Olin felt as if a spotlight had appeared around him as Coop and Camille stared at him. Olin stood there and blinked, unsure what to say.
“Great!” Camille said and pulled her phone from her purse. “What’s your phone number?”
Olin was a bit peeved at himself when he started rattling it off. His leopard had taken over and was pleased at becoming closer with Coop’s family. Olin, on the other hand, was not. He’d gone to Coop only to see if he wanted to give the guy another chance. Now Coop was going through Primal Heat, and his sister was acting as though they were now BFFs.
How in the hell had Olin gotten himself into this situation? Coop gazed at him, and Olin could see the naughty promise in the guy’s expression.
“Mom’s here,” Camille said, and Olin was too terrified to turn around. She punched something into her phone, and then Olin’s vibrated in his pocket. “I sent you a text with my phone number.”
Great, just what he didn’t need.
When she walked away, Coop pulled his phone out and tapped something into it. Seconds later, Olin’s phone vibrated again. “Sent you mine as well.” He winked at Olin. “Now I can sext you.”
Olin groaned and had turned, ready to head to his car, when Camille and Coop’s mother got out of hers. She’d driven up in an all-white Navigator. Olin’s mouth nearly dropped open when he got a good look at her.
She was Coop’s mother? She reminded Olin of an Egyptian queen. She was all dark looks and had exotic eyes the color of deep gold. Her skin was the shade of dark honey, and her black hair flowed down her back in silky waves. She was simply beautiful.
Olin could see now where Camille and Coop got their great looks.
And her gaze shot straight to Olin. He wanted to crawl under his car to get away from her penetrating stare.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Cooper,” the woman said.
Her voice did not match her authoritarian appearance. It sounded more like little nymphs laughing and playing in the forest. It was sweet, friendly even.
Coop crossed the parking lot and hugged his mom. “I met Camille halfway to give her the money for the concert and scared off her ride.”
The woman laughed and shook her head. “Stop snarling at every boy who takes an interest in her.”
Coop frowned. “She’s only fourteen.”
“And those boys are just friends,” his mother countered. “Your father and I keep close tabs on her. She’s fine, Cooper.”
“Jasmine,” Karidon said before he hugged her. “Been a while.”
“Too long,” she said and pressed a kiss to Karidon’s cheek. “You and Cooper are coming for Sunday dinner, and I won’t hear any excuses.”
Olin felt like the odd man out. All of them knew each other, and he was standing there like a dork waiting for a chance to escape. But that chance never came.
“And who is this handsome young man?” she asked when she turned to Olin.
He felt himself blushing and wished he’d left before she’d arrived.
“Cooper’s friend,” Camille said. “His name is Olin.”
Jasmine’s expression said she knew better, that Olin was more than Coop’s friend. “And you’ll come to dinner as well, Olin,” she said. “I refuse to take no for an answer.”
Coop chuckled as Olin squirmed. It seemed he was wrangled into meeting the parents after all. He wanted to tell her no, but she didn’t look like a woman who knew the meaning of the word. “Sure.”
Why in the hell did I just knuckle under? Damn it, say no. He opened his mouth to tell her that he wasn’t going to make it—even though he’d just agreed, but nothing came out.
She gave him an approving smile and then ushered Camille and Gracie to her car.
Karidon smirked at Olin when Jasmine pulled away. “Another one under her spell.”
Olin scowled and flipped Karidon off.
“By the way,” Karidon said to Olin, “Gracie wishes you would drop off a hundred-foot cliff.”
“What?” Olin frowned. “Why?”
“She has the hots for Coop.” Karidon laughed as he walked to his motorcycle. “Competing with a fourteen-year-old, nice.”
Olin spun to face Coop, but Coop threw up his hands. “Hey, I have no control over that. I just stay as far away from her as possible.”
Olin knew about crushes, and he actually found it cute. “Okay, so I’m heading home and—”
Coop growled.
“I’m not going to your place,” Olin argued as he gazed into the telltale sign that Coop was in Primal Heat. Staring into Coop’s irises was like looking into a cluster of swirling dark-gold clouds. The color actually moved, bending and whirling. There was also a heavy fragrance of masculine spice that slid into Olin’s lungs and threatened to overwhelm him. It was the scent of Coop’s lust.