Brinnley turned quickly, not realizing anyone was listening to her. “Oh, well, both, but I was speaking of Draven.”
Bonnie nodded. “He’s going to be an amazing father. And an equally amazing mate. After my first mate died, Draven was the male that made it a point to check on me and the girls every single day, every single evening. He never let the tears scare him away. He’s one of the best males I’ve ever known.”
“I had no idea,” Brinnley said.
“Jack and I are fated mates, but so much happened to keep us apart. I was mated to another male, and when I lost him, Jack still stayed away. We just didn’t know how to find each other again, so Draven, his best friend, stepped in. There was never any romantic interest on either of our parts. He’s the brother I never had. You will not find a better male. The female he stands beside as his mate will never, ever want for anything.”
Brinnley turned her attention to the opposite end of the pool where the kids were shrieking with laughter as Draven and Rance pretended to be sinking under the water. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“You’re welcome,” Bonnie said, realizing that Draven may have been making more progress in getting closer to his mate than he’d realized.
The sliding glass door opened and Niko stepped outside.
“I thought you were Jack! He’s supposed to be joining us,” Bonnie said.
“He said to tell you he’ll be just a few more minutes,” Niko said.
“I’m holding him to it!” Bonnie said.
Niko fidgeted a bit, watched the kids playing at the end of the pool, took a quick glance around the pool and the splash pad until he found Griffin sitting on top of the fort trying to reach Draven and Rance with the water guns mounted on the fort. He smiled to himself, and then met Maeve’s eyes as she watched him with one eyebrow raised. His smile fell as he walked over to her. “Hello, Maeve.”
“Niko,” she said coldly.
“I was looking for you.”
“Really?” she asked, feigning no interest at all.
“I was wondering if you’d accompany me to dinner tonight.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, I mean, I know your name, and you know mine,” Maeve said.
Niko gave a hint of a smile. “I know you do. I was just hoping for a little time to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Niko made a half-assed attempt at a shrug of one shoulder. “Me. Why I’m like I am.”
“I didn’t think you cared to let anyone get to know you. The whole point of not dating anyone who knows your name.”
Niko nodded, and took a step back. “At least I tried, right?” he asked.
“Niko! Come shoot water guns with me!” Griffin yelled excitedly.
“You know what? I have to go take care of something, but if it’s okay with your mom, maybe we can do that tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“I do. But it’s up to your mom.”
“Alright,” Griffin said, but it was clear he didn’t think he’d be able to.
“Y’all have fun,” he said and waved before walking back inside the house.
Maeve watched him go, holding herself in check, really wanting to go with him, but knowing the outcome if she did. When she sat back in her chair and faced the pool again, she found Rance standing there in the pool right in front of her, glaring at her. “Oh! You startled me!” she said with a smile.
“I know this is none of my business, but you don’t realize what a huge step that was for him. He’s trying. He’s never tried before, but with you he made an exception. Niko is not shallow or selfish, or a man whore. He’s broken. He’s never recovered from traumas that you can’t imagine. But he’s still alive, and he’s breathing, and for the first time in his adult life he drops his mask and lets himself be seen by the female who is supposed to be his mate, and you cut him down.”
“I… He’s always… I… How would I know that? He’s never serious!”
