Smile.
Shake hands.
Be polite.
R.J. was a bundle of nerves as she checked her reflection one more time. It was already half past seven and she was still at home, not yet ready for her blind date.
She had chosen a printed dress, a black cardigan, and black suede boots that reached mid-calf. She wasn’t one to flaunt her curves or her natural beauty, so this outfit felt just right.
Her long, honey-blonde hair cascaded past her shoulders in soft waves. She had skipped makeup, opting for a touch of moisturizer instead.
“Hey,” a voice called from her bedroom door.
“I’m coming,” she responded, grabbing her clutch from the vanity and heading out to meet her friend.
Jesse couldn’t help but smile at R.J.’s simple yet stunning appearance. He offered his arm, which she clung to tightly. She was clearly nervous.
Her previous dates, all arranged by her father, had been disasters. It was clear from the get-go that none of them were her mates.
Two of the eight had been polite enough to go through with dinner.
Four had been downright rude, criticizing her and her pack. Her friend Kara had been ready to attack them, but their friends had intervened.
The remaining two had wanted her to be their mistress until they found their own mates.
R.J. was anxious about how this date would turn out.
“From what little your father told us, he’s blond, six foot two, and has blue eyes. He lives alone and has a respectable job in the city,” Jesse informed her.
“That’s not much to go on. What’s his name?”
Jesse shrugged as he led her out the door.
They walked to the car where Mark was waiting. “Well, aren’t you the sexiest alpha I know?” he teased, opening the door for her.
She rolled her eyes and got into the car. As they drove into the city, her father called.
“Are you dressed appropriately?” he asked without preamble. No “Hello. How was your day?” Just straight to business.
“Yes, Dad. I am. And before you ask, I’m on my way and I won’t embarrass you,” she replied, her jaw clenched.
“Finally, you got something right,” he said before hanging up.
“Goodbye to you too, Dad,” she muttered to the dial tone.
“Still no name?” Jesse asked.
“Nope.”
“At least this one has taste. The restaurant has five stars and it’s Italian. Your favorite,” Mark offered.
“Well, two points for the mystery man,” R.J. joked.
The two men chuckled. A feeling washed over them, a sense that this date might be different. That this man might be special for their alpha.
R.J. had been losing herself these past years. It was time for the real Renae Josephine Macallister to come back.
They arrived at the restaurant right at eight. R.J. hurried in, flustered, and approached the hostess. “Hello. I’m R.J. Macallister. I have a dinner date. For eight,” she said quickly.
“Hello, Miss Macallister. You’re right on time. Your date hasn’t arrived yet but left a message saying he’ll be here shortly,” the hostess said with a smile.
“Thank Goddess,” R.J. breathed out before following the hostess to her table. It was tucked away in a corner, away from prying eyes.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated and had an authentic Italian feel. The servers were impeccably dressed and treated the patrons like royalty.
As she was seated, a glass of red wine was served. “Complimentary for every guest,” the waiter said, bowing before leaving.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Don’t mind if I do,” she said, taking a sip of the wine and settling in to wait for her blind date.
“Ah, jeez, I’m late.” Stuck in traffic, Jacob reflected on how easily his friend William had convinced him to go on this blind date.
Everything had been arranged. All he had to do was say yes.
William had found the girl, chosen the restaurant, and even arranged a babysitter for Jasmine. It was a full-blown blind date. He didn’t even know the girl’s name to look her up on Facebook or Google.
The traffic finally cleared, and he was on his way to Giorgio’s, his favorite Italian restaurant on the strip.
He adjusted his hair and the collar of his shirt as he pulled up to the restaurant. It was a place he’d discovered on his first date with Annabella when he was sixteen.
Returning here was bittersweet. He had shared so many unforgettable moments with Annabella here. Now, he was moving on, in a way.
He handed his keys to the valet and walked inside. There were two couples ahead of him at the hostess stand.
He tried to peek inside to see if he could spot a nervous woman sitting alone, but the shrubbery behind the hostess blocked his view.
His nerves were on edge. He hadn’t dated in years. His focus had been solely on Annabella, even after her death. The only reason he’d agreed to this date was for his daughter, Jasmine.
Over the summer, he had seen the sadness in her eyes at the park when she saw other little girls playing with their mothers.
She’d quickly hidden it behind her signature smile when she caught him looking at her.
Jacob knew if he could give his baby girl everything she ever needed, maybe he could give her a new mother too.
“Welcome. How can I assist you this evening?” the hostess asked, her attention divided.
“Uh, hi. Reservation under Kaiser for two,” he said, slightly flustered.
“Your dinner companion is already here. Please follow me,” she replied, stepping away from the podium.
He followed her into the dining area, a smile spreading across his face as he approached the table he always requested.
The decor and waitstaff had changed, but the seating arrangements hadn’t. He was led to a corner table, near a window, away from prying eyes. It was the perfect spot.
“Your server will be with you shortly to take your orders,” the hostess said, leaving him alone.
He let out a deep breath and turned to his dinner companion. What he saw wasn’t what he’d anticipated.
“Good evening,” a deep voice said with a playful lilt.
R.J. shifted her gaze from the night view outside the bay windows to the man who had spoken. She was met with ocean-blue eyes and a dimpled smile.
“Hi,” she squeaked, then mentally scolded herself for sounding like an overexcited teenager.
He chuckled and gestured for her to sit back down. She hadn’t even realized she’d stood up.
His blond hair was curly, a few strands resting on his forehead. He sported a scruffy beard that suited him perfectly, making him look like a model. He cleared his throat and gave her a small smile.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet the daughter of the infamous Alpha Raymond,” he began.
Her happiness and confidence plummeted at the mention of her father’s name. It reminded her of the reason she was here.
For a moment, she’d allowed herself to believe she was on a regular, casual date, not mate hunting. But now, she was back to reality, and once again, she’d struck out.
“I’m R.J., and you? I apologize. My father was so excited about this date that he forgot to mention your name,” she said, forcing a smile.
The blond model simply nodded and adjusted his jacket. “I’m Shane. Shane Dubois. And judging by the disappointment in your eyes and my own senses, we aren’t mates,” he replied.
R.J. just nodded and reached for her wine. Finding the glass empty, she let out a deep sigh and looked up at Shane. “So, what’s it going to be?” she asked.
He looked at her, confusion etched on his face.
“Are you going to criticize my pack? Be a jerk? Or are you going to ask me to be your mistress?
“I’m kind of hoping you’ll do none of those things, and we can pretend we’re on a casual date having a great time,” she blurted out, keeping her face expressionless.
“Ummm. I think I’d prefer option four,” he replied, scratching his beard and laughing nervously.
“Good,” she responded, signaling for the waiter to come take her order.
“What number?”
“Excuse me?” she asked, puzzled by his question.
“How many dates have you been on where you’ve struck out?” Shane asked, smiling at the beauty before him. He had to admit, even to his wolf, that R.J. would have made a great luna.
She was not only beautiful, but she also had an innocence about her. But that could have been a façade. When she’d spoken her mind earlier, he’d realized she wasn’t afraid to take action.
“You, sir, are number nine.”
“Psh. Darling, you need to catch up. You’re number twelve,” he teased.
R.J. laughed heartily at his playful dismissal.
“Twelve, really? Why are you being put through this?”
“Dominant father. Worried mother. Only child and heir. One wants to see the pack progress, the other wants grandchildren. What about you?”
She met his gaze. His blue eyes were warm and inviting. She felt that he was someone she could trust, someone outside of her circle of friends in Black Heart.
With her head held high, she told him why she was enduring this mate hunting. “My father wants a man to be Black Heart’s alpha.”
He looked at her, shocked by her words. His father was traditional, but not to that extreme. His parents viewed their leadership roles in the pack as equal.
“So, who’s the current alpha?”
“I’ve been the alpha since I was eighteen,” she said flatly.
“Black Heart is known as the safest and most prosperous pack. The strongest warriors come from your pack.”
She laughed dryly. “Oh, I have a response for that. ‘Years of hard work and great leadership from my father.’”
“No, R.J. These stats were reported by the royals who scout each pack. That report came in two months ago, under your rule.”
She just shrugged and smiled at the approaching waiter. They both placed their orders, and the waiter quickly left to relay them to the chef.
“How can you not know that? Every alpha was impressed. Hell, even my father was bragging that I had a date with you.”
Shane looked at her for any kind of reaction. Didn’t she realize that her name was as famous as her father’s?
“What I do know is that it’s all thanks to my father. I’m not as great as Raymond Macallister. So, tell me about yourself.” With that, R.J. put an end to all talk about the pack.
She’d been conditioned to believe that she would never be as good as him. She believed every word he’d said to her since she was sixteen was true.
Her friends and even her mother had tried to convince her otherwise, but it was too late. To Raymond, his daughter was a failure.
The perfect example was right in front of her. Another date with a suitable wolf, and he wasn’t her mate.
Jacob was ready to throw in the towel, and they hadn’t even gotten to the main course.
“Are you from around here? Because I’m sure I would know.” The woman, whose name was Karrie with a K, hadn’t stopped talking since he’d introduced himself.
He was tempted to turn off his earpiece and go truly deaf for the dinner, but that would be rude.
He learned that she had a super cute apartment three blocks away and had her own car, which her last boyfriend had bought for her.
She loved dogs and had a terrier named Muffy or Mutsy. He couldn’t remember because she was talking so fast.
Karrie with a K kept going on about her friends and her favorite shows. She asked what his were, but he didn’t answer in time before she continued.
“I’m from the other side of town. Malvain Estates.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Wow. That’s one of the wealthiest areas. You must be a doctor or lawyer. Maybe a model; you can’t waste your good looks.”
“So, what do you do for a living?” he asked, trying to sound genuinely interested.
“Yoga, huh? That requires a lot of discipline and mental strength,” he remarked, and that was all it took to set her off. His comment about her passion for yoga seemed to flip a switch.
When it was time to order, she chose a plain green salad, no dressing, and a glass of water. She shot him a look of disgust as he ordered a hearty lasagna loaded with extra cheese and a side of stuffed breadsticks.
“How do you stay fit with all those calories?” she asked, fidgeting with her dress for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I work out in the mornings before heading to the office. Plus, chasing after my daughter helps,” he replied casually, glancing around the room.
“You have a kid?”
Jacob had tolerated her overly tight and revealing dress, heavy makeup, incessant chatter, and judgmental attitude for the first half hour of this disastrous date, but her disdain for children was a deal-breaker.
“Yes. A six-year-old daughter,” he replied, flashing his proud-dad smile.
“William didn’t mention you had a child. You’re twenty-seven, right? Isn’t that a bit young to be a father?” she asked, her tone dripping with condescension.
“Is there a specific age to have a child? My daughter was born when I was twenty-one; I was an adult then and I still am. Do you have an issue with children?” he asked, curious to hear her honest answer.
“I don’t do kids. Never will,” she stated bluntly, her face twisted in a sneer.
“I see. Excuse me for a moment,” he said, offering her a polite smile before rising from the table.
“Don’t be long,” she called after him, already engrossed in her phone.
Instead of heading to the restroom, he made his way to the hostess.
Jacob quickly paid for her meal and any dessert she might order. Even though he was leaving her, he still wanted to be a gentleman.
The drive home was quick. A headache was brewing, and all he wanted was to be home with his daughter.
“Hey, Lexi. How was she?” Jacob greeted the babysitter, who was also his daughter’s godmother.
“She was wonderful as always. I just put her to bed. You’re home quite early,” she responded, helping him out of his jacket.
Lexi had been Annabella’s best friend, and he knew he could rely on her to be there for Jasmine, but he never felt entirely comfortable being alone with her.
“Yeah, the date wasn’t feeling well, so she left early. Thanks for watching Jasmine. See you tomorrow. You can let yourself out,” he said, heading up the stairs.
Jacob paused outside his daughter’s room, waiting to hear the front door close and the sound of Lexi’s car starting. Once he was sure she had left, he went in to give Jasmine a goodnight kiss.
“Daddy loves you so much. I promise I’ll find you a new mommy who will love you as much as your real one.”
