by R. E. Butler
Chapter Nine
Lori had just closed the door to the apartment when there was a knock. Her heart thudded in her chest. Was it Atticus? After their intense car ride back to the park, and the idea of a special date night ahead, she would totally invite him in. For more kisses.
And more other things maybe.
But it was Novi at the door and not the sexiest guy on the planet.
“Try to hide your disappointment, Mom,” Novi said with a laugh.
“Sorry, it’s nice to see you, honey. How was work?”
Novi worked at the park in the security office making small photo albums for VIP safari tour guests. The guests got their picture taken at each animal paddock and the photos were put together and given as a gift. Cael was the park vet, so he and Novi were able to see each other during the day whenever they wanted. Lori thought it would be really nice to be able to work at the park and see Atticus too. Maybe a job would open up for her soon.
Novi walked in and said, “Pretty good. Cael got me one of those machines to make stickers with adhesive vinyl, so I’m experimenting with making VIP safari tour travel mugs to give out to the guests.”
“That sounds really neat.”
“So I heard you have a date.”
“I do. What do you think?”
“Seriously? I think it’s wonderful!” Novi gave her a big hug, and Lori laughed.
“I’m glad.”
“He’s a nice guy. He came to talk to me and make sure that I knew you’d be safe with him.”
“He told me he talked to you.”
“Uh yeah, and he also told me about your little escape attempt this morning. Mom, how could you? Do you really think that I want you out there on your own like that? Keir is a dedicated asshole, and you leaving the security of the park is a terrible idea.”
“I know.” Lori rubbed her temple. “It was a knee-jerk reaction.”
“To what?”
“Lunch with Atticus.”
“I don’t understand.”
Lori sat on the arm of the couch and sighed. “He’s a great guy. He’s...well he’s like everything I ever dreamed I might have in a forever guy, but I pushed that part of myself away because of Keir. Keir would one hundred percent find a way to hurt me if he could, and being with Atticus means putting a target on his back. I couldn’t live with myself if someone got hurt because of me.”
“I get it. I mean, I don’t like it, but I understand. It would hurt me so much if you took off without telling me, Mom. Please don’t do that again.”
“I won’t.” When Novi looked like she didn’t believe her, Lori put up her hands. “I promise. I like Atticus. I want to see what it’s like to be normal for a change. He said he’d handle all the security for our date, and I trust him.”
Novi grinned. “How does that feel?”
“Letting someone else worry about things for a change? Amazing.”
“Good. Now let’s find you something amazing to wear.”
“I don’t know what I have that would work for a date. It’s not like I’ve had many of them over the years.”
“I know, which is why I called in reinforcements.”
There was another knock at the door and Novi opened it, revealing a troop of women carrying bags and boxes.
“Mom, this is everyone. Everyone? This is my mom, Lori.”
Lori rose to her feet and started shaking hands as the women introduced themselves: Jess, who worked at the bird sanctuary, Dani who did makeovers, Adriana and Celeste who were manicurists, Jeanie who was one of the cooks for the park, and Lexy, Trina, and Jenni who worked at the park candy shop.
“There are a few other ladies who couldn’t make it,” Jeanie said, “but they send their good luck wishes for your first date.”
“Oh my gracious,” Lori said.
Jenni smiled and lifted a garment bag. “We’ve got some dresses for you to try.”
“Then Celeste and I will do your manis and pedis,” Adriana said.
“And I’ll do your make up,” Dani said.
“I’ll do your hair,” Lexy said.
“I’ve got shoes,” Jeanie said.
“I brought you some bath products,” Jess said. “I wasn’t sure what your favorite scent was, so I have several things for you to try.”
“I’ve got the accessories,” Trina said, holding up a clear container that glittered with the jewelry inside.
Lori took the bag of bath products from Jess and smiled at everyone. Her eyes were stinging with happy tears, and when Novi gave her a hug, a few tears slipped past her defenses.
“Aw, Mom, it’s okay. You’ve got friends now. It’s not just me and you against the world.”
“That’s right,” Jenni said. “You’ve got a girl squad now, and we’ve got your back.”
“Thank you all so much, I don’t know how I’ll make it up to you.”
“No worries,” Jeanie said. “You like Atticus, and he’s part of our park family which makes you family too.”
Before she bawled like a baby, Lori nodded and smiled, then hurried to the bathroom to shower. She had no idea there were so many amazing people who worked in the park, but she was grateful for them.
It made her feel like she could do anything, even relaxing and having a good time on her and Atticus’s first date.
Her stomach flipped as she thought about the amazing kiss they’d shared in the SUV. She really, really hoped for more of that tonight.
* * *
Lori was nervous. But this was a different kind of nerves than she was used to, the sort of nerves that came from being afraid of being found by a whackjob. These nerves came from being on a first date with a guy she could fully admit she liked a lot. It was a nervous excitement, something she hadn’t really felt in a long, long time.
Maybe ever?
She paced near the front door in her new slinky black dress with the sexy strappy heels. Her fingernails and toenails were painted a pretty pale pink French manicure, and she even had a delicate gold toe ring sparkling in the overhead light. Some gold bangles were on one wrist and a necklace with a heart charm was just above the generous cleavage the V-neck of the dress gave her. After her makeover, she’d looked at herself in the mirror and saw someone new. It wasn’t the image of a woman who’d been scared for twenty years, but one who looked hopeful and happy. It was a wonderful feeling.
Which was why she was nervous and excited. She didn’t want to mess things up with Atticus. She might even be falling for him a little—okay, a lot—and this first date seemed monumentally important. The connection she felt to him wasn’t something she could really explain, but every woman in the apartment with her earlier had understood completely.
“Oh, I fell for my husband Jupiter immediately,” Celeste said, looking up at her from where she was polishing her toenails. “I mean, it was a knockdown, drag out, I was never going to leave him for any amount of money feeling. He felt the same way too.”
“That’s sweet,” Lori said. “I feel really drawn to Atticus too.”
“Like it’s hard to be away from him?” Jenni asked.
Lori nodded. “Very. Which feels strange, but also right.”
Novi, perched on the arm of the couch, said, “It’s okay to like him right away, Mom. He clearly likes you too.”
Lori was secretly pleased to hear that. She wanted to ask him if he was as drawn to her as she was to him, and maybe she would.
Scratch that...she was definitely going to find out if he liked her as much as she liked him. It would be amazing if he did.
Novi was the last to leave, with only fifteen minutes before Atticus was to show up. All the women had hugged Lori and wished her good luck, and then Novi had stood at the open door and smiled at her.
“Mom, I’m so proud of you.”
“You’re proud of me?”
“Of course. You’re doing something way out of your comfort zone. I mean, I’ve always thought of you as being fearless, but I know that you just hid your
worries and fears from me so that I wasn’t panicked.”
“If it weren’t for you taking the VIP tour and meeting Cael, I wouldn’t have met Atticus. I think you’re the more fearless of the two of us.”
“Nah. You’re going on a date with a great guy. Whatever happens tonight, I’m thrilled for you. You deserve to be happy and find a guy to spend your life with.”
Lori had felt the same way about Novi. She’d wanted her daughter not to have to live in fear and to be able to have a life of her own, but she hadn’t known how to make that happen. It turned out all she’d needed was a VIP safari tour ticket.
“Thanks, honey,” Lori said, giving Novi another hug. “Now get out of here before Atticus shows up.”
“Well, maybe I should stick around and talk to him. Make sure he knows that he has to get you home at a decent time, and that if he hurts you, I’ll bury him somewhere in the Pinelands where he’ll never be found.”
Lori barked out a laugh and gave her daughter a light shove on the shoulder. “You’re ridiculous. But I love you dearly.”
“I love you too. Have fun tonight.”
“I will.” And she really meant that. As she closed the door and faced the empty room, she decided she would do what Atticus asked and trust him to handle everything. She wouldn’t worry about Keir finding them, because even if he did, Atticus was a big guy and they weren’t going to be alone. Besides, the park was very secure. She could have fun tonight and put her worries away.
She deserved it. And Atticus deserved her best too.
There was a knock at the door and she inhaled sharply. How had the time gone so fast?
Her heart kicked up a few paces, knocking against her ribcage, and her palms grew sweaty.
She smoothed her sweaty palms down the sides of her short dress and walked to the door, pushing away everything in her mind but the night ahead.
She was going on a first date with a great guy, who promised to keep her safe and wanted to spend time with her.
She was feeling downright lucky.
Chapter Ten
Atticus parked in front of the apartment complex and turned off the engine. He grabbed the bouquet of flowers he’d picked up earlier, then opened his door and climbed out. What he was about to do was so important he was practically shaking with nerves. He wanted the night to go well, for Lori to be happy to be with him and for their relationship to solidify in some way. He would love if she would call him her boyfriend, even though that was a very human term.
Well, he’d love it if they mated and he could claim her as his mate, but that wasn’t going to happen tonight. She had no idea he was a gorilla shifter, or that shifters even existed. He wouldn’t go into a mating without her knowing the truth and he couldn’t tell her the truth; she had to reach the conclusion on her own.
Closing the door to the SUV, he looked up at her door and shrugged off his nerves. He could tell she liked him. She smelled so good when she was thinking sexy thoughts that it made his mouth water. He just had to get her to see that she could have a happily ever after, have a real life with him in the park. Somehow he’d get her there and they could start the first chapter of their lives together.
He knocked on the door and was surprised when she opened it before he finished knocking.
“Atticus!” She grinned at him, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. He was so surprised that he didn’t kiss her back right away, but then his brain engaged, and he wrapped his arms around her, the plastic-wrapped roses crinkling with the motion.
She eased back and linked her fingers behind his neck. “I missed you.”
“Oh? I couldn’t tell.”
She rolled her eyes and giggled. He absolutely loved the sound. “I did. Did you miss me?”
“A million percent.”
“Wow, just a million?”
“Well, I did have work to tend to. Can’t rotate tires without paying attention to them at least a little bit.”
He brought the flowers around, and she took them. “I love roses, and peach is my favorite color! You’re so thoughtful. I wonder if there’s a vase in the apartment.”
“I hope so, if not we can pick one up when we’re out.”
He followed her into the kitchen and helped her look in the cabinets. Sometimes shifter-human couples in the park used one of the apartments as their own place when the human’s family came to visit so it would appear that the park offered employee housing. Cael and Novi were living in the apartment next to Lori’s instead of underground in the elephants’ private living quarters because Lori didn’t know the truth and Novi wasn’t allowed to tell her.
Although it would be tons easier if Lori already knew, then he could explain why she felt so drawn to him and he to her.
“Will this work?” he asked, pulling a heavy glass beer mug from one cabinet.
“I think so, let’s try.” She released the roses from the plastic covering and pulled off the rubber band securing the stems. With kitchen shears, she cut them down a little and set them in the mug. “I like it.”
“Me too.”
She leaned over to smell the roses while he threw away the trash. She filled the mug with water and set the roses on the coffee table. “They’re really beautiful. Thank you so much.”
“I’m glad you like them, and I’m doubly glad they’re your favorite color. I had no idea there were so many colors and I was worried I’d pick one you hated.”
“You did great. Now, what’s in store for us tonight?”
“Dinner, as you know, and then a special dessert back here at the park.”
He caught the subtle sweetness of her arousal as her eyes darkened. “Oh?”
“I mean a real dessert. But I like where your head is at.”
She tilted her head. “How can you tell what I’m thinking?”
“Your eyes get dark when you’re turned on.”
Her mouth fell open. “Are you serious? Oh my goodness!”
He kissed her, unable to hide his laughter. “You’re so cute. I promise I won’t point out how much you want me.”
“Your ego is enormous,” she said with a grin.
“You know it. Oh, wait, did you say ego? Yeah, that’s pretty big too.”
She threw back her head and laughed. He loved their banter. She was so much fun.
“Let’s get out of here before you strip me and have your way with me,” he said.
“That wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”
“It would be the best idea on the planet, but we’ve got reservations. Keep your sexy thoughts to yourself. For now.”
She hummed and took his offered arm. As he escorted her out of the apartment and down to the SUV he saw the two unmarked SUVs with park males in them, waiting just behind his vehicle. “They’re for us?” she asked.
He helped her into the SUV and nodded. “They’re going to keep an eye out for things so that you and I can focus on each other.”
“I love that idea. I think you thought of everything.”
“I’m trying, trust me.”
He shut the door and then climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. One of the vehicles pulled away, then he backed up and followed it to the locked access gate behind the complex. The other SUV followed.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you are?” he asked. “Because you look amazing.”
“Thank you. Novi brought over a bunch of girls to help me get ready. It was so sweet. I love seeing Novi have real friends she can count on. We’ve always kept people at arms’ length so we didn’t cause problems for them with you-know-who.”
“It’s probably easier not to have to say goodbye or explain your situation if you have surface relationships and nothing deep and intimate.”
“It is and it isn’t. We missed out on a lot because of it, and even though we had each other, it was pretty lonely.”
“You’re not alone anymore,” he said. He took her hand and linked their fingers.
“I know. I’m really happy about that. I’m glad we met.” She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, and he felt like a damn king. Her trust in him was everything.
Dropping a quick kiss to the top of her head, he said, “I promise you the best first date ever.”
“You’re off to a really good start.”
* * *
The Italian restaurant was spectacular. Devlin had really come through for him. He and Lori sat at the chef’s table in the kitchen and had an amazing meal made special for them. When they’d eaten their fill of tomato and mozzarella drizzled with balsamic, and mile-high lasagna with fresh-baked bread, they thanked the chef for the meal, paid the bill, and left.
“That may have been the best meal I’ve ever had,” she said.
“Me too.”
He opened the SUV door for her, and she paused. “Now for dessert, right?”
“Vixen.”
“Hey, I just want what I was promised. A memorable first date.”
“You’ll get it.”
She gave him a kiss and sat down. He shut the door and turned away, blowing out a breath and working his finger under his collar. His gorilla had a hard time being quiet throughout dinner. Lori smelled amazing, she looked fantastic, and she kept kissing and touching him throughout their meal, like she couldn’t go more than a few minutes without putting her hands or lips on him. And he felt the very same way.
If only she knew how much she affected him.
The conversation was light as they returned to the park with the two security SUVs following. Instead of going to the apartment complex, he stopped at the employee lot and parked. She gave him a curious look but didn’t ask him what they were doing, and he took that as a good sign she trusted him. He took her hand and led her to the employee cafeteria, using a code to unlock the door. The building was dark save for lights in the kitchen area illuminating the day’s leftover meals. He took her to a door which turned out to be roof access, with a steel ladder bolted to the wall.