me a Christmas card every year.”
Bree’s lips curved. “Did anyone ever figure out why those guys went after the girls to begin with?”
Diego shook his head. “No. One of the suspects died at the scene, and the other refused to talk. He ended up getting a sentence of twenty-five to life without ever offering up any explanation.”
She frowned. “So, one man ended up dead, those women’s lives got turned upside down, and you ended up becoming a werewolf and no one knows why those wackos did it?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes it happens that way. Things happen and we never know why. All we can do is pick ourselves up, keep going, and do the best we can not to let the experience color the way we look at the world.”
She finished the last of her chicken, then set down her knife and fork. “Are you still talking about dealing with weirdos who do insane things, or have we drifted into a conversation about dealing with becoming a werewolf?”
“Maybe a little of both.” He gave her a sheepish look. “Sorry, but I guess I get a little philosophical after a good meal.”
She laughed. “If that’s the case, I wonder how introspective you’ll get after dessert because I made chocolate cake. Hope you’re still hungry.”
Diego flashed her a grin. “I never say no to chocolate or cake.”
Pushing back her chair, she leaned over to pick up his empty plate, but he waved her off, taking hers out of her hand and picking up his own, along with the salad bowls.
“You don’t have to do that,” she protested.
“Maybe not, but I want to.” He placed the plates and bowls on the counter, then opened the dishwasher. “You made a fantastic dinner. The least I can do is help clean up.”
Bree watched out of the corner of her eye as he rinsed off the plates and put them in the dishwasher while she took the chocolate cake out of the fridge. A hunky guy like him helping out in the kitchen, and on the first date no less? Her mom would tell her to marry him immediately if not sooner.
Laughing to herself at that idea, she cut two slices of the moist chocolate cake with loads of creamy frosting, making sure to give Diego an extra big one.
“I thought we could have dessert in the living room,” she said, nodding toward the couch. “More comfortable in there.”
“Comfortable is good,” he agreed, the sudden heat in his dark eyes unmistakable as he picked up their glasses of wine and gestured for her to lead the way.
Chapter 6
Diego tried not to stare at Bree’s butt swaying gracefully in front of him as she walked into the living room, but it was impossible. Like everything else about her, it was simply captivating.
He picked up the bottle of wine and their two partially filled glasses on the way. As he did so, he couldn’t help but admit that he’d been enthralled the moment he’d walked through the door. He’d smelled the Italian food cooking before he reached the fourth floor, but his interest in food had taken a back seat as soon as Bree’s hypnotizing strawberry-vanilla scent hit him. It had nearly brought him to his knees. And when she’d opened the door and he’d seen her standing there in that little black dress that showed off her kissable shoulders, a hint of inviting décolletage, and a tantalizing glimpse of her long, toned legs, it had taken everything in him to keep from kissing her. Especially since he found himself immediately fantasizing about those parts of her body underneath her dress, his heart thumping and mouth watering at the image.
It had been great seeing Brandon again, as well as meeting Beth and Kevin, but it was sitting across from Bree during dinner that had been the amazing part of the evening. And yeah, the food was pretty damn incredible, too.
Diego refilled both their glasses before setting the bottle of wine on the coffee table and taking a seat on the sofa with her, making sure to leave some space between them even though his inner wolf begged him to sit closer.
Bree then leaned forward and picked up the plates, handing one to him with a smile. Diego eagerly lifted a forkful to his mouth and almost moaned. It was supremely moist and the ratio of chocolate frosting to cake was perfection. If the chicken parmesan and linguine had been amazing—and it was—then the dessert was world-changing.
He was still wrapped