Chapter Five
Juni stood in front of The Unicorn and took a deep breath, hoping it settled her nerves.
Slightly disappointed when it did not. She glanced at her cell phone and saw she had two minutes before she had to walk in, but no matter how many in-through-the-nose and out-through-the-mouths she did, her heartrate refused to slow down.
Was she doing a smart thing? Taking care of this . .. problem ... she had.
Namely, her pesky virginity. Might sound stupid, but she had her reasons for not wanting to keep it.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and opened the door.
Conversation flowed over her skin like a silken river as she entered the dimly lit bar.
Standing in the doorway, she took in the atmosphere.
The mood lighting over each booth allowed an intimate radius where several couples took advantage of the cozy space.
Servers carried food to and from the kitchen.
The long bar spanned one side of the building, and two tenders took care of the numerous people lining the counter.
Looking around, she searched for Asher, and her sense of smell ferreted him out a moment before she spotted him weaving through the crowd.
In his hands was a plastic bin and he was collecting dirty glasses and empty bottles.
He smiled at everyone and talked as he greeted his customers.
The Unicorn was successful because he had the ability to charm people out of money, and women out of clothes.
Probably. She wasn’t going to ask him about that last thought.
Her wolf was pleased at how handsome their mate was, and she didn’t like that Juni didn’t plan on telling him who they were to one another.
How could she? He wasn’t a shifter so he couldn’t understand the draw between mates, especially to a wolf.
She understood her decision meant she’d never have children, but she was okay with that.
From the moment she found out her father was dead, she decided to devote herself to making sure Clover had the most normal, boring life a shifter could have.
Maybe she’d go to college. Meet her mate there.
Live life and be happy. Settle somewhere other than Sheridan.
In the future, Juni knew she could always find a bed partner if she didn’t want to be lonely anymore.
For now, however, that was a million years away.
Just then, Asher’s head suddenly whipped around as if he knew she was standing there staring at him.
He smiled and waved, then held up his index finger in a “wait a moment” gesture.
She nodded, letting him know she understood.
Juni watched as he waved at a few people then disappeared into the kitchen. As she leaned against the wall, a man walked over to her, holding a bottle of beer. She kept him in her peripheral vision, just in case he decided to get a little handsy.
“Hey, there,” he said.
She ignored him.
“Hey,” he said a little louder, as if she couldn’t hear him. “Hi.”
Then he touched her arm. Jerking back, she knocked his hand away.
“I didn’t give you permission to touch me.”
He frowned. “I was talking to you.”
“I didn’t want to talk back.”
“Are you a bitch or something?” the man snapped.
“Why does it mean I’m a bitch because I don’t want a strange man to touch me?”
“Don’t you know who I am?” he asked, perplexed. “I’m a very powerful—”
Suddenly, Asher was there, and he slid an arm over her shoulders. “Hello, sorry I kept you waiting.”
He threw a warning look at the man, who stepped back. “Oh, I didn’t know she was with you, Asher.”
“Yep. Have a good night, Kevin.” He looked down at her. “Ready?”
She nodded, not bothering to spare a glance at Kevin. Asher steered her back through the door, leaving The Unicorn behind.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what, babe?”
“Showing up when you did. I didn’t want to talk to him.”
“Kevin thinks he’s more important than he really is. I guess I’m glad you didn’t give me the cold shoulder as well.”
He led her to his SUV and opened the passenger door. She slid in and she smiled her thanks. Then he walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel.
“I hope you like steaks,” he said, good-naturedly.
“Of course,” she replied. “Who doesn’t?”
“Vegetarians.”
“Are those real people? I always thought they were a myth.”
He grinned. “I know, right? Them and people who don’t like coffee.”
“Weirdos.”
He started the engine and then eased out of the parking lot. “You like working for Keegan?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “It’s nice to have money.”
“It is,” he agreed. “Money is a necessary evil, unfortunately.”
“Keegan is teaching me a lot. I’m lucky I got the job because I had zero experience.”
He quickly glanced over at her. “I may have only known you a handful of hours, but I’m pretty positive you’re a fast learner.”
That pleased her. She never thought she was a vain person, but to be acknowledged as smart gave her a sense of self-pride she never realized she wanted.
Asher’s house was located on the edge of the town, kind of tucked away and hidden. As he made a left turn onto his property, the scent of rich spice and orange jolted through her. She hadn’t counted on the fact that being surrounded by his scent would make her wolf pant like she was in heat.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” she replied quickly.
He didn’t reply, just pulled to a stop and turned off the engine. “Stay there.”
Asher came around to the passenger door and opened it, offering his hand to help her exit. As soon as her skin touched his, her heart took off racing. She had this weird feeling she might self-combust.
Breaking free of the befuddlement his scent caused her, she took a good look at his house and her mouth fell open. “Wow.”
The white siding offset with black trim was timeless elegance. Although one level, the roof had lift, hinting that it might have vaulted ceilings. A large gable covered the front porch. A paved stone walkway curved around the side and led to the driveway. Solar-powered lights highlighted the path.
“This way.”
The home seemed to be a hybrid of sleekly sophisticated and farmhouse chic.
The roof formed the traditional peaks, but the square portico was made from metal.
He unlocked the door with a touch of his thumbprint, and stood back as she walked into the spacious interior.
Lights immediately came up where the warm, relaxed country style blended mismatched textures and patterns.
Exposed wooden beams set in tongue and groove timber architraves and skirting boards.
This was offset with French-style wall paneling, generous central fireplaces and cast-iron bracket shelving with fleur-de-lis style corbels.
The kitchen held built-in cabinetry with beveled glass doors.
“This is beautiful,” she said, awed.
“Thank you,” he replied. “This place was severely run down when I bought it. I was attracted to the very large yard, as well as being close to The Unicorn and yet completely private. Have a seat at the island while I get dinner started.”
“You cook?”
“Why are you surprised at that?”
“Aren’t bachelors supposed to eat out every night and drink and have sex with women in the bathroom of a bar?”
He blinked. “What movies have you been watching? Um, no. I may own the bar, but I’ve never had sex in the bathroom. Never fuck where you work is my motto. As for food, eating out all the time isn’t very healthy.”
“Ah,” she said as she sat on one of the chairs at the island. He started chopping vegetables and prepping the steaks. As she watched, she didn’t know what to say and a note of awkwardness rose between them.
“Thirsty?”
Juni nodded.
“Soda? Beer? Water?”
“I’ll take a soda, please. It’s been a long time since I had one.”
He opened his fridge, pulled out a can of cola then grabbed a glass, and sat both in front of her. Then he cocked his head as he returned to his prep.
“I take it you haven’t had much in life.”
Her defenses rose. “I got by just fine. I don’t need your pity.”
“That wasn’t pity or criticism, Juniper. Just an observation.”
Hunching her shoulders, she gave a small shrug. “I got a job now. A real home for Clover. I’m going to make sure she’s going to have more than I got.”
“What do you want to do in life?”
While her mind raced for an answer, he heated up the grill on the stove.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I never gave it much thought. You know, long term.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“How much more personal can you get?”
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” he said. “Did you finish school?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “Mama died and I had to take care of Clover.”
“Would you like to go back? Get an education?”
She mulled that over. “Like I said, I don’t know. I think right now I’m still getting used to this new reality. My main focus is making sure Clover is taken care of. That she’s happy and doesn’t turn out like me.”
He stopped and raised an eyebrow at her. “Like you?”
“Yeah,” she replied, glancing down. “Pissed off. I let my father walk all over me because I was scared of him. He held my freedom in his hands and coerced me with threats against Clover. I’m never going to put myself in that position ever again. Where my autonomy is in someone else’s hand.”
For a moment, only the sizzle of the cooking steaks filled the silence.
“My mother wasn’t a nice person,” he said softly.
“She was cold and unemotional. Sold herself to make an easy buck, and expected me to do the same. Ended up running away and living on the streets. As much as I despise her, part of me is glad she was like she was. Otherwise, I never would’ve met Corbin. He became my family.”
He’s like me, she thought.
“What’s wrong with people like them?”
“Good question,” he replied. “I’ve buried her in my past, and I’ve lived every moment running from that man she expected me to be. So, when I say I understand, I really mean it.”