The hour nearly up, Kye changed Nevaeh’s diaper in the men’s restroom. They had one of those baby changing tables that folded up against the wall when not in use. And lucky for him, Nevaeh was only wet this time.
That chore done, he pulled his cell phone out of his front jeans pocket and saw he’d have just enough time to get to the café to meet Michaela. He put it away as he headed in the direction of the small restaurant.
He walked through the entrance, stopping just inside the door, and searched for Michaela. Spotting her, Kye headed to the table where she sat. Just before he reached her, a woman approached his mate.
“Michaela? Michaela Jones, is that you?” she asked rather loudly.
Kye came to a standstill. Michaela looked none too thrilled to see the other female. In fact, from the slight change in his mate’s scent, she was a little leery of her, even though she had a smile on her face.
“Yes, I’m Michaela Jones.”
“I thought it was you. It’s been years since the last time I saw you. I think it was in high school. Do you remember me? I’m Katy Adams.”
Michaela’s smile shifted partway into a grimace. “Of course I remember you.” Then under her breath, she said sarcastically, “How could I not.” The other woman didn’t seem to hear it.
Seeing the expression on his mate’s face, and hearing her hushed words, it didn’t take Kye long to figure out Michaela hadn’t gotten along with this Katy during high school.
Deciding Michaela needed some rescuing, Kye crossed the rest of the distance to her table, and interrupting what Katy had been about to say, he kissed the top of his would-be mate’s head. “Hi, honey. I brought someone who missed her mama.” He took Nevaeh out of the baby sling and put her in Michaela’s arms. He then pulled a chair next to hers, placing his arm around her shoulders.
Katy’s jaw dropped as she openly stared at him. “Ah, hi,” she said.
“Hi,” he replied. “I couldn’t help overhearing that you’re one of the people my wife knew in high school.”
“You’re Michaela’s husband?” From her tone, he got the impression Katy didn’t think it was possible.
“Yes. My name is Kye. And this,” he nodded toward the baby, “is our daughter, Nevaeh.”
Katy’s gaze went from him to Michaela and back again, as if she couldn’t quite believe he would be with his mate. “Oh, ah, nice to meet you both.” She then focused on Michaela. “So you work here at the zoo?”
Michaela nodded. “Yes. I’m an animal keeper. Last I heard, you had gone away to college.”
“I see. And I did. I’m only back to visit my sister and her brats.” Katy motioned to a table behind her that had a stressed-out looking woman who shared a family resemblance, and had three young boys sitting with her who argued noisily.
“Well, I shouldn’t hold you up then,” Michaela said. “I’m on my lunch break and I’d like to spend some time with Kye and Nevaeh before it’s over.”
“Sure. Hey, I’m going to be here for a few days, how about the three of us go out for dinner tonight? We could catch up on old times, Michaela. That is, if you can get a sitter.”
Thinking a dinner out with Katy to be the perfect time to knock her down a peg or two, before Michaela could answer, Kye quickly said, “We’d love to.”
Michaela reached under the table and dug her nails into his thigh. He pried her hand off his leg and clasped it in his. She turned her head and gave him a stern look.
“Didn’t we already have plans to go out to dinner? Just the two of us?” she asked.
“Then you do have a sitter already,” Katy interjected. “That’s perfect. I can just tag along. It’ll be my treat, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“See, hon,” Kye said, “Katy is willing to pay and everything. How can we refuse her generous offer?”
Katy’s laugh sounded phony. “Then it’s decided. How about we meet at The Cliff House restaurant? Say around seven-thirty?”
“We’ll be there,” he answered.
“Great. See you then.” Katy paused, then looked him up and down. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Kye.”
With a smile, Katy turned and walked back to the table where her sister sat. The entire group left the restaurant a few seconds later, the kids wailing and complaining as they went.
Once Katy and her crew were gone, Michaela slapped him on the chest. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Kye removed his arm from around her shoulders and placed the diaper bag he carried on top of the table before he took out a bottle of formula.
“You know exactly what I mean. Why would you accept Katy’s offer to go out for dinner tonight? If you couldn’t tell, I’m not comfortable being around her. She was the bane of my existence in high school. One year, I ended up with no friends because of her. She was a mean, spiteful bitch back then and I doubt she’s changed over the years. If anything, she could be worse. Plus, I saw the way she looked at you. That just pissed me off.”
Kye gave Michaela a heated look. “So you don’t like another woman checking me out?”
“Of course not,” she said softly.
He gave her a hard, fast kiss, then took Nevaeh out of her arms. “Good, because you’re the only woman I want groping me with her gaze.” Kye waggled his eyebrows at Michaela.
She shook her head and chuckled. “You are bad.”
“And you like it.” He took the bottle out of the portable warmer and fed Nevaeh.
“True. Even though I don’t like that we now have to go out with Katy, thanks for the other part you did. Pretending to be my husband, and that Nevaeh is our daughter.”
“Thanks aren’t necessary. I couldn’t help noticing you weren’t thrilled to see her. I was able to put two and two together after I heard her say you went to high school together.”
“Well, thanks, anyway.”
Michaela leaned in and kissed him softly, lingering a little longer over him than a short peck would entail. It had Kye fighting his mating urge. God, did he want her. Now that he’d found her, he couldn’t picture a future without her in his life. If only she weren’t mortal, she’d be his already.
He cleared his throat, forcing the instinct to mate aside. “So you really aren’t angry about us seeing Katy later, are you? I have a reason why I accepted her offer, and it’s not because she is going to pick up the bill. I figured at the restaurant I’d bring her down a peg or two.”
“No, not really, but I’m not looking forward to dinner as much as I was when it would’ve been just the two of us. And what exactly do you have planned to accomplish that feat?”
Kye smiled. “Easy. I’m going to show her what a loving and doting husband I am to you while I look down my nose at her. If she thinks I’d give her a second look she’s mistaken. She comes across as having a big ego. My not falling for her charms should be a blow to it.”
Michaela laughed. “Yeah, she does have one. Katy was on the cheerleading squad and was prom queen. You could say her ego is huge. She’d find it inconceivable that a man like you would be more interested in me than her.”
He pulled the nipple to the now empty bottle from between the baby’s lips and put her on his shoulder to burp. His gaze locked on Michaela’s and his voice dropped to a husky timbre with the desire he felt for her. “Remember, I already told you that you are the only woman for me. And I don’t really care if she thinks I should be attracted to her. All that matters is that you know she can try her best to come between us, but it won’t change how I feel about you.”