Panther Defender: (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Panther Ink Book 1) Read online

  “There are also tons who are exactly like him,” she reminded him gently.

  “Excuse me?”

  Oh, you have got to be kidding me!

  Ivy glared at her father, and then turned to look at the stranger standing next to her on the other side of the counter. She was shocked when she had to look up—and up—to make eye contact. He hadn’t seemed so tall sitting in the booth, but he was at least six inches taller than her five-foot, eight-inch frame…maybe more.

  “Hey, sorry about that,” she said. “Did you need anything else?”

  She tried to smile, but the gesture felt forced, and she could only imagine what kind of picture she presented.

  “No, I’m good. It was great, by the way,” he said, nodding at her father. He then looked back at her and continued. “I actually came over because I overheard part of your conversation, and I don’t have anyone to see the new movie with either. I thought we could go together.”

  What the hell? Was he asking her out?

  “Are you asking me out?” She asked, incredulous.

  “Well, yeah,” he smiled. “Do you want to go out with me?”

  YES!

  “Oh my God!” She turned to look at her father. “Dad! Did you tell him to ask me out?”

  “What? No, of course not. I—”

  “He didn’t,” Xander said, getting her attention again. “He didn’t say anything to me about you. Honest. I wanted to ask you out since the moment you first approached my table, and I was just trying to figure out how to do it. When I overheard your conversation, I took a chance.”

  Except, if he overheard that part of their conversation, then he probably overheard all of it, and that meant he knew more than she wanted him to know. He probably thought she was desperate or something.

  “Thanks, but, I—”

  “She’ll go.”

  “Dad!”

  “What? You obviously like him, and you want to see the movie. What’s the problem?”

  Oh. My. God. What in the hell is he doing?

  Ivy felt her cheeks flame, and wished for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. What in the hell was her father doing? Since when did he set her up on dates? Especially with strangers? And now, the guy knew she was interested. Although, in fairness, he’d probably suspected that before. Hell, every woman he came in contact with was probably interested, and she refused to go on a pity date.

  She needed to get her father back on her side.

  “The problem is, we don’t even know him. What if he’s a serial killer?”

  There, that will get her father off her back.

  “Are you a serial killer, son?” her dad asked.

  “No, of course not,” Xander laughed.

  “He’s not,” her father said, pointedly.

  Not that he would admit to it, but she could concede that she’d been reaching. Her father respected hard work, though, so she tried another tactic.

  “Okay, well maybe he’s unemployed and lazy. Maybe he expects me to pay for the movie and the popcorn.” Her father frowned and that comment, and she knew she’d hit a nerve. She turned toward Xander and prepared for victory. “Do you have a job?”

  She knew her behavior was borderline bitchy, but she didn’t care. She didn’t need a man in her life, and though she was drawn to Xander, she knew she’d never measure up to all of the other women in his life. If they got involved, he would eventually dump her, and she didn’t think she could live through another heartbreak.

  “Yes, I own Panther Ink with my brothers. It’s a tattoo shop in Center Square. We all ink, but I also handle a lot of the business side.”

  “See,” her dad chimed in, “you can get that tattoo you’ve always wanted.”

  What kind of alternate universe was this? Her dad was now encouraging her to get a tattoo?

  “Since when are you on board with me getting a tattoo? You hate tattoos!”

  “I’ve changed my mind,” her dad shrugged. “Patricia has one, and it’s sexy.”

  “Ugh,” she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “TMI dad. Seriously.”

  “What? I’m just saying they’re not all bad.”

  Both men were smiling, and as she looked between them, Ivy knew she would lose this battle. Especially with her father apparently encouraging strangers. Was she so pathetic that she needed her father’s help to land a date? And if so, what did that say about her? She knew she wouldn’t like the answer, so she shook her head to clear the debilitating thoughts, and threw up the white flag.

  “Fine, I’ll go,” she said to no one in particular. Then she turned to Xander. “I’ll walk you out so we can make a plan.”

  “Great,” he said. “Let me just pay for my meal, and I’m ready to go.”

  “No, no,” her father said, shooing them away. “It’s on the house, son.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “No thanks needed,” her father said. “And you can drop the sir. It’s John. John Morgan.”

  “Thank you, John,” Xander said. “She’ll be safe with me.”

  Chapter Two

  Xander held the door open for Ivy, and then led her to his SUV. It was the only vehicle sitting in the parking lot, but he liked the fact that she still waited for him to lead the way.

  She was quiet on the short walk, and he knew she was trying to think of a way out of their date. He didn’t blame her. He’d equally shared her shock when her father had supported him, and though he hadn’t meant to ambush her, he appreciated the man’s assistance.

  His mate had been hurt before and her confidence was shaken. He didn’t need her confirmation to know the wound went deep, but that wouldn’t stop him from knowing everything about her. Eventually, he would get the details, and then he would slowly repair the damage.

  In the meantime, he would do everything in his power to prove he was a man that could be trusted.

  You’re only half man.

  That was the tricky part. He needed to earn her trust before he told her about his cat, and yet…if he kept a part of himself hidden, she would probably know. She already had reservations about him, and they hadn’t even been on one date yet.

  He knew he would have to reveal his cat sooner rather than later, but beyond that, he didn’t have a clue how to earn her trust. His father hadn’t been a great example on how to build strong, lasting relationships, but he and his brothers had managed to do okay anyway. At least with each other.

  Maybe there was hope for him yet.

  He was the fucking alpha of his pride, after all. That had to count for something. Those loyal to him did trust him to make the best decisions for them all, and he seemed to be doing okay…with the exception of a few things—shifters—that were out of his control. Those who swore loyalty to his father didn’t really count, though.

  A slight twinge of fear raced down his spine at the thought of someone trying to hurt Ivy, but he pushed it away. A rogue shifter would have to be on a suicide mission to lash out at him, his brothers, or their mates directly. Of course, anything was possible, but that kind of attack wasn’t likely. Besides, he was building a strong pride, and an alpha was always stronger with a mate by his side.

  They reached the SUV, and Ivy turned to face him.

  “Xander—”

  “Listen,” he said, cutting her off. “I know what you’re going to say, but hear me out. I like you. When you walked up to my table, I felt something, and I want to get to know you better. I’d like to do that over dinner, and then I’d like to take you to that movie we both want to see. Maybe were not compatible, maybe what I’m feeling is nothing. But,” he shrugged, “maybe it’s something. I’d like to find out.”

  Of course, he already knew, but he couldn’t tell her that yet.

  “You want to have dinner now, too?”

  She whispered the words, but he could hear the hesitation in her voice. He’d upped the ante, and she was scared. That was fine, but he wasn’t backing down. He wanted more than just sitting alone with her in
a dark theater and then going home. He wanted to get to know his mate.

  “It’s just dinner,” he said. “We could even eat here, if that’s what you want.”

  He didn’t want that, but he’d do it if that’s what she wanted.

  “Uh, no,” she laughed. “It’s bad enough my dad basically forced us on this date. I definitely don’t want him listening to our entire conversation.”

  “He didn’t force me, and he didn’t ask me to ask you either,” he said. “I swear this was all my idea. I approached you because I wanted to ask you out. Period. I do appreciate his help, though, because I’m pretty sure you would have said, no. Just like you’re trying to back out, now.”

  He smiled, and to his surprise, she smiled back.

  “Okay,” she conceded. “Dinner sounds nice. What time? And where should I meet you? And I guess, when? I…It doesn’t have to be Monday. I can go any day.”

  She frowned after the admission, but he ignored it. He knew she was feeling nervous and insecure, but he thought she was adorable.

  And sexy.

  And strong.

  He was half in love with her already, but he knew there was a fire buried deep inside her, and he couldn’t wait to see it ignited. She was definitely a worthy mate for his cat.

  “Why don’t you meet me at Panther Ink? There are tons of restaurants in the Square, and the theater is within walking distance. Plus, you can check out the shop, and meet my brothers. There’s no pressure or anything, but I would like you to know them, and for them to know you.”

  “Okay, but why? You say “no pressure” but doesn’t that seem a bit weird? What if they don’t like me? Or…don’t approve. Maybe this isn’t a good idea after all.”

  She took a step back from him, and he fought the urge to reach out and pull her close. He was losing her again, and he had to act fast.

  “No, it’s nothing like that at all. They don’t get to approve my dates, and they won’t judge you. I just…” Tell her the truth. “They’re important to me, and I wanted you to meet them. That’s all.”

  “But…fine.” She spat the word as if she had no choice, and he didn’t correct her. He knew she was already giving up, preparing for rejection, but he also knew that the only way to change her mind was to show her. He wanted her to know his brothers so she would know who to trust if she ever needed their help, and he wanted his brothers to know her so they knew who to protect.

  Grayson was the only wild card in the scenario, but he knew his youngest brother would give the alpha’s mate the respect she deserved. He would wait to explain about Grayson, though. He didn’t want anything to skew his mate’s first impressions of his siblings.

  “Great,” he said. “How about tomorrow at five? You can park behind the building. There’s a small lot back there, and if you text me when you arrive, I’ll come out and meet you.”

  “That sounds good,” she nodded. “Thank you.”

  She pulled out her phone, and they exchanged numbers. The fact that she was willing to exchange numbers with little fanfare set off a warning bell, but he ignored it. He knew her father was on his side, and maybe the man would talk her out of cancelling.

  If not, he would come back to the diner every night until she changed her mind, and he was a very patient man. He also wasn’t above enlisting her father’s help. Sooner or later, she would give in, but he hoped it didn’t come to that. While it might be fun chasing her, he wanted to be with her now.

  “It’s my pleasure,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, kitten.”

  ***

  Ivy walked back inside the diner, but she didn’t look back, even though she knew Xander watched her. Her father was back in the kitchen, but he poked his head through the swinging door and smiled.

  “How did it go?”

  “Good,” she said, tentatively.

  She still held her phone in her hand, and she absently stared at the screen as she thought about what she should do. Behind her, she heard the SUV start up, and the sound of the tires slowly moving out of the parking lot. She didn’t relax, or make eye contact with her dad, until the vehicle turned onto the main road.

  “That “good” doesn’t sound so good. Did you guys make a plan? You’re not already thinking about cancelling, are you?”

  When she didn’t immediately reply, he left the kitchen completely, grabbed the coffee pot and a mug, and placed them on the counter in front of her. After he filled the mug, he grabbed some creamer containers, and dropped them directly on the counter.

  “Come. Sit.”

  She sighed, but she also did what she was told.

  That was her father’s way. Whenever he needed to talk about something important, he placed a warm drink in front of her, and they talked. She remembered sipping hot cocoa when she was small, switching to tea when she was in high school, and then finding her love for coffee during college.

  She reached for three sugar packets, and started doctoring up her drink.

  “So,” her father said. “What happened?”

  “He wants to take me out,” she shrugged, “to dinner first, and then the movie. He also wants me to meet his brothers. And show me the tattoo shop.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad. What’s the problem?”

  “The problem is, it’s a lot of pressure. Plus, don’t you think that’s weird? He wants me to meet his brothers on the first date? Isn’t that something you save for…I don’t know…marriage or something?”

  “Well, maybe a little sooner than that,” her father laughed.

  “You know what I mean, dad. It’s the first date. What if…?”

  She didn’t want to say the words out loud, not again, but luckily her father knew what she was thinking.

  “Look, sweetheart, families are different. Some are close, some aren’t. If he’s close with his family, and he really likes you, then it’s understandable he would want them to meet you as soon as possible. Is it weird? Maybe,” he shrugged, “but maybe it’s just different. I don’t think being close with his brothers, or wanting you to meet them on the first date, is a deal breaker here. What’s really going on?”

  “I just… He’s so… I don’t know,” she said, quietly. “I just think he can find someone better.”

  “Let me tell you something,” her dad said. “Whatever that loser ex-boyfriend of yours said or did before he dumped you is his problem—”

  Oh, she so did not want to talk about this.

  “Dad, I—”

  “Oh, I know you don’t want to talk about it. That’s fine, but we are going to talk about what he did to your self-esteem. You were so confident, so ready to take on the world with your little eatery, and the next minute, you were hiding out here with your dad. Sweetheart, I love you, but I don’t need you here. You know that. It’s not breaking news. But you know what is? Seeing my baby girl smile again. For the first time in months, you showed a genuine smile, and it was pretty amazing. Your old self is buried in there somewhere, and she’s dying to get out. She’s tired of hiding, and feeling not good enough. Aren’t you?”

  Yes!

  Honestly, she was sick of it. She hated this version of herself.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded because she didn’t trust herself to say the words.

  “Good. You like this guy, and it’s pretty obvious he likes you, too, so give him a chance, but more than that, give yourself one. It’s long overdue.”

  He was right. She knew he was right, and yet, the hurtful words and actions of her ex-boyfriend floated through her mind, and she still worried about Xander’s motives.

  Right before she walked away, he’d called her kitten. Why did he do that? She’d been too ready to escape their conversation to ask, but she wondered about it now. Did he think she was shy and timid like a kitten? Someone he could play with for a while and then easily cast aside? Or, was there another reason? Or, did it mean nothing at all? She didn’t know, and honestly, if she wasn’t careful, she’d drive herself crazy trying to fig
ure out the reason.

  It was best to let it go, so that’s what she did.

  Besides, she had more important things to worry about. Like what to wear on her date tomorrow. And how to stop thinking about Xander and sex. More specifically, how to stop thinking about having sex with Xander.

  She definitely wasn’t ready for that yet, and she might not ever be. She was pretty sure her ex’s words were false, but what if they weren’t? If they weren’t, that was a truth she never wanted to find out.

  “You’re right, and I’ll try,” she said, standing. She walked around the counter, and hugged him tight. “I love you, dad. Thank you for everything.”

  He’d always been a good dad, but more than that, he was a good man. He always saw the best in everyone, and rarely held a grudge. He also believed in forgiveness, and of letting the past go. For a man who lost his wife so young in their marriage, he didn’t have to be that way. He could have grown bitter, or allowed himself to overflow with resentment, but he never had. Instead, he took all of his best traits, and raised a daughter on his own.

  He did a damn find job, too.

  Ivy smiled.

  Maybe getting dumped by her ex wasn’t the catastrophe she’d made it out to be after all. Maybe the POS—she laughed at her father’s description—maybe the loser did her a huge favor.

  She kissed her dad on the cheek, and left the diner.

  She had a date to get ready for.

  Chapter Three

  Ivy parked her car behind the tattoo shop, Panther Ink, and texted Xander. For a brief minute, she wondered if their date had really been some elaborate joke on his part, and she quickly scanned the lot, half-expecting to get punked by his brothers and friends.

  Of course, her fears were not only unfounded, they were stupid, and at the same time her phone chimed his response, she saw Xander walk out the back door. She placed her hand on the door, as if to open it, but all she could do was stare at the gorgeous man on a mission to get to her side.

  Holy, hell, he looked better than he had the night before.