“That’s more than lust.” He pressed their joined hands to his chest, right over his heart. “I feel it here.”
She blinked. “I…I…”
“Don’t make up an excuse. I see the rejection in your eyes, but I also see your reluctance.” He pressed a kiss to her palm. “Give it a chance. We can meet somewhere public. I want to talk to you. Kiss you again. It doesn’t have to be more. I’m a patient man.”
Hadn’t she just thought how much she regretted cutting herself from her family and friends? Other than Mr. Wilkins, she was alone. Yes, she had Josh—or she would once he learned about Megan—but he didn’t make her burn the way Rafe could.
She glanced into Rafe’s face. A mix of patience and hunger shone in his eyes. There was no rule that single mothers couldn’t find romance. If a man were to fall in love with her, knowing she had kids, wouldn’t he also be making a commitment to her boys? Love them as much as she did? No matter what they were. If he was a good guy, he would. If not, well she wouldn’t be with him.
The only way to find out what Rafe would do was to spend time with him. She could meet him at public places, exactly as he’d suggested. If she talked it over with Seth and Levi, they’d be careful not to let Rafe see something he shouldn’t. They weren’t babies anymore. Their control over their cats got better every day.
Making a decision, she slipped under Rafe’s arm and walked to the desk. With shaky hands, she scribbled her name and number on a piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to him. “I’m not promising anything.”
“Okay, Jasmine.”
Normally she hated when people used her full name. When they did, it usually meant they were angry with her as Josh had been earlier, but in Rafe’s unusual accent her full name made her feel beautiful. She couldn’t place the cadence to his speech. It wasn’t quite Irish, but it had a similar lulling quality.
She motioned to the private rest room. “I’m going to use the bathroom. I need to get home.”
“I’ll wait for you and walk you to your car.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I have my own selfish reasons.” He rubbed his chin and glanced away before meeting her gaze. “I want to enjoy your company for as long as I can. I’m just grateful you were able to get a babysitter to your house to watch your boys tonight.”
“Actually, they’re at my neighbor’s house. He doesn’t drive at night.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Then I should thank him for watching your children. I hate to think that our paths would never have crossed.”
“Umm, yeah…me too.”
Jazz wasn’t quite sure how she went from trying to run from him to agreeing to a date, but she knew one thing—Rafe was the most romantic man she’d ever met.
Or he was a good player.
Chapter 5
Rafe retreated to the hallway while Jasmine made use of the bathroom. He needed a moment to gather his thoughts and separate them from the whirlwind of emotion his cats fed him. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish between them and him.
There were days he wished he’d been born a single shifter, one who had one animal sharing his body and soul, not a Royal with three animals. He couldn’t change his fate, however. He was a Royal. An immortal shifter descended from the goddesses. He was also resented and envied by many of the single shifters. They wanted to be immortal too.
He cracked his jaw. What would Jasmine think if she learned the truth? Would she look upon him the same way? Maybe run from him?
He let his head rest against the wall. She would if she knew how Royals had to claim human mates—at the point of death. And if one of his cats refused her? Or she panicked and refused him? She’d die. If his cats accepted her, however, she’d be his for eternity.
His one true mate.
The goddesses had promised all shifters—singles and Royals—peace in the form of a true mate. Too bad their goddesses hadn’t offered them an easy way to find their perfect complement, the one person who could calm both man and beast. The only advice their elders gave was to trust your instincts. That was great for the single shifters. If their animals refused to complete the bond or she did, they’d leave their lover with a scar. If Royals picked poorly, they’d end up as murderers.
It was no wonder few Royals mated. Or found peace.
He let his gaze drift to the closed door. Would Jasmine risk her life for him? Or would…
He snapped his teeth together. No. He couldn’t go there. Not yet.
The lie she’d fed him about her boys added to the uncertainty surrounding her. Only mated shifter females could reproduce. If she’d admitted to adopting her kids, then he could believe she’d been duped the same way Tony had been with Megan. But to insist they were hers…
Rafe dug out his cell and dialed Kade, his twin and the leader of the Alexander pride.
Kade answered on the second ring. “Yeah?”
The whispered greeting set Rafe on edge. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m in the woods behind Tony’s house.”
“Why are you there?” Kade was supposed to meet with the Shifter Affairs agents in Virginia about the lawyer involved in Megan’s adoption. The select few humans who knew about their kind were their biggest asset. Unfortunately, the humans’ influence was limited. Hard to uphold the laws protecting shifters when only a handful of people knew about them.
“Because of Devin. He didn’t sound good when he called. Kept repeating himself.”
Rafe clenched his free hand and blew out a rough breath. “Why did you send him in the first place? Devin’s got issues to begin with. Dropping him in a situation that reminds him of his past isn’t smart.”
“I was hoping to distract him. The mess with his sister has left him stressed.
