Page 57 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

Opening his eyes, he bolted upright. A sharp intake of breath drew his attention. Clarissa stood in front of her closet in the process of pulling on a bra. She froze, then hastily pulled the garment on, reaching for a shirt and yanking that on over it. He frowned. Was something wrong?

“Did I—” She cleared her throat. “Did I wake you? I was trying to be quiet.”

“No.” His frown deepened. She was averting her gaze, actively looking everywhere but at him. “Is everything alright?”

“What?” Her voice muffled as she pulled a dress over her turtleneck. “Yes, I just, I need to get ready for work.” Turning away from him, she brushed her hair up, securing it with an elastic.

“Do you want me to drive you?” He tried not to wince as her back went visibly rigid.

“No,” she practically yelled. “I mean, I need to be able to get back home.”

“Of course …” he trailed off. Confusion and hurt fell like a rock in the pit of his stomach while he watched her flit about the room. She still wasn’t looking at him. Had he done something wrong?

Replaying the events of last night, he couldn’t pinpoint any moment where she seemed to be uncomfortable or dissatisfied. She’d been just as eager as he was … Why was she now acting as if he repulsed her?

Getting out of bed, he took her hand. The touch of her skin made his heart lurch. “Clarissa.”

She froze.

“I want to see you again, tonight. Nothing extravagant, I just …”

“I don’t know, I—” The side of her face pulled into a pucker.

Racking his brain, he was desperate for something, anything, to make her stay. “I never did get to take you to the park. We could go for a walk.”

“I’m not sure what time I’ll get off work.”

He wondered if her excuse sounded as pathetic to her as it did to him. He was starting to get irritated. Why wouldn’t she look at him?

“Clarissa …” He internally chided himself for the anger seeping into his voice. Forcing himself to take a deep breath, he abruptly remembered … humans were dangerously more fragile than shifters and with his wolf strength, oh no. “Did I hurt you?”

“No!” Turning to him, her eyes went wide. She dropped her eyes to the floor, flushing scarlet and chewing on her lip.

He couldn’t believe it. Was she embarrassed?

“Please let me take you on a walk today.” He didn’t like how needy he sounded, but damn it, she wasn’t going to snub him like this. “I can stop by the diner after your shift.”

“I’ll be in my work clothes.”

“I don’t care.”

“Well, I do.” She ripped her hand from his. “I really do have to go to work now. You know, some of us have jobs we actually have to show up to.”

Too stunned to respond, he let her go. She slammed the bedroom door shut, he heard the front door open and close. Before her engine roared to life, he heard her yelling at herself in the car. Sometimes his hearing was too keen for his own good. He didn’t want to listen to her chastise herself for being a slut.

How in hell had she worked that one out? Did spending the night with him really call for such harsh language? Did she think so little of him, of them together? Hadn’t he tried to convince her of his feelings for her, to assure her he wanted to be more than a passing ship?

Hanging his head, he gathered his clothes to leave. How had everything gone so terribly wrong so quickly?

They’d spent a wonderful night together. It had been hurried and passionate, sure, but it also felt right. It felt like coming home.

Watching the movie, she seemed so at ease, letting him hold her hand. Then when he went to go, all he’d meant to do was give her a good-night kiss and leave it at that. Her reaction threw him off guard.

The way she’d glowed under the moonlight was positively breathtaking, and then she curled herself into him as they’d kissed. When she’d said his name, oh God, why did she have to say his name like that?

Slamming the door of his car shut, he pulled out his phone. It was five-fifty in the morning. He had seventy-eight text messages and three missed calls.

The first two calls were from Sara and Nathon. He listened to their voicemails; checking in on patrol duty, he’d forgotten he was supposed to run with them last night. The third call was from Maria. Her message was less panicked, asking him to call her back whenever he resurfaced. Taking charge of the family group chat, Maria ensured them all he was fine and he was taking a night off.