4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Eden was trying—and failing—to stop staring at the man who'd saved her last night. Somehow, Nero even made eating a scone look sexy. By all accounts, she was a mess. Scone crumbles had tumbled onto the table, and she was fairly certain some cream had been smeared on the corner of her mouth before she remembered her napkin.

"So, Nero, tell me why an architect would be running around Chicago with an axe last night."

Her savior choked on his scone.

"It seems highly unlikely that you'd just happen to have an axe in your car, and that you just so happened to be in the neighborhood when a freak zoo accident took place."

"You just cut straight to the point, don't you?"

"It's a personality flaw," she said. "I'm working on it."

Nero's eyes tightened microscopically before his voice dropped. "I'm going to level with you. It wasn't an accident. It's related to a domestic terrorism group that's been attempting to cause civilian casualties. We were there to clean up the mess."

Eden sat back in her seat, disturbed by the weight of the reveal. To know that it'd happened in her city, and she'd been a partial victim of the attack, only made the churning sensation in her gut worse. Frowning, she scrutinized the man sitting in front of her.

"So you're … what? Paramilitary? Part of a private militia? I thought you were an architect."

"By trade, I am," he replied, keeping his voice low, "but I'm involved in a counterterrorism group run by a private corporation. We were tipped off."

"So that's why you were dressed up like Blade."

He snorted. "A perfect resemblance."

"Uncanny."

She winked at him, still trying to process the explanation. The fact that he'd been truthful, even with such a sensitive subject, made her breathe a little easier.

He'd arrived at her lecture to ensure she was unharmed, been completely engaged, then plucked her book off a shelf and started reading while she'd looked for the text she'd been searching for. And it had done wonders for her ego that Nero had seemed legitimately disheartened when she was ready to leave, and he had to put her book down. Even if his story did seem a bit shaky on the facts, the opportunity to spend time with the gorgeous man who saved her life and was interested in what she had to say didn't come around often for Eden.

She asked the stereotypical question. "Do you have to kill me now that I know?"

"I think I can make an exception, just this once," the paramilitary architect replied conspiratorially. "Besides, it's generally frowned upon the off the person who just saved you."

"Well, we saved each other, let's leave the debate at that. Glad to know I'm safe, then." She hummed a laugh. "Is that why you're in Chicago, Nero? Or do you live here?"

"I actually live on Oahu. Came into town yesterday after we got the tip off earlier this week," he replied. "Anything I should see while I'm here?"

"The Bean, for sure, and the Science and Technology Museum has an awesome exhibit on the fear response right now." She bit her lip. "I may have been one of the consultants on that one."

"Then I'm definitely going to see it."

"If you're going, I'm escorting you. Can't have just any random guy coming in off the street without a proper guide."

"Random guy, huh?"

"Well, I don't really know anything about you, Nero. Other than the fact that you've developed a sudden interest in Gothic fiction, vampires, and lonely literature professors, we're practically strangers. The only other fun fact I know about you is that you occasionally strut around Chicago with menacing-looking weapons as part of your vigilante architect organization."

"That's pretty much all there is. I'm architect Blade." His imitation of a throaty superhero voice was spot on and much sexier than it had any right to be. "Together with my Avengers team of superhuman heroes, we keep humanity safe from danger. Sometimes I use an axe, other times a sword or a stake, hence the vampire interest. As for the lonely literature professors, it's not my fault they're so fascinating."

The look he gave her dispelled any doubt that she might have had about him flirting with her.

"I wish I was that interesting. In reality, I live in Hawaii in a very tightly knit community, travel a bit for work, and dabble in all kinds of things to fill my free time." He settled his chin on his fist. "I'd much rather hear about you, Eden Hawthorne. Tell me about yourself. Who you are. What you love. Where you're going. How you generally feel about architects."

There was a dreamy nature to his voice that made her heart flutter wildly in her chest. Nero was here, entirely focused on her, and he wanted to know everything about her. It was flattering, and something she'd rarely had before today.

Despite the nature of her condition, she could allow herself the pleasure of his company. Their relationship might go no further, but it wouldn't stop her from appreciating today. Carpe diem.

Her gaze dipped as she sipped her cappuccino, and for the first time, she noticed something. Peeking out from above his collar was a geometric tattoo, a flowing symbol that hooked against the strong column of his neck. Even his hands were inked, but the patterns were lighter and blended more easily into his skin.

"I'm not really that exciting, either," she shrugged. "I'm a professor at the University of Chicago, currently on sabbatical to tour with my book, and my area of expertise is Gothic fiction. It's been a passion of mine for years, and my dissertation slowly became a book.

"My life motto is carpe diem , and my favorite thing to do to relax is have a cup of hot chocolate with one gigantic pink marshmallow, read a romance book, and curl up with my cat."

Something feline roamed behind his gaze. "You like cats?"

"Love them," she replied empathically. "Except mine is a bit of a terrorist herself. I have more claw and bite marks than is acceptable for any cat owner."

"That's what bandaids are for."

"Precisely."

Nero paused, then asked, "If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?"

Sitting back in her chair, her lips twisted. "That's a good one. Probably take a whirlwind tour of the world, see all the places I've never been to before. The world is big, and time is short."

"Where would you go first?"

"Transylvania. Obviously."

Nero snorted. "Obviously. Why did I even have to ask?"

As she sipped her cappuccino, she studied the man sitting across from her. He'd soaked up her every word. To be the center of that distinctly male attention made her feel genuinely appreciated. Even desired.

"Siblings? Parents?"

"Only child," she replied with a sad smile. "My parents met when they were older and had me late in life because they had trouble conceiving. My mom was 39 when I was born. She—ah, she passed six years ago from ovarian cancer."

"I'm so sorry, Eden."

She nodded with the familiarity of someone who'd heard it a thousand times. "We had enough time to say our goodbyes beforehand, and I really cherish those memories. But my dad—gosh, he's wonderful. He's 73 now, and he's been in an assisted living community for years. Loves whittling, but his hands are a bit gnarled these days. They used to travel the country making baskets, so I have a few around the apartment still. I never did pick it up, though. Didn't have the patience for it."

As if realizing her monologue, Eden laughed under her breath. "What about your parents?"

"They've been gone for a while, but I have close friends on the island, and we do everything together. They're family."

Something in her chest twisted.

"Where did you grow up?" Nero asked.

"Montana, if you can believe it. My parents and I lived with my grandfather for the first decade of my life. He was a ranch hand out there when he was young and never really left. That man could make food that'd ruin you for anything else. My favorite, though, was always his grilled cheese."

"Anything with bread and cheese, I'm in."

"Oh, it's amazing." The fondness in her voice was unmistakable. "My grandpa was such a sweetheart, too. He had a mustache, and it always tickled me when he gave me a kiss goodnight. He taught me how to ride horses when I was a toddler. Put me on the sweetest little ponies."

"Really?"

"No!" Eden laughed wickedly. "Ponies are the devil. Fluffballs sent from the depths of hell that get away with everything because they're cute. But those ponies helped me learn how to ride anything with four legs and a tail, so there's that."

Nero heartily chuckled at that, as if she'd told a much better joke than her pony wisecrack. The man really was too good for her ego.

"What discipline did you learn? Do you still ride?"

"I haven't ridden in quite some time. I rode western at first, but then I switched to hunt seat for the thrill of it. Did the A-circuit for a while, carted around on borrowed hunters and catch rode a few jumpers."

She could feel the sadness permeating her voice, even after all this time. It was the one area of her life she'd do over again if she could.

"Why did you stop?"

"We moved to the city, and I really didn't have a chance to after that. Not that I wouldn't love to hop aboard again, but …" She trailed off, shrugging. "I think I've rambled on about myself enough, and I'm impressed that you've somehow managed to get all the way to my childhood regrets in such little time. So, when you're not touring as Blade and fighting terrorists, what type of buildings do you design?"

"I specialize in commercial, but the last few years, I've been doing residential," he confessed. "Not my favorite, but it's been a learning experience. I enjoy seeing people happy with the finished product."

"I can imagine. I've never owned my own home, but I love dreaming about designing a perfect kitchen. I'm very opinionated when it comes to granite."

"Is that true?" He grinned. "There's a joke in there somewhere about being stubborn as a rock. Just you wait, I'll think of it."

"Take your time."

Snickering, she sipped the remnants of her cappuccino and, all of a sudden, realized she didn't want this date to end.

"What's Oahu like?" she asked.

"It's beautiful there. Island life can be a bit tricky at times, but the food is spectacular, and the views are incredible. It's home. Has been for a long time."

"I've never been there. Or any of the islands, actually."

"We should change that."

The level of excitement that pinged through her was indisputable, despite how she quickly tried to play it off as a joke. Going to the islands had always been on her bucket list. Now, it simply seemed like there wasn't enough time.

Nero downed the last of his drink, then pointed to hers. "Any good?"

"Delicious and far too many calories." She raised her empty cup in a toast. " Carpe diem ."

"Calories eaten—or drank—with friends don't count."

She grinned across the table at him and stepped out on a limb. "Do you have any other counterterrorism attacks to hold off this afternoon, or can I give you that guided tour of the fear exhibit at the museum?"

"I'm all yours, Eden."

***

The moment Nero walked into the Science and Industry Museum, he became a deer in the headlights. It was clear he'd never seen the inside of the building before, and he had good reason to be awestruck. The massive indoor arena was overwhelming, with a thousand different places to look.

The first exhibit that caught Nero's eye was the tornado vortex. Several stories high, the machine spun a white cloud within, forming the cone of a supercell.

"Eden, this is spectacular. I can't believe I've never been here."

"Me neither," she replied, moving closer to hear him over the commotion. "It's like a rite of passage, especially for Chicagoans."

"I'm just a couple years past due, then."

Around them, the crowds increased, and they slowly became swarmed by onlookers. To avoid being jostled around, Nero's fingers found hers. She gave a soundless gasp as the sensation sent a shockwave of blissful sunny energy up her arm.

They pressed closer together as they pushed through the crowds, walking from one exhibit to the next. It was a crowded day at the museum, and despite having met him only yesterday, Eden felt comfortable with Nero.

The pair of them came upon the exhibit studying the human body—always one that earned its fair share of viewers. It was packed wall to wall, and Eden found herself snuggled up against Nero, charmed and content. She typically only found that peace at home, in her carefully curated apartment; although welcome, this new source of comfort was unexpected. She probably just missed human contact and support more than she realized. It made sense to enjoy it now while it lasted.

Nero's fingers tightened around hers and the warmth of his body chased of the last vestiges of cold from hers. They'd taken an Uber over, but they'd still had to walk in the spitting snow. As her disease progressed, she found it more and more difficult to keep warm.

A ream of electricity pulsed above their heads. Her date had taken an unconventional interest in the tesla coil. While she found it fascinating, Nero read everything he could on the exhibit, and they'd waited for the coil to light up once more before he finally conceded to moving on.

"Electricity fascinates me," he admitted as they roamed toward the fear display. "Always has."

Recalling his words from before, she parroted, "There's a joke in there somewhere about the spark between us."

Chuckling, he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "So where is this fear exhibit, professor? I'm beginning to think you brought me here for shock value only."

"That's the electricity exhibit only." She nudged him with her shoulder. "The fear exhibit is up here, Coffee Shop Cutie."

"Oh, I've been assigned a nickname now?"

She gave him a look. "Seems fitting, especially since you've already given me one."

When her stomach growled, they grabbed a snack and a couple of water bottles from the cafe. Nero refused to let her pay for it, only adding to Eden's growing sense that this was technically their first date. They quickly finished the bag of popcorn and candy before heading upstairs.

The exhibit she'd consulted on loomed before them. It was painted in dark, spooky colors, and was as interactive as it was informative. If she had to choose her favorite work, it might've been this one. There was a short line to get in, as groups had to be small to enter. The entire experience had a warning sign boldly stating that those with heart conditions were encouraged to skip this one.

Knowing what faced them, she agreed. The initial room was padded for a reason. The line moved quickly, and soon, she and Nero entered the first area of the exhibit side by side. It was too dark to see his features, but she wouldn't need to.

In the dark, a machine whirred, and her heart raced.

A flash of light. A massive, monstruous figure lurched toward her.

There was no hesitation. Just as quickly, Nero leapt in front of her, hands raised and ready to tackle whatever threat came.

Eden fawned. She'd taken him to a fear exhibit, and his first instinct had been to protect her . What happened between them the night before hadn't been an isolated incident. That sensation of safety and comfort she felt around Nero was increasing with each moment spent with him.

The overhead lights turned on only a half a second later, illuminating the mechanical device decorated to look like a horrific creature of Gothic shadows. A doorway opened beside them, showing them the way into the next area that described their responses.

Nero rocked back on his heels. "That was part of the exhibit?"

"It's supposed to get your blood flowing and your hackles up."

"Oh, mine are definitely up, professor."

"It's aimed at telling you whether you're a Fight, Flight, or Freeze. Fawn didn't make the cut this time." Her hand wrapped around his arm, still tense and rock-solid with his response. "I think we can both agree you're Fight."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, yeah, you got me."

"It's a good thing you didn't have your axe, huh?"

If it was possible, a bashful looking Nero was even more heart-melting than the last. Stomping on the butterflies in her stomach, she said, "Tragically, my fear response is to freeze. It's incredibly unhelpful."

"Last night it wasn't," Nero pointed out. "If you'd have run from that wolf, he would've chased you. Trust me, running from a predator doesn't win you any favors. And," he added offhandedly, "you saved my skin, too. You were pretty impressive, in a context you never should have been in."

It was her turn to blush.

At some point, Nero had wrapped an arm around her waist. All she could think about was the way it made her feel. To be wanted by this man was both confusing and flattering. He'd been keen to see her again today, and spent the majority of his afternoon with her. While she found him highly attractive and they had off-the-charts chemistry, she wondered what he saw in her.

Nero skipped directly over the Flight and Fight responses to Freeze. "Let's take a look, shall we?"

As she'd uncovered in her study, the Freeze reaction had been rooted in prey animals. This portion of the exhibit covered how it was developed to hide from predators. A rabbit or ground squirrel commonly froze when they sensed danger.

Nero read every single piece of information on the ‘Freeze' board before he looked up at her and gave her a lopsided smile that told her he was done.

"Come on," she said, "I want to read about our Fighter, over here."

On his board, there were examples of animals being surprised, and lashing out instinctively. There was even a clip of someone being scared on Halloween and automatically responding with a right hook.

Nero's hand pressed lightly against the small of her back as she read the board, pointing out a few fun facts that left him chuckling. When they finally left the exhibit, she'd curled her fingers around his offered elbow.

As she thought about going back home, her own fear response kicked in. "I'm a bit worried that I might find another wolf by my apartment again."

Nero stopped walking. "I'd never want you to feel unsafe, Eden. I'm happy to walk you back to your apartment."

"Even without your axe?"

He grinned. "Even without my axe. I'd be happy to lay down in front of you as wolf kibble while you escape."

"I've gotta get past the freeze response, though."

"I'll just teleport you somewhere safe."

"Teleport, huh?" Eden scrunched up her nose in mocking humor. "I think someone's been hitting the vampire fiction a bit too hard, Nero."

Snorting, he said, "You may be right, professor."