Page 15 of You're Not My Mate

“Do you have company?”

“No, I don’t. I, ugh, I just, I didn’t expect you to come.” She pressed her lips together.

Rocco was confused. He didn’t know why she had looked back inside her home, if she didn’t have anyone waiting for her.

“If you don’t believe me, you can come in. Trust me, there is no one here.”

“It’s fine.” He wanted to go inside and check out her home just so he could have the opportunity to be with her and inhaleher scents, but instead he shook his head. “I believe you.”

Rose tilted her head to the side and frowned. “Okay, fine.” She moved back into her house, and Rocco stepped inside. He didn’t know if it was his wolf or himself that acted like this, but the moment he did, her floral scent filled his senses and he felt this wave of calm erupt over him. That wasn’t the only thing he felt.

Not only was he calm, but he felt … aroused. It had been a long time since he felt this way. His anger at being mated had kept his cock flaccid. He’d rejected Rose, and he’d not been with any other woman since he’d discovered who Rose was.

“It’s stupid, but I’ve made Graham a care basket.” She spun toward him, holding a large basket.

“Wow,” he said.

“Yeah, I know, but seeing as I’ve not had you or any of the pack knocking at my door, I guess that means he’s doing okay?”

“For now,” Rocco said. They were unpredictable, and what was stable now might be completely dead within hours, if not minutes.

“Yeah, so I got him a blanket, because he is human and those cages are not for humans. Then I’ve got together some food for him to enjoy. I didn’t know if food would help, seeing as Alpha doesn’t want to use my other suggestion.”

“I know,” Rocco said. He wasn’t about to tell his mate it was for good reason. He doubted that would go down well. He had to be careful with what he said and did with Rose. Too many times he’d put his foot in it, and he was paying the price.

“How about we take it with us? After we’ve had a drink and some food, we can take it to him before I bring you back for the night?”

“You don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind.”

The smile on her face was all he needed, but he also felta little jealous. Graham was just a guy, but he didn’t like the fact she was putting all this extra effort in for another man. That made no sense to him, since Rose could pack a care package for whoever she liked. But that pesky little jealousy was rearing its ugly head.

“Are you ready to go?” Rocco asked, taking the basket from her.

“Yeah, that is everything.”

And with that, he carried the basket to the car, and Rose locked up her place.

Rocco didn’t have a clue what he was doing, or why he was doing this. He only hoped he didn’t fuck it up.

****

Rose didn’t know if the care package had been a little much. She wasn’t sure what the protocol was on a date. She didn’t even know if this could be deemed a date. Driving toward the bar, she couldn’t help but feel her nerves building. Her wolf was excited. Her wolf was also the only reason she had agreed to go on this damn date.

She wasn’t happy with Rocco or their mating. Not that they had mated. Rocco hadn’t gotten that far. They may have hugged the other night, but they still hadn’t kissed. There hadn’t been any great moment when they realized they were destined to be together. None of that had happened. Instead, Rose had come to hate Rocco and tried to avoid being with him as it had been too painful. This date felt like a mistake.

“We’ve had good weather,” she said, and inside she cringed. This was how bad it had gotten between them. She had resorted to talking about the weather rather than deal with the true elephant in the room—their mating.

Rose didn’t know what this date meant or if it was even the start of them trying to figure things out. Nothing made anysense.

“Yeah, but I can scent the cold. It’s coming,” Rocco said.

“Yeah, I’ve got some plants to prepare in my garden.” She pressed her lips together. “I have some hardy varieties that will handle the cold, but I’ve got to finish prepping the vegetables for everything else.” She pressed her lips together.

“You know, you don’t have to do that shit anymore,” Rocco said. “We have a perfectly functioning grocery store and supermarket.”

“I know, but I also have a lot of cookbooks from my parents and grandparents, who spent a lot of time figuring out how to make everything themselves, and I do use the supermarket for everything I can’t make.” This was insane. They were talking about shopping. It seemed like the safest topic to her, which she couldn’t help but feel a little sad about. They should be able to talk about anything. She’d seen other mates and how they were with each other. They were always happy and open, close.

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