Chasing His Scentless Mate Chapter 252 Meet Her Again

Joseph’s POV

"Last call, gentlen!" The bartender said loudly.

I finished my bourbon and turned to Ryan. "This is exactly what I needed after this week."

Ryan nodded. "Eleanor finally let you off your leash?"

"More like she decided to set free," I laughed. "She’s been fixing the company. She said I was quite a handful this week."

"That woman deserves a raise," Ryan said. "You were spiraling, man. Almost as bad as your old man."

I felt bad at the comparison to my father.

"Yeah, well..." I stopped when I saw movent at the entrance. "Shit. Look who just walked in."

Ryan turned to see Sophia Walter walking in with her friends Vanessa and Ella.

"Ti to go," Ryan said. He stood up. "Last ti I was around Ella, she wouldn’t stop asking about Draven. That woman doesn’t understand what ’he’s not interested’ ans."

"Let’s get out the back," I said. I threw so cash on the bar. We were halfway to the exit when I heard Sophia call my na. I pretended not to hear.

We made it to the parking lot. Ryan let out a breath. "That was close. I don’t need another night of Ella asking to put in a good word with Draven."

"Didn’t she show up at his office uninvited last week?"

Ryan nodded. "He banned her from the building."

"Seriously?" I laughed. "Maybe I should send my resu to Thorne Enterprises. Sounds more entertaining than my place."

Since it was Friday night, we decided to go to a strip club.

We drank and talked at the club until four in the morning. Then Ryan and I said goodbye.

The buzzing of my phone woke from deep sleep. I reached for it with my eyes still closed.

"No, Eleanor, I swear I’m not hungover..." I said.

"Who’s Eleanor, Uncle Joseph?" A young male voice laughed.

I opened one eye. "Antonio? What ti is it?"

"It’s two in the afternoon. Late night?"

I groaned and rolled onto my back. "Why are you calling ?"

"I need your help," Antonio said quietly. "I need woman advice."

That woke up. My eighteen year old nephew was like at that age. He was more interested in partying than anything serious.

"You? Need woman advice? What happened to love them and leave them?"

"I t soone... different."

I sat up. "Different how?"

"Can we et at Harbor Bay Mall? I’ll tell you everything."

I groaned. "The mall? On a Saturday afternoon? Are you trying to torture ?"

"Co on, Uncle Joseph! I’m not coming to your penthouse where you’ve probably got so naked model waiting."

"Fine," I said. "Food court. One hour."

An hour later, I was at Harbor Bay Mall. The food court was packed with teenagers, families, and tired fathers. I spotted Antonio at a table near the fountain. He was checking his phone nervously.

My nephew had inherited the Garcia good looks.Blonde hair, strong jaw, and confident posture from being part of the Nightbane Pack’s Alpha family. But today he looked nervous.

"Uncle Joseph! Over here!" Antonio called.

I joined my nephew at a table.

"So, who’s this girl that’s got you all twisted up?" I asked.

Antonio sighed. "She’s amazing. Smart, beautiful.She doesn’t know I exist. Well, she knows I exist, but only as the guy who throws parties and hangs out with the lacrosse team."

"And the problem is...?"

"I don’t know how to get her to take seriously! She thinks I’m just a rich party boy."

I raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you?"

"I want to be more," he said. His voice was sincere. "Mom’s always saying I need to grow up. Maybe she’s right."

I was about to give so Garcia wisdom when a familiar figure was walking toward our place.

It was her. The woman from the shop who’d humiliated with that sex toy for my mother. She looked even better than I rembered. She wore simple jeans and a burgundy top.

"Uncle Joseph? Hello?" Antonio waved his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, kid." I didn’t take my eyes off the woman. "I just spotted soone I need to have a conversation with."

Antonio followed my gaze. "Whoa. She’s gorgeous."

A plan ford in my mind. "Want to see how a real master works? Watch and learn."

My nephew’s eyes widened. "No way. You’re going to hit on her? Right now?"

"Why not?"

Antonio studied her for a mont, then looked back at with a smirk. "I bet you can’t get her number."

"Excuse ?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You heard ." His smirk grew wider. "She looks way too classy for your usual approach."

Dean growled in my head. The pup is challenging us.

I felt my competitive nature kick in. "What are the stakes?"

"If you get her number, I’ll stop throwing those weekend parties Mom hates. And next ti she starts lecturing you about settling down, I’ll defend you."

Flora, my sister, was always talking about my bachelor lifestyle. Having Antonio as an ally would be helpful.

"And if I don’t?"

"You admit that your reputation as a ladies’ man is overblown, and you co to my lacrosse ga wearing a World’s Okayest Uncle t-shirt."

I extended my hand. "Deal."

Antonio shook it and grinned. "This should be entertaining."

I stood up and straightened my jacket. I made my way toward my target. She was at the counter ordering. I slid in beside her.

"Well, well. If it isn’t the woman who tried to send to a grave via embarrassnt."

She turned. Recognition and then amusent flashed in her eyes. Up close, she was even more stunning. Deep blue eyes with flecks, full lips.

"If it isn’t Mr. Sex Toy," she replied coolly. "How’s your mother enjoying her blessed gift?"

I felt heat rise in my cheeks.

"Unfortunately, it caused permanent psychological damage."

"Pity for you." Her lips curved into a wicked smile.

The cashier cleared her throat. "Your total is $12.75, ma’am."

Before the woman could reach for her wallet, I handed over a twenty. "I’m paying for the lady’s lunch."

"I don’t need you to pay for ," she protested.

"Consider this my way of getting your attention." I turned back to the cashier. "Keep the change."

The woman took her receipt and stepped aside to wait for her order.

"Can I at least know your na? I’m Joseph Garcia." I extended my hand. "And you are?"

She hesitated before taking it. "Ava Flynn."

Her touch sent an unexpected jolt through my system. Dean suddenly beca alert and pushed forward with interest. Strange.

"Well, Ava Flynn, I think you owe ."

She raised an eyebrow. "For what exactly?"

"Emotional distress. The image of my mother opening that package still haunts ."

Ava laughed. "And how exactly am I supposed to make ands?"

"Your phone number would be a start."

Her smile faded slightly. "I don’t think so."

"Co on. One coffee or have a dinner. Let tell you exactly how awkward the conversation with my mother would have been."

"And why would I want to have dinner with you?"

I grinned. "Because I’m charming, successful, and incredibly forgiving about the whole sex toy incident."

She laughed again. The sound stirred sothing in my chest.

"Tempting," she said, gathering her things. "But I think I’ll pass."

I frowned. "You’re rejecting ?"

"Don’t take it personally. I’m just not interested in dating right now," she stood up. "Especially not soone who looks like he goes through won faster than most people go through toilet paper."

I stood up too. I was genuinely taken aback. Won didn’t reject . Ever.

"How do you know what kind of man I am?" I asked.

"I’ve t enough Josephs in my life to recognize the type," she said. "Enjoy your day, Mr. Garcia."

She walked away. I stared after her in disbelief.

I returned to Antonio’s table. I felt strangely off balance. Won didn’t walk away from . Especially not when I was making an effort.

Antonio was cackling. "That was your master technique? I think I just watched the great Joseph Garcia strike out for the first ti ever."

"She’s playing hard to get," I muttered.

"I guess you have finally t your match," he teased. "I’m starting to think Mom shouldn’t worry about you settling down. You couldn’t get a date if you tried!"

"The bet’s still on," I insisted. "I’ll get her number."

Antonio stood and patted my shoulder. "Sure you will, Uncle Joseph. In the anti, I’ll pick out that t-shirt."

As I watched him leave, I felt a bit defiant, but I was still thinking about that woman.