"He's got a date," Colton said to Stripper, crossing his arms over his chest. The spoon was still tucked in his hand. "The bastard isn't sharing his food."

Stripper tried to grab one of the gnocchi, and Sam smacked the man's hand.

"Damn it, Sam. What's so special about this one?" Stripper asked as he waved his abused hand. "You don't usually go through all this trouble for a guy. You just fuck them and keep moving."

That was true. Sam hadn't had time for anything else. His career kept him on the go too often. He'd had plenty of lovers, but never anything past one or two sexual encounters with the same person.

"Say that when Taylor is here and I swear I'll castrate you." Sam removed the pan from the stove and dished the shrimp bisque into two large bowls. He'd turned the kitchen table in a romantic setting before he'd started dinner. There were taper candles in the middle of the table, red linens, and even some roses.

Had he gone overboard? Sam wasn't sure. As Stripper had stated, he'd never gone through this much trouble for a guy.

After setting the pan aside, he went to the fridge and grabbed the bottle of sauvignon blanc.

"Damn," Colton said and then gave a low whistle. His grin was wide as he watched Sam put the bottle in an ice bucket. "Wine. He really is out to impress."

Sam plated the gnocchi and declared dinner ready. Checking his watch, he grunted. It was two minutes past eight. Would Taylor show or stand him up? If he had to give the dinner he'd slaved over to these gorillas, he was not going to be a happy man.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Stripper said as he headed toward the kitchen door. Sam tackled the man, squeezing his arm around Stripper's neck in a sleeper hold. "Show Taylor your cock and I'll slice the damn thing off."

Stripper chuckled as he held his hands up. "I was kidding."

Sam released him and shoved the man toward the back of the kitchen. "Go upstairs and don't come back down tonight."

There was a staircase in the rear of the kitchen. If any of the men got hungry later, they could use it. Sam wanted this night to be perfect. When he'd been in the store, his bear had gone apeshit as soon as Sam had spotted Taylor. Standing in the aisle, Taylor had smelled like the prairie and wildflowers.

Enough said.

Although bear shifters couldn't go off scent alone, he was willing to bet his entire savings that Taylor was his mate. And he wasn't going to let these numbnuts ruin this evening for him. He had all three Matrix movies in the living room, ready to go.

"Why can't I get a meal like that? I'd fuck your hairy ass for some of that shrimp soup." Stripper complained the entire time he clomped up the steps.

Sam's brow hiked up. That was something he never wanted to hear again in this lifetime.

Colton remained. "I want to see this guy you're going crazy over."

Sam had a feeling that Colton wasn't going anywhere until he got a good look at Taylor. He growled at Colton before heading to get the front door. But T-Rex was already there, talking with Taylor.

"Sam asked you on a date?" T-Rex asked, his expression saying that he was confused as hell. He scratched at his chin. "Really?"

As soon as Sam entered the room, Taylor glanced up at him with those pretty pale-blue eyes. Sam's heart skipped a beat as he waved T-Rex away. "I got this."

T-Rex glanced at Colton. They exchanged a bewildered look. Colton shrugged. T-Rex moved out of the way in slow, precise movements. The guy still appeared perplexed.

I ask one guy out on a date and these assholes think I've gone mental.

"Come on in, Taylor. Don't mind these two. They're my roommates," Sam said as he touched Taylor's elbow and led him in before closing the door behind the guy. "Pretend that they aren't even here."

"Roommate?" T-Rex said. Although Sam normally showed his unit leader respect, he didn't want this night to be fucked before it even began. He glanced at T-Rex, giving the guy a beseeching expression. T-Rex shook his head and walked away.

Colton gave Taylor the once-over and then followed T-Rex. Now if everyone could stay away, this evening just might not go to hell. Though Sam wasn't going to count on that. He'd known these men too long. There were going to be interruptions.

Stripper and Colton may not have understood Sam's insistence on making this evening perfect, but they had been right about one thing. Sam had never dated before. Sad but true. He crossed his arms over his chest and glanced around. His pulse was pounding in his ears as he struggled for something to say. "You hungry?"

Taylor shoved his hands into his front pockets as he stared at Sam's shoes as if they were the most fascinating things in the world. His brows pulled down and he nodded, his eyes squinting. "I could go for a bite."

Unsure of how to proceed with his first-ever date, Sam placed his hand on the small of Taylor's back. "Then let me lead the way."

Things had seemed a lot simpler in his mind when he'd planned this evening. It shouldn't have been rocket science. Eat and watch a movie. That sounded easy enough to him. So why did it feel like his insides were twisting as he tried to stop the nervous shake in his hands?

They entered the kitchen and Sam looked at Taylor to gauge the man's reaction. Taylor's face remained neutral as he gazed at the table. The guy had stopped just inside the kitchen door and was...staring. Sam wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign.

"You can take either seat." Sam was kicking himself in the ass for going overboard. He had wanted to impress Taylor, not scare the man away. And the man definitely looked scared.

Taylor stood there blinking rapidly before turning and looking at the kitchen door as if he wanted to flee.

And this was why Sam didn't date. This was some complicated bullshit that he would have preferred to forgo. Why couldn't they just have sex, bust a nut, and then relax with the movie? But Taylor was more than just a quick lay. This man was more than likely his mate. Sam wanted Taylor to know that he was serious about them, that he wasn't looking at Taylor for just sex.

Sam's gut continued to twist as he watched Taylor cross and uncross his arms. He gave Sam a wavering smile before he headed to the table and took a seat, not saying a word and leaving Sam standing there wishing he'd just ordered takeout.

Sam sat and the awkwardness seemed to grow between them. Taylor sat there with his hands in his lap, gazing down at his bowl of shrimp soup. He was studying the soup like it was an exam that he hadn't studied for.

"It's shrimp bisque. Try it."

Taylor rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. "It looks great but...I'm sorry. I'm allergic to seafood."

It had never occurred to Sam to ask the man. But then again, Sam had gone to the grocery store for groceries. He never thought he'd run into his mate. And he sure as hell didn't think he'd be cooking dinner for the guy. It had been short notice.

To hell with this. Sam wasn't even sure why he was putting up so much pretense. This wasn't him. He wasn't a candlelight-dinner kind of man. He stood, grabbing Taylor's hand. "I'm going to order pizza and we're going to watch some movies. How does that sound?"

Taylor seemed to immediately relax as a smile surfaced. Sam could see the unspoken gratitude in Taylor's eyes. "Sounds like my kind of night."

"Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner." He grabbed two sodas from the fridge before pulling Taylor toward the living room. He released the man's hand and then walked over to the sixty-inch flat-screen television, complete with surround sound. The men did love their toys.

He held up the movie case and was glad his gut had untwisted. "Prepare to be amazed." Sam was. Taylor's smile was breathtaking. His laugh was musical. It only made Sam's grin wider. "Now remember. Think before saying which pill you'd take."

Taylor nodded.

Sam popped the movie in, turned on the surround sound, and then pulled his cell phone out and ordered a large pepperoni pizza with a two-liter bottle of Coke.

Once he was done, he dropped down next to Taylor and kicked his feet onto the cluttered coffee table. "Let me know if you get lost."

"I will." Taylor sat ramrod straight. Sam decided that tonight wouldn't be the time to make a move on the guy. Not when Taylor appeared to be afraid of something. Sam just hoped it wasn't him.

It became his mission to make Taylor relax around him, to hear the guy laugh as often as possible. This was a new approach for him, but a challenge Sam didn't mind taking on.

He texted Stripper and told him to help himself to the shrimp bisque but not to show himself. Seconds later, Sam heard thundering footsteps coming down the back stairwell. Taylor didn't seem to notice the sound. He was engrossed in the movie, his eyes riveted to the television.

The front door opened and Legend walked in, Sofia tucked in his arms and Gabe at his side. "The Matrix, cool."

The next thing Sam knew, the happy little family was sitting there watching it with him. He started to protest, but then Sam noticed how Taylor relaxed with people around them.

Hmm. He was going to figure the guy out. Taylor had secrets. There was no doubt in Sam's mind.

The pizza arrived and Legend scarfed down half of it. The man was kind enough to make sure Taylor got a few slices. Sam was ready to knock Legend on his ass. But he chilled. He didn't want this night ruined for any reason-even Legend's gluttony.

The other men slowly drifted into the room and before long, the living room was packed. Taylor moved closer to Sam as Stripper took a seat on the end of the couch, scarfing down the soup and gnocchi in a pair of ratty boxers. T-Rex took a seat on the floor, his back to the couch, and Colton and Shott relaxed in the two recliners as the movie played on.

Sam glanced at Taylor when the man started chanting under his breath, "Take the red pill. The red pill."

Sam chuckled. He really liked Taylor. The guy seemed nave in some ways, but it was a refreshing change of pace for him. Sam had always gone for the wild bad boys. Twinks with attitude. That had made it easier for him to walk away afterward.

He wasn't sure why, but Taylor seemed like the type of guy who was made for a relationship. He was reserved but held a quiet enthusiasm. Sam sank deeper into the couch, his shoulder touching Taylor's. His mate didn't seem to notice. Taylor was too wrapped up in the movie.

As the night went on, Sam started to feel a sense of family with Taylor at his side and his friends sitting around him. If this was what life was going to be like with Taylor, Sam was ready to dive in headfirst.

The two walked over the green lawn that looked much darker as the moon cast its glow. The night was still filled with heat and there was only a slight breeze to offset the humidity. It was after midnight and Sam had an urge to follow Taylor home just to make sure the guy made it inside safely.

"You were right," Taylor said with an inflection of happiness in his tone. "The movies were great." His smile slipped slightly. "Although I didn't understand some of what was going on."

"Why didn't you say something?" Sam asked. "I would have explained things to you."

"I didn't want to talk during the movie," Taylor said. "Besides, once I watch them a few more times, I'll grasp what's going on."

Sam had to curl his fingers in to stop himself from pulling Taylor to him or running them through the man's black hair. They'd sat side by side during the movies, but Taylor had made no move to cuddle. He'd kept a respectable distance between them. Sam had kept pressing his shoulder into Taylor's, but as soon as Taylor noticed, he'd pulled away.

"Are you asking to come back over and watch the movies with me?" Sam teased as he leaned his back against Taylor's silver Prizm. It was an older sedan but looked well taken care of.

"I think I am," Taylor answered, and even in the dark, Sam could see the fine blush creep over the man's cheeks. The guy crossed his arms over his chest and toed the gravel. "But I don't want to impose."

"No imposition at all. Tell me when and I'll make it happen." Sam wiggled a finger at Taylor. "But I won't make any seafood, no matter how much you beg."

Taylor's playful mood seemed to vanish as he glanced up from what his shoe had been doing. "Sorry about that. It looked like you went through a lot of trouble for me."

"Nah, no trouble," Sam said. "I like to cook."

"You do?" There was a lilt of surprise in Taylor's voice. "Most men hate cooking."

Sam shrugged. "I'm not most men."

Taylor's blue eyes held a glimmer of hope, but it was tinged with doubt. Sam wasn't sure what that was about. Taylor smiled pleasantly. "I see that."

But Sam could hear the hesitation.

"What do you do for a living?" Taylor asked. "If you don't mind me asking. You already know where I work. I feel like you have one up on me."

Sam liked that Taylor was interested in him. He'd never discussed his career choice with anyone outside his circle before. But then again, Taylor was in his circle now. "I was a marine. Now me and the guys run a personal protection operation called Executive Bodyguards."

"What kind of protection?"

"The kind that either requires our skills as marines or just calls for plain old muscle. That's how Legend and Gabe met."

Taylor's eyes darted toward the ground. The man was definitely hiding something. Sam wanted to know what Taylor wasn't telling him, what secret he had. But he didn't ask. The night had gone perfectly and he didn't want to end it on a sour note.

"Sounds exciting," Taylor said. Sam couldn't stop staring at the man's eyes. Taylor wore eyeliner and Sam found that sexy as hell. The tracings of black coal set off his amazing pale-blue eyes. He could see a small scar near the guy's right eye, but it was barely noticeable.

"At times," Sam said. "But we're starting up a cattle ranch."

Taylor's brows rose. "You guys know how to stay busy."

Sam held his hands up. "Idle hands and all."

Taylor's cell phone rang. It had rung a few times during the movie, but Taylor had silenced it.

"I have to take this."

Sam nodded as Taylor answered his phone. The man walked a few feet away, but being a shifter, Sam had expert hearing. He gazed at Taylor's well-rounded ass encased in his faded jeans. Nice. Sam even liked the fact that Taylor was a good eight inches shorter than him. He had always had a thing for short men. Pocket-sized. That was what his mother called men like Taylor. The guy was also goth, but he wasn't made up like he'd been in the store.

Sam had been looking forward to seeing the real Taylor outside of work. A part of him was a bit disappointed that Taylor had played things down.

"Will you stop calling me?" Taylor paused. "No, nothing to worry about." He palmed his face with his free hand. "No, I didn't sleep with him. Knock it off," Taylor said in a harsh whisper. "I'll be home soon." There was a pause. "We'll talk when I get there."

Taylor hung up and turned around, walking back toward Sam. "Sorry about that."

"Everything okay?"

"My roommate," Taylor said. "Worrywart."

Sam fought the jealousy that reared its ugly head. He lived in a house full of men. He wasn't going to be a hypocrite, though his bear wanted to meet this roommate. "It's good to have someone who worries about you."

Taylor slipped his phone into his pocket and took a step closer, his tennis shoes crunching over the gravel. "Tell me about this ranch."

Obvious change of subject. Sam let it go, for now. "Hell if I know," he admitted. "It was T-Rex's idea. There's a bunkhouse and a stable being built and someone is teaching us all about cattle ranching. So far, I'm lost. I think I'll stick to cooking."

"I'm only asking because I grew up in Nebraska and my uncle owned a cattle ranch."

A new layer of Taylor had been revealed. "You're shitting me."

"Nope," Taylor said with pride. "Spent all my summers there. I could help out." The man took a step back. "Sorry, I'm being pushy."

The guy apologized an awful lot. Sam wondered if that was just who Taylor was or if a bad experience had embedded the habit in him. "I think the guys would like it if you broke things down to them. Rowdy is great, but he talks as if we should know what the hell he's saying."

Taylor chuckled. "Ranch hands can be arrogant at times, especially foremen. But I've learned that most are good at heart."

"When's your next day off?" Sam asked.