"I can see what you want, but you seem pretty young to be searching for that kind of fun. So maybe I'm not the one."

~ABBA, 'Does Your Mother Know'

~~~

*Lucca's POV*

My fingertips dance over the ivory keys in a pattern they know so well. A delicate waltz they've grown accustomed to over time, knowing each perfect and precise step.

The gentle music floats through the atmosphere of the restaurant, providing the ideal ambiance that my boss strives for.

Although, it's pretty fucking hard to focus with this whiny voice in my head.

'Want mate,' Lincoln whimpers. 'Miss mate. Need to see him.'

'You're fine,' I mentally respond while keeping my eyes on the keys. 'Now stop, you're distracting me.'

'But I miss mate,' Lincoln persists. 'Want to hold him. Need to touch him.'

'What's going on with you?' I furrow my brows as I struggle to stay focused. 'You're acting needier than usual.'

Instead of answering my question, Lincoln just continues to whimper about how much he misses his mate.

Beyond my focus on the piano, my ears twitch as they catch the sound of the front door opening and closing. My skin heats up slightly, accompanied by a tugging deep in the middle of my chest. I frown slightly, having more trouble focusing now. Shaking my head, I release a small huff and squeeze my eyes shut. With the rest of the world shut away, I'm able to center myself and keep my attention on the ivory keys beneath the pads of my fingers.

Becoming lost in the music, my shoulders relax while my mind drifts away into a world filled with nothing but melodic tones, satisfying harmonies, and the sweet smell of oranges and caramel.

My eyes snap open before widening in surprise.

Less than ten feet away stands Kai Ambrose, staring back at me with flushed cheeks. My heart beat quickens in my chest as my hands falter on the piano.

Kai...

Why is he here? Of all the places in the entire fucking world, he stumbled into my fucking restaurant?

'Mate!' Lincoln cheers in my head, trying to push us towards Kai. I brace myself against the piano, refusing to budge even an inch.

"What are you doing here?" I snap before he even has the chance to open his mouth. 

At the hostility in my tone, the shock in his almond eyes immediately vanishes. Kai's gaze narrows as he places his hands on his slender hips. Without permission, my eyes snap down to his hips. They seem so... delicate. They would probably fit right in my hands—

Stop! Why am I thinking about him like that? What the hell is wrong with me? I mean, I knew mates feel shit for each other, but I didn't think I'd start thinking about sex. At that thought, my cheeks heat up; I clear my throat to distract from my heated face.

"I'm not stalking you, if that's what you're thinking," Kai retorts. "I'm having dinner with a friend."

'A date?' Lincoln growls; his anger making my stomach twist. 'Our mate is on a date with someone else?'

'It's just dinner,' I mentally respond, struggling to maintain my composure over the waves of possessiveness Lincoln is emitting.