A/N: Still sick and my medication is making me really sleepy and hazy so this is the only story I'm updating this week although I have a part of the next This Girl Just Wants to Have Fun chapter done.

Also, those of you who write, want some feedback on your work and a chance to win a shout-out to my fans might want to check out The Contests Book, chapter October Challenge (link in the comments and as an external link).

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Our eyes locked as soon as he lifted his gaze at the sound of the bell chime. My heart beat into my head as I was pulled towards him by some invisible force. I could feel glances and stares from the other staff members and customers, but I didn't turn to them; I wasn't ready to let go of the gorgeous sight before me.

He was wearing a shirt again, a white, flawless button up, which surprisingly had no name tag, and I could see the edge of something black around his waist. His brown hair was the same as before - ruffled, and as I sat down at the bar, right before him, I had to restrain myself from reaching forward and running my fingers through it.

"Hello," I said, giving him a tentative smile - he was surprised to see me there, but how would he react once he got over it? - and leaned my elbows on the surface he'd been cleaning when I walked in.

"Hi!" His tone was high-pitched and he grimaced before he greeted me again, this time his voice coming out normal:

"Hey."

One of his colleagues - I could tell by the black apron with the café logo on it; the same as what my mate had around his waist - approached us. The thirty-something fit guy raised an eyebrow at the teen, but the boy shook his head - an unambiguous sign of 'it's okay'; the man got back to his work and I suppressed a relieved sigh at the notion that my mate didn't want me kicked out.

That was definitely a good start!

"What are you having?" He asked in a slightly too carefree to be genuine inflection and my elevated mood decreased; perhaps we weren't off to as good of a start as I'd thought.

I did my best not to show my disappointment and kept the smile on my face and my tone casual.

"What do you recommend?"

He glanced behind him to the large chalk board that had a menu scribbled on it.

"I don't know what you like," the boy replied, still scanning the black surface for ideas.

"Something not too sweet and with a rich texture." I told him when he turned back to me. "Not too watery and in a large quantity."

I was going to need that; I'd been so nervous at the prospect of meeting him that I hadn't slept well the previous night.

"An extra large coffee with extra cream then?"

I gave him a nod.

"Would you like a drawing with that?"

"A drawing?" I repeated, my eyebrows furrowing.

"Yes, I can use the cream to make a drawing of something. What would you like?"

"A wolf." He had barely posed his question when the word left my mouth.

"You like wolves?"

My eyes drifted away from his beautiful face and to his hands. I watched in owe as he poured the cream onto the coffee, twisting his wrist this way and that way, effortlessly forcing the white liquid to form into a wolf's head.

"They are amazing animals," I answered, dazed by his skill and the ease with which he used it. "Strong and loyal."

"And loyalty is important to you?" The torso was done and he began working on the legs.

The smile fell off my face.

"Where I come from loyalty is everything."

One word - a single word - uttered at the wrong place and before the wrong people could condemn us. For our safety, our kind was to be kept a secret; how could loyalty not be important in a community hiding such a vital secret?

If we could not rely on each other, who were we to trust?

The packs lead different lifestyles, they viewed the world differently, but to all, loyalty was one of the highest virtues.

He pushed towards me the large mug with the now completed design of an adult wolf standing on all fours and I couldn't help the way the edges of my lips curled up.

Who knew I'd fall for an artist?

"You've got talent." I noted with pride and could already imagine myself bragging to my family about the creative nature of my mate. "Now I don't want to drink it because I'll ruin your masterpiece."

He giggled and my smile became bigger and then painfully large when I saw him blush. Even with my inexperience I knew that blushing was a giveaway sign of interest in someone.

Of positive interest.

"You can always take a photo of it," the boy suggested and I took out my phone and snapped the evidence I'd show to my close ones while praising my mate's craft.

"One with the artist?"

I could almost hear my heart crack when his face turned into one of uncertainty at my plea.

"I... Ermm, maybe next time?" A glimmer of fear shone into his eyes, but before I could ask what was wrong, he unknowingly answered me with his question:

"How did you know I worked here?" He took a step back, looking around, probably in search of the well-built colleague from earlier.

So now he thought I was stalking him.

In a way, that wasn't far from the truth. However, I had no ill intent and I had to show him that.

"Keychain," I replied, doing my best to keep my voice even. "When I drove you the other night and you took your keys out, I noticed this logo." I nodded towards the now visible black apron around his waist. "I wasn't sure whether you worked here or if you were a patron, but I thought I'd give it a shot and it seems it has paid off."

"So you did come because of me?" He uttered slowly and I gave him a nod.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." That was the truth, but it could seem rather strange coming from a person he's only met once so I added an excuse: "Alec can be rather... overwhelming."

"You mean terrifying as Hell."

"He has a way of getting into people's heads. He gets it from the other side of his family."

I had to carefully measure my words before they came out of my mouth. Even though I wanted to get to know this boy and let him get to know me and my family in turn, I could not yet disclose the shifter/vampire issue to him.

"You two are related?"

He seemed genuinely bewildered and I couldn't blame him for that. Alec took completely after his mother, from the pale skin, lean stature and light blond hair to the haughty character; the only difference was in the eyes: hers were the color of old gold and his of a dim silver.

"I'm his uncle," I admitted. There was no harm in that, just shame.

"You are?" His voice rose in his astonishment and he looked about again, this time probably to check if he was causing a disturbance. The people who had been seated nearest to us had either already left the Milk & Cream or had moved to further tables. It saddened me that that was due to my presence, but it did provide me with the opportunity to speak to my mate without being interrupted and without any eavesdroppers, although his African-American colleague kept an eye on us.

"Really," I assured him. "I can imagine your surprise; he takes after his mother in the looks department and there isn't much of an age difference between us."

Only five years, I added in my mind.

"How old are you?" The boy asked.

"Twenty-four."

"You are six years my senior then."

He seemed to startle when I narrowed my eyes at his response.

"Are you always so eager to offer personal information to strangers?" It was my turn to question him.

"You told me your age first," he pointed out.

"That is because I want you to get to know me," I said aloud what I'd been thinking since the evening I met him.

"Why?"

"So you could trust me."

"Why?" He repeated.

"Because I want you to trust me."

I need it.

"But why?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Even the conversations with my youngest brother did not sound as childish as the exchange we were having.

"Do you realize you sound like a kid right now?"

He lowered his head as if I'd reprimanded him and I clenched my fists to prevent myself from grasping his chin and tilting his head up again.

"Look up. It's good that you are questioning people; it will help keep you safe."

And I want you to be safe.

He did as I told him.

"What's your name?" I finally asked. He seemed to hesitate over replying - did this have something to do with my remark about him giving too much personal information? - but in the end he answered:

"Riley."

An electric current like the one I'd experienced on the night we met, ran through me. The intensity of his effect on me would lessen with time, save from moments of tenderness and intimacy, but right now I felt like growling in pleasure simply from hearing my mate's name for the first time.

"Well, Riley," I made a pause, enjoying the sound, "I'm Rhys."

Rhys and Riley - has a ring to it!

I extended my hand and a shiver ran through it when he shook it; I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply when he let me go.

I could not transform here, but I felt the tiny tremors that accompanied the shift. My wolf begged to take form, to run and howl in pleasure for all to hear, for everyone to know I had found Him.

"Why were your eyes closed at the parking lot?"

I was looking at him when I replied:

"My other senses are heightened that way."

"Why did you want them heightened?"

Because you were around.

"Because I smelled something good."

Someone.

"What?"

That should be 'who'.

"A scent I had not smelled before."

Yes, that should be a safe answer.

"But what was it?"

Even though his constant inquiries made me nervous, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Again with the questions? Maybe I'll tell you next time."

I surprised us both when I winked at him. I didn't intend to; it simply happened on its own.

"I have to go; I'm meeting my brothers." I gazed down at my mug; there was still some coffee in it and I gulped it all at once.

"How many brothers do you have?"

"By feeling - many; we are a close-knit community." Keri and Anthony were just two of the people I considered family, especially the former. "By blood - three. Actually, you already met one of them."

"I have?"

Nodding, I reached into my jacket for my wallet.

"Everett. He was the oldest guy you saw on the parking lot. He's also Alec's father. He had yet to reach seventeen when Alec was born," I added when Riley gasped.

"So Alec's parents are childhood sweethearts."

I frowned at his suggestion; my mate couldn't be further away from the truth. It also brought up a subject not only painful to our family, but also complicated, especially if I had to try and explain it to someone who had no knowledge of our world.

"Alec's mother is a lot older than my brother," I slowly enunciated.

"How much older?" He asked quietly as if unsure whether he should have spoken.

"A lot. Age can be complicated with some people."

Especially with pureblood Dayers and Anastasiya came from a long line of purebloods.

"Keep it," I insisted, handing him a fifty dollar bill.

"That's more than four times what you owe for the coffee," he protested, shaking his head.

"Buy yourself dinner; you are too slim."

I regretted my words immediately. Riley's mouth fell agape and his eyebrows furrowed with insult.

"I eat regularly; I just don't put weight anywhere but on my stomach."

I took him in from head to toe; he didn't have much there either, but he had a healthy complexion and lacked the sluggishness that came with malnutrition.

"You don't look sickly," I concluded aloud, but did not take back the fifty to hand him a smaller bill. I wanted to leave Riley a tip so he could buy something for himself and if he decided that would be something other than food, so be it.

I reminded myself it was my turn to pick Kennedy and Carter from school and that was the only reason I managed to stop staring at my mate, turn around and walk towards the café exit. I stopped at the door and swirled around to wave him goodbye; what I wouldn't give to stay just for a few more minutes!

*****

A/N: Rhys is impressed by something as simple as coffee art; would you say he's overreacting?

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