His smile faded, replaced by…sympathy? Is that what was in his eyes? “Jenna, are you still that afraid of being hurt?”
His words went deep. “Maybe I am. But can you blame me? Your words, actions, and feelings are spell-driven right now. So are mine. That’s no way to lay the groundwork for any kind of relationship. Not when the instant it goes away, we could be left with…nothing.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
She turned away from him, but there was no way to escape him while sitting in the booth. “Titus, I have come to like you, but—”
“You think you might not when the spell is dissolved? I’m still going to be the guy I am right now. That’s not going to change.”
He was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was lower, softer, and filled with the kind of earnest emotion that tugged at her heart. “Things have been good between us. I thought something was genuinely developing. I didn’t realize you were just pretending.”
She closed her eyes as she put her head into her hands and rubbed her temples. “I’m not pretending. I’m as much a victim of the spell as you are. Can we just have some dinner and let this go? Seeing Ingvar has brought up some memories.” Memories of Eric and how shattered he’d left her. Made it hard for her to want to have much to do with love right now.
When Titus didn’t respond, she looked up.
He was gone.
Her stomach felt fine, so he hadn’t put much distance between them. She just couldn’t see him. She jumped up and scanned the restaurant.
Behind the bar, Bridget waved to catch Jenna’s attention. Once she had it, she pointed toward the street.
Jenna dropped some money on the table for the server’s time and headed out.
Titus was leaning by the door, looking for all the world like an immovable statue. A very handsome one. A very kissable one.
She stood next to him, shoulders squared, unwilling to back down. “I know you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad. I’m confused. And fed up.”
“I’m sorry. I’m confused and fed up too. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. But I don’t think it’s fair for us to get too deeply involved when it’s all going to go away when that spell is removed.” He wasn’t Eric. She knew that. And yet, memories of him had renewed her reluctance to get involved.
He finally turned his head to look at her. “Why would feelings that have already developed suddenly go away? You’re borrowing pain. I’d much rather borrow joy.”
She frowned at him.
He straightened. “What’s the worst that could happen if you took a chance on us?”
“I’d get hurt. Again.”
“And what’s the best that could happen?”
She knew what he was getting at. “My life would change.”
He smiled. “For the better, right?”
She nodded reluctantly. It was such a hard thing to imagine.
“So why not take a chance, valkyrie? Especially when the outcome could be more rewarding than anything you’ve ever done before?”
Titus studied Jenna’s beautiful face as she grappled with how to answer his question. He already knew the truth, but there was no way she’d admit it to him. She probably wouldn’t even admit it to herself.
She exhaled. “I’m scared.”
A feather could have knocked him over. The words he’d never imagined she’d say had just come out of her mouth. “Hey, it scares me too. The very idea of getting back into a relationship that could tear me apart again…”
He blew out a breath, then laughed. The sound was shaky. “It’s hard to willingly put yourself in a place that could end up bringing you pain. Especially when you’re like us. Used to winning and being on top. We’re not the kind of people who lie down and let the world walk over us.”
“No, we’re not.” She watched a couple of kids in Halloween costumes skip by with their parents. “But it’s not just getting hurt. It’s…” She seemed to be searching for the right words. “If things go badly between us, yes, I’d lose you as a friend.”
She thought of him as a friend. If that wasn’t progress, he didn’t know what was. “There’s every chance that won’t happen. Especially if we don’t want it to.”
She frowned and looked up through her eyelashes at him. “Titus, be real. Have you ever stayed friends with an ex? Especially one who broke your heart?”
He hadn’t talked to Zoe since the day she’d left Georgia. “Point taken.”
“And it’s not like we could avoid each other all that well. This is a small town, and we’re both first responders. We’re at the same events a lot. We show up at the same calls.” She gestured toward Howler’s. “We eat at the same places. For crying out loud, I work for your brother and see your aunt on a daily basis.”
“All true.” He stepped a little closer. Her blue eyes were lit up like diamonds. She was so perfectly beautiful it made his heart hurt. “So there’s risk involved. I’ll give you that. What good thing in life doesn’t involve some risk? But how about this: What if it’s all worth it?”
She stared at him, her internal struggle visible in her gaze. “I know,” she said quietly. “Then all of my fears were pointless and I kept myself from having something good.”
He took her hands in his. “Focus on the reward. The reward is huge. I mean, you get me.”
She laughed, which was exactly the response he’d hoped for. “You’re so full of yourself, Merrow. It’s one of the things I love about you.”
The words she’d just spoken seemed to register a second after they’d come out of her mouth. Her lips parted in a soft gasp. “I didn’t mean…”
“Yes, you did.” He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “You love me. Just like I love you. It’s probably all the spell’s doing right now, and that’s okay. We’ll soon see if it’s real or not. But Alice told us to stop fighting it. How about for what might be our last night under the influence, we give in and let go and see what happens?”
“You’re asking a lot.”
“One night. That’s not so much.”
Her brows arched with the skepticism he’d come to expect. “What exactly are you proposing with this one night?”
“Oh, I’m talking about the big D.” Grinning, he tugged her back toward Howler’s. “A date. You know, dinner, maybe some ice cream after, along with a stroll through town enjoying the evening air, doing a little window-shopping. Holding hands. What couples all over the world do when they’re out together.”
She was smiling now. “We do need to eat.”
“See? Fun and practical. Come on, Blythe, you know you want to. We can even sit on the same side of the booth again.” He’d liked that. Being close to her was nice.
She gave in, no longer resisting his attempt to move her. “All right. I’m in. But how about we don’t eat at the restaurant your sister owns? Not that I don’t like Howler’s, but it’s sort of home-court advantage for you. Plus, you know Bridget will probably be texting Birdie updates every five minutes. That’s if Birdie doesn’t show up before our drinks arrive.”
He stopped in his tracks. “Yeah, that’s true.” And neither of them needed the added pressure of being watched by his family. “So where do you want to go?”
Her mouth pursed coyly. “Somewhere else.”
She wanted him to make the decisions. His idea, his plan. And if it all went south, he’d have to take the blame. Fine. But tonight was going to be great. He’d show her just how perfect things could be for them as a couple. “We aren’t dressed for anything fancy. How about barbecue, then? Big Daddy Bones. You said I should try it.”
“I did. Okay, let’s go.”
Twilight was fast approaching, dinner was in full swing, and the place was packed, meaning there would be a wait even for the outdoor seating, which was primarily what the restaurant had. But the smoky goodness permeating the air made both of their stomachs growl.
Jenna put her hand on her belly. “I don’t know
if I can wait. I’m starving all of a sudden. I really want barbecue, but forty-five minutes seems like an eternity.”
“I’m right there with you.” He would have been happy to go to Howler’s, but Jenna wanted barbecue, and he wanted to make her happy.
A thought came to him.
“I have an idea.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”
She followed. “If you can get us dinner without the forty-five minute wait, you’re my hero.”
That was all the motivation Titus needed. He took them straight to the takeout window. There weren’t many people in line, since seating was reserved for table service. Customers getting food at the window weren’t eating it on the premises.
She nudged him. “I don’t want to rain on your parade, but barbecue is messy enough to eat sitting down. Standing up to eat it seems like a disaster waiting to happen.”
He winked at her. “We’re not going to eat standing up.”
Their turn to order came up, and hunger drove their decisions. They ended up with two sampler platters, an extra rack of dry-rub ribs, baked beans, green beans, coleslaw, cornbread, banana pudding for dessert, and drinks.
Titus paid, then turned to her. “Can you wait here for the food to come up? I’ll just be a few minutes. I need to go do something.”
She gave him a curious look but nodded. “Sure.”
He went out to his truck in the parking lot, keeping an eye on the time as he worked. He really hoped she liked his efforts, but the possibility existed she might think he’d lost it.
When he got back, their order was just being called. They each took a bag.
“Okay.” She looked at him. “Where are we sitting?”
“You’ll see. Right this way.”
He led her to the back of his truck. “What do you think?”
After putting the tailgate down, he’d set up his cooler in the center of the truck bed as a table and draped it with the old plaid blanket he kept on the back seat. With no candle or flowers to use as a centerpiece, he’d gone with the small emergency lantern that was part of the kit he kept with him at all times. He’d used two stadium cushions, left over from his nephew Charlie’s last soccer game, for seats.
“You just came up with this?”
He nodded. He’d done it for her. To impress her, sure, but also to show he was willing to go the extra bit for her. To do whatever it took to make her happy.
She smiled, eyes sparkling with delight. “I think it’s perfect. It’s better than perfect. Well done, Merrow.”
He exhaled the breath he’d been holding. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “My hero. Now let’s eat.”
He laughed as he set his bag down and climbed into the truck bed. He reached for her. “Let me help you.”
She put her bag next to his, then took his hand. He lifted her straight up until she was standing next to him. A few stars twinkled in the purple sky. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
He kept it short and sweet but did nothing to tame the possessive need coursing through him. He wanted Jenna. He thought maybe he’d wanted her for longer than he’d realized. No spell needed.
She leaned against him even after the kiss ended. “You’re pretty good at this dating stuff.”
“I’m glad you think so. I am really out of practice.” He gestured to one of the stadium cushions. “The truck bed isn’t the most comfortable thing to sit on. I hope that’ll do.”
“It’ll do. I’m not a delicate flower.”
“I like that about you.” Zoe probably wouldn’t have cared for it. She’d been a little particular about things at times.
Jenna started unpacking the bags, and in minutes, the top of the cooler was covered with takeout containers, lidded drinks, paper napkins, plastic utensils, and packets of wet wipes.
He sat across from her. Even by lantern light, she was beautiful. He lifted his paper cup. “Cheers.”
She tapped hers against his. “Thanks for doing all this.”
“Thanks for agreeing to do it.”
They dug into the food, which was amazing and messy and delicious in the way only good barbecue could be. They shared the ribs and bites of the side dishes, and when there was nothing left but bones, empty containers, and dessert, Titus groaned.
Jenna laughed and nodded. “I feel the same way. Good thing you’re not going for a run tonight.”
“Right? It would be more of a roll.” He glanced at the containers of banana pudding, which remained untouched. “There’s no way I can do dessert just yet.”
“Me either,” she said. “Eating that now might put me in a food coma.”
“We could drive out by the lake and look at the stars.”
“That sounds romantic.” There was a light in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. “Or we could swing by I Scream, pick up a couple of pints to go, then stop by my house so I can grab a few more things, then go back to your place and watch the stars from the hot tub. While eating ice cream.”
“A woman who’s not only willing to be seen in a small amount of clothing after eating a meal that could have fed a couple longshoremen, but who’s already planning on something new to eat? You are definitely the woman for me. Done.”
They cleaned up, packed up, and got back in the cab.
At I Scream, Jenna indulged in a pint of dark chocolate marshmallow explosion, while Titus got a pint of brown sugar toffee crunch.
From there, Titus drove straight to her house, waiting in the truck while she gathered whatever she needed. The evening was going exactly as he’d thought it would. Which was just about perfect. Sitting in the hot tub with her would be the icing on the cake.
Not that he had room for cake. Or ice cream, but he supposed he’d give it a shot.
He might even try for another of those Warhammer beers of hers.
She was back out in a few minutes, a secret smile on her face, a stuffed beach bag in one hand.
“What’s up?”
She shook her head, mouth quirked to one side like there was no way he was getting that secret out of her. “Nothing.”
He nodded but knew better. Something was up. He drove to his house with the radio playing the kind of R&B that made the night feel warmer than it really was.
They went inside. He carried the ice cream and the leftover banana pudding. She hoisted the beach bag over her shoulder. At the hall, she turned. “See you in the hot tub in a few?”
“Yep. You in the mood for a Warhammer?”
She grinned. “Maybe two. I can always eat the ice cream for breakfast.”
He shook his head. “I’ll get a cooler.” He changed into his trunks, then grabbed a soft-sided cooler and stuck a cold pack in it before adding four beers.
On his way through the house, he picked up two towels from the linen closet. He walked outside and inhaled, never tired of how fresh the air smelled up here.
He set the cooler beside the tub before pulling the cover off and firing up the jets. With the lights on and the water bubbling, it looked like a portal to another world. In a way, it was.
The sliders opened and closed, and Jenna’s lemony scent reached him as the breeze shifted. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting it wash over him.
“Hey.”
Her voice was soft and husky and sounded very much like the voice of a woman who was teetering on the edge of decision. Was he that decision?
He looked at her. And his breath caught in his throat.
He had a pretty good idea now what her secret smile had been about. Apparently, one of the things she’d picked up at her house was a bikini. The top was blue with white glittery stars. The bottom was equally glittery red and white stripes. Not that there was much room for either.
He swallowed and, for a moment, thought maybe he should salute. “God bless America.”
She laughed. “You like?”
“Uh, yeah.” He was staring. Was he not supposed to? Because he wasn
’t about to fall back on politeness with all this woman in front of him. “It’s, uh, very patriotic.”
“Thanks.” With a catlike smirk, she climbed into the hot tub and slipped into the water.
In that moment, nothing about the two spells dictating his life seemed like bad things. He pulled two bottles from the cooler and offered her one.
She took it and wrenched off the top. “You coming in?”
“Oh yeah.” He got in, barely registering the heat of the water, and settled down across from her. He twisted off the top of his bottle. He raised it to her. “Great idea.”
“The hot tub? Or the bikini?”
He laughed. “Both. Both very good ideas.”
“I have them every once in a while.” Her smirk stayed while she took a sip. “You’re kind of far away.”
“What do you mean?” Was she really implying she wanted him closer? They should definitely eat barbecue more often.
“This is a date, right? Don’t people usually sit closer on dates?”
He didn’t need to be asked any more questions to take action. He slid around to her side until his hip bumped hers. “Hi.”
She grinned. “Hi.” Then clinked her bottle against his. “Thanks for dinner. It was great.”
“It was. I’m glad you got me to go there. I need to take a break from Howler’s once in a while.”
“Couldn’t hurt. But free does have its appeal.”
He grinned. “That it does.”
She settled in against him, tipping her head back to rest on his shoulder while she looked at the sky. “You can really see the stars up here. Better than in town.”
“You can.” He wasn’t even sure if the words coming out of his mouth were making any sense. All he could think about was the beautiful woman cradled next to him. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m crazy about you, Jenna. You know that, right?”
She glanced at him. “I know…the spell is working on both of us. I feel that way about you. I just don’t know if it’s real.”
The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12) Page 16