A Demonic Bundle (31 page)

Maksim only half-heard what the other women ordered, irritated again by Jo’s utter disinterest in him. Disinterest was a novelty, and he was discovering it was not one he particularly cared for.

He grabbed three cups and started filling one after the other, his glances going back to Jo every now and then.

She remained with her back toward him, her attention on the band. What was it about her that drew him? And damn, did it draw him. Right now, he wanted to just reach over the bar, grab her, pull her over to him, and lick her entire body.

Good Lord, he was a demon, not a mindless caveman.

“So, when did you get in?” he asked with casual politeness, forcing himself to keep the caveman out of his behavior. He set down the soda, then leaned forward on the bar, waiting for her to turn around. She did, but still didn’t react to him, even with him bringing himself as close to her as he could with the long, wooden bar between them.

Instead she nonchalantly lifted her drink and took a lengthy swallow. She moaned with appreciation, the sound low and deep in her throat. She savored the soda water like it was a fine wine, her eyes closed, her lashes looking impossibly long and dark against her cheeks. Her lips parted once she’d swallowed, looking rosy pink and wet with moisture.

Maksim’s already reacting body managed to react even more, an erection pressing against the unforgiving material of his jeans. His muscles clenched with pure need.

The response maddened him further, especially when she opened her eyes, set down her drink, and regarded him with her usual impassive stare. All bliss disappeared behind a no-nonsense gaze.

“I got in last week.” She took another sip of her drink, again closing her eyes with appreciation.

For a moment, Maksim didn’t understand her words, already forgetting that he’d asked her a question. Of course that was before his raging hard-on and the fantasies of making her look as blissful as the icy soda did.

God, he was actually feeling like he was in competition with a carbonated beverage. Pathetic.

Just then, Maggie’s laugh drew their attention toward her. Ren, Vittorio, and the rest of the band were off the stage, and Ren had come up and captured his wife around the waist, catching her off guard.

“Come outside,” Vittorio said to the women. “We can talk easier without the music.” He gestured toward the speakers now playing recorded Top 40 pop tunes.

They all gathered their drinks and headed out to the sidewalk, where they could chat until the band was finished with their break. Jo followed them, not even looking back.

Maksim stared after her as she disappeared outside, confused and frustrated. What was it about that woman? And how was it she didn’t seem to notice he existed? He was no fool. He knew he was attractive to the opposite sex—sometimes the same sex, too, although that kind of “getting his freak on” didn’t appeal. The point being he knew he was good looking. He’d made that a fact when in the mortal realm.

As if to prove his point, a woman who’d been trying to get his attention all night approached him, blocking his view of the doorway where Jo had just exited.

“Hi,” she greeted him with a wide smile and a flip of her long blond hair. “I was wondering what you are doing after you get off work.”

He didn’t react right away, still mystified by Jo’s lack of reaction. Finally he focused on the woman. She was very pretty, curvy, and soft. And there was no question about the interest clear in her light blue eyes.

Now, Maksim was never one to waste time on futile ventures. He liked challenges, yes. But he wasn’t wasting time chasing someone who didn’t want to get caught.

Okay, this was in fact the first time he could recall meeting someone who didn’t want to get caught, but still he didn’t believe in working too hard. After all, there was always something, if not better, then just as good coming around the corner. And this was plainly one of those moments.

He smiled at the blonde, who practically glowed back at him, thrilled with his attention.

“I’m getting off work around two. Why? What do you have in mind?”

The blonde giggled. “Well, I can think of a few things.”

His smile broadened. “I can, too.” Then he extended his hand. “I’m Maksim.”

She slipped her fingers into his. “Jenna.”

See, he could forget about dark-eyed, dark-haired mortals just as easily as that.

But even as he told himself that, his gaze returned to the doorway that Jo had walked out.

“When did that guy start working here?”

Erika frowned at Jo, then glanced around the street where they stood with the band. “What guy?”

“The bartender.” Jo remembered his name, but she couldn’t even bring herself to say it. For some reason, she felt as if remembering his name would show too much…

Well, just too much.

Erika still frowned.

“I think she means Maksim,” Vittorio supplied even though Jo didn’t realize he’d been listening.

“Oh,” Erika said, her tone not exactly negative, but not exactly amiable, either. “He’s been working here for…” She glanced at Vittorio for an answer.

“A couple months,” he said. “Right after we got married, he started here.”

Jo nodded. She remembered him at Erika and Vittorio’s wedding. He’d looked stunningly handsome in his expensive, designer suit. He’d just screamed money, power, and sex appeal. He still did—even slinging beers.

“I wouldn’t have pegged him as being a bartender for a living,” Jo said. “He seems too…” She couldn’t find that right word.

“High and mighty,” Maggie suggested.

“Yes,” Jo agreed. “That’s it exactly.”

“Oh, he’s definitely not from around here,” Ren said with a enigmatic smile, making Jo realize that everyone was aware of the topic of conversation.

Jo didn’t quite know what Ren meant by his statement or how it tied in to the man’s demeanor. And his accent stated he wasn’t from Louisiana—or even the U.S. She’d been more focused on the fact that he seemed like the type who was waited on—not doing the waiting.

She could easily picture him in one of those ritzy nightclubs, the ones with dress codes and guest lists. Five-star restaurants and yachts with sexy women in bikinis. She certainly didn’t see him working behind a bar in the French Quarter.

So what was he doing here, then?

“Are you interested in him?” Maggie said after everyone had moved on to the subject of whether Drake’s guitar solo in Poison’s “Talk Dirty to Me” was too long.

Jo blinked. “Interested in him? Hardly.”

Maggie nodded, seeming to readily accept her words, then she added, “He’s interested in you.”

Jo shook her head. “No, he isn’t.”

“Trust me, he is.” Maggie stated, and Jo couldn’t decide how her friend felt about the observation.

But then, she wasn’t sure what her feelings were, either. Jo wasn’t completely oblivious. She noticed the way the man watched her. She’d noticed it the past times she met him, too. But at the time she’d been too involved in her own issues to give it any thought. And frankly she didn’t have time to think about it now, either.

Plus, Maksim—and at least she didn’t have to pretend she didn’t know his last name because she didn’t—wasn’t the type of man she found attractive.

Okay, that wasn’t strictly true. Maksim Whatever-His-Name-Is was the type of man all woman found attractive. Truthfully, he was probably the most stunningly beautiful man she’d ever seen. Well, one of the most beautiful.

For a moment, her mind returned to her own problems and the mess she left behind in D.C.
But you didn’t leave it all behind, did you?

She shoved those thoughts aside and glanced in the doorway, catching a glimpse of Maksim serving a large, fruity-looking drink to a curvaceous blonde.

So sure, she’d noticed Maksim. He was hard to miss with his unusually pale green eyes that reminded her of peridots. His sexy smile that turned up just slightly at one corner. And his body, tall and lean with broad shoulders and—

All right, she sighed, closing her eyes just briefly, trying to block out the image of him. So she’d noticed him. He was a gorgeous man. But she also knew his type. Along with all that masculine beauty, she knew he had an ego the size of St. Louis Cathedral, and she had no use for that. Absolutely no use.

And in the end, he’d have no use for her, either. She’d learned that firsthand. Again, she told herself not to think about it. She had other things to focus on. Like work and friends and starting a new life. Starting a new life…

A wave of nausea, sudden and intense, hit her, and she looked around, panicked, deciding if she should rush to the restroom.

Calm down. Calm down.
She swallowed several times and the feeling gradually subsided.

Erika appeared at her side. “The guys are going back in for one more set.” She studied Jo. “Are you okay?”

Jo nodded, not quite sure she was ready to speak. She swallowed again, then pulled in a slow, deep breath.

“I’m fine.” She forced a closed-mouth smile.

Erika still watched her, her finely arched brows drawn together with concern.

“Are you sure you want to stay?” she asked.

Jo nodded. “Sure.” She wasn’t ready to be alone with her thoughts at the moment. She’d long ago realized that keeping busy was the best way to avoid things she didn’t want to think about. Busy was good.

“Okay,” Erika said, her voice uncertain. She glanced at Maggie again. Another knowing look shot between them. This time it irritated Jo.

“I’m fine,” she repeated, more firmly, and her friends didn’t say anything. They just followed her back into the dark bar.

A group of partiers boogied on the dance floor. The air was hazy and seemed to glow, smoke lit by neon beer signs. Jo ignored the overwhelming scent of cigarettes mingling with stale beer and headed toward the back of the bar to an empty round high-top table. It was a little quieter away from the stage. And she couldn’t easily see Maksim from this angle. Noticing his eyes and body and smile wasn’t doing her any good.

Men were not a part of her future. She was done.

“So tell me more about the community center,” Maggie said, and Erika leaned forward to hear over the band, who’d started again.

“Well, the center is woefully understaffed,” Jo said, gladly grasping onto the topic of work. “After Katrina, a lot of the employees and volunteers just didn’t return. The building isn’t in great condition, either, but at least it didn’t suffer any major damage. But even with the lack of staff and facilities, there are more kids there than ever.

“And the kids are great. Well, mostly great. There are a few troubled ones, which, given the area, is to be expected. But they are the kids who need this place the most.”

“So will you start looking for staff as soon as you can?” Erika asked.

Jo nodded. “Volunteers, mainly. We just don’t have the money to take on full-time employees. Yet. I’ve been looking into our funding options, what grants I can apply for. Once we know about that, I can start hiring. But my first order of business is coming up with volunteers to help out the kids in our daycare and aftercare programs. We have a lot of kids whose parents can’t afford a lot for daycare. And I need to make them the priority at the moment.”

Maggie smiled. “I think that’s great. And the work seems like something you will love.”

Jo nodded. She did love it. She needed to have that sense of helping others. And she loved working with kids. Seeing kids overcome and flourish even against such unfortunate odds. Nothing felt better.

For a moment her mind wandered again, straying to things she didn’t want to deal with.

“Yep,” Jo said, straightening in her seat, shaking off the sudden sweep of sorrow that filled her. “So St. Ann Community Center will be back on its feet in no time, as long as I can find some volunteers to help me.”

“Can I get you ladies some drinks?” said a voice, deep and velvety and tinged with an exotic-sounding accent, from right beside her. Jo started, clapping a hand to her chest.

“Sorry,” he said, smiling at her reaction as if it pleased him in some way.

Jo felt irritation rise in her chest, replacing the rapid beat of her heart. He probably thought she was affected by his sudden nearness. Because of some sort of uncontrollable desire, rather than genuine surprise.

She stared at him, trying to ignore the scent of him that managed to blot out the other smells of the bar. Something spicy, like burning incense, earthy and very arousing.

She immediately pushed back her stool and stood, making sure her vacated seat was between them.

“Nothing for me,” she managed, then turned to her friends. “I have to run to the restroom.”

She didn’t look back or wait for her friends’ reply as she hurried toward the back of the room and the door labeled
LADIES
.

Once inside, she leaned against the graffiti-scribbled wall, offering messages of “love 4 eva” and “for a good time call” and “New Orleans rocks!” She didn’t pay any attention to the plethora of yearbook-like captions, and instead focused on trying to get her wayward body under control.