“Would that be a problem if there was?”
Rose shook her head slowly. “Well, there are some potential problems that could arise, but not necessarily.”
“You mean because I’m a destined mate?”
“Something like that, although I have to say that I’ve never seen Lorent take interest in anyone like he has in you. I mean, good grief, have you seen the way Shannon comes on to him constantly? Her advances only seem to elicit discomfort from him, but you’re here one day, and he’s different with you. It’s just surprising.”
“That he’d be interested in me?”
“Oh, no, no. I didn’t mean that at all.” Rose reached out and squeezed one of Melony’s hands. “You are a beautiful young woman. Any single man who wasn’t interested in you would need his head checked. I simply meant that Lorent is different, and you seem to have a way with him.”
“I’ll be honest. I am attracted to him, but I have reservations as well.”
“Such as?” Rose asked before popping another bite of bread into her mouth.
“What if I fall in love with him and his mate shows up? How am I supposed to let the man I love just walk away?”
“Yes.” Rose chewed thoughtfully after taking another bite. “I can understand that,” she sighed.
“Look, I think I’m the only one who has noticed that there is something between the two of you, and I understand your concerns, but I’m not sure you have anything to worry about where Lorent’s mate is concerned.”
“What do you mean?” Melony frowned.
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Rose shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know. Woman’s intuition. I mean, if you two are into one another, I’m not sure it would do any harm to do some innocent exploration of those feelings. I’m not suggesting you two jump into anything like sex, but I think it might be good for both of you to at least become friends.”
Before Melony could ask Rose to explain further what she was getting at, she patted her on the back and stood.
“I need to go visit with my man for a while.” She bent and whispered in Melony’s ear, “I wouldn’t let any of the men know about your feelings for Lorent, not just yet anyway. In case you haven’t noticed, they tend to be a bit overprotective.”
She watched Rose walk away in search of Knox and wondered exactly what she’d meant by the whole exploration thing, and why she didn’t seem concerned in the least about her and Lorent’s developing feelings for one another. She didn’t have time to consider it further because Shannon plopped down in the empty space beside her.
“Hi, Melony. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.” Melony eyed Shannon, wondering why she was talking to her when she’d been avoiding her like the plague since the laundry ordeal. Maybe the holidays really were magical.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Bingo!
“What’s that?” Melony really didn’t want to ask, but was a firm believer in facing things head-on, especially potentially unpleasant things.
“Well, I don’t know if you are aware, but I’m kind of into Lorent.”
Melony barely stopped a snort from escaping, and bit her tongue to keep from telling Shannon that everyone at Sanctuary was aware. She was sure that Shannon didn’t want to talk about her feelings for Lorent, though. This wasn’t simply about a favor. This was an ambush of trying to find out information without looking snoopy, which might work on someone a bit less quick on the draw.
“And?”
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“It’s just that you are taking lessons from him, and I was wondering if you could find out if he likes me or not?”
Melony suddenly wanted to rip Shannon’s shiny hair out, which was just the reaction she thought Shannon was probably trying to goad from her.
Instead she smiled, and took a calming breath, then frowned. Why the hell was she so defensive, even jealous, about Lorent? It wasn’t as if she owned him or had some kind of claim on him. Yet, the thought of him with Shannon made her want to do the girl serious bodily harm.
“If you want to know if Lorent likes you or not, I think it would be best for you to ask him.” Melony took a bite of her turkey, but found she was quickly losing her appetite.
“I don’t know. That seems a bit pushy.”
“No. I think it seems grown-up. Having me ask him for you seems a bit pushy and high-schoolish, to be honest.”
Shannon stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. Melony wanted to laugh.
Did she not realize the pout had no effect on her? It might have worked in the past, maybe on men, probably on men, but she wasn’t moved by it in the least.
Shannon raised her hands and huffed out an agitated breath. “Okay, okay. I’ll cut to the chase.”
Melony almost choked on her food. “Oh. Please do, by all means.”
“I want Lorent for myself, and I don’t like you hanging with him.”
Was she serious? Was she ten? Melony put down her fork and turned to Shannon. “Look, Shannon. I’d really like it if we could become friends at some point in the future, but I’m going to be blunt because that’s just how I am. I really do not care if you like me hanging with Lorent or not. And I’m not hanging with him anyway. He’s teaching me self-defense and about the lycan race. Also, I have to tell you that if Lorent is as into you as you are him, not I, nor anyone else, could change his feelings for you.”
“Don’t mess with me, Melony. I always get what I want.”
Melony had had enough. She stood. “Good for you, but it’s time to play grown-up now. We aren’t children any longer. If you wish to have something with a man, it’s pretty essential that he feels something for you, and
