Page 9 of Another Man’s Treasure

He takes mine and shakes it without standing, a smirk on his brutally angular features. Crimson eyes so typical of vampires land on me and narrow as he flares his nostrils.

When I slide onto the velvet bench, he watches as I lay my left arm along the back to get comfortable. I’m almost as big as a minotaur, which makes me about three times this male’s size.

“Saint Ashbourne,” he says with a smirk. “I’ll be your contact in the sale of the Sandoval estate, so I’ll be around for the next few weeks while we work out the final details.”

“Good,” I say with a flashy smile. If he dated the gargoyle, he’s obviously into men, so a smile might help my cause. “I’ve been doing a little research, and I’ve got some questions about a few of the details. Not to mention I haven’t seen the final paperwork.”

He grins, pausing for a moment as he scans my face. It’s that same sensual perusal so common of his kind. I don’t like it. Although the way he shifts in his seat tells me he’s attracted to me. That and the way his scent deepens, taking on a rich edge I can almost taste. But it’s tangy like blood, and that’s not my kink. Great senses of smell and hearing are about the only monster abilities I did get, but they’re useful.

I keep grinning anyhow. My dimples might as well come in handy.

His smile softens, and he turns to a shiny leather bag on the bench beside him. After extracting a stack of papers, he sets them on the table between us.

“The final sale paperwork. The Sandoval family requested a few changes, but to make it easier to discuss over dinner, I outlined them in the topmost document. If your lawyer isn’t joining us, you’ll want him to go over them, of course, but go ahead and read those so we can continue.”

Last-minute changes.

That don’t bode well. Last-minute changes, in my experience, usually mean someone wants you real invested and desperate to close a deal before they spring bullshit on you.

I shake my head. “Willa’ll be along once we’re closer to the final signing.”

He says nothing as I grab the document, sit back, and scan the contents. Nothing’s terribly concerning until I get to bullet point five.

Purchaser must be mated.

I blink hard and read the line again. So few words and such a devastating meaning. Glancing up at Saint, I frown. “What’s this? Mated? That’s never been a requirement, and we’ve been at this for six months.”

He shrugs and grins. “Seems Artur Sandoval’s mate appreciates how she’s benefitted from the empire they built, and he swears he couldn’t do it without her. They’d like a family to take over their success, not a single male. They want to know whoever purchases their estate is putting roots down and has plenty of support.” He flashes me another grin. “Her words, not mine.”

I scoff and slump back against the velvet, frustrated at this sudden change.

“I’m not mated,” I say quietly.

Saint cocks his head to the side. “Oz?”

Oz? It takes me a moment to remember he’s talking about the gargoyle male from BrewHaHa Beans. The one who introduced me as his boyfriend. An idea takes immediate hold. A stupid, stupid idea, but something I can probably drag out for a week or two.

“We’re taking things slowly,” I hedge. “Putting down roots but not rushing anything. I moved here just last week so we could be together.”

Lie, lie, lie.

Ashbourne smirks as if he can see right through the falsehood. “How long have you two been dating?”

This lie’s gonna fall apart the moment he starts digging for details. He’ll obviously know much more than I will if they have history. I’ve got no idea how long ago that history even was. Recent enough that the gargoyle cared about being seen alone and thrust himself upon me.

“Not terribly long, if I’m honest,” I say with a little smile. “But when you know, you know.”

Saint chuckles and reaches for his bloodwine glass. He lifts it to his lips and takes a delicate sip. When he sets it down, I worry he’s either about to agree with me or blow this entire deal up in my face.

“You could do better than Oz,” he says with a low growl. “Much better. Believe me.”

My brows lift as I take him in. Is he…propositioning me? This is gonna get outta hand fast. Maybe he’s testing my loyalty to the gargoyle. Either way, I can’t complicate this deal, and the bitty snip of a stupid idea is taking firmer hold.

“Oz and I don’t work like that,” I say, leaning back against the velvet cushions. “We’re monogamous.”

Saint laughs. “Oz? Monogamous? That’ll be the day.”

I ignore the barb and glance through the rest of the changes. Nothing else concerns me horribly, but I don’t love some of the other details. After grabbing my copy of the paperwork, I set it on the bench and offer up my list of questions, thrumming the top of the page. “Based on our research, I have clarifying things I’d like the answers to as we proceed.”