Hooking Up with The Beta

Coffee with a View

Kris' POV

I become giddy with excitement as I watch the server place my cup of coffee down on the table in the roundest mug I've ever seen. I thank him as I stare down at my own reflection within the black coffee. It makes me feel like I'm in one of those movies where the protagonist becomes pensive after catching a glimpse of their reflection in a body of water.

To be honest with you, this place, Las Vegas, is the only place where I feel whole. Where I can be myself... where I can say and do the things I wish to do without feeling like I have to filter everything around me in order to appeal to the archaic werewolf world that I was inevitably born and raised in. This cafe, The Ridge Cafe & Bar, is so blissfully calm that words cannot even begin to describe the atmosphere, but I'll try to describe it anyway.... we werewolves don't believe in the human-constructed idea of heaven (at least the way it has been constructed in this part of the world), but I think that the term "angelic" could sum it up. The entire place is built to be silent, not in the way libraries are, but the rays of sunlight intersecting with the white painted rustic exposed wood of the cafe makes you voluntarily want to be silent so that you have no choice but to just breathe, take in the soothing energy around you, and of course enjoy this coffee.

Speaking of which, I take a sip of what seems to be the strongest coffee I've ever tasted and place my mug down. The bitterness of the beans leaves a coat on my tongue. Maybe I overdid it with the coffee order this time? Hard to say... I don't mind it, but it's also a lot to handle this time of the day. I opt to take a gulp of water from the accompanying glass of water as I take in the view surrounding me.

Well, well, well... would you look at that.

It looks like Eva from last night is opting to stay. Goodie! She's hugging and waving goodbye to her friends as they enter their cars and take off. She keeps waving at them as she watches them drive away, presumably until she can't make them out anymore. She then turns around and heads back inside the hotel.

A part of me wants to get up and catch up with her... but I also don't want to receive a restraining order. I don't want her to think that I'm some sort of stalker. Hmmm... what to do, what to do? What's the best way to go about inviting her out without being creepy? I mean, it's not like I was stalking her. I was just minding my own business and she was coincidentally within my eyeshot.

Without completely thinking this through, I motion one of the servers and ask them for a pen, paper, and envelope. I quickly but neatly scribble out the least creepy note I can think of. I'm not going to confirm that I saw her, but I'm also not going to deny the possibility that she's choosing to stay. The key word here is assume. Since we already did the nightclub thing, I'm going to play it out the safe old-fashioned way and invite her to dinner. Everyone likes to eat, right?

After jotting down a quick note, I seal the envelope and have them send it her way. Hopefully sooner than later...

Until then, I'll go back to enjoying my strong coffee... which might be European? I wasn't thinking when I was ordering. Maybe I'll pair it with a slice of pound cake...

I let my eyes follow the server pass the note to a concierge, who spots Eva and speedwalks across the lobby to catch up with Eva. I obviously can't hear them, but I can tell that she's thanking him as she accepts the envelope. She keeps walking, presumably towards the elevators... now I can't see a thing. Let's hope she opens the letter and doesn't throw it away.

I'm not usually the type of person who goes out their way to meet new people. It's the introversion in me that does that. Don't get me wrong, I've seen beautiful women before, but there's just something about this she-wolf that draws me in...

I can't wait to discover what makes her so special and attractive, that is if Eva lets me. It's her choice of course, I'll respect her boundaries. I wonder if it's her hair that falls down her back, or beautiful hazel eyes? Or perhaps it's her beautiful luscious lips? Regardless she looks like a spring in the middle of a desert town.

Eva's POV

I make a bee line for the elevator and open the envelope. It reads:

"I'm going to be bold and assume that you're chosen to extend your stay! Let's start the evening with a proper dinner.

Meet you at 8pm, at the Cliff restaurant, 30th floor of this Hotel.

Until then...

Kris with a K."

Well now I have to make sure to make quite a memorable impression on him!

What am I doing accepting an invitation from a complete stranger I met at the club less than twenty-four hours ago? This is not me! This is not what I do! I hope I don't run into anyone that knows me or my family because I would never hear the end of it! What must he be thinking about me? Is this something he does on a regular basis? He doesn't look like the type... He doesn't even look like the type who dances or frequents clubs... Thinking back, all I remember was him just bumping into me and asking me to sit down. I don't remember him dancing at all! If anything, he seemed to have been sensitive to loud music!

Yep, definitely not a clubber! Based on this envelope, this whole thing seems too formal and polite! Players don't send cards via middlemen... they just annoy you face to face or digitally by eliminating the competition. So my guess is that this must be a new experience for him too...

This is so not my style, but a part of me is curious. I cannot ignore that pull I feel towards him and I don't know why... Worst-case scenario, if he turns out to be a freak and makes me feel uncomfortable I'll just get up and leave. Best case scenario, I would have gained a new friend.

All this thinking made me realize that I never spent any time with a male friend in vegas. All of my Vegas experiences have been with my girlfriends. And I know that Veronica insisted on coming to cheer me up for not finding my mate again this year. Her sister in law, the town snitch, has been running her mouth around town about everyone in my family who was worried about me turning out to be a spinster. Quite frankly, I'd rather be alone than be mated to the wrong male. I'm not being negative but I've heard some horror stories. Besides, the Lunar Mating ceremony from what I hear is a whole other thing. It's full of much older males desperate to find their mates with a lot of cash to spend. Knowing my luck in that department, mine is probably not born yet. If I have to dine with dashing tall dark aquamarine eyed beauties, I'll spare a few minutes while I still can. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

To be on the safe side, I'll order a salad before meeting him. I don't want to pig out of nervousness in front of him. I'm a lady like that.

The elevator opens to my floor and as I step into my room, all I can think about is my outfit for tonight. I want to be sexy but not slutty. Provocative, not desperate..

But first, a good steamy shower to calm and relax my nerves.