Page 31 of Saved By the Wolf

I worked in the back of the shop for the rest of the day while Ray fielded customers in the front. I had to keep redoing my bouquets because my mind was on Luc the whole time. After a while, a pile of torn ribbons and flowers was all I had to show for my work, and I sat down in frustration. My brain knew I shouldn’t be doing this. I wasn’t ready, but my heart was screaming at me to say yes.

I threw the bouquet I was working on onto the table. This was no use. Ray had already made six bouquets, even while fielding customers, and I was only on my second one.

I took out my phone and texted Luc’s number with a simple “Yes.” As soon as I sent it, my heart settled, and a comforting hum went through my body. Immediately, his response came back with a heart and a time and a location of where to meet, as well as a note to bring the mask with me. Curiosity overcame me, and I asked him for more details only to be told “All in good time.”

Luc

“Don’tyou think this is a bit grand for a first date?” Jacob asked.

“No.”

“No? Are you crazy? You’re going to scare her off before she even gets to know you, and you haven’t exactly made the best impression so far,” Bruno said.

“Why are you two here? I thought you went home with Dredge,” I snapped back.

“Brandon said you got a date, and we had to come and see you get all dressed up,” Jacob said.

“And goad you as well. We’re never too far away that we can’t come and do that,” Bruno added.

I gave them a glare and wished Brandon was here. He, at least, might have some input on if what I was wearing was too much, whereas these two hooligans couldn’t put on a decent pair of pants between them.

I added the finishing touches to my tie and turned to look at my younger brothers. “It’s not a first date as we’ve already had one.”

“You did?” Jacob asked.

“How come we’re just hearing about this?” Bruno was now standing in front of me with an expectant look.

“Well? Are you going to tell us more?” Jacob insisted.

“No, except that it involved ice cream.”

“Really? That’s it? Ice cream?” Bruno threw his arms up and walked back to the living room.

“Now you know her favorite dessert,” I told them.

“Huh. You’re so going to bomb tonight,” Jacob said.

I reached out and took Jacob under my arm and ruffled his hair. He managed to wrap his arms around me and spin me onto my back.

“You’re going to break me before I pick her up,” I groaned.

“Nah, you’re too hefty for that,” Jacob said.

“Hefty?” I pumped my muscles for them to see. “I think I’m more fit than your blubbery stomach,” I said, swatting at Jacob’s mid-section.

“Well, use those muscles to protect your girl, yeah?” Bruno said.

I took a good look at the two of them and eyed them warily. “You two worried about something?”

“No,” they both said, a bit too quickly.

“No?” I glared at them, knowing that if I stood my ground long enough one of them would break.

Sure enough, Bruno said, “Just something we heard Dredge say on the way up.”

Jacob punched him in the side.

“Hey! He deserves to know,” Bruno returned. “This is his mate after all.”