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a wolf had a human credit card. But then, this
    was the twenty-first century and those who didn't blend quickly found
    themselves
    exterminated. Unlike many others of his kind, he had investments and
    property.
    Hell, he even had a personal banker.
    Bride took the card and ran it through her computer terminal.
    "You work here alone?" he asked, and quickly learned that was inappropriate
    since her fear returned with a scent so strong it almost made him curse out
    loud.
    "No."
    She was lying to him. He could smell it.
    Good going, jackass. Humans. He'd never understand them. But then, they
    were
    weak, especially their females.
    She handed him the receipt.
    Aggravated at himself for making her even more uncomfortable, he signed
    his name
    and handed it back to her.
    She compared his signature to his card and frowned. "Katta"
    "Kattalakis," he said. "It's Greek."
    Her eyes lighted up just a bit as she returned the card to him. "That's very
    different. You must have a hard time spelling it for people."
    "Yeah."
    She tucked the receipt into her drawer, then placed the wrapped box in a
    small
    bag with corded handles. "Thanks," she said quietly, setting it on the counter
    in front of him. "Have a nice day, Mr. Kattalakis."
    He nodded and headed for the door, his heart even heavier than before,
    because
    he had failed to make her happy.
    "Wait!" she said as he touched the knob. "You left your necklace."
    Vane looked back at her one last time, knowing he would never see her
    again. She
    was so beautiful there with large, amber eyes set in the pale face of a
    goddess.
    There was something about her that reminded him of a Rubens angel. She
    was
    ethereal and lovely.
    And far too fragile for an animal.
    "No," he said quietly. "I left it with the woman I wanted to have it."
    Bride felt her jaw go slack as his words hung in the air between them. "I
    can't
    take this."
    He opened the door and headed out into the street.
    Grabbing the bag from the counter, Bride ran after him. He was heading
    quickly
    down toward the center of the Quarter and it took her some serious rushing
    to
    catch up to him.
    She took hold of his arm, amazed at the tautness of his biceps as she pulled
    him
    to a stop. Breathless, she looked up at him and those beguiling hazel-green
    eyes.
    "I can't take this," she said again, giving the bag to him. "It's way too much."
    He refused to take it. "I want you to have it."
    There was so much unfathomable sincerity in those words that she couldn't
    do
    anything more than gape at him. "Why?"
    "Because beautiful women deserve beautiful things."
    No one unrelated to her had ever said anything so kind. Today more than
    any
    other, she needed to hear it. She'd never thought any man would ever think
    of
    her that way. And to hear it from this gorgeous stranger meant the world to
    her.
    Those words reached so deep inside her that that
    She burst into tears.
    Vane stood there feeling completely at a loss. What was this? Wolves didn't
    cry.
    A she-wolf might tear out a man's throat for pissing her off, but she never
    cried and especially not when someone had complimented her.
    "I'm sorry," he said, completely confused by what he'd done wrong. "I
    thought it
    would make you happy. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
    She cried even more.
    What was he supposed to do now? He looked around him, but there was no
    one to
    ask.
    Screw the human in him. He didn't comprehend that part of himself, either.
    Instead, he listened to the animal part that only knew instinctively how to
    take
    care of someone when they were hurt.
    He scooped her up into his arms and carried her back toward her store.
    Animals
    always did better in their native environment so it only stood to reason that a
    human might, as well. It was easier to cope with familiar things around.
    She latched on to his neck as he carried her and wept even harder. Her hot
    tears
    raised chills on his skin and he ached for her.
    How could he make this better?
    Bride hated herself for