She thought he was just playing along. Pretending to be obsessed with her in order to mislead the kids, like she’d asked.
A strange giddiness filled him. There was no need for caution. She hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might truly be her mate. He could stare at her with all the aching hunger in his heart, and she would have no idea it wasn’t a lie.
He could never touch her, never claim her… but at least he could look.
Before, he’d done his best to act as though he hadn’t even noticed her body. Now he drank in the sight of her greedily, lingering over every inch like a connoisseur savoring a fine wine.
He wanted to memorize every detail. The tanned curve of her calves, soft yet strong. Her rounded hips, which his hands ached to hold. The way her long golden braid flicked when she nodded; the concerned crinkle in her forehead as she listened to yet another counselor…
She was listening to alotof counselors, he realized. He remembered her saying that as the head counselor, she couldn’t set foot in public without being swarmed by staff members with problems. At the time, he’d assumed she’d been exaggerating.
If this was anything like her typical day, she clearly had not. The instant she finished speaking with one counselor, another appeared with some new question or concern. He knew for a fact that she hadn’t sat down all morning, but she didn’t show the slightest sign of impatience or fatigue. She welcomed each counselor with the same warm, inviting smile, giving them her full attention.
As he watched, she patted the latest petitioner on theshoulder, murmuring something. Looking much happier, the other counselor went back to her pack, leaving Leonie momentarily alone.
I could go over to her.
It was a tempting thought. He had the perfect excuse now, after all. The children would expect him to seek out his mate’s company at every opportunity. Leonie would assume he was just trying to mislead them.
Still, he held back. Much as he wanted to steal every minute with her he could, this was the first moment she’d had to herself. She wouldn’t want to be interrupted yet again.
Leonie looked around, as if expecting yet another counselor with an urgent problem to pop up at her elbow. Finding no-one waiting in line, her expression shifted to one of distinct relief.
Tucking her clipboard under her arm, Leonie headed for the coffee pots that the kitchen staff had set out for the counselors. She managed a whole two steps before a young man scrambled up from a nearby table to intercept her. Blocking her path, he launched into what seemed to be a pre-prepared speech, gesturing animatedly with his hands.
Leonie cast a brief, rather longing look at the coffee. Then she was all attention, listening to her colleague’s monologue as if she had all the time in the world.
Shan watched for a few minutes. Then he went over to the coffee pot, poured a fresh cup, and added a generous splash of cream. Mug in hand, he headed for Leonie.
“Yes, I know you’ve already set the activity schedule for next week,” the man was saying as Shan quietly came up behind him. “But I really think that a softball tournament would?—”
Shan’s shadow fell across him. The young man casually glanced round, then up. He made a strangled sound, stuttering to a halt.
“Shan!” Leonie said, with a rather gratifying level of enthusiasm. “Sorry, Don. Hold that thought for a moment. Did you need something, Shan?”
“No.” He handed her the mug. “But you looked like you did.”
“You’re an angel.” She took a grateful sip. “Just the way I like it, too. Thanks.”
The man she’d been talking to cleared his throat pointedly. “As I was saying?—”
“Can it wait?” Shan interrupted.
From Don’s expression, he wasn’t used to people talking over him. “Excuse me?”
“Can it wait?” Shan repeated in the same flat, level tones.
Don drew himself up in indignation. “Now, look here. Leonie and I have important business to discuss. If you want to speak to her, you’ll just have to?—”
Shan looked at him.
“Uh.” Don swallowed hard, stepping back. “Yes. Yes, it definitely could.”
“Truth,” Shan murmured as Don fled. He moved to Leonie’s side, close enough to deter anyone else who might be thinking of interrupting. “Sit down and drink your coffee. I’ll stand guard.”
Leonie gave him an exasperated look but allowed him to guide her to an empty bench. “You didn’t have to drive him off like that.”
“No.” Since he had no doubt someone would try to join her if he didn’t, he sat as well. “You could have told him he was interrupting your break, and that you’d talk to him later. Why didn’t you?”
