Prince snapped his head back to look and then quickly stood up. The woman’s eyes were glued to him, and he bowed slightly, holding the elevator door open for Kat while giving her a punishing glance.
She sauntered out and petted the little dog on the head as they passed. The old woman unabashedly gawked at them, and it amused Kat how easily humans were offended by such trivial innuendoes.
Her back straightened like an arrow when Prince placed his hand against the curve of her spine.
“You’re mischievous, Kat.”
“Don’t try to pretend that wasn’t funny,” she said, pointing back at the elevators. “There’s nothing better in life than someone getting the wrong idea. Didn’t you ever watchThree’s Company? Oh wait, you don’t watch television. See what you’re missing?”
He veered her toward the right. “I’ll drive.”
Kat took one look at his Audi and chortled. Prince was definitely not a low-end-model kind of guy. “Yeah, we’re not going to stand outat all. So where are we going to meet contestant number one?”
“His apartment.”
She stopped in front of his car and looked up at him, the sun shining in her eyes. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Coffee shops and bars are always safer bets, especially with guys who are into flesh trading. What if he has a myriad of helpers in there ready to pounce and put me up for sale?”
Prince rested his hands on her shoulders, giving her a pensive stare. “Then I’ll protect you.”
His words penetrated down to her feet, giving her the kind of reassurance and feeling of being protected that only an alpha could.
Kat bit into the end of her pickle, the crunch tearing through the awkward silence. “Like last night? You almost crushed me to death. Although watching you flip over that table was a little gallant and raised a few hairs on my arms. Do you carry a weapon?”
“Iam the weapon.”
Kat sucked on the tip of the pickle and then smiled. “Good answer, Charming. Are you going to open the car door for me like a gentleman, or would you rather watch me slide over the hood and climb in through the window? Either way, I’m good.”
He spun on his heel and rounded the car. Kat followed close behind, her grin widening. Not many men looked as good going as they did coming, but Prince had a masculine swagger she couldn’t ignore. She wondered if he was kidding about being the weapon, but men his age didn’t crack jokes very often. Either way, remarks like that made her want to figure him out.
Prince gingerly lifted the handle of the door, and she tossed the remainder of her pickle on the curb and got in.
“No one should be that good-looking,” she mused quietly, watching him walk around the front of the car. His seemingly innocuous gaze made her warm all over, and his eyes were predatory, humbling her with centuries of experience. That man was like a walking powder keg.
When Prince got in and shut the door, he gave her a cursory glance. “Why didn’t you toss out that garment?”
“This?” she asked, tugging on the flannel threads. “I kind of like it. It keeps everything concealed better, and I don’t just mean my breasts.”
“Are you armed?”
She reclined the seat back a few inches and stretched her legs. “Iamthe weapon,” she replied with a playful smirk. “What’s good to eat around this town?”
He started the car and merged into traffic. “I know a few restaurants that will find us a space quickly.”
Kat pulled down her visor to shield her eyes from the blinding sun reflecting off a mirrored building. “No, thanks. I like grab-and-go food. So… how many Breeds live in Austin? I’ve never really gone out and immersed myself in the local culture. Nadia says she loves it here because of the eclectic atmosphere, but it’s all new to me.”
“We have more Shifters than most cities,” he began. “Here you have the best of both worlds: plenty of land for packs to purchase and close to a big city. Many young humans are drawn to the live music, barbecue, and nightlife; it’s a place where differences are celebrated. Naturally, we blend in.”
She flipped one of the shoelaces around where she’d crossed her foot over her knee. “Swell. My kind of town. Packs or rogues?”
He pulled a pair of mirrored sunglasses out and slipped them on. “An abundance of each. Enough to keep the Council busy.”
Kat squinted from the bright sun. The used-car lots and Mexican restaurants alongside the road drew her attention away, as did the man on the unicycle. Every so often they’d pass a homeless man lying in the grass, or someone holding up a sign advertising gold exchange.
“Do you consort with other Breeds much?” Prince asked.
Kat wondered about that statement. What hereallywanted to know was what kind of men were in her dating pool. Mating outside your Breed was frowned upon, although most dated other Breeds once or twice out of curiosity. To be honest, Kat didn’t have an interest in dating men who weren’t Shifters. Most Chitahs didn’t like her dangerous profession and were always trying to defend her honor. Sweet, but a little embarrassing for a bounty hunter. Vampires were another story. They had the ability to charm people into doing things with a form of hypnotism, so Kat didn’t trust Vamps as far as she could throw them. She’d dated a Mage once, and he was a decent guy, but the sex was too weird since he couldn’t touch her. They’d get charged up with energy during sex, making their hands deadly weapons—except with another Mage. Kat really didn’t want to explore the world of electrocution by sex, so she took them off the menu.
It’s not that her lovers had been bad, but few met her needs and most of the time she could have placed bets on when the sex was going to happen. Kat lived a spontaneous life, so planned sex had zero appeal. And it’s not like they had an itinerary, but after splurging on an expensive dinner and telling her about nine hundred times how sexy she was, intercourse was always an expectation.
