Page 17 of Loup Garou

She beamed. “Did you do it too?”

“Yes,” I said, slowly. “Why?”

“No reason. Meet me for self-defense today or else!” She took off running towards the door, laughing all the way.

“Yeah, you’re arealriot. I’ll do my best to contain my laughter.”

Exavier turned me to face him. “So, how’s acting working out for her?”

I glanced at the floor, not wanting to meet his eyes. “Umm, good. I think. I don’t know. I just run lines with her.”

“That’s really nice of you.”

I stepped out of his grasp and forced a smile to my face. “Since my ten o’clock apparently kicked the bucket, I’m free for a couple of hours. I need to grab a shower and change into something other than workout clothes but if you want to…umm…still want to get something to eat? Some friends of mine own a place down the street. The food is good and—”

“Sounds perfect.”

I smiled as I headed off towards the showers.

Chapter Four

“Didthat guy just shake his ass on his way to the kitchen?” Exavier asked, folding his arms over his chest.

“You do that a lot.”

“Do what? Notice guys shaking their asses? Umm, no.”

I smiled and glanced at the menu, which I knew by heart. “You take a very manly stance by crossing your arms that way.”

Arching a brow, he smiled slightly. “A manly stance? Hmm, is that so wrong?”

“No, Xavs, it’s not bad at all.” Wrinkling my nose, I did my best to look sweet and innocent. “I have no clue why I continue to butcher your name. I’m sorry. I swear I’m doing my best not to but…”

Nodding a bit, he gave me a sexy, mysterious grin that sent heat rushing through my cheeks. “It’s more than fine by me.”

“Do I know you from somewhere?”

Licking his lower lip, he drew it in slightly. “What makes you ask?”

“Never mind.” I was too embarrassed to tell him why.

“Hmm, you strike me as a rather gutsy gal. I’m surprised you’d back down so fast when I asked you a simple question.”

I baulked. I was not backing down. “If you must know, you remind me of someone I used to know. A little boy I used to play with, Exavier Kondrashchenko.” I rolled my eyes, knowing my cheeks were flaming red now. “It’s the name and the dark hair. I called him Xavs. I’m sure that’s why I keep butchering your name. Sorry.”

Exavier nodded. “Hmm, Kondrashchenko. That’s a hell of a last name.”

I thought back to when I was little and a soft laugh came from me. Exavier tapped the table. “Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

Doing my best to appear innocent, I wrinkled my nose. As I glanced at him, my cheeks flushed. “I’m fairly sure I technically proposed to him. But I’m not positive. I might have just informed him Iwas going to marry him someday. Does that count as a proposal or a threat?”

The deep laugh that came from Exavier warmed my heart. “Hmm, tell me more.”

Covering my face with one hand, I did my best to hide my mortification as I continued, “His last name was too hard for me to spell so I also informed him he’d have to change it.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I actually said that to him. Granted, I was like five years old when I told him this, but still.”

“I bet that boy is kicking himself now.”

I gave him a puzzled look. “What makes you say that?”

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