Chapter Five
Juni stood in frontof The Unicorn and took a deep breath, hoping it settled her nerves.Slightly disappointed when it did not.She glanced at her cell phone and saw she had two minutes before she had to walk in, but no matter how many in-through-the-nose and out-through-the-mouths she did, her heartrate refused to slow down.Was she doing a smart thing?Taking care of this ...problem ...she had.
Namely, her pesky virginity.Might sound stupid, but she had her reasons for not wanting to keep it.Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and opened the door.Conversation flowed over her skin like a silken river as she entered the dimly lit bar.Standing in the doorway, she took in the atmosphere.The mood lighting over each booth allowed an intimate radius where several couples took advantage of the cozy space.Servers carried food to and from the kitchen.The long bar spanned one side of the building, and two tenders took care of the numerous people lining the counter.Looking around, she searched for Asher, and her sense of smell ferreted him out a moment before she spotted him weaving through the crowd.In his hands was a plastic bin and he was collecting dirty glasses and empty bottles.He smiled at everyone and talked as he greeted his customers.The Unicorn was successful because he had the ability to charm people out of money, and women out of clothes.Probably.She wasn’t going to ask him about that last thought.
Her wolf was pleased at how handsome their mate was, and she didn’t like that Juni didn’t plan on telling him who they were to one another.How could she?He wasn’t a shifter so he couldn’t understand the draw between mates, especially to a wolf.She understood her decision meant she’d never have children, but she was okay with that.From the moment she found out her father was dead, she decided to devote herself to making sure Clover had the most normal, boring life a shifter could have.Maybe she’d go to college.Meet her mate there.Live life and be happy.Settle somewhere other than Sheridan.
In the future, Juni knew she could always find a bed partner if she didn’t want to be lonely anymore.For now, however, that was a million years away.Just then, Asher’s head suddenly whipped around as if he knew she was standing there staring at him.He smiled and waved, then held up his index finger in a “wait a moment” gesture.She nodded, letting him know she understood.
Juni watched as he waved at a few people then disappeared into the kitchen.As she leaned against the wall, a man walked over to her, holding a bottle of beer.She kept him in her peripheral vision, just in case he decided to get a little handsy.
“Hey, there,” he said.
She ignored him.
“Hey,” he said a little louder, as if she couldn’t hear him.“Hi.”
Then he touched her arm.Jerking back, she knocked his hand away.
“I didn’t give you permission to touch me.”
He frowned.“I was talking to you.”
“I didn’t want to talk back.”
“Are you a bitch or something?”the man snapped.
“Why does it mean I’m a bitch because I don’t want a strange man to touch me?”
“Don’t you know who I am?”he asked, perplexed.“I’m a very powerful—”
Suddenly, Asher was there, and he slid an arm over her shoulders.“Hello, sorry I kept you waiting.”
He threw a warning look at the man, who stepped back.“Oh, I didn’t know she was with you, Asher.”
“Yep.Have a good night, Kevin.”He looked down at her.“Ready?”
She nodded, not bothering to spare a glance at Kevin.Asher steered her back through the door, leaving The Unicorn behind.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what, babe?”
“Showing up when you did.I didn’t want to talk to him.”
“Kevin thinks he’s more important than he really is.I guess I’m glad you didn’t give me the cold shoulder as well.”
He led her to his SUV and opened the passenger door.She slid in and she smiled her thanks.Then he walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel.
“I hope you like steaks,” he said, good-naturedly.
“Of course,” she replied.“Who doesn’t?”
