Wendy almost wanted to laugh. She’d been so worried about the assignment, but it was turning into one of the easiest and most enjoyable of her entire time in the Army. Before she knew it, a broad smile appeared on her face.
“Oh my God!” Jamie squealed. “I know what that shit-eating grin means. You got laid!”
Stupid Jamie.
Wendy almost choked on her food. Several of the men around them stopped what they were doing to listen in. Great, now her love life would be gossip fodder for the hybrids and soldiers.
After finishing swallowing her food, Wendy turned to glare at Jamie. “Ever heard of privacy? Maybe you should say it for the guys in the back. Don’t think they heard you. Maybe we can get on the PA system and announce it all over Luna Lodge. Or send an e-mail out to everyone in my unit and the Lodge.”
Jamie rolled her eyes. “But you don’t deny it.”
Shit. Wrong move.
“Interesting,” Leah said, a faint smirk on her face. “Really interesting.” She eyed Wendy for several seconds. “So I take it your party plans are going well.”
Wendy tried to play it cool. Maybe she could trick them off the hunt. “They’re going fine.” She waved a hand. “Everything is nearly done. All we really need to do after today is set things up for Sunday.” She shrugged. “Maybe if I ever leave the Army, I could start an event coordination business.” She chuckled, hoping her banter would distract them from the events she’d rather not talk about.
“That well, really?” Leah stared at her for a moment. A dangerous grin appeared on her face. “So what I’m hearing you say is that you’re free to bring your stud out with us tonight.”
Wendy froze. Shit. Wrong move again. It’s like they were playing chess, and she was playing checkers.
Her mind reeled as she tried to come up with a half-way decent excuse. “I really don’t think—”
She stopped talking when she noticed the two women staring directly behind her. She inhaled deeply, and a familiar scent reached her nose. She turned and found Cato standing there, tray of food in hand.
“I just thought I would…” he said with a shrug.
Leah smiled up at him. “Have a seat. We were just inviting the two of you out tonight. I thought it’d be fun to have another couple.”
Cato sat down next to Wendy, and heat spread over her face from his nearness. “Out?” he asked.
Wendy responded first. “It’s not really out but to the E-Club.” He nodded and turned his attention to the roast chicken on his plate. She wondered if he’d ever been there before. “They… we’re going with Alair and Nikon.”
Cato brought up his head from his food and stared between Jamie and Leah, a curious look on his face.
“Friends of yours?” Wendy asked.
Cato nodded. “Yeah.” He looked over to her, his bright eyes staring directly into her soul. “So a date?”
She wasn’t sure if he was asking her on one, or if they should call it a date. Wendy placed her hand on his thigh. She wasn’t quite sure what they had together, but she didn’t want it to end with a one-night stand. And Cato was giving every indication that he wanted something more.
“That would be nice.” She smiled.
Jamie let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’m getting second-degree burns from the heat you two are giving off.”
Cato looked down at his lunch while Wendy glared at her mood-killing friend. She’d have to have a talk with her later.
With just a few bites, Cato managed to eat everything on his plate and stood.
Wendy could see he was at his social limit. Cato wasn’t a guy who said much, and despite how angry he might look, inside was a man who cared far more than he let on. Maybe that was why he’d been assigned to help with the party.
Cato looked over to Leah. “What time?”
“We figured we’d all meet at the club at 7:15.”
He stared down at Wendy. “I’ll pick you up at 7:00.”
She nodded. The heat coming back to her cheeks.
She watched as he walked away. Her gaze slid down his back and landed on the firm ass now covered by jeans.
“Yeah, I’d totally stare at that all day,” Jamie said.
Wendy turned to stare in shock at her friend.
Jamie shrugged. “What? He’s worth the stare.”
Wendy took another bite of her sandwich. “I thought you had a date tonight. Shouldn’t you not be staring at other men’s asses?”
Jamie winked. “Date, not a wedding.” She leaned in a little. “But more importantly, what are you going to wear?”
“Jeans and a t-shirt.”
Wendy took another bite of her sandwich. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. It wasn’t like it was that big a deal. After all, he’d already seen her with her clothes off. He doubted he was going to judge her over not being fashionable.
Jamie dropped her fork on her plate.
Leah chuckled. “To be fair, it’s an improvement from her yoga pants.”
Wendy glared at Leah. “Thanks,” she said sarcastically.
“There is no way you’re going on a date with that sexy hunk of man meat dressed like a hobo,” Jamie said with force.
Wendy scoffed. “Hobo? Really?”
Jamie ignored the protest. “Either you pick something, or I will.”
Wendy winced. There was no way in hell she was letting Jamie pick her clothes. Most exposed a bit too much for her taste, and the last time she’d done so, she spent most of the night trying to either pull the material up or down depending on what area decided to show off too much.
“Fine,” she said, and took a large bite. “I’ll wear the black dress.”
Jamie looked like she wanted to protest but stopped because of the death stare Wendy was giving her.
“Great,” Leah said. “Looks like a fun night of date, date, and pretend date.”
Wendy felt bad for her friend. Despite her homebody-like ways, she knew Leah wanted to find someone. Unfortunately, it might be that Luna Lodge just wouldn’t be the place for that.
“You never know, Nikon might be the one,” Jamie said.
Leah rolled her eyes. “Don’t think I’ll hold my breath on that one.”
Wendy glanced over to Jamie. They grew quiet for a moment, their mutual worry for their friend evident.
Leah sighed. “Hey,” she said after a moment. “I’m fine. Really.” She smiled at them both. “I’m just glad to spend some time with my girls.”
Wendy smiled back. She’d missed this. A good set of female friends she could count on that cared, but who weren’t plugged into the Army.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m glad to have you both.” They both turned to look at her. The one least prone to getting mushy had just gone there. “What? Stop looking at me, or I’ll take it back.”
They broke out into laughter, and all the tension from before eased away. The night was going to be great. She’d make sure.
Chapter Fourteen
Wendy’s heart thumped. Maybe she was a mess. Maybe she wasn’t hot. She wasn’t quite sure.
She’d made sure to wear the tight black dress that showed just a little too much cleavage for a woman who prided herself on her military professionalism, not to mention the matching black bra and panties. But she wanted Cato to see her in more than yoga pants, jeans, or a uniform.
Wendy smoothed over her dress one more time as she stared in the mirror. Her hair was down, and instead of the crimped look she usually got from having her hair in a braid all day, soft blond locks flowed down over her shoulders. Everything looked good to her, but the question was what Cato would think.
A knock came at the door, and she sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. It was go time.
When she opened the door, Wendy was surprised to find Cato in something other than a t-shirt. Tonight he wore an untucked casual light blue shirt along with a pair of dark blue jeans. The shirt fit tightly across his chest, and she couldn’t help but fixate on the wide expanse.
“You look amazing,” he said quietly.
Wendy sought out his eyes and blushed when they brightened a tad. Something about his glowing eyes enticed her. Or maybe it was just his body in that shirt and jeans.
“You too,” she said, her voice coming out with a breathy quality.
Tonight was different. This wasn’t getting caught up in a moment of passion, but a genuine, honest-to-goodness date. That meant this was turning from a one-night stand into the beginning of a relationship.
They stepped outside together, and he led her to the car. She gave a small smile as he opened the door for her and then made his way to the other side.
Great in bed and a gentleman. She couldn’t remember the last time someone held the door open for her.
In silence, they made their way to the enlisted bar. It wasn’t far away, so it wasn’t an awkward silence but instead a sort of shared silence where neither of them felt strange about not talking.
Comforting, really. She’d not known him all that long, but it felt like she’d known him all her life, like he understood her on a level that no man had ever understood her.
Wendy almost shook her head. She was already so wrapped up in Cato. Maybe she was pulling a Jamie and letting her heart get carried away. Still, she couldn’t deny what she felt.
When they arrived, she took the hand he offered to help her out of the car, but stopped them from walking any farther.
“We don’t have to stay long,” she said. “I love them, but I also know my friends can be a little much.”
Cato leaned in and placed his mouth next to her ear. “If we leave early it’s not going to be because of your friends,” he said quietly. “It’s going to be because looking at you in that dress is pure torture, and I need to be inside you.”
A hot blush swept across her face and down her neck. Her center warmed more than a little. Wendy didn’t think she’d ever been talked to like that, and she found it turned her on like she’d never been before.
His thick hand slipped into hers as they made their way into the bar.
* * *
The music thumped, shaking the floor and the walls. This was one of the few times Cato wished he didn’t have enhanced hearing.
He didn’t really care much for the sound, but did accept it was part of the bar atmosphere. Besides, he’d put up with just about anything right now after seeing Wendy in a dress like that. Plus, if he wanted to be with her, he’d need to earn the respect of her friends. At least he knew they already liked hybrids.
Cato wrapped his arm protectively around her waist as they made their way inside. More than a few men looked their way.
Good. He wanted them to see her with him. He wanted them to understand that she was his.
They found her friends sitting with Alair and Nikon at the back of the room. He could already tell that things were going all right for Alair. The quiet one was sitting next to his brother while Nikon was sitting beside the more enthusiastic date. He might still have a chance to salvage the night and end with the woman he actually wanted.
“I see you let the big dogs out to breathe,” Jamie said.
Wendy glared at the woman next to Alair. “Jamie, you have no fucking tact.” She blushed.
Cato nodded to Alair and Nikon. The other two hybrids shared a glance then looked at him, surprise clearly written on their faces.
“Thought you weren’t the bar type,” Nikon said, and winked at him.
Cato grunted. The brothers shared a knowing grin. They knew the deal, and they knew why he was fucking there.
“This is Alair and his brother Nikon,” Cato said to Wendy.
She smiled at them both. “I’d heard there were a couple hybrids that were related. Isn’t that unusual?”
Nikon nodded.
None of them talked about their past much or the women they came from. It wasn’t exactly the best thought to think that the woman who gave birth to you cared so little that she would allow such terrible things to be done and then abandon her child like they were nothing for a little money.
Not only that, they’d left them alone in the clutches of terrible people who could and did whatever they wanted without the slightest restraints of ethics or morality.
Cato shook himself of the dark thoughts. The past was the past. It didn’t have to determine the future, and right now he wanted to enjoy his time with Wendy.
The waitress brought over two mugs and another pitcher.
He half-filled his glass, and when Wendy shot him a quizzical stare, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“I want to have a clear head for all the things I’m going to do to you.”
Nikon choked on his beer and looked away, which did little to hide his stupid grin.
Damn super hearing.
Cato draped his arm over the back of her chair and enjoyed the feel of her small warm body pressed into his and the soft skin at her shoulder.
Jamie placed her beer on the table and smiled. “I’ll be right back,” she said to Alair. “I just need to powder my nose.”
The men watched as she walked away. Cato looked directly at Alair. If he was going to make his move, now was the time.
“Would you like to dance?” Alair said to Leah.
The quiet woman stared at him in shock. “But you asked Jamie out.”
Alair shook his head and sighed. “I was actually asking you out. It just… things got confused.”
Movement caught Cato’s attention out of the corner of his eye. He glanced over and saw Jamie standing and staring wide-eyed at Alair.
“I, um, just came back to get my purse,” she said. She snatched her purse from the table and ran toward the bathroom.
“Jamie, wait!” Leah shouted over the music.
Cato wasn’t surprised at all when Wendy turned to him.
“I’ve got to go,” she said softly.
He nodded.
Wendy raced after her friends to the bathroom. Inside Leah stood beside Jamie.
“I’m so sorry,” Leah said.
Jamie shook her head. Her face was red, but she wasn’t crying despite how watery her eyes were. “It’s my fault,” she said. “I was so excited I didn’t even think that he might not be talking to me.”
“Maybe we should just go home,” Leah said.
Jamie shook her head. “No, you can’t. I heard a few of the hybrid wives talking about how all this stuff works for them. I don’t think I was supposed to overhear because they shut up when they realized I could hear them.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s not the same as it is for us.”
Wendy frowned. “Are you talking about arranged marriages? Cato was saying something, and I think he was talking about that.”
Jamie looked at her reflection in the mirror and shook her head. “Arranged marriages? If anything, it’s the opposite. Once a hybrid falls for a girl, that’s it. It’s like fate or something.”
Fate. It wasn’t a word she associated with love.
The more she thought on it though, the more she wondered. Cato had been so cryptic yesterday during the arranged marriage conversation. Maybe he was trying to break his fate by being with her. Maybe she was the other woman.
Her heart was troubled by it all. She had been thinking it was rushed, and maybe in the end it had been. Maybe he was trying to make something happen that couldn’t ever happen no matter how hard he tried. Although from her end, it had been totally real.
She thought about it. The hybrids had been exposed to the world for a while now. A lot of people didn’t like them, but it was a big country, and if they could have any wife, it’d make sense that a lot more of them would have been married by now. The fact that there were so few women at Luna Lodge supported what Jamie was saying.
“Go,” Jamie said. “Talk with him if anything.” She shrugged. “Can’t fight fate, right?”
Leah and Wendy stared at the woman in front of them. She wasn’t her normal perky self, but she still w
as the best friend a woman could ask for.
Wendy half expected Leah to refuse, but maybe she felt the pull to the hybrid as well.
“Well,” Jamie said and stretched a little. “Can’t let all this work go to waste. I’m hitting the floor.”
She winked at the two of them. “Wonder if I can get a sandwich dance. Plenty of normal non-fate bound guys around.”
Wendy smiled. It didn’t take much for Jamie to bounce back, and she was glad. Right now, she had her own troubles brewing.
They left the bathroom and headed back to the table. There was only one thing on her mind at the moment.
“I’d like to go,” she said to Cato. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Fifteen
Silence smothered the car ride back. Cato wasn’t sure exactly what had taken place in that women’s bathroom, but whatever it was, it didn’t look very good for him.
When they stopped outside her place, Wendy didn’t wait for him to open the door for her but instead stomped her way to the house. Once at the door, she stopped in the frame.
Cato stepped out to head after her. Maybe Wendy was pissed about his friend upsetting her friend. He could understand that.
“Just what the hell kind of crap are you trying to pull?” she said from the door.
Cato stopped where he was, just a few feet from her, and stared at the very angry woman in front of him. “I don’t understand.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, pushing up her breasts in such a way that distracted him more than anything.
“I’m not going to be the other woman,” she snapped. “I don’t know just who you are trying to run from, but if there is some fated women you’re supposed to be with, don’t go dragging me into your drama.” She shook her head. “It’s not damn fair!”
Cato stared at her for a moment, not totally sure he was following the conversation. “Other woman?”
She jabbed him hard in the chest with her finger.
Cato: #13 (Luna Lodge) Page 7