Page 35 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

“Well at least I’m not learning the hard way,” she says, and a genuine spark of connection seems to reappear between us.

Suddenly, I have an idea.

“Well, after tonight you’ll pretty much be a pro. And maybe I could take you to France sometime to put your new skills to good use. The kids, too, of course.”

I smile across the table at her, imagining the joy of traveling together, forging new memories and having new adventures, and learning about each other in new ways. It would also be an amazing experience for the kids, and I have no doubt Mia and Ethan would love it.

But once again, Sarah cools off.

“Yeah, maybe,” she says in a voice that tells me she’s just trying to be polite.

She offers me another wan smile, but it’s clear the idea isn’t as welcome as I’d hoped.

“But hey, no pressure,” I tell her, trying to break the renewed tension. “I’m happy to be anywhere you are.”

I give her a warm smile, trying to tamp down my growing frustration. It’s very hard to not just growl at her and demand to know what the hell is going on. My werewolf side has never been so disgruntled, and I’ve never worked so hard to hold it back. But I don’t want her to think I’m uncivilized.

She manages to smile back, which I take as a good sign, but once again, she doesn’t respond in kind.

“That’s really sweet,” she says instead.

When the waiter arrives with our meals, I can tell Sarah’s relieved. My attempts to engage her in meaningful conversation throughout dinner are mostly thwarted. I feel like I’m being stonewalled at every turn.

But I shake the thought from my mind as quickly as it comes. I’m not going to give up on this connection.

As the plates are cleared away and dessert arrives, I try again.

“You know, I’ve really been enjoying spending time with you and the kids lately,” I say. “And I’m glad we have the chance to spend some time alone tonight as well. You mean a lot to me, Sarah.”

For a second I see a flicker of openness in her eyes, and my hope soars. But it’s quickly replaced with that same guarded look I’ve seen growing more and more recently.

“Actually, I think the kids might be wondering where I am,” she says, looking at her watch. “I don’t want them to worry.”

The abruptness of this announcement takes me totally by surprise. I thought maybe I was finally getting through to Sarah, but if anything I’ve just hastened the end of tonight’s date.

“Oh, well I thought maybe we could go for a walk after dinner?” I venture, one last-ditch attempt to save the evening. But Sarah’s not having any of it.

“Sorry, Greg,” she says, her face creasing into a slight frown. “That sounds nice, but I think I should be getting back. I don’t have a Julia to take care of my kids. Just Becky, the high school sophomore.”

My heart tightens a little at the outright rejection but I’m not about to argue with her, not when it comes to the kids.

We quickly finish our dessert and leave. The ride back to her house passes in silence. At this point, I don’t even know how I’d break the tension that’s hanging thickly in the air between us.

I still have my manners, though, and I open her door for her when we reach her house, despite her insistence that it’s unnecessary.

“It’s not because I have to, it’s because I want to,” I tell her gently.

Even if her heart is hardening toward me, I still care very much for her and I want her to know it.

“Thank you, Greg,” she says softly, almost sadly.

I lean down to kiss her goodbye but at the last second, she turns her head so that my lips land not on her mouth but on her cheek.

The act seems totally out of character, but I’m too stunned to even say anything, and Sarah scurries away almost immediately.

I’m left standing in the road, watching her disappear into the house and wondering what’s happening between us. The spark of connection that we shared so strongly the first time we met has been dimmed, almost extinguished. All I see now is the darkness of uncertainty, covering us like a shroud.

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