The Werewolf Dates The Deputy - Kristen Painter Page 0,26
wouldn’t go that far.” She tipped her head. “Hey, you want me to call her and tell her it’s not going to happen between us? Get her off your back?”
“It won’t help.”
“It might.”
He raised a brow. “You’ve met Birdie, right?”
Jenna laughed, an incredibly sweet sound. “Yeah, okay, point taken.”
He went back to the grill to flip the steaks. “How do you like yours?”
“Medium is good. You probably like rare, huh?”
He gave her some side-eye. “I order medium rare.”
“I forgot your sister cooks all your meals.”
“Yes, so funny.” Steaks turned, he closed the lid. “Bridget doesn’t do the cooking at Howler’s, you know.”
“I know.” Jenna’s expression was all kinds of sly. “But I amuse myself.”
“Clearly.” He nodded at her. She was in bare feet like he was. Her toenails were the same electric blue as the underwear he couldn’t stop thinking about. “Is that what you’re wearing to run?”
“Yes. With sneakers. No good?”
“It’s fine. Just curious.”
“How often do you wolf out and race around the woods?”
“I do not wolf out. And I try for once a week. At least.”
“And on the full moon?”
“We run as a pack.” That was only a few days from now. They’d be able to be separated by then, wouldn’t they? Because the pack might not appreciate having a guest. Something he realized he might have to consider.
She ran her hand along the railing. “That must be nice. To have a pack.”
“Do valkyries have anything like that?”
“Not really. We tend to be a little more solitary. Not always, of course, but we’re generally all right with being alone. Doesn’t mean we don’t have friends or like people. In fact, an old friend of mine is supposed to be coming into town. Another valkyrie.” She jerked her thumb toward the house. “You want me to set the table?”
He pointed behind her to the little table for two on the deck. “I thought we could eat out here.”
“That would be nice. I’ll go get the plates.” She started into the house, then paused. “You want a Warhammer Stout?”
“I do, but maybe not before I run. After, definitely.”
“Okay. I’ll wait, too, then.” She went inside.
He smiled. If this was civil, it wasn’t bad. And it could only get better from here.
Being around Titus was getting harder. Being nice to him wasn’t helping with the love spell either. It kept lulling her into a state of thinking that they were friends, and that was going to get her into trouble. Friends could quickly turn into more, and more would be dangerous.
A lot of fun, for sure, but ultimately, heartbreaking. And she’d already told herself she wouldn’t get involved with another man who couldn’t keep a promise.
Oath breakers were not for her.
She took the plates and silverware back outside to the small table. It was wood and beautifully finished. She set everything down, looking at it more closely. “Did you make this?”
“Yes. And the chairs.”
“It’s really nice.” Such a useful little set. Why did he have to be so handy? And why did she have to find that so…sexy?
“Thanks. You want to bring me the plates? Steaks are ready.”
She picked the plates up, then stood there, looking at him. “Are we only having steak?”
He blinked as if her question took a moment to register. “I don’t like vegetables. If God meant us to eat vegetables, they’d grow out of the ground.”
“They do.”
He grinned. “It’s a joke, Blythe.”
She shook her head. “Did you bring the veggies from my crisper?”
“I think I scooped up everything that was in there.”
“Then how about I fix a salad while the steaks rest?”
“Sure, get crazy.”
She handed him the plates and went back into the kitchen. She found her stash of veggies on a shelf in his fridge. She took a moment to organize the whole thing, then in a few minutes had whipped up a simple addition to their meal. Fortunately, he had a bottle of blue cheese dressing in his fridge. Probably used it for chicken wings, if anything.
He was at the table with the steaks when she brought the salad out in a wooden bowl she’d found. “Did you make this bowl too?”
“Yep. In high school shop class.”
“So you’ve been crafty for a while, then.” She set it on the table, then took her seat.
He gave her a very direct look. “You could say that.”
She let that go by without a retort. She figured not saying anything might be better. Which was kind of the opposite of what she’d usually do, but this was new ground.