The driver took a slip from the valet and opened our door himself, standing to the side as I slid off Joel's lap onto the pavement. Joel quickly followed me and I felt his large fingers winding with mine.

Nobody outside seemed to pay me any attention. They were all staring with rap attention at my companion. Two valets were already opening the door to the restaurant for him and acknowledging him with almost imperceptible bowing of the head.

I was glad to step into the restaurant, I'm not well suited for the cold and my sweater provided only minimal protection. I shivered slightly and felt Joel's hand leave mine to slip an arm around my shoulders drawing me close. He was warm, so despite my reservations I just stayed where I was comfortable.

We were escorted to the back of the restaurant to a secluded circular booth. I assumed his companions would be joining us, but he was the only other person to slide into the booth with me.

"For the record, the first time I saw you, you were wearing a skirt," he said smiling at me. His eyes were dancing with some internal fire and it made his grin look a little wicked.

"It's the only skirt I own, I take it you didn't go through my closet then," I questioned him scathingly.

His hearty laugh resounded in the confined space.

"I was much more interested in what I had laid in the bed. When I found you, you were draped in a most uncomfortable position over your couch, talking quite fluidly to a chair. Once you were in the bed, if it hadn't been for the occasional breathing you would have looked dead. I know you are angry with me, but what you took really isn't good for you."

His voice and turned only slightly pleading as his hands came up around mine on the table. He gently stroked at my folded hands until he had taken one in each of his.

Despite the fact I should be creeped out by this entire experience he seemed so genuine. Something about him made me want to believe him. I still surprised myself a little when I conceded to him.

"Fine, no more pills, Joel, but not because of what you want."

He continued to rub my hands and smiled victoriously at me.

Our conversation was interrupted by a server demurely arriving at the table. She took our drink orders and then walked quickly away. Of course not without faintly bowing her head to Joel as she left.

I had to ask, "Who are you and what's with all the bowing? Why the sudden interest in me? How do you know me?"

He sighed and put the back of his head against the booth. "Let me answer the simplest question first. I am Joel Latro and they bow because I am their leader. In our community that is an appropriate sign of respect."

He held up his hand to stop my next barrage of questions, and then interlaced our fingers again.

"I know who you are because I have very observant staff who can find out information quickly when asked. My community is large and well connected, as I'm sure you are finding out. My interest in you may be more difficult to explain, but I assure you it is a good thing. I want nothing but the best for you and will work very hard to see you get it." He smiled at his last statement continuing to move our fingers against each other.

I would have had more to say, but the server came back with our drinks to take our order. I quickly chose something and she quietly slipped away.

The rest of the meal was bizarrely relaxing. The man that apparently spent the night in my bedroom was perfectly happy to talk with me about the most mundane things. We discussed my small family and his large family.

Joel talked about his family with love and pride. He said he was the head of his family and it was his job to protect and nurture them. Having grown up with a distant alcoholic father, I was appreciative of his noticeable dedication. I couldn't hold back the comment that ran through my head though.

"You don't look old enough to be the head of your family," I told him bluntly.

"In my community head of the family is a designation of skill and genealogy, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm old, Elizabeth," he laughed at me.

Joel wanted to know about my family, my friends, and even my job. He seemed genuinely interested in what I did all day. I'd never told a stranger as much as I told him. His presence was comforting and I forgot to be nervous. I even found myself laughing at his jokes and swatting at his hand as he reached over to take a piece of artichoke off my salad.

"I've never tried it," he said popping part of the artichoke heart in his mouth. He grimaced a little then smiled.

"I should have warned you it's not for novices. At least it adds to your vegetables today, you should have five. What was that steak you just ate, it looked like it was the whole cow," I marveled.

Joel snorted and said, "There aren't many vegetarians in my family."

The driver from earlier was suddenly standing at our table and I started a little.

"The car is ready, sir, as you requested, please pardon the interruption." He then stood back looking expectantly at his boss.

I jumped out of the booth, "Oh no, am I late?" I fumbled through my pockets looking for my cell phone and cursed my inability to remember to wear a watch.

Joel seemed to find my sudden movements humorous and slid out beside me. "Not late, love. I wouldn't let you do that."

I rolled my eyes at the patronizing tone he seemed to slide into so quickly. He was definitely used to being in charge.

As we walked toward the exit I pondered this recent and strange meeting. I felt more comfortable with Joel Latro than I had any reason to. By my count he had assaulted me in a bathroom, had me followed, broken into my house, and stalked me at work. Despite my gut instinct of really liking the guy, I felt a little nervous about what was happening to me.

As we rode back to the clinic he sat holding my hand, smiling slightly, and looking overall pleased.

"Worried about something?" he asked casually.

"Just wondering how you should endear anything other than fear," I blurted out.

Joel just laughed as did our riding companions.

"So, do you fear me?" he asked as he leveled serious eyes on me.

"No," I replied looking right back at him.

"So you don't fear me, even though you think you should?" he asked. "Hopefully it will all be clear soon."

I shook my head and looked at him again. I couldn't disagree really. I felt at ease with him, like he belonged in my life. I certainly couldn't disagree I felt attracted to him. As we pulled into the lot I was still working through the problems in my mind.

"Just drop me here, I'll walk in," I suggested absently as we ringed the building.

"Fat chance," came the surprise commentary from Nate. The front seat had been so quiet I'd forgotten we were not alone.

Oh, how I wished they had just left me in the back of the lot. Being dropped off was the height of embarrassing.

Not only did I get out of the SUV, Joel also got out to walk into my little clinic. He slipped his arm around my waist possessively and escorted me inside. The man seemed intent on me showing him every room in the clinic and introducing him to every member of the staff. All in all, I felt he took extraordinarily too long examining my office before placing a chaste kiss on my forehead and leaving.

After he left, there was a riot to cram into my tiny office and get the dirt. It was uncomfortable to say the least. I stumbled around a little on how we met and who he was, being that I felt like I barely knew.

As the afternoon dragged on very little else was spoken of in the clinic. As it turned out, several of the front office staff was familiar with his name. Apparently his family owned large tracts of land around town. They also owned a large hotel, the restaurant I met him in, The Club, and a ship yard farther south.

The more I learned, the more comfortable I got with my experience with Joel Latro. By description his family was rich and eccentric. They tended to do things the most direct way and according to the gossip, legal was only issue if they made it one.

Just before closing, as I walked through the mostly empty clinic, I was suddenly in the middle of a group of very concerned women. Ryana, the lab tech, and by far the most vocal of the group stepped up.

"Dr. Grant, we need to talk to you about your new boyfriend."

I still cringed a little at the word, I'd known the man all of a day.

"How much do you know about him?" she asked.

"Not much," I answered truthfully. "We only just met."

"How much do you know about werewolves?" she asked dropping her voice to a whisper.

Having seen the recent barrage of movies on the subject I nodded understanding.

The group of women she was with herded me quietly into a room at the back of the clinic.

"What's the relation?" I asked.

"The Latro family are all lycans, werewolves," said Ryana. "My grandmother's been cooking spells for them for years. She doesn't think I know, but I saw her talking to one of them one day, all right. He was in her living room and then changed into a giant wolf. She cut some of his hair and used it in a spell."