Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost Book 1) (21 page)

“Of course.” He smirked. “So long as you’re really interested and not just trying to get access to that damned elevator.”

“The thought hadn’t even occurred to me.” It really hadn’t. But now that Greyson had mentioned it, this plan had even more merit.

Jacque and the server arrived with our meals. Jacque placed my dish in front of me first. He removed the silver cap with great flourish. “For you, wine-poached salmon with truffles and roasted potatoes.”

“Sweet fancy Christmas. It looks and smells amazing.” My mouth was watering. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until just now. “I can’t wait to taste it.”

The server put Greyson’s plate before him and backed away. Jacque took the cover off and announced, “For you, steak frites.”

Which was basically steak and french fries, but I’m sure there was nothing basic about the way they tasted.

Greyson smiled. “You know me so well, my friend.”

Jacque gave us a little bow. “Bon appétit!” And then he left us to it.

The food was amazing, and our conversation became all about just how amazing. We shared bites off our plates, and I was happy my assessment of Greyson’s steak and french fries had been right on.

I stole another fry off his plate. “I’ve never had french fries like this in my life. He must sprinkle them with crack.”

Greyson snorted. “Not exactly. But he does fry them in duck fat.”

“Seriously?” I reached for another one. “Everything should be fried in duck fat.”

“I’m sure that sentiment will make Jacque very happy.”

When we’d cleaned our plates and assured Jacque that the meal had been an unparalleled success, we sat for a long time talking. So long, that at least an hour went by before we realized the check had never come.

Grayson asked the server about it, and was told Jacque had taken care of it. When Jacque came out to check on us, Greyson pressed some money into the man’s hands. Jacque tried to refuse it, but Greyson was insistent.

“Jacque, take the money. Giving your customers free meals is no way to run a business.”

“Ah, but my friend, I already owe you so much.”

Greyson’s mouth set in a stern line. “Take the money or I will never darken your door again.”

I raised my hand. “I will, though. I could eat here every night. Any chance you deliver?”

Jacque beamed. “For you, I could find a way.” He clutched the bills but narrowed his gaze at Greyson. “As for you, I will accept the payment. But only because I want to stay on Lilibeth’s good side.”

I grinned. “All that requires is dessert.”

Jacque threw his hands into the air. “Dessert!
Mais bien sûr
! I shall return.” He hurried off.

“Now you’ve done it,” Greyson chuckled and tilted his head. “There’s no telling what he’ll come back with.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll eat it.”

Greyson smiled. “I’m glad we came here. And thank you for your enthusiasm about the food. Jacque needed that.”

“I was just telling him the truth. That was easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had.”

His expression softened into something kind and hopeful. “Maybe this should be our Saturday night place.”

I didn’t know if I’d be here for another Saturday, but how could I say no to that? “I love that idea. But we should take turns paying.”

“Good. Then it’s done. But we will not take turns paying.”

“Why not?”

“Because I am old-fashioned about such matters, and a man should pay when he invites a woman to be his guest.”

“What if I was independently wealthy?”

He raised a brow. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything. If you were the Queen of England, I would still insist on paying.”

I grinned and took his words as a sign. Maybe he’d visit me in the NP after all. “Fine, you’ve made your point.”

Jacque returned with one large plate and two small ones. The large one held four profiteroles the size of tennis balls. Butter-yellow pastry cream overflowed from their stuffed middles, and a dark chocolate glaze zigzagged over their golden-brown tops.

He put the plate down between us, then gave us each a small one.

“Those look delicious. Too bad you didn’t bring Greyson any.”

Jacque laughed. “I hope you like them.”

“I love profiteroles. They’re one of my favorite things.” Anything with sugar and chocolate was one of my favorite things, but that was a minor point.

“I am very happy to hear that.” He hesitated. “If I may…”

I smiled up at him. “Sure, what is it?”

His expression grew darker. “When I was in the kitchen, I had a vision.” He frowned. “I should explain. I see things sometimes. Glimpses of what is to come.”

I gulped, hoping hard it wasn’t a vision of me as Jayne. “Greyson told me.”

“Good,” Jacque said. “I have had one about you. I don’t know what it means, but I must tell you. It’s the only thing that brings me peace.”

“What was it?”

“You were in a dark room, and you were in danger. I am sorry to tell you this, but perhaps now you can avoid it. Please, mademoiselle, be careful.”

“I will. Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Toly’s office counted as a dark room and I might have been in danger. Maybe his vision had already happened.

He did his little bow again and left us to eat.

Greyson frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that at all.”

Neither did I, but I couldn’t risk making a big deal out of it and tipping Greyson off as to who I really was. I didn’t think he’d care that I was the Winter Princess, but the fact that I’d been lying to him? Yeah, that wasn’t going to be such an easy sell. “Probably nothing. Maybe he had a vision of me in the middle of the night trying to avoid stepping in one of Spider’s hairballs.”

Greyson was unamused. “I’ve never known one of Jacque’s visions to be wrong.”

I put on my best serious face. “I promise to be careful, whatever I’m doing.” I pulled the plate of profiteroles closer.

Seemingly mollified, Greyson cleared his throat and rested his hands on the table. “Will you be sharing those?”

“Maybe.” I took one for myself then slid the plate toward him, smiling. “C’mon, join me.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. Between us we made short work of the cream puffs, and after a long goodbye with Jacque, Greyson and I were back out in the night air.

I looped my arm through his. “That was really nice. Thank you.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

“I don’t think that’s true at all, especially because I had three of the four profiteroles.”

He smiled. “You do like your sweets.”

“It’s a winter elf thing.”

His chest puffed out. “I have been told I am
very
sweet.”

“Yes, I’m sure all the women tell you that.” I squeezed his arm. “You are many things, Greyson. Sweet could be one of them, but it’s not the first thing that comes to mind.”

His gaze slid sideways. “What is?”

Sexy. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell him that. “Generous. Kind. Easy to be around.”

“Excellent. I sound like someone’s grandmother.”

I laughed. “How about sexy? I was going to say that first, but I didn’t want you to get a big feeling about yourself.”

His eyes lit up. “You think I’m sexy?”

“Oh, come on. You know you are.” I leaned back to take him all in. “You’re like a walking aphrodisiac. You and your manly stubble and piercing eyes. And don’t even get me started on the vampire thing.”

His lips bent oddly, and I realized he was trying not to laugh. “You are quite the flatterer.”

“I learned everything I know from you.”

We bantered the whole way home. I couldn’t remember when I’d been so at ease with someone, or had time go by so quickly. (Well, maybe in college with Cooper.) I’d checked the time on my watch. It was almost eleven. Hard to believe we’d spent nearly five hours together. It seemed so much less than that.

When we reached the warehouse door, I faced him, and he took both of my hands and stared into my eyes. “My darling elf, when can I see you again? Next Saturday is too far away.”

“Toly was working on the schedule today. How about I text you as soon as I know what my next night off is?”

“That will do.” He kissed me, softly at first, then with greater insistence.

I leaned into him, kissing him back. The man was as tempting as any dessert I’d ever had, but unlike with most desserts, there was no risk of overindulging. I couldn’t get enough of him.

We finally came up for air. His smile was as languid and warm as my insides felt. “I regret that I cannot walk you to your door.”

I tipped my head toward the warehouse. “You sort of have.”

“Not good enough for me, but what choice do I have? Unless you’d like me to get you up to the fire escape the same way we came down.”

“No, thank you.” Not with a full stomach.

He pulled the warehouse door open. “Until the next time.”

I kissed him once more on the way in, because I could. “Until then.” I made a face at the aftershave aroma that wafted out of the vestibule. “Owen must have just left.”

Greyson peered inside. “I don’t think so, or I would have smelled that scent out here as we approached.” He wrinkled his nose. “And I would not have missed that particular mix of aromas.”

“Well, I doubt he was putting aftershave on in the vestibule, so he had to have left this way. Unless…” I stepped inside, put my nose next to the elevator doors and sniffed. “He could have gone down the elevator.”

To his credit, Greyson did not roll his eyes as he joined me in the vestibule. He did, however, purse his mouth into a placating expression. “Not without a keycard.”

“Maybe he went with somebody who had one.”

Greyson shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “I suppose you’d like me to go down and have a look.”

“Would you?” Especially if I could tag along.

After a long moment, he sighed. “Yes. But you can’t come with me.”

Bugger
. “I’d be willing to offer you something in return.”

His brows shot up. “Something?”

I popped my hip out and put my hand on it in what I hoped was a seductive pose. “I’m sure we could work out a deal.”

His eyes glittered. “I don’t think you’re ready to give me either of the two things I’d like most from you, and when you are ready, I don’t want them because of a
deal
.”

“Two things? I’m pretty sure I know what one of them is, but the second—”

He bared his fangs at me. “You’ll figure it out.”

“Oh. You want to bite me.”

“That’s one.” He shook his head in amusement and pulled out his keycard. “You’re staying here. I’ll only be a few moments.”

He slid his card through the reader and called the elevator. Seconds later, the doors opened. He got on and left me standing there, thinking about what it would feel like to have his teeth on me.

In me. Whatever.

I tried to tell myself maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but what did I really know about vampires? Not much. Except this one was smoking hot.

There was no way he could turn me with one bite, was there? I needed to find that out first. I did not want to be a vampire. If that was even possible. And I absolutely got to pick the spot. Hmm. I wondered if that would be enough to entice him into finally showing me where that elevator led.

Maybe I should offer him something else. Something like— Before I could think about it anymore, he was back. He leaned out, holding the doors open. “Get on. You might as well see for yourself.”

I jumped onto that elevator with all the speed my little elfy self could muster. I wasn’t taking chances in case Greyson changed his mind.

He kept holding the doors open as I joined him, like he might do just that. “You must swear that you will not tell a soul about this.”

“I swear. All day long. My lips are sealed.”

“Swear on something that holds value to you.”

“I swear on my father’s crown.”
Snowballs.
I should not have said that.