Chapter Two
From behind the bar, Sisu observed as Kara, the waitress, approached the table where his mate and her companion sat. The man gestured widely and spoke in a loud voice while ordering. His woman didn’t move. When Kara spoke to her, she barely replied with a shake of her head.
Sisu frowned. Why was she so afraid? Did her friend, or whatever he was, scare her? The atmosphere in the building? Something else? He had to find out.
“Lee, take over the bar, will you?”
His friend’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “What are you going to do?”
“Relax. Nothing crazy. I’m just going to take a closer look,” Sisu said, grinning mischievously.
Lee scratched his neck and pursed his lips. Finally, he nodded. “But you’re going to have to pay me extra for this.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Sisu waved him off and followed Kara into the kitchen. He tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around to face him. Sisu blinked. No matter how many times he spoke to the owl shifter, the intensity in her large azure eyes always threw him off.
“Mr. Virtanen, how are you?” she said.
“I’m okay, Kara. However, if you don’t mind, I’ll deliver the order to that table you were just seeing to.”
“Um, sure.” Kara shrugged.
“Don’t worry, if they leave any tips, I’ll pass them on to you.”
She flashed her pearly whites. “Thank you, sir.”
“Table Four,” someone called from within the kitchen.
“That’s yours,” Kara said. “I’ll bring them their drinks.”
Sisu picked up the order of spicy wings, nachos, and onion rings. He straightened his spine and carefully balanced the tray on his hand. He hadn’t done this in years, however, it appeared waitressing was like bike riding: one never forgot how to do it.
He approached the table, sweat trickling down his back. His mouth dried and his pulse quickened. If she hadn’t noticed him earlier, she’d definitely see him now. What thoughts would run through her mind? Would she find him as appealing as he found her?
He sniffed the air. He still couldn’t figure out what she was. She didn’t smell completely human. Something was off, different. Goosebumps broke over his flesh. His wolf whimpered. Whatever it was, it drove him insane. He had to have her.
“Yes, we’re here. Yes. I’ve ordered some food for all of us. Hope you guys like chicken.” The man spoke loudly into the phone. Sisu cocked his head. The conversation continued. “Do you have what I need? Yes, yes, I know. Yes, of course May is here, too.”
May.
That was her name. Spring, life, blossoms, fresh rain showers. Everything he loved. He looked toward her. Their gazes locked. His heart somersaulted.
“About time. I’m starving.”
The man’s voice broke the spell. May turned away. Sisu fought to breathe. She was delectable. He could picture himself drowning in her gaze, watching the sparks in her eyes flicker while he contemplated her with a love which would know no boundaries.
The man took a sip of his beer and banged the mug against the tabletop. Sisu’s growl stuck in the back of his throat.
Easy now.
Hands shaking, he managed to place everything on the wooden surface without spilling. Now what? He didn’t want to go back to the bar. He wanted to speak to his mate. To hold her. Take her home with him.
He glanced at May. Her cheeks flushed a delightful rose. She appeared flustered and he realized perhaps she had been staring at him too. Elation pumped through his veins. He took a step in her direction. She gasped and jumped in her seat, accidentally knocking over her drink in the process.
Her date started to shout expletives, but Sisu ignored him, focusing on May. She had stood up and was frantically digging into her purse, while repeatedly apologizing.
Her long hair covered her face, but the sound of her voice traveled straight to his cock. It reminded him of a summer breeze caressing his fur, of the sunshine warming his flesh.
“It’s all right.” He touched her elbow, hoping to ease her worry. Instead, she scampered backward as if he’d burned her.
“Sorry. Here,” she whispered. Visibly trembling, she offered him a pack of tissues.
Sisu reached for it. Their fingers brushed, but this time she didn’t run from it. He rubbed his thumb across her satiny skin. His pulse skipped. Adrenaline whizzed through his system. He never wanted to stop touching her.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Cory, no,” May said, pulling away from him.
Sisu whirled around. The petty human lifted his hands in a peaceful gesture, but hatred showed openly on his face.
“I wasn’t going to do anything, May, just ask this waiter to finish cleaning up this mess.”
“Of course,” Sisu snapped. The tissues crumpled in his fist. “Her drinks are on the house. I’ll get someone to take care of this.”
Sisu strode back to the bar. He asked Kara to take care of the mess, grabbed a bottle of tequila and a shot glass, and poured himself some. He downed it in one go. He was about to go for another round when Lee stopped him.
“She’s looking at you, you know?”
“What?” Sisu glanced over his head. “No, she’s not.”
Lee burst out laughing.
“What the fuck are you laughing about?”
“You. You should have seen your face. I swear, for an instant you glowed.” Lee chuckled.
“Lee, one day, you’ll be in my position and I will be the one laughing.”
“I don’t think so, because unlike you, I can flirt. Damn, what you did back there was a disgrace to humanity.”
“Lee,” Sisu warned.
The shifter grinned and released the bottle of alcohol.
“Maybe drinking will help you loosen up, or ruin everything.”
Damn cat was always right. Sisu capped the bottle and returned it to the shelf. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. People were coming inside. His eyes widened.
“Lee, we’ve got company.”