Tiger's Triumph (Veteran Shifters 4)

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Carlos back to his glamorous, suit-wearing, jet-setting lifestyle, and her back to the problem of Marsha’s children.

Just one night of distraction. That was all.

It gave her a pang in her chest. Her owl was fluttery and dissatisfied at the thought of Carlos flying away.

Sometimes people do that, she reminded herself.

Pauline knew better than to expect any kind of long-term commitment, after all.

***

Carlos

She’d said yes.

Carlos hadn’t realized how tense he’d been about her answer until he knew it. As he closed the door behind Pauline, his shoulder relaxed and his tiger purred in relief.

He’d have to take her to the nicest restaurant in town. Maybe Stella or Lynn could recommend something; he wouldn’t trust Ken or Nate to know a nice restaurant if it bit them.

And he’d meet her there. It didn’t quite feel right to do that—he’d rather pick her up, make sure she didn’t have to put any effort in at all.

But giving out your address was a different prospect out here than in New York, he realized. There, all a woman had to do was name an intersection, and she’d be coming out of a building filled with anonymous apartments, maybe with a doorman between her and the street.

Here, a house might be out in the woods without any neighbors in sight. It might not have any security measures at all.

Well, Carlos was just going to have to show Pauline how trustworthy and safe he was. As he turned to rejoin the others, he had the thought that the process would be a pleasure.

Carlos had barely reached the doorway to the kitchen when Ken said, “So, Pauline, huh? That was fast.”

It was funny. Normally, with Ken teasing him about some woman he’d asked out, Carlos would either tease back, or just roll his eyes.

But this time, before his brain had any input over his mouth, he heard himself say, “Don’t talk about her like that.”

There was a long moment where everyone in the kitchen just blinked at him. Carlos stood his ground and refused to blush.

Finally Ken said slowly, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—uh—”

“Pauline doesn’t date much,” Stella cut in, and Ken let out an obviously relieved breath. “I’d be surprised to see her out with anyone, much less someone she just met. So be careful, all right? Since you’re not sure if you’re sticking around.”

Stella’s voice had a hint of steel that was surprising from a woman who’d so far seemed cheerfully nice.

The warning should have made him defensive. But instead, Carlos found himself feeling pleased that Pauline had someone looking out for her.

“I promise,” he assured Stella. “She seems like an impressive woman. I really do want to get to know her better.”

Stella sat back, looking thoughtful. “All right,” she said.

Next to her, Lynn poked Ken in the side. “Besides, you’ve got no room to criticize anyone for moving quickly,” she chided. “How long was it before you asked me out? Five minutes? Four?”

Everyone laughed, and the mood lightened. Stella got up to make them all something to drink, and Carlos got to sit back and think about what he’d just done.

A date with a local woman. A local woman who didn’t date much, apparently—he tried not to let himself be satisfied by that, but it was a lost cause. Because if Pauline didn’t date much, but she’d agreed to a date with him—

—Well, then what? What did that mean? Was he going to settle down here in Glacier Park and marry Pauline?

Was that what he wanted?