Loyal Leopard: A Friends to Lovers Shifter Romance (Full Moon Protectors Book 5) by Sammie Joyce

Author:Sammie Joyce [Joyce, Sammie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sammie Joyce
Published: 2020-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

8

Antonio

Rachel texted to tell me she was running late but I was already at Picante when she did. I didn’t fault her—I knew her job was demanding but I didn’t like sitting by myself in the middle of the five-star restaurant, overdressed and shifting my weight from one butt cheek to the other.

I chose the place after she had suggested the date but as I sat there, I wondered if I hadn’t overdone it. It seemed cliché, pretentious, and from what I knew about Rachel, she was neither of those things.

It was too late to change my mind now and there was nothing I could do but drink my gin and tonic, hoping it would steady my nerves.

What am I nervous about? I growled to myself reasonably. It’s Rachel. I’ve been out with her dozens of times.

It was a question that answered itself. Of course this was different—this was a date, not two friends getting together for a drink.

Fortunately, Rachel arrived before I could fully drive myself crazy with an over-analytical take of what was happening.

As always, she stole my breath, but never more so than tonight, in the short, royal blue dress she wore, her long legs accented by a pair of matching matte stilettos.

As she drew closer to the table, I could tell that she had put on a tiny bit of makeup but not enough to deter from the sprinkling of freckles on her tiny nose. And it was clear that she felt as uncomfortable as I did.

I rose to greet her, holding out my arm to give her a hug and kiss her cheek, but when she came in, we ended up bumping awkwardly into one another as the maître d’ pulled out her chair. Embarrassed, we both pulled back at the same time and sat, avoiding each other’s eyes for a minute. I struggled to regain my composure but the sweet scent of her shampoo was in my nose again.

I silently cursed myself for allowing her so close when I knew what kind of effect Rachel had on me.

Or maybe I should be getting used to having her close, a cautiously optimistic voice chirped in my ear. I couldn’t think about that.

“Your server will be along momentarily, madam,” the maître d’ informed Rachel. He sounded like he had been cast in a Hollywood film calling for an uppity host. His eyes raked over us with mild scorn as he turned away and I resisted the urge to ask him what his problem was.

“So, uh, how was work?” I asked, eager to dissipate the heaviness that enshrouded us. She flashed me a quick smile and picked up her menu.

“Busy as always,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light, but I could hear the discomfort. “You?”

“Oh, you know,” I said, attempting to sound flippant. “Always a party at the network.”

She glanced at me quickly and I caught her eye but she blushed and returned to the menu.

“May I start madam with a drink?”

The waiter reappeared before I could speak again and I realized that he was a panther.

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