Raine couldn't resist the plate of muffins in front of her. She leaned forward and grabbed one, nodding to Gerri in the process. Maybe food would calm her nerves. She could take out a guy twice her size on the mats, but dating one was a very different story.
"Now. How do you feel about shifters? Are you okay with feline bloodlines?"
Raine swallowed a chunk of muffin and thought. "Uhm. Are they anything like the wolf packs? I really, really prefer something else."
"Yes dear. I understand. And no. They are not like the wolf packs. Most are loners and enjoy their freedom." She paused. Raine squirmed under her scrutiny. "Just remember Raine, I know best. I need you to have an open mind. Is that understood?"
Raine nodded, somewhat intimidated by the older woman.
"Do you find a sense of humor attractive?"
Her mind shot back to the guy at the gym. He was good looking, he was awkward for someone who could melt her panties by just smiling, but he seemed to have something that could make her smile. A sense a humor could go a long way. She figured a sense of humor couldn't hurt, and maybe it would help them get through the fights. There would probably be a lot of fights. One memory from her mom and dad she couldn’t erase.
A thought crossed her might that maybe she should learn to back down. That was rather doubtful.
A few ticks of the clock passed. "Yeah. I suppose some kind of sense of humor might be good. So. Sure."
"All right. Wonderful. Now tell me, is there anything else I should know?"
Darting her eyes around the room she saw everything yet nothing.
"I'd like to have a date for my birthday if possible. For Gran. Any chance that will happen?"
Gerri nodded. "Have some faith in my skills. You will have your date. Now, wait for my call. I will be in touch very soon."
Kian stepped off the elevator, the human part of him wanting to turn right back around and leave. His cougar, however, refused to let him make any more choices. Kian swallowed down the fear and the memories of his shitty excuse of a father. What was the point of going through a matchmaker when he had nothing to offer? Kian bit back against the shift as his cougar clawed out, angry at his decision making skills.
"Fine. I'm going."
Standing in front of the door he raised his hand to knock, and then put it back down. He did it once more and the door swung open, stopping the internal battle.
"Young man, are you planning to knock at any point? I might be patient, but the clock is ticking. Let's go."
Kian swallowed. The woman was intense.
Closing the door behind him, he followed. She had to be Gerri, although she didn't introduce herself, too busy scolding him he guessed. The little lady did have a way with words. He couldn't help but grin. This was the first good feeling he'd had since agreeing to meet her.
She turned and looked at him. Kian never felt small, but under Geri's gaze he felt like a little boy again.
"Oh, aren't you handsome when you aren't scowling? Now, sit down. I won't bite."
"I… Uh… Sure." He didn't know what to say.
"All right. So Kellie mentioned that you needed some help."
Her eyes analyzed him, her mouth pursed and wiggled side to side.
Squirming under her scrutiny, he wanted to bolt for the door.
"I don't really believe in the whole mating for life thing. I don't have a real good history with love," was all Kian said.
She clucked her tongue. "Yes. Well, until you meet the right one you wouldn't believe in forever. Most men don't. But your beast, he knows best. Cougar, right?"
He nodded. She knew her shifters at least. If she was half as good at guessing mates as breed then maybe this would work. His chest expanded, and he held in a breath for the count of three. Slowly he let it out. He needed to calm himself down. Little made him nervous, but having a matchmaker assess him left him feeling naked.
"Calm down. I'm finding you a few candidates, not sending you to the moon."
Was that an option? He'd accept being shipped off over dating any day.
"All right. So what is it you are looking for? What is the one thing you need the most?"
"A mate." It was the truth. He needed someone to put up with his cougar’s needs and his own. He needed someone to keep him calm. Steady him and help him stay in control.
"I guess I need someone who can stand up to my shit?" He instantly felt bad for swearing. "I, uh. Sorry about the language."
Gerri rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Like I haven't heard that word before. Okay. Interesting. You'd be open to someone as strong willed as you then?" She jotted a note. "What else? How do you feel about a human, or a human that is more perceptive than most?"
He sat up straighter, not that he could relax anyway. "Human? That's not going to work. I'd probably break her. I was thinking some other shifter? Maybe another cougar."
The look she gave him made Kian feel like a scared child instead of a six-foot three man.
"Young man. I have an amazing record with finding soul-mates, but you have to have an open mind. If finding the right one was as easy as going to a store you wouldn't be here."
She scribbled some more in her notebook and left him feeling pretty stupid. The thing was, how did he relate to a human? Sure if he claimed her she'd become his mate, but how the hell would he ever get that close he'd want to mark her as his? He had a bad temper, he had baggage, and the last thing he needed was
