Cassidy wasn’t entirely sure how to take that, but if the look on Dante’s face was any indication,hehadn’t taken it well. Leaning forward, Dante rested his hand over hers while he glowered at the man.
“She’ll take a water, and I’ll have a coffee,” he growled. “And I want a regular, black,non-adventurouscoffee.”
The man’s eyes darted toward Cassidy and then the counter. “We have many flavors—”
“A regular black coffee,” Dante interrupted.
“Yes, sir,” the waiter stammered before rushing away.
Dante scowled after him. He wasn’t entirely sure what had come over him. He wasn’t the jealous type, or at least he wasn’t before meeting Cassidy. When Tiffany was accepted to college in California and decided not to do the long-distance thing, it broke his heart, but he never felt possessive or jealous.
Since her, he hadn’t had many relationships. The year and a half he spent in college, he mostly focused on studying. After college, his life was a shitshow with no room for relationships. He dated some girls over the years, but he never once felt the urge to punch some guy in the face because he spent a little too much time checking out his date.
He glanced at Cassidy, who had her head tilted to the side as she studied him. She probably considered him a chauvinistic asshole.He didn’t know what this was between them, but he couldn’t destroy it before he figured it out.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”
Cassidy turned her hand over in his and squeezed it. If he was her mate, then there was an explanation for his behavior, and he would be unstable until they completed the bond. However, now wasn’t exactly the time to discuss it.
“It’s okay,” she assured him.
She wasn’t exactly enamored with the way women reacted to him. If the woman from the cab last night were standing in front of her, Cassidy would have choked her, and she’d never wanted to attack a human before. If anyone understood acting differently than usual, it was her.
“I’m not normally like that,” he said.
Sympathy tugged at Cassidy’s heart. “It’s okay.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but the ringing of the bell cut him off. He drummed his fingers on the table as two moms, pushing strollers, entered and walked up to the counter.
The waiter returned with their drinks, but Dante barely paid him any attention as he focused on the door. Paris had to show up; he didn’t like using his vampire ability on anyone, but he would track her down and make her tell him everything she knew about Julie and Preston if that was what it took to bring Julie home.
The bell went off again, and a young girl with her blonde hair styled into a sleek bob stepped through the door. Large sunglasses covered half her small face. He couldn’t see her eyes, but her head turned as she surveyed the room.
When Dante rose from the table, her head stopped turning when she spotted him. Then, her gaze went to Cassidy, and her eyebrows knit together before she started searching the room again.
“I’ll be back,” Dante said to Cassidy.
“I’ll be here,” she said.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dante woundhis way in between the tables, and the people gathered around them, as he made his way toward the young girl. Her attention returned to him, and her shoulders went back as he approached.
“Mr. Vares?” She inquired when he stopped before her.
“Yes, and you must be Paris.”
“I am. Who’s the woman with you?”
“She’s a friend who’s helping me find Julie. I hope that’s okay.”
“Um, yeah…ah… Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Then, let’s go sit and talk.”
Dante let her lead the way back to the table. She pulled out a chair and settled in across from Cassidy. Dante returned to his seat as Paris removed her glasses to reveal her bloodshot brown eyes. She set the glasses on the table, lifted her hand, and wiggled her fingers at the young waiter. He hurried over to take her order.
“I’d like a large, non-fat, extra hot caramel macchiato upside down,” Paris said.
