Cassandra clasped her hands. “You have a date!”
I spread both hands to the side and shook my head. “No, it’s just a thank you. We’re neighbors. We already established it’snota date.”
“It sounds like it could be.” Cassandra’s eyes brightened with speculation. “Is he hot?”
I pictured his warm eyes that got all crinkly and twinkled when he smiled. “He’s good looking,” I admitted. “But he’s also alotyounger than me. Like ten years.”
“That’s nothing,” she dismissed. “Age is just a number.”
Lucas appeared in the doorway with Zoe catching up right beside him.
“Did I just hear what IthinkI heard?” Lucas asked. “You have a date, Pandora?”
Crap. My cheeks burned. I should have closed the door before telling Cassandra about this, but she’d been so loud that half of Salem might have heard about my evening plans.
“It’s a non-romantic dinner with my neighbor who moved in next door,” I clarified.
“Suffering snapdragons,” Lucas exclaimed. “I haven’t heard you mention a man since we met.” He cocked his head. “Or is it a woman?”
I pursed my lips and blinked. “I repeat, it isnota date. He’s taking me out to dinner to thank me for watching his cat.”
“Oh, the ol’please-help-me-with-my-pettrick.” Lucas flashed his signature lopsided grin.
“What?” I asked. “Is that a thing?”
Lucas snorted. “Could be.” He shrugged. “I’m sure there are plenty of guys who use their pets as a ploy. You know, walking a cute puppy in the park to pick up women.”
Was that what had happened? Had Austin made the whole thing up as a ruse? “We’re just neighbors,” I said.
Lucas nodded and flashed a knowing look. “Right, I get it. Neighbors with benefits could be a good thing. A fun thing.”
“Absolutely not,” I replied. Although the image in my mind wasn’t unpleasant.
His mate Zoe, an elf detective, nudged his biceps. “Lucas… Inappropriate, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “What? We’re all adults here. And adults like to partake in physical activities, especially without clothing.” He grinned.
Great cauldrons of fire. We weren’t going to go there, were we? Lucas had been an exotic dancer and likely knew far more about sexuality than I wanted to know.
I picked up my mug. “Conversation is over.” As I returned to my office, the heat burning my cheeks rivaled the steam rising from my tea.
If they knew about my past, they’d understand why I was not interested in getting serious with anyone ever again. Love could only bring you pain.
AUSTIN
Ever since I’d convinced Pandora to go out to dinner with me tonight, I couldn’t stop thinking about the evening ahead. It didn’t help that my bear kept insisting she was the one, our mate, despite my attempts to get him to calm down by reminding him,We don’t even know her.
After tonight, I hoped that would change. I’d been racking my brain trying to think of somewhere we could go to dinner. Since I was a newcomer here, I didn’t know the best restaurants nearby. I also didn’t want to come on too strong with a super romantic vibe. After all, I said dinner was just a courtesy for a favor, nothing romantic.
I walked to Pandora’s front door and rang the bell. When she answered, she greeted me with a warm smile and hello.
She wore a sleeveless, black tunic and burgundy skirt. Her dark hair was down over her shoulders and black eyeliner accented her blue eyes, which made them look even brighter against her dark shirt.
My bear clamored for me to get closer, and I instinctively inhaled her scent. Like jasmine and honey. Excitement rushed through my veins, leaving my mouth dry. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She stepped outside and closed the front door.
“My chariot’s right there.” I pointed to my car in our adjacent driveways.
