The doorbell rang yet again.
Jamie huffed. This was getting ridiculous.
Yet another display of flowers greeted her as she opened the door.
“Hello,” said the woman. “More flowers for you, Ms Osborne.”
“Thanks,” she peered at her name badge, “Linda, they’re lovely, but I have enough flowers already.”
“There are loads more,” said Linda, then bit her lip.
“What do you mean?”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said.”
“Said what?”
“I have another four orders to deliver, and gifts too.”
“Another four?” Jamie shook her head. Talk about over the top. She should have known better. Grayson’s last apology had seemed genuine, and she’d softened a little, but now the guy was flashing the cash again, trying to impress her. If he thought she would forgive him now, he had another think coming.
“Look, Linda, I don’t want to get you into trouble, but don’t deliver any more flowers to me. I don’t want them.”
“Goodness, the guy must have done something really bad.”
Jamie frowned. How did she know the flowers were meant as an apology?
“I put the cards in the envelopes, sorry.”
The woman was only doing her job. “It’s not your fault. What about if you delivered them to the local hospital? After removing the cards, of course.”
“I could, I suppose, but the next deliveries come with chocolates, and champagne too.”
Jamie pursed her lips. Over the top didn’t come close. Pushy, conceited bragger, annoying; she could go on. “You can have the chocolates and champagne. I’ll be having words with Mr Beckett, that’s for certain.”
“Hey, it’s none of my business,” Linda said, chuckling. “I’m just the delivery lady. I’ll take this lot to your neighbour, okay?”
“Thanks. Bye, Linda.”
Jamie closed the door, headed into her kitchen again and switched on the kettle.
Cujo yapped then tilted his head to the side, his big brown eyes blinking.
“Don’t you look at me like that. I know you like him, and that cheeky daughter of his, but it’s not happening. I wouldn’t forgive him if he was the last werewolf on the planet.”
She turned off the kettle and poured herself a glass of wine instead.
It would take a lot more than flowers and chocolates to make her trust another man with her fragile heart.
Chapter Five
Grayson checked his watch for the umpteenth time. Jamie still hadn’t called, and it had been hours since he’d had the flowers delivered.
She would have received all the gifts by now too, including the chocolates and champagne. What woman wouldn’t be impressed by all those gifts?
Ms Jamie Osborne, apparently.
He wasn’t expecting a thank you, but he at least hoped she would give him a chance to explain.
Grayson scrolled his messages. Nothing. At this point, he would have settled for an abusive text, but the silence?
Maybe he needed to up his game.
Luna skipped into his office. “Hi, Dad, what are you doing?”
He put his phone back in his pocket. “Nothing much. Come and sit with me, Luna. I could do with a hug.”
His daughter wriggled between him and his desk and perched on his lap.
“Not too old to sit on your dad’s knee, eh?”
“Never,” she told him, reaching up to arrange his hair. “What’s wrong, Dad? You look sad.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m fine, little pup. I was expecting someone to call and they haven’t, that’s all.”
“Who, Jamie?”
Grayson chuckled. When did she get so observant and grown-up looking? “Yes, Jamie. I sent her some flowers and I thought she might have rung me by now.”
“I like her, and her cute little dog. She smelled like strawberries. Not like that nasty Imogen, who always made me sneeze with her gross perfume.” Luna screwed up her nose.
“Luna, that’s rude,” he reprimanded gently. “But I know what you mean. Anyway, I finished with Imogen, so I won’t be seeing her again, except for the pack gathering next month.”
Luna pouted. “The one you won’t let me go to?”
“Yes. I told you, you’re not old enough to come to pack gatherings yet. They’re dead boring anyway, and there’s usually trouble. I have to hold it here in the ballroom because I’m the alpha, but you, my darling girl, will have a choice.” He tapped her nose. “When you’re older.”
“I’m nearly a teenager,” she pointed out.
“Yes, you are. Any ideas what you’d like to do for your birthday?”
She tucked his hair behind his ear. “I don’t know yet, but maybe we could invite Jamie over for dinner?”
How did she manage to wangle the conversation back to Jamie?
Grayson rolled his eyes. “You’re a cheeky little pup, you know that? And I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.” She nestled her cheek against his chest. “So, when are you going to Jamie’s house to ask her out?”
“I’m not. I’m waiting for her to call back—” He stopped mid-sentence. His daughter hit on something there. If Jamie wouldn’t ring him, he could go to see her. He had another gift for her, a rather special one. What better way to apologise than face to face?
He cringed every time he thought of how he’d offered to pay her to go out with him.
“You know what, Luna? I’m going to do exactly that.”
She grinned. “Can I come?”
“No, you cannot. You have studying to do.”
Luna pouted again.
“Go on, off you go.”
She pecked his cheek and wriggled off his lap. “Good luck with Jamie.”
The briefest frown crinkled his forehead. It hadn’t crossed his mind that he would need any luck, but what if Jamie refused to forgive him?
Maybe that’s why she hadn’t called.
He watched Luna leave his office. There was only one way to find out—visit Jamie.
* * *
After a quick shower and change of clothes, Grayson donned his helmet and straddled his Harley. He checked the breast pocket of his leather jacket, making sure the jewellery box was securely tucked in.
He weaved carefully around the potholes in the lane, then revved the throttle to full speed as he hit the dual carriageway into town, enjoying the cool evening air ruffling his clothes.
Half an hour later, he pulled up outside an exclusive apartment block. He rummaged in his pocket to check Jamie’s address. Yes, he had the right place, but he hadn’t expected her to live somewhere quite as affluent.
Grayson parked his Harley, locked his helmet onto the handlebars and headed into the building.
Her apartment was on the top floor.
He took the lift, his palms sweaty, his nerves playing havoc with his system.
What was up with him? He’d never felt this nervous, ever.
The lift pinged and the doors slid open.
Taking a deep breath, he walked along the corridor, found her apartment and pressed the doorbell.
Her little dog yapped inside.
“I swear if that’s another delivery, I’ll go mad,” came Jamie’s voice, muffled from within.
Grayson rubbed his clammy palms on his jeans. What the hell are you doing, you fool? He plastered a grin on his face as the door opened.
Jamie gasped. “Grayson…?”
The way she said his name warmed parts of him he’d forgotten existed.
She smelled good too, like freshly-picked strawberries. “Hi, Jamie, I…” He swallowed, only now realising he had no idea what to say to her. She wore a baggy sweatshirt that swamped her petite figure, and her hair was piled in a messy bun atop her head. Her previously orange face was makeup-free. The woman took his breath away.
She slammed the door.
He blinked and rang the doorbell again. “Jamie, please, let me explain.�
�
“I don’t want to talk to you!”
He stood there, his heart racing, not sure what to do.
To his surprise, she flung open the door again. A flicker of hope lit something within.
“Actually, I do have a few things I want to say to you.”
Hope snuffed out with her acerbic tone.
“Like, what the hell are you doing here? I thought I made it perfectly clear I’m not for sale.” Her eyes flashed like a tropical storm.
Cujo ran to him, putting his tiny paws on his ankle, begging for attention as he wagged his stubby tail. He wanted to pick her dog up and make a fuss of him, but he thought better of it. “I can’t even begin to explain why I offered to pay you to go out with me, but—”
“Then don’t. Cujo, come here.”
Her dog ignored her.
“I’m so sorry. When you said no, I…” I got annoyed and aroused at the same time. He swallowed. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Why, has no one ever said no to the big bad wolf before?” Jamie glanced behind him to the apartment door opposite. She lowered her voice and spoke through gritted teeth. “You could be alpha to the whole of England for all I care—you’re still a lowlife, despicable, show-off who thinks money can buy you whatever you want.”
There he was, letting her insult him again. He must be a sucker for punishment, but it wasn’t as if he hadn’t called himself worse. “You’re right. The way I behaved was out of order, inexcusable, in fact, but I’m here to try to make amends. What can I do to convince you it was a one-off? I’m not the bad guy you think I am.”
Jamie didn’t answer. She gripped the door frame, her knuckles white, her breathing laboured.
“I like you, Jamie. I know this is forward, but I can’t get you out of my head, and I haven’t felt like this about anyone in a long time.”
Her jaw tightened.
“I’ll beg if you want me to.” He got down on one knee. “One date? Let me prove to you I’m not a total dork.”
She looked down at him. “You’re looking kind of dorky right now.”
Did he catch a ghost of a smile on her lips? For a split second, a glimmer of forgiveness showed in her beautiful eyes.
His knee pressed on the cold tiled floor. Cujo yapped excitedly, trying to jump on his other leg. Grayson reached inside his jacket for the jewellery box and held it out to her. “I bought this for you. I hope you like it.” He opened it.
Her gaze flitted to the Tiffany bracelet encrusted with diamonds, then her eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you should give it to that long-legged leech I had the misfortune to meet yesterday.”
She wasn’t wrong about Imogen. He suppressed a smirk. “Imogen and I are over, but she—”
Jamie vented a frustrated grunt and slammed the door on him for the second time, leaving her dog in the corridor.
Grayson snapped the jewellery box shut. Her dog yapped. He tickled Cujo under his chin. “Any idea what I’ve done wrong now, little fellow?” he asked as if her dog would know because, for the life of him, he had no idea why Jamie was so furious.
Scooping Cujo up with one hand, he stood and rung Jamie’s doorbell.
The door didn’t open.
Grayson banged on her door.
Nothing.
He banged again. A melting pot of frustration, confusion and fury bubbled inside his stomach. She was the most infuriating, stubborn, sexy woman he had ever met. His wolf agreed. “Jamie! Open the door. You’ve left your dog out here.”
Silence.
Grayson thumped the door with his fist. “Open the bloody door, or I’ll break it down!” he yelled. “You know I can.” He readied the beast within.
“Hey, doofus,” a woman’s voice shouted from behind him. “What the hell’s all that banging? You might be built like a gorilla, but if you break anything, I’m calling the police.”
Grayson forced his wolf into submission and spun around. A gorilla? She had to be joking.
A woman in her mid-twenties stood, hands on her hips, in the doorway of the apartment opposite. She seemed vaguely familiar.
“Sorry about the noise. There’s no need to call the police. Once I give your neighbour back her dog, I’ll go.” What else could he do? Jamie seemed hell-bent on not listening to him.
The woman frowned. “You’re Grayson, aren’t you?” Her hands dropped to her sides.
“Yes.” He walked across the wide corridor towards her. “You look familiar.” Grayson discreetly breathed in her scent. Human, or at least he assumed she was—his sensitive wolfie nose stung as he caught her overpowering floral perfume and a multitude of beauty product scents. “Have we met before?”
“No, but Jamie showed me the photos she took of you on her phone. You’re kind of difficult to forget.” Her cheeks turned pink.
His chest swelled. “Jamie kept the photos?”
“Kept as in past tense. I think she’s deleted them now.”
Grayson blew out a breath. “She’s really mad at me, isn’t she?”
“You think?” Her tone was sarcastic. “Can you blame her after what you did?”
“She told you?”
“We’re best friends.”
“Your face really does look familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen you before somewhere.”
“I’m on YouTube,” she told him. “Although I doubt you would have seen my videos.”
Then it hit him. “Yes, that’s it! You’re Willow Graham. My daughter watches your makeup tutorials all the time. You’re very good, but I keep telling Luna she’s too young for makeup yet.”
A look of surprise and amusement swept across her face. “Jamie mentioned you had a daughter. She said she liked her.” She held her arms out. “Give Cujo to me. It doesn’t look like Jamie’s coming out of her apartment, even for her dog.”
Grayson handed him to Willow.
“Can I see?” she asked, gesturing to the Tiffany box still in his hand.
“Sure.” He opened the box.
Her eyes widened. “Holy shit, that must have cost a fortune. Sorry, didn’t mean to swear, but there’s your problem.”
“I know. Jamie didn’t like it. She shut the door in my face when I showed it to her.”
Willow shook her head and sighed. She glanced at Jamie’s door. “Look, I’m only telling you this because I care about Jamie and I know she likes you, but buying her expensive gifts won’t get you anywhere.”
She likes me. Jamie likes me? His heart skipped a beat. Actually skipped a beat, maybe two. How was that even possible? He hardly knew her.
Willow lowered her voice. “Jamie hates unnecessary displays of wealth. All those gorgeous flowers? They didn’t impress her. She seemed more interested in the hand-drawn pictures on the back of the cards.”
The sketches he drew. “She did?” Now he was even more intrigued by Jamie. “Willow, I can see you’re loyal to your friend, but can you give me any pointers on how I can make it up to her?” He closed the Tiffany box and put it back in his jacket pocket. “Showering her with gifts won’t work, I get that now, and I’ve apologised a hundred times, but she still won’t forgive me. Tell me, am I wasting my time?”
“I don’t know for sure, Grayson, but I don’t think so. You’d have to ask her.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I would if she would open her door.” Grayson turned to knock on Jamie’s door again.
“Not today you don’t,” Willow said, placing her hand on his arm. “Give her time. It takes her a while to trust anyone.”
He faced her again. “But I booked us a meal at Gianni’s, for tonight.”
“The Michelin star place? Doesn’t it have an eighteen-month waiting list?”
“It does, but I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”
“You mean you paid to jump the queue?” Willow rolled her eyes. “There you go again, waving a wad of cash to get what you want. I told you, Jamie hates that sort of thing.”
Grayson considered her words. Is that h
ow Jamie would see it? “What can I do then?”
“Uh-uh, big guy. Work it out for yourself. Jamie is far more likely to come around if you do something less extravagant. More personal, like you’ve put some thought into it.”
He didn’t think he’d ever had to work so hard at getting someone to go out with him, but Jamie was worth it, a hundred times over.
A whisper of an idea came to mind.
“Thank you, Willow,” he said sincerely. “I’ll leave you in peace now. I can’t wait to tell my daughter I met you. She’s going to be so jealous.”
She grinned. “Wait here a sec.” She darted back into her apartment with Cujo tucked under her arm, and returned a minute later holding a rectangular flat box. She handed it to him. “This is for Luna.”
“What is it?”
“It’s my latest palette. I signed it, too.”
“Am I supposed to know what that is?”
“It’s a set of eyeshadows.”
Grayson started to object—Luna was far too young for makeup—but Willow cut him off. “Don’t look all disapproving. They’re natural shades, age-appropriate, nothing garish.”
He didn’t recall telling her Luna’s age. Maybe Jamie mentioned it. Against his better judgement, he took the box. “Thanks, I’m sure Luna will love it. Now I really have taken up enough of your time.” He reached forward and gave the dog’s ears a ruffle. “Bye, Cujo.” The Chihuahua tilted his head to one side. Such a cute little pup.
“Bye, Grayson.”
With a spring in his step, he headed towards the lift, his thoughts returning to Jamie and what he could do to win her over.
One thing was certain—he was not going to give up on her.
Chapter Six
Jamie sipped her instant coffee. Yuk. She was the worst coffee maker in the history of coffee making. “Do you fancy going out for a cappuccino instead?” she asked Willow.
Willow leant on Jamie’s kitchen worktop and pulled a face as she swallowed. “What, and miss out on this tasty mug of mud?”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“I didn’t like to say, but yeah.”
“Give it here. I’ll pour it down the sink and buy you a decent coffee in town.”
“No…err, thanks.”
Dating a Werewolf Page 4