by Roxie Ray
My nerves jangled again as I prepared for the date. It didn’t take me long, and then I had to wait again. I double-checked that my clothes were clean and unwrinkled, then paced my living room until it was time to go. My nerves, by the time I went down to my truck, had me humming with anticipation.
I stopped a few doors down from my bar and grabbed a bouquet of flowers, then drove to the small apartment complex on the edge of town. I’d known the address when I asked but didn’t want to seem like a creep. Dragons were protecting Bri and Hayden, whether they were at home or at Bri’s parents’ house. Or at school. But she couldn’t know that, not yet, so I had to pretend like I didn’t know where she lived. As soon as I drove up, I sensed the betas on watch there, though I couldn’t really tell who it was.
Eventually, I’d have to confess, but hopefully, by then she’d understand the reasoning behind the lie.
Sucking in a deep breath, I grabbed the flowers and got out of the truck. Outside her door, I had to remind myself that this woman was fated to be my mate and that it would work out as long as I didn’t let my own inhibitions and stupid hang-ups get in the way. With my stomach tingling, I rapped my knuckles against the door and waited for her to answer.
When she opened the door, I forgot how to speak. My mouth went as dry as the desert. She had on a pinkish one-piece outfit thing that contrasted with her warm tawny skin and set off her deep brown eyes. Her heels brought her eye level closer to my own and did something to her posture that made my gaze want to go to her breasts. Repeatedly. I had to force myself not to. Her hair looked mostly like it always did, natural, nearly an afro, but I suspected it took a lot more effort. She’d done something to it with a clippy thing that made it just a step above normal, yet not overly done. She was the perfect blend of dressed up and casual.
And I wanted to push her back into the apartment and drag the one-piece off of her.
My mother’s voice ran through my mind. Keep it in your pants. Damn it, Mom.
“You look amazing,” I said in a low voice, somehow surprised by how deep and rough my voice sounded.
Bri ducked her head and looked me over. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.”
I held out the flowers and grinned. “Guys have it easy. All I did was shave and change clothes.”
“Come in and let me put these in water.” She stuck her face in the lilies and breathed deeply. “They’re lovely, thank you.”
I’d asked Anthony, who’d asked Skye, and I knew they were her favorite. No doubt she’d figure out how I knew. She was a smart lady.
While she was tending to the flowers, I looked around the foyer and took in the pictures of her and Hayden. I couldn’t help but smile at Hayden’s cheeky grin in all of the photos. She really was a gorgeous kid. And looked exactly like Bri.
Bri walked up behind me and pointed to one of them. “That was right after she lost her first tooth.”
“She’s adorable,” I said and turned to face her. She was close, and my body brushed against hers as I turned. Electricity popped between us.
Briana jumped and touched her arm where it had sparked. “Static electricity,” she whispered, then shook her head. “You ready?”
“Sure.” I grinned and walked to the door, ready to open it for her.
She stopped and grabbed a shawl—shrug? I didn’t know what they were called. A sweater that covered her shoulders—out of the living room closet. I jumped forward and took it from her so she could turn. I draped it over her shoulders, then went back and opened the door.
A gentleman. Just like Mom said. She’d be so proud.
After I opened the truck door for her and pulled us out of her parking lot, we looked at one another awkwardly and grinned. “Tell me something about you I don’t know,” I said.
She hummed low in her throat as she thought about it. “I have a crooked finger.” She held up her right hand and the tip of her middle finger was off-kilter.
“How’d you do that?” I asked.
“Sledding accident when I was a kid. Now tell me something about you.”
I mimicked her hum while I considered it. “I’ve owned this truck since I was fourteen years old.”
Bri laughed. “I believe it, but it’s obvious you’ve taken care of it.”
Beaming, I patted the dash. “She’s a good girl. Your turn.”
On the way to the steakhouse, I learned that she graduated high school a year early, hated raw onions, but loved them cooked, and had won a trivia contest based on random science facts while on vacation at the beach.
My mate was smart and beautiful.
By the time we reached the restaurant, the mood was pretty light, and my tattoo was burning something fierce.
Such a good burn though. The ache in my chest was all but gone. Only when I had moments of insecurity did it flare up, and even then, it wasn’t bad.
Throughout the dinner, I avoided any heavy topics. We spent the evening getting to know each other. After we’d finished eating, I took a chance that she might not be ready to end the evening yet. I knew I wasn’t. “You up for a walk?” I asked.
She smiled and nodded. “If I can change shoes.”
Grinning, I drove to her apartment and tried to hop out and open her door, but she beat me to it. “There’s a walking trail behind the complex that comes out at the park in town,” she said. “We can take that?”
I'd known it was there, having lived here all my life, there wasn’t much about the small town that I didn’t know. But there was no need to sound like I knew it all, so I grinned and nodded. “I’ll be right back,” she said and ran on her clicky heels toward her door.
Her ground-floor apartment front door was in my sight, so I didn’t worry about her getting out of sight and into danger. A couple of minutes later, she joined me in front of my truck. “Ready,” she chirped.
She was an inch or two shorter, but her hot pink tennis shoes looked cute in contrast with the somewhat dressy outfit. I grinned and let her set the pace.
By the time we walked around the building and hit the trail, my hand had brushed hers several times. I was itching to grab it as we walked and talked, and when we moved onto the trail and had to walk even closer together, I went for it.
I caught the grin that crossed her face and was instantly really glad I’d done it. I made the right choice.
We continued talking about ourselves while avoiding the heavy stuff. I didn’t mention my father and she didn’t mention her ex. Like we had a silent agreement to keep things happy tonight on our first date.
My intention when we got back to her apartment was to just walk her to her door and make sure she was locked up safely, but then at the door, Bri unlocked it and turned toward me. She was close enough for me to smell the strawberry in her lip gloss, which she’d reapplied in the truck after dinner.
I’d liked that she hadn’t felt like she had to run to the bathroom and do it in secret.
She stood on her tippy toes and pressed her lips to mine. I hadn’t intended on even kissing her, but since she initiated it, I took full advantage. Leaning over, I tilted my head, deepening the kiss.
My tattoo flared, as if it literally was on fire when her dainty tongue slipped out and caressed the seam of my lips. I opened my mouth and met her tongue with mine, and my gums tingled, the desire to bite her nearly overwhelming. It would take everything in me not to do it if and when we went further than this.
She pulled back, breathless, and I had to admit it felt like there was less air in my lungs, too.
“When can I see you again?” I asked.
“We’ve been staying with my parents since,” she ducked her eyes, “well, you know. We’re moving back here during spring break this week. But Hayden usually chooses weekends with her grandparents unless I have something specific planned for us.”
That sounded like she wanted to see me again. “Let me know your schedule. I’ll work around it. I just want to see you again.”
She blushed and grinned.
“I’ll text you.”
I leaned forward and pressed one more soft kiss to her warm lips, then backed away before I tried to push for more. “Lock up tight. Goodnight.”
Knowing the betas were out there to make sure she stayed safe, I drove home with the biggest grin on my face. I couldn’t wait for our next date.
11
Bri
After a sluggish weekend enjoying the thought that we didn’t have to get up and go anywhere in particular on Monday, I decided we’d get up and go somewhere as I lay in bed Monday morning. We had several playdates scheduled for this week and had already hosted Tori once, yesterday afternoon, but Monday was our only totally free day.
A trip to the coast was exactly what we needed. Springtime on the coast was always busy, but we were lucky to be in a tiny town that most tourists overlooked.
Still, when we got to the beach, it was pretty packed. With it being spring break, it was likely a bunch of locals all doing what we were, and sure enough, I saw several of my students. I hadn’t been here long enough to have any former students.
We ate food that was really bad for us and played in the sand. Hayden spotted a necklace at one of the many market stalls that dotted the tiny boardwalk. They were all over the place and booming with business.
The necklace was an intricately shaped dragon with gold gems as eyes. Hayden looked at me with big eyes. I sighed and got out my debit card. “If you weren’t such a good kid, I swear.”
The older woman manning the stall chuckled. “Being a good daughter brings many rewards.” She winked at Hayden. “You have good taste in jewelry. This dragon is special.” She took it off the stand and put it on Hayden. “See the gems on the dragon’s eyes?”
Hayden clutched the dragon and looked closely at it. The chain was long on her, so it hung halfway down her chest. “Yes. They’re pretty.”
“They’re tourmaline. Wear the dragon all the time and it will protect you and your family.” The older woman winked at me, and I laughed it off. Some people really got off on how much protection they could get from a rock.
But Hayden was enthralled with it. She tucked it down inside her shirt. “It’s warm,” she whispered as I held out my card.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is it cash only? I have some here, depending on the price of the necklace.”
The older woman cocked her head at Hayden and a slow smile spread over her face. “This one is on the house. Your little girl reminds me of someone.”
I held out a twenty. “Oh, no, please take this. I can’t accept it for free.”
She pushed my hand back. “Now, now. Let an old woman indulge a little girl.”
Hayden beamed up at her before throwing her arms around her. “Thank you!”
The woman looked startled for just a moment, then melted and hugged Hayden back. “My pleasure, sweet one. Now, just promise me you won’t take it off?”
“I promise,” Hayden chirped.
She kept pulling it out throughout the day and looking at it. Once when she did, I could’ve sworn I saw the eyes glow, but when I looked again, I was sure it had to be in my head. A reflection of light.
We walked around a while longer before Hayden tugged on my hand. “I’m hungry again.”
I chuckled because, for an almost seven-year-old, she ate like a grown man.
“Come on, there’s a food truck up here.” We headed toward the closest parking lot as someone called out my name.
I turned to see Jace coming down the boardwalk behind us with two small children hanging onto his legs.
I didn’t bother fighting my smile. He looked so dang cute with the kids I couldn’t help myself. It was an adorable sight.
“You should’ve told me you’d be here today,” he said. “We could’ve let the kids hang out and explore together.”
Hayden waved at the little ones tumbling off of Jace’s legs, then looked up at Jace, seeming to notice him for the first time. “You’re the man who was dying at the store that day,” she said. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
“Me, too,” Jace said conspiratorially as I laughed. “It did feel like I was dying, but I’m doing a lot better now.”
Hayden pointed at the kids who were a bit younger than her. “Who are they?”
“I’m Will,” the little boy said.
“And I’m Walker,” said the girl.
“That’s a weird name,” Hayden said.
“Hayden!” I hissed. “That was rude. Apologize now.”
Hayden looked at her feet, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to say anything hurtful,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Walker.”
Walker looked at Hayden. “What’s your name?”
“Hayden.”
“That’s weird too. We can be friends.”
Hayden brightened up. “Okay!”
Walker took Hayden’s hand. “Have you played any of the games yet?”
Hayden shook her head. “No, where are they?”
All three kids looked at Jace and me. “Can we go?” Will asked Jace.
He looked at me. “Up to Bri.”
“Please, Mom?” Hayden looked so hopeful.
“I thought you were hungry,” I said.
She shrugged. “I can wait until after we play games.”
I laughed and threw my hands up. At least it would give me a reason to spend some more time with Jace without it being overly obvious. “I guess.” They squealed and took off. Jace and I had to hurry to stay on their heels.
“So, where’d you pick up a couple of kids?” I asked.
Jace chuckled. “My buddy, Wayne, you met him at the shooting range.”
“Oh, these are his kids?”
I smiled at Will, who tripped and fell in the sand but jumped up and brushed himself off before sprinting to catch up with the girls.
“No, actually, his sister’s. He was supposed to babysit but got called on a last-minute job. I told him I’d spend the day with them at the beach while he takes care of his client nearby.”
“What does Wayne do?” Taking care of a client sounded so ominous.
“He’s a personal chef. Stays pretty busy, too.”
I bet he did. He’d been a handsome one. Jace and I stuck close to each other as we watched the kids play. “How’d the rest of your weekend go?” he asked. “I was hoping you’d text.”
“I spent a lot of time thinking,” I admitted. “I was going to text you tonight about our date.” I chuckled. “It was hard to think about anything else, if I’m being totally honest.”
He’d sent several texts over the weekend, and I’d responded, but it hadn’t felt overwhelming. Just light and teasing. Flirty. Every time my phone dinged, I got butterflies again and had to force myself not to run and respond right away.
“Couldn’t think about anything else… besides me?” he asked hopefully.
“I did. I just don’t know exactly what we’re doing.” The kids found a giant bowling set and got in line to play. I loved that the city provided things like this free of charge. I also loved that we weren’t inundated with tourists.
“What are you uncertain about?” he asked. “I’ll clear up anything I can.”
At least he wasn’t afraid to talk about this stuff. It could’ve been worse, that he wanted to avoid it at all costs. “I haven’t dated anyone but Hayden’s dad. I’ve been divorced for three years, and in all that time, not a single date until you.” I gave him a sheepish look. “Men are foreign to me in my adult life. I don’t want to make assumptions and end up looking like an idiot. I feel… out of my element.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not in any way trying to rush you into anything. I just want to get to know you while you get to know me. That way you can decide if I’m someone worth knowing for a longer time. And if I’m someone you’d like to have in your daughter’s life.”
I smiled, happy to hear him include Hayden.
“What if we take it one day at a time and as we get to know each other better, then we can di
scuss labels. If that’s what you want.”
That sounded wonderful. “Okay. But I have to say… you’ve got a bit of a reputation. I hope you’re not playing games with me.”
He glanced to see that the kids were distracted and grabbed my hand. “That’s the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve never felt this way about a woman. You haven’t dated, but neither have I. None of the relationships I’ve had have ever had an element of seriousness.” He paused and let out a deep breath. “Not since my early twenties. With you, I want all of that. Dates, seriousness and whatever might come after.”
Jace remained with us for the rest of the day. At one point, Hayden came over pouting because she lost a game and said she felt cheated. I started to give a lesson about how she can’t win at everything, but then Jace asked me to hang on before he walked over to the booth where they were giving away one free game before you have to pay. It was a basketball game, which Hayden was really good at for her age. I had to admit I was a bit surprised she’d lost.
Jace looked closely at the ball before he looked back at Hayden. “Always follow your instincts,” he said. “You were cheated. Some of the balls are overly inflated, and the rims are smaller than the ball.” Hayden looked at the man running the game. “Ha!”
He shrugged. “It’s business.”
I couldn’t see Jace’s face as he was standing in front of me, but he said something in a low voice to the man. The man’s face drained of color before he waved Hayden over and told her to pick a prize. Hayden picked the biggest panda the guy had and high-fived Jace as thanks.
“That girl’s got my card now.” He chuckled.
Hayden knew an easy target. “You’re going to be winning me things all night,” she said excitedly.
Jace just smiled indulgently as Will and Walker clamored to see the panda. “I don’t mind winning things.”
The look in his eyes told me he meant it. My heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, for the rest of the evening, Jace had all three kids playing and winning games, even if Jace had to help out.
By the time the sun set, Hayden was worn out. We got a funnel cake and sat down at a picnic table, and she laid her head on her hands and went to sleep.