"What about the witch hunters seeing us?" she asked.
Jett paused a moment. He'd been so distracted with his mate, that he almost forgot she was in protective custody. "We'll be okay," he replied. "The diner is at the edge of pack land and mostly shifters go there to eat since we're on this side of town opposite of Salem. After all you've done to help tonight, they'll more than protect you."
Yes, his pack had accepted her as one of their own already. Guess they knew what he knew about her. She was more than worthy.
“So, our first date is a breakfast date,” she pointed out as she walked to the front door. “Post-sex breakfast date. What a story we’ll be able to tell the grandkids.”
When Jett balked, she laughed with a very impressive eye roll. “I’m just joking. Now, let’s go. I’m excited for this first date business. I haven’t had one in years.”
“And I haven’t had one…ever.”
Selene laughed again. “What a pair we make.”
She wasn’t wrong. They did make an odd pair, but somehow, that was going to be their biggest strength. Jett could feel the truth of that. Where he was a pessimistic grump, she was an optimistic cheerful person. They balanced each other, and he liked that quite a bit. It reminded him of the older wolf couples he saw around the community. It gave him hope for their future to think about them in their old age.
“I can’t wait for you to taste these pancakes,” he said as he turned the truck toward the main road.
“Umm…” Selene blushed all the way into her hairline.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, I don’t like pancakes.” She gave him a nervous smile.
His jaw dropped, and he knew he had to teased her about it.
“Wait. You mean to tell me that you adore cheese Danishes, but don’t like pancakes?”
“Yes. But I don’t see how those two things are related.” She rolled her eyes.
“It’s entirely related,” he argue with a chuckle. “I put two plates in front of you. One has a Danish. The other has pancakes. You’re telling me you choose the Danish every time?”
“One hundred percent, yes.” There was no hesitation in her answer.
“You do know you’re probably the only person in the world who would make that choice?”
“I’m unique,” she said, beaming at him from her seat.
Selene was unique. And she was completely his. He needed to find the right time to bring up the full version of mating with her. He wanted to have these kinds of moments until the day he died.
“Waffles,” he exclaimed. “You’ve got to tell me you’d pick waffles over a Danish.”
Selene giggled and shook her head. “Nope.”
“What?” he was genuinely stunned. “Is it the syrup you have an issue with? What about a banana split? Would that win?”
“Hell no. But if you put a chocolate sundae in front of me, you can keep the Danish.”
“Well, at least that one makes sense. Any other thing I should know?”
She tapped her chin, deep in thought. “You already know I have low-blood sugar. You know I’m a cheese Danish aficionado. What else…”
“I know you cry at movies. I know you make a little gaspy noise when you’re about to come. I know you blush everywhere, too. I know how you taste.” Jett took her hand and dropped it on top of his thigh. “I want to know it all.”
“Right back at you, babe.” She winked. “You’re the mysterious one, here.”
“Fine. What do you want to know?”
“How do you take your coffee?” The question surprised him.
“Black,” he answered. “Sometimes I’ll add in a bit of sugar, but it’s mostly black.”
Selene nodded as if she were committing it to memory.
“That’s it? That’s all you wanted to know from your mystery man?” He gave her a bright, wide smile.
“Well, it’s a start. That way in the morning, when I make my coffee, I’ll know how to get yours ready.”
Oh.
Well, shit. That was the sweetest thing he had ever heard. Selene hadn’t just asked him about himself to learn things about him. Nope. His mate was way more caring than that. She had basically just asked how to do a little nice thing for him. It made his heart clench and he took a deep breath.
Now he really understood why Blaze had been so desperate to find his mate.
There really was nothing like this connection, nothing like knowing the beautiful woman beside him was always going to be there, ready to love him. He would honor that. He would cherish that. He vowed, in that very moment in the cab of his truck, to treat his mate like a queen.
Because she was a queen. The queen of his heart.
Chapter Twenty
Selene
When Jett had first suggested they leave the safety of the pack lands and his house, Selene had been extremely reluctant. She didn’t want to put anyone in danger, and she sure didn’t want to see her man fight. She had missed the last time he had fought off the Order of Salem since she had passed out. But she wasn’t up for a repeat performance of the fainting or the fighting.
But as it turned out, the diner was a great idea. The small restaurant was decorated to look like it would be open in the fifties. Selene loved the red vinyl booths, the checkered flooring, and the metal tabletops. It was like walking through time.
“This is adorable. You might have been right. It’s nice to get out of the house. Not that your place isn’t wonderful,” she added.
Jett leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t go all motormouth on me, love. I know exactly what you meant. Cabin fever is a very real thing. We’re still close to pack lands and I would never let anything happen to you.”
“Okay,” she said, leaning her head back more to give him access to her lips. He obliged, giving her a quick kiss.
“I need to use the restroom,” he said, squeezing her shoulder.
Selene watched him go, his jeans-clad ass made her want to giggle. That was her man. She got to squeeze his butt all she wanted.
With a content, happy sigh, Selene sat back in the booth. How messed up was it that she was actually having a good time even with the threat of the Order of Salem hanging over her? She wanted to feel like a bad person, but fate had clearly intervened. How else could she explain that out of the four wolves sent to rescue the four Bishop witches, Jett would be the one to rescue her? Fate. It had to be. Especially because she was his mate.
Selene took a gulp of soda and as she was setting the drink down, a shadow loomed above her. Holy runway model. The woman had to be a shifter. It was the only way to explain just how gorgeous she was. There wasn’t a single flaw or blemish on her face, and her hair was shiny and luscious like she was about to do a shampoo commercial.
The newcomer was giving Selene a very harsh onceover. It took all of her efforts not to tug at her shirt or hair. At least Mrs. Gellar’s barbs had prepared her for this odd moment. Selene didn’t move a muscle.
“Do you know who I am?” the beauty asked. Shit, even her voice was beautiful.
Selene sighed. “I’m guessing by your adverse reaction to seeing me with Jett, you’re one of his lady friends?”