Page 6 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

Instead, I decided to take a different shot. “You know,” I started, glancing up at her as I tried to keep my voice casual, “I’m feeling a lot better already. But maybe... just maybe... you’d like to grab coffee we can just go to the cafeteria.”

Her smile widened, and I could feel my heart race in my chest, like she had just given me the green light. “Coffee? I think I could be persuaded.”

“I mean, if you’re free,” I added, feeling a little more confident now. “I’d really like to thank you.”

“You really don’t have to thank me though… was just doing my job”

“Please… just say yes”

“Okay fine… let’s go she said as she bit her lower lip.

Oh, please don’t do that… I won’t be able to control myself,I thought.

We stepped into the cafeteria, and it was a little quieter than I expected for the time of day, the sound of clattering trays and the soft murmur of voices echoing around the room. I grabbed a tray and moved toward the counter. Amelia followed me, glancing over the coffee options.

“You know,” I said, leaning closer to her, “if this is going to work, you have to promise not to judge my coffee choice.”

She raised an eyebrow as I picked up a cup. “And what’s that?”

“Black. No sugar, no cream. Just straight up.”

“You’re brave.”

“Not brave, just committed,” I said with a laugh. "What about you?"

“I’ll take my coffee with a little less... fear factor," she said, grabbing a cup herself. "Just one sugar, splash of milk. But hey, I’m not judging you. At least you're not going for the weird, flavored stuff."

I smiled at that. I liked that she wasn’t pretending to be something she wasn’t, that she was being real. “We’re probablythe only people in the world who can talk about coffee this seriously.”

She laughed softly as we walked to a table in the corner, the quiet clink of mugs and trays creating a familiar, almost cozy atmosphere between us. I sat across from her and felt a wave of comfort wash over me, like everything was falling into place, one step at a time.

I leaned forward, coffee cup in hand, trying to keep it casual. "So, when you're not saving lives, what do you do for fun? Any hobbies?"

Amelia smiled, thinking for a moment. "Well, I guess I'm kind of boring. I like reading—mostly mystery novels, the ones with twisty endings."

"A mystery lover, huh? Didn't peg you for a detective type."

She laughed. "I guess I just like puzzles, whether it's a book or a nurse."

"Sounds like you thrive on challenges," I said, intrigued.

"Definitely," she agreed. "That's why I love my job—every day’s different, keeps me on my toes."

I leaned in. "But when you're not working, do you ever do something that doesn't require your brain?"

She raised an eyebrow, teasing, "You think I need a break from thinking?"

I laughed. "Just curious how you unwind."

"Well, I like to hike. There's a trail by the lake I go to when I need to clear my head," she said, her smile softening.

"That sounds amazing. Maybe you could show me sometime?" I asked, my heart picking up speed.

She met my eyes, smiling wider. "Maybe. If you can keep up."

"Oh, I can keep up." I chuckled.

After a brief pause, I asked, "Anything else? Any surprises I should know about?"

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