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tentative smile. I wouldn’t mind being dominated by a guy like him.
    Her wolf nodded. He would be a good match in strength and intelligence. Too bad you have attached us to Mike.
    Ava forced that thought away. We’re not attached to him. He’s just sort of…there sometimes. Mike was nothing more than a placeholder. Except the thought of him worrying over her whereabouts and missing their Thanksgiving plans made her stomach clench. What would he think? Would he come looking for her? Did she want him to? It’s not like I can deal with it now. Not knowing how to deal with the problem of her kinda- sorta boyfriend, she moistened her dry lips. When Sam’s gaze darkened and followed the movement, she stifled a groan. “Maybe you should tell me about yourself. Are you married? Seeing anyone? I’ve never heard of a phoenix existing outside of myths before.”
    Yeah, I’ll keep him talking so I can fantasize about his voice.
    Where, in some old woman’s musty spare bedroom? Her wolf didn’t sound amused. Just ask him if he’d mind a roommate. I bet he can make you forget about Mike.
    At the last second, she stifled a sigh. He probably can… Shaking away thoughts of Mike or what she’d like to do with Sam, she focused her attention on him.
    “I am not married and never have been. A woman has never intrigued me enough to make the offer.” His easy grin sent heat careening through her veins. “And no, I am not currently involved.”
    “Great.” Ava scrambled to breathe normally. “Are there others of your kind here in Destiny?”
    “Unfortunately, no.” He slid an arm along the back of the bench, his sleeve touching her shoulders. “There can only be one living male phoenix at any one time. I never knew my father, and he never knew his before him. They died as soon as their boy child came into the world. This is the way of things with my race.”
    Ava frowned, trying to work out the puzzle in her mind. “What about your mother and relatives? Didn’t you grow up with others like you?”
    “Only the males are true phoenixes. The females, like my mother, are generally human or a half-caste of another paranormal breed. That’s how it has always worked.” His eyes took on a faraway expression as if he were reaching into his past. “While they may bear female children, there is only one full-blooded male child born in each generation.”
    “So, it’s like a genetic lottery?” She couldn’t imagine a generation with only one male of that specific race.
    “It is selective breeding, I suppose.”
    “Why?” Wow, only one guy per generation. “What about the females of the population? Why are they not considered full-blooded?”
    A grin crept over Sam’s mouth, the same one that was devastating to her peace of mind. “Your questions mean you show a genuine interest in my race. This gives me hope.” He brushed his fingers over her right shoulder. Showers of tingles danced over her skin. “Only the males are considered strong enough to withstand the trials associated with being a true phoenix. As for why there is only one, it is still much a mystery and one I’ve not thought on.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged. “There were always other male relatives in my family, but they have since passed away, as they were only of human stock and not given the gift of long life. It would seem, outside of providing the hope of rebirth to the world, a phoenix doesn’t have a specific purpose. I suppose it is one of the mysteries of my secretive species.”
    Just how old was this guy? He sounded ancient and…tired. Shadows lengthened over the stretch of parkland where they sat. In the distance, the musical sound of laughter lingered on the air, carried by the gentle breeze. Ava shivered and slid a tad closer to Sam’s warmth. “Is there a danger of being the only one of your kind?” We really should read about the myths and legends more , she admonished her wolf. Her ignorance about other paranormal cultures made her