Kian really didn't know what to do. Sure, he was excited this was his set up, but she didn't seem to share the same feelings.
"No. Not really. I mean you're all the same aren't you?"
His hackles rose at her words.
"What do you mean?"
He mirrored her, sitting straighter and studied her. A fear palpable and real reached him, swirling around on the air and hitting him in the face. How did this conversion go from offending him to suddenly her being freaked out?
"I. I just mean that you all, as in shifters. I really hoped Gerri knew better. I really hoped that she wouldn't put me with a shifter."
Deep breaths, deep breaths. Something was wrong and it wasn't personal. He needed to keep that in mind. A part of him saw his mom in the flash of whatever had crossed her face. A memory maybe? He wanted to protect her. Instinct drove him. He reached a hand out to cover hers. She tried to pull away but he gently encircled her wrist between his thumb and index finger. If she pulled hard enough she could get away, but he wanted her to know he was here. He was listening.
"I.” She took a deep breath. Why could this man unnerve her so much? She wasn’t this woman, but around him she could hardly think.
Exhaling she gathered her wits. “Well. My last boyfriend was a wolf shifter. He wasn't from a local pack, well not that he ever said. When things were good, he was pleasant enough. When things were bad though, he..." she cut off.
Anger clouded his vision. A second passed and he saw his father and the blood dripping from his nose as he was hauled off into a police car. The blood put there by Kian's hands. He blinked several times clearing the image. He wouldn't think of his dad right now, or the fact he'd have to face the man at some point. Maybe.
"Don't. Don't finish that sentence. Yeah and the answer is no. We aren't all the same."
Her eyes seemed to study every inch of him, seemed to look beyond the face that looked back at her.
"Look. If this isn't what you wanted, I understand. It was pretty hard for me to approach Gerri and there’s a reason I haven't been able to find someone myself. That being said though, as far as I can tell you do feel something..."
Raine's mouth opened and closed several times.
And, maybe that was the wrong thing to say. He really did suck at dating.
Finally, she spoke. "So, why haven't you been able to find someone yourself?”
Her words stung. This wasn’t going all that well in his mind. She started to talk again. His cougar was determined to be with her, but man was she pushing his buttons.
“I mean, not that. Not the way it came out. I know I suck at finding someone. But aren't shifters supposed to be good at finding their mates? Something about fate? Magic? Whatever you want to call it? Why do you need a dating agency?"
Her chest rose evenly, she was calm. Alright, he hadn't offended her, and she didn’t seem to be questioning if he was an asshole anymore.
So, sure. He’d answer her question. Only did he know the answer? She should know, but what could he say? They'd just met. He took a second to think it through.
"My father. I don't want to be him. And honestly, I don't think I was open enough to have known if I had found the right one. But maybe, I just hadn't met her yet now that I..."
She leaned into the table, her words quiet. "Now that you what?"
Fuck was he really going to say it? It was a first date. He held back the mountain of animal instinct within him. He bit back against the pain of the cougar. His empty hand fisted against the table trying to gain the control he needed. "Now that I have met you."
His heart pounded against his chest. She hadn't said anything. What the hell did he expect her to say?
"So, shifters know without a doubt when they have met the one?"
His nostrils flared against the scent of her. She was opening a whole new side of him. One that she had complete control over, whether or not she knew it.
"I. I guess so," was all he could say.
"Gran?"
Where in the heck was that woman. She'd been here all day trying to get every detail about the date and then disappeared after Raine had pulled the "this isn't going to work" card.
"Gran? For crap's sake. You haunted me in the shower, but when I actually need you you're gone?"
Raine flopped onto the couch, swinging her forearm to rest over her eyes as she laid back.
"Gran? What the heck am I supposed to do? Good Lord, he'd let her too. Her full lips He's a shifter and he's telling me that he already knows I'm the one for him?"
A familiar laugh broke her wallowing. "Oh child. He's a shifter yes, and yes that’s a genetic thing they just know. Why is any of this a problem? Don't you find him attractive? I know if I were thirty years younger I wouldn't let a little thing like who he his stop me from taking him to bed."
"Ew. Just ew. Go find grandpa’s ghost. I don't need to hear that."
Gran tsked as Raine sat up.
"Raine, so you had one bad shifter experience. Not all of them are drug addicts dear. Besides, you know that this Kian is right, just admit it. Regardless of what your head is telling you, tell me your heart doesn't know he is right for you."
Raine's phone beeped before she could answer. Out of habit she hopped up and headed for the kitchen counter where she'd left it. Maybe it was more out of distraction and not answering Gran's question.
Hi. Making sure you made it home okay.
The number wasn't familiar, but she had an
