by S. E. Babin
Katie nodded distractedly and I watched her work, her slim fingers deftly putting together three more sandwiches. Within minutes, she'd slapped two grilled cheese down for me and one for herself.
"These are massive," I said. "I probably can't eat two."
"More for me," she said as she took a giant mouthful.
I snorted as I watched her inhale that sandwich like a hillbilly truck driver. I took my first bite and had to restrain myself from moaning. "This is the best grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had," I said with a groan.
"It's from my college days. You had to make due with tiny fridges and grills, so we all had to get creative."
The garlic and thyme burst in my mouth and the cheese was melted perfectly. I wanted Katie. I wanted her and her ridiculously stupidly good grilled cheese and her long, dark braid and cute yoga pants butt.
I blinked when I realized she noticed me staring at her for too long.
"Martin?"
I took an enormous bite of my sandwich so I couldn't say anything. She finished up her first sandwich, eyeballed the second, but finally cut half of it and pushed the rest aside. "So you're putting wood down in the guest bedroom to match the rest of the house?"
She knew this was exactly what I was doing, but I thought she might be nervous so I nodded in agreement.
"New baseboards and wall paint?"
I nodded again.
"Okay."
I couldn't help but be amused. I polished off the rest of my sandwich, washed my hands and my dish, and headed over to grab my tools so I could start working in the other room.
As I was walking away, she called out. "You're on track to finish in a few weeks?"
I nodded. "The timeline on the contract should hold. Provided I don't find anything disastrous." I didn't expect to. For the most part, in spite of the ceiling disaster, the old house was solidly built. The only reason I was working so slow was because I was an idiot. I didn't want to leave her because I was afraid I wouldn't see her again.
Katie smiled at me and turned away to clean up the mess in her kitchen.
Things were getting a little weird between us.
I grinned as I walked into the room. This wasn't a bad thing, necessarily. I was making her think. Hopefully too much.
Tank top for the win.
20
I pulled up to the house only to see a man sitting on my front porch. Dusk had just fallen so I couldn't see who it was, though I didn't think it was Martin. The clothes were all wrong. I grabbed my purse and got out of the car, raising my hand in a friendly wave when I stopped in my tracks.
Harry was sitting there.
"Nope," I said and went to brush past him, when he grabbed my ankle.
"Please. Just listen to me."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Just for a minute."
I stopped but didn't sit down.
"I squandered my family's inheritance. My father is about to pass away and he's going to know what I did. I'm just asking for you to help me. That's all. I'll do anything." He looked up at me with beseeching eyes. "Even marry you."
I snorted with genuine laughter. "Seriously? How's Lila going to take that? And honestly, how am I supposed to take that? You'll even marry me if you have to?" I rolled my eyes. "Wow. Gee. What a ringing endorsement for me as marriage material. And how desperate does that make me sound?"
"It isn't like that!" Harry said, his voice a desperate whine. "I just mean that I'll do whatever you want me to if you help me out of this. I'll divorce Lila. I'll -"
A deadly, low voice came from the trees to the side of my house. "You'll leave Katie Harper's property and never return."
The door behind me opened up and Martin stepped outside, anger all over his face.
Mark, the Lupin Alpha, was standing in my yard, his lean and powerful build stiff with rage.
Harry slowly stood up. "I was just talking to Katie."
"I know exactly what you were doing," Mark said. "And I know exactly what you've been doing for the past several years."
Harry began to shake. I stepped closer to Martin. He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. Violence was coiled within Mark, ready to come out the second Harry said or did the wrong thing.
Harry, perhaps sensing this, raised his hands in supplication and began to walk toward Mark. "I'll leave."
"Midnight Cove," Mark rasped out.
Harry's steps stilled. "Excuse me?"
"You will leave Midnight Cove or face execution according to Pack Law."
Even in the dark I could see Harry's face go pale.
"But I haven't done anything," he insisted.
"You've kept a wife and children away from the pack and have not informed them of your paranormal status. It is within our rights to collect your family and bring them here in order to teach them our ways. You committed adultery, violence against women and you were willing to commit bigamy to save your own skin. This is your ultimatum, and it is a generous one. Leave or die."
Harry shook his head. "I - I can't."
"You can and you will."
I saw the moment Harry made his decision. Martin stiffened against me and maneuvered me so my face was buried against his chest.
Mark struck viciously and without remorse and the sound of claws ripping into skin I would not soon forget.
The Alpha of the Lupin pack sat at my kitchen table wearing a pair of Martin's paint splattered jeans and drinking tea out of a pink mug. If I hadn't seen the result of his anger, I would have thought this comical. But since I had a rapidly cooling werewolf corpse in my front yard, I thought I'd err on the side of caution and stifle my amusement.
After he'd sipped for awhile, he pulled a slip of paper out of his shirt pocket. I stiffened when I saw it, but fortunately there was no blood splatter on it. He'd done an admirable job of cleaning his face and hands off once his claws had retracted and he'd gotten his wolf under control.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"Reparations," Mark said, studying me. "I meant to get here much earlier, but my pack has been...challenging lately."
"I'm not sure it's necessary," I said, not really wanting to take money from him since I'd just seen him gut someone.
The smile he gave me was tired and not very amused. "Do not be afraid of me, Katie. This is pack law. We are not governed by normal societal rules. You did nothing wrong. You must allow our pack to make reparations to you. It's a matter of honor for us." He pushed the check closer.
I sighed. "Thank you." I slid the check in my pocket without bothering to look at the amount.
Mark's gaze slid over to Martin's. "A Romani? I haven't smelled one of you in many years. You must not live in town."
Martin watched him warily. "Outskirts. I do home remodeling and some construction in the town."
"You seem...strong." His gaze narrowed. "Both magically and physically."
I glanced at Martin only to see him and Mark locked into a macho staring contest. It was hot but also terrifying so I wished they would both quit it.
With a short nod, the tension broke. Martin slid a business card over. "If you need any work done, give me a call."
Mark laughed roughly. "I just might do that." He set his mug down and slid out of his chair with fluid grace. "Walk with me to the door, Romani. I would speak with you."
And just like that they left me there staring in bewilderment. Before Martin opened the door, Mark leaned into whisper something into his ear. I watched as Martin stiffened and shock rendered him mute. Mark slapped him on the back and exited.
Martin didn't shut the door right away, only stared at Mark's retreating form.
"What was that all about?" I asked when he came back into the kitchen.
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just told me something about a client of mine. I was taken by surprise, that's all."
Suspicion settled into my bones. He wasn't telling me everything. Martin looked like he was about to keel over. I got up to pour him a cup
of tea. I had no idea if he even liked Earl Grey, but it was the only thing I could do for him. He looked shaken.
I pushed the mug over to him and he clasped it in his hands.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," he said finally.
"I didn't actually see it."
"The aftermath."
"Well, let's hope Mark has someone come clean that up otherwise I'll be answering a lot of questions once my driveway begins to smell like decay."
He shut his eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him. I should have. It was stupid. I was trying to stay out of your business, but you ended up getting hurt."
"I wasn't that hurt, Martin. I never loved him. I always felt like there was something...off about him."
"I still should have told you." His powerful shoulders were hunched.
"Maybe so. But I'd say he got what he was due, didn't he?"
His eyes were haunted. "I saw him. A long time ago. He dragged a woman out of a club and beat her." He bowed his head. "I don't know the whole story but the woman was so terrified of him, she refused to press charges against him."
I blinked in surprise. "I never saw that side of him. Maybe a little at the very end."
"I should have said something," he repeated. "How could I have let you go with him?"
"Martin." I touched his arm. "You didn't have to get involved. I can take care of myself."
He rubbed a hand across his eyes. "He never deserved you."
I swallowed hard.
"He was dangerous and I sat here and let him into your house and let you go off with him -"
"Martin!" My voice was sharp. "For the record, you don't own me and I probably wouldn't have listened to you even if you tried."
A slight smile crossed his mouth. "It wasn't right."
"It's over. Harry is never going to bother me again."
Martin blew out a long, slow breath. "What a night."
I stood up and walked to the other side of the table. I touched his shoulder and before I knew it, he wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his dark head into my stomach. I let my fingers roam through his thick hair, marveling at the silkiness of it against my fingers. His contented sigh made something flutter in my stomach.
My hands started to tremble. What was happening to me? Why was in standing in my kitchen allowing my contractor to embrace me?
But...Martin wasn't just my contractor anymore, was he?
I sighed and he pulled me tighter, his strong arms wrapped around my waist as I continued to stroke his hair. "Martin?"
"Hmmm?"
"What are we doing?" I said softly.
A shuddering sigh racked his body. He paused before he said anything and when he spoke I could have sworn I heard disappointment. "Comforting each other."
It felt like so much more than that but I wasn't brave enough to address it.
I allowed him to hold me for a minute more before I stepped away. "Goodnight," I said and didn't look back as I headed into my bedroom.
I felt his eyes on my back the entire way.
21
I slept like total crap, the feeling of being held by Martin paralyzing my thoughts. I stared at the ceiling most of the night and when I finally managed to get some sleep, it was plagued by restless dreams about him. It was totally unlike me to obsess over things. I either knew or I didn't know. I let out a strangled laugh because honestly me knowing hadn't exactly served me well over the years. Every time I looked in my closet my three wedding dresses practically laughed in my face.
I had to get up and get to working on the week's offerings for Sam. This week I planned to make a sweet bread, though I wasn't sure what kind, chocolate crinkles again, and a Devil's food cake. I had to drop everything off by tomorrow morning so I needed to get to it.
A lukewarm shower followed by freezing cold water on my chest and neck managed to bring me out of my stupor. I heard Martin letting himself in and I hesitated before stepping out. My hair was still damp and pulled back into a neat braid. I wore leggings, a long football jersey and a pair of flip flops. If I was going to be baking the entire day I wanted to make sure I was comfortable.
I leaned my head against the door, took a couple of deep breaths and told myself that what happened yesterday meant nothing and that I shouldn't look at this as more than anything than what it was. Two people experiencing a traumatic moment who took comfort in each other.
I stepped out only to stop in my tracks. Today it was a blue tank top and a pair of snug cargo pants. He wore a ball cap which covered up most of his beautiful hair, but it made him look like a sexy baseball player. Or something.
Probably just sexy because why try to compare Martin's sexuality to anything when everything seemed to pale in comparison?
I blinked at that thought. Where had that come from? I tried to think about Jeff and how attractive I thought he was, but I couldn't compare him to Martin because, honestly, there really was no comparison.
I was in deep trouble.
"Hey," he said, a slow grin sliding onto his face.
"Hey," I parroted back. I couldn't hold his gaze for more than a moment because I could feel the blush roaring up from my feet. I tilted my head down, mumbled I had things to bake, and marched into the kitchen, hoping I wouldn't continue to make an ass out of myself.
But Martin followed me which abruptly threw that thought right out of the window. He stopped, just inside of my personal space. "What's on the menu today?"
I looked up at him and saw amusement and...something else flickering in his gaze. My eyes dropped down to his lips and back up to his eyes. A small smile quirked the side of his mouth.
"Bread," I blurted. "I'm making bread. A lot of it. Very busy. With yeast. It has to be the perfect temp, otherwise it won't bloom and we all know that would be a disaster. Of epic proportions. World ending stuff there. So...I have to bake."
His smile slid into a wide grin and one of his eyebrows rose. "World ending? That sounds like pretty important bread." He leaned in and inhaled. "I like the body wash you use. It smells...like home."
I cleared my throat, spun around, and went to get my yeast out so the world wouldn't end.
With a chuckle, Martin headed into the guest bathroom and let me waffle in my humiliation. "World ending?" I muttered. "Could I be any more of an idiot?" He could not finish my house soon enough. I was on uneven footing in my own house and I didn't like it very much.
I was forearm deep in bread dough when my doorbell rang. I let out a squawk because I was in a position where I couldn't really stop. Martin stepped out, saw my predicament and offered to get the door for me.
I nodded a sheepish thanks and continued kneading the bread dough. I still had one more rise to go so I needed to make sure I worked the dough enough but not too much.
My hands stilled when a man walked into my kitchen. Martin's expression behind him was positively thunderous. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Jeff Hunt stood there looking handsome as all get out and wearing the sheepish look that had eventually worn me over and gotten me out of my pants.
The words finally came. "Get out," I said and turned my attention back to my bread. "I don't care why you're here. I have nothing to say to you."
I could tell by the look on his face he remembered everything. The spell I'd put on him to prevent this had for sure failed. Why it had taken him so long to get back to me I would never know. Also, I just didn't care. I wanted to punch Portia Kadish in the nose for this. It was like she'd purposely not only blasted my single status to everyone in this godforsaken place, she'd also placed a blazing neon sign over my head announcing exactly what my powers could do for them. From all the stories I'd heard about her, I would have thought she'd be a little more choosy than that. Her methods, if she had any at all, weren't genius. They were madness. If she had a label, she would be Chaotic Neutral. For sure.
Jeff shifted on his feet and glanced behind him. Martin still stood there like an ang
ry telephone pole. A hint of irritation crept onto Jeff's face but he quickly shoved it away before he spoke.
"I want you to consider taking me back."
Martin snorted.
I punched my dough with the ferocity of an angry boxer. "No chance in hell." I glared at him. "And if you make me ruin my bread, I'm going to curse you with jock itch for the rest of your days." I couldn't actually do that, but he had no idea of the extent or lack of my powers.
"What I did was wrong. And inappropriate. You being what you are was never the reason I fell in love with you."
I rolled my eyes and put my focus back on my bread. But his next words gave me pause.
"I've paid all of my debts off and moved into a small apartment in the heart of downtown."
Martin pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and stepped outside. My heart dropped at the thought of being alone with Jeff.
"I want us to have another chance, Katie." Jeff reached into his wallet and pulled out a card. He dropped it on the counter. "This is my new cell. I'd like you to call me when you have some time to think."
Martin stepped back into the house and unceremoniously jerked Jeff of his feet by the back of his shirt. All Jeff could utter was a strangled, "Urk," before Martin got the door opened and tossed him out on his ass. Jeff landed in a tangle of arms and legs and was up in an instant shouting at my contractor.
My hands paused in the dough and I stared at Martin's back wide-eyed with both confusion and admiration.
I watched as Jeff stalked toward Martin, his eyes glowing golden and his hands starting to fur out. I quickly pulled my hands away from the bread, grabbed a towel and walked toward him having no idea what the hell I was going to do if things got ugly.
Jeff barely took five steps before Martin raised his hand and uttered a single word. The wolf's eyes widened and quickly turned back to their normal color as he sank to his knees, his hand around his throat.
"I spoke with your Alpha a minute ago and he had some interesting things to share." I stood directly behind Martin and my heartbeat picked up. I had a feeling I was Jeff's last ditch effort.