That's when she knew all the whispers about Robert Bertini were true. He really did run the streets, and apparently had considerable clout with the police as well.
She might have tried again. Called the FBI, Homeland Security, someone, but later that day, she received a phone call at her restaurant.
"Isa," her brother said as soon as she answered. "Don't say my name, and listen very carefully. I need you to go along with this engagement. Robert thinks he has both of us cornered, but it'll all work out, I promise."
"You're all right?" she'd asked low, trying to look casual in front of her employees.
"Yes. I can't explain, but just hang in there and play along. I'll contact you again as soon as I can, but not on the phone. Robert will probably tap all your phones next."
The line went dead, but Isa said, "Wrong number, no problem," and then hung up like nothing unusual had happened.
It was only later that she'd wondered how Frazier could have said things like "play along" and "Robert thinks he has both of us cornered." As a hostage, Isa didn't think Frazier would have been granted private phone privileges, but it also didn't make sense that he'd say such things in front of one of his captors. Had Frazier somehow managed to get away?
"Hello, Isabella."
Isa had been so caught up in her thoughts, she hadn't even heard the store's door open. Yet there Chance was, standing behind her with a faint smile on his face. Under the harsh fluorescent lighting, his hair looked to be deep brown instead of the darker shade it had seemed last night, and his skin was surprisingly pale. The eyes she hadn't been able to guess a color on before turned out to be an intriguing mix of gray and blue. Like the ocean, she thought. Right before a storm.
She was staring. With a shake of her head, Isa brought herself back to the present.
"Jim, do you mind if I show my friend the new stock in the back?" she asked, flashing a smile at the clerk.
"Sure thing," he responded with a lazy wave. She bought in bulk and she always paid on time. Jim would pretty much let her do anything.
Isa walked toward the back, glad that Chance followed without argument. When they were away from any prying eyes, Isa started right in.
"Whatever my grandmother hired you for, I'm telling you the job's off. If she owes you any money for your time, I'll pay it. Just tell her you didn't find anything or that everything's okay. She doesn't need this kind of stress at her age."
Chance regarded her with open curiosity. "You think I'm someone she hired? You mean your grandmother hasn't told you anything about me?"
"No," Isa said, impatient. "But whoever you are, you don't want to be mixed up in this. Trust me, pal. It goes way over what any pay scale can cover."
He continued to stare at her like she was speaking a foreign language. Isa tapped her foot. Maybe Tall, Dark and Dumb had been an accurate way to describe him after all.
"Has your grandmother ever mentioned the name 'Bones' to you before?" Chance asked in a very careful voice.
"Who?"
Chance inhaled. From her scent-and the thoroughly blank look on her face-she was telling the truth. She had no idea he was a vampire. Odds were, if her grandmother hadn't told her about Bones, Isa had no idea that vampires even existed.
This would make things more complicated.
"The only name that matters here is Robert Bertini," Isa went on. "You already seem to know what he's involved in, so I shouldn't have to spell out how hazardous it would be to your health if you continue to mess around with him."
Chance laughed. "You'd be amazed at all the things my health can handle, darling. Your little Robbery doesn't scare me, and as I told you last night, I'm here to help you. It's not a matter of money, so you can keep your bank account as it is. It's a matter of honor."
"Honor?" Isa couldn't stifle her snort. She had enough to handle without anyone meddling in this. "Right. Do me a favor. Go away before you make things worse."
It would be so much easier if she knew what he was, Chance mused. Still, it wasn't his place to enlighten. Not yet, anyway. Maybe there was a reason for Greta's secrecy. Perhaps Isabella was one of those humans who couldn't handle the knowledge. She didn't strike Chance that way, but then again, this was only his second time talking to her.
Chance smiled. "Thanks for the wine recommendation," he said, and walked away.
Isa watched him go, gripped with the uneasy feeling that she hadn't seen the last of him.
* * *
At nine o'clock sharp, Isa's premonition was confirmed when a familiar dark-haired man slid into table twelve at her restaurant. She almost groaned out loud in frustration. Talk about not taking a hint!
Chance even had the nerve to wink at her as he took his seat. What was it with men lately? Didn't the phrase "No means no" translate to them anymore?
She didn't even wait for the waitress to approach his table before she marched over.
"Whatever you want, we're out of it," Isa announced crisply.
Chance pushed his menu aside with a lazy grin. "Doesn't matter. I'm only here for you, darling."
Isa clenched her fists. She may not be able to throw Robert out on his ass-yet-but that didn't mean every male around could ignore her wishes in favor of their own!
"Get out, and by the way-calling a woman 'darling' when you don't even know her is sexist and demeaning. Got that, sugar lips?"
She stressed the endearment as a taunt, but it didn't have that effect. A light appeared in Chance's eyes. If Isa didn't know better, she would swear they seemed to be turning green.
"Sugar lips... mmm. I confess I'd like to find out."
The way he was looking at her mouth made Isa want to wipe it, but not in disgust. To see if it had suddenly turned into dessert, since that was the only way she could justify the intensity of Chance's stare. For someone who said he wasn't here for food, Chance looked very, very hungry.
"You have to leave. Now."
Isa said it with none of the internal tremble that had taken up inside her. The last thing she needed was another complication in her life, and a stubborn, sexy-as-hell private eye would definitely complicate things.
Then again, so would Robert's two goons Ritchie and Paul, and they just swaggered in the door.
"Oh, hell, it's Smelly and Bowling Ball," Isa muttered.
Chance began to laugh. "Is that what you call them? How appropriate."
She gave him a fraught look. "Are you trying to get killed? Leave! Before they see you!"
But it was too late. Paul glanced their way... and stopped so abruptly, one of her waiters crashed right into him. Spaghetti alla nona decorated the front of him, but he didn't even seem to notice.