Page 5 of Claiming Her Cougar
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Liam, the same day
My mind keeps drifting to the woman I rescued in the bathroom.Mallory.It has to be.I kept my promise and didn’t look anywhere other than her shapely calves and her little gray friend when I was helping her, but when I turned away to exit the bathroom, I caught a glimpse in the mirror of auburn curls tumbling down her back, brushing the ivory column of her neck.I know that neck.Know that I’ve kissed it.Wanted to bite it.Wanted to claim her.But I didn’t.I’ve been hearing her husky voice in my sleep for six months.Has she been here the whole time?Does she recognize me?
I go to my favorite local pizza place to get lunch.My stomach gurgles at the comforting scents of Italian hoagies and cheesesteaks.My takeout plans change when I see Mallory sitting at a table, looking at her phone.
“Pack my sub to go, please, but I see a friend, so it’s possible I may sit with her to eat,” I tell the guy manning the counter.
He glances over at Mallory, gives me a smirking smile, and nods.
“Good luck, man.I’ll bring it over to you.”
I grin back.“Thanks.”
I approach Mallory’s table.All the other tables are taken, so hopefully my plan works.“So we meet again, Mallory.”
Her beautiful green eyes widen when she looks up at me.“Um, hi.”
“I’m Liam.”I hold out my hand.
“I remember.”Her creamy skin flushes prettily.“Thank you for coming to my rescue this morning.”
“Happy to have helped.”I chuckle and look around the restaurant.“Looks like it’s a full house.Okay if I join you?”
She glances down at her meal then looks back up.“Sure.”
I put down my water bottle and pull out the chair across from her.“Thanks.Ooh, chicken parm.Good choice.I ordered a sub.Please keep eating.Mine will be here in a moment.So, have you worked for Morgan Development long?”
“Almost a year.How about you?I haven’t seen you around before.Do you work at multiple locations?”She takes a bite of her meal and closes her eyes in pleasure.I remember that look, and the last time I saw it, some chicken parm didn’t put it there.I did.Can’t blame her.The sex was exceptional.So is the chicken parm.She opens her eyes and raises a brow at me.
“Yeah, I travel all over for work,” I answer.
My sub arrives.I unwrap it and take a bite.
“Are you based here normally?”she asks.
“Uh-huh, I’m from here, but most of my time is on the road.I’m home for the holiday.What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“I’m flying down to my parents’ in Florida.”
“Oh, are you from Florida?”
“No, I’m from here.They moved down there when my younger brother started college.I’m the third out of four kids.”
I nod.“Cool.I’m the oldest.I have a younger sister in college.Is your boyfriend going with you to Florida?”
She gives a slight smile.“No.I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Yes!
“Is your girlfriend going to your family’s Thanksgiving?”she asks in what I consider a flirting manner.
“No girlfriend.I’m single.”
I know we’re technically adhering to the adage ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’ but it is driving me crazy.I never wanted to leave it in Vegas.Once we were together, I knew I didn’t want it to be a one-time thing.I’ve thought about her often in the months since that night in the club.I don’t know that I believe in the fated mate nonsense that the romantics of the shifter community try to convince us exists, but I believe sometimes you click with someone unexpectedly.
I’d hoped to run into her again as I traveled the country, going to my family’s outlets.Every redhead garnered a second glance, just to leave me disappointed.I’d imagined I’d turn a corner, and she’d be walking out of a store, laden with packages.She’d run into me, drop her bags, and as I helped her pick them up, she’d realize it was me and admit she’s been thinking about me and our time together too.
