Chapter Twelve

 

Jaxson sat at the table by the window of the diner staring down the rapidly darkening street. He was twenty minutes early, not because he wanted to be but because his animal didn’t want to wait another minute to be with its mate.

The bell over the door rang as she entered. He could swear he could see a glow around her. The table happened to be farthest from the door, he had not chosen it for that reason but now he was glad he did. It gave him time to study her and appreciate her many assets. Her sundress with tiny red roses all over it wrapped around her body snugly showing off curves in all the right places.

Her smile lit the room, he stood and waited for her.

“Hi,”

“Hi,”

They shared a laugh at their perfect timing. Jaxson waved his hand toward the seat across from him and waited for her to sit first.

“Thank you for the flowers they were beautiful. My secretary made sure to describe you in great detail before she would give them to me. You made quite the impression on her.” Sinead fiddled with the menu, nerves making her voice sound less confident.

“Wait, she gave you the flowers? Those were for her.” For a moment she looked confused until Jaxson laughed, “I’m just kidding, she seemed nice and quite efficient. I thought I was going to be strip searched before she’d let me leave the flowers.”

“She’s not normally like that but we have a client who likes to drop gifts off even though we’ve told him to stop.” She shrugged as she studied the menu.

Jaxson’s animal became instantly alert, “Do you need help? I’d be happy to convince him to stay away.”

Sinead waved him off, “It’s harmless, the guy is very thankful that we won his case that’s all.”

He wasn’t convinced but didn’t want to be seen as a hothead or a Neanderthal needing to protect his woman. He nodded and waited for her to decide what she was going to eat.

***

Three hours flew by before either noticed. Their waitress Lou had hinted at them to pay the check multiple times, they were the last customers in the restaurant and she was ready to go home.

Jaxson noticed a small crumb on the corner of Sinead’s mouth, without thinking he reached forward and brushed it away with his thumb. They stared into each other’s eyes, speaking volumes without opening their mouths.

A loud crash against the window sent them both jolting back. “What the hell?” Jaxson leaned in, a sandwich was stuck against the window. A piece of bologna was creeping down the glass, leaving a mayonnaise trail in its wake.

“Damn teenagers!” Frankie the cook came running out from the kitchen carrying a butcher’s knife. They stared shocked as he ran outside searching both directions for the degenerates that dared deface their business.

“Well, that was definitely a memorable way to end a date.” Jaxson stood and waited for Sinead to stand. “Are you parked nearby, I’ll walk you?”

He prayed she said yes, it was time he tasted her lips. The ever-shrinking part of him that wanted to resist her was terrified. Once they kissed the need to claim her would be impossible to ignore.

“I wouldn’t mind the company, seeing as you kept me out way past my bedtime. Who knows what unsavory characters may be out there.” Static tingled Jaxson’s fingertips as he rested his hand on her lower back and escorted her out.

Sadly, her car was around the corner, the walk depressingly short. His mind was spinning trying to decide the best way to kiss her without grabbing her and yanking her against him like the heathens she had joked about. He was caught by surprise when she spun around and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their eyes met briefly before they each leaned in to close the distance.

Her lips, soft as a rose petal found his, he loved that she wasn’t playing coy. His mate was a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. Their tongues mated while their hands roamed. Aware they were in full view he spun her back against her car and shielded her from anyone who may walk by.

This was the moment poems were written about, these were the seconds that lovers dreamt about. Until you kiss your soul mate you are blissfully unaware how much better everything could be. The tastes, the smells, her sounds were the balm he needed to heal from his past as an unwanted child.

A car alarm in the distance pierced their sensual haze. “Maybe we should have started the date with that instead of ending it.” Sinead blushed as she said it.

Realizing she was about to get in her car and leave it surprised him how much he didn’t want to see her go. “Can we have lunch together tomorrow?”

“That depends.” She gave him a saucy smile, “How do you plan to start and finish it?”

Jaxson’s animal roared inside him, it was thrilled his mate wasn’t an innocent good girl that he was going to have to take his time with. He would go at her speed but something told him she was ready to jump to the finish line. “My apartment is above my office. How about I provide the food and you decide the order of how we start and end our meal?”