moment.
She turned to Tessa, who now wore this shit-eating grin. “Stop that.”
“What?”
“You know.”
Tessa snorted. “I’m thinking about all those stories you told me during college, and how much you’ll pay me now to not reveal your secrets.”
“She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?” Jared asked.
“BFF. Means I love her to pieces but occasionally want to throttle her.”
“Understandable.”
Jared tugged Keri closer to his side. “Sorry, Tessa, but I need to steal Keri away. We’ll talk to you soon, but we don’t want to be late for our dinner date.” He dipped his head politely, the crisp cut of his suit almost squeaking as he moved.
Tessa sighed and wiggled her fingers. “You all have fun. Unlike some people, who have work to do.”
The walk across the thick plushy carpet felt different today, and not just because they were headed to a meeting with a couple so far above her current position Keri was afraid she’d get a nosebleed. It was the glittering lights of the formal chandeliers overhead. It was the silky slide of the fabric over her bare skin—Jared had convinced her she should leave off the undies along with her bra to avoid having panty lines. But most of all, it was her mate walking beside her, his elbow bumping her lightly as she clung to his arm, his fingers folded over hers. How he managed to look as if that suit was his normal everyday wear impressed her and scared her to death.
She’d either mated one of the world’s most instinctively talented actors or…or… she had no idea what was going on.
“You okay?” Jared pulled her to a stop outside the first-class formal dining room. “If there’s something wrong, please… We don’t have to do this. I can make our excuses—”
“No.” As much as she wanted to. “But thank you for asking.”
Enough mental chaos. She’d been on a damn roller coaster all day. But their conversation before hitting the salon—it was true. They could fall in love, they could make this work for their human sides and their animals.
Enjoy this moment then deal with the rest.
She kissed his cheek and stepped forward with him, shoulders squared, spine tall. And if there were butterflies still tangoing in her belly? Well, maybe they wanted to have a little dancing time as well.
Jared was impressed. More than impressed—it was once again made crystal clear why the Fedoras were in the position they were. Power as a wolf was easy to define. Charisma was harder. While a strong wolf could order you around, it took a special kind of personality to have people ignore your power and trust you and want to please you in spite of your strength.
Mr. Fedora had charmed and eased Keri through the entire meal. From the moment he’d risen and pulled out her chair, there had been light chitchat and easy conversation. No mention of anything that could be considered off topic—like their recent mating, even though that had to be all too obvious to anyone with a nose, other than himself. Mrs. Fedora had been equally attentive, and dinner had flown past.
He wondered why he’d spent so much time away from society when there were such good people there. Although—thinking back to the coffee shop and all the leaders of the Granite Lake pack—his friends might be a little rougher around the edges, but they too were awesome people to spend time with.
The music picked up and Jared rose to his feet as Mr. Fedora did.
“I am going to dance with my wife, but first?” Fedora turned to Keri and offered her a hand. “Might I take a turn with you, young lady?”
Keri’s cheeks flushed. Her gaze darted to meet Jared and that alone filled him with pride. Not like she had to ask permission, but that she wanted to check with him, and the resulting wash of connection between them? Man, this mate thing was very, very cool.
“I am so jumping you later…” he promised, grinning as her face turned bright red.
He turned to Mrs. Fedora and offered a hand,
She turned to Tessa, who now wore this shit-eating grin. “Stop that.”
“What?”
“You know.”
Tessa snorted. “I’m thinking about all those stories you told me during college, and how much you’ll pay me now to not reveal your secrets.”
“She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?” Jared asked.
“BFF. Means I love her to pieces but occasionally want to throttle her.”
“Understandable.”
Jared tugged Keri closer to his side. “Sorry, Tessa, but I need to steal Keri away. We’ll talk to you soon, but we don’t want to be late for our dinner date.” He dipped his head politely, the crisp cut of his suit almost squeaking as he moved.
Tessa sighed and wiggled her fingers. “You all have fun. Unlike some people, who have work to do.”
The walk across the thick plushy carpet felt different today, and not just because they were headed to a meeting with a couple so far above her current position Keri was afraid she’d get a nosebleed. It was the glittering lights of the formal chandeliers overhead. It was the silky slide of the fabric over her bare skin—Jared had convinced her she should leave off the undies along with her bra to avoid having panty lines. But most of all, it was her mate walking beside her, his elbow bumping her lightly as she clung to his arm, his fingers folded over hers. How he managed to look as if that suit was his normal everyday wear impressed her and scared her to death.
She’d either mated one of the world’s most instinctively talented actors or…or… she had no idea what was going on.
“You okay?” Jared pulled her to a stop outside the first-class formal dining room. “If there’s something wrong, please… We don’t have to do this. I can make our excuses—”
“No.” As much as she wanted to. “But thank you for asking.”
Enough mental chaos. She’d been on a damn roller coaster all day. But their conversation before hitting the salon—it was true. They could fall in love, they could make this work for their human sides and their animals.
Enjoy this moment then deal with the rest.
She kissed his cheek and stepped forward with him, shoulders squared, spine tall. And if there were butterflies still tangoing in her belly? Well, maybe they wanted to have a little dancing time as well.
Jared was impressed. More than impressed—it was once again made crystal clear why the Fedoras were in the position they were. Power as a wolf was easy to define. Charisma was harder. While a strong wolf could order you around, it took a special kind of personality to have people ignore your power and trust you and want to please you in spite of your strength.
Mr. Fedora had charmed and eased Keri through the entire meal. From the moment he’d risen and pulled out her chair, there had been light chitchat and easy conversation. No mention of anything that could be considered off topic—like their recent mating, even though that had to be all too obvious to anyone with a nose, other than himself. Mrs. Fedora had been equally attentive, and dinner had flown past.
He wondered why he’d spent so much time away from society when there were such good people there. Although—thinking back to the coffee shop and all the leaders of the Granite Lake pack—his friends might be a little rougher around the edges, but they too were awesome people to spend time with.
The music picked up and Jared rose to his feet as Mr. Fedora did.
“I am going to dance with my wife, but first?” Fedora turned to Keri and offered her a hand. “Might I take a turn with you, young lady?”
Keri’s cheeks flushed. Her gaze darted to meet Jared and that alone filled him with pride. Not like she had to ask permission, but that she wanted to check with him, and the resulting wash of connection between them? Man, this mate thing was very, very cool.
“I am so jumping you later…” he promised, grinning as her face turned bright red.
He turned to Mrs. Fedora and offered a hand,
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