How to Woo Mila

Julian’s POV

I look down at my phone and feel my blood heat at what Steven just told me. Some girl laid a hand on Mila and threatened him with police action. That last part makes me snort out a laugh. We have people in the police and DA's office who could have any charges thrown out before the ink dries on an arrest warrant. That girl has no power, and she will damn well know it.

“Are you listening?” Melody’s voice catches my attention and I glance up to see her unamused eyes looking at me.

“I heard everything you said.” I say to her with a little less patience in my voice than I normally have with her.

I’m trying to get on her good side after all, but right now I’m ready to scare the shit out of some stuck-up bitch who thinks she can lay a hand on my mate. My skin ripples with the urge to shift right now and take care of her now, but I can’t screw up the small window I’ve created for myself with Melody.

“Really? Because it looks like you’re more interested in your phone, then what I’m saying.” She says, sounding unamused.

“Sorry. Where were we?” I slip my phone into my pocket and try my best to focus on whatever she is saying.

My father doesn’t give a damn about how well I do in my classes, but he also thought I could seduce this woman. She’s about as interested in me as she is on a piece of gum on her shoe.

“Can I ask you something?” I cut her off to ask.

She sighs and drops her pen. “I guess.”

“Why weren’t you interested in me when we first met?” I ask her, truly curious.

She smirks. “Because you aren’t exactly my type. My type looks a lot more like me physically.”

“I see. So I never had a chance then.”

She shakes her head. “Plus, you have that whole too rich to care what anyone else thinks thing about you that is freaking annoying. Do guys really think a woman likes that haughty attitude because, let me tell you, it's a put off.”

I chuckle. “Right. So how do you suggest I should woo a girl?”

“First, she’s a woman, not a girl. If she isn’t underage, then she isn’t a girl. Second, women appreciate the little things far more than the grandiose shit men do. You think she wants an expensive purse rather than maybe having dinner with you? No. She wants you not all that stuff, and if she doesn’t, then she’s a selfish gold digger and you should kick her ass to the curb.” She laughs to herself. “All these years of men and women being together and men are still so clueless. You know what else could help? Ask her what she wants from you.”

“She says she doesn’t want anything from me.” I tell her without thinking.

“What is it you’re trying to give her?” She asks.

“Well, she has nothing left after becoming…estranged from her family. So I offered her some money to help get her through school and whatever else she needs, but she keeps saying she doesn’t want my help. That it’s too much, but I want to take care of her. How is that bad?” I ask.

“She’s probably had to take care of herself for a while, hasn’t she?”

“Yeah, how did you know?” Is she a psychic or something?

“Because women have a huge thing about guilt. We over think and go through a hundred outcomes in our mind before we say anything. So she might be worried that all this help your giving her comes either with strings or that you will think she’s only after your money.”

“But I don’t think that.” I point out.

She shrugs. “Be patient with her. She needs to see that you don’t care about the money, but about her. Why don’t you take her shopping and let her model some cute outfits for you, then tell her how beautiful she looks in everything. Then buy them all while she’s looking somewhere else and surprise her with it. That way, it's a gift and she’ll love it.”

I consider that. She’s making sense. There’s only one problem…

“I can’t do that because she’s seeing someone else right now.” I say, trying to hide the low growl of annoyance I get thinking of her and Roman together.

“Well shit. I guess there isn’t much you can do. It's his job to make her happy then.”

“What if I hate the fucker with everything in my being and know that he’s an asshole that will only hurt her?” I give her a humorless smile.

She laughs. “Well then, tell her. Don’t let her get hurt by some first rate dick head. Unless you want to pick up all her little broken heart pieces.”

“I want her to be happy.” I say and I mean it even if it isn’t with me.

What more can I offer her than money and protection? I’ve never dated before or even know how to be emotionally connected to anyone. She’s my mate, but that doesn’t mean I suddenly know how to be with someone in that way.

“Then tell her the truth.” Melody says, as if it's simple. “Now enough stalling.”

She jumps right back into making me look like an illiterate ass for the next two hours before she finally lets me go. When I step outside, it feels like I’m breathing for the first time. I am not made for a class setting, that much is clear. I need to run. My phone vibrates and I pull my phone out to see a text from Mila. I open the message and see she has sent a picture of her and Steven sitting at a table with two coffees in front of them.

Mila: Scaring everyone off just like you hoped he would, but he bought me coffee so I can forgive him.

I smirk.

Me: I’m glad he’s doing his job right. Maybe he’ll scare Roman away.

I hit send but curse myself for bring up that asshole again.

Mila: I get it, you hate each other. Yet you seem okay with me seeing him.

Me: I hate it, but if he makes you happy, I have no right to say anything about it.

Mila: That’s surprisingly sweet of you.

Me: Of course Steven will be going with you on any future dates.

Mila: Like hell! I don’t need to have Steven breaking over my shoulder while I try to get it on with my new boyfriend!

What? If he lays a single hand on her…

“Hey! I know you.” My head snaps up and I see a familiar-looking woman dressed in a blinding amount of pink. “You’re Julian Keller.”

“I am. You must be Mila’s friend.”

She smiles proudly. “I am. So what are you doing here? Stalking my girl?”

“Your girl?” I ask with a raised brow.

“Yes, my girl. She’s my best friend and that makes her mine until I say otherwise.”

I chuckle and nod my head. “Of course.”

She looks me over but not in the way other woman do. No, her perusal is more critical and focused, but on what I’m not sure.

“So, you’re the one trying to buy my friend’s affection with flashy gifts. Let me clue you in. You won’t impress her with money and status. She doesn’t give a damn about and of that. I’m not sure why she’s interested in that other guy when he acts like a stickup prick with money coming out of his butt.” She scowls.

“You don’t like him?”

She scoffs. “He’s hot, but I don’t trust him. He’s too…shiny.”

“Shiny?”

“You know…fake and too perfectly put together. It just makes me think he’s got a lot of dirty stuff hidden underneath all that bravado.”

I like her.

“He does, but Mila likes him so…” I shrug like it doesn’t make me won’t to kill someone.

“For now. I could already see her wavering this morning. Unfortunately, for now she thinks it’s because she doesn’t understand the world of dating thanks to that idiot Scott.” She rambles on.

“Scott?” Right, I remember now, the one who insulted Mila in the clothes store.

She looks at me for a second like she’s considering if she should tell me or not. She must approve of me, because she sighs and crosses her arms.

“He’s her ex…ex I don’t even know. They were supposed to be in a relationship, but one day he stood in front of everyone and kissed another girl. Mila was heartbroken. She asked what was going on and he laughed along with the girl. He humiliated her by saying nothing between them was real and that it was all in her head.”

I bite back a growl. “I’m gonna kill him”

She eyes me for a second and then smirks. “Follow me.”

It seems I have an alley in my mission to be in Mila’s life.