Grayslake: More than Mated: A Bite of Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

but I’m trying to add to my client base, so if you know anyone throwing a party or anything.” She smiled, serving me a plate of one of my least favorite foods.
    “What about you? You have a name or do you go by tall-dark-and-mysterious-jaguar?”
    “Case Maddox.”
    I cut into the pasta and brought a bite to my lips, inhaling the first sample bite. “Hey, it’s not bad.” I chewed another mouthful.
    “Thanks I guess.”
    “Compliment, actually for someone who hates Italian.” I took another bite.
    “Possibly.”
    “How do you know about the weres here?” I didn’t detect anything magical about her. She wasn’t a shifter.
    “The clan made an exception for me. I’m a provider and I’m considered neutral. I don’t get involved in any were business. I make the food—that’s all.” She crossed her arms. “So if you’re thinking about getting me involved in any kind of shifter issues—”
    I cut her off. “I’m not. It was a simple question.”
    “Oh, ok.” She rocked back on her heels. “Well if that’s everything I’ll let you have your dinner. I’ll leave my business cards here.” She dropped a few glossy cards next to the pan. “Maybe you’ll have a house warming or something when you’re done moving in.”
    “What’s for dinner tomorrow night?” I asked.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Tomorrow. What are you bringing me?”
    “I-uh-I don’t have anything planned. This isn’t my usual business.”
    “Surprise me.”
    She tilted her head a little and I saw just how many layers of blue were in those pale eyes of hers. She was pretty.
    “That’s not really what I do. I keep trying to tell you.”
    I pushed back from the table.
    “Well, I’ll tell you what I do.” I stared at her. “I’m a king. King of the Tribe. And I want you to surprise me with dinner tomorrow night. Seven o’clock works for me.”
    Her face froze in shock. “But, I—”
    I walked her to the door.
    “See you tomorrow, Cadence.”
    “I just don’t…”
    I closed the door behind her and returned to my plate of lasagna.
     

4
    Cadence
     
    I stood on the porch not sure if I should turn around and beat on the door, explain the situation, or just get the hell out of here.
    I opted to not give Case a piece of my mind. I couldn’t lose a potential client on the first night. I walked to the van calmly. There was something about Case Maddox that I couldn’t put my finger on. Maybe I was too used to the werebears. I knew nothing about jaguar shifters. Nothing.
    He was broody, dark, and mysterious. I got that after just being around him for five minutes. Oh, and he was hot as hell. That was the part about him I couldn’t overlook if I tried.
    He was tall with broad shoulders and the most athletically toned body I’d ever seen. I had to keep from letting my tongue hang out when he spun around on the porch without his shirt. His arms rippled with every move he made. And the eyes. I’d never seen green eyes that shimmered. I knew that was a cat shifter thing, but I’d never actually witnessed them in person. They were incredible. I imagined how they would glow at night.
    Get it together, Cadence , I scolded myself as I climbed into the van and started the engine.
    His bad attitude was bigger than his sex appeal. He was bossy, cocky, and commanding.
    He was not someone to get hung up on. I knew it—I just had to convince my hormones of that.
    I tried to tell myself as I cranked up the radio to a country song and maneuvered onto the main road that Case was off limits. Absolutely no flirting permitted. Jaguars were unknown territory and if it wasn’t for the fact that I was in possible dire need for new clients I’d turn down the job for tomorrow night.
    I realized I still could, but I’d be an idiot. I couldn’t let Achording to Cadence fall into a hole because of the weres in this town. But what did it mean that Case was here? Were there more jaguars on the way? Did the bear clan know he was here? Should I tell