“I know. My mom is one.”
“Seriously?” He raised his drink to his lips. “What tribe?”
“Were-badger. She was out hiking one day when one came tearing out of the trees. A were-cougar was chasing him and he’d gotten lost trying to get away. He’d been in a frantic state when he crossed paths with my mom. She was bitten by mistake.”
“Rough break,” Christian said. “We try to only turn people who really know what they’re choosing but now and then, mistakes happen.”
“Tell me about it. Stan’s not a bad guy but a bit of a flake. We really didn’t have anyone to show us all the were ropes.”
“She doing all right?”
Abbey nodded. “Mom met a guy in a badger clan here in the city. They actually got married a few months ago.”
“So a happy ending.”
“All things considered.”
Christian’s eyes were sharp as he took another sip. “You never considered turning with her?”
“Were-badger isn’t exactly the type I’d go for. Though mom looks damn cute on a full moon.”
“I highly recommend wolf,” he said. “Just sayin’.”
“Think you might be a little biased?” she teased.
“Best kind of supernatural you’ll find.”
She grinned and snatched a fry. “I’ll reserve judgment. You’re the first wolf I’ve really had much to do with.”
“Starting out with a winner. You sure can pick ’em.”
Abbey laughed. An hour ago, she hadn’t thought she’d ever laugh again, and here Christian was, good to his word, distracting her from Lucian.
“So were you born were?” she asked. “Or bitten?”
“Wolf born and bred. My folks were from up north but I petitioned to join the New York pack as soon as I was old enough.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Wanted to explore the big city. I attended culinary school here and decided to stay. I’ve got everything I need here.”
“Sounds like. I never expected to end up in the city when I was a kid but now that I’m here…”
“You can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“Something like that.” Abbey popped another fry in her mouth.
“I guess I’m lucky life brought you here and landed you at Fated Match. Who knows how long I’d have had to search otherwise.”
Her eyes flickered up to his. “Do you really put so much stock in the match rating?”
“Don’t you?”
She shrugged. “I know I work for the company, but I always figured there should be more to it than a computer system.”
“It’s got a wicked high accuracy rating.”
“I know. And I’ve seen it work firsthand. I just… I don’t know, thought there’d be more to it.”
“A computer can match a pair but it’s up to us whether we fit into each other’s lives,” he said. “But I’ve got to say, I’ve known you a day and think any man who would let you get away is an idiot.”
She flinched at the reminder and regret crossed Christian’s face.
“Sorry,” he said. “I put my foot in it sometimes.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s refreshing to meet someone who also spits out everything they’re thinking.”
“We should form a group. Tactless Anonymous.”
Abbey chuckled. “I know a bunch of people we could get to join.”
“Don’t we all?”
“So why did you sign up for Fated Match?” she asked, reaching for her drink.
Christian sat back with a shrug. “Didn’t have much chemistry with the females in the pack. Seemed a good idea at the time.” His grin widened. “A very good idea in hindsight.”
She felt heat fill her cheeks. “Are there many wolf-human pairings that you know of?”
“A couple, maybe. They don’t stay that way for long.”
“What?”
“I mean, the human usually turns pretty fast. It’s a great way to introduce new blood into the pack.”
A shiver of unease ran through her. “What if they don’t want to turn?”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
Christian stared at her blankly and she realized he really didn’t understand why she’d want to stay human.
Subject for another time, she thought. Not a first-date conversation.
“Tell me about working as a chef,” she said instead. “I bet you have all the female staffers wrapped around your finger.”
Christian let out a laugh and settled in to tell her about his job. As he talked, Abbey realized how nice it was to be comfortable around him. He didn’t put her on pins and needles the way Lucian had. He also didn’t make her heart pound as loudly, but that would come. She just needed a little time.