Mating Dance by Bianca D'Arc Read Free Book Online Page A

patio in a slow, swaying rhythm.
    “You like wine?” Ashley asked in a tone that
was casual, but the question seemed important to her.
    “I do. You saw the wine fridge in the
kitchen, right? I have a little bit of a wine cellar under
construction right now. Every season, my colleague at the Maxwell
winery sends me a few cases of their best.”
    “A colleague?”Ashley seemed intrigued. Tom
liked that she was interested in his life.
    “Their lawyer is some kind of big cat
shifter. I helped her out a few times after she graduated from law
school, since there are only a few of us who are both shifters and
attorneys. We all know each other, and help out where we can. This
girl, though, she was practically raised by vampires. She doesn’t
know much about shifters, but we worked together via email a time
or two, and for that, her boss put me on the VIP list when he found
out I truly appreciated his work. Maxwell’s is one of the finest
wineries in the States, and Maxwell has been at his craft for a
very long time.”
    “Seems so odd to be talking about vampires
working in actual businesses. In fiction, they’re all mega-rich and
don’t ever have to work.”
    “Oh, Maxwell is mega-rich too. He’s had
centuries to amass his fortune, but the money has to come from
somewhere and has to go somewhere too. If he just rested on his
laurels, with the rate of inflation, he’d be broke in no time flat.
Like anybody else, he has to make his money work for him. In his
case, he puts it to work doing something he enjoys and can actually
benefit from himself. It’s a good situation for him.”
    “You sound like you admire the man,” Ashley
observed.
    “I do,” Tom admitted. “I only met him once,
but he’s a very charismatic fellow. Personable. Even friendly,
after a fashion. We talked wines after the business part of our
meeting was over, and I hear he’s experimenting with bringing
shifters in to work in his vineyard. He’s not a snob. He treats
people fairly and seems willing to try new things.”
    “A paragon,” Ashley agreed wryly. “For
someone who drinks blood.”
    Tom laughed outright at that. Ashley had a
dry sense of humor he was only just beginning to discover. He liked
it. Just as he liked pretty much everything about her.
    He spun her around, back toward the grill.
He dipped her, stealing a quick kiss before letting her go. It was
time to tend the meat on the grill, or else they’d be eating
charcoal.
    She retrieved her wine glass and sat at the
table, watching him cook. Everything was nearly done, so it
wouldn’t be long now.
    They shared a companionable dinner,
discussing topics ranging from wine to art to politics and
religion. Tom liked the way Ashley asked what she wanted to know
directly. She’d learned from her sister’s mating with Brody that
shifters worshiped and served the Goddess, and he was gratified by
the open mind she kept when he explained a bit more about his
beliefs. She wasn’t rejecting anything right off the bat, which
boded well for the future.
    When time came for dessert, Ashley unpacked
the bakery box she’d brought with her. Honey buns and other
delicacies the bakery had become known for came out of the box, and
Tom wasn’t above devouring two of the pastries in short order.
Ashley laughed at him as he licked sticky honey off his fingers,
but he didn’t mind.
    “I guess it’s true about bears and honey,”
she observed, watching him with a little flare of heat in her gaze
that made him sit up and take notice. His inner bear was ready to
get on with the rest of the evening—especially if it included
shared pleasure with the enticing female sitting across from
him.
    “Oh, it is most definitely true. Just about
everyone in town loves honey—except maybe Sven. Polar bears are
weird.” She laughed as he finished licking his fingers. “One of the
main factors in favor of your business was the box of samples you
brought when you made your presentation to the town council.