Page 52 of Howl You Doin'

21

CALEB

Caleb watched as Fiona moved around his kitchen later that night. She hummed to herself while chopping vegetables with concerning speed. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, with loose strands framing her face in the warm kitchen light. The sight of her so at home in his space did things to him he wasn't ready to fully accept yet.

"You know, there are safer ways to cut carrots," he said, leaning against the counter. "Ways that involve keeping all your fingers."

"Please. I know what I'm doing." She waved the knife in his direction. "Unlike some people who burn water."

"That was one time, a long time ago." He moved behind her, reaching around to adjust her grip on the knife. "And I'll have you know I make an excellent grilled cheese."

Her breath caught as his chest pressed against her back. "Truly a culinary master."

"Mock all you want, but it's saved me from starvation many times." He inhaled deeply, catching the scent of her shampoo mixed with the spices she'd added to their attempt at chicken stir fry.

"Speaking of starvation..." Fiona turned in his arms, nose wrinkling. "Is something burning?"

"Shit." Caleb spun toward the stove where their chicken was definitely past the point of edible. Smoke curled up from the blackened mess. "I got distracted."

"By what?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I think you know damn well by what." He dumped the ruined pan in the sink. Water hissed against the hot metal.

"Me? I'm just trying to make dinner." She pushed herself up gently and sat on the counter, swinging her legs nervously. The movement drew his eyes to her bare calves below her shorts.

"You're trying to drive me crazy is what you're doing." He stepped closer to her, his hand grabbing the counter, gently brushing against her thigh in the process. "And it's working."

"Good." She chuckled, placing her hand over his. "Now, about dinner..."

"I know a great pizza place that delivers."

"Perfect. Because I'm starving, and we're pretty terrible cooks."

Caleb laughed, pulling out his phone to order their dinner while Fiona continued to hold his hand, making it very difficult to focus on the simple task of choosing toppings.

Caleb watched Fiona fold her pizza slice in half, a habit that both fascinated and horrified him. She caught his stare and grinned, sauce dotting the corner of her mouth.

"What? This is the proper way to eat pizza."

"You're desecrating perfectly good food." He took another bite of his own properly flat slice. "And getting sauce everywhere."

"Am I?" She dabbed at her face with a napkin, missing the spot entirely.

"Here." Caleb reached over and wiped the sauce away with his thumb. His hand lingered on her cheek longer thannecessary, her skin warm beneath his touch. The way her pulse quickened sent his wolf into a pleased rumble.

"Thanks." Her voice came out breathier than usual. "Though I think you just wanted an excuse to touch me."

"I don't need an excuse." The words slipped out before he could stop them.

"No?" She shifted closer on the couch, their knees brushing. "Then what's stopping you?"

The pizza box between them suddenly felt like an insurmountable barrier. Caleb moved it to the coffee table, his movements deliberately slow as he gathered his thoughts. Tomorrow he'd have to face Victor, possibly fight to the death, and here he was getting distracted by the way Fiona's eyes darkened when she looked at him.

"Maybe I'm trying to be a gentleman."

She snorted. "Since when?"

"I can be gentlemanly." He grabbed another slice, purposefully taking an enormous bite.

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