“Not connected with his wolf ...that’s unusual, right?”
“Aye.I mean, my parents and gran were wolves and taught me, so I can’t imagine his own father wouldn’t have taught him.Families keep young pups close because there’s been a ban on packs for eons.”
“Not all of us are lucky enough to have a family member to help ease a transition.”
She glanced at him sharply.It almost sounded like he painted himself as a shifter, but she didn’t scent a duality to his soul.Maybe he was just an empathic sympathizer.
“You think I should talk to him,” she concluded.
“Definitely.What have you got to lose?Or perhaps I should ask, what do you have to gain?”
They reached the coffee shop, and they stopped.She let go of his arm and smiled at him.
“Thanks for the talk,” she said.“Would you like a coffee?My treat.”
“Not today, but thanks.”He smiled at her.“My bartender psychology is free.Ciao, my friend.”
With a wave of his hand, he continued down the street.She watched him for a moment before entering the coffee shop where Keegan was helping a customer.Another person waited in line, so Mairi rushed to help.For the rest of the day, Asher’s wisdom played on repeat through her head.
****
When the coffee shopclosed and she stepped out, Tavish stood there, waiting for her.Her heartbeat sped up as happiness bloomed, and she tried to suppress it by reminding herself that maybe he really doesn’t want her, just the moon-fated mate that sprung his alpha out.Still, when he pulled a single red rose from behind his back, she was mesmerized by the sexual warmth radiating from his eyes.He held the rose out to her, and she took it, noticing that the thorns had all been removed.
“Thank you,” she said as the sweet scent tickled her nose.Their gazes met, and the entire world around them disappeared.
“May I escort you to our date?”
He held out his elbow in a gentlemanly way.Charmed, she took hold of the crux and they headed to the diner.
“I see the black eye is gone.”
“Word spread quickly.”
“It often does in a small community.”
“It wasn’t even a fight.Just clearing up some information.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, clearly not buying what he was selling.
“How about I promise no more punches if you tell me everything about yourself.”
“Everything?”She decided to let the fight go.Although she should be mad that the two of them fought over her, she couldn’t help but be a little honest and admit she was flattered.Maybe Tavish was really starting to accept the mate bond.“Well, I’ll warn you.I’m boring.Probably one of the most boring people you’ll ever meet.”
“That I highly doubt.How about I start?”
She glanced up at him.“All right.”
“I do nothing but work,” he said.“My life has revolved around the company my grandfather started, and in the three years I’ve had total control, we’ve gone from a multimillion profit margin to just over a billion this past quarter.”
Her eyes widened.“Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what type of company is it?”
He glanced at her in confusion.“You don’t know?”
She shook her head.“Nae, sorry.”
“Mergers and acquisitions,” he replied.“I consolidate companies through the sale of assets or stock.Basically, I create revenue and cost synergies, plus I expand into new markets and acquire new technologies and talent when I think it’s a valuable commodity.”
“I’ll be honest,” she mused.“All of that went right over my head, but you speak so passionately about it.You enjoy what you do?”
