Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,5

the feeling that they’d met before getting stronger when their hands touched. “I’ll have to check my schedule. I think I have a couple of appointments first thing in the morning,” she said, studying him a little closer.

“Shall we say ten o’clock at the diner I saw on Main Street,” Jacob said, returning her gaze and expectant look on his face.

“Mimi’s?” she asked, finally looking away.

“I believe that’s the place,” Jacob said. “I’ll see you there.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, the room filled with excited chatter, but she didn’t notice it at first, still searching her memory for Jacob. “Who was that?” Wynona finally asked, spinning her around.

“I think that was my ticket to buying the salon,” Janice said, a smile spreading across her face. “He’s got to be from the trust, and if they sent someone to talk to me, that must mean they’re going to say yes.”

Chapter Three

***Reggie***

Reggie looked down at the sandwich the waitress had just put down in front of him, not the least bit hungry but very aware that he hadn’t eaten anything since lunch the day before. “Is everything okay, Reggie?” his favorite waitress, Barb, asked.

“As good as it can be when your life suddenly goes crazy,” he said, picking up the sandwich and forcing himself to take a bite.

“You want to talk about it?” Barb asked. “I could take a break.”

He smiled up at her. “That’s sweet, but it would take longer than a break to explain it all,” he said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Well, you know where to find me if you want to talk,” she said, returning his smile before disappearing back inside the café.

Looking up and down Main Street, he realized how much he would miss it if he really did have to go back home. The little town felt more like home than his father’s house now, and he’d not only miss the beautiful mountains, but the people who had become more like family than his own. But deep down, he knew that he’d have to go back, that he couldn’t just ignore the clan and the role he’d be forced to play.

Sighing, he picked up his sandwich, wondering what to tell everyone, dreading the lies he’d have to tell, and took a bite, methodically chewed, then swallowed. He set the sandwich down and looked down at his plate, trying to get up the energy to eat, when someone slid into the seat across from him. Expecting it to be Barb, he looked up a smile on his face, but the smile quickly disappeared when he saw a man sitting across from him instead.

“Can I help you?” he asked, trying to place the man but coming up empty.

The man smiled at him. “Don’t tell me that I’ve changed so much that you don’t recognize me,” the man said. “I’d still know you anywhere; you’ve hardly changed.”

Reggie could only stare for a second, recognizing the voice from his childhood. “Jacob, what are you doing here?” he asked, still a bit shocked.

“Well, it’s nice to see you, too,” Jacob said.

He shook his head to clear it. “I’m just surprised to see you,” he said. “I... things are weird right now.”

Jacob nodded. “I heard about your brother and his fiancée. His death has caused quite a stir back home. Your father’s been making threats that could prove very problematic.”

“Is that why you’re here?” he asked, becoming suspicious. “Did my father send you?”

“Not directly,” Jacob said, looking around them. “Maybe this isn’t the best place to discuss this.”

Reggie pushed the sandwich away. “I wasn’t going to eat this anyway,” he said, pulling out some cash and throwing it on the table. “Let’s go to my house, but I have to warn you that I won’t be bullied by anyone into going home, not by my father and not by you.”

Jacob held up his hands. “I’m not here to force you to do anything,” he said. “But you need to be aware of what’s going on. Whether you like it or not, you now occupy a place on the high council. I’m coming to you as a friend, not a representative of the clan.”

Reggie felt better, but not much. “You can follow me to my house.”

When they got to his house, Reggie grabbed them both a soda and led the way out to the back yard. Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, he felt a little better, a little calmer, but wasn’t sure if it would