Warrior's Cross by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux Read Free Book Online Page A

if he made a move.
    Julian cocked his head and stared out the window, letting himself wonder and think about a man he didn’t really know.

    Warrior’s Cross 35

    CAMERON stood at the greeting stand cleaning off the board that listed the evening special in artistically rendered colored chalk. Keri had begged off early so she could be at home with her kids on Christmas Eve, and he was the only one working the floor. After the two early evening parties cleared out, the restaurant remained deserted, and he’d sent everyone home but the sous chef and a couple other guys on the kitchen staff. Most people were at home with their families by now, and the weather didn’t help business. It had snowed heavily all day.
    He hummed along with the holiday string concerto playing in the foyer, not yet tired of the Christmas music that inundated people everywhere this time of year. Since he had plenty of time, he pulled out the wait staff list for the next week and started working on the schedule.
    A slight whoosh of air warned him of someone coming in.
    Surprised, he shifted off the stool and stepped around the stand to see how many were in the party. He stopped still and stared for a moment before he could compose himself.
    It was Julian .
    The man stepped into the foyer, unwrapping the scarf from his neck as he looked around. When his eyes landed on Cameron, he stopped and cocked his head slightly to the side. “Merry Christmas,” he greeted.
    Cameron blinked stupidly in response. “Happy holidays,” he answered finally. Was it Tuesday? Yes. Yes, it was.
    Julian glanced around the restaurant and moved closer, appearing to glide as his long overcoat swirled around him. “Thank you for what you did,” he said as he got closer.

    36
    Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    Cameron knew exactly what Julian was talking about; he’d thought about it for the past several days, wondering what it was about and what had happened. “You’re welcome. Did—” He paused, aware that he was about to be very rude. “Did you want dinner?” he improvised.
    “It worked out fine,” Julian answered without looking away.
    Cameron suppressed a shiver, feeling those black eyes focus totally on him. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Good,” he said quietly. “I… wondered,” he said, shifting his eyes sideways before raising them to look at Julian.
    Julian nodded, ducking his head as if trying to keep Cameron’s eyes on him. “How much longer would I have to eat?” he asked.
    Julian’s eyes were so intent, Cameron tried not to shuffle under his gaze. He glanced at the elegant wrought-iron clock on the wall. “About an hour,” he answered shakily. What would he do with no one in the restaurant but Julian?
    “So you’ll be free in an hour,” Julian ventured as he tipped his head to one side. It seemed that he could never get enough power behind his voice to speak at volume. It was an intriguing trait in a man so big.
    Cameron slid one hand into a pocket, trying to hide the slight tremble in his fingers. His pulse was already racing as he peered at the other man. “Yeah,” he answered without even wondering about the purpose of the question. If he let himself wonder, he wouldn’t be able to form coherent sentences. Then he tacked on, “I was actually getting ready to close early. You’re the first customer in almost two hours.”
    Julian tilted his head the other way and then nodded curtly, letting his eyes travel over Cameron thoughtfully. “So if I were to leave, you could, in theory, meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes,” he surmised.
    Subtle disbelief filtered into Cameron’s eyes. “In theory,” he agreed cautiously. Was the man coming on to him? How crazy was this?

    Warrior’s Cross 37

    Julian continued to look him directly in the eye for a long moment before nodding thoughtfully. “I’ll wait twenty,” he announced in a bare whisper.
    What was this? Julian wanted to meet him for… what? A sizzling jolt shot