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JARCEE ENTERED THE Human Services building downtown and headed toward the receptionist desk. Accustomed to humans staring at him, he waited until the male at the desk stopped gawking.

“Can I um, help you?”

Jarcee glanced at his phone and read the information. “I have an appointment with Mr. Guins.”

“His office is down the hall to the right. I’ll tell him you’re on your way,” he spoke to Jarcee’s back. By the time he reached the office, three people stood by desks.

Jarcee took a deep breath. “Guins?”

“That’s me,” a tall thin, balding man said from a doorway. “Please this way.”

Jarcee entered the small office, glanced at the small chair and crossed his arms. “You asked to see me about the kids in the car the other day?” If it hadn’t been for those kids, Jarcee would not have agreed to come in. But if leaving her kids were a pattern, human or not, those kids might be better off someplace else.

“Yes, yes. Thank you for coming in.” He glanced at Jarcee and then at the inadequate seating. “Can you tell me what happened? What you personally witnessed?” Guins remained standing as well.

Jarcee gave a recounting of that day.

“How long were the kids in the car?”

“Over 20 minutes.” When he added the time he’d been in the parking lot with Razor and his mate with the time the mother appeared, 20 minutes was the lowest number.

Guins asked a few more questions about the boy's behavior, did they look sick? Say anything about their mom or seem afraid? He wrote constantly on an electronic tablet and then read back Jarcee’s answers to make sure he entered them correctly.

“Thank you, Jarcee for coming in. I appreciate it.”

“Will they be going home? To their mom?”

“I’m not sure yet, there are a couple more boxes to be checked, information to gather.” He opened his door.

Jarcee stepped out and headed out the building, his thoughts on his assigned tasks for the day. Her scent reached him before he saw her. The sexy woman from the mall walked toward him in a pair of navy blue tailored trousers, dress shirt, and matching jacket. Her short pixie haircut matched her triangular shaped face and bow shaped lips. His beast rose swiftly, paying attention.

She smiled up at him.

“They called you in too?” She pushed her sunglasses up her nose and looked around. “How long did it take? What did they want to know?”

Jarcee’s immediate arousal surprised him. Her modulated tone soothed his beast. Curious by his response he stared down at her. She was human, he had never been attracted to a human before. “Not long. I’ll wait for you.”

She stared at him. “What?”

“The interview doesn’t take long, I’ll wait outside for you.”

Her lips quirked. “You will? What if I don’t want you to wait for me?”

“Then you’ll tell me not to wait and I won’t.” His beast didn’t like his answer. But Jarcee had been around a long time and understood the dance between women and full-bloods. She was interested.

Her gaze swept over him slowly and then she smiled. “I’ll see you in a few.” She walked off, looked at the building directory and turned down the hall to Guin's office.

Jarcee stared at the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away. His beast pushed for him to go after her. He reined in his emotions and stared at a point on the wall to focus. “Sir?”

“Jarcee? Is everything alright?” Silas asked.

“Yes, I believe I just met my mate.”

“Congratulations! I’m happy for you.” Silas paused. “Human, Breed or Full-blood?”

“Human.” Darker than Mistress, short hair, tall like Shyla, with the body of a Goddess, he thought. His mate. His. That was the only explanation for his beast and his body behaving so irrationally.

“Okay. That’s going to require some special handling.”

“Yes, Sir. I’m at the government building, waiting for her to come out.”

“You’ve talked to her?”

“Yes. Briefly.” He told Silas what was said.

Silas laughed. “You’re a fast learner. I would’ve done the same thing. She can’t escape your wolf but now she’s curious. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re officially relieved from duty until after your mating is complete. Take your time, woo your mate and enjoy. I’ll tell Jasmine and the pups. Let us know if you need anything.”

“Yes, Sir and thank you. I’ll be moving back to my home on the outskirts of town for now.”

“Sounds good, how long has it been since you’ve been there?”

“Almost a year.”

“I’ll have it cleaned and stocked for you. Give the cleaners two hours before bringing your mate there.”

Jarcee hadn’t thought that far but it was a great idea. “Thank you, Sir.”

“Jasmine’s excited and wants to know everything about your mate. What’s her name?”

“I don’t know yet.” He hadn’t thought to ask, neither had she.

Silas laughed.

Jarcee smiled. “I will ask her the next time we talk. Is there anything else Mistress wishes to know?”

Silas responded a few moments later. “What does she do? Has she been married? Does she have kids? Where is she from? Parents still alive? Siblings? If so how many?” He paused. “Are you sure you want Jasmine asking questions? She can go on and on. You’re her favorite so expect her and the kids to be nosy.”

Jarcee had been Mistress’ personal security in the beginning and then later for the pups. For 20 years he watched over them, played ball with Adam, put together puzzles with Jackie, played computer games with David and sat still so Renee could paint him. Lately, he had been honored to accompany Adam overseas to play professional sports. During that tour, Adam met his mate, Bella. They had all returned home when La Patron had gone missing in Honduras.

“I understand and welcome their insight.” He smiled as his mate walked toward him with a sassy grin.

“Thought I’d have to go outside to find you,” she said standing to the side of him.

“I’m not hard to find.”

She looked up at him and shook her head. “No, you’re not. How tall are you?”

“Seven feet. You?”

“Five six barefoot. These heels give me another three inches. I’m Faye.”

“Jarcee. Let’s go talk.” He took her hand and walked toward the exit. Tingles of awareness shot through his arm the moment they touched. His brow rose. No one had told him about that.

He glanced at the top of her head, appreciated her confident stride and the elegant manner she held her head high as if she were royalty.

“Where are you going?” She stopped and pulled her hand free.

“Where is a good place to talk?”

Her lips quirked “You didn’t have a place in mind?”

He hadn’t. The need to remove her from so many males overwhelmed him, that thought dominated his actions. Now that they were outside he could think more rationally. “Wherever you’d like to go is fine with me.”

“Where are you from? Rural America? Grew up on a farm?” she asked glancing up at him.”

He smiled. “No, Faye. I’m originally from Norway but have been here many years.”

“Really? Are there any Black people there?” She crossed her arms and met his gaze.

“Perhaps. I don’t know. It’s been years since I’ve lived there. Does it matter?” Was she one of those people who had problems with skin color? He hoped not because there was nothing that could be done about either of theirs.

“To some people it does,” she said.

“Isn’t it more important what’s on the inside of a person? Integrity, honor, character, heart?” He didn’t understand why humans persisted in creating problems that had no resolution. Why judge a person on something that could not be changed?

She stared at him a few seconds. “Yes. That’s true. And refreshing to learn we agree on something. I hope you mean it.”

“I won’t lie to you.”

“No? You’ll be the first man who didn’t. Let’s be honest, all men lie at some point or another. It’s written in your DNA or something.”

He didn’t appreciate being compared to other men. “I won’t lie to you. In time you’ll believe me.”

She grinned, her face lit up, making her more beautiful. “In time? I just met you. You plan on hanging around? You see us going somewhere with this?”

“Of course. Why else would I want to talk to you, be with you?” He didn’t quite understand her logic but would try.

She stared at him for several moments. “Okay. There’s a place not far from here we can grab something to eat and talk. I only have an hour and a half before I have to go back to work.”

Work. Mistress wanted to know about that. “What do you do?”

“I sell commercial real estate. Well, any kind of real estate but I specialize in commercial.” She handed him her business card. “If you know anyone looking for a commercial lot or building or anything, have them call me. I’m new to the area and building a client list.”

He looked at the card. Faye Larson. “I’ll do that. Do we drive or walk?”

We can walk but since I have to go back to work, let’s drive. I’ll be able to spend a little more time and won’t get sweaty.”  She walked off.

Jarcee watched her hips for several seconds. She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

“I like the view,” he said and followed.

“So do I,” she said watching him veer off to his truck.

Minutes later they pulled in front of a park. Several food truck vendors lined a certain part of the parking lot.

Faye waved for Jarcee to join her. She watched his long, steady stride and smacked her lips. They didn’t make them like this anymore. Tall, literate, fine and sexy as hell. He’d definitely end her dry spell and fit in with her short-term goals perfectly.

“Don’t let the truck fool you,” she told Jarcee as he reached her. “They make the best soul food around.”

“Soul food?” he pushed his sunglasses up his nose and stared down at her waiting for an explanation.

“Just wait and taste. We can eat over there, that bench near the tree.” She pointed to the place she usually sat when she needed to think.

He nodded, stood behind her and didn’t say anything else. When they were at the window, he handed her a $50 bill. “Order for both of us.”

She looked up at him. “Should I order you double?”

He smiled and nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

She placed their orders, paid for them and moments later led him to the bench with him holding the bags with their meals.

“You can put those here in the middle.” She pointed to the bench and pulled out a small, collapsible pad from her over-sized handbag and placed it on the bench. He took out the styrofoam containers and placed them on the pad. She handed him his drink and fork.

They’d been eating steadily, enjoying the smothered chicken, rice, greens, fried plantains and homemade rolls.

“Why me?” she asked the question that had been rolling around her mind. “Why are you interested in me?”

“You smell great.”

Did he really say that? Was he for real? “Really? You like the way I smell.”

“And look. And talk. I’m attracted to you and want to know more about you.”

“I thought it was all about what’s on the inside, everything you just said is external.” Was he just another game player trying to get inside her panties? If so, she’d prefer he be honest and upfront about it.

“I didn’t ask you to marry you,” he said in a dry voice. “I said I wanted to talk. Talking will help me learn who you are. After getting to know you, we can revisit getting married and something more long-term.”

“What? Who mentioned marriage? Not me,” she huffed, embarrassed for jumping the gun. He had said he wanted to talk, she should’ve remembered.

“It’s a logical conclusion after spending a certain amount of time together. I’m not adverse to it when the time is right.” He set aside his first tray and opened the second.

“I think we’re off track here. Marriage isn’t up for discussion, not now or later. I don’t mind dating, getting to know you better and seeing where things lead but I have a lifestyle I enjoy and—”

“Tell me about it?”

Frowning she stared at him. “Why did you cut me off?”

He looked surprised. “I did? I apologize. Please continue.”

Miffed, without understanding why, she tried to regain her momentum, pick up the flag of independence but couldn’t recall what she’d been saying.

“You have a lifestyle you enjoy...” he offered.

Warmth filled her cheeks. “Yes, I enjoy my job, coming and going as I please without answering to anyone. I own my home or will as soon as it closes in a few days. I have my own car.”

He nodded. “This is the lifestyle you prefer? Being alone owning these things?”

“Who said I’m alone?” Did he think she couldn’t get a man? That she was desperate or something?

He inhaled and looked at her with those gorgeous dark green eyes. “When I say alone, I mean there’s no one special person in your life. Is that a good definition for you?”

Unsure where this was going, she nodded.

“You don’t have anyone in your life right now. Are you interested in changing that?” he asked.

She shrugged. “If I met the right person, sure I’d be interested.”

“I’m the right person.” He said it with so much confidence it didn’t sound cocky or lame. It was sexy as hell.

Pleased, she smiled. “That remains to be seen, Jarcee. Tell me about you. What do you do?”

“I’m on vacation right now but I work in Security. I also own my home and car.” He winked.

“Vacation? Are you going out of town?” She hoped not, he sounded perfect for now and she’d like to spend some time with him. Who was she kidding, she wanted him in bed or against the wall or in a chair, as long as he scratched the itch that increased with every second they were together.

“How can I go out of town? I just met you?”

Butterflies filled her belly as she smiled what was probably a goofy grin. This one was trouble, she wasn’t sure how long she’d be here. The company might send her somewhere else but for now, she’d enjoy every day she could with this sexy, sweet-talking giant.