Page 30 of Saved By the Wolf

I held onto the note the entire walk home, wondering if I should call Luc and say yes. It was just a dinner after all. Nothing more.

* * *

“Did you call him last night?” Ray asked as soon as I set foot into the flower shop the next morning.

“No, I chickened out. He says he wants to get to know me and all these other nice things, but he doesn’t know my past.”

“Sweetie, your past does not define you. And Rich is gone, Luc said so himself. They took care of him.”

“I know, but it’s so soon, and I’m just getting my life together again.”

“Well, don’t get mad at me, but he was here again this morning.”

“Again?” I was shocked Luc was being so persistent. Especially after getting denied by Becca’s phone call and me ghosting him last night.

“Yeah.” Ray pulled out a hat box from under the counter with another rose on top of it.

“Wow.”

The box looked old. I opened the pink ribbon that was sewn on the sides of the box, careful to not pull on any loose strands as I peeled off the ribbon. I gasped when I pulled off the top lid. Inside the box was the black and red mask I’d fallen in love with at the masquerade ball. A note was tucked in the side, and I opened it.

Jill,

I saw you staring at this mask when I found you at the ball. You looked so content and happy I didn’t want to disturb you. All the masks on the wall belong to my mom’s side of the family. This particular one belonged to her. She had it made for the first masquerade ball she threw with my dad. It was the most exquisite mask of the time. I’d like you to have it. And I have a place for you to wear it if you’ll have dinner with me tonight.

Luc

“Oh!” Ray had come up behind me and was reading the note over my shoulder.

“Privacy!” I exclaimed, stuffing the note into my pocket.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I’d been curious about what was in the box since he dropped it off this morning. That mask is absolutely gorgeous.”

“Yeah, isn’t it?” I ran my hand through the feathery fringes, thinking about what he said.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure. He’s being so nice and persistent, and Iamreally drawn to him. But I’m scared, Ray.”

She pulled me into a hug. “I would be more worried if you weren’t scared.”

“Really?” I mumbled into her shoulder. “You think I should go?”

“If nothing else, see if you’ve made a new friend. No one says you have to be romantic with him even if he wants to be with you. Take it slow.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“Fantastic.” Ray gently pulled away and looked at my face. “You cry as much as you want. Any time you like.”

“Thanks, Ray. You’ve really allowed me to get a new life started again.”

“Of course. Any friend of Becca’s is a friend of mine.”

I straightened my back, having had enough of my crying session. “Okay, now what project can I work on today?”

Ray, taking my cue, reached under the counter for the project binder. “Let’s see. We have a wedding to finish preparing for today. Looks like flowers for the aisle are what’s left.”

“Then let’s get started,” I said, walking toward the back of the store to gather the supplies.