Page 9

Harper smoothed her dress one final time, checking her reflection in the mirror. She'd changed after work into a simple emerald wrap dress that brought out the amber in her eyes. Her fox-red hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders - she'd freed it from its professional twist as soon as she'd gotten back to the inn.

A gentle knock at her door made her heart skip. She opened it to find Nathan standing there, looking handsome in dark slacks and a blue button-down that made his brown eyes seem warmer.

"Ready?" His smile sent butterflies dancing in her stomach.

"Just need my purse." She grabbed the small clutch from her bed, trying to calm her racing pulse as she followed him downstairs and out to his car.

The drive to the steakhouse was comfortable, filled with easy conversation about music and Nathan's students. Harper found herself relaxing into the leather seat of his car, enjoying the way his voice shifted with enthusiasm when describing a particularly talented young violinist he was teaching.

The restaurant was cozy but elegant, with white tablecloths and soft lighting from wall sconces. After they were seated and had ordered, Nathan leaned forward slightly.

"So how was your first day?" His genuine interest warmed her.

Harper took a sip of water, gathering her thoughts. "Mostly really good, actually. The bank itself is beautiful - all this amazing historical architecture. And my office has these lovely plants and so much natural light."

She told him about her morning reviewing files, her helpful conversation with Benjamin, and lunch with Kelly. "The portfolio management system is more streamlined than what I used before, and everyone's been so welcoming." She paused, then added quietly, "Well, almost everyone."

Nathan's brow furrowed slightly. "Almost?"

Harper sighed, absently tracing patterns on her water glass with her finger. "There are these three women who work there... they're not exactly thrilled about my presence. Apparently one of them wanted my position." She shrugged, trying to dismiss it. "They also seem to think I'm competition for Jake's attention, if you can believe it."

"Jake? But he's engaged to Becca." Nathan's confusion made her smile.

"I know, right? But I'd rather focus on the positive aspects. The work itself is fascinating, and I already have ideas for helping some of the clients optimize their investments." Her enthusiasm grew as she described the opportunities she'd spotted in various portfolios. "And Kelly - she's the new bank president's sister and is on the board - she's just lovely. We had lunch together and she told me all about the family's history with the bank."

The arrival of their steaks provided a brief pause in the conversation. Harper breathed in the mouthwatering aroma of her perfectly cooked New York steak.

"It sounds like you're settling in well, despite those three," Nathan observed, cutting into his steak.

"I am. The bank has such a different atmosphere from my last position - more personal, more connected to the community. And knowing there are other shifters there at the bank, that I don't have to hide who I am from absolutely everyone..." She smiled. "It feels right, you know?"

Harper set down her fork, eager to shift the conversation away from herself. "But enough about my day. Tell me about you - how did you get involved with the shifter community? I mean, besides finding Jill?"

Nathan's face lit up with warmth as he took a sip of his wine. "After bringing her to the vet clinic, things just... snowballed. Katerina started inviting me to these amazing barbecues at their place. The first time, I was nervous - I mean, I knew about shifters by then, but still."

"I can imagine," Harper said, remembering her own initial anxiety about being open with her nature.

"But everyone was so welcoming. Troy grills these incredible steaks, and everyone brings food to share, so there's always a ton of it. Their house has this huge backyard that backs up to the barn and horse pasture, lots of room for the kids to run around." He chuckled. "And the Friesian horses are gorgeous - I'd never seen one outside of that movie, Ladyhawk. And everyone has questions about Jill, of course."

Harper leaned forward, fascinated. "So the whole community knows about her?"

"Word spread pretty quickly. Some of the shifter parents started enrolling their kids in music lessons at the conservatory where I teach. And now on Saturday mornings, small groups of shifter children come by to visit Jill." His brown eyes crinkled with joy. "You should see their faces when they meet her. Even the teenagers can't hide their excitement."

"That must be amazing to witness," Harper said softly, touched by the image of children discovering the magic of a real jackalope.

"It's become this wonderful bridge between the human and supernatural worlds. The children get to meet Jill… their parents, too," he said with a chuckle. "Everyone's crazy about her. I get to learn about shifters and magic." Nathan's voice held a note of pride. "I never expected to be part of something like this, but now I can't imagine my life any other way."

"I can understand that," she said, taking another bite of her baked potato. The rich, buttery flavor melted on her tongue as she listened to Nathan. His enthusiasm sparked a warm glow in her chest - here stood someone who, like her, had stumbled into this hidden world and found a sense of belonging among its extraordinary inhabitants. "What was it like, those first few gatherings? Meeting everyone?"

"Well, at first I worried I'd say or do the wrong thing." Nathan's eyes crinkled with amusement. "But Katerina has this way of making everyone feel at ease. She'd introduce me around, making sure I never felt left out."

"That sounds like her," Harper agreed, taking another bite of her steak. She watched Nathan's expression soften as he recalled that first meeting with Troy, the dim restaurant lighting catching the warmth in his brown eyes.

"And Troy - he's this big guy, right? But he's got the gentlest touch with animals I've ever seen. When I brought Jill to the clinic, she was terrified. But Troy..." Nathan shook his head in amazement. "He was totally freaked out, but he still spoke to her in this low, soothing voice while he checked her over. Within minutes, she stopped trembling. By the time he finished treating her injured leg, she was eating a bit of lettuce someone brought in from their lunch, from his hand."

"It was amazing to watch," Nathan continued. "Here was this mythical creature - something I'd thought existed only in tall tales - and Troy handled her as calmly as if she were any other injured rabbit. He showed me how to clean her wounds and change her bandages. Taught me what to feed her, how to care for her."

Nathan's voice held a note of reverence that made Harper's heart flutter. His genuine appreciation for Troy's gentle nature, his obvious love for Jill - it warmed something inside her.

"And I love when the kids come to visit her," Nathan went on, his face lighting up. "There's this one little girl, Sarah - she's a rabbit shifter. The first time she met Jill, she just sat there for an hour, completely still, watching her nibble hay. Now she brings drawings of Jill every time she visits." He chuckled. "Her mother says Sarah is planning to ask Santa for antlers for Christmas this year."

His enthusiasm was infectious. Harper found herself smiling as he described how the children would gather around while he explained Jill's care routine, asking endless questions about her favorite treats and toys.

"Did you know anything about rabbits before Jill?" Harper asked, genuinely curious.

"Hardly anything! I had to learn everything from scratch. Troy gave me books on rabbit care, and you know about the construction crew that came to build her pen. The whole community pitched in with advice and support."

Harper smiled, warmth spreading through her chest as she thought about her own experiences. "I understand that completely. From the moment I arrived, everyone has been so welcoming. Even before I got here, Katerina was texting me about places to visit, things to do. And Renee at the inn - she's been amazing, making sure I have everything I need."

"It's different here," she continued, her voice soft with wonder. "Back in San Francisco, I had to be so careful all the time. Hide what I am, watch every word, every gesture." Her fingers traced the stem of her water glass. "But here... even at the bank, there are other shifters. People who understand."

And a mate who accepts us completely, Reyna whispered in her mind, making Harper's cheeks flush pink.

Harper met Nathan's warm brown eyes across the table. "They've made me feel like I belong here, in a way I never belonged before, like I'm part of something special."

The genuine understanding in Nathan's expression made her heart flutter. Here was someone else who knew exactly what it meant to discover this hidden world, to be welcomed into its extraordinary embrace.

"I've been so used to hiding what I am, it's still surreal to think about being open with you like this," she confessed.

"The West Side Inn feels like that too," Harper continued. "Everyone's so welcoming, and there's this sense of... belonging. Like I've found my place." She paused, feeling her cheeks coloring. "Sorry, I'm probably rambling."

"No, please don't apologize." Nathan's warm brown eyes met hers. "I love seeing you excited about this. It took me a while to adjust when I first learned about shifters, but now I can't imagine not being part of this community."

Harper nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. "It's like finding a piece of yourself you didn't know was missing." She thought about the meeting the day before at the inn, about Maroulla's strength and the way everyone worked together. "I want to be involved, to help however I can. Especially with everything that's happening now, with shifters considering going public."

"You already are," Nathan assured her. "Just by being here, being yourself. That's what makes this community special - everyone contributes in their own way."

Harper noticed Nathan's fingers worrying at the edge of his napkin, his eyes darting between her face and the table. His earlier confidence had given way to an endearing nervousness that made her heart skip. She waited, giving him time to find his words.

"What is it?" she asked softly when the silence stretched on.

Nathan's cheeks flushed pink. "I was wondering..." He cleared his throat, his fingers still fidgeting with the crisp white napkin. "Would it be possible... I mean, would you be comfortable letting me meet your fox?"

The request caught Harper by surprise, warmth blooming in her chest. In her mind, Reyna perked up with interest.

Meet mate? Her fox's excitement bubbled through their shared consciousness. Meet mate!

No one had ever asked to meet Reyna before. In San Francisco, she'd kept that part of herself carefully hidden, sharing her true nature with no one. The simple request, asked with such gentle consideration for her comfort, touched something deep inside her.

"You really want to?" Harper asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Only if you're comfortable with it," Nathan hurried to add. "I just... I've seen Katerina's cat form a few times, and it's amazing. But I don't know if it's rude to ask."

Yes! Reyna bounced with enthusiasm. Meet mate!

Harper smiled, touched by both his interest and his sensitivity. "Of course it's not!" She glanced around the crowded restaurant. "Though maybe somewhere more private than here."

"Of course!" Nathan's face lit up with genuine delight. "We can go to my house after dinner, and hey!" he grinned. "She can meet Jill, too."

Meet! Her fox bounced joyously. Mate! Meet! Meet mate and kit! Reyna leaped in the air and turned delirious circles of joy. Harper burst out laughing.

At Nathan's curious look, she explained. "Reyna's crazy to meet you. She's being insane about it."

Harper could barely contain her excitement as Nathan paid the bill, declining their server's offer to see the dessert menu. Her fox's enthusiasm bubbled through her consciousness, making it difficult to sit still.

The drive to Nathan's house seemed both endless and too quick. Street lights flashed past as Nathan navigated the quiet roads, his presence beside her simultaneously calming and thrilling. The familiar route looked different in the evening light, the shadows longer, more intimate.

Nathan's house emerged from the darkness, its welcoming porch light already on. Harper's heart fluttered as they pulled into the driveway.

Soon, soon! Reyna pranced in her mind, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Nathan came around to open her car door, offering his hand. The simple gesture sent warmth spreading through her chest. His fingers felt warm and strong against hers as he helped her out, and she found herself reluctant to let go.

The house welcomed them with its warmth- the subtle scent of wood polish and coffee, the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall. Nathan flicked on lights as they moved through the house, illuminating the comfortable living room with its comfortable furniture.

Harper's heart melted as Jill hopped forward from under the dining table, her tiny, delicate antlers catching the lamplight. The jackalope's nose twitched, whiskers quivering as she investigated Harper's outstretched hand. A tiny pink tongue darted out to lick her fingers, tickling her skin.

"Oh, you're adorable," Harper breathed, carefully lowering herself to Jill's level.

Now that the initial wonder had passed from their first meeting a couple of days ago, she noticed details she'd missed. The jackalope's fur wasn't the plain brown she'd first thought - instead, it shimmered with subtle variations of color, from rich chocolate to warm honey-gold along her sides. Her ears, longer than a regular rabbit's, were tipped in velvety black, like they'd been dipped in ink.

The antlers that had seemed so striking at first glance revealed intricate details up close. Delicate ridges marked their surface, and they branched in perfect symmetry, each point aligned with its mirror on the opposite side. They weren't the stark white of deer antlers, but rather a warm ivory that complemented Jill's coat.

Kit, Reyna observed with gentle satisfaction.

Jill's ears swiveled forward as Harper slowly extended her hand again, letting the magical creature catch her scent. Those large, dark eyes held an intelligence that seemed almost human as they studied each other. Another gentle lick against her fingers made Harper smile.

"She likes you," Nathan said softly from behind her. "Look at her."

Indeed, Jill had settled into a comfortable loaf position, front paws tucked neatly beneath her chest as she continued to investigate Harper's fingers. The jackalope's trust warmed something deep in Harper's chest.

"Hi there, sweet girl," Harper cooed, keeping her voice low and gentle. "You're just beautiful, aren't you?" She carefully stroked the soft fur between Jill's ears. The jackalope leaned into her touch, eyes half-closing in contentment. Her fur felt like silk beneath Harper's fingers, and a tiny sigh escaped the creature as Harper found a particularly good spot to scratch.

Nathan watched as Jill gave Harper's fingers one final lick before hopping toward her food dish in the corner. The soft thump of her feet against the hardwood floor made him smile - he'd grown to love that sound over the past months.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked, turning to Harper. "I have wine, coffee, tea... or water, of course." He moved toward the kitchen, hyperaware of her presence behind him.

"Maybe later," Harper said softly, her amber eyes darting toward the hallway. "Is there somewhere I can...?" She gestured vaguely, a blush coloring her cheeks.

Nathan couldn't help but laugh, not at her discomfort but at the delicate way she approached the subject. "The bathroom's down the hall, second door on the left. And don't worry - I know about the clothes thing. I learned that at the vet clinic, that first day."

Relief flooded Harper's face, and she gave him a grateful smile before heading down the hallway. The soft click of the bathroom door echoed through the quiet house.

Nathan released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His hands trembled slightly as he straightened a throw pillow on the couch, then straightened it again. He was about to meet Harper's fox - Reyna. The thought both thrilled and terrified him. What if he did something wrong? What if he scared her?

The closed bathroom door seemed to mock his nervousness. He forced himself to stop fidgeting with the pillow and sit down, though his leg bounced with nervous energy.

A few minutes later he heard the door open, and the next minute, a blur of red rushed into the room. Suddenly his lap was full of furry red fox. He sank back into the cushions, laughing, as the fox licked his face, squirming in joyous abandon.

"Wow," he breathed. "You're beautiful." He ran his fingers through her thick fur. "Well, hi, there. I'm happy to meet you, too."

Mate , Reyna said. Happy.

Nathan's hands stilled. "Did you just... speak in my head?"

Reyna stilled on his lap, rearing her head back, her intelligent amber gaze on his face. Mate?

He stared at her in awe. "I can hear you!"

Reyna writhed in ecstasy... her mate could hear her! Mate, mate, mate, mate, mate! Heeheehee! she chanted. Her joy was too great to be contained, and she slid off his lap to the floor, chasing her tail and laughing in the way of foxes. Heeheehee! Mate, mate, mate, mate, mate! Hehehe! Heeheehee!

Nathan had never known a fox could laugh, but this fox was laughing! It sounded eerily like human laughter, and so infectious, Nathan found himself laughing along with her. She leaped back onto the sofa next to him, rearing up to ecstatically lick his face again.

Mate!

Nathan cleared his throat cautiously, quickly thinking over what he knew about shifters. "When you say mate, do you mean, er, like, Chosen? Like Katerina and Troy?!

Reyna danced in delight, her slender black paws beating a rhythm on the sofa cushions. Chosen! Mate! Yes, yes. Chosen!

Thrilled that he understood her, her joy once again overcame her and she chased her brushy tail in a circle right there on the sofa. Heeheehee!

A bit stunned, Nathan had no idea what to think about that. Since he'd first been admitted into the secret of the paranormal beings that lived amongst them, he'd taken to reading some of the paranormal shifter romance novels in hopes of further elucidation. He'd read about fated mates, and had asked Katerina about that, and she'd simply laughed and shook her head, and told him not to believe everything he read. He'd taken her at her word, but now wondered if she'd been giving him a non-answer.

By now Reyna seemed to have chased off her happy energy, and lay on the sofa beside him, her head resting on his thigh. Her cute fox face was tilted upwards, her amber eyes fixed on his face. She whined, and her tail thumped. Nathan ventured a question.

"Do shifters have fated mates, like I read in some stories?"

Fated mates, no. Her mental voice sounded regretful, making him grin. Chosen, yes. Chosen mates.

Well, that was clear as mud. He abandoned the subject, figuring he'd have to ask Harper when she Changed.

"But we only just met."

Yes. Met mate!

O-kay. He wasn't touching that one until he could talk to Harper. The fox's long, slender nose nudged at his hand. Mate , she repeated, then somehow managed a hopeful tone, kit ? She turned her head, pointing with her nose at Jill, who was holding perfectly still in the farthest corner of the dining room, watching them, her little nose quivering.

"That's a jackalope," he told Reyna.

No, kit! she insisted, standing up and leaping gracefully to the floor. She looked at Nathan, then back at the baby jackalope, then back at Nathan. Kit? There was a hopeful inflection to her mental voice, and a touch of yearning.

"You want to meet her?"

Kit! Her black paws tapped a happy pattern on the floor as she danced. Kit, kit, kit, kit, kit!

Nathan hesitated. "You know, she was savaged by a dog, or a coyote, not too long back."

Her ears flattened against her skull, and she lifted a lip. No hurt kit!

"No, I didn't mean you would," he hurried to reassure her, burying his fingers in the thick fur of her ruff. "I meant, she might be afraid of you."

The furry ears raised, and her head tilted, as she apparently pondered the problem. The next minute, a perfect image formed in his head, of himself sitting on the sofa holding Jill, with Reyna seated at his feet. He stared at her in amazement.

"You can do that? Send me images too?"

In response, she sent a sense of smug satisfaction, and he sat back, staring at her. "Wow!"

Her nose nudged him, and he laughed. "Okay, okay."

Rising to his feet, he crossed the room, going to the corner where Jill sat. She didn't seem particularly fearful of the fox across the room, and she hopped eagerly toward him as he approached. Lifting her carefully... he'd stabbed his chin on her antlers more than once... he carried her back to the sofa. Seating himself again, he set Jill on his lap, his arms around her, both to make sure she felt safe, and so he could judge her response to the fox.

"This is Reyna, Jill," he told the little creature, knowing from experience that his voice soothed her. "She won't hurt you."

Reyna took a slow step forward, her head dipped downward.

Kit , she sent the baby animal wistfully, hoping the little one could understand. Would know she would never hurt her.

Jill... and Reyna huffed derisively at the name... extended her head tentatively, the nose wrinkling as she sniffed experimentally. There was no fear in her dark, bright eyes, only curious interest. Encouraged, Reyna took another step forward, waiting to see what Jill would do. When the baby's nose touched her, she wanted to dance in delight. She kept still, however, knowing that would startle the little wild creature. Instead, she nuzzled the adorable creature, her heart sighing, kit.

The kit made no objection to the nuzzling, so Reyna gave in to the maternal instinct driving her, and began to wash the kit's ridiculously long ears. Nathan began to laugh, and she paused a moment to grin at him and give him a quick heehee , before returning to her grooming. After a minute she jumped up onto the sofa, and draped herself so the kit was firmly between her forepaws, and began washing its head between the ears with vigor.

Nathan laughed. "It's a good thing I have long legs and a deep sofa," he told her, "or I wouldn't have room for both of you in my lap."

Mate, Reyna made a happy, contented sound. Kit.

He chuckled. Apparently shifters... or at least, fox shifters... ran on one-track minds. Who knew? He wasn't ready to think about the whole Chosen/mate thing right now. If he was honest, he could admit he was intrigued. He'd felt an immediate attraction to Harper, but at the same time, they had, literally, only just met. For now, he simply was not going to think about it, and just enjoy the experience of having a fox and a baby bunny with antlers cuddled in his lap.

He glanced down, to find that while he'd been cogitating, Jill had apparently fallen asleep, Reyna's chin snuggled into the soft bunny fur. Reyna, too, appeared to be dozing, her eyes mere slits. She woke up enough to give an approving thump of her tail as Nathan stroked her head, then she sighed and closed her eyes.

Chuckling softly, Nathan grabbed the remote from the end table... fortunately within arm's reach... and turned on the television, keeping the volume low. It looked like he wasn't going to be going anywhere any time soon.

Warmth surrounded her as Reyna drifted toward consciousness. Her head rested on something soft and furry, and memories of the kit flooded back. Her tail thumped against the sofa cushion as her eyes fluttered open to find Nathan smiling down at her.

"Did you have a nice nap?" His fingers stroked behind her ears.

Nap good! she assured him. She stretched, careful not to disturb the sleeping kit. The little one had snuggled deeper into her fur while they slept. Find mate, find kit. Safe.

"Think I could have Harper back now?" His brown eyes crinkled at the corners.

Reyna considered this. She wanted to stay with her mate and the kit, but Harper's thoughts and feelings pressed at the edges of her consciousness. With a mental sigh, she hopped down from Nathan's lap and padded down the hallway.

A few minutes later, Harper emerged, running her fingers through her hair to smooth it. A blush colored her cheeks as she avoided meeting Nathan's gaze.

Harper wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Her face burned as Nathan's amused voice broke the awkward silence.

"So... mates?"

She stared intently at a fascinating spot on his carpet, unable to meet his gaze. Her hands twisted in the hem of her shirt. "I'm so sorry about that." The words came out as a mortified whisper.

Reyna's smug satisfaction radiated through their mental connection. The fox had absolutely zero regrets about announcing Nathan as her mate to the entire world - or at least to Nathan himself, which felt just as catastrophic in this moment.

"I can't believe you did that to me," Harper muttered, not realizing she'd said it aloud until Nathan chuckled, and patted the sofa next to him, where she'd been snoozing as her fox just a few minutes before.

Harper's feet moved of their own accord toward the sofa, drawn by Nathan's warm smile and outstretched hand. His fingers wrapped around hers, gentle yet firm, as he guided her down beside him. The cushions dipped beneath her weight, and a shiver raced through her at the contact of his thigh against hers.

His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand. "You don't need to apologize. I'm flattered, actually."

The tenderness in his voice melted her embarrassment. Her shoulders relaxed as she dared to peek up at him through her lashes. His brown eyes held no judgment, only curiosity and something warmer that made her heart skip.

Reyna preened in the back of her mind. See? Good mate.

"Hush, you," Harper muttered under her breath.

"Reyna commenting again?" His lips quirked up at the corners.

"She's... rather pleased with herself." Heat crept up Harper's neck. She focused on their joined hands, marveling at how perfectly they fit together. "I should probably explain about the whole mate thing. It's not... I mean, you don't have to..."

"Hey."

Harper's heart thundered in her chest as Nathan's warm hand squeezed hers. His touch sent tingles racing up her arm.

"I've learned quite a bit about the supernatural world lately," Nathan said. "Including about how paranormal beings find their Chosen ones." His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "I'm guessing when Reyna called me her mate, it's something along the same lines?"

Relief flooded through Harper, her shoulders sagging. She nodded, grateful she wouldn't have to explain the whole concept from scratch. "Yes, exactly. Though with shifters, our animal sides tend to be more... direct about it." She ducked her head, remembering Reyna's enthusiastic declaration.

No shame. Good mate. Reyna's satisfaction radiated through their connection.

Nathan's thumb continued its gentle circles on her hand. "It's okay, really. I mean, it's a lot to process, but I'm not freaked out or anything." His free hand reached up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Actually, I'm kind of honored that Reyna chose me."

Harper's breath caught at his touch. She forced herself to meet his gaze, searching for any hint of uncertainty or discomfort. She couldn't believe he wasn't laughing at her, or worse, asking her to leave. Who could blame him? They'd known each other for all of a minute before Reyna dropped the mate bombshell. Instead, she found only warmth and genuine interest emanating from him.

"You're taking this remarkably well," she whispered.

"After finding a supposedly mythological creature that's become my pet, and that shapeshifters exist?" His eyes danced with amusement. "Finding out I might be someone's Chosen seems almost normal in comparison."

The knot in her chest loosened. She hadn't expected him to be so understanding about having a supernatural bombshell dropped in his lap. Yet here he sat, holding her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Her inner fox projected an image of Nathan's warm brown eyes and gentle smile, along with a wave of absolute certainty. Mate good. Mate kind.

"Reyna, please stop helping," Harper whispered through clenched teeth.

Nathan's rich chuckle went a long way to dissolving her tension. "You know what? Let's not overthink this." His thumb brushed across her knuckles. "I'd love to get to know you better, Harper. No pressure, no expectations. We can take our time and see where this leads."

The tension melted from her shoulders. His words echoed exactly what she needed to hear. "I'd like that too." Her voice came out softer than intended, but the smile that lit up his face told her he'd heard.

Good mate understands, Reyna approved. The fox's satisfaction radiated through their connection.

Harper studied Nathan's profile - the way his sandy hair fell across his forehead, the gentle curve of his smile. Everything about him called to something deep inside her. Yet he remained practical about the situation, willing to explore these feelings at a reasonable pace. It only made her inner fox more certain they'd chosen well.

"Maybe we could have dinner again later this week?" Nathan's eyes held a mix of hope and warmth that made her heart flutter. "I know a great little Italian place in town. Unless you prefer something else?"

"Italian sounds perfect." The words tumbled out before she could second-guess herself.

His fingers squeezed hers gently. "I have to admit, I'm really intrigued by all of this - by you." A slight blush colored his cheeks. "I mean, I barely know you, but there's just something..."

"I feel it too," Harper whispered, amazed at how easy it felt to admit it. "It's new and a little scary, but in a good way?"

"Exactly." His smile widened. "Like finding something you didn't even know you were looking for."

Reyna's smug satisfaction flooded through her. See? Mate smart too.

"So, dinner tomorrow evening?" Nathan's warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners. "Maybe seven?"

Harper's heart fluttered. "Seven would be perfect."

His thumb traced another circle on her hand. "I'll pick you up at the inn."

Reality intruded, and Harper sighed. "I should probably head back. My first day on the job was a little more traumatic than I had expected."

"Of course." Nathan squeezed her hand. "I hope tomorrow is better.."

Harper reluctantly pulled out her phone to call an Uber, but Nathan's hand covered her screen.

"Let me drive you back to the inn."

"Oh, no - you don't have to do that. You've already been so kind, and-"

"Hey." His gentle interruption made her pause. "What kind of mate - or gentleman - would I be if I let you take an Uber home after our date?"

A startled laugh escaped her. The tension in her shoulders melted away at his playful reference to their earlier conversation. "Well, when you put it that way..."

"Exactly." He stood, offering his hand to help her up. "Besides, it gives us a few more minutes together."

Warmth bloomed in her chest as she slipped her hand into his. Even Reyna's smug told you so couldn't dampen the joy bubbling through her.