Madison’s hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow. As the
guests strode toward the door, he led her back toward the quiet end
of the bar.
"
I hope you were
not too bored.
"

"
Not at
all.
"
The warm contact of his
strong fingers covering her hand sent tendrils of electricity
through Madison’s arm, all the way to her spine.
"
I’m learning a lot about
you.
"

"
Such
as?
"
His green eyes lit up as
he pulled a stool for her.

"
You have
loyal friends. I like Darryl.
"
Madison sat, glad to rest her feet from the
stilettos.

"
Should I be
jealous?
"
The playful smile
softened the intensity of his gaze.

"
No,
silly.
"
Madison chuckled,
flattered by his question.
"
I
also noticed that you are very humble when you speak about your
art. No pretense. I like that.
"
She didn’t say,
unlike
Jake
, who always had to set himself above
everyone else.

"
Thank
you
...
I
think.
"
His brow furrowed as
if he tried to read her mind.
"
What else could you possibly learn in one
evening?
"

"
You make me
feel like a queen, and you don’t have a roving gaze toward the
ladies. Which is worth lots of points in my
book.
"
Jake would have
flirted with all of them.

"
How could I
notice anyone else when I am with you?
"
He kissed her hand, sending shivers up her
arm.

Her long repressed lust weakened her
resolve. The forbidden fruit seemed more tantalizing as the night
advanced, mainly after a few glasses of champagne. But she had no
regrets and enjoyed every minute close to him.

As the last visitors left, the penguin
staff gathered the empty glasses. Night had fallen outside. Almost
closing time. Madison grew more nervous by the minute. What would
they do next?

Finally, she worked up the
courage to ask.
"
About that
kiss the other day
...
"

Kal’s feral green eyes pierced her,
and a rush of hot blood flushed Madison’s face. He seemed to glide
closer to her, and she knew with certainty that he would kiss her
again. Transfixed by the desire emanating from him, she froze, like
prey in a light beam. Gone was his grin. He looked so serious, and
as they faced each other, Madison realized that even if she wanted
to, she couldn’t escape him. How had he managed to claim her so
completely? Was he going to kiss her right here, in front of the
staff?

Good thing she was sitting
on a stool, because her legs might have turned to mush under her.
He smelled like musk and desert plants. She could feel the heat
emanating from his body. She laid her hands flat on his chest and
leaned into him, closing her eyes in anticipation. Opening her lips
slightly, she felt his sweet breath on her
face
...

Nothing happened. She opened her eyes.
He was so close, staring at her lips, still as one of his
sculptures. Madison waited.

But Kal suddenly turned
away from her.
Why
? He reached behind the bar, came up with a champagne bottle
dripping from an ice bucket, then quietly refilled their glasses
without making eye contact, his face unreadable. He set the bottle
on the counter. The moment had passed.

Was he too shy to kiss her
in public? Had he waited for her to kiss him? Why
didn
’
t she?
Madison should be proud of herself for resisting him, but she only
felt stupid. She’d never find another man who stirred her blood
like Kal did, a man with such exquisite physical and human
qualities. She wanted to trust him, but why hadn’t he called after
their first kiss?
Damn
.

Paying them no heed, the staff
gathered by the entrance.

Darryl, tall, thin, and
elegant, emerged from a door at the back of the gallery a few feet
away. He joined the couple and kissed Madison’s hand.
"
Good
night.
"

Madison smiled.
"
I enjoyed meeting
you.
"

"
So did
I.
"
Darryl turned to Kal and
winked.
"
Great
night.
"

Kal squeezed Darryl’s
shoulder.
"
Thanks for
everything. I’ll call you.
"

On his way out, Darryl paused to speak
to the guard at the door, then he left, along with the last of the
staff.

The security guard locked the glass
doors behind them, rolled down the well oiled chain-link curtain
that barely made a sound, and turned off the bright lights. Only
spotlights now illuminated the sculptures, giving them life in
scary, contrasting shadows. Ignoring the couple at the bar, the
guard sat at the reception desk, turned on the reading lamp, and
opened a book.

"
How do we
get out?
"
Madison whispered,
intrigued by the atmosphere of mystery.

Kal chuckled, grabbed the
bottle of champagne and took her hand.
"
This way.
"

His strong, callused fingers made her
feel safe. He led her to the door in the back from which Darryl had
emerged minutes earlier. It opened onto a large office, with a
comfortable leather sofa. Candles, on the coffee table and on
shelves, gave the room an intimate glow. No exit door in
sight.

"
Is this a
premeditated trap?
"
Madison’s
heart leapt with hope.
"
When
did you arrange this?
"

"
I have
connections,
"
Kal said
emphatically. Letting go of her hand, he locked the office door
behind them and turned to her with a glint in his eyes and a
mischievous grin. He dropped onto the sofa and patted the soft
leather cushion next to him.
"
Now, about that kiss
...
"

Unable to resist his suggestion,
Madison laid her evening bag on the coffee table and stood before
him, aching for the feel of his hands on her skin. When he brushed
at the hem of the short dress, she felt the cool fabric sliding on
her thigh. A heat wave blazed through Madison’s body and she
shuddered in anticipation, her breath cut short. She wanted this.
This time, nothing would interrupt them.

The golden light danced on his high
cheekbones, framed by long, black, silky hair. He looked up at her
with such longing. He made her feel so safe and cared for. She
caressed his smooth jaw, inhaling his masculine scent.