“By the way, does the Curana know now what was going on?” Alex glanced at his watch, frowning when he saw the time.

“I introduced Spence to Chloe and Emma at the same time. We stopped by Wallflowers and they bonded over tea and my assholeness.”

Alex chuckled. “Good. I need to go. Tabby’s expecting me. She’s got a doctor’s appointment.” Alex shook Jim’s hand again. “We’re watching you.”

Aw, that hit him right in the feels.

“Ditto.” Ryan shook hands too. “I need to call Glory and let her know we’re on our way back.” Already he’d pulled his cell phone from his pocket, a worried expression on his face.

“How are the panic attacks?” Glory had relapsed after being shot, the panic attacks that she’d suffered through in her late teens returning with a vengeance. Chloe told him she was doing better, but he wanted to hear it from Ryan as well.

“She’s doing better, but it will take time to get them back under control.” Alex was already striding toward his car. “We’ll see you at the family dinner on Sunday.”

Jim blinked. They would? “Okay.”

“Bring Spencer.” Ryan smiled, his phone to his ear as he followed after Alex. “Hey, SG. We’re on our way.”

Jim shook his head. Family dinner, huh? Maybe he was closer to being accepted by the Bear and Fox clan than he’d thought.

With that small hope winging through him Jim took off. He’d make Spencer’s dinner, then go pick his mate up for their first real date.

It was a going to be a good day.

Chapter Four

Chloe blew out a deep breath and stared at herself in the mirror. This was her first date with Jim, their first real attempt to be mates.

She was scared stupid.

Her hands were shaking, her palms were sweaty, and she’d swear from the way her heart was beating she’d run sixteen miles in her three-inch pumps.

What would she do if he changed his mind again?

Her Fox snarled, yipping and snapping at the thought. If Jim tried to walk away just one more time, she’d bite his ass. He was a shifter now, feeling the mating pull just as much as she did. If he ran, he was not only denying her but his Wolf’s needs as well. The Wolf would never allow that to happen.

She hoped.

Chloe gulped and slipped her purse over her arm. Jim should be here any minute, and no amount of fussing in front of the mirror was going to make this date any easier. She’d dreamed of him so much it felt like just another—

The doorbell rang, and she jumped.

“Okay, Chloe. This is bit. We’re a bad-ass Fox and we don’t take shit from anyone.” She bared her fangs at her reflection. “Grr.” She smoothed out a nonexistent wrinkle in her skirt. “Right. Let’s go get our man.”

She spun on her heel and stumbled right into the wall. “Ow.” Shaking her head at her own clumsiness she stumbled toward the front door. “Oh, yeah. I’m so badass. Look at me, beating the crap out of the wall with my face.” She sniffed at a crack in the front door, very aware of what dangers could lurk in the most innocent places. A peephole could be covered, but unless it was another Fox on the other side of the door deliberately hiding its scent, she’d know who it was.

Her sniffer didn’t fail her. She opened the door to find her mate holding a bouquet of daisies. “Jim.”

“Here.” He held out the flowers with a small smile. “I thought they suited you.”

She blushed as she sniffed the daisies. “Tank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He looked around, the small smile becoming rueful. “May I come in?”

“Hm? Oh!” Chloe stood back and held the door open for him. His scent enveloped her as he brushed by her, making her shiver with need. Her Fox wanted him so badly she was surprised she wasn’t furry.

And that thought wasn’t wrong at all, was it?

“Um. I’ll go put peas in water.” Chloe dashed for the kitchen, almost tripping once more. The man was going to think she was a complete flake, a kid who couldn’t handle a simple bouquet of fucking daisies.

Chloe filled the vase, ignoring the sounds of Jim moving around her apartment. It wasn’t much, just a simple one-bedroom she could afford on her waitress salary and a little help from her parents. Not that she worked anymore. Her parents were covering her rent while she recuperated, despite the fact that they’d wanted her to move back in with them as soon as she was discharged from the hospital. When she’d refused, absolutely horrified at the thought of living with her mother again, they’d relented.

Her father understood. Her mother did not. While Chloe adored her mom, living with her was like being a sun worshipper in Antarctica. It just didn’t work.

“Chloe?”

Chloe yipped and spun around, almost dousing Jim with water. “Hi.”

He bit his lip and took the vase from her. “We have reservations at Noah’s.”

Noah’s. Oh, she hadn’t been there in ages. “The powers can wait.” She snatched the vase back and put it on the counter, ignoring his chuckle. After all, Noah’s had the best damn chicken cacciatore she’d ever had. “Let’s go.”

“A little birdie told me they have blackberry tarts for dessert.”

Chloe whimpered. She adored blackberry…

Wait.

“How did you know those are my favorites?”

He winked and held out his arm. “My lady?”

She took his arm, resting her hand on his forearm. She squeezed lightly.

Was the man made of muscle? There was absolutely no give there. If she wasn’t careful she’d be caught squeezing, and petting, and, hell, she might start climbing him like a spider monkey. She peeked up at him through her lashes, hoping he hadn’t noticed her feeling him up.

If she didn’t know better she’d swear he had a slight flush to his cheeks. Maybe she hadn’t been as subtle as she thought.

They left the apartment, Jim watching closely as she locked her door. He tested it himself, nodding as the door didn’t open.

“I can mock a door, you know.” She chuckled ruefully over the misspoken word and pointed at the door. “Your mother wears brass knobs.”

He burst into laughter. “I know, little vixen.” He led her down to her car. “But I had to check.” He shrugged. “It’s like a compulsion. I need to know you’re safe, even when you’re with me.”