Secrets of the Pride (The Lion's Heart Book 2) by Philippa Lodge

Author:Philippa Lodge [Lodge, Philippa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

De smelled nervous, even over the pungency of the spices. He smiled only weakly when Robbie made a joke and was otherwise silent.

Robbie cleared his plate, wiping it with a piece of naan, then cleared his throat from the nerves and chilies and took a long drink of water. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I don’t know what I did wrong.”

De’s head reared up fast. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Robbie looked down at his plate, wiping it with his bread again and nibbling even though he was full. “Do you want me to go?”

De reached across the table and placed his larger hand on top of Robbie’s. “No, I…” He took a deep breath. “I just looked at my apartment through your eyes and realized I don’t measure up.”

Robbie frowned. “What?”

De leaned back, pulling back his warmth. “I’m just a cub compared to you. You’re an adult. You probably have silverware that matches and tablecloths. Furniture that isn’t from your mom’s basement.”

Robbie looked around at the furniture. “You’d be surprised. I’ve been a stay at home dad for four years and worked only occasionally and part time. My ex pays child support, but it isn’t much. I didn’t move here from a big house. In fact, everything we own fits into my Prius except a couple boxes I shipped. I bought slipcovers for the furniture in the apartment when I got there, mostly so I wouldn’t worry when Dahlia spilled or if her claws snagged in the upholstery.”

De looked down at his plate, avoiding Robbie’s eyes. “I just feel like I’m not…not enough.”

It was Robbie’s turn to lean across the table and grip De’s hand. “You mean besides being a natural at defusing difficult situations, wickedly funny, extremely sexy, and a dominant male who’s only getting more dominant as he ages? Besides being intelligent and compassionate and a born leader?”

De glanced up at him through his lashes, his gaze shy, but not in a teasing way. He looked down again, genuinely vulnerable, and fiddled with his fork. “Thank you. I just see you and I’m not up to your level.”

Robbie squeezed his hand. “I was thirty-two when Dahlia was born. I’d been out of college and teaching for ten years. I didn’t have any career ambitions except to be a good teacher. I sometimes felt stuck, even though I loved the children and teaching. I think that’s what attracted me to my ex. To Rosa.” Robbie normally did his best to not even think his ex’s name. He’d chosen Dahlia for their daughter because he’d hoped – in vain – that Rosa would change her mind and have some contact.

DeAnthony lifted his head to watch him, his warm brown eyes cautious and a little wrinkled between his brows.

It was Robbie’s turn to look away. “My ex was two years older than me and very dominant and had career ambitions. She was completely appalled at having slept with a shifter and having a shifter baby. The deal was to both move away and I’d keep Dahlia and sever ties with everyone from Casper.

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