Justin hesitated, his gaze sliding to Decker and Anders. There was no help there, of course, the two men were watching the entire exchange with amused interest and offering little assistance. Scowling at them for it, he turned back to Holly. “Do you think we could take this conversation inside? I really would rather not hold it in a parking lot.”

Holly looked like she was about to say no, but then nodded abruptly and turned to stride inside. Decker and Anders immediately chased after her, trying to maintain their positions at her side, but Justin watched her go with a frown. He had absolutely no idea how he was going to explain the life mate business to her. He didn’t even know if he could. Would it be interfering to tell her that she was his? He didn’t know. The council might consider that undue influence, or tantamount to bribery. After all, he could promise her the best sex of her life: mind-­blowing, lose-­your-­head—­not to mention consciousness—­sex. Who wouldn’t jump at that?

Maybe he should just call Lucian and ask if he could explain it or not, Justin thought, and reached a hand into his jacket pocket for his cell phone.

“Hey!”

He glanced around to see that Holly was standing in the open door of the restaurant, scowling at him. Decker and Anders were behind her, amusement on their faces. It was an expression that they couldn’t seem to get rid of, Justin noted grimly. The bastards were enjoying this.

“Are you coming, or what?” Holly called impatiently.

Cursing under his breath, Justin released his phone and headed for the door. He just wouldn’t tell her, he decided. He’d say, “I’m sorry, I can’t explain that at this time. Perhaps later though,” and then change the subject. It would be easier that way anyway, he thought grimly. He really didn’t want to even think about how hot the sex with her could be, let alone put it into words. Just sitting beside her in the car had been a trial. He’d been trapped in the backseat with her scent, feeling the heat coming off her body and washing over him in a heady wave of Hollyness. Justin had actually considered sitting on his hands to keep from touching her. Fortunately, he’d managed to make it all the way here without doing either.

“Really? And what does he do?” Decker was asking when Justin caught up to them at the table where they’d been seated. At first, Justin didn’t know who they were talking about, but Holly’s answer quickly got him up to speed.

“He works for a company that designs and manufactures photonic-­integrated circuit-­based components,” Holly explained, and then smiled at their blank expressions and admitted, “Yeah, I don’t really know what the heck that means either.”

Decker and Anders chuckled, but all Justin could work up was a forced smile. He really didn’t want to even think of her husband, let alone discuss how brilliant she thought he was.

“Basically, James is really smart,” Holly said. “He has a degree in applied science and he works in the company’s repair department. He does warranty work as well as repairing the components the manufacturing department messes up.”

“I see,” Anders murmured and Justin glanced to him sharply. There was something fishy about his tone of voice. It was distracted, and Justin understood why the minute he looked at him. The other man was staring at Holly’s forehead as she talked, concentrating on it.

Anders was reading Holly’s thoughts about her husband, Justin realized. The inner, subconscious thoughts that she was unknowingly exposing in thinking of him. Thoughts Justin would have liked to read, but couldn’t. It was damned annoying that the other two men could . . . and were, he thought, noting that Decker had the same expression on his face.

“It’s a starting position,” Holly went on. “But if he proves himself, they’ve promised him a promotion, and I have no doubt James will prove himself. He’s brilliant and he loves what he does.” She smiled at the thought and then suddenly turned to Justin and said, “Anyway, you were going to explain this life mate business to me.”

Justin froze, holding his breath briefly as he fought the terrible temptation to just tell her. How could he not be tempted? The minute he explained about life mate sex, she’d probably jump his bones on the spot. However, Justin still wasn’t sure that wouldn’t get him into trouble. If the council considered it unfair or tampering, they might wipe her memory and insist he stay away from her until she was either divorced or widowed. Justin couldn’t bear the thought of that, so he let his breath out slowly and then forced himself to say, “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I cannot explain about life mates to you until I’ve spoken to Lucian and found out if it is all right to explain. It might be considered undue influence or something.”

“Undue influence how? And to do what?” she asked with obvious confusion and then narrowed her eyes. “Is this just your way of avoiding explaining?”

“No. Justin is right to refuse. He could be punished for telling you about life mates,” Decker said solemnly.

Holly scowled at this news, but then heaved a sigh, glanced around and then stood. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. If the waitress comes before I get back, could you please order me a California club sandwich?”

“Of course,” Decker agreed.

Justin was still watching her walk away when Decker turned to him and said, “You were smart to refuse to tell her. It could be seen as interfering.”

Justin nodded unhappily and then glanced sharply to Anders when he added, “But our telling her would not be.”

Decker raised his eyebrows. “Do you think we should?”

“Definitely,” Anders said solemnly. “We should really help Justin with this.”

“Seriously? You’ll explain for me?” he asked with disbelief.

“If Anders is willing, so am I,” Decker said with a smile. “We did say we’d help after all.”

“Damn,” Justin breathed, hardly able to believe his luck. The minute they explained, Holly would be all over him. They really were trying to help him. It made him kind of feel bad for giving them such a hard time when they’d met their life mates. Yeah, they’d been pathetic, but they’d done their best and he could have been a little more sympathetic. Really, this wasn’t as easy as he’d thought. Even for him.

“Why don’t you go take a little walk around the parking lot,” Anders suggested.

When Justin glanced to him with surprise, it was Decker who pointed out, “That way you can’t be accused of being at all involved in the explanations.”

“Oh, right. Good thinking.” Justin stood at once, nodded in thanks to them, and said, “Tell Holly I’ll be waiting for her outside when you’re done, so we can have a private little talk of our own.” Grinning happily, he started away and then paused to add, “And order me the carnitas tacos when the girl comes to take orders, will you?”

He didn’t wait for them to agree, but hurried away whistling a snappy tune. This was going to change everything, he thought as he headed back out to the parking lot. His life was about to change.

Justin started out pacing in the parking lot. However, after twenty minutes of that he was bored and impatient enough to get in the car to wait there. He started the engine, put some tunes on loud, and watched the entrance of the restaurant, waiting for someone to come tell him they were done. Probably Holly, and then she’d kiss him and whisper that she wanted to experience the incredible, mind-­blowing life mate sex, and they’d do it right there in the car like a ­couple of animals, uncaring who heard or saw.

That was the first fantasy. More lurid ones followed. Sex on the car rather than in it, right on the hood while Decker and Anders had to control the minds of anyone passing to prevent their remembering seeing it. Then they passed out and Decker and Anders had to pile them in the car. But they regained consciousness halfway back to Jackie and Vincent’s and did it in the backseat, screaming their heads off down the freeway until they collapsed again.