Page 20 of Israel

“I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re not exactly expert wooers in this pack,” Jesse said from just outside camera range. “Fuck, we’re lucky we have mates at all.”

“You certainly are,” came a female voice. Rachelle, Kane’s dark-haired, voluptuous mate, walked into view of the camera. She gave Kane an affectionate smack on the back of his head. “Come on, Hunter. You called in these guys for advice? Have you forgotten who your dating coach was?”

“No offense, but I still sucked at dating, even with your coaching,” Kane replied. He grabbed her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “But hey, knock yourself out.”

“Yeah, it’s not like they’re helping,” Israel said. “Please. I’m desperate here.”

Rachelle hip-bumped Kane out of his chair. “It’s cool,” she said. “I brought reinforcements.”

Emma, Terin, and Sophia appeared behind her, all kicking their mates out of their chairs. They gathered around the computer, chair legs squeaking on the wooden floor as they pulled in closer.

“So you’re wooing the country singer, huh?” Emma said. “Sweet. Have you slept with her yet?”

“Come on,” Israel said, feeling a blush rising up his neck. “I just met her like, four hours ago.” The best he’d been able to manage was a massage. And the way she moaned as her muscles relaxed had given him another monster boner.

Emma snorted. “It took me less time than that to get Jace into bed with me. And I knew nothing about mates. I just thought he was hot.”

Too much information. “I can’t do this,” Israel said. “Never mind. It’s way too fucking embarrassing. I’ll figure something out.”

“No, no, we want to help,” Sophia said. “Don’t go.” The red-haired tiger/wolf hybrid reached out and grabbed the edge of the computer screen, as if that could keep Israel from walking away.

“Okay, then,” Israel said, hoping to stop them from talking sex. Ashley’s innuendoes didn’t embarrass him, but discussing specifics about his sex life with everybody else’s mates was something else again. “What made you all fall in love with these yahoos? Or was it just fated mate syndrome, and you couldn’t help it? Because if they’re anything to go by, without magic I’m fucking doomed.”

Emma cocked her head. “Well, Jace did take a bullet to protect me. Two, actually. But that wasn’t what made me fall for him.”

Jace’s voice came from somewhere in the background. “It wasn’t? Shit, and it hurt like fuck, too. I wish I’d known—I wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Yes you would,” Emma said fondly. She turned back to the screen. “But what really made me fall for him was the list.”

“What list?” Israel said, intrigued.

“Oh, come on, don’t,” Jace said. “Does everybody have to be embarrassed, here?”

Emma ignored him. “When Jace was mate-hunting, he kept lists on all the potential mates. Everything from how they liked their coffee to what their favorite color was. Women love men who pay attention to the little things. Anybody can call up a florist and order generic roses, but a guy who remembers your favorite flowers, or cookies—”

“Or candy—” that was Terin.

“Or ice cream flavor—” Rachelle.

“That makes a girl feel special,” Emma said.

“Yeah,” Israel said. “Except, Ashley’s a country star, remember? Her life is full of assistants who bring her coffee exactly when she wants it, exactly the way she likes it. There’s an advance team who makes sure she has the right brand of water in her dressing room when she gets to the venue. She’s surrounded by that shit. I don’t want to just be another gofer she takes for granted.”

The girls fell silent for a moment.

“The thing that made me fall in love with Rafe was the way he listened,” Terin said, her eyes soft and dreamy. “He was so patient with me, letting me take my time opening up, being so quiet and gentle…”

The guys hooted in disbelief, and Israel said carefully, “Um, is that amnesia thing kicking in with you again? Because I thought you just said Rafe was patient, gentle, and a good listener.”

“I am,” Rafe said smugly, leaning over and wrapping his arms around Terin’s shoulders from behind her chair. He kissed her temple. “You assholes just don’t appreciate my finer qualities.”

“He had really sexy abs, too,” Terin added, giving Rafe’s arm a squeeze. “And he talks dirty to me.”

Rafe waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“So that’s…a good thing?” Israel asked. This was getting more and more confusing. “I thought women didn’t like that.” Although Ashley talked dirty all the time, so there was that.

“Depends on the woman,” Sophia said, turning and giving Jesse a wink. “But mostly, I fell in love with Jesse because he made me feel important. Respected. Like I mattered.”