Throughout the drive home, Bridget debated whether to invite Turner up to her apartment. He had been attentive, even held her hand on occasion, but she wasn't sure he was planning on taking it any further than that.

A novelty, for sure. It had been ages since she'd gone out with a man who didn't want to get her in bed right away.

The question was whether Turner was being a gentleman or just not interested. With his poker face and lack of emotional scents, she had nothing to rely on. Even her female intuition wasn't working.

Her dilemma was solved when Turner escorted her inside the lobby of her building.

"Thank you for a most enjoyable evening." He leaned and kissed her cheek.

That didn't sound like a man waiting for an invitation.

"I had a good time. Thank you," she said a little too cheerfully, trying not to show her disappointment.

He smiled. "It's my turn to invite you on a date. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I don't know. Let me check my schedule." She pretended to pull out her phone. "Just kidding. What do you have in mind?"

"We can check out another restaurant. How about Thai? Or sushi? I meant to ask you about your food preferences, but the conversation veered in another direction."

"A most interesting one." Bridget hesitated for a few seconds before plowing ahead. "How about you come to my place, and I cook us dinner?"

Turner seemed surprised. "I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. I'm sure you have better things to do than cook."

Ugh. Was he being polite, or was he trying to avoid being alone with her?

He was heterosexual and unattached. There was no reason for his reluctance. Good thing that she was a confident woman who knew she was attractive.

Could he simply be asexual?

Again, his lack of scent was extremely frustrating. Bridget hated the ambiguity of the situation.

"Let me worry about the food preparation, Victor. Is it a yes, or a no?"

He smoothed his palm over his bald head. "Yes, of course, it's a yes. I would love to."

"Good. Tomorrow at seven." She gave him a deliberate once over. "Casual attire."

"Yes, ma'am."

Bridget put a hand on his shoulder and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Good night, Victor."

"Good night, Bridget." He stayed outside the guard station and watched her until she turned the corner into the elevator bay.

Had she imagined it, or had he sounded a bit breathless after she'd kissed him?

Damn it, she needed to talk to someone who knew things about human males' behavior, or she wouldn't be able to sleep. Calling Andrew was out of the question. Nathalie would get suspicious. And talking to her was no good since Andrew had been her first and only boyfriend.

Which left Syssi. Or Callie.

As a waitress, Callie met a lot of people. Besides, she was more outgoing than Syssi, and her temperament was more similar to Bridget's.

The question was whether Callie was working tonight. Brundar wanted her to take it easy and chill at home, but Callie had insisted on going back to work.

Good for her.

Bridget pulled out her phone and texted her newest friend in the keep. Are you free for some girl talk?

The answer came right away. Always. When and where?

Can you come to my place in half an hour?

I'll be there.

Back in her apartment, Bridget took off her new sexy dress and put on a pair of comfy sweatpants and a loose T-shirt, then cleaned the makeup from her face and gathered her hair in a ponytail.

It had felt good to dress up, but even better to dress down.

Perhaps she should invite Syssi as well? Get another woman's perspective? But if she invited Syssi, she had to invite Amanda as well.

Heck, why not.

Amanda had never been a human, but she interacted with enough of them at the university. She might have learned a thing or two.

It had been a long time since Bridget had invited friends over. In fact, ever since she'd broken up with Daniel, she'd been living like a recluse. It had been so disappointing to realize there was no way he was a Dormant, and that her initial infatuation with him had been more about their shared interest in medicine and physical attraction than a real connection.

She'd been so starved for companionship that she had convinced herself they'd had something special when in fact they hadn't.

People in love couldn't stay away from each other, and she wasn't even referring to truelove mates. All over the globe, regular human couples were experiencing that initial hot flare. The fact that She and Daniel had been so comfortable in their long-distance relationship should have been her first clue

"Knock, knock," Amanda announced, opening the door without actually knocking.

Behind her, Syssi rolled her eyes. "For months, I'm trying to teach her to knock before coming in, and that's what she does." She waved a hand at her sister-in-law.

"Why knock when we were expected?" Amanda said on her way to the kitchen.

Syssi snorted, "As if not being expected ever stopped you."

Amanda ignored her and walked over to the stove. "I'm putting the kettle on for tea. Callie doesn't like coffee."

Callie, who'd just stepped out of another elevator, knocked on the open door. "I wasn't expecting a party."

"I'll make the coffee," Syssi volunteered.

"Should I get snacks?" Callie asked.

Bridget patted her shoulder. "I have a better idea. Anyone want ice cream?"

Amanda sauntered out of the kitchen. "Ice cream means men trouble."

"I'll tell you all about it once everyone is seated." Bridget opened the freezer and checked her ice cream supply. There was an unopened container of coffee-flavored Häagen- Dazs, and one of Butter-Pecan she'd already eaten about a quarter of.

"Okay, girl, we are all dying from curiosity. Talk!" Amanda commanded as soon as the coffee and tea were served along with the ice-cream.

"I don't know what to think," she said after telling them about her date with Turner. "A human who doesn't emit any emotional scents is a mystery to me. I don't know how to read him. Heck, I don't know if he is even attracted to me. That kiss on the cheek was demoralizing. I haven't been dropped at the door like that since the fifties."

"Maybe he is shy?" Syssi suggested. "There is a lot of pressure on guys to be the ones to initiate. But then with everything that is going on now, I wouldn't be surprised if men were too scared to do anything without getting a written invitation, preferably witnessed and notarized."

Callie nodded. "On the one hand, it is good that women are no longer afraid to come out and say they don't like all those unsolicited come-ons, especially when declining could mean unpleasant repercussions. But on the other hand, decent men are too scared to initiate anything. Where is the middle ground?"

Amanda shrugged. "Simple. Two strikes and you're out. One come-on is not grounds for anything, but a second one after the first one was declined is. Women will have to be more decisive. No more 'let see how far he is willing to chase me if I keep saying no.' It needs to be either a definite yes or a no."

"I agree," Bridget said. "But I didn't invite you over to discuss current events. You are here to give me advice. Especially the ex-humans. You had to deal with men without the benefit of scenting their emotions. How did you know if a guy was interested in you or not? If he found you attractive or not? What does it mean when a man kisses you on the cheek but then asks you for another date?"

"It means that you are important to him," Syssi said. "He is treading carefully because he doesn't want to make a mistake and blow his chances with you."

Amanda waved a hand. "I think he is playing hard to get. He wants you to chase him. Some guys get off on that."

"Callie?" Bridget asked. "What do you think?"

Callie sighed. "It can be what Syssi said, or what Amanda said, or it could be something else. Maybe he wants to get to know you better before getting close because he's been hurt in the past."

"Or he might be trying to manipulate you," Amanda said. "After all, he needs you to approve his transition request."

The thought had crossed Bridget's mind. A man like Victor Turner, a gifted strategist, would come up with the best plan to make her say yes to his transition. Perhaps he was still in the research stage of his plan, and therefore treading carefully as Syssi had said. Bridget was indeed important to him, but not in a romantic sense.

Did it change anything?

Not really. She was still fascinated by him and not willing to give up on him just because he had ulterior motives.

Victor was not her truelove match. She didn't need his devotion or his declaration of undying love. All she wanted was to enjoy his company for as long as their fling lasted.

To hope for more was not only unrealistic, but an invitation to heartache.