The Jaguar Star (Tales of the Were: Jaguar Island Book 4) by Bianca D'Arc (e book reader android .TXT) 📗

Cassius pulled up in front of the restaurant some time later, and Katrina was almost surprised the ride had gone so quickly. It wasn’t quite opening time yet, but it was close. As far as she was concerned, it was the perfect time to arrive. They would have a short window to be grilled by her folks before the restaurant got busy. She had planned it that way.

“Cassius, if you’ve got nothing else on, you should come in and get some dinner,” Ren invited the werewolf, surprising Katrina. “My treat. According to my mate, they’ll be serving shortly, so there won’t be much wait.”

“I can get you a really good table,” Katrina added, grinning. Reservations wouldn’t start arriving for another hour, so Cassius could have just about any seat in the house.

Cassius smiled back at them. “Now, that’s an offer I cannot refuse,” he quipped. “I’ll just park the car and join you in a few minutes.”

“Perfect,” Ren said, nodding.

Then, it was time to get out of the car and head into the restaurant. Ren urged her to go ahead while he dealt with the baggage, which gave her a few minutes to hug her parents and say hello before he joined them.

There was an air of excitement inside the familiar confines of her family’s restaurant. The waitstaff were holding back, bustling more than usual, if Katrina was any judge, as her folks greeted her with big hugs and a zillion questions. Then, Ren walked in behind her, filling the entry with his presence. And carrying all their luggage.

He set it down and came forward for the introductions she’d been both looking forward to and dreading. How would her parents react? They’d had many famous people in the restaurant over the years, from politicians to high-powered executives, but to her knowledge, they’d never met a movie star of Ren’s international stature. Would that count in his favor or against him? She wasn’t sure.

It was her mother who broke the ice, offering her hand as Katrina introduced them, and then, somehow, Ren was hugging her mother. Whether it was his impulse or her mother’s, Katrina wasn’t sure, but they hugged like long lost family members, and Ren’s open warmth with her mother touched Katrina deeply.

Then, it was her father’s turn to meet the new man in Katrina’s life. Her father was more reserved, shaking hands with Ren formally and giving him the eye—sizing him up, as if unsure whether to like him or not.

“I’m so pleased to meet you both. Kat has told me a lot about you and this place.” Ren gestured around to the décor. “It’s even nicer than she described. Homey,” Ren enthused. “I really like the atmosphere you’ve created here.”

That was all Katrina’s mother needed to hear. She took Ren by the arm, as if they were old friends, and gave him the nickel tour of the place while her father held back, standing next to Katrina.

“How serious is this thing, Katrina?” her father asked in a quiet voice. Katrina gulped. Her dad wasn’t one to beat around the bush.

“Very,” she replied, feeling her nerves stretch taut. “I want to marry him, Daddy.”

Her father sighed heavily and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into his side. “Are you sure about him, cara mia?”

“He’s not a frivolous man, Dad. He doesn’t take his stardom too seriously, and he doesn’t play around. Once you get to know him, I know you’re going to love him. And he knows he needs to win you over. He wants to be part of our family and make me part of his,” she said quietly, feeling the truth in her words as she spoke them.

“Have you met any of his family?” He released her shoulders and turned to meet her gaze.

“As a matter of fact, I have. When we spent the weekend on Jaguar Island, I got to meet a number of his relatives, and they were all amazingly kind to me. He has a house there, and that’s where he plans to retire eventually. The house is amazing, and the people were so nice to me. So welcoming. He’s never brought another woman there, Dad. Only me,” she finished in a more serious tone.

Katrina hoped her father understood the significance of her words. It looked like he just might, judging by the speculative look on his face as he shifted his gaze to Ren, who was walking around, meeting the waitstaff with Katrina’s mother.

“All right. I’ll give the man the benefit of the doubt, but if he hurts you, he’ll have to contend with me. I may not be in his league celebrity-wise, but I know a few tricks that could hurt his reputation, and I wouldn’t be afraid to use them if it comes to that,” her father surprised her by saying.

Still, it was a better outcome than she’d feared. Ren would win her dad over. Of that, she had little doubt. Already, her mother and most of the waitstaff were putty in Ren’s hands.

The door opened, and Katrina turned to find Cassius entering the restaurant. She made the introductions and then slipped easily into her old role, seating Cassius at one of the quiet tables near the back. It was the table her family used when they wanted to eat or just sit for a bit during a lull. She signaled to one of the waitresses, who came right over.

Ren, finished with his tour, joined Katrina and Cassius at the large table and sat. Katrina realized that both men were probably more than ready for a big meal, being shifters and all.

“You two stay right here. I’m going to put in a special order for you both,” she told them. “I’ll be right back.” She left them and went into the kitchen to say hello to the chefs and other staff members, quickly organizing an impromptu feast for the men at the table.

The restaurant wouldn’t really be open for another