“Look, that painting was sold without the artist’s consent or knowledge.” Katie held up her hand to stop Martha from speaking.

“The artist won’t make any trouble, but look at it this way. You have an artist who has never shown any work professionally, doesn’t know if they’re ready to do so yet, and suddenly has an anonymous man with lots of money interested in the work. In this day and age, it’s not smart to give away too much information to someone you don’t know. This wasn’t a professionally brokered deal from a gallery.” Katie took another sip of coffee to help steady herself. “If he wants to meet the artist he’ll have to come here.”

“That’s impossible.” Martha sat up straight, all signs of her smile gone. She was all business now.

“Why?” Katie was just as blunt.

“Mr. Benjamin rarely sees anyone.”

“He’ll see me if he wants to learn who the artist is.” Katie rose from the table and piled the empty dishes and coffeepot back onto the tray. “Lunch is on me,” Katie added as she picked up the tray. “I’m sorry you wasted your time.”

“It was no waste at all.” Martha stood and picked up her coat and purse. “I suspect we’ll meet again.”

Katie watched the older woman leave. Unable to stop herself, she yawned. She tightened her grip on the tray to keep from dropping it. Praying for some extra energy, she hauled the tray into the kitchen.

For the last year, Lucas had allowed her to work from seven in the morning until six closing, four days a week. That gave her a full week’s pay, but allowed her to have three days to paint or to take weekend art seminars. Since their customers were mainly from the surrounding business district, they were busier during the week than on Saturday. Lucas closed the shop on Sundays.

Today was Wednesday and she still had one day until the end of her workweek. Depositing her tray on the counter, she closed her eyes and allowed her fatigue to wash over her. She was no good to anyone feeling as she did. The lunch rush was over for today. It was time to go home. She made a mental note to stop at the bank on the way home and deposit the large wad of cash still sitting in her coat pocket. Lucas would let her go early just this once.


Katie stifled a yawn as she tugged on her coat, glad that it was finally Thursday evening. Lucas had left at three for a dentist’s appointment, so she didn’t have to deal with his scolding for working late. She’d felt guilty over leaving early yesterday, so she’d stuck around after closing and done some extra work.

Taking one last glance around the shop, she set the security lights and locked the door behind her, tugging on it twice to make sure it was secure. She’d left a note on the counter in the kitchen, letting Lucas know she’d cleaned the refrigerators and the ovens. Katie figured by the time she came back to work on Monday, he’d no longer be in the mood to scold her.

Hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder, she started for home. She pulled her purple leather gloves out of her pockets, and tugged them onto her hands. She loved the color, but never would have spent the money on something so impractical. Lucas had given them to her for Christmas, and wearing them always made her smile.

She took a deep breath. The night air was crisp and clear, but tainted by the unmistakable odors of the city. Underlying smells of exhaust fumes and garbage were still there, but the winter wind beat them back until they were only a hint in the air. It was much better than the stifling heat of the summer when the less-than-pleasant smells seemed to stick to every breath you took. It had been a long, strange week and Katie was actually looking forward to doing normal things this weekend, like laundry and housecleaning.

Mentally organizing her to-do-list in her head, Katie was absorbed in her thoughts and not paying her usual attention to her surroundings. Something struck her hand, jolting her out of her reverie.

Startled, she jumped back and swung hard. She spun around, meeting nothing but air. Taking a quick survey of her surroundings, she noticed the dog from the night before sitting calmly in front of her looking bemused at her paranoid actions.

Katie’s heart was pounding in her chest, but her relief was so great that she started to laugh. Her laughter had a hysterical edge to it that she was unable to suppress. The dog casually licked his front paw and glanced at her as if to ask her what was so funny.

Leaning down she confronted her new friend. “You scared me,” she admonished even as she reached out her hand to scratch the dog under the chin.

“We didn’t mean to scare you.” The voice was low and deep and came from the shadows to the right of the building. “We hope you’ll accept our apology.” Katie backed towards the streetlight and glanced around for help.

“You wanted to meet me,” he added quickly. “My name is Cain Benjamin.”

Katie racked her brain, trying to remember why that name was familiar. Just as she made the connection a low, rough laugh came from the waiting man. “Obviously, I overestimated your eagerness to meet me.”

Katie felt herself blush, flustered by his sudden appearance. Not wanting to appear rude, she stuck out her hand. “Please to meet you. I’m Katie Wallace.”

The man in the shadows hesitated. Katie waited until the moment stretched past what was socially acceptable. Feeling awkward, she dropped her hand back to her side and stuffed it in her pocket. The dog beside her started to whine and shuffle back and forth from her to the man in the shadow as if sensing their agitation.

A deep sigh came from the shadows. “I’m not pleasant to look at, Ms. Wallace.” As he spoke, he moved from the shelter of the building.

Katie looked up. Way up. She stood frozen to the spot by the sheer size of him. He was dressed normally enough in boots, jeans and a leather jacket, but there was nothing else normal about him. She’d never seen a man as tall or as massively built as the one standing in front of her. The collar was turned up on his coat and his long black hair hung over the left side of his face, partially shielding it from view. A black patch covered his left eye, its thin strap bisecting his forehead before disappearing into his hair.

He moved forwardly slowly as if trying not to scare her. She assured herself that any sane woman would be terrified of this tall stranger. Yet, for some unknown reason, she was not. What that said about her, she didn’t want to speculate. Her usual common sense had disappeared, replaced with a growing fascination about the man in front of her.

He came to a stop a few paces from her, allowing her space. Not crowding her. She appreciated that small kindness. This was a man who knew he was intimidating and was trying his best to make her comfortable with his presence. She could have told him that he was wasting his time.

Katie didn’t think anyone could ever be comfortable in this man’s company. He radiated such a powerful magnetism that attracted her even as it warned that this was a man who would not be controlled. His right eye, the one she could see, was pale green and had a steady patient look in it.

Gathering her courage, Katie swallowed the lump in her throat and stuck out her hand once again. “It’s good to meet you, Mr. Benjamin.”

His large hand closed carefully around hers. It disappeared for a moment, engulfed by the sheer size of his. He held her hand so long that she began to get nervous and tugged on his grip. Her hand was immediately released. “Call me Cain. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Katie. Martha told me that I’d like you.”

The wolfhound bumped impatiently against Cain and then sat in front of Katie. “And you’ve already met Gabriel.”

“You followed me home the other night.” Katie glared at Cain. “You had no right to scare me like that.”

Cain stuck his hands in his jacket pockets, but the move made him only slightly less threatening. “I didn’t mean to follow you. I was walking by Coffee Breaks to see if there was another painting in the window. Instead, I saw you.” He gave a small self-deprecating laugh. “I will admit that I bought the painting as much for the subject as the artist’s skill. You’re beautiful.”

Katie was speechless. She’d never thought of herself as beautiful before. That someone would spend that much money on a picture because she was the subject was mind-boggling. And scary.

As if reading her mind, he continued to speak. “I’m not a stalker, Katie. Just a man who appreciates beauty in all forms. I would never harm you.”

Strangely enough, Katie believed him, despite every instinct she had developed after years of city living. The steady look in his eye and the way he held himself away from her told her that she had nothing to fear from him.

She noticed the way that he kept his right side towards her and his left side angled away as if it was his natural way of standing. The left side of his face was in shadows so she studied the other side, which was the epitome of strength. His cheekbone was high and his square chin looked like it was chiseled from stone. His lips were full and his eyebrow a slash of black against his pale complexion.

“Not very pretty, is it?”

Katie flushed in shame as she realized that she’d been standing there just staring at him, but answered him honestly. “No, pretty is too weak a word. Your face is strong.”

He looked taken aback by her blunt comment and then the corner of his mouth quirked up in an amused smile. “Now you sound like a parent trying to comfort a small child. I can assure you that it’s not necessary.”

Katie instinctually knew that for some unknown reason, her opinion was very important to Cain. Hoping she was doing the right thing she gave him the truth. “No, I sound like an artist.” She held her hand out to him once again. “I’m Katie Wallace. I’m glad you like my self-portrait.”

Once again his hand clasped hers. This time he drew her into the shadows and then faced her fully. “I was jealous of the artist.”

Katie stared hard, trying to discern the left side of his face, but with no success. “Why?” she asked as she continued to blatantly stare.

“Because he had obviously spent time with you. Because he knew you, and I wanted to.”

“Are you always this blunt?” Katie was taken aback by his reply. She took a step backwards, towards the light, but Cain retained possession of her hand. It seemed silly to fight him, so she stopped tugging on her hand, stood her ground, and glared at him.

“Always,” he replied. He grinned, looking almost boyish for a moment, and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “Would you walk with Gabriel and me? We’ll take good care of you and make sure you get home safe.” When she hesitated, he quickly added, “We were on our way to the park to play. I only take him out at night. It’s quiet there and we can talk.”

Despite her better judgment, Katie answered the only way that she could. “Yes.”

He tucked her closer to his side and matched his longer stride to hers as they strolled through the dark streets towards the park. The night air was cold, but Katie was warm and cozy as Cain’s large body sheltered hers. Cars sped by, sirens wailed, and occasionally the sounds of raised voices filled the air. But the sound was almost muted, muffled somehow by Cain’s very presence.

Chapter Four

Cain’s large body radiated heat, which enveloped Katie as they walked together. She instinctively snuggled closer to him, drawn to the warmth and comfort he provided. It was completely out of character for her to be so rash. Yet, strolling hand in hand with this virtual stranger, Katie was surprisingly content.

Neither of them spoke as they meandered down the almost deserted sidewalks. The silence was comfortable, rather than awkward. Cain steered them unerringly through the dark shadows of the buildings and away from the streetlights. The action seemed as natural to him as breathing.

Why was she here? Katie glanced quickly to her left, but she could only see the right side of his face and very little of that. Her eyes went back to the dark pavement in front of her as she contemplated the enigmatic man beside her. Yes, she found him handsome in an interesting sort of way, but it was more than that. There was something about him that attracted her on a far deeper level. But what?

Katie bit her lip as she mulled these questions over in her mind. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. But underlying her nervous reaction was a feeling of anticipation. It was the same feeling she’d had when she’d first picked up a paintbrush. Her life was about to change in some unalterable way.