Page 26 of Furry Equations
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Wait until you hear what she wanted to name my sisters. There’s a reason we don’t let her name the pack’s puppies anymore.”
At precisely six-thirty, Natalie stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down her navy silk dress for the hundredth time. The elegant cut suited her figure without being too formal, but doubt crept in again as she checked her reflection.
Was meeting his family too serious when they hadn’t even defined what they were to each other? Sure, he’d kissed her forehead (which still made her heart flutter), and yes, he seemed to be constantly finding reasons to touch her, but...
Her phone buzzed:Stop fidgeting with your dress. You look perfect.
She spun toward her window.Are you watching me through the walls now?
Enhanced hearing. Your silk rustles every time you move.
That’s it. I’m investing in soundproof walls.
Wouldn’t help. I’d still hear your heartbeat.
“Creepy wolf,” she muttered, even as her pulse quickened at the thought of him being so attuned to her.
Her phone buzzed again:I heard that too. And your heart just sped up.
I’m making a PowerPoint presentation titled ‘Boundaries for Overprotective Alphas: A Scientific Analysis.’
With charts?
And graphs. Very professional. Slide one: Why stalking isn’t an acceptable form of courtship.
Despite her nerves, Natalie laughed. Something about Marcus’s playful side made everything else feel manageable. Even dinner with his family. Even the fact that she was falling for him harder by the minute, without any clear indication of what exactly they were to each other.
SIXTEEN
The drive to his parents’ house gave Natalie time to appreciate Marcus in his element. He handled his sleek black sports car with the same confident grace he brought to everything else, one hand resting casually on the gear shift. The fading sunlight caught the angular planes of his face, highlighting the slight smile that played at his lips whenever he glanced her way.
“You’re staring,” he noted, amusement coloring his tone.
“I’m observing. It’s what scientists do.”
“And what are your observations telling you?”
“That you’re surprisingly relaxed for someone taking a woman home to meet his family for the first time.” She paused as his words from earlier clicked.
“Who says I’m relaxed?” His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel. “I had to talk Emily out of bringing her new AI butler prototype. Last week it developed a British accent and started calling everyone ‘my lord’ and ‘my lady.’”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It also tried to arrange marriages for everyone in the house. Including the Roomba.”
Natalie burst out laughing. “You’re making that up.”
“I wish. The Roomba’s still sulking about being rejected by the dishwasher.”
The humor helped mask the butterflies in her stomach—both from meeting his family and from the way he kept looking at her like she was something precious he couldn’t quite believe was real. Still, she couldn’t help wondering what exactly she was to him. The woman he was protecting? The scientist he was attracted to? Something more?
Before she could spiral further into that train of thought, they turned onto a private drive lined with ancient oaks. The Vale family estate sprawled before them, a stunning blend of modern architecture and old-world elegance.
“Holy crap,” Natalie breathed. “This is where you grew up?”
“One of our homes.” Marcus parked in front of the main entrance. “My mother prefers this one for family gatherings.”