Victory held up her hands. “No—”
“It would be my pleasure,” Rob said, interrupting Victory and bowing to Zhinu. “Here, let me help you.” He accepted the tray from Zhinu and placed it on the table between the chaises where she indicated.
This was awful, but Victory had to admit she’d brought it on herself. A sudden idea struck her. What if she had been handling this the wrong way? Zhinu was a young woman with a strong personality. Though Rob had been raised among werewolf noblewomen, she had never been struck by the sense that Rob wanted a partner, but a trophy with which to return home triumphant. Maybe a real conversation, without the added titillation of secrecy, would be what both of them needed to realize this was not a match made in heaven.
Victory parked herself on one of the gian
