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Once inside the car, I considered Deacon’s initial reaction when I greeted him at the door earlier that evening.

He even asked me then if I had another pair of shoes.

Deacon was clearly bothered by my height.

I was five ten without them, but I loved heels.

They gave me a boost of confidence and made me feel amazing.

Of course, plenty of men had an inferiority complex about it.

They didn’t care about how it made me feel, only how it made them feel.

Still, all things considered, Deacon had made a good impression tonight. I hadn’t seen any red flags that were a deal-breaker. We were similar in some aspects and different in others. He commanded respect, and not just with his own pack. Despite his tough demeanor, Deacon also had a softer side.

When he got in the car and shut the door, an awkward silence passed.

“Is this your Escalade?” I looked at the black glossy hood.

“Yep. It’s the first thing I bought when I became second-in-command. Hamish has an account set aside for me. The rest of the pack doesn’t have personal accounts; they have to go through the pack accountant whenever they want money.”

Remembering how he’d put our dinner on Hamish’s tab, I got the feeling that either Hamish was encouraging this coupling or Deacon just wanted to boast to the staff that he was a beta wolf so we would get special treatment.

His vehicle was roomy enough to haul people around in—practical for a large pack.

On the way home, we made small talk, but there were so many awkward silences where I couldn’t think of anything to say.

He asked me twice how I liked dinner, then briefly mentioned how much land they owned and how it was plenty of room for a tiger.

I thought about that during the drive and wondered if I could acclimate to a wolf pack.

Would their animals automatically accept me?

If I killed one of them in a fight, that could end my career.

“We’re here,” he announced, snapping me out of my daydreams.

Deacon shut off the engine before getting out and opening my door.

When we stepped onto the porch, I faced him and smiled. “Thank you for a lovely evening. You sure aren’t what I thought.”

He jerked his head back. “And what’s that?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. When we first met last year during that meeting, you were a little domineering.”

He moved in until I backed up against the door. Deacon rested his forearm near my head and touched my hair as if to remind me how domineering he still was. “Any other suitors I should know about?”

“None to speak of.”

“What about Cross?”

The blood momentarily left my head. “What about him?”

Tell me he didn’t see us together at the party.

Deacon drew closer until I could smell his musky cologne. The next thing I knew, his mouth was on mine.

He kissed me hard, his firm lips moving all over the place as if he were devouring a melting ice cream cone. When his tongue touched mine and his bristly beard scratched my chin, I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

This wasn’t the kiss I had hoped for.

Please don’t ask to come inside.

He slowed the kiss but kept his lips right against mine. “Mmm. That was nice. Gonna invite me in for cake?” he asked, his voice low and smoky.

When his hand found its way to my ass, my heart thumped in protest.

“You know where cake leads,” I told him. “I don’t have sex with my dates. I’m sure that’s not what you’re looking for in a partner.”

“Exceptions can always be made.” He squeezed my hip and pinned me with his body. “That Hightower fellow may have more money, but I can offer you more. Besides, you should stick with your own kind. We’re not the same animal, but I know what you need.” He growled out the last words.

I used both hands to push him back, and it was an effort given how brawny he was. “Thank you again for dinner, but I’m not that easy.”

“Good.”

A smile played on my lips. “Are you testing me?”

“It was worth the kiss. I know every man in town’s after you, but I’m the real deal.

If you’re looking for a mate, don’t choose the first guy who comes along—especially someone who isn’t your Breed.

You and me, we’ve got a connection.” He stroked his short beard and admired me with a shake of his head.

“Damn. You are the finest woman in Storybook.” With a wink, he turned away. “I’ll see you soon, Miss Thompson.”

As he drove away, I waved and then went inside.

After setting my purse on the kitchen counter, I stared at the cake he had brought me.

Deacon had made a solid case over dinner about why he was worth my time.

I wasn’t sure if he was pursuing me as a life mate, but parts of our date had felt like a job interview.

Why else would he keep bringing up his property and position?

We both were in search of partners for perhaps similar reasons, the only difference being the chemistry between us was only felt on his end.

Though Deacon checked off all the boxes, something was missing that I couldn’t put my finger on.

Silences with him were uncomfortable, and maybe that was because a lot of the conversation felt forced, like he was breaking down his qualifications.

I had done my best to get to know him on a personal level by asking about his past, but Deacon wasn’t eager to open up much outside of his origin story.

So throughout the evening, I’d held out hope that our kiss would reveal any sparks between us, which would make my tough decision a little easier.

My father shuffled in from the elevator hall with his walker. “How did it go with Mr. Macho?”

I gave him a hug. “It was fine.”

“Fine?” He scoffed. “I hope it was better than fine with that lipstick all over your face.”

I snatched a napkin and wiped my lips and chin.

“That’s the one,” he suddenly said.

“What’s the one?”

“Deacon Shaw.”

I spun on my heel with the wadded-up napkin in my hand. “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I mean. That’s what I mean.” He scratched the corner of his nose before bracing his hand on the walker again. “You deserve an alpha, but maybe they’re too much trouble. A beta will give you security and stability. It doesn’t sound like anyone else ’round here has caught your eye.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “You wouldn’t care if I mated a wolf?”

He shrugged. “Cats are better than dogs, but as long as that man will take care of you and stay by your side, I don’t care if he’s a rooster.”

I chuckled at the thought. “Shouldn’t I love the man I choose?”

“Look where love got me. You find yourself a dependable man who sticks by your side.”

“Do you want a slice of cake before bed?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Too sweet. I came up for some fruit. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and get a taste for it.”

I put a banana in his hand. “You’ll be moving back upstairs soon. Do you want your old bedroom or the other one? I can even set up your bed in the dining area.”

He cackled. “So where would we eat? The bathtub? I’ll take my old bed back. Yes, I will.”

“Come on, funny man.”

I walked him to the elevator, and after he went down, I grabbed the trash bag and opened the door to the garage. When I flipped on the light, I stared in shock at a red Jeep next to my Mercedes.

I dropped the bag and sprinted through the house to the living room. When I pulled back the curtain to look outside, the front door opened.

Spinning around, I knocked over a lamp, ready to shift and defend my home.