Chapter Two
Gideon grabbed a glass of champagne as a waiter walked past and took a long drink as he surveyed the people already at the party.
Fuck, he’d always hated these things. His shoulders relaxed when he saw Leo head his way.
After his friend’s call earlier in the day, he’d been anxious to find out what it was.
“Hey,” Leo said.
“So, what’s the hurry about coming tonight?” Gideon asked.
“I’ve got some information you might find interesting. I overheard that Edward Arnolt was told about your situation.”
“Seriously? From a pack member?” Gideon asked. “He knows I’m a shifter?”
“No. Not at all. He’s heard that you are looking for a wife. He’s been trying to find a husband for his daughter for a while. He was excited by the prospect of her marrying a respected, rich businessman. He’s always been power hungry and loves the thought of her married to a Rothschild.”
“I know Edward. He’s a jackass,” Gideon said. “Does he know I’m not related to the Rothschilds?”
Leo chuckled. “I don’t think so. It will be interesting to see his face when he finds out. And you don’t have to like him. Just his daughter.”
Fuck. He downed the rest of his drink.
Leo grinned. “They’ll be here tonight, so if you want to meet her, her father will be thrilled.”
“What do you know about her?” Gideon asked.
“I’ve seen her a few times, and she’s beautiful.”
Gideon saw the look on his friend‘s face. “What?”
“I hear she’s an airhead and spoiled princess. At least, that’s what Tomas said. He took her out once and couldn’t get rid of her fast enough. All she talked about was herself, or she was on her phone. But you don’t have to be around her that much, especially after you impregnate her.”
Gideon almost rolled his eyes. Leo wasn’t the one who had to spend any time with her.
“Look, there she is with her father,” Leo said and pointed across the room.
What Gideon saw was a pretty woman, above average in height, very thin, with white-blonde hair.
Definitely fake. He could also tell from his spot that her breasts and lips were phony, too.
He wondered if any of her was real. He’d always hated it when women changed their looks from natural to phony to fit into what society called attractive.
“She is beautiful,” Leo said.
“Yes.” She was definitely beautiful, but looks weren’t everything.
“They’re headed this way,” Leo said.
Gideon set his empty glass on a tray that a waiter was carrying around and picked up a full one. He guessed by the end of the night, he’d need more than one.
“There he is,” Edward Arnolt said, jovially. “Sweetheart, this is the man I was telling you about.”
Gideon could feel the older man’s excitement. When he looked at the woman, he found her studying him as if he were a bug under a microscope. What caught his attention was her scent and the way it made him feel. It was close to the way he’d been told he’d feel when he found the one.
God, was she the mate he’d been thinking about for a few decades? He thought the feeling of possessiveness and arousal would be stronger.
“Gideon, I’d like you to meet my beautiful daughter, Bambi,” Edward said, beaming with pride.
Bambi? That was her name? Jesus. Gideon had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud.
He held out his hand to grasp hers, and it felt like a wet noodle.
Limp and overly soft. He caught her flinch, and she yanked her hand away.
He wondered at it. Most women found him handsome, so he had no clue why she was being like that.
Even as a human, if she were his mate, she should feel the exuberant attraction.
Well, this wasn’t going well and was damn confusing, he thought.
“Daddy, I’d like a drink,” Bambi said.
“Why don’t the two of you dance while I get you something, sweetie?” Edward said.
Gideon could see the startled expression on her face.
Although beautiful and the possibility that she was his mate, he didn’t feel anything for her besides a slight desire and boredom.
But he had to remind himself he needed a wife, and she was as good as any, and it wouldn’t be forever.
Or he didn’t think so. If she were his true mate, he might not be able to let her go.
Gideon handed Leo his glass and laid a hand on her lower back to lead her onto the dance floor.
He almost rolled his eyes when she stiffened as he set one hand on her hip and the other took her hand.
She made another face again when her palm touched his, and he wondered if it might be the calluses he had on his hands.
“What’s the problem?” he asked.
“Your hands are rough, and they’re scratching me,” she complained.
Hell, another mark against her.
Most businessmen he knew had soft hands because they rarely or never did any physical labor.
He, on the other hand, loved getting out in nature.
He had a huge house in the city that had been in the family for generations.
But he had also bought an acreage an hour or so out of the city.
It had a small cabin, a barn, a large grove of trees, plenty of space, and room to shift and run.
The solitude and break from his responsibilities were a godsend.
When he needed to get away, he went there for the weekend and hiked, cleaned up the place, shifted and ran for miles, and chopped wood. He’d always been a rambunctious boy who liked to get in trouble, get dirty, and make messes, so his hands hadn’t ever been soft.
He cleared his throat. “So, what do you like to do for fun?”
He watched a smile bloom on her thin face.
“I like shopping, going on trips, going to spas, partying with friends,” she said.
Everything he hated. Great.
She went on to describe some of her favorite stores and places to fly to. He was bored within the first minute and had to bite his tongue to keep from yawning.
“My daddy says you’re a Rothschild?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She perked up a bit. “So, you probably know some actors and actresses?”
Jesus. He shrugged.
“My daddy says you’re very rich,” she said loudly.
He saw the look that people dancing around them, who were a part of his pack, gave her.
“Yes. I suppose,” he said.
“He said you have a bigger house than we do.”
“I have no idea. I’ve never been to your house.” Gideon looked around and saw her father talking to Leo. The beaming smile on the older man’s face as he stared at them made his stomach ache.
“He says you’re looking for a wife?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh,” she said, smiling brightly. “I want to know more, but not tonight.”
He nodded and was thrilled when the song ended because he couldn’t take another moment of her bragging or criticizing people.
He led her back to her father and took the glass of champagne Leo gave him.
“So, I see you two are getting along well,” Edward said, beaming.
Gideon nodded but couldn’t go so far as to smile. “I have to leave shortly.”
Leo looked surprised and amused.
“Well, that’s fine,” Edward said. “How about you come to visit us tomorrow and have lunch?”
Gideon glanced at Leo before he sighed and nodded. “I can do that. What time?”
“Daddy,” Bambi whined. “You know I don’t get up before noon.”
Edward nodded and patted his daughter’s hand. “Of course, dear. Could you come for a late lunch, say around 1:00?”
“Yes. I can do that.”
“Good.” Edward held out his hand. “We will see you tomorrow.”
Gideon shook it and wondered if Bambi would offer her hand. He wanted to see her expression of distaste again.
She smiled and waved before dragging her father away.
“God, I hate to ask because I can already guess that she’s awful,” Leo said.
“I would rather have had a conversation with a rock.”
Leo chuckled. “Then why are you going to their house for lunch?”
“Because, unfortunately, she might be my only chance. I have to tell you that when she first walked up to us, her scent made my wolf perk up.”
Leo’s eyebrows rose. “She’s your mate?”
“Maybe. My wolf liked her scent enough to feel desire at first. I just thought when you met your mate, the feelings were stronger.”
“Oh, wow,” Leo said and took a drink from his glass. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure what I’ll do if she’s my mate, but if she isn’t, I’ll just keep reminding myself it’s not forever, just five years, or until she has a kid. Whichever comes first.”
“Maybe you can impregnate her right away.”
“That’s the plan.” God, his life seemed to be spiraling, and he hated not having control over everything. He’d have to dig deep to find the patience he would need to be with the woman.