It was 15 minutes to five and the traffic was horrible. God I hated big cities! I made it around the block twice and still I had no luck finding parking. I decided to go around one more time but finally luck found my way. A car was trying to pull out onto the street. I put on my indicator to slid into his spot and let him move out. It was a little farther than I wanted to park but it was better than using the paid parking down the street. A couple minutes to 5 I jumped out of my rental and made my way back towards the Madeline's work building. Just as I reached it Madeline was walking out. The sight of her eased the heaviness in my chest. The weight on my shoulders disappeared. She was safe.

She looked down at her watch then down the street. "Hello," I said 2 feet away. I startled her.

"Um...hi." she said. She smiled but it did not reach her eyes. It was forced. "Do you have a place in mind or would you like me to give you some ideas where to eat? I am not sure what you know about the city."

Something was wrong. I didn't need my senses to tell me that. Her shoulders were tight. She had her arms crossed over her stomach keeping the folder she held tight to her chest and the blazer she wore closed tight. She was scared and nervous. Was it because of me or did something happen after I left?

"I have a place in mind if that is ok. Do you like Italian?" I asked. With her nod I extended out my arm to her. She looked weary but surprised. It only took her a second before she placed her arm in mine.

Immediately her body relaxed as soon as we were touching. She could feel the mates bond even though she did not have a clue what it was or what was happening. I was more than relieved. I was never sure what the human mate had felt and was too ignorant to ask before. I would have to talk to Jack about this. He would know.

Walking to the rental in silence I opened up her door and escorted her inside. I didn't want to ask her what was wrong. I would but wanted to make sure she was a little more comfortable first. So small talk it was. Not my favourite but I could do it easy enough.

"Have you always lived here?" I asked, breaking the silence as soon as I was able to pull out into the street.

She laughed. "Oh no. I have only been here for a couple years. I am from a smaller town. I prefer a small towns but you have to go where the job opportunities lie"

I nodded. "I completely understand that. I live in a small town and only get to the big cities because of business. I am much happier being in the woods instead of a concrete jungle any day." Well that was one thing we had in common.

She turned a little in her seat to look at me. Sizing me up. "You don't like Toronto?" she asked.

"To be completely honest it is too loud, too many people and the traffic sucks!" She giggled and I laughed right along with her. Her laugh was like music to my ears. "Do you go visit your family much? I mean back home?"

She sobered and sighed. "I used to but I don't anymore. Every time I came back from being there I got depressed. Like you I feel it is too crowded. Plus life just got in the way. Sometimes I had to work weekends and other times I was just too exhausted to do anything besides curl up on the couch and watch a movie or read a good book. A lot of the people I know here are big on the bar scene. I prefer getting my hands dirty in a garden, cooking or spending time with my best friends daughters." She had a dreamy look in her eyes when she brought up her best friends daughters.

Our talk was so easy and fluent that the drive to the restaurant took no time at all. I had made reservations already so I knew we would get the perfect table for us to talk and get to know each other. To have the illusion we had privacy in the moderately busy dim lite restaurant.