Chapter 11
ELEVEN
A n hour later, Alora stood in her office, examining her reflection in the small mirror Maya had produced from somewhere. She’d swapped her lab coat for a deep blue wrap dress that actually made her look like a professional adult instead of an overgrown grad student. Her copper-streaked hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders—Maya’s doing, after declaring war on Alora’s usual messy bun.
“There.” Maya stepped back, admiring her work. “Now you look like someone who could make a tiger shifter lose his perfectly maintained control.”
“I’m not trying to make anyone lose control.” Alora fidgeted with her tiger pendant—the one piece of feline-themed accessories Maya had allowed her to keep. “This is a professional dinner.”
“Keep telling yourself that, honey.” Maya’s enhanced senses picked up something before Alora could respond. “Speaking of control...”
Rehan appeared in the doorway, and Alora’s brain briefly short-circuited. He’d changed too—his formal suit replaced by dark slacks and a charcoal sweater that did nothing to hide his athletic build. The casual elegance somehow made him even more devastating.
His eyes locked onto her, pupils dilating visibly. A low rumble filled his chest before he caught himself.
“Dr. Sky.” His voice came out rougher than usual. “You look... professional.”
“Thank you. You look...” Hot enough to melt my lab equipment. “...also professional.”
Maya made a sound suspiciously like a snicker. “Well, this has been fun, but I should go... anywhere else. Have fun at dinner. Try not to scandalize Alora’s parents with all your professionalism.”
She slipped out, leaving them alone. The office suddenly felt very small.
“We should...” Alora gestured vaguely toward the door, trying not to stare at how his sweater clung to his shoulders.
“Yes.” He didn’t move.
“The restaurant...”
“Right.” Still not moving, his gaze tracking over her with predatory focus.
“Unless you’d rather stay here and count test tubes?”
That startled a laugh from him—a real one that transformed his entire face. “Tempting, but I suspect your parents would hunt me down.”
“Oh god, they would.” She grabbed her purse. “Mom would probably bring presentation slides about proper dinner etiquette.”
“Speaking of presentations...” He fell into step beside her as they walked to the elevator. “Should I be concerned about your father’s?”
“Only if you’re afraid of extensive genetic mapping and subtle interrogation about your financial portfolio.” She grinned up at him. “Fair warning—he once made my sister’s prom date cry with a discussion about inheritance patterns.”
“I think I can handle it.”
“Famous last words.”
The drive to the restaurant was awkward. Just like teens on a first date. Trapped in close proximity, his scent—sandalwood and wild places—wrapped around her. “I should probably warn you about Mom’s questions. She gets very... enthusiastic about shifter biology.”
His lips twitched. “More enthusiastic than her daughter who decorates her lab with tigers?”
“Way worse. I at least maintain some professional dignity.”
“Is that what you call the exploding centrifuge?”
“That was a calculated risk in the name of science.”
“The purple smoke was calculated?”
“The color was a bonus. And don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy playing hero.”
His eyes darkened. “I don’t play at protecting what’s mine.”
The air between them charged with electricity. Wait—what did he mean by mine ?
Before she could ask, they arrived, and the valet opened her car door. Her parents stood in the restaurant lobby, both beaming with the kind of enthusiasm that promised thorough embarrassment.
“Darling!” Her mother stepped forward, elegant as always in a silk blouse and pearls. Her eyes sparkled with scientific curiosity as they landed on Rehan. “And you must be Mr. Kedi! I have so many questions about shifter genetic expression...”