“But you’re wearing a sport coat.”
“If I had a sweater like that, I wouldn’t. Come on. This steak house is brand new and I was really lucky to get the reservation.Rumor has it, they have a policy that if you miss your reservation time, they put you on a list and you cannot come again for a year.”
“Brand new and they are doing that?” He tsked. “I’m not sure I want to give them our business.”
“They have booths with curtains for privacy, and I reserved one.”
“Well, maybe we’ll give them one try.”
The atmosphere when we walked inside made me think they could get away with the reservation rules. It was like a place from a movie with flocked wallpaper, deep carpets, and the curtained booths. The host led us to the table, pulled the curtain back, and, once we slid into the plush seat, tugged the curtain closed. “Your cocktail server will be right with you,” he said from outside our little cocoon.
“I’ve heard of places like this,” Altan said, “but I thought it was a fairy tale. If the food is good, it’s going to star in my dreams.”
A few minutes later, we placed a cocktail order and both went with martinis because the place was from another era. The regular server showed up with menus and a smile, recited the specials, and then disappeared again.
“Didn’t he want our order?” Altan asked, whispering again.
“Yes, but in places like this, they don’t want the patrons to feel rushed. Plus, who knows what we might be getting up to in our privacy booth.”
“Ohh, what?” Altan flung himself at me. “I guess they are giving us time to make out.”
“If that’s what you want to do, omega, I’m there.” I wrapped my arms around him, pulled him close, and kissed him. After what seemed like seconds, but probably wasn’t, I heard the clearing of a throat nearby. “I think it’s our server again.”
“He needs to get a life.”
“Maybe after he takes our order. Do you know what you want?”
He didn’t, but then neither did I, so we asked for a recommendation and both ended up with thick, juicy rib eyes. My bear liked getting time alone with his mate and meat on the same day. Thin fried potatoes and creamed spinach completed the plate, with a small basket of fresh-baked rolls and one of those raw vegetable vases they used to have in the 1950s on the side. Between courses we necked as anyone would do who found themselves with their hot mate behind a privacy curtain.
They had to open it so we could make selections from the dessert cart, something else I’d seen in old movies but never in person. We took small servings of several types of dessert like chocolate cake and tiny crepes in orange sauce which were flamed for our enjoyment. Tiny cups of espresso finished the meal.
By the time we left the place, we were drunk but not on martinis. On very good food and romance. I had planned on bringing up the bear thing in the restaurant, but I decided to hold off until we got back to my place where we’d have more privacy than just a curtain.
The bear was even more impatient, but he was about to be revealed to the omega, so he’d just have to hang in there for a little bit. The drive home under starry skies continued the mood, and we walked, arms linked up to my front door. I had to fish for my keys in my pocket. Back in the day when cars were operated by actual keys, my ring would have been in my hand, but now, all I had to do was have the fob on my person somewhere. I really needed a door like that for the house. If they made them. I’d check. Once we got inside, I closed the door behind us.
“Thank you for the best dinner ever.” Altan flung his arms around my neck and kissed me. “You’re the best alpha ever, too.”
“Thank you. That’s the only prize I’d ever want to win, and only if you were awarding it.” Wanting to settle in and enjoy the moment, I was still far too aware of my bear lurking, waiting, expectant. It wasn’t fair for him not to be part of our mate’s life. And until he knew about and accepted him, we could never be complete.
I wore his mark; he wore my tattoo… How many times had I said that in my head? As if trying to convince myself it was enough. My bear was right. It was not enough, even if it was wonderful. I wanted it all, and my mate deserved to know what kind of relationship he’d be in if he chose us. Us. My bear was willing to accept our fated even though he didn’t have a counterpart in it. So…yeah.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked. “Before we sit down?”
“Sitting?” He bumped my nose with his playfully. “I was hoping for more than that.”
“We need to talk.”
Altan took a big step back. “That sounds bad. Are you breaking up with me? Why didn’t you just take me home, then? Never mind, I’ll walk.” He turned toward the door, but I caught his arm and brought him back to face me.
“Omega, nothing could be further from the truth. I do not want to end what is between us, but until you know everything about me… Well, will you please sit on the couch?”
He let me lead him over, but settled with a good foot of space between us. I hated the wariness in his expression. Then, it faded, to be replaced with determination. “Go ahead. Tell me…you’re not sick, are you? Because if you are, I’m here for you. Anything that’s wrong, we can fix together, somehow.”
“I am perfectly well. But I don’t even know how Fate put you in my life. You’re so much more than I deserve. But I guess it’stime to trust that it will all work out. Do humans, that is, do you believe in fated mates?”
“Is that like soul mates? Wait…humans? What are you saying? You aren’t an alien, are you? That might explain why you’re so wonderful because the alphas I’ve dated before were anything but.”
“Not an alien.” I drew in the deepest breath of my life and let it out with the words, “A shifter.”
