Chapter 3

The next time I met with Dominique was at the restaurant she went to. I was watching outside her house, of course, and saw her walk out. She was dressed up like she was going on a date. I ran through the woods to my car. I started my car and waited until I saw her car come out of her long driveway. I waited until she was a few car lengths ahead and followed her. 

When she went into the restaurant, I waited outside for a few minutes. I walked in and immediately told the maitre d’ that I was meeting someone and pointed at a table. I began to walk over and quickly detoured to see the entire restaurant. I found Dominique sitting at a table, and I also saw someone sitting with her. I quickly realized that it was her ex. I moved closer and could hear her tell him that she was waiting for her date and he was running late from a meeting. I figured this was as good of a chance as any to get some alone time with Dominique without seeming to be a creep. However, I began to smell something I hadn’t smelled in a long time.

It took me off guard when I realized it was coming from her ex. He hadn’t smelled like that before. He was human. I know he was. What had happened at the end of their relationship? Did Dominique know that he was a werewolf? If she did, that would be a good thing as it would make things easier when I told her what I truly was. 

I walked up to the table and said, “I believe the lady told you to leave.”

“Who the hell are you?” Tim asked.

I replied coolly, “My name is Nathaniel and Dominique is my date for the evening. And you are in my seat. I would appreciate it if you would get up and leave the lady alone. Clearly, you are bothering her.”

I turned towards Dominique, bent down as I kissed her lips ever so lightly, and said, “I’m sorry I’m so late. My meeting ran longer than I thought it would.”

When I looked at Tim, he stood up. Tim looked at Dominique, surprise all over his face. I knew he could smell me and knew what I was, too. But, judging by the surprise on his face, she either didn’t know what he was, or he was just surprised that she would go on a date with a vampire. I sat in the chair that Tim had now vacated.

“Maybe we can catch up later, Dominique,” Tim said as he walked off.

“I have to say I’m grateful for you saving me from that guy, but where did you come from, and how did you know what I had said to him?” 

“Well, I had just finished dinner, and I noticed you. So, I came over to say hello and overheard some of the conversation. I apologize if I was too forward by kissing you.”

I watched as Dominique blushed. I could smell her arousal again, and I felt my expression change. I couldn’t let her know that I knew she was aroused, but I couldn’t help but smile. My smile widened as she cleared her throat. It was almost like she was visibly trying to get rid of the dirty thoughts in her head that had made her blush.  

“It’s okay. It’s a little weird, but I appreciate the save. I would say I’d buy you dinner, but you’ve already eaten.”

“How about another reward then?”

“Depends. What do you want as a reward?”

“I would like a conversation. You can still eat dinner. I will sit with you, and we can chat and get to know each other a little better.”

Dominique laughed and then stopped as she said, “Oh, you’re serious. I’m afraid I’m pretty boring. I have no life. I go to work and home.”

“Dominique, you know that’s not true. You have hobbies, people you talk to, a whole past that has led you to where you are today.”

“Ok, I guess. But why you want to get to know me is beyond me. So what’s your first question?”

“Why were you really here tonight?”

“Well, that one’s simple. I haven’t taken a day or night off of work in about a year. When the club wasn’t open, I was working on a project. The stress was getting to me, so my best friend made me take a night off. Since I couldn’t sleep the day and night away, I decided to go out and treat myself.”

I felt better knowing that she wasn’t actually on a date. The waiter came over, and she ordered. She was worried about eating in front of me, but I assured her that I had already eaten. I didn’t even order a drink because I knew I wouldn’t touch it anyway. We continued to talk as she ate.

“So, you came out by yourself. Who was the man sitting here?” 

“A ghost from the past. One I wish would have stayed there.”

Of course, I knew who the man was, but I wanted her to tell me. I had to act like I knew nothing about her after all. I needed to know if she knew what Tim was, but I couldn’t really come out and ask her that. If she didn’t know, it would ruin everything I was trying to do. I was also curious about why they had broken up, as I had only caught a few things here and there. Dominique sighed before she finally answered.

“He’s my ex-fiancée. We broke up two years ago. He wasn’t ready to be a husband, and I obviously wasn’t what he wanted.”

“Then he is a fool,” I replied.

“You don’t know me well enough to say he was one. I broke it off.”

“I know enough to say he’s a fool. If he weren’t, he would not have done the thing or things he did to make you leave. Instead, he wants to get you back into his life. Anyone can see what he wants by the look on his face. May I ask what he did to make you end your engagement?”

“He cheated. I wasn’t enough for him, I guess,” Dominique said, pushing her food around her plate. 

I put my hand on hers and felt that shock of electricity run between us as I said, “He is a fool to let such a stunning woman go. You are magnificent and a hard worker. I’m sure you put just as much effort into your relationships.”

“Relationship. It was just him. I was always shy as a kid and didn’t start dating until I was 18. We were together for five years. He was immature most of the time, as he was only 19 when we met. In the end, he was drinking and partying a lot. Loose women became his addiction. I found out about the last one. That’s when I ended it because I started looking into where he’d been and found a string of women before her. Other events transpired after, and I just threw myself into work after a while.”

“I’m sorry, Dominique. No one deserves that. A woman should be cherished and made to feel like a queen. She will then treat you like a king if she is a good woman.”

“You sound like you have a queen in mind when you say that. Do you have a girlfriend? A wife?”

“The queen I speak of was my wife. Our start was rocky, but after a year or so, things smoothed out, and we had a beautiful life together until she passed away. You remind me of her.”

“You don’t look old enough to be a widow. What happened to your wife?”

“Sadly, she passed from a disease that ate away at her body until nothing was left.”