“I don’t know about that. He’s a shifter, he wants nothing more than a wife who will give him a handful of children.”
“And he told you this in the few moments you spent with him this morning, while also getting yourself a job at the restaurant?”
“He didn’t have to tell me. We both know that’s what shifters want. All shifters are driven by a need to procreate.” She waved her fork at Karros. “You would think our parents would be happy I’ve been chosen by a shifter. They might get their grandchildren after all.”
“Does that mean that Caleb has already changed your mind?”
“No,” she insisted. “I want a career. I want to be the best chef I can be, and I know that’s possible if I learn from Ivan.”
“Did I ever tell you how proud I am of you?” Karros asked. “I know Mom and Dad never praise you enough, so I thought I should remind you of your awesomeness.”
“You’re much too kind but I appreciate it. Sometimes I need to hear it and today is one of those days.”
“You got the job you wanted, why aren’t you celebrating?” Karros asked. “You don’t exactly look as if your dreams are starting to come true.”
“I suppose I’d feel better if I’d gotten the job on my own instead of having to rely on your ex-fiancée and my mate.” She speared a piece of tomato and popped it in her mouth.
“Sometimes it’s good to depend on other people.”
“It would have been great to get the job on the merits of my cooking and not my connections.” She looked down at her salad. “If Caleb wasn’t my mate, Ivan wouldn’t have agreed.”
“Okay, here’s the thing. Caleb got you this chance at your dream and you should be grateful for that. But mate or no mate, Ivan is not going to let you stay in his kitchen if you aren’t any good.” Karros inclined his head toward her. “The restaurant is a success, he’s not going to jeopardize that, not even to keep his brother happy.”
“You’re right.” She cracked a smile. “I knew there was a reason I brought you along.”
“I wouldn’t have let you come alone.”
“You don’t think I can look after myself?” Elise asked.
“Oh, I think you can more than look after yourself. But I want to be here for you in case you need me. In case you want someone to talk to. You have never spent more than a few days out of the fae realm. This is going to be a huge adventure.”
“Starting with finding somewhere to live.” She stared out of the window at the buildings across the street. “Caleb offered to help us.”
“That might be a good idea.” He studied her expression. “Don’t you think?”
“So I can be indebted to him even more?”
“No, so you can get to know him.”
“I said I’d go on a date with him.” She reached into her purse and took out the piece of paper with Caleb’s phone number on it and set it down on the table. “I need to give him a chance, don’t I?”
“You don’t need me to answer that question.” He smiled sympathetically. “You have been given this gift of love. Love with a man who knows he’s yours and you are his. If Flora had fallen for any other man, who wasn’t a shifter, I wouldn’t have let her go so easily.”
“It sounds as if you like shifters,” Elise said.
“I don’t dislike them. The shifter bond is unique. Don’t you think it’s an incredible gift to be able to know who your mate is the moment you see them for the first time? You don’t have to second-guess yourself, Elise.”
“I see your point. But I counter that point by reminding you that it takes away a person’s free will. What if a shifter finds their mate and learns they don’t want the same thing? The poor guy, or woman, is stuck. They can’t walk away because fate takes their choice away.”
That’s what scared Elise. She didn’t want to hurt Caleb, who seemed to be a really great guy. Just maybe not the great guy for her.
“I can’t answer that. Meet Caleb, talk to him. Meet his family, I’m sure they’ll love you.” Karros finished his spaghetti as Elise sat mulling over his advice.
“I’ll call him and ask if he’s free to help us find somewhere to live.” She ducked her head and looked at the sky. “I don’t really want to spend the night camping