Page 61 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

“Something happened,” she said. “Did it … not go well?”

A growl lingered in the back of his throat. He really didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Nevertheless, he knew Maria wouldn’t shut up unless he said something. “I thought, I mean it was, until … I don’t know if I’m going to see her again.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t think she wants to see me. I don’t think she wants anything to do with me anymore.” Still staring at the ceiling, he blinked hard.

He felt the heated creep of a flush crawling up his skin. Damn his ginger complexion. Both his siblings were lucky enough to be born with black hair and olive skin. Why was he the one cursed with fair skin?

“Was it because of the shifting?” she asked.

“No, I haven’t told her yet.”

“You haven’t told her!” Maria shrieked. “You slept with her before telling her? Forget that, you think she’s being hunted by the bears, and you didn’t tell her? The woman is in the middle of a shifter war, and she has no idea!”

“No, she doesn’t.” He sat up to glare at his sister. “And she’s not going to know, not like this. There is no evidence, other than a hunch, that she is being targeted. If I can spare her that fear, I will. Until we know for sure, she stays out of it.”

“You’re sleeping with her, that’s not exactly staying out of it,” Maria countered.

“Have you forgotten the High Council has rules about humans being in the know? The nineteen eighty-seven amendment was very clear about that. I am not about to bring them down onto our pack.”

“Have you forgotten there are exceptions to that rule including life-threatening scenarios from the supernatural underground and romantic partners?”

“Like I said, I don’t think she wants anything to do with me.”

“Have you tried a grand gesture?” Maria rolled her eyes. “I seem to remember you’re somewhat of a drama queen.”

Skin blazing, he flushed scarlet.

“Oh no, I was joking! What did you do?”

“I, um …” Averting his eyes, he shifted in his seat. “I sort of paid off her mechanic work on her car. And I hired a home nurse to care for her ‘sick’ aunt.”

“Why did you say it like that?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Her aunt is diagnosed with dementia, but she doesn’t act like a normal dementia patient. I’ve been around her, there’s definitely something wrong, but I don’t think a human doctor would be able to diagnose her. I think they gave her that diagnosis to explain away unusual symptoms.”

“You think it’s supernatural?”

He nodded. “But I need more time alone with her to confirm.”

Maria scowled at him, disapproval radiating off her. “You need to tell her about the supernatural underground.”

“Not yet.”

“Fine,” she spat. “So, you paid for her car and a home nurse, and she thought you were being overbearing?”

“Well, she might, if she knew I’d done it.”

“Excuse you?”

“I sort of did it anonymously.”

“Oh, Thomas.” She rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t it just be easier for you to tell her how you feel?”

“I brought her flowers,” he said, incensed.

“Oh, well, I didn’t know about the flowers.” Maria rolled her eyes again; she was doing that a lot today. “So, if it wasn’t the shifting, or the bills, or the secrets, then what was it?”