Page 1 of With the Stars

Chapter One

Standing outside the cafe, Minho Lee watched his mate, Peter Cushins, wave goodbye to the last of the customers, then begin cleaning the tables. Minho had stood in that exact spot many times over the years, but this was the first time he stood there with the intention of walking inside the cafe and introducing himself.

Watching Peter move, singing to the music that played over the speakers made Minho smile. His mate always had a smile on his face, was always ready to talk to a customer. When other places had struggled during hard times, Peter’s had flourished, and Minho knew it was because of his mate.

Checking his watch, Minho noted the time. By now Peter’s wife, Diane, would have arrived to help him tidy. They would have talked, laughed, teased each other before locking up and going home. Those days were no more, and Minho did feel a twinge of pain that his mate had endured the loss of someone he’d loved deeply.

The day Minho had seen Peter and realized who he was to him was etched in his memory. His mate. The one person meantto be by his side always. Catching his scent had made Minho pause, and search the area until he’d found Peter. He’d smiled, happiness radiating through him, then spotted something when Peter had lifted his hand.

A ring.

Slowing, Minho had kept pace until Peter had found the person he’d been searching for when he’d moved through the crowd of people around him. His wife. Diane. Minho had seen the way they’d looked at each other and knew he would never come between them, no matter how much it hurt. And it did hurt.

Finding a location away from prying eyes, Minho had sagged against a wall, tears flowing down his cheeks. His mate was in love and promised to another. He’d made those vows, and Minho wasn’t the type of man to come between them, even if Peter was his mate. He couldn’t do that to his wife. She loved him, and Minho wouldn’t have been able to live with the pain he’d cause them by breaking up their marriage.

He’d followed them home, vowing to keep them safe in any way he could, and he had over the years. He’d watched their family grow. First one son, then another. Their anniversaries, their birthdays, and Minho had stayed away, out of sight, but there in case anything should happen, and one day it did.

A storm blew in, and as they were driving home, a car had gone through a red light, hitting several others including the one Peter had been in with his youngest son, Rex. They’d been slammed up against a wall, the engine smoking, flames licking under the hood.

The door had jammed, and Minho had known he had to do something, so he had. He’d run over, yanking the door until it broke free from the car, and threw it away. He’d stared into Peter’s eyes, had seen the look of shock and fear on his face. “Grab Rex and get out.”

No sooner had he said those words than he turned and left the area. He couldn’t be seen. He’d already risked too much by saving Peter and his son, but he couldn’t let either of them perish. A word to Gray had the other vampire causing problems with the city’s CCTV system, and what Minho had done had been erased.

When questioned why, Minho had kept as close to the truth as possible without revealing he had a mate.

The day Diane had died was also etched in Minho’s memory. The devastated look on Peter’s face, the boys falling apart. Watching him pick up the pieces, support his children, try to run a business. Slowly, life returned to as close to normal as it could be—a new normal, and Minho had still waited. He wasn’t going to appear when they all needed time to recover.

That time had come now, though. Two years had passed, and Minho wanted to talk to his mate face to face. Peter was nearing fifty, his dark hair sprinkled with silver, the lines around his eyes showing how often he smiled. Minho wanted him, loved him, and now he was ready to go and claim his mate.

Walking across the road, Minho paused before opening the door. Uncharacteristically for him, he was nervous, his palms clammy, his heart racing. This moment right now was one he’d waited years for, and now that it was here, he hesitated. What if Peter refused him? Could Minho walk away if Peter told him no? And he might. Peter could still be mourning the loss of Diane. Minho may not have waited long enough.

Licking his dry lips, Minho moved to one side, smiled, nodding his head when people passed by him on the sidewalk. He’d waited years for this moment and now that it was here he was… scared. Yes, he was scared.

Peter carried a tray of dirty items into the back and Minho opened the door and walked inside. He found the light switch and turned some off, the place not as overall bright as usual.Peter came back inside and paused before walking over to him with an easy smile on his face.

The time had come and Minho was ready.

Chapter Two

Peter wiped the table down after the last customer had left and checked the clock on the wall. Ten more minutes and he would close. He’d had a good day today, customer wise. A couple of busy spells at the usual times. Breakfast, lunchtime, and after people had finished work.

The ladies had been in as well, a group of older women who came in most days, which always made the day go faster. Today he had the pleasure of listening to Pam tell the other ladies about her husband and how she gave him a good rummage. Rummage as in a hand job. That was an image he didn’t need, but now had.

Taking the dirty cups to the back, he placed them in the dishwasher as the door opened at the front. Glancing at the clock, he already had a smile on his face when he walked through to the front. The customer wasn’t by the till where Peter expected them to be. He sat at one of the empty tables, and Peter noticed the place was darker than normal. Light filtered in from the lights on the sidewalk, enough that Peter could see the man, but it made him briefly hesitate before walking over to him.

Smiling, Peter said, “I’m sorry. We’re about to close. I can make you some takeout, if you want.”

“I don’t want a drink, Peter. I came to see you.”

Peter furrowed his brow. He looked the man up and down, not recognizing him. “Do we know each other?” He was fairly certain he’d never met the man before, and he would have remembered. The man sitting in front of him was attractive. Dark hair, tanned skin, hazel eyes.

“You don’t know me, Peter, but I know you. I’ve watched you for years.” The man paused before adding, “I’m sorry for the loss of your wife.”

Peter sucked in a breath. Losing Diane to cancer two years previously had devastated him and their boys but they were slowly recovering. How this man knew concerned Peter. “Who are you?”

“My name is Minho. But the question you should be asking is what are you?”

Peter took a step back, glanced at the front door then back at the stranger. Minho. “What are you?” Two questions in one. What are you as in why that particular question and as an actual question.

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