I laughed. “Salem? No way. Not with all the witch history.”
“I know, I know. Anyway, be open-minded and give it time. If I left during the awkward beginning, I never would have met my mate and wife, Zoe.” The smile that seemed to linger on his face vanished. “And that would have been the biggest tragedy of my life.”
My bear perked up at the mention of the word mate, and I pictured Pandora. This would have been the perfect opportunity to bring it up. But Pandora was his boss. Anything I said to Lucas could get right to her. After all, she was the one who arranged for us to meet. I better watch what I say, lest it bite me in my furry ass.
I’d have to leave my questions about mates aside while I figured out how to broach it. But I could learn more about the witch next door who fascinated me. I tried to steer the discussion back to her. “Thanks for showing me around, Lucas. Does Pandora often ask you to do stuff like this?”
He cocked his head. “No.” His expression lightened with a questioning look. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”
“I wish,” I said before I could censor myself.
“Ohhhh.” Lucas’s eyes bulged wide as if I’d revealed the most salacious gossip in town.
I groaned. “Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I blew any chance with her when we went out for dinner the other night? Did you hear about the disaster?”
“No, man. What happened?” Lucas leaned forward as if thrilled to hear more. “Pandora tends to keep her private life private.”
Then I definitely better watch what I say. “Some clumsiness on my part in the restaurant followed by a minor fender bender on the way home. Nothing serious, and no one was hurt.”
“That’s good.” Lucas then winced. “Clumsiness, it happens around women—well, the right women.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was working as an exotic dancer when I met Zoe. I’d been trying to impress her with my moves, not knowing she was only there on an investigation. When my dragon scented her, he knew she was the one. It knocked me off balance, and I almost fell on her. Luckily, she scooted out of the way before I crushed her.”
“Oh, wow.” I chuckled. “That almost makes spilling a beer and dessert on Pandora and a car accident minor in comparison.”
“Nah, yours is worse,” he teased with a lopsided grin.
“So… what’s she like?” My fishing for more info was utterly unsmooth, but it was out there.
“Oh, she’s great. I never realized how much was missing in my life until I met her.” His gaze wandered off with a moony expression. “I was simply living in the moment, in a totally superficial way, but now I realize how things are deeper. Life has more meaning.”
My brows drew closer together. “Wait, what?” I blinked. “You and Pandora?”
“No.” He glanced at me like I was nuts. “I’m talking about Zoe.”
“Oh.” I shook my head as if rattling the clueless chains loose. “Right.”
Lucas grinned at me with a knowing look and tapped his chin. “Pandora’s great. She’s super smart and dedicated to the job, determined to do things right, and she cares about everyone. When it comes to her personal life, she’s more private. I know she lives with three cats and loves animals. She’s fostered some and volunteered at a cat shelter. She even took care of my cat Shadow while I was on my honeymoon with Zoe.”
I smiled to myself when I thought of how I’d showed up at her back door with my cat. Maybe that wasn’t the most awkward of introductions after all.
Still, Lucas didn’t tell me much more about Pandora and mentioned how she kept to herself. Did she let anyone in? Had she ever?
What about me? Did I stand a chance?
If I learned anything from this conversation, it was to stick with my first blunder, which might turn out to be an asset after all.
Woo her through her cats.
CHAPTER10
LUCAS
After I returned home from hanging out with Austin, the gears in my noggin started to churn. I turned to Zoe who was cuddled against me as we watched an episode ofUnsolved Mysteries.She was, of course, determined to solve them.
“Hey babe, I’ve been thinking. I know that’s rare and all,” I teased and tapped my head. “I want to run something by you.”
