Shadow of My Heart - By Caryn Moya-Block Page 0,7
For the first time, he felt lighter, hopeful. When he finally reached her side, he took her hand and rubbed his thumb gently over her knuckles. Her skin felt as soft as silk and smelled of peaches on a warm summer day. He wanted to press his lips to her skin and see if she would taste as sweet.
“Mr. Darkwood, how nice to finally meet you.”
“Raven, please, and you are?” My mate? The one from the prophecy?
“Cara Hamilton. I won the teacher-of-the-year award your company sponsored.”
“It is a great pleasure to meet you, Miss Hamilton. Are you here alone?” Please let her be alone.
“Please call me Cara. I’m here with the principal of my school, Tyler Davidson, and his wife Susan.”
Raven motioned to the maître d' who stood at his place by the door. The man hurried over.
“Please have Miss Hamilton moved to my table and seated next to me.” He needed her beside him.
“Certainly, Mr. Darkwood.”
“That really wasn’t necessary, Mr. Darkwood.”
“Raven, please.”
“Very well. Raven. That wasn’t necessary.”
“But it was, Cara. Now that I’ve found you I can’t see myself without your lovely company.”
“Very smooth. Do you always take control? I thought Derek Red Hawk was the playboy of Isanti, Inc.”
“And so he is. Do you know my brother?”
“Just what the tabloids tell me.”
“But you are a teacher. You know better than to believe all that you read in them.”
“True . . .”
Just then, a chime sounded signaling the beginning of dinner. Raven placed a proprietary hand on Cara’s back and guided her to the head table and the chair next to his. Cara blushed slightly, but she didn’t protest. Raven felt the warmth of her skin on his palm. He mentally sighed. Never before had he acted so familiar with a woman. He just knew that he needed to touch her. He wanted Cara Hamilton with every fiber of his being. He wasn’t going to miss this chance to get to know her.
As they sat down, Joe looked at him with questions in his eyes. Raven just smiled and gave a little shrug. Before dinner was over, Joe would know everything there was to know about Cara Hamilton. That was fine with Raven. It would make pursuing her easier in the long run.
The old shaman had promised that he would know his mate at first sight. Raven hoped he was right. The tattoo on his chest had burned as promised. He wanted Cara at his side and in his bed. She had to be the one.
As the rest of the assembly was seated, Raven noticed a man scowling at Cara.
“Do you know that man?” Raven asked.
“That’s Principal Davidson and the woman to his right is his wife Susan. He’s probably angry that I have taken the spotlight away from him again.”
“I hope I have not caused problems for you in your work,” Raven said.
“No, but perhaps after dinner, you will allow me to introduce you. Hopefully, that will get him over his funk. I’d hate to have to listen to a lecture all the way back to Redondo Beach.”
“Is that where you live?” Here in California? That meant a long-distance relationship.
“Yes, in a condo overlooking the ocean. I bought it when my parents died in a sailing accident two years ago.”
“I’m sorry. My parents are also deceased. I raised my brother Derek with the help of my mentor, Quiet Thunder. But not to worry, I will see you home after the party.”
“I don’t want to cause you any difficulties.”
“I doubt you could do so.”
Raven felt a glow of pleasure when Cara blushed. He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
A hush came over the crowd and then clapping began at the back of the hall. Raven looked up to see Derek entering with a well-known young actress on his arm. They were stopping along the way to wave and talk with others in the Hollywood scene.
“Isn’t that your brother?” Cara asked.
“Yes. With his latest conquest, it seems.”
“You don’t approve?”
“He should be saving himself for his true mate, not playing with every woman he meets. Half our female employees think they are in love with him. He causes a ruckus wherever he goes.”
“He looks very charismatic,” Cara said.
Raven felt a rush of emotion hit him. He blinked in surprise. He was jealous. He didn’t want Cara to think of anyone but him. How did this happen? And so fast?
“Do you think so?” he asked, gritting his teeth.
“Are you jealous?” Cara asked, a teasing note in her voice.
“If I am,