Phoenix Broken (41 page)

His slow smile went straight to her knees. "It's a surprise."

"A date, huh?" She had her arm twined into his as they walked into a small restaurant named Balena an hour later. The smell of Italian hit her nose and she smiled. Someone had been talking to Guido about more than work. The smile slipped a little as she thought of all she and Scott and the demon still had to work on.

A waitress led them to a small table in the back, candlelight warm against white cloth and wood. Des had already told Scott that her mother had been a very close friend of Miles, but they still weren't any closer to understanding the vampire's motivations when it came to demons, and Miles wasn't talking to anyone about that.

Scott insisted Guido knew more about everything that he was sharing, and he was undoubtedly right, but—

"That's what this is called, angel." Scott leaned in close, his lips brushing her neck. "Leave it for now, angel.
The worries will wait.
This is about us.
"

She nipped his ear lightly. "I thought this was about delaying sex."

Scott laughed, then pulled out her chair. The waitress gave them an approving look as she set down their menus.

"It's lovely to see a young, married couple so in love."

"We're not married." Des said as she took her seat, giving an easy smile.

The woman started. "Well, I never." Her face twisted before she stomped away, her nose in the air. Des raised an eyebrow, shaking her head, still smiling.
Some people.

Then she saw Scott's guilt-stricken face.

Scott looked down at his ring.
God, he was an idiot.
His voice rough, he said, "Jesus. Des, I'm sorry, I didn't think."

He reached for it, but her hand covered his instantly.

"No," she said. "Don't you fucking dare."

"But I don't want people to think…to make you feel…," his voice trailed off, not sure of what to say.

"Feel what?" She tugged the ring gently from his finger before slipping it on the finger of his other hand. His right hand. It felt odd there, but… the feeling settled as he looked at it. Then raised his eyes to hers.

Scott couldn't speak as he watched Des pat his hand and smile.

"There. That should placate any more busybodies." She lifted her head, tucking a wavy strand of golden brown behind one ear as she regarded him. "Fannie isn't my competition, Scott. I've never seen her that way, and I never will. She's a piece of your heart, a piece of your soul. I spent all this time trying to put your broken pieces back together. Why in the hell would I make you ignore the biggest one? Wear the ring. Look at it and remember her when you need to. Remember the good times you had. Then look at me," Des leaned across the table to kiss him, soft and slow, leaving the taste of cherries on his lips before she pulled away, "and remember the good times yet to come."

He stared at her, wondering how in the hell he'd gotten so lucky.
Twice.

"You are the strangest woman I've ever met, angel."

She smiled. "I know."

"I love you so fucking much."

"I know that, too." Her smile widened. "Now, Johnny, how's about we just get a drink here and go hit a dancefloor somewhere?"

"I have a better idea," he said, leaning forward so that his lips brushed that sensitive spot just below her earlobe. "Why don't you let me take you home so we can hit the sheets?"

She cocked her head in surprise. "But the kids—"

"Are at Merry and Frank's for the night."

A smile spread over her face, making her eyes glow. "You said just for dinner and dancing."

"I was saving that news for dessert."

"But our date..." She was laughing at him, the husky sound instantly driving him nuts.

He pulled her across the table and nipped her neck once, feeling her shiver. Scott trailed his tongue over the sting. "I have a terrible sweet tooth, Des," he said. "Maybe we should skip dinner and get straight to the good stuff."

"Well then," she pushed him away and stood up. "I had better see to fulfilling this craving of yours. I must care properly for my mate, after all." Without a smile, Des left the table, heading for the door. Her long caramel legs flashed in the slits of the dress.

Scott's mouth started to water as he thought about running his tongue over that silky skin.

He tossed a few bills on the table without even looking at them as he made to follow her, pushing past their snotty waitress, who had returned. That pinched nose look still firmly in place.

"You're going to hell, you know," she hissed.

Scott turned abruptly. "No, lady, you've got it all wrong. I've been to hell. That angel pulled me out." He laughed out loud as the woman's eyes widened and she scurried away. It had just hit him.

Angel.

The name he'd always called Des. From day one. A name he'd never used on another woman.

"My angel disguised as a demon," he murmured to himself in wonder. There was a whole lot of irony in there somewhere. He'd appreciate it properly later. Right now, Scott just wanted his goddamn dessert.

Hopefully, with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

You wander down the lane and far away

              ….leaving me a song that will not die.

               ~ Stardust, Nat King Cole

February's winds howled outside, spitting snow and ice against the windowpanes, but he heard the knock loud and clear over the puppy's barking.

"Hush, you stupid little thing." Scott scooped the beagle up with one arm. The kids' Christmas present may not be as big as he would've liked, but at least he'd avoided the damn teacup Chihuahua.

When Scott opened the door, Jules and Kels were on his front step, looking cold and uncomfortable, bits of sleet covering their heavy winter jackets. He waved them in without a word, hanging their coats in the hallway as they passed them to him.

Jules broke the silence first. “It passed.”

“I heard.” Scott indicated the TV, which was on mute but still showed the Senate floor as he led them into the living room.

They nodded at Des who was curled up on the sofa between Toby and Tish. Kelsey took a seat across from Des, but Jules remained standing. The big vamp was angry. Scott could tell by the set of his jaw, but there was something curious in his expression. A sort of satisfied resignation. He looked at the kids.

“Do we need privacy?” Scott asked.

“No,” Jules shook his head slowly. “This concerns them, too.”

Scott exchanged a look with Des, who only lifted her eyebrows and shrugged. Obviously, she was as confused as him at the mix of emotions in the room.

“We expected this, you know. Calimente warned us it would happen.” Kelsey spoke up as Scott leaned against the doorway between the kitchen and living room.

“I know. I figured you were preparing after that little meeting last week.”

There'd been a compulsory town hall at work, reiterating that whatever happened in the Senate, Phoenix Inc. would go forward. Details had been sketchy. Only that more information would come after the vote. He expected this was the first wave, but he had no clue what they wanted with him personally. Scott raised his eyebrows when Kelsey and Jules exchanged a glance. These two had been friends so long, he knew they were practically telepathic where each other was concerned. Jules nodded as something passed between them.

"Yes, Scott, we've been preparing." Kelsey looked over at him, pushing a piece of snow-flecked dark hair behind one ear, her amber eyes intent. “We didn’t want to approach you before we had to, not with everything that you have been through in the last months. We wanted to give you some time to relax, enjoy a little peace, but now… It's time, Scott.”

Kelsey cleared her throat and looked at Jules. He sighed, then faced Scott directly. “We need you, man.”

Des straightened, a look of stunned understanding breaking over her face. Scott frowned, feeling like the odd man out. "What're you talking about?" 

"We want you to become acting CEO of Phoenix."

Scott stared as his stomach dropped. His eyes flickering from Jules to Kelsey and back again. Then immediately to Des, whose eyes were wide as saucers, matching the twins. Suddenly all the meetings he'd been pushed into, Jules asking his opinion on everything—backing him when he'd challenged Miles, made a whole lot more sense. But CEO?
Shit.

“So Daddy will be your boss, Mister Julie?” Tish spoke up, her big eyes wide.

Scott snorted, his brain scrambled. “Yeah, Mister Julie, will I be your boss?”

Jules’ jaw clenched and then he laughed. “I guess so."

"I've never been management, Jules. I don't have the background—"

"Oh, bull—," Jules caught himself, glancing at the twins. "Don't give me that, Scott. Neither Kelsey or I did when we started Phoenix, either. You're far more qualified than we were."

"Miles pointed that out. He's the one that first suggested you, actually." Kelsey smiled at his dumbfounded look.

Jules lifted his eyebrows. "Honestly, Scott. Does it matter whose name is on the paperwork as long as we can keep Phoenix alive and kicking through what's coming?”

That was the question, wasn't it? The silence in the room deepened as Scott pondered the answer.

Eventually, he shooed the kids to their room while the adults moved to the kitchen to have some much needed alcohol all around. They talked about demons, and Mags and all sorts of things, except the real elephant in the room.

Before they left, they told him to take the weekend to think about it. But Scott already knew his answer. He and Des stood in the doorway and watched Jules and Kelsey drive away.

“You’re gonna do it, aren’t you?”

“Is that a problem, angel?”

Des wrapped her arm around his waist, and tilted her head back to meet his searching gaze. “Of course not, silly. But are you sure?”

“Yeah. I think I am. Crazy though.
CEO.”
He shook his head, turning to wrap his arms around her. Pressing his face into that sweet-smelling cloud of hair.

“Does this mean you’re gonna go all GQ on me?”

He laughed. “Would you like that?” His lips brushed her ear.

Des shivered and pulled back. “Well, I can think of some interesting uses for ties. You know, if you’re up for it.”

“Baby, I am forever up for it.” He squeezed her ass with both hands and hauled her up against him.

She smirked. “I can see that.” Her eyes searched his and she cupped his face in her hands. “It’s going to be alright, Scott.”

“I know it is, angel.”

She kissed him hard and for the first time in forever, he actually believed it. Things were going to be fine, no matter what hell was unleashed around them.

Looking down at Des, Scott realized he'd found his center again. A different one; one that would be full of different happys, different mads, sads and bads; different goods and greats and so-so's, but in so many ways exactly the same. Because that was love. It may change form, but it never really went away.

Never.

You might lose the person that made you see it first, or have them snatched away from you forever, but the love…

It didn't go anywhere. It was still in your heart, waiting to be let out again.

Scott grinned as he hauled the woman he loved into his arms, calculating how long the monsters would be distracted by their movie.

"Wanna nail an executive, angel?"