Chapter Seven

Tobias

I beat myself up after canceling the date. My bear was in an uproar, literally roaring inside me every moment I was awake. But once burned…I just now had my life together, and the idea of letting it collapse again because of a relationship was not good. Not the direction I wanted my life to take.

Business offered an outlet for my creativity and success. Mating? Probably not just for me. And that would have to be all right. Few people got all their wishes, and I was just too rattled at the idea of attempting to date someone else. No matter how much I liked him and thought he was the right person for me.

I'd thought that before and look what happened. No, I needed to keep my head about me and not do anything that could go wrong and distract me from running my business. It was going well, but I had a long way to go before I could rest on my laurels. Sitting on my porch swing, moving slowly back and forth, I continued to make excuses for why I couldn't go out for a simple dinner with an attractive, mature jackal shifter.

It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze that carried a scent to me. One that had me tipping my head back and inhaling deeply. Even though I'd only been in front of Leon for a fraction of a second before spilling all that food all over him, I knew it was him. I scooted off the swing and made a move toward the house. If he was passing by, I did not want him to see me and ask me for an explanation as to why I canceled our date. What was he doing in this neighborhood anyway? I had one hand on the door, almost home free, when Leon called out my name and the gate creaked. I peeked over my shoulder.

"Tobias? Wait." He double-timed up the walk and the porch steps. "Where are you going?"

"I-I was. Umm…when did you get here?"

He stopped and tilted his head, eyeing me up and down. "Just now. I think you saw me on the sidewalk?"

There was absolutely no way I could run into the house now, and not just because it would make me look like a coward. It would be rude and probably make my bear mad enough to bite. It was more metaphorical, as in no actual blood would spill, but the couple of times I'd upset him enough, it hurt just the same.

I turned the rest of the way around. "Hi."

Leon came even with me on the porch. "So, what's with pretending not to see me? Or…for that matter, canceling our date. I know it's not my breath because I brush my teeth twice a day and even more often if I eat garlic or onions."

A chuckle escaped me. "No, you smell amazing." I closed my eyes in humiliation. "Oh my god. I didn't mean that."

"You didn't?" He cupped his hand over his mouth and sniffed. "No…minty fresh."

I sucked in a breath and let it out. "Okay, yes, your breath is fine, and you do smell good in general, but what I meant was…well, I have no idea what I meant. Maybe I should go back in the house before I lose what little self-respect I have left."

Leon reached for my hand, and I let him take it. "Tobias, what's going on? If you don't like me, say so, but I didn't get that impression. Did something happen to make you cancel our date? Did you meet another jackal?"

Another jackal? They were pretty rare among shifters. "I'm pretty new in town, but so far, you're the first jackal I've met. I just…I get nervous at the thought of dating again. And when I get nervous, I shut down."

"You've had a bad experience?" He stroked my palm with his thumb, sending shivers up to my shoulder. "Is that it?"

I nodded.

"Do you want to go out with me?"

I nodded again.

"Can I kiss you and see if we can't settle those nerves?"

I tipped my face up, unable to say no. It was just one kiss, right? A friendly one to help me calm down. But the second his lips touched mine, calm was the furthest thing from my current state.

Warm, minty breath, a tongue that stroked mine, awakening feelings and desires I'd shut down a long time ago. My knees went weak, and I stumbled over the threshold. He followed me, backing me into the foyer. I heard the door click closed behind him as he steadied me.