He stood, planting his palms on his desk and leaned toward her. He had to be still six or more feet away, yet suddenly she felt crowded, like he had her backed up against the wall. “You guess?”

“I-I, yes, I agree, okay? That good enough for you, vampire?” She couldn’t keep from doing an eye roll.

He shut his eyes for a moment, as if to calm down, then opened them again. “This is a very serious matter.”

“As if I need you to tell me that,” she muttered under her breath.

“And I will not have you making light of it.”

“Sure thing, Bray.”

“Excuse me?” he asked darkly.

A part of her wanted to back down, cower, but she’d done enough of that in the two years she’d lived with him. Now she tilted her chin up. “I said ‘sure thing, Bray.’ ”

Oh, shit. He stalked around the desk to her. Her heart suddenly felt like it was beating up in her throat, which would explain why she had a hard time breathing. He leaned down, his big hands wrapping around the arms of her chair, forcing her to pull hers into her lap, lest they accidently touch. She didn’t know what she might do—or he might do—if they touched now.

“That is not my name,” he said, his voice low, deep, and to her, so fucking sensual sounding, she had to squeeze her thighs together to staunch any possible flow.

“I know that.”

“You will never call me Bray again. Got me, babe?”

Her breath whooshed out of her lungs. He must have shocked the shit out of himself with that little endearment, because he flushed then quickly backed away, scrubbing his hand hard over his face. “I, I’m sorry about that. That was way out of line. I’ve just never heard anyone call me that before. I didn't like it.”

“No shit,” she said, because she still hadn’t gotten her breathing under control. A chuckle left her. He cut her a glare with those piercing eyes.

“What?” he snapped.

She laughed again, louder this time. Shit. She wrapped her hand over her mouth, but damn, the harder she tried to stop laughing the more the giggles came until her shoulders shook.

“Tell me, now.” Or else, she heard the warning in his voice.

She calmed enough to say, “Do you call everyone ‘babe’ who dares call you a nickname? What happens if Dmetri calls you ‘Bro-den’? Are you going to shove him back and call him babe?” Oh God, the picture was too hysterical and she couldn’t staunch another flow of laughter. She dared a peek at him, and the half-smile on his face made her laughter die faster than anything. “You smile.”

As soon as she said it, it died. She instantly felt like she’d seen sunlight for the first time, only to have it quickly vanish from the sky.

“Everyone smiles sometimes, Vanessa.”

Except you, she wanted to say. “I guess.”

“One more thing. You’re going to call and quit your job today, then come with me while I investigate the Clara Brunes’ case.”

Her eyebrow shot up. “Really? Do you think she was murdered or was it just an accident?”

He shook his head. “I can’t say. That’s why I’ve taken leave to look into it. I have the next three weeks off to check into the case and get some kind of answer for Vane and Sarina.”

“And you’re actually comfortable letting me tag along with you?”

He snorted. “No, but I don’t have any other choice. I’m not leaving you alone when your mate could be looking for you.”

Your mate—those words poisoned her happy glow. Yeah, she had a mate, but she hated him more than anything.

“All right, just let me know when.”

“First, you’re going to go call your boss, then I’m taking you to get some clothes. After that, I have an appointment with the lead Justicar from the Brunes’ case.” He glanced at a tall grandfather clock in the corner of the room. “In fact, call now. We gotta hit the road.”

Vanessa made the call to the coffee shop and informed Rob she was quitting. It felt like a lousy thing to do, especially since she couldn’t even finish her last two weeks. He didn’t seem surprised though and said her paycheck would be waiting at the shop for the days she worked whenever she was ready.

That done, she found Brayden at his desk again, let him know she was ready, and they set off in his SUV. He took her to Woodfield Mall, a chic and elegant looking place. Outside, the building had sleek white horizontal panels and a white horse statue out front. Her mall back home didn’t look anything like this. It wasn’t tiny, but it was just one floor and you certainly couldn’t find art or a statue of a horse out front.

It felt odd walking with Brayden inside. She didn’t clothes shop much, but she used to love it as a teenager. Then, when she’d mated Joseph, she’d never been allowed to go alone. She always had an escort of at least two guards with her. He told her it was to ensure her safety, but she knew what it was really about—to make sure she didn’t run away. And she would have, given the chance, using the hundred bucks he’d given her.

Now, it felt different. She had the tall and powerful Brayden next to her, a lead Justicar, a judge, certainly not a nobody, and he was taking her clothes shopping. Inside, the mall looked even more breathtaking. The ceiling had a unique and odd design layered between sparkling white lights in jagged shapes. It also had multiple floors, modern-looking art pieces hanging around, and a lot of chattering people walking by. She couldn’t help but smile and feel good as she made her way toward the nearest Macy’s. She didn’t take her time, because she knew men hated shopping, especially with their woman. She paused and Brayden stopped to look at her.

“What?”

“It’s nothing,” she said and shook her head. She certainly wasn’t his woman.

She managed to grab several pairs of jeans, shirts, socks, undies and even a few cuter items like skirts and a dress in forty-five minutes. Luckily, with her body size, she knew what her size was and nearly all brand names fit her well. He paid for her stuff and she tried not to fidget, but it felt damn weird having him buy her clothes. She hardly knew the man, well, vampire, but doing such a normal activity with him felt odd.

She’d despised him for a long time, even while she had her little fantasies about him. She couldn’t help it. From the first day she met him he was her enemy, telling her to do her duty and obey her father. At least now, he was helping her. He must see that he’d been wrong then, right? She hoped so.

They went back the SUV with her big bags filled with clothes and shoved them in the backseat before taking off again. He checked the time on his dashboard clock. “Good, we won’t be late.” He pulled onto the road and they were off again. “What are your plans after you get your divorce?”

She couldn’t help but smile. For many, the word divorce triggered such unpleasant thoughts, but not for her. It’d be a blessing or a miracle if she could get one. She’d finally have her freedom. “I’m finally going to go to school.”

He sent her a surprised look. “What for?”

That look irritated her. What, he didn’t think she actually wanted to do something with her life? Well, nobody else seemed to. “I’m going to study nursing. I want to be a nurse.” Things would be different now, that’s for sure. She didn’t have any pack to go back to, especially if she got her divorce. She’d have to take a nursing job at a hospital or something. She didn’t mind. The thought of working to make her own money, of being able to take care of herself, brought euphoric warmth inside her. God, she couldn’t wait.

“I could see that.”

Now, she shot him a disbelieving look. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Sure, why not? One thing I know about the Kategans, is that when they want something, they get it and they do the job right.”

That made her smile at him. He caught it and his gaze stayed on her mouth for a second longer than necessary, just long enough to make her inside warm, and then he looked back at the road.