Page 23 of No Mane, No Gain

I’ll have you know I can be very charming when I want to be. Now mind your own business.

Baxter’s response was immediate and predictable – a string of laughing emojis.

The ride to the restaurant passed in a blur of anticipation. As the car pulled up to the curb, Chaos took a deep breath. He could face down boardrooms full of cutthroat executives and negotiate multi-billion dollar deals without breaking a sweat. Surely he could handle one dinner with a beautiful woman.

But as he stepped out of the car and saw Olive waiting outside the restaurant, all of Chaos’s carefully cultivated composure threatened to crumble.

She looked stunning in a deep green wrap dress that hugged her curves and made her blue eyes pop. Her honey-blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore a pair of delicate gold earrings that caught the light when she moved.

As their eyes met, Olive’s face lit up with a smile that made Chaos’s heart skip a beat. His lion rumbled with satisfaction within him. Yes, this was their mate. This was the woman they’d been waiting for all their life.

“Hello, Chaos,” Olive said as he approached, her voice warm and slightly breathless. “I hope I’m not late.”

“Not at all,” Chaos replied, unable to keep the admiration from his voice. “You look beautiful, Olive.”

TWELVE

Olive’s heart raced as she stepped into the dimly lit Italian restaurant, the scent of garlic and herbs enveloping her. Chaos’s hand rested lightly on the small of her back, guiding her, and she could swear she felt the heat of his touch even through the fabric of her dress.

“I hope you like Italian,” Chaos murmured, his breath tickling her ear and sending a shiver down her spine.

Olive turned to him, a smirk playing on her lips. “Are you kidding? I’m pretty sure pasta sauce runs through my veins instead of blood.”

Chaos chuckled, the deep sound making Olive’s stomach do a little flip. “Good to know. I’ll remember that for future reference.”

Future reference? Olive’s mind latched onto the phrase. He was already thinking about future dates?

The maître d’ led them to a secluded corner booth, and Olive slid in, hyper-aware of Chaos settling in beside her rather than across from her. The proximity was both thrilling and unnerving.

“So,” Chaos said, his hazel eyes intense as they locked onto hers, “tell me more about yourself, Olive.”

“I am the chairwoman for my family’s charitable foundation. That’s my full-time job and I absolutely love it. For fun, I do romance vlogging.”

“What made you decide to become a romance vlogger?”

Olive took a sip of water, buying herself a moment to collect her thoughts. “Well, I’ve always been a hopeless romantic at heart. Even after...” She trailed off, then shook her head. “Let’s just say, life tried to beat the romance out of me, but I’m stubborn.”

Chaos’s brow furrowed slightly. “Someone hurt you,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

Olive shrugged, trying for nonchalance. “Show me someone who hasn’t been hurt and I’ll show you a unicorn.” She paused, then added with a wry smile, “Though given recent revelations about shifters, maybe I should rethink that metaphor.”

That startled a laugh out of Chaos, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made Olive’s heart stutter. “Fair point. But I hope you know not all men are like that.”

“Oh, I know,” Olive said, her tone light but her eyes serious. “It’s just... hard to let my guard down sometimes, you know?”

Chaos nodded, his expression understanding. “I get it. Trust isn’t easy to come by, especially in our circles.” He hesitated, then added, “That’s part of why I’ve been single for so long. It’s hard to know if someone wants me for me or for my money and status.”

Olive’s eyebrows shot up. “You? Single for long? I find that hard to believe. I mean, look at you.” She gestured vaguely at his... well, everything.

Chaos grinned, a hint of wickedness in his eyes. “Like what you see, Ms. Russo?”

“Oh, shush,” Olive muttered, feeling her cheeks flaming. “You know you’re hot. No need to fish for compliments.”

“Maybe I just like hearing them from you,” Chaos replied, his voice dropping to a low rumble that made Olive’s toes curl in her heels.

She cleared her throat, desperately searching for a change of subject. “So, um, what about you? Why have you been single?”

Chaos’s expression turned thoughtful. “Honestly? I hadn’t met anyone I truly clicked with. Not until...” He trailed off, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that took her breath away.

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