Page 15 of Tempting the Tiger

“Thanks, Joe.” Keair strode back outside, taking the steps two at a time. He already knew where Grace lived. In fact, he knew things about her she had probably forgotten. He felt a small twinge of guilt at the background check he’d asked Tarek to run. He knocked on the door, his tiger eager to see his mate again.

But it wasn’t Grace who opened the door. The woman who had been in the shop before was there. “Hi, Grace is almost ready. Come on in.”

Grace’s apartment was small. So small, the entire thing could fit inside his suite at the Lion’s Pride with room left over.

“I do not believe we have been formally introduced. I am Keair.” He held out his hand to the other woman. Even though she wore a wedding ring, she was human so he knew he offended no one by his gesture. In the shifter world, mated males did not touch other female shifters.

“I am Mary.” The woman’s handshake was as firm as her son’s had been. And, if he was not mistaken, she was also a little suspicious of him as well.

“Where are you taking her?”

He smiled, liking her forthrightness.

“I am taking her to the Lion’s Pride for dinner. I thought she would like that. They have excellent food.”

“But not very good desserts. Or so Grace told me.”

Keair nodded in agreement. “Unfortunately, that is true. But I hope that can be remedied with Grace’s increased contributions.”

Mary nodded. “Grace is a marvelous baker. She can make anything.”

“I am well aware of Grace’s abilities.”

“And she is special.”

“She is very special to me.”

The woman gave him a nod of approval.

Well, one hurdle down, Keair thought, and only about a thousand more to go.

Grace was still in the bathroom when the knock on the door sounded. And in truth, she was just a little chicken to go on out. Stalling for time, she turned one more time in front of the mirror over the sink, trying to catch a more than a fleeting glimpse of herself—namely—her butt. The shirt Mary had picked out was nice. But, it was form-fitting—more form-fitting than she usually wore. That’s why it had been hiding in the back of her closet. Her usual attire consisted of jeans and oversized t-shirts. She was not used to showing off her curves. In fact, she usually took great pains to hide them. She tugged at the neckline of the shirt muttering under her breath. “There’s no hiding these puppies,” she said to the empty room.

Not that she was trashy looking by any means. In fact, the shirt was very modest. The sweetheart neckline barely revealed the swell of her breasts. Her arms were covered from her shoulders to her wrists. The sleeves billowed out at the ends, giving the shirt a romantic feel. Her pants were made out of more spandex than polyester and made her almost feel as if she were wearing silk. The feeling of the fabric against her skin had her shivering in anticipation.

She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. She shouldn’t do this, she told her reflection. Nothing but a broken heart was sure to come out of this. But as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror—something she rarely did—she realized she had absolutely nothing to lose. She’d woken up this morning, alone, just as she had for her entire life. She’d never known her parents, had no brothers or sisters, and no one to call her own.

Oh, not that she would ever call Keair hers. No, that really was the stuff of fantasies. But, having a date with a man who proclaimed to desire her—that wasn’t outside the realm of possibilities.

Was it?

Before she could let the self-doubts talk her into calling this whole thing off she opened the bathroom door. She didn't question the fact that she’d never told him where she lived. The man exuded power and if he wanted to know her address, he’d find her address. Something about the whole take charge thing, made her insides quiver. The jerk she’d dated before couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag.

As she walked out of the bathroom, she realized she liked a man who took action. Liked a man who…

Was standing inside her very small apartment.

Mary stood by his side, a large smile on her face. “Well, I’ll just be going, then.” She opened the door and walked out before Grace could thank her for her help. She was pretty sure without the other woman’s encouragement she would have called off the date.

“Good evening, beautiful.” A wide white smile accompanied the greeting and suddenly Grace felt like Little Red Riding Hood about to be eaten by the wolf. Not that he was a wolf. Or was he? Heck, she didn't even know what type of shifter she was going out with. Oh, boy, she thought, backing away. She was in over her head.

“Whoa, there.” One of his large hands lifted, taking her hand. “You’re going the wrong way, darling.”

His deep, dark voice made her knees shake. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. It’s the best idea I’ve had in my entire life. Now, tell me what has you upset.”

“You’re…I’m…” She made a motion between them with her free hand. “We’re not.” She took a deep breath. “This just isn’t going to work.”