Chapter 17 Courting, The Second Time Around
Josh
Tonight has to be perfect.
I rush around the kitchen, double-checking the ingredients required for this spaghetti and meatballs recipe. Bane arrives in thirty minutes. He may think he’s a lost cause, but I refuse to accept that. Tonight will prove him wrong.
Is it time to cook the noodles yet? I turn to the pot on the stove.
“Come on, come on, boil already!” I glare at the stubborn water, willing it to heat up faster. Once the pasta cooks, I can focus on the rest.
Glancing at the clock, crap! I’m running out of time. Is it too late to order pizza? No, this is fine. I can do this. The garlic bread must be ready to come out of the oven, right?
“Right on time,” I say as the timer dings.
When I yank open the oven door, my heart sinks. Even with my limited culinary expertise, I know ovens should be hot when activated, not stone cold. The bread sits pale and raw on its tray, mocking my amateur efforts.
“Crap!” I groan, smacking my forehead. How could I forget to turn on the oven? Now the bread is going to be late, just like everything else.
What if I use magic? No, with my luck I’d accidentally blow up the apartment.
Maybe perfect is too much to ask for. Especially in a relationship like ours that veered so off course.
Okay, time to adjust my standards. This meal needs to be edible.
Yeah, I can manage that. Edible.
~
Josh
This isn’t going well.
The oven is turned on. I’ve started cooking. Should tomato sauce be this… orange? The sauce splatters my shirt as I stir too vigorously, and I’m still so behind.
I start chopping some bell peppers for the salad. The timer dings, making me jump. The knife slips, and I hiss in pain as it slices into my finger.
“Ow, dammit!” I cry, dropping the knife and cursing myself for not ordering take out. Why did I decide a home cooked meal was more romantic?
The timer dings again, followed by a knock at the door. I freeze, realizing it was the doorbell, not a timer. Bane is here! I lost track of time completely. I haven’t even changed into nicer clothes yet.
He’s even early. Well, he’s not here exactly when I told him to be. He’s technically a few minutes late, but he’s earlier than I expected. Where’s his trademark tardiness when I need it?
I open the door, trying to plaster a charming smile on my face. But then I end up staring at him dumbly. He’s dressed casual in worn jeans, his dark hair tousled instead of perfectly styled, and God help me, I love him like this. How did I score such a gorgeous mate?
“You came,” I say.
He shrugs, looking a little nervous. His brown bomber jacket is zipped up tight around him like a shield. “Figured I owed you that much. Doesn’t mean I changed my mind.”
“Well, you haven’t heard me out yet.”
“Josh,” he protests.
“No, we need to talk. You’re going to listen and…” Hold on. Something smells funny. I sniff the air. Oh no. “Is spaghetti supposed to smell like that?”
“Nope.”
“Sorry, let me just...” I dart toward the kitchen with Bane on my heels.
Smoke curls up from the pot on the stove. I rush over and reach for the pot. “No, no, no!”
Bane steps in, gently stopping me. “Whoa, easy there. It’s hot. Let me take a look.” He turns the burner down. Peering inside, he makes a face.
Apparently, even providing edible food is too much of a stretch. Facing down Alpha Elias didn’t do me in, but dinner defeated me.
“Let me see what I can do to salvage this.” He strips off his bomber jacket and gets to work, starting over with the noodles.
In no time, he rescues the meal and tackles the meatballs. His hands expertly shape the meat, leaving little flecks of seasoning scattered across his fingers. Soon the sizzle of meat hitting the hot pan fills the air.
I assumed he’d stepped in because I was doom spiraling and we’d starve if I was left in charge. However, he actually seems comfortable in the kitchen.
“You really know what you’re doing, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” He glances up at me, almost self-conscious, before he shrugs and goes back to cooking.
“I spent a lot of time with Wynn’s family growing up.
They’re a lot more… relaxed than my parents.
His parents have six kids, so the house was always so chaotic.
I felt bad always adding another person for them to look after, so I helped in the kitchen to contribute something. ”
“That’s really thoughtful of you,” I say softly.
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Least I could do. Wynn’s family has always been good to me.”
A man who cooks is a keeper. I assumed that was just something straight women said. Watching this gorgeous hunk of wolf craft a meal from my disaster, I finally understand. Can confirm. It’s very attractive.
An ache forms in my belly, not for food, for this. I long to be a part of his world, to come home to each other every night. To set the table while he cooks and talk about our days.
My fond feelings must be clear as day on my face. When he glances up from stirring the tomato sauce, he releases a tortured groan. “Don’t start. Don’t tempt me.”
“I know you feel guilty, but I really think we can move past what happened before.”
“No, it’s not that easy. You don’t get it, Josh.”
“You don’t think I feel terrible too?”
He looks shocked. “You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“See, I know I never rejected you, but it doesn’t matter.
You thought I did.” Reaching out, I grab his arm to stop him as he stirs the sauce.
I gently get him to step away from the cooking and focus on me alone.
“I hate that people used my name to hurt you. I hate that I fed into those lies by running from you. And just like you, I hate that I wasn’t brave enough to confront you.
To say, ‘Hey, dick, what’s your problem with me?
’ What if that could have changed everything? ”
If any one of a million little things went differently and forced us to actually confront each other, we could have figured it out much sooner. I’m trying to be grateful that everything is out in the open now.
“Don’t think for one second I don’t know what’s holding you back,” I continue. “Because I do. I also know you never would have been cold to me if you’d known the truth.”
He looks away, his jaw clenching. “How can you think that? How can you have any faith in me?”
“Because it’s destroying you to think you hurt me,” I answer simply.
He’s gutted at the thought of being cruel to me now that he knows I was innocent. He’s afraid of being with me and hurting me again. I guess that’s what a mate is supposed to do, try to protect the other one.
And all I want is to erase his pain. That’s what mates do too.
“We can’t change the past, but do you know what I see now? Two people who really hate the thought of causing each other pain. Sounds like a good place to start from where I’m standing.”
“Josh, I-I… of course part of me wants to go forward from here and spend each day trying to make you happy. But you deserve better.”
Oh, for the love of—I throw my hands in the air.
“No, you know what I think? We both deserved better.” I point a finger at him and order, “Don’t be an idiot.
Don’t refuse because you think that’s what’s best for me.
I didn’t get a chance to respond to your courting gift the first time.
I didn’t get the choice.” I put my hands on my hips and glare for all I’m worth.
“Don’t you dare take that away from me again. ”
Bane stares at me for several seconds, at a loss. “I, uh, I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
“I do. I get to choose this time. Okay?”
“O-okay.”
I take a deep breath. “For the record, you getting me a basket for my bike as a courting gift was the sweetest, most thoughtful gesture. I wish I could have told you back then.”
“Yeah?” he whispers. “You’d have liked the basket?”
“I’d love it.” I give a sheepish laugh. “Back then, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that because your gift was so perfect it would have broken my entire brain.
Honestly, I had zero experience with guys then, which is completely embarrassing, but it’s true.
I probably would have blushed and stammered and been a total idiot.
And then when you finally just asked if I liked the basket, I’d nod so hard I’d sprain something in my neck. ”
His soft laugh feels like a victory. “Sounds nice.”
“Yeah.” I grin, feeling a bit bold. “So, I thought I’d get the ball rolling this time and get something for you.
Um, wait. I like the gift part, but we’re not going to follow all your pack’s old customs for courting because that did not go well the first time.
” A twinge of guilt stirs within me—he’s still the Alpha’s son and I’m still from a different pack.
“I hope that doesn’t put you in an awkward position—”
“Oh, fuck that,” he interrupts me. “Nope. We’re not doing that again. My pack can deal with being out of the loop.”
I slide open a nearby drawer and retrieve a rectangular jewelry box, my heart hammering against my ribs. This exploded in my face last time.
Presenting the box to Bane, I flick it open, revealing the elegant silver watch inside.
The last time I tried this, I chose a modern smartwatch. Something functional and easy.
This time, I selected a watch that captured my feelings better. Something important. A silver stainless steel timepiece with a thick link style band. Something beautiful and elegant that he’ll grow into and wear as he gets older.
And I hope I’m by his side as he does.
Bane’s breath catches as his gaze drops to the watch, then snaps back to mine. Something raw flickers across his features. Maybe hope? Bane lifts the watch from its velvet bed, holding the present carefully in his hands. What’s he thinking?
“So, here’s your courting gift,” I say. “What do you say?”
His eyes fall back to the watch, and several long moments pass in excruciating silence before he pulls his gaze away. Eventually, he smiles. “Wow, Fielding. I’ve never seen you take charge like this before.”
“Seriously? Is that really what you have to say?”
He steps closer to me, his voice dropping to a low growl. “You’re incredibly sexy when you’re all formidable.”
“Oh.” The unexpected response leaves me breathless and slightly light-headed. Good thing Bane wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer.
“My answer is hell yes,” he tells me fiercely and then his lips crash into mine.
I laugh into his mouth and wind my arms around his neck, desperate to kiss him senseless despite the grin that refuses to leave my face.
Grinning like a loon and kissing? Not easy. It could be an Olympic sport. But every time I try to banish it, the smile returns, wider than before. Soon, I feel Bane smiling too.
The timer on the oven blares, startling us both. Bane starts untangling us on instinct to pull the bread out of the oven, but I capture his face between my palms and drag his mouth back to mine.
“Ignore the food,” I command against his lips.
He surrenders without protest, melting back into me and pressing me against the counter’s edge. But before we get too far…
“The bread’s starting to burn,” I realize when the acrid scent hits my nose. “Again.”
“You cooked and went through all this trouble,” he says. “Let’s eat.”
“You’re the only reason any of this is edible,” I protest, but then I catch the warmth in his expression. Bane actually wants to share this meal with me. He likes that I did this for him.
And there’s one more thing we need to take care of first.
“Can I put it on you?” I ask, holding out the watch.
Bane rescues the bread and makes sure nothing else will burn.
Then he steps in front of me without a word and extends his wrist. My fingers graze his skin as I clasp the watch around his wrist. Bane’s usual composed mask shatters.
Those golden eyes widen with raw wonder, looking soft and vulnerable, like a devoted puppy rather than a fierce wolf.
“Can’t believe you got me a courting gift,” he murmurs softly.
“Wanted to show you I take this seriously.”
“It’s really, uh.” He coughs, trying to compose himself. “Cool.”
“Cool?”
“Sweet?” he guesses, making a face. “Sorry, I’m not great at this kind of thing.”
“You’re doing just fine,” I promise.
If it’s possible, he melts even more at my words. A pleased, almost giddy smile spreads across his face. He looks so young and genuinely happy, a side of Bane I’ve never witnessed before, a completely breathtaking side.
He rotates his forearm, studying the watch from every angle as if he can’t quite believe it’s real, like it might vanish the moment he stops looking.
“It’s perfect, puppy,” he whispers. “Thank you.”
Now it’s my turn to get shy and tongue-tied. “Yeah. Sure. I mean, uh, you’re welcome.” The nickname hasn’t always been my favorite but hearing it said all soft like that? I’m changing my mind.
His grin turns charming and he raises an eyebrow. “Now that I have this fancy watch, we should probably test it out. Wanna go on a date? I’ll even be on time.”
“Oh, that might be a problem,” I say. “It doesn’t do the same thing it did last time.” The last watch became heavier when he was close to being late.
“But it does something?” he questions.
“Yeah.” If I performed the magic right, it does. It was a little hard for me to test.
Bane examines the watch again, running his fingers over the steel band and seeing if he can detect anything. “Does it grow legs and forcibly carry me to my destination if I’m over an hour late?”
“No, not even close. How about you figure out the trick for yourself?”
He nods, before he realizes something and his mouth drops open in horror. “Oh god, I’m going to be late for our first date.”
The watch isn’t charmed to help him with punctuality, so it’s a definite possibility.
“We could call this our first date,” I suggest.
“I was late.”
“Not by that much?” I shake my head. “Hold on. You don’t have to be late.”
“See, that sounds right but then somehow before I know it, I’m already twenty minutes late.”
“What if we go out for breakfast tomorrow?” I offer. “Spend the night and we’ll get up and go whenever we wake up. You can’t be late if we don’t set a time.”
He grins, the tension draining away. “Sounds perfect.”
That’s the second time he’s said that word in a few minutes. Perfect.
With a courtship like ours that derailed so spectacularly, perfect should be entirely too ambitious. Yet I completely agree with him. Now that nothing stands between my true mate and me, perfect almost feels like we’re aiming too low.