“I don’t want to scare her off with the full Hartley family experience just yet.”
Avelyn pouted, but relented. “Fine. But soon, Bramwell. I want to meet the girl who’s finally captured my boy’s heart.”
Bram just smiled, the irony of the situation not lost on him. If only she knew.
FOUR
Tabitha nervously smoothed her skirt as she entered the Lone Wolf Cafe. The cozy interior wrapped around her like a warm hug with its honey-colored wood, plush armchairs, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Spotting Bram Hartley in a corner booth, she wove through the sparse afternoon crowd to join him.
“Hey, there, partner,” Bram greeted with a lopsided grin as she slid into the seat across from him. His amber eyes gleamed mischievously beneath dark brows.
Tabitha’s stomach fluttered at the endearment, even knowing it was all for show. “Hey, yourself. Ready to hash out the details of our little arrangement?”
Bram leaned back, his broad shoulders stretching his flannel shirt in distracting ways. “Let’s do it. I’ll grab us some coffee first.”
As he walked to the counter, Tabitha admired the view. The man filled out a pair of jeans sinfully well. She shook her head. Focus, Tabitha. This is strictly business.
Bram returned balancing two steaming mugs and a plate of cookies. The ceramic clinked as he set them on the table. “I got you a vanilla latte. Seemed to fit your whole sweet and sassy vibe.”
“Thanks.” She wrapped her hands around the mug, inhaling the sweet scent. “So, ground rules. What’s off limits?”
“I’m an open book.” Bram dunked a cookie in his coffee. “I’m all yours. Although my mama raised me to be a gentleman, so I’ll keep things PG-13 in public.”
“PG is better,” Tabitha said, trying not to imagine his large hands skating along her curves. “Hand holding, hugs, maybe a peck on the cheek.”
He barked a chuckle. “A peck on the cheek? What are we, middle schoolers?”
“What do you mean?”
His gaze held her captive. “I told you that shifters meet, claim, and mate. Pecks on the cheek are not gonna sell our story. We need kissing.”
She gulped. “I thought you weren’t being serious.”
“I’m afraid that’s one area we can’t negotiate.”
“Kissing?”
His gaze shot down to her mouth. “Kissing.”
“Okay, but nothing crazy.” As it was, she was sure the whole town could tell she had the hots for him. “We have to be able to sell it without feeling too...”
“Frisky?” Bram wagged his brows playfully.
Tabitha laughed. “Exactly. No frisky business, mister.”
“I’ll be a perfect low-frisk fake boyfriend,” he vowed, extending a pinky in a childish promise.
She linked her pinky with his, ignoring the zip of awareness from the simple touch. “Deal. So our origin story...”
“Right. I’m thinking we stick to my original idea. Love at first sight?” Bram popped the rest of the cookie in his mouth. “Romantic but vague enough not to bog us down in details we might flub later.”
“I like it.” She sipped her latte, the vanilla soothing her nerves. “Ooh, we should take a selfie. Photographic evidence.”
“Good call.” Bram scooted around the booth until their shoulders brushed. Tabitha held up her phone and they leaned in close, grinning brightly at the camera. She snapped a few shots, hyper-aware of his woodsy scent and radiating heat.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” a familiar voice teased.
Tabitha glanced up to see Kade and Celeste approaching, wearing matching smirks. She’d met the cafe owners a few days ago when she first arrived in town, but this was the first time they were seeing her with Bram.
