Page 36 of Claiming Her Cougar
“No worries.I’m sorry too.I’ll try to do better in the future.”
Why does he have to be such a good guy?It would be easier if he was a jerk.I snort.If he was a jerk, then he’d be like every other guy I’ve dated.
“What’s so funny?”he asks.
“What?”
Did I say something and not realize it?
“You snorted like you thought of something funny.I was wondering what it was.”
“Oh, um…”
“You don’t have to tell me.I can just sit here and make things up in my head, but it may involve you in a tutu on a unicycle.”
I can’t hold back my laughter.“You’re so weird, Liam.I was thinking—emphasis on the was—that you’re a good guy.If you were a jerk, then you’d be like every other guy I’ve dated.”
He gazes at me, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“Is that why you’re not interested?I’m a good guy?Do you like jerks?”
I sigh.I brought it up.It’s only fair I’m straight with him.
“It’s not that I’m not interested.I am.But we work for the same company, and you’re an executive in that company.My career is important to me, and I want to advance at Morgan.I don’t want people thinking I achieved things because of who I’m sleeping with.As if that’s not enough, you’re the son of the CEO, so you’ll probably end up being my boss one day.”
“What?No, I won’t,” he interjects.
“You’re going to be CEO one day.”
“Nope.No interest in that.It’s most likely going to be my cousin Andy.”He leans back and tucks an arm behind his head.I try not to drool as his bicep bulges.Focus, Mallory— no getting distracted by the bulging muscles or anything else you may have noticed bulging.I know what all those bulges can do, the pleasure they can bring to my body, how secure and desired they can make me feel.
“He graduates from college this year and will come on board in Operations.He’ll be working in all the departments to get a big-picture view.”He grins, and it’s adorable and boyish.“He loves business and has been interested in the company his whole life.”
“Really?”I had no idea about this.I always assumed Liam would follow in Will’s footsteps.
“Yeah, really.Logan and my sister are welcome to join the company too.It’s just as much theirs as it is mine or Andy’s, but they haven’t shown an interest.”
He sighs like the weight of the world is on his shoulders.“So that’s it?Because we both work at Morgan, you won’t go out with me?I can resign.No problem.”
I laugh again.Like he’d really leave his executive position at a company his family owns just to go out with me.
“Yeah, okay.”I can’t help rolling my eyes at the absurdity of it.“Well, that’s only one reason.”
“You have more?”he asks with a furrowed brow.
Oh, boy.Am I just going to be honest and sound like a bitch?Is it fair to ask him to be my friend but then keep things from him?I don’t want to string him along.Maybe I should just lay it all out there so he knows there’s no chance for us and he can stop whatever this is between us.I take a deep breath and tell him the truth.
“I need to be with a wolf shifter.I know that’s stupid, and I should probably be in therapy, but I want my family’s approval for once.I’ve already disappointed them by not being a shifter.I can’t help that.It’s biology.Being a paralegal is my dream career, but it’s not aspirational enough for my mom.I don’t want to stop doing that and go to law school.Law is interesting, but not enough to incur tons of debt and have no life.This lets me have a balance.I already had one boss work himself to death.I’m not following him.So the least I can do is to be with a wolf shifter.Then there’s a chance my kids won’t be like me.”
Holy word vomit.I can’t believe I just unloaded all that.I feel so much shame, having said that out loud.What the hell is wrong with me?Am I going to pass up a chance with a great guy that seems to like me because I don’t want to face my mother’s disapproval?Before I can open my mouth to mitigate the damage I just did, Liam nods.
“Yeah, that’s a big reason.I can’t do anything about not being a wolf shifter.This is a first.Normally I’m sought after for my position, my name, and my money.That’s what matters to most women.Whether I can shift or not doesn’t factor into it, certainly not what animal I shift into.It’s something that would be tolerated to get the other three.This is the first time all the other things are disregarded, and the fact I’m a cougar shifter is the deal-breaker.I knew you were one of a kind from the start, Mallory.”The laugh following that statement holds no humor.
“I’m sorry?—”
“No, it’s okay.I asked, and you told me the truth.I appreciate that.It would have been easier to lie, but you were honest with me.You truly are one of a kind.I mean that in the best way.”
I try to swallow past the lump in my throat.The goal horn sounds, and I glance at the TV.I forgot we were supposed to be watching the game.Dallas scored again.Looks like the captain is two-thirds of the way to a hat trick.Woo-fricking-hoo.
