Dirk's Love by Marisa Chenery (top 50 books to read txt) 📗

he claimed her as his mate, he had to look forward to walking around with an erection, or at least being semi-hard.

He took a deep breath. He already missed Ryann.

When he’d at first thought she was married, he’d felt as if the fates were playing a cruel trick on him. She couldn’t belong to another man and be his. And with a child involved, there was no way in hel Dirk would’ve tried to come between Ryann and her husband. Regardless of how badly it would affect him.

But when she’d said she was divorced, a sense of relief had surged through Dirk. There wouldn’t be any other man standing between Ryann and him. His would-be mate already having a child didn’t bother him in the least. He loved kids. That he’d have an instant family once he became mated to Ryann was fine with him.

After leaving enough money to cover the bil and tip, Dirk left the restaurant. Once in his car, he headed in the direction of Marin County. There wasn’t much point in returning to Roxie and Beowulf’s place. He wasn’t on duty to watch over Roxie today. She’d actual y forced him to take a few days off, since he’d spent more time over at her place working on his online dating service than doing anything else.

Arriving at the Protectors’ mansion, Dirk parked his Arriving at the Protectors’ mansion, Dirk parked his car in the large detached garage before going inside.

Standing in the foyer, he heard voices coming from the living room. And from the fresh scents in the air, he knew Leif and Jaden were home, and Jaden’s father, Miles, was around as wel .

Dirk stepped into the living room and found al three of them there. Leif and Miles were laughing at something, but quickly stopped when he walked into the room. Jaden sat on the couch next to her mate, taking turns scowling at the men. He had the sneaky suspicion the two males had been laughing about something to do with him.

His thoughts were confirmed when Miles said with a grin, “Jaden and Leif were just tel ing me about your latest…endeavor. Did you get bored with your online trading before deciding to do something so…so different?” Dirk stared at the other man and scowled a bit. He stil wasn’t used to the idea of Miles being in his home whenever the man felt like it. As Saskia’s true brother, Miles had been a Protector at one time. Then he’d gone to the dark side, wanting to find the foretold one himself, and then use whomever it was as a figurehead so he could rule over the werewolf packs. They’d considered Miles the enemy for a very long time. Now that Miles thought Jaden was that foretold one—knowing nothing about Roxie—he seemed to have turned over a new leaf. He also wanted to take on some of the duties of protecting his daughter. If Miles were to ever find out Jaden was only posing as the one they were to watch over, Dirk had a feeling it would al end very badly.

“I figured my service would be something a lot of male werewolves would find useful,” Dirk said. He wasn’t about to give more of an explanation than that, especial y when Leif and Miles started to laugh again.

“Enough, the both of you,” Jaden said over their laughter. “You’re acting like two teenage boys, instead of men who’ve lived to see a thousand years. I think Dirk had a great idea when he came up with this. He hopes he’l be able to find his mate through it.” She looked directly at Miles. “And, Dad, I think you should be signing up to use it as wel .”

Miles stopped laughing and gave Jaden a shocked look. “What? You can’t be serious.”

This made Leif laugh even harder. “Miles, you should see your face,” he said between gales of laughter.

“It’s priceless.”

Both Miles and Jaden ignored Leif. Jaden sighed and rol ed her eyes before she said, “Yes, I’m serious, Dad.

We both know Mom was never your mate. You loved her, yes, but you never had the mate bond with her. That means there’s a woman somewhere out there who’s meant for you.

I’d like to see my father happily mated as I am. You’ve been alone for too long.”

Miles looked even more shel -shocked. “You want me to go on the internet to find my mate?” Al this mate talk played havoc with Dirk’s nerves.

He was already having a hard time being apart from Ryann, knowing what she was to him. Having to wait twenty-four hours to see her again was going to be damn tough to go through. Though he had to admit, Miles’ reaction to Jaden tel ing him she wanted him to sign up for Mate Connection was humorous. Dirk decided to keep his mouth shut about it, figuring it would only set Leif off again.

“What’s wrong with that?” Jaden asked. “You’d be surprised how many people meet their future husbands and wives that way.” She looked at Dirk. “You’d have no problem signing my dad up, would you, Dirk? That way, both of you can hopeful y find mates.”

“Sure,” he said. “If he’d be wil ing to fil out the questionnaire. And I won’t force him to do that.”

“Then I choose not to,” Miles interjected. “I’d rather do it the old-fashioned way by letting it happen al on its own.”

Jaden shook her head. “So you’d be wil ing to wait years, maybe hundreds of them, to find her? Wel , I think that’s stupid when Dirk’s service could help even the odds in your favor.”

“Stil not interested.”

“But what if it works?”

“Then you’d have to prove it to me.” Miles looked at Dirk. “If he finds his mate through his online dating service, I’l sign up the very next day.”

“You’re on, Dad,” Jaden quickly said.

Dirk knew he couldn’t not say something. “Ah, Jaden, I’d hold off on that, if I were you.”

“Why? Please