Chapter 40
Chapter forty
Luna
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re making dinner for him?”
The accusation blares from my phone, and I can picture Maren’s face. That look she gets when she thinks I’m holding out on her.
“I told you last night.”
I rest my phone on the counter and bend to look in the oven. The lasagna is almost done. Fifteen more minutes at most.
“I woke up with my head on your boobs this morning, Lu. Like I remember anything about last night.”
“You really don’t remember Damien showing up at the bar?”
“Yeah… a little. I guess. I think. Maybe?”
“That’s probably because you were so busy regaling Brian and Mark with stories about porcupine enemas.”
“Shit! I don’t remember that either.”
I lift the place settings I left on the counter and walk to the table to set it. “Good thing today was your day off.”
“Estella came over right after you left, so my day was anything but off. So what are you wearing?”
“You sound like a 1-800 sex line. Do they even have those anymore?”
“Don’t make me laugh. My head’s still pounding. Seriously, though, are you wearing the crotchless panties I gave you for your thirtieth birthday?”
I walk to the fridge and pull out the fixings for a garden salad. “It’s dinner, Maren. Not dinner and sex.”
“Uh-huh.” I can practically hear her eye-roll. “You can lie to yourself, Lu, but I know you. Once you get Mr. Billionaire Sexy Silver Streaks in your house, Luna’s secret slut is coming out.” She makes a sniffling sound. “I’m so happy my baby’s vag is gonna get some action.”
“I don’t even know why I told you. I’m hanging up now.”
“Don’t you dare,” she snorts as I chop the veggies. “And you better jump on his dick, or I’m going to be pissed at you. But be careful, because even though he’s hot as fuck, he does give off an intimidating, might-be-a-serial-killer vibe every once in a while.”
The knife nearly slips at her words. My hand trembles before I steady it.
“He’s not a serial killer.” That would be my wolf. “He’s just intense, but he’s also sweet, in a next-door-neighbor kind of way.”
That makes my panties wet. I keep that last part to myself.
“Yeah. Jeffrey Dahmer’s neighbors said he was sweet, too. I hope he doesn’t chop people up and put them in the freezer. That would totally ruin the mood when he has you sprawled out on your dining room table for dessert.”
“Maren.”
How does she have such clear subconscious knowledge of how I spend my time? Though it’s my kitchen table, not the dining room.
“What? You’ve got to throw me a bone here. JT doesn’t get back for three more days.”
“I thought he was coming home tomorrow.”
“Yeah, me too.” She can’t hide the disappointment in her voice.
“I was ready. Handcuffs out, new bottle of lube, but he called and said he got held up with a mechanical issue and won’t be home until Monday night now.
Hey, do you need handcuffs for tonight? I can jump in the car and bring them up real quick. ”
“I don’t need handcuffs, Maren.”
I use zip ties.
“Whatever, your loss. But I still think he’s looking for more than just a mediocre home-cooked meal.”
I sigh, tossing the vegetables into the salad bowl. “I have no plans to have sex with him. It’s just dinner. And thanks for the vote of confidence in my cooking.” Shadow’s low growl from the next room saves me. “I’ve got to go. Talk tomorrow.”
I hang up before she can protest, walking down the hallway to the living room. He stands alert by the front window, ears forward. Ghost stands beside him, equally still, but far less tense.
Please don’t be another dead body. I’ll kill him! Or at least not let him inside me without a fight.
“What is it, guys?” I peer into the gathering darkness. The purple sky fades behind black mountain silhouettes.
A sleek black car pulls up my driveway. Shadow’s hackles rise, a louder growl building in his chest. Not Damien, then. His Range Rover is unmistakable and not due for another half hour.
Ghost starts to growl too.
“Okay, you two, dial it back.”
But then my stomach drops as the car approaches. I’d recognize that vintage Mustang anywhere. Caleb’s pride and joy, restored with Daddy’s money. The same car he once pinned me against while shouting that I cared more about “fucking animals” than our relationship.
“Shit.”
I check my reflection in the hallway mirror. I’m dressed for Damien in slim jeans and a soft green sweater, with hair loose around my shoulders. Nothing like my usual work scrubs.
I consider calling Karen. The restraining order is clear, but something in me hesitates. It’ll take at least half an hour for her to arrive. I can handle this myself.
I open the door before Caleb can knock.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
He stands on my porch with that familiar cocky smile, still conventionally handsome, with his sandy blonde hair and green eyes.
In one hand, he holds a bouquet of red dahlias—my favorite.
Once, that gesture would have melted me.
Now it feels calculated, another manipulation tactic he’d perfected before I even realized he was doing it.
“Hello to you too, Luna.” He holds out the flowers. “Can’t a guy visit his favorite ex?”
“Most exes respect restraining orders.” I make no move to accept the flowers. Shadow and Ghost growl beside me.
Caleb’s smile falters. “Down, boy.” He flicks his fingers at Shadow in dismissal, then notices Ghost flanking my other side. “You’ve got two wolves now?”
“Ghost is a hybrid.” I bite my tongue the second the words leave my mouth. He doesn’t deserve explanations.
“You look amazing.” His gaze slides down my body, and revulsion crawls across my skin like ants. I resist the urge to cross my arms over my chest, forcing myself to stay still. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me retreat.
“What do you want, Caleb?”
“Can I come in? It’s freezing out here.” He feigns a shiver.
A thin layer of fresh snow from a brief overnight storm covers the ground. It feels like more is coming, but it isn’t cold enough for him to shiver.
I check my watch. Twenty-five minutes until Damien arrives. “This isn’t a good time, Caleb. The restraining order—”
“Is just paper.” The words snap out, hard and fast, before he reins it back in. His features soften and rearrange into something apologetic. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to stop by and apologize for everything that went down between us.”
He holds up the flowers again with a hopeful smile. “Five minutes? For old times’ sake?”
Against my better judgment and every warning bell in my head, I step aside, pulling Ghost and Shadow by the collars. “Five minutes. Then you leave, or I’m calling Sheriff Mills.”
Caleb whistles as he enters, taking in my renovated space. “You’ve done a lot with the place. Still living your Dr. Doolittle fantasy, I see.”
I bristle at his dismissive tone. “It’s not a fantasy. The sanctuary is thriving.”
“Right, right.” He wanders into my kitchen, eyeing the half-prepared meal. “Expecting company?”
“I’m having a friend for dinner.” I move behind the island, keeping it between us. Shadow positions himself on one side and Ghost on the other. They both keep a close eye on Caleb, Ghost following Shadow’s lead. “What did you want to say? Your five minutes are almost up.”
Caleb sets the flowers on the island, his expression shifting to one of sincerity. His eyes, once so captivating, now seem hollow, the performance behind them transparent.
“I’ve been thinking about us, about my mistakes.”
“There is no ‘us,’ Caleb. There hasn’t been for over a year. And the ‘mistakes’ you made were assaulting me. Repeatedly.”
He flinches. “That’s not fair—”
“Not fair?” My voice rises despite my intention to stay calm. “The bruises weren’t fair. The black eye when I said I was working late wasn’t fair. The broken ribs that nearly punctured my lungs weren’t fair.”
“I was under pressure at the firm. You were always here with your animals, never making time for us—”
“Don’t you dare blame me for your violence. You made your choices.”
“I know I hurt you. I was immature, focused on the wrong things. But I’ve changed. I’m seeing a therapist, working on my anger issues.”
“People don’t change.”
“Some do when they realize what they’ve lost.” He steps around the island, his cologne bringing back unwelcome memories. “We were good together, Luna, before things went wrong.”
“We wanted different things.” I step back until I hit the counter. “You wanted me to give up the sanctuary, move to Denver, and be the perfect wife.”
“I was wrong to pressure you. Your work here is important. I see that now.”
Shadow growls, moving between us. Caleb shoots him an irritated glance. “That wolf still doesn’t like me.”
“He’s a good judge of character. He remembers you kicked him.”
Caleb’s pleasant mask slips, revealing a familiar temper as he snarls. “That thing tried to bite me.”
“Only after you hit me. He was protecting me.”
“Look, I’m trying here. Could you at least pretend to be civil?”
“I am being civil. But that doesn’t mean I’m interested in revisiting anything.” I check my watch. “Your five minutes are up.”
Instead of leaving, he steps closer, his expression hardening. “There’s someone else, isn’t there? Is that what this is about?”
My heart pounds harder as I calculate the distance to my phone. “My personal life is none of your business anymore. You’re violating the restraining order.”
His eyes narrow, something ugly flickering. “Who is he? Eleanor mentioned billionaire Damien Wolfe’s interest in you. Is it him?”
“When did you see Eleanor?”
“I stopped by the post office the other day. She always has the gossip. But she told me to get lost, that you had a new boyfriend. Is it Wolfe?”
“That’s none of your business. And you need to leave. Now. Or I’m calling Karen.”
He ignores me, his gaze sweeping the kitchen again, landing on the wine glasses. “You’re making him dinner. How cozy.”