Chapter 20
Once again, they stopped to talk in front of the sheriff’s department. This time, it was Gunnar’s idea. He needed to talk to her and better to do it here than back in the truck where Blueberry would hear them. “You know the imp better than anyone. How do we get him to appear?”
Mattie held up the bag of chocolates and smiled. “You didn’t think these were all for me, did you?”
“You’re going to lure him out with chocolates?”
“I’m going to try.”
Wasn’t the worst plan. “You really think he’s still in my truck?”
“I do. Seems the most logical place for him to be. When he causes trouble, he likes to be close enough to witness it.”
Gunnar frowned. “The chocolates are worth a shot.”
They walked back to his truck. Gunnar didn’t think chocolates would be enough. The imp knew Gunnar was mad. And he was. Two stupid, thoughtless words were about to cost him everything. He was more than mad.
He was embarrassed.
And yet, Mattie hadn’t once said I told you so. He appreciated that, because she certainly could have. She’d given him instructions on making wishes, told him to be careful about his words, to really pay attention to what he said, and had he? No. He’d reacted out of a moment of frustration.
Maybe her not bringing any of that up meant she might actually be his friend. But he didn’t feel deserving of such loyalty at the moment.
They walked in silence, finally reaching the truck. He stopped, catching hold of her arm to keep her next to him for a second so they could talk without Blueberry hearing them. “Do you want to do this alone? Should I stay out here?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s your wish to undo. You need to be there.”
“He knows I’m mad at him.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he does.” She tipped her head. “Maybe you could apologize?”
Gunnar frowned. “So you want me to lie to him about getting angry?”
She sighed. “Can’t you find it within you to let this go?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Mattie went on. “Blueberry did what he was supposed to do. He granted your wish. You’re mad at him for doing what he was born to do. That’s like getting mad at a rabbit for hopping. Or at a bee for gathering pollen.”
To Gunnar, it wasn’t that cut-and-dried. “He could have asked me if I was sure. He could have decided not to grant that wish.”
“I don’t know that he could have. Will you be able to stop yourself from shifting tonight?”
“Mattie, he was gleeful about that wish. And my shifting is different.”
She raised her brows. “Is it? Those of us who aren’t exactly … human—” She’d lowered her voice as a few people walked past. “We’re bound by the magic we were born into. Blueberry is no different.”
Gunnar rolled his shoulders. “Okay, I get it. Not saying I fully buy it, but I’ll try to see things your way.”
“Does that mean you’ll apologize?”
“Yes,” he grumbled.
“That’s all I’m asking.” She gave him a quick smile that didn’t last. “Now, just play along when we’re in the truck. Offering him a chocolate isn’t going to be enough. He’s got to want one more than anything.”
Gunnar nodded. “Got it.”
He went with her to the passenger side and got her door, then back around and got in behind the wheel. He really, really hoped this worked. He watched Mattie put her seat belt on. “Back to your place, right?”
“Right.” The chocolates were right next to her. As he maneuvered out of the parking space, she pulled the bag onto her lap.
With what seemed like an excessive amount of crinkling, she opened the bag, letting the smell of chocolate disperse through the cab. She held the bag out to him and gave it a little shake. “Would you like a truffle? Don’t they smell good?”
She said it with a subtle nod.
“They smell great.” He stuck his hand in and took a truffle. She dug one out too, making as much noise as it seemed possible.
She bit into her truffle and moaned loudly, making his eyes widen. If that’s what she sounded like eating chocolate, what did she sound like—nope. He wasn’t going there.
Still, his curiosity was aroused. To use a word. He glanced over to see an expression of pure pleasure on her face. Her eyes were closed, and she was producing soft little sounds that made it seem like the truffle was the best thing she’d ever eaten.
Was he supposed to be doing that too? Truffles were good but not that good. Obviously, she was doing it for the imp’s benefit. But wow, she was really laying it on thick. His mind wandered, and for a second, he struggled to keep his gaze on the road.
He popped the truffle he was holding into his mouth, in need of a distraction from Mattie’s show. He bit down, cracking the outer shell of chocolate. The soft interior held a strong hint of rum and a touch of ginger. He had no idea what kind of truffle it was, but it was good.
Then he remembered he was supposed to be enjoying it in a more obvious way. “Mmm … this is the best truffle I’ve ever eaten.” Not totally a lie. It was delicious. But he felt like his acting could use some work.
“What kind did you get?” Mattie asked. “Mine was dark chocolate hazelnut.”
“I’m not sure. It was chocolate, obviously, with rum and I think ginger. Really, really good.”
“Oh, that’s the Dark and Stormy truffle.”
He snorted. “Fitting name. I’ll have to order some of those next month.”
Her brows bent. “Next month? That’s so specific.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I try to only go into town once a month.”
She didn’t answer. When he looked over, she was staring at him like there was something wrong with him.
“What?”
There was sharpness in her eyes he’d never seen before. “You only go into town once a month and you wonder why you don’t have friends?”
“I don’t have friends because I don’t need friends.”
“Yeah, sure, okay, uh-huh.”
The mockery in her tone didn’t bother him. He just shook his head and kept driving.
She rustled the truffle bag again, but there was still no sign of the imp. With a sigh, she set the bag beside her. “You have to be social to have friends. You’re never going to meet anyone if all you do is work and sit in your cabin.”
“That’s not all I do.” It was kind of all he did. “And I don’t need to meet anyone.”
“Good, because you won’t.”
He sighed. “Look, Mattie, I’m a bear shifter. We’re solitary creatures. We’re not pack animals like wolves. Hibernating is a big part of our lives. Your concern for my life is touching, but I’m fine.”
She made a little noise that might have been the equivalent of whatever. He tried to look at her, but she was staring out the side window, arms crossed. It felt very deliberate. Like she didn’t want to see him.
Was she mad? At him? For not wanting friends? Or did she think he didn’t want to be friends with her?
He took a breath, his head aching just a little. Women were complicated. One more reason that dating wasn’t high on his list of priorities.
On top of that, there was the more pressing matter of keeping the supernatural citizens of Nocturne Falls safe.
“You’ll have to shift at some point, won’t you?” She was still staring out the window, and she’d taken on a very matter-of-fact tone.
“Yes. No way to stop it with a full moon.”
She nodded. And that seemed to be the end of that. He wanted to ask her what the new plan was for finding Blueberry, but there was no doubt the imp was listening. Talking about how to get him to come out felt like a great way to be sure he wouldn’t.
Hopefully, Mattie was already coming up with something. For the rest of the drive, she stayed silent.
He pulled into her driveway and parked outside of her cottage. After turning off the truck, he just sat there, not sure what he should do next.
She unbuckled her seat belt. “Come on. We have cake to make.”
“We do?” That was news to him.
“Honey cake, remember?”
He didn’t, but this had to be Plan C. Or D. He’d lost track of what letter they were on. He nodded. “Oh, right.”
He didn’t know the first thing about baking. She didn’t really expect him to help, did she?
She got out, holding her door open longer than seemed necessary, so he did the same thing. He assumed that was to give Blueberry enough time to get out of the truck and follow them into the house.
“You know,” she said, speaking to him through the cab. “I’m getting hungry. How about you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I could eat.” Even with everything going on, his appetite remained strong. That was partially the fault of the soon-to-rise full moon. It was nearly impossible to ignore the animal drive inside him during this phase.
“Great,” she said. “Order us some pizza.” She shut the truck door and walked to her front porch.