A mate.
“Damn,” she breathed before she realized she’d said the word aloud.
Though the sound had been the slightest whisper, Kieran heard.
“What?” he asked, turning to her.
“Nothing,” she said quickly. Too quickly. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Not your business.” She turned to look out the window. “We should be there in a few minutes.”
“Chloe—”
“Stop,” she said in a low voice. “You have your secrets. Let me have mine.”
She concentrated on the world outside her window and not the werewolf at her back. Talking wouldn’t help. Not when her realization was still so raw. All she wanted was to leave Kieran behind and turn to her best friend to help unravel her thoughts. Jessica was twice her age and showed no signs of wanting to settle down. Surely she could help talk Chloe out of this.
But she couldn’t ask for advice when she was supposed to appear to be exactly what she wanted to talk about—a woman seriously courting a mate.
Thankfully, the car slowed to a halt before Kieran could ask any more questions she didn’t want to answer.
“We’re here,” she said, pushing from the car before Jon could come around to open her door.
What was that about? Kieran curled his fingers into a fist. When he’d turned to her for a split second he’d seen a look on her face that had been heartbreaking. Something about the way she stared at him had been so…lost. Sad. Chloe should never look that way. She should be smiling and happy, carefree in the way he’d always admired about her.
But her easy grins were growing less and less frequent around him. Was it something he was doing? Something that was taking the joy out of her eyes?
His wolf snarled at the thought. Once again his attention was wounding his companion. This was why simple relationships were better. Then there could be no chance of his cursed affection hurting anyone who mattered.
And for better or for worse, Chloe mattered.
There was no chance to ask her more questions, not that she looked in the mood to talk. Especially since she was already halfway up the restaurant’s stairs and he hadn’t even left the car.
“I’ll call when we need a pick up,” he said to Jon before leaping from the car.
It took him no time at all to catch up to her, though when he put his hand on the small of her back he felt her flinch.
What the hell had he done?
“Your table is this way,” the maître d’ said, leading them into the posh restaurant. Soft light lit the spacious room. Dark wood tables with creamy tablecloths filled the space. Wicker ornamental trees decorated the walls with white fairy lights woven through each. The effect created an ethereal forest without compromising on taste. He could see why she would like a place like this.
The maître d’ stopped at a table set for three and held out a chair for Chloe.
“Thank you,” she said as she slid into her seat.
Kieran took his place and waved the maître d’ off. “We’re waiting for one more,” he said in explanation.
Alone, he watched her pick up the menu and start perusing her options, pointedly ignoring him.
“Is there anything I should avoid doing when your friend arrives?” he asked, hoping to prompt his date into conversation.
“Don’t flirt with her and we’ll be fine.”
His brows rose at the snippy comment.
Chloe sighed and set down her menu. “I’m sorry,” she said. “That was rude.”
“Are you feeling all right?” he asked, watching her rub the top of her nose. “We can reschedule if you want to.”
“No, better to get this over with. Jessica will wonder if I cancel at the last moment.”
Right now, he didn’t give a damn what the faceless Jessica thought. All he could focus on was the unhappiness of the woman before him.
Her predecessors had never made him care in such a way. If they’d been having a bad day, they hid it so he wouldn’t be bothered. After all, their relationship hadn’t been about feelings. He’d always appreciated the pretense, not wanting to be bothered with the daily goings on of their lives. It was just another way of keeping his distance, ensuring no one got close enough to make him care.
Ensuring he never made another mistake like he had with Lisette.
He’d been happy in his superficial world until his little witch had come crashing into it, determined to tear down his walls regardless of whether she had the right.
And despite his best efforts, he cared. More than he should. Seeing her sad unsettled something within him that he hadn’t felt since Lisette.
Apprehension snaked through him. He was on dangerous ground.