by Lola Kidd
“Possibly.” He didn’t want to say it yet. He let the enormity of what that could mean hang in the air between them. “I know I haven’t known you for very long, but my lion feels very strongly for you.”
“I feel… something for you too. I don’t know what I want to call it yet, but I do feel something. I was happy you asked me to the ball, and I was happy you showed up at my house today.”
“That’s a start,” he said happily. “We have time to figure out what we’re doing. I’ll gladly wait until you’ve figured out what I mean to you.”
She laughed. “And until you figure out what I mean to you. Gosh, you must really be used to pulling the wool over women’s eyes.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I’ve never met anyone who’s called me on my shit before.”
“I won’t hesitate to do that. Don’t just feed me some lines.” She looked up at him. “But I would like to get to know you better.”
“Well, then, we’ll spend as much time together as we can. I won’t have much free time before the ball, but we can see each other when you come over to work.”
She nodded. “That’s fine with me. We’ll have much more time at the ball to get to know each other.”
He leaned in and kissed her again. “Then, it’s a date.”
Chapter Eleven
“He’s here,” Hil called down the stairs. “You need to get up here now.”
“No,” Mel called back. “You stay down there. Make him wait a few minutes. Guys totally expect that.”
Mary would be taking a few more minutes to get ready, but not because she wanted to make Connor wait. She was finishing her hair. She was putting it up in a high bun and was having trouble getting it all slicked back.
The twins had gifted her with a beautiful, sparkly blue headband and new shoes for her outfit. She didn’t know where they were getting the money for these presents, but she loved them. She wasn’t going to have any accessories except her diamond tennis bracelet. It had been a gift from her father for her sixteenth birthday. He hadn’t been alive to give it to her, but Gina had saved it, waiting for the special day to give it to her. She didn’t have much need to wear jewelry, so she was glad to get to use it tonight.
The shoes were a lovely touch, too. They were strappy sandals with high heels. Her shoes weren’t visible under her dress, but they made her feel tall, like an Amazon. She could use the extra boost of confidence tonight. She was so nervous. Not about meeting a lot of new people—she was nervous about what this night really was: her first date with Connor.
Ever since the day at the boutique, he’d been all over her. He constantly asked her questions while she cleaned. She wasn’t even doing much of that these days. He was doing most of the cleaning before she came over. He’d leave the dusting or the vacuuming for her so she wouldn’t have to leave too quickly.
It was nice getting to know him better. Most of the stories she’d read about him in the magazines weren’t true, she was relieved to find out. He hadn’t done anything drastic to lose weight, one of the crazier stories. And he’d only had two major relationships before her. Not that she was his girlfriend yet, but it did look like they were headed that way.
He had used the M-word a few times already, and that worried her. How could he know she was his mate already? She thought it was like falling in love, that it would take time. But the way he talked, it was like he was already in love with her, like their whole relationship was already a done deal.
He knew what the future held already. Happily ever after. Marriage and a baby carriage.
She did feel strongly about him, more than she should have at this point. She’d never been in a serious relationship before, so she didn’t know how her feelings were supposed to progress, but she felt like a teenager with her first crush. That was what she was afraid of, that this was just a fling. Lust that was masquerading as love. She didn’t want to ruin a good work relationship for silly lust.
But it was too late to turn back now. That train had already left the station. They were going on a date. She didn’t know what would happen from there, but she hoped it was going to be good. She had so much hope in her heart. How nice would it be to find the love of her life at work? So very efficient of her. Save the business and find love in one neat project.
“Get up here,” Melody hissed down the stairs. “You’re making him wait too long. Mom is asking him so many questions. It’s starting to embarrass us.”
Mary picked up her new heels and headed upstairs.
Mel gasped when she saw her. “You look so beautiful.”
“Is that Mary I hear?” Gina called from the living room.
“Where were you?” Connor asked, peering around her. “Were you in the garage?”
“Yeah,” Mary replied. “We should get going.”
She didn’t want to tell him that her bedroom was in the basement. It sounded much worse than it was. He had a whole wing of a mansion to himself, and she was sharing space with a washing machine. They could discuss that after a few good dates. Then she’d take him down to her private area.
“You look so handsome,” She told him.
“Thank you, and you look even more beautiful in that dress tonight.”
She was tickled that they’d picked each other’s outfits out. The tux she’d chosen was perfect for him. He looked so handsome, like a fairy tale prince, and she felt like a princess on his arm.
“Don’t keep her out too late,” Gina joked, then held up her phone. “Seriously, though, can I take a few pictures?”
“This isn’t the prom,” Hil said, aghast. “Just let them leave.”
“Just one picture?” Gina was already snapping away.
Mary posed, feeling awkward. She hadn’t gone to her prom, so she didn’t know how she was supposed to stand.
Thankfully, Connor knew what to do. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Turn your body toward me a little and smile,” he told her. “That should give you a good angle.”
“You mean make me look skinnier?”
“Nobody should ever be facing the camera directly when they get their picture taken,” he said. “Trust me. I was a bigger guy for years, and I’ve learned a thing or two about how to look your best on camera. I’m not exactly the most photogenic guy, so I can use all the help I can get.”
She laughed. “You’re one of the most photogenic people in town. No, probably in the whole country.”
“Okay enough.” Melody put her hand in front of Gina’s phone. “Get out of here before you guys miss the whole thing.”
“Great seeing you again, Mrs. Sanders,” Connor said, then waved to the girls. “Don’t worry, I’ll get her home in one piece.”
“But not too early!” Melody called after them. “You guys are adults. Stay out and have fun for once, Mary.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. She was going to try to relax and have fun tonight. People weren’t going to want to hire her if she was nervous and uptight, and that would ruin the date. She was going to act natural.
“Are you nervous?” Connor asked as he drove.
“So freaking nervous,” Mary laughed. “How could you tell?”
“You’ve been staring out the window for the last five minutes. I know that face. You’re trying to get in the zone.” He pointed to her hand. “Also, you didn’t put your shoes on.”
Mary looked down at her bare feet, and heat rushed to her cheeks. Had she been holding them the entire time Gina was taking pictures? Wonderful—the moment would be captured to look back at later.
“This night is off to a great start.” She bent down and put her shoes on.
“Those are nice,” he said.
“They’re a gift from the twins.”
“You know, they look familiar.” Connor’s brow furrowed. “I know. They look just like some shoes that were stolen during a robbery I looked at.”
Mary looked down at her sandals. “The girls got these. I doubt they stole them.”
&nbs
p; “Do they work?” he asked.
“They wouldn’t steal.” She didn’t know if he was joking around, but it wasn’t funny. “This isn’t a good way to start a date.”
“Sorry. I was thinking about the case file. Those high-end sneakers you had? Those were taken in the same heist. They were taken from the home of a nurse. Did the shoes have tags on them when you got them?”
“Why do you sound so excited?”
“I’m not. Well, I am, but this is interesting. What if the girls know something? This would be a major piece of evidence for me to bring to my dad about the app’s safety or lack thereof.”
“This isn’t about your stupid app,” Mary snapped. “Look, I don’t know why you’re calling my sisters thieves, but it isn’t nice. It’s actually pissing me off.”
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry. I’m being stupid. I don’t think the girls stole anything. I’m just nervous too. I don’t think this app is a good idea. I’m thinking about all the evidence I’ve been looking at, and I was making crazy leaps of logic.”
They drove in silence until they started to hit traffic. The ball up ahead was going to be packed. Mary was trying to get herself back to a good headspace, but she was ticked off.
“What if the girls had stolen these things or had gotten stolen goods?” she asked him. “Would you turn them in to the police?”
“Would you not?” he asked, looking at her sideways.
“What if it was your brother? Would you turn him in?” she demanded.
“My brother wouldn’t buy stolen goods.”
“Yeah, that’s easy to say when you have everything you could ever want at your fingertips.” Mary crossed her arms. “You know, I’m glad this is out in the open. I can see exactly where your loyalty is. With your stupid app.”
Connor was quiet. “I’m sorry. You know I don’t care about the app. If the girls are buying stolen goods, and I’m not saying they are, it would be good to stop them. They could be mixed up with some awful people.”
“Yup. You’re worried about their safety.” She couldn’t look at him.
“Please forgive me,” he begged. “I say stupid things when I’m nervous. Ask my family. I say dumb shit. Please don’t let this spoil our night. I know you’ll have fun if you try.”
Mary nodded. “I’ll try.”
It was going to be hard, but maybe he was just talking out of nerves. She didn’t know if she could forget what he’d said all that quickly, but she did know she wasn’t feeling like a princess anymore.
Chapter Twelve
He was a moron. His first date with the woman who was likely his mate, and he’d messed it up. He’d messed it up so bad that she wasn’t even spending time with him or speaking to him. The moment they got to the ball, his mother had grabbed Mary, and now she was introducing her to everyone.
Mary hadn’t spoken to him much in the car or while they were waiting to get in. She’d seemed somber. Now that she was away from him, she was laughing and having a great time. It stung. Not that he blamed her. What he’d said was so stupid.
Of course the girls weren’t stealing anything. They were normal teenage girls. Maybe they hung out with some sketchy people, but that didn’t make them thieves. What annoyed him was that Mary had acted like it didn’t matter if they were stealing.
That wasn’t how he’d expected her to react to potential criminal activity. He was in security—his job was to make sure crime didn’t happen. When he was a kid, he’d even thought about being a police officer for a while. It wasn’t the right job for him, but he was still a law-abiding citizen who took following the law seriously. He’d been wrong to shoot off about the twins, but she wasn’t entirely in the right either.
She’d even tried to turn it on him, making it seem like he was a callous rich jerk, but his wealth had nothing to do with what they were talking about. Even if he was homeless and penniless, he wouldn’t steal. It was wrong. But there was no way he could communicate that to Mary tonight.
Anytime he got close to her, she started to frown and clammed up. He wasn’t sure how he was going to make her understand where he was coming from.
“What’s on your mind, little brother?” Beckett handed him a beer. “Thought you could use this. Looks like you need to loosen up a bit. You aren’t even talking to your date.”
“My date isn’t talking to me,” Connor corrected him. “I pissed her off on the way here. I don’t think she wants to see much of me tonight. I’m going to give her space for a while and try to talk to her later.”
Beckett laughed. “One date, and she’s already done with you. That’s got to be a record.”
“We didn’t even make it to the ball. We were in the car when I did it.” Connor had to laugh. It was so stupid, only he could have pulled off this move.
“Don’t worry. If she’s special, she’ll look past your idiocy.” Beckett patted him on the back. “Any girl who’s going to date you needs to be used to you putting your foot in your mouth.”
“Thanks for that great advice.” Connor shrugged off his brother’s hand. “I’m going to go ask her to dance.”
“Good call.” Beckett scanned the room. “I’m going to ask Lenni, and they’re together. You go first.”
Connor wove through the crowded ballroom to stand near Lenni and Mary. He waited until Lenni had caught his eye before entering the conversation. “Hey, ladies. Having fun?”
“This party is packed,” Lenni said. “I knew the app was going to be popular, but I’m surprised to see so many people here to celebrate it. I wonder if they all want in on the investment?”
“Probably,” Connor said. “You’ve used the app before, right?”
Lenni pursed her lips. “Yup, and I ended up with a stalker. So, you know, I’m a little biased.”
“That’s right. I’d forgotten about that,” he said. He turned to Mary. “Are you having a good time?”
She nodded. “I am. You have a great family, and everyone here is so nice. Your mom has introduced me to like fifty people already.”
“She does know how to make an introduction,” Connor said. “Would you like to dance with me?”
She looked at the floor. “It’s pretty packed. I’ve never seen so many people who want to dance before. Not that I go to many parties like this, but at the weddings I’ve been to, the dance floor takes forever to fill up.”
“And it’s not until everyone’s a little drunk,” Lenni laughed.
“We could go dance outside,” Beckett said as he joined the group. He put his arm around Lenni’s waist and rested his hand on her baby bump. “There’s almost no one out there, so we’ll have some privacy too.”
“I’d love to,” Lenni said, then turned to Mary. “Great meeting you. I have a feeling we’ll be talking more in the future.”
She gave Connor a look, and he got the message. Everyone loved Mary. After spending just a few minutes with them, she’d managed to win over his whole family. He was really going to have to work to get her to forgive him.
“Would you like to go outside?”
“I guess.” She put the drink she’d been holding on a passing waiter’s tray. “I don’t really dance, though. So, don’t laugh at my lack of skill.”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” He leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “Nobody is really good at dancing. Slow dancing is mostly just rocking back and forth. I think you’ll be pretty decent at that.”
She smiled. “I’m willing to give it a try.”
He led her through the crowd to the garden space outside. There were a few couples dancing and talking in the moonlight, but it was mostly empty. It was the perfect space for an intimate conversation.
He took her in his arms and began to move slowly back and forth.
“So far, so good,” she said.
He kissed her on the forehead. “You’re doing great. I’m glad you came tonight.”
“Me too. I’m having a really great time. I think I’ve made some goo
d contacts.”
“And you got to dance with the most handsome shifter here.” Connor whistled. “You’re one lucky girl.”
She chuckled against his chest. “I’m one lucky girl.”
They swayed to the music together. The heat of the day had settled, and it was a pleasantly warm night. It felt better out here than it did in the crowded ballroom.
“I could spend the rest of the night out here with you,” Connor said quietly. “That would be much better than going back in there.”
“It is quieter out here. But your parents would kill you if you spent the rest of the night out here.”
“Ugh, my parents.” He looked into the ballroom. “They won’t even notice. With Beckett and Lenni here, I’m mostly off the hook. I could easily skip out, and they’d barely notice. Actually, they would notice if you were gone. You’re the most beautiful girl in that room. Your presence would be missed a lot more than mine.”
“That’s not true. People would miss you too. Eventually.” She laughed. “I could listen to you talk me up all night. I’m starting to get used to this.”
“You should.” He kissed her. “I like saying nice things about you. That’s why I was so upset when I put my foot in my mouth earlier.”
She blanched. “Let’s not mention that. We’re having a nice time. There’s no need to bring up your bad judgment.”
Connor frowned. It wasn’t bad judgment; he’d been making a point. It was a bad time, but he hadn’t been wrong, and he didn’t appreciate her saying that.
“I’m sure it was just your nerves,” she continued. “I’m not mad. I can say dumb things when I’m too nervous, too. Not like what you said, but still, I understand.”
He gritted his teeth. “I didn’t say anything stupid. I just said it at a stupid time.”
She stepped back. “You implied that my sisters were thieves. I think that was a dumb thing to say.”
“Not if they’re thieves,” he snapped. He let go of her and began to clench and unclench his fists. “I know you disagree with me, but you have to see that it makes sense.”
“It does not.” Her face was getting flushed, but this time it wasn’t sexy. “I don’t understand what kind of monster would turn their own family in to the authorities. I would never do anything like that, and, frankly, I can’t believe you would, either.”