Then her expression turned alarmed. “Oh my God, my aunt is right. I am turning into my mother-in-law. I am Dirty Harriet! How did this happen?”
“Can we please focus on me, here?” Cadence said impatiently. “What’s his name?”
“Orion Garrison. And even better, I know where he is right now. I have a friend who’s a waitress at Mount Olympus, and she just called to tell me that he was there. That’s how much of an impression he makes.”
“Wow. He isn’t related to me. I can’t believe my research didn’t turn up his name.” Could this be the answer to her prayers? Cadence realized that the curse of her birthright meant that she wouldn’t get to marry for love, but she was hoping not to be hauled off and forcibly mated to some crusty old fart in a high tower somewhere. She didn’t think that was asking too much.
She let Daisy drive her to the restaurant, struggling to keep from getting too hopeful.
Daisy let the valet take her keys and told him she’d be right back to get her car.
“So you’re leaving me here? Marrying me off already?” Cadence said with amusement as Daisy practically dragged her through the restaurant.
“I can only hope.” Daisy winked at her. “After all, you might be worth a gold mine.”
They found Orion sitting at a table surrounded by empty plates, finishing off a bottle of wine.
He was indeed magnificent.
Those broad shoulders. Those piercing eyes, not so much brown as amber. The color of whiskey.
Cadence suddenly felt self-conscious. She was wearing jeans and a pink scoop-neck T-shirt and sandals. Her dirty-blonde hair was yanked back in a ponytail, her heart-shaped face bare of makeup. This paragon of male beauty looked up at her, and she was suddenly very, very aware of the bump in her nose and the splattering of freckles sprayed across her face.
He looked at them in puzzlement.
“Remember me, from the mating agency?” Daisy said, huffing slightly from the exertion of rushing across the room. “Well, we found somebody for you.” She gestured at Cadence. “Ta-da!”
He focused on Cadence now, really looked at her, and his eyes widened. His lips curled in a slow smile, and Cadence felt a rush of arousal burning through her veins. Then his pupils went vertical and reptilian for a moment, and his eyes glowed red for just a second.
With his gaze fixed on Cadence, he made a gesture at Daisy. “You can leave now,” he said to her. “I’ll have my secretary send Wynona her payment first thing in the morning.”
“Er, hello, I’m Cadence. And Daisy is my friend, by the way,” she said.
“Ah, my apologies.” He inclined his head graciously. “I assumed that she was your assistant.”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Daisy said. “I can see that sparks are flying already. See what I did there, ha ha, sparks?”
“Unfortunately. I cannot unsee it, in fact.” Orion raised one perfect brow.
“Watch it,” Daisy warned him. “We’re besties. My approval is necessary for this mating to go forward. And be nice to her, or I will be one pissed-off she-wolf.” She turned and waddled off.
Orion watched Daisy go with a glance of admiration.
“Your friend is very loyal to you,” he said to Cadence as she took a seat across from him. “That speaks well of you.”
He gestured at the table in front of her. “What can I order you? The filet mignon is excellent. Would you like to start with a dozen, say, as an appetizer?”
“One would be fine, thank you.” At his questioning glance, she added, “Something you should know about me. I’m half wolf shifter, and my dragon side is only recently becoming dominant. My father was a dragon, and he had an affair with my mother, and she took off with me as a child so that I wouldn’t be taken away from her.”
He nodded understandingly. “Ah. That explains why I never heard of you before. I looked far and wide for a suitable mate, and believe me, if I’d spotted someone like you, I would have proposed instantly. And I’d have been fighting off a dozen other suitors, I’m sure.”
He gestured at the waiter and ordered a filet mignon for her.
Then he returned his attention to her, his eyes boring into her. “I apologize for what I just said. I made it sound as if you were a rare Chippendale dresser – a commodity, not a person.”
“Oh, I understand the situation we’re in,” she said. “And in all honesty, this is extremely awkward. You’re incredibly attractive, obviously. It’s just that we’re sitting here basically talking about marriage and babies, and I don’t even know if you wear boxers or tighty-whities.”