The Alpha Men's Secret Club 3(14)
Kate took his hand and gazed into his blue eyes, the spitting image of Rust’s. Just like Rust’s, those eyes held mysteries.
“Please,” Connor said, “have a seat.”
Kate took a seat beside Rust.
“Orange juice?” Connor said, holding up a decanter.
“Yes, please.”
He poured her a glass. Beside her, Rust was equally ill at ease.
Moira said, “Rust has never talked about you before to us.”
“But that’s not saying much,” Connor added, “because he never talks to us about anything.”
Moira tittered.
Rust said, “You know how much I hate being referred to in the third person when I’m right here.”
“Well, if you came home a little more often, maybe we don’t have to keep talking about you as if you aren’t here. Your father and I have gotten quite used to it by now.”
“Mother.” Rust flashed her a pained look.
Kate didn’t know where to look. She helped herself to some salad for the sake of something to do.
Moira smiled. “We must be frightening the poor girl.”
Oh yes, Kate would attest to that.
“So you know about us, Kate,” Connor said. His voice was mild, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
Rust said, “I thought we weren’t going to bring this up.”
Was that why Rust’s parents invited her here? To threaten her?
“I’m not going to tell anyone,” Kate squeaked.
“If you’re going to insult my girlfriend, we’re leaving,” Rust added.
Girlfriend. So that was how he described her to his parents. Her heart leaped with elation.
“I’m not insulting you, Kate.” Connor flashed her a smile. “I merely made a statement. So you know about us. You’d have to . . . going in tonight.”
Kate didn’t know what to expect for tonight. “Are you coming?” she asked timidly.
“No. Moira and I are – ” he exchanged a knowing look with his wife “ – a little too old for this kind of stuff.”
“Though we’ve had our days when we were younger,” Moira said. “We were mated at such a Gathering.”
“I’m sure Kate doesn’t want to know the details,” Rust put in quickly.
Kate stole a glance at him. He was actually flushing! And no wonder – no son wanted to know what his parents used to do during a rave. That went both ways, she supposed. But this was a shifter family, and shifters – she gathered – were a more uninhibited bunch. Why else were Rust’s parents talking openly about matings and such?
So were she and Rust to be mated tonight? Was that the version of shifter marriage?
Moira smiled at her again. “I can see you have so many questions. The less you know going in tonight . . . the better. Gatherings are for the young. They are a time to sow seeds when seeds should be sown.”
“It’s time we changed the subject,” Rust said.
“Ah, yes.” Connor turned to Kate. “I brought up the prospect of Rust coming home to work with me in Bellevue again.”
Kate glanced at Rust in dismay.
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Rust said firmly.
“There’s always the option of joining my practice,” Moira said.
“He belongs in Bellevue,” Connor argued.
“He’s a grown man. He’s free to do whatever he likes.”
“And that might not including discussing my professional life in front of our guests,” Rust said acidly.
“Then what can we discuss it?” Moira demanded. “Every subject seems to be taboo when it comes to you, Rust.”
Rust threw down his napkin. “This was a bad idea, and I only consented to Kate coming here because I let you talk me into it. You’ve met her. So, fine. You know now she’s human and she’s good at keeping our secrets. So now we’re going to go to the Gathering in peace.”
“Oh, no, don’t leave just yet.” Moira was distressed.
“Let’s go, Kate,” Rust said firmly.
Kate dutifully rose to her feet and threw Moira and Connor both an apologetic look. She barely had anything to eat, but she had lost her appetite.
Connor stood as well.
“Please, son . . . don’t go. Your mother and I apologize . . . to both of you. We’re not used to having guests who know about us and what we are. We’re trying, all of us. Don’t leave . . . please.”
Kate darted frightened glances at each of them. Moira and Connor wore genuinely pleading expressions. Rust’s face was masklike, but his mouth twitched. It was amazing how much he resembled his father and how obviously stubborn and headstrong every member of his family was.