"But you work in the quarter."
"I know. It's one of the sacrifices we all have to make for love." She offered Sunshine a smile, but Sunshine could tell it was only a façade.
That was exactly what Sunshine was afraid of.
Why was it always the woman who had to sacrifice for love? Just once, couldn't a guy do it instead?
Bride sighed. "Give me a call if you paint anything new that I'd like, okay?"
"I will. By the way, you're looking really good. Have you lost weight?"
Bride beamed. "I'm down to a size sixteen. But I have to tell you that I am starving all the time."
"Yeah, but you're a knockout."
"Thanks. Taylor signed me up for an aerobics class at his club that meets four times a week and that helped to get a lot of the weight off."
"You don't sound like you enjoy it very much."
Pain darkened Bride's eyes as she averted her gaze. "I just hate having to put on sweats and then walk into a room filled with size-two women in leotards-like they really need those classes. It makes me want to head to Krispy Kreme even more than the diet does."
Sunshine laughed. "Tell me about it. I personally don't think they should make anything except gunny sacks for anyone under a size ten."
Bride smiled again. "Speaking of dress sizes and skinny women, I guess I better head back to the shop. You take care, okay?"
"You too."
Bride wandered off in the direction of her store.
"Who was that?" Vane was now standing up, staring after Bride with a hungry glint in his eyes.
How did he do that? The man, or rather wolf, moved with an eerie silence.
"Her name is Bride McTierney. She owns a boutique over on Iberville."
"She's... very nice."
Sunshine was amazed he thought so. Most guys were intimidated or just plain turned off by Bride's height and Rubenesque build.
Vane looked as if he had just seen a supermodel in the flesh.
Now this could be good...
He blinked and returned to sitting on the curb.
"You know, I could introduce the two of you."
He looked up at her, then glanced away. Still, she had glimpsed the regret in his green eyes.
"Wolves don't socialize with humans. You guys tend to freak out when you learn what we are. Not to mention, your females are rather frail. I don't like having to hold back for fear of bruising or killing my partner when I mate."
"And people think I speak my mind. Jeez. You will just say anything, won't you?"
"I told you, I'm not human. I don't share your inhibitions."
She supposed that was true enough. But it was a pity. Bride could use a man who accepted her as she was and didn't put her on strict diets and exercise regimes all the time.
"So," Vane said after a few minutes. "What's between you and the Celt? Are the two of you just casually carnal or is there something more?"