Discern (22 page)

“Umm…we could pick up something to eat and head back to your place. I don’t want anyone upsetting you again while we’re out.”

“Haley, I’m not going to hurt everyone that looks at you.” He rolled his beautiful emerald eyes. “If that were the case, all the men in
Boulder
would have to die,” he said flatly.

“W-Why?” My voice cracked.

“You’re a very attractive and smart woman, and I’m going to have to adjust my temper if I plan on being around you,” he laughed, gently stroking the back of my hand.

The heat from his hand warmed my aching muscles. The temperature had begun to change, and I knew winter would soon be upon us. Winter’s cold, icy grip no longer seemed as depressing as it once had, now that Andrew was around.

I chuckled slightly as Andrew ordered food from the drive-thru, it seemed preposterous for such an incredibly, strong and beautiful creature to act so human. Grabbing the bag of food, I exited the car into his garage. He opened the door, and we walked up the stairs to the kitchen. I pulled out one of the stools that sat beneath the large kitchen island.

I glanced over at the staircase, remembering how I tried to flee from this very house just last night, and here I sat waiting and desiring to know more.

“I should check my e-mail. I’ll be right back,” he mentioned, before heading upstairs.

Andrew hadn’t returned yet, and I was finished eating, so I took it upon myself to seek him out. I turned the corner into one of upstairs bedrooms and walked straight into him.

“Sorry!” I exclaimed. “I have a habit of running in to people.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I wasn’t sure which room you were in.”

“I have an office set up in one of my spare bedrooms,” he said, pointing to the room he just walked out of.

I peered through the door. There sat an enormous, dark colored desk with intricate wood designs.

“Beautiful desk,” I admired.

“It was given to me a long time ago.”

I wondered just how long ago it had been given to him. “We never did discuss your real age last night.”

“No, we didn’t,” he smiled.

“You said something about not being close to one hundred years old, but I’m quite sure after hearing your stories, that you aren’t anywhere near the hundreds.”

“It’s only in the thousands,” he said casually.

“Oh you’re a lot younger than I thought,” I teased.

“I‘m six thousand years old,” he answered. His eyes cautiously watched to see if my light-hearted teasing would cease.

“You look really good for your age.”

“I do what I can,” he joked.

“Is immortality difficult?”

“It can be, especially if you spend your time mourning your losses.”

“It seems like a death sentence.”

“It can be, unless you find love,” he leaned down and whispered. His breath tickled my ear. Our faces almost touched. I leaned in ever so slightly. The doorbell rang. I instantly jumped back.

“Expecting company?”

“No,” he said sternly. “Wait up here.”

I did as he said and waited in the hallway. Shouting resonated from downstairs. My curiosity got the best of me, so I headed toward the angry voices. Two men wearing black suits stood facing Andrew. Their faces were stern. I wondered if their visit had anything to do with the diner incident.

Andrew looked back over his shoulder as my foot hit the last step, which creaked ever so slightly. The two men quickly looked over in my direction.

“A little brazen, don’t you think?” the shorter of the two men asked, nodding in my direction.

“Not your concern,” Andrew snapped.

“I bet he wouldn’t think so,” the other man said.

“He won’t ever know.” Andrew’s voice was cold and stern.

“Why’s that?” the shorter man questioned.

“Because no one is going to tell,” Andrew insisted firmly.

“We might not tell him directly, but it could accidentally get back to him,” the taller man suggested.

Andrew instantly slammed both men against the wall. I immediately froze, fearing another incident.

“This doesn’t leave here or else the consequences will be severe. Remember who runs the show,” Andrew growled.

“Yes, Mr. Alexander,” they both agreed, frightened.

 
He slowly released them and they quickly exited.

Andrew glanced over in my direction, his eyes fading from red back to green. He began walking to where I stood, but before he could reach me, another knock, or more like pounding, could be heard at the front door.

Andrew ripped open the door. Thomas Mitchell stood at the door with another man. Both men let themselves inside the house with a look of disgust upon their faces. Andrew reached out and pushed them both back. His inhuman strength forced their bodies back out the door.

“I didn’t invite you in,” Andrew snarled.

“No time to get angry,” Mr. Mitchell said calmly.

“I already spoke with a couple of your men, and we came to an understanding.”

“This is a personal request,” Mr. Mitchell remained calm, as he looked in my direction.

 
I was confused—how did Andrew and Braden’s father know one another? I was now confident that Keith Hamilton had seen me at the event the other night and informed Braden. Braden must have sent his father since he was in town, but that didn’t explain the first two men’s visit.

“Haley?” Mr. Mitchell’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Yes?”

“Grab your things, and get in my car,” he instructed.

“Why?”

Mr. Mitchell started walking toward me and then grabbed my arm. “I’ll explain later.”

I yanked my arm away. “No,” I said angrily.

“Haley, this really isn’t your choice anymore.” His voice deepened as he gritted his teeth.

“Tom,” Andrew addressed him casually. “Whatever you’re planning on doing, I’d advise otherwise,” Andrew said flatly as he gently placed my hand in his.

“She isn’t an option, there are plenty others that you can do with what you like, but not her. I won’t allow it,” Mr. Mitchell now demanded.

“You’d be right under normal circumstances, but this time you’re wrong,” Andrew glared.

Mr. Mitchell looked back down in my direction. “Haley, please just get in to my car, and I’ll explain everything. If you still want to come back, then it’ll be your choice,” he pleaded.

Andrew’s eyes were now focused on mine. “I‘m not going anywhere,” I insisted. “If this is some sick trick of Braden’s to scare me in to going back with him, then it’s a waste of your time,” I said angrily.

“Braden has nothing to do with this. If he knew about this, he would be down here in a heartbeat getting …” His voice trailed off.

“You’re foolish, if you expect me to believe your intentions are good,” I said.

“Haley, this has nothing to do with Braden.”

“Then what is it?”

“This isn’t safe.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, already well aware of Andrew’s true identity.

“No time to explain here,” Mr. Mitchell insisted.

“I’m not leaving.”

“She’s made her choice,” Andrew stated firmly.

“Haley, he’s no good.”

Andrew pushed Mr. Mitchell to the door, along with the other man. “I believe it’s time for you two to be leaving.”

“Mr. Alexander, I beg you, please anyone but her,” Mr. Mitchell pleaded as the door shut in his face.

I was horrified by what had just happened, but most of all I was confused. “What’s going on?” I trembled.

“It’s a long story,” he sighed.

“I don’t have any plans for the evening.”

“Haley, there are some things you don’t want to know.”

“Like the fact that you’re immortal? What could be worse than that?”

“Plenty,” he said stiffly.

“Try me,” I challenged.

“No,” he said sharply.

“How do you know Mr. Mitchell?” I continued to ask questions. He wasn’t getting off this easy.

“Haley, I think it might be best to take you home,” he said, grabbing his keys.

“No, I don’t want to go home!”

“I wasn’t asking,” he snapped.

“Why…why do I have to go home?” I asked desperately.

“I have to clear a few things up. Take a deep breath and stop panicking.”

 
“Just take me to my car,” I said, hurt by his lack of concern. His face made it clear there was no convincing him otherwise.

“What happened here today stays just as quiet as everything else,” he said flatly.

“I get it already,” I snapped. “I’d never tell anyone.” I looked away.

His hand lightly touched mine. “I know you would never tell.”

“Why do you want me to leave?”

“I’m upset, and I won’t be able to concentrate with you around.”

“What if something happens to me?”

“Then I would be there within seconds, but I have to tend to this issue, and you have to leave,” he said icily.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked, as I reluctantly slid into his car.

“Yes, but I cannot guarantee an answer.”

“How do you know him?”

“Like I said, it’s a long story, and now is not the time to explain.”

The rest of the drive was silent. He pulled up beside my car. “I’m so sorry, Haley.” He reached for my hand.

 
I jerked away before he could touch me. “Please don’t.”

“Haley,” he sighed. “I won’t be gone long.”

“Does that mean hours or days?”

“I don’t know. It could be today or tomorrow.”

“A day or two?” I asked in disbelief. The thought of not seeing him for so long seemed unbearable.

“You must be patient.” His phone interrupted our conversation. He retrieved it from his pocket and glanced down at the screen. “I have to go, but I’ll see you again soon. I promise.”

He softly brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. The same sparks flowed through my body—I wasn’t going to let this feeling slip away.

“I’ll try, but I cannot guarantee.”

“Don’t do anything hasty,” he warned.

His phone began ringing again. I slid out of the car without another word, watching him speed off. He had vanished for two days after the night of the diner incident, and I wasn’t sure if I could take another two days without him.

A bright flash caught my attention just as I began contemplating my next move. Mr. Mitchell quickly stepped out of his vehicle. I jumped out of my car. I was ready for some answers, but I knew they would be clouded with hopes that I would forgive Braden. Anger pulsed through my veins.

“What the hell was that?!” I shouted.

“Are you all right?” he asked, avoiding my question.

“I’m fine,” I said angrily. “I guess you were wrong. Here I am, safe.”

“Well that’s a first,” Mr. Mitchell scoffed.

“Oh, Mr. Mitchell, this is ridiculous. Your son was the only unsafe choice.”

“If you knew the truth, you’d be running for your life,” he warned.

My anger quickly subsided, with fear replacing it. Could it possible Mr. Mitchell knew about Andrew’s true identity? “Really?” I asked, trying to remain focused.

“Yes, believe me, you would. He isn’t someone that you should be associating with.”

I still couldn’t shake the feeling that Braden was somehow the real reason for Mr. Mitchell’s intervention.

“I don’t love Braden anymore, and nothing will change how I feel,” I explained, hoping this would curtail Mr. Mitchell’s involvement in this situation.

“Haley, this isn’t about Braden. He has no clue about you and Mr. Alexander.”

“Then why would you be involved?”

“That I can’t discuss,” he said sharply.

“If you can’t explain, then this conversation is over,” I said, storming back to my car.

“Haley!” Mr. Mitchell shouted. “Where did you meet Mr. Alexander?”

I reluctantly turned around. “I’m not telling you anything if you refuse to explain anything to me,” I said sharply.

“Please, I need to know, it will make sense of things.”

“How?”

“Did you meet him here in town?” he continued to question.

“No.”

“In
California
?”

“No.”

“Then where?”

“He was on the plane with me the night I was headed home. You know, the night that I walked in on your son with another woman.” The memory of that night was no longer fresh, but I needed to remind him of his son’s betrayal so he would no longer continue this behavior.

“Wait…he was on the plane with you that night?” His eyes squinted and forehead wrinkled.

“Yes, he sat a seat away from me. We spoke for most of the plane ride, but nothing of significance,” I said, shaking my head with disgust for Braden’s interest in my personal life.