Vane looked up as Bernie returned. "We'll start with two Crepes Barbaras for appetizers, then the Chateaubriand Bouquetihre."
"Very good, Mr. Kattalakis. Very good."
Vane handed them the menus, then leaned forward. "And make sure to save room for the dessert."
"I don't know if I can hold it, but I'll try. If you want a woman who can eat all that, you need to date my friend Tabitha."
He took her hand into his again and massaged it as if it were unspeakably precious. "I don't want to date Tabitha," he said, laying her hand against his smooth cheek. "I only want to be with you."
Bride had never felt like this in her whole life. She felt so desirable around him. So feminine.
He somehow even managed to make her feel petite.
"So how is it a guy like you has never had a date before?"
Vane took a drink of wine as he thought about how to answer her question.
He didn't want to lie to her, but he couldn't exactly tell her that he was a wolf who had grown up living in the woods, sleeping in dens with other wolves.
That might scare her a bit.
"I grew up in a commune of sorts."
She seemed nervous now and reminded him of a cornered rabbit. "What kind of
commune? You're not one of those religious nuts who's going to kidnap and brainwash me for my money, are you?"
Vane shook his head. This woman got the strangest ideas. "No. Definitely not. I just grew up in a way most people don't. What about you?"
"I grew up here. Both my parents are vets. They met in grad school and got married when they graduated. There's really not much to tell. I had a very normal, average life."
Vane tried to imagine such a thing. In his world, where they could command magic, the elements, and even time itself, normal didn't really factor in. In a way, he envied Bride her human world where the impossible wasn't reality.
"That must have been nice."
"It was." She took a sip of her water. "So what do your parents do?"
"Think up creative ways to kill each other." Vane cringed as that flew out of his mouth. He was so used to saying it that he didn't think about it until he'd heard himself say it.
"No, really."
Vane looked away uncomfortably.
Bride's jaw went slack as she realized he wasn't kidding. "Why would they do that?"
Vane actually squirmed a bit before he answered. "It's a long story. My mother ran off not long after I was born and my father wants me dead, so here I am With you."
She didn't know what to think of that. "This um this family insanity, it's not hereditary, is it?"
"It doesn't appear to be," he said seriously. "But if it creeps up on me, feel free to shoot me."
She wasn't sure if he meant that or not. So, suddenly grateful that they were in a public place, she decided to change the subject to something a little safer.
"How do you have so much money? After what you just said, I don't think your parents gave it to you, did they?"
"No. I make investments. Sometimes I sell artifacts."
Now that sounded interesting. "What kind of artifacts?"