Charlotte Sanguinite POV:
Robert Montgomery is a strange, strange man.
For an Alpha, he's a little too easy-going. Or is it a facade?
I can't really tell.
However, he's nice to me. I like him because he adopted Zeno on the spot, simply because he wanted to give the dog a home.
"You daydreaming?" Jazz snaps her fingers in front of me, making me blink.
"What?" I looked at her.
"I've been calling your name for two minutes." Jazz hands me a slip. "One choco frappe and a cappuccino."
"Sorry," I wince.
I can feel her eyes on me as I get to work. "You've been in a weirdly happy mood these days. Found a boyfriend?"
I flush. "No! One of the puppies at the shelter I volunteer for got adopted three days ago."
Jazz looks unconvinced. "You're so giddy because of that?"
It's mostly that. Zeno has found himself a good home. Mixed-breed dogs like him don't usually get adopted that easily. With the way Robert was asking so many questions, I knew he'd take good care of the puppy. And I saw the joy in Zeno's eyes. It was love at first sight.
"Leave her alone," Gina chuckles. "You know how Charlotte loves her animals." Although, I did hear an interesting tidbit from Shelby…"
I slide over the drinks to Jazz. "Here. If it's about loan sharks, Gina, I don't have any chasing after me. You know how Shelby is."
Jazz grins. "I don't think that's the little tidbit she's talking about. The one we have in mind is about to walk in."
I lifted my gaze, and I could feel the heat spread across my face as Robert Montgomery opened the door, a small, familiar puppy tucked under his arm. His shoes have drool all over them and are partly chewed.
"Good afternoon," Jazz says cheerfully. My break has just started. Charlotte will take your order."
"Wha-" I gape at Jazz, who shoves me—without an ounce of remorse—in front of the cash register, directly across from Robert.
"Hi." He smiles at me, the cerulean blue of his eyes lighting up and making my heart flutter.
"Y—You brought Zeno," I murmured, cursing myself silently because of the stutter.
"I took him to work." Robert looked proud, patting the happy little puppy on the head. "My housekeeper is on vacation right now, so I can't leave him alone." He's quite well-behaved."
My eyes are drawn to his chewed shoes. "I can tell."
He laughs. "He got bored."
The sound surprises me. I quickly looked away, trying to calm my traitorous heart. It's not like I haven't had crushes before. I know they simply fade away very quickly. But with Robert, it's almost ridiculous.
Why does his presence make me feel like this?
A giggle from the side has me looking over to see Jazz grinning at me. She makes a kissy face, and I quickly avert my gaze.
"What can I get you?"
"It's cold outside, so a hot chocolate for me and one of those meat buns for Zeno." Robert glances in Jazz's direction, making me wish the Earth would swallow me whole. My colleagues are having the time of their lives right now.
He's not just a wolf shifter, but an Alpha. I shouldn't even be looking at him, and yet here I am, feeling and behaving like a fool.
"Sure." I pack up the meat bun and start preparing the hot chocolate.
As another customer walks in, Jazz jumps to her feet. "I'll take your order."
I give her a narrow-eyed look. Did she happen to forget she was on an impromptu break?
"What are you doing today?" Robert asks me.
"My shift ends at seven, and then I'm going to go home," I reply, glancing over my shoulder at him. "Why?"
"Well…" His grin makes the scars on the left side of his face crinkle, but they don't bother me. His scars have never stood out to me. His smile is wickedly charming even with them. "I was thinking that you owe me a meal."
"What?" I gaped at him. "But we had Chinese—"
"Yeah," he shrugs, "but technically, it was my treat. You still owe me. I was thinking we could go today."
I stare at him. What is he doing?
I picked up his cup and put a lid on it before placing it before him. My voice is low as I ask him, "You do remember what I am, don't you?"
"I do," he says simply, grabbing a sleeve for his hot cup.
"This is—whatever you're up to, I don't think it's a good idea, Robert. I don't want to get dragged into—"
He just smiles at me. "You'll be fine."
"No, I won't," I insist. "I don't—"
It's hard to speak the words when they feel so harsh toward me. However, I have to get them out.
"I really don't think you're a bad person, but toying with me or painting a target on my back is cruel, Robert," I say slowly. "If your people attack me or decide I'm being a nuisance to you, I can't defend myself." I don't have that kind of strength."
"Nobody will bother you," he says, refusing to budge. "Dinner, tonight." "You did promise, didn't you?"
I swallow.
He doesn't seem to care about my concerns.
"What are you trying to do here?" I ask weakly.
"I just want to have dinner with you." He lightly taps the back of my hand. "I'll pick you up at seven?"
"Robert—"
But he has set down the money for his purchase and is walking out the door.
Jazz and Gina are instantly by my side. "Are you two going out on a date?"
They look far too pleased.
"It's not a date," I mutter.
"Sure sounded like one," Jazz snickers.
"He just wants— it's really not," I insist.
Her smile fades after a second. "If he's pressuring you to go to dinner—"
"No." I rub my hands over my face. That's not it. It's just—"
"Is it the scarring?" Gina asks sympathetically. "If so, I can understand."
"I don't mind his scars," I blurt. "It's complicated."
Jazz shakes her head. "Things are only complicated if you overthink them. You're always so serious. You need to loosen up a little. We only get one life, you know? Go have fun, get drunk, be a little flirty. You don't have to sleep with him. Just let loose."
The idea does sound a bit appealing.
Maybe I shouldn't aim to get drunk, but I could try to enjoy the dinner. It's been a while since I went out, especially with a man. Perhaps Robert is just testing me. For what, I don't know, but he'll soon find out that I'm not much more than a human. I just have to prove that to him.
With that in mind, I spend my break searching for nice casual restaurants or dining spots. When closing time rolls around, I have a place in mind. It's not fancy enough to say "date," but also not so casual as to suggest I'm a cheapskate. I've also calmed down considerably. I really don't know what Robert is up to, but he's not romantically interested in me. He can't be. I'm a vampire. No shifter in their right mind would even look at a vampire in that way.
That's right.
There's a large chasm between us that neither of us can cross, and that goes a long way in reassuring me.
However, when the clock strikes seven, the door opens and Robert walks in. Instead of a wriggly little puppy in his hands, he's holding what looks like a small, hand-woven basket filled with beautiful, colorful flowers.
"Here." He smiles at me, handing me the basket. It's dainty enough to hang from my arm if I want, and absolutely adorable. "I got you these. Pretty flowers for a pretty lady."
It's a corny thing to say, and despite the line I keep trying to draw between us, I can't help but sniff the flowers. "I—Why'd you get me flowers?"
"I wanted to."
Jazz wolf whistles. "These are gorgeous. And not cheap. Somebody has the hots for you."
The last part is whispered to me, but she doesn't know that Robert can hear her. He just smirks.
I close my eyes in mortification, and she elbows me. "Thank him!"
"Thanks," I say slowly, feeling shaken.
He shouldn't be getting me flowers!
"Ready to go?" he asks, his eyes laughing at me.
I know full well that if I linger one minute more, Jazz and Gina will say something else that will only serve to embarrass me.
"Yeah." I grab my things off one of the tables, and we head out.
Robert opens his car door, but I shake my head. "I'd rather walk."
"Lead the way." He gestures with his hand, but I don't move.
"Charlotte?" he asks after a minute.
Staring at him, I took my time to speak. "Why did you get me flowers? I didn't ask for flowers."
"I told you. I saw them, and—"
"You're an Alpha, Robert, of a wolf shifter pack. "What are you doing, giving me flowers and trying to go to dinner with me?" This whole thing seems ludicrous.
"Is giving someone flowers a crime now?" He gives me a half-smile.
I don't smile back. "It could cause an issue with a lot of people."
"Then that would be my problem, wouldn't it?" He meets my gaze, serious now. I am more than capable of looking after myself, Charlotte. And I see no reason why we can't be friends."
There's something about the way he says the last part that has me scrutinizing him. The lack of sincerity in those words makes me wonder if he really means them.
"One dinner," I say tightly. "I can't afford to be friends with you, Robert." The whole idea is insane."
He sighs. "Pity. I don't have many friends. Being in the position I am, it's hard to trust people."
"And you think a vampire is someone you can trust?" I begin walking down the street, and he follows me.
"I feel I can trust you." He shrugs. "You're different from the others."
"Now, that's a line I haven't heard before," I say dryly before adding, in a mocking tone, "You're not like other girls, Charlotte". You're different!"
Robert bursts into laughter. "Who was it? Who said that to you?"
"A human who tried to pick me up in a bar." The memory makes me cringe.
Robert's laughter, though, makes me glance at him.
He really is handsome. I know his flaws should make him unappealing. I wish they would. It would be easier to despise him or fear him than feel this illicit attraction that refuses to die down.
"Either way…" Robert falls into step beside me, shamelessly tucking my arm around the crook of his elbow. "I am in need of a friend, and I don't see why you can't be one."
"Do you hear yourself? We—"
"If you point out the differences in our species again, I'm going to start showing up with flowers every day, at your workplace." He beams at me.
I snap my mouth shut. Is that a threat?
It sounds like one.
It even feels like one.