Page 27 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
She greeted him with a smile. “I peeked in. The kids are learning so many words. I don’t look forward to the sugar rush later, though.”
“Yes, that’s the downfall to his method,” Ian agreed dryly. No one could begrudge them the candy, though. They got it so rarely.
He washed his hands at the sink, pulled on an apron, and started washing vegetables. He was an old hand at being a kitchen assistant; he knew what to do without instruction, so they didn’t have to talk much.
“He likes you,” Mary commented without segue.
Ian just about stumbled. “Eh?”
Mary paused and looked at him knowingly. She had the air of mother speaking to their child, emphasized by the touches of grey at her temples the black dye could no longer quite hiding. “André likes you. He practically has hearts in his eyes every time he looks at you.”
Damn, it was that obvious, huh?
“You seem to like him too, but you’re hesitating for some reason?”
As expected of the woman who’d helped raise him, Ian apparently couldn’t keep secrets from her.
With her, at least, he could be frank. “I don’t…know how I feel for him. Not really. I don’t know how to respond to him, either.”
“Honey, if you like him, you like him. There’s nothing complicated about this.”
“Oh, it’s complicated. For one, you don’t know his reputation. If you look up the word playboy, André would be the definition. The people he’s been with are all gorgeous, too, some of them professional models. It makes no sense for him to be interested in me.”
Mary’s hunched back straightened abruptly. “You are good-looking too, Ian.”
“Thanks,Mom.” Ian shook his head, taking the compliment with a grain of salt. Mary was fiercely protective of her kids. “My point is that I’m clearly not his type. I don’t understand why he’s pursuing me. I also don’t see how this could possibly end well.”
She looked away, brows beetling. “Because he’s from a wealthy family?”
“His family isn’t just wealthy. Don’t you know? He’s a vampire, and the son of a well-known vampire society liaison.”
Mary’s head snapped back around so she could stare at him, eyes bulging. “What?”
“You didn’t know? He’s fromtheCastor family.”
Her look grew into one of disbelief. “The young man sitting in the other room watching cartoons with the kids and feeding them candy? I’d thought his last name familiar, but…”
“It does seem ludicrous, considering how approachable he is, but I’m not mistaken on this. You see why I’m so hesitant to even think of dating him?”
Mary was world-wise enough to not airily assure him everything would be all right. She stopped washing rice for a moment and really considered it.
“Ian. Do you think he’s sincere?”
“I…do? As far as his sincerity goes. I just don’t expect his interest or attention to last much longer. His track record for being in a relationship is nonexistent. Frankly, it’s a miracle he’s paid attention to me for this long.”
Mary studied him carefully. “And how long has he been chasing you?”
“Four weeks, there abouts.”
“Doesn’t that tell you something? He’s breaking his own patterns with you. Ian, if you aren’t comfortable dating him, then that’s fine. It’s your choice. But what I see is two men who do like each other and are hesitating. Either be straightforward with him and say you won’t date him and let him move on, or try dating. Don’t stay in this limbo.”
Ian went back to peeling carrots. Carrots were easier to face just then. Truthfully, he didn’t know how to answer André. He suspected Mary was right, that he did like André, as Ian gave André far more leeway than he did anyone else. But even thinking of dating him made his heart put on the brakes. He didn’t know how to be in a relationship with a man, let alone one as experienced as André. Even with women, Ian had scant dating experience, and the unfamiliar territory made him hesitant to try anything.
“Ian?” she prompted.
“I’ll figure it out, one way or another, and answer him properly.”
“Good.”
