Page 41 of Fated Despite the Moon

She chuckled. "I do now, since it’s the only station you have out here."

"I have some cassettes at my parents’ house. I'll grab them the next time I'm over there."

“You havecassettetapes?”

“What?” he asked.

She suppressed a laugh. “Make sure you bring me a pencil too. Just in case the ribbon gets chewed up, Neanderthal man.”

She tossed him a muffin, and he caught it. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

She laughed.

He took the wrapper off the muffin and picked off a piece. "I was thinking maybe since the kitchen is finished you should go out and get some real dishes. Maybe silverware and towels, and you know, other stuff you might like. Make this place feel like your place too."

His eyes held a hopeful nervousness. Part of her wanted to run out and go right then. To buy a bunch of stuff for the cabin and fix it up like a real home. She’d never been allowed to decorate her room back at her mother’s house. Sure, she had some personal things here and there, but her mother had always picked out the décor.

Makayla’s cautious nature overcame her. She couldn't do it unless she was one-hundred-percent sure she was staying.

"We could go together," she suggested. "Pick out stuff both of us like."

"All right. Let’s do that on Sunday, then."

"Our second date.”

His eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. The sight made her smile in return.

As they sat on the couch, Caleb pulled the containers out of the paper bags and set them on the coffee table.

"I never thanked you for the new shirts," he said. "I got a lot of compliments on this one today."

She bet he did. She had never been the jealous or possessive kind before, but just thinking about other women checking him out got her wolf all riled up and ready for a fight.

Caleb packed his plate with food, and Makayla stared at the salad.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No. No. I just... I was... I wondered if I might have a piece of your chicken?"

Caleb's eyebrows drew together. "I thought you were vegetarian."

"I am. But I get the feeling this baby isn't; and right now, I am craving fried chicken something fierce."

Caleb looked down at his plate then held it out to her. "Go for it."

She snatched up a chicken breast and bit into it. The skin crispy and crunchy, the meat juicy and tender. She closed her eyes and let the flavors linger on her tongue.

"Oh my gosh, this is so good."

She opened her eyes, and noticed Caleb suppressing a smile.

"What?"

He chuckled and shook his head but didn't say anything. They ate the chicken in silence, and when she'd finished her piece, he offered her a second one. She took it without even thinking.

He studied her for a long minute. "You and your mom must really not get along for you to give up fried chicken."

“What do you mean?”

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