Page 21 of What a Wolf Wants
“Yeah, right. I used to go picking wild blackberries and currant berries with my parents and we would make jam afterward. It’s so much wilder flavored and beats anything you would find in the store.”
“Oh, I agree. Okay, that’s a date. When we both have time…”
“Tomorrow afternoon?” he asked.
She smiled. “Sure.”
Once they were both dressed, he gave her a kiss, not waiting to see if she would reject him. She didn’t. She’d had an absolutely wonderful time with him. It might not always work out that way as they started to really get to know each other. But for now, yeah, this was just what she needed.
She had enjoyed being in a relationship with a wolf and had dated wolves several times over the years. One would never have left Florida, not even to visit Oregon with her. One had a mother who didn’t like that Charlene had been a homicide detective, and she was always finding ways to stop them from having a date.
Another just hadn’t been romantic in the least. He had wanted to settle down, but she couldn’t have imagined anything duller. Date night was a TV show and popcorn—at home. No eating out, movie theaters, or dancing at clubs. But being with Ethan? This was lots more like what a good relationship should be. Considerate of what she might like to do, no one interfering in their date plans, eager to get together with her. She loved that about him.
She opened her mouth slightly to his mouth in an invitation to take this a little further if he was game. And he was. He deftly kissed her deeply, like a man who knew how to do it in a sensuous way that made her want more of the kiss, and more of him.
But then she figured she had better cool it and call it a night before she ended up inviting him to stay over for the evening, when she was always a lot more cautious about new relationships than that.
He pressed his forehead to hers in a parting way, holding onto her shoulders, appearing to have a hard time letting go and leaving. She smiled. “Tomorrow, be ready to pick berries. I’ll make us lunch before we go hiking.”
He smiled. “That sounds good. What time?”
“Eleven? I like to do things early.”
“I’ll be here at eleven.” Then he pushed his luck and kissed her lips again, not softly or gently, but telling her just how much he liked kissing her, and she kissed him back in the same way, letting him know he was making all the right moves.
He smiled and left her house, and she locked the door after him. She leaned her back against it, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake or going too far too fast. She hadn’t dated anyone new since she’d called it quits with Noah so she was a little rusty at getting into a new relationship. She waved at Ethan out the window.
He was smiling, waving back. She was sure she made his night as much as he had made hers. She just hoped they would continue to enjoy the time together. It would be awful if they ended up not liking each other at all and had to live close to each other in such a small community.
Chapter 6
Ethan was afraid he was moving too fast with Charlene, though when a wolf really, really liked a wolf, they didn’t delay getting to know each other. But with this job hanging over his head and his boss expecting results, he would have to concentrate on that soon. He’d absolutely had no plans to live in Oyster Bay after he finished this mission when all his friends were in Portland or the surrounding communities.
Yet, if he and Charlene continued on this path and ended up mating, he was ready to settle down and start their own pack on the coast. He smiled at the idea. Then he frowned as he tossed his clothes in the washing machine and took a shower. He wasn’t sure how she was going to take the news that he was still working this dangerous job.
He got out of the shower, dried off, and pulled on a fresh pair of boxer shorts, then called Tori. “Hey—”
“How did it go with Charlene? You took her out to dinner, right?”
“Marvelously. But I want you to check into something for me.”
“About your case already? You were supposed to be resting up for the week after being wounded twice on the mission.”
As if the wolf bite counted for anything. Andthatdidn’t go in the report.
“Not to mention,” Tori continued, “it wouldn’t hurt for you to get to know Charlene a bit better while you have the time off.”
“No, it’s not about the case. Charlene received flowers from some unknown person. A secret admirer.”
“Uh-oh, so you have some competition that you are needing to eliminate.”
Ethan laughed. “She doesn’t know who sent the flowers, and she wanted me to learn who might have. The delivery was from Coastal Florists.” He gave Tori Charlene’s address and when the flowers were delivered.
“I’ll check on it first thing in the morning unless it’s a case of life or death.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“She has no idea who might have sent them?”
