“Of course,” she smiled and tossed her honey-colored curls behind her shoulder, “Who doesn’t?”

“That’s just what I said,” he grinned.

“What are we having?”

“I hope you don’t mind. Giovanni, the owner, told me he had an uncanny knack for ordering what people wanted when he meets them. Ah, here he comes,” Alex took her hand and sat back as the older man came towards them.

“SignoreKensington! Bene! I see you have arrived, and with your lovelyMargharetta,ciao bellissima,” he bowed to them both, but made no move to touch either of them.

Of course, he was a Wolf Shifter. He probably understood better than most how volatile a newly mated male was around his female. Alex smiled and exchanged greetings.

“I will make an unbelievably beautiful dinner for you both. Trust in me, eh?” he winked before making his exit.

“Wow,” Maggie laughed, and the sound was hypnotic, bringing joy to his heart like he’d never felt before, “He is quite the character. Thank you for this. You are spoiling me, you know.”

What could he say? He’d made her happy, and there was no greater joy to a mated male than bringing a smile to his woman’s face.

“I hope you like it, Maggie mine, because I intend to spoil you for a very long time.”

“Oh yeah, promise?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” she said.

Alex poured wine, and they talked about the hotel, her app, and his career at ISP. He wanted her to feel secure in their relationship, and to know she came first. Always.

“So, will you be leaving soon,” she frowned when he mentioned the ISP headquarters was in Manhattan.

“Leaving? You? Never!” he almost choked on his wine.

“Oh, I wasn’t sure, when you said,” she fidgeted with her napkin, but he was already moving closer to her in the booth.

Alex took her face in his hands and lifted until her hazel eyes met his. He kissed her lips once, twice, three times for good measure.

“I love you, kit, I told you that,” he growled softly, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you said the offices-”

“Dean’s office. Not mine. My office is wherever I want it. Yes, I might have to drive into town for a meeting or two every couple of months, but I am not leaving your side, Maggie mine. We are mated. That’s for life.”

“Is it?” she leaned into him, her voice a breathless whisper but he heard her loud and clear.

“Oh, yes, love. You are mine and I am yours, for life,” he took her mouth once more, ignoring the sound of someone clearing their throat.

That was followed by some discreetly whispered Italian. Alex turned a deaf ear to them all. Nothing and no one were more important than the navy clad woman in his arms.

She felt so good there. Perfect. Like she was born precisely to fill that space just there. After he dropped a few bills on the table, Alex led her outside.

“I forgot to ask you when we left, where is your Jeep?”

Alex held the door to the sleek black Jaguar he usually drove and helped her inside. After he rounded the car and took his place behind the wheel.

“Oh, uh, the Jeep is not mine. It’s, um, well, it’s Jo-Jo’s.”

“You bought Joelle a car?” she asked, eyebrows disappearing into her hairline.

“She gave me some information, and I paid her,” he nodded, leaving it at that.