Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
After her second shower of the day, Mallory sat on the edge of the guest bed thinking about Alexander’s astonishing transformation.
Samantha came to fetch her. ‘The boss has asked you to join him for dinner. Apparently you’re coaching him through it or something?
’ The beta werewolf shrugged. ‘Last time I checked he could hold a knife and fork and maintain a sensible conversation, but it’s not my place to question my betters.
’ From the look on her face, that’s exactly what she was doing.
Deciding that it would be a good idea to have the scary beta on board, Mallory explained. ‘He’s too alpha.’
Samantha’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Too alpha? Isn’t that what women like?’
Mallory snorted. ‘Is that what you like?’
‘Well, no – but I can’t speak for everyone.’
‘A fantasy boyfriend can be deliciously alpha,’ Mallory said. ‘But a real boyfriend – a real-life partner – should be someone who is confident and sexy but who also treats you like an equal and is nurturing and kind.’
Samantha didn’t blink. ‘Alex is all of those things.’
‘So why aren’t you his girlfriend?’
‘Ugh. It would be like dating my bossy older brother.’
Mallory snapped her fingers. ‘Bossy. There you go.’
‘He has to be bossy – he’s the damned boss.’
‘I’m not trying to change his personality or his alpha position, I just want him to show more of his vulnerable side and to think carefully about what he really wants in a partner.
Does he want someone to order around or does he want someone to share his life?
’ Mallory shrugged. ‘If it’s the former, then okay. I’ll adjust my search parameters.’
‘Alex doesn’t want a doormat. He’s not like that.’ This time Mallory stayed quiet and Samantha filled in the silence. ‘That’s not what he needs. And certainly not what we need as First Mate.’
Mallory thought about what he’d told her earlier in the day. ‘Is Alexander intimidated by smart women?’
Samantha gaped. ‘Definitely not!’
‘Does he know how to talk to women?’
‘Yes! Believe me, Alex can charm the knickers off almost any woman he sets his sights on.’
‘So why hasn’t he settled down yet?’
‘It’s not a personality defect,’ the werewolf said defensively. ‘He’s just not met the right woman.’ Her eyes narrowed a fraction as she stared at Mallory.
‘What is it?’
Samantha shook her head. ‘Nothing.’
Mallory stood up. ‘Well, I hope I can help him find who he’s looking for.’ She smiled. ‘Are you escorting me again?’
‘Just showing you the way. This is a big place. You might get lost.’
Mallory nibbled her bottom lip as they descended the grand staircase. She wasn’t sure whether to broach the subject or not, but this was good intel and it would help her cause in the future if she knew the answer. ‘Samantha,’ she hedged.
‘Yes?’
‘Earlier today when we were in the gym, Alexander changed.’
‘He doesn’t work out in a suit, Mallory. Sometimes he wears sweats.’
‘That’s not what I mean. He changed – not his clothes but his skin. I know it was the full moon last night but I thought werewolves returned to human form once dawn broke. Alexander seemed to shapeshift at will.’
Even the most self-absorbed person would have noticed Samantha’s sudden tension. ‘What time did this happen?’
‘Maybe around four?’
Samantha scowled.
‘Can all werewolves do that?’ Mallory persisted. ‘Is it something you keep secret from the rest of the world?’
‘Definitely not. Ninety-nine percent of werewolves can only shapeshift from dusk till dawn during the night of the full moon. Only a very few can shapeshift outside those hours.’
‘Can you?’
‘Not a chance. And that is one of the many reasons why Alex is so special,’ she said softly. Then she clammed up and said nothing more.
Some enterprising MacTire werewolf who was keen to suck up to the boss had arranged a table for two in the back garden next to a heat lamp that held the chilly evening air at bay.
To be fair, Mallory reckoned calling the beautifully landscaped, perfectly pruned verdant vision a ‘back garden’ was a misnomer It deserved a grander moniker – ‘botanical oasis’, perhaps. Or ‘estate park’.
Alexander caught her wide-eyed stare. ‘Impressive, isn’t it? A few older MacTire members are keen gardeners. There’s a kitchen garden beyond the fountain that we use as well.’
Doubtless there were also plenty of magical plants dotted around. ‘No silphium?’ she asked archly, referencing the lost magical plant that had led her to Alexander at Vallese in the first place.
He barked a quick laugh. ‘No, alas, no silphium. Although from what I hear, Kit McCafferty solved that particular problem all by herself and soon Coldstream will abound with the stuff. Of course, my lips remain sealed on the matter to anyone other than you and her.’
Mallory grinned. ‘Of course.’
‘Shall I pull out your chair for you?’ he asked. ‘Or is that being too overbearing?’
She gave him a mock-exasperated glare and he smirked. He pulled back one of the elegant chairs with a flourish and Mallory sat down, making a show of looking prim and proper.
‘Wait.’ Alexander frowned. ‘We need to backtrack. Stand up.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Stand up. We need to take this back. I’m meeting Cathy at the restaurant. If I’m there before her and she walks in, how do I act?’
‘You know what to do, Alexander. You’ve done it a million times before.’
‘I want to get it right. I know to stand up when she comes towards me, to smile and tell her she looks wonderful. But do I take her coat? Kiss her hand? Kiss her cheek? Shake her hand?’
‘You’re over-thinking. Do what feels right in the moment.’
He shook his head. ‘Let’s practise. I want to get this right,’ he repeated.
She looked at him suspiciously, certain that she was being played, but his expression appeared honest. She stood up and moved back several feet while he sat down in his chair again. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I’m walking into the restaurant towards the table.’
On cue, he rose. ‘You look beautiful.’
Mallory inclined her head. ‘Thank you.’
He took her hand, raised it to his mouth and pressed his lips against her skin with a faint slurping sound. Mallory giggled. ‘What?’ he asked, sounding annoyed.
‘Nothing!’
‘Mallory…’
‘It just feels a bit silly and over the top – but Cathy might like it.’
‘You’ve researched her. You already know what she’ll like.’
True. ‘Okay. Don’t kiss her hand. It’s too old-fashioned and it won’t put her at ease.’
‘Fine,’ Alexander said. ‘Back up and let’s try again.’
Mallory returned to her starting point then walked forward. Alexander stood up from his chair. ‘You look wonderful,’ he said.
‘Thank you. You look good, too.’
They stood a foot apart, staring awkwardly at each other. After a moment or two, he cleared his throat. ‘Please,’ he said. ‘Sit down.’
Mallory looked at him flatly. ‘That was too weird.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘Not that. Let’s try another approach.’
She’d half-turned when she caught a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. ‘I knew it! You’re making fun of me. You’re perfectly capable of playing the role of suave gentleman!’
‘As you’ve been telling me, I shouldn’t be playing any role. I should be trying to be myself, my vulnerable self.’
‘Touché.’ Mallory raised a finger. ‘But you’ve still been playing me.’
The corners of his mouth curled upwards. ‘A little. It was just too tempting.’
‘Yeah, yeah.’
‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘Let’s start again from the very beginning. I’ll act as much like me as I can and try not to be too much of the alpha that annoys you so much. If I get anything wrong, you can point it out, otherwise we’ll let the evening run its course. Good enough?’
Mallory released a breath. ‘Perfect.’
She backed up. When she walked forward, Alexander’s gaze was long and smouldering; it was so heated and held so much smoky promise that her breath caught in her throat.
‘Mallory, I’m so glad you’re here,’ he said. ‘I’ve been thinking about you all day. I’m not normally an impatient man but this evening and this meal couldn’t come fast enough.’
She was certain that she should respond and that Cathy would have said something, but for some reason her mind was completely blank. ‘Uh…’
Alexander smiled knowingly and dipped his head to brush his lips against her cheek. ‘You know, I can recognise your scent from a thousand paces.’
She couldn’t stop herself. ‘What do I smell like?’ she whispered.
‘Honey,’ he said. ‘Sunshine.’ He grinned. ‘And magic.’
Mallory blinked rapidly. He wasn’t talking to her, he was talking to Cathy. Mallory was a squib; if there was one thing she didn’t smell like, it was magic. Focus, she told herself. This is business, not pleasure.
‘You have a good nose.’ Then, because she needed to put some distance between them, she sat down quickly before he could pull out her chair. He continued to smile as he sat opposite her.
Nick appeared wearing jeans, a white T-shirt – and a bow-tie. ‘Good evening, I will be your waiter this evening. Would you like to hear the specials?’
Alexander raised his eyebrows at her. ‘Um, yes?’ she said.
‘Roasted tomato soup, beef wellington with dauphinoise potatoes and creamed spinach, and lemon tart to finish.’
‘Seriously?’
Alexander leaned back in his chair. ‘We like to eat well after the full moon, it’s something of a tradition. And I dread to think how long it’s been since you ate a proper meal.’
‘I eat!’
‘On the go and in a rush. Tonight you’ll have the time to savour every mouthful. And we have a decent wine cellar. What would you like to drink?’
Mallory shuddered; the morning’s hangover was still fresh in her memory. ‘Water, please.’
‘You can have whatever you desire.’
Her mouth was suddenly very dry. ‘Definitely water.’
Nick nodded. ‘I have arranged a special amuse bouche for you.’ He opened a bag of salt-and-vinegar crisps and tipped one onto the plate in front of Mallory and one onto the plate in front of Alexander. They both stared at his offering. ‘Too much?’ he asked with an arch wink.