chapter 6

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “I saved your life. Or don’t you remember?” She couldn’t help but smile. “Right. How could I forget.”

The entire world faded away, leaving just the two of them, the lone light from the diner and a connection she hoped wasn’t one-sided.

He looked into her eyes like she was something special, and she started to believe it. It was a high she’d never experienced. Maybe the whole love-at- first-sight thing wasn’t so farfetched because, right now, she felt like fate had brought them together.

“Let me buy you jewels.”

Bethany snorted then stopped herself when he didn’t laugh along. His shoulders were squared, his jaw strong. The man was serious.

“Is that how men around here flirt?” Maybe it was. This town was so far off the grid, it was nothing like she’d ever experienced.

“Sorry, I meant, let me date you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I had you in my arms.”

She wouldn’t waste a chance to date a man like Caleb. He was raw, untapped masculinity. He probably had no clue how beautiful he was. She hated the conceited pretty boys in the city.

“A date?”

“Well, a second date. I considered the coffee you bought me to be the first one.” Now he smirked, a barely-there smirk, but it made her pussy clench.

Something devilish swirled in those gray eyes, and she hoped she was making the right decision.

“I can see that.” She bit her bottom lip, impossibly attracted to this man.

“Tell me what you want, and I’ll do it,” he said. “I’m new to dating.” “You’re new to dating?”

“Why is that surprising?” She shrugged. “Never mind.”

“No, really, please tell me,” he said.

Bethany would probably embarrass herself at some point if they went on a date. Better for him to see what he was getting into before they made plans. “Well, you’re like a nine and I’m more like a three.”

He narrowed his eyes. “A nine and a three…”

She waited for him to say something, preferably to make her feel better. It seemed to take forever until he spoke again.

“Sorry, I’ve got nothing. Is it a riddle?”

She couldn’t help but giggle, trying her best not to let it out. This town was something else. It was refreshing to be around a down-to-earth man not tainted by the world.

“I mean you’re a nine out of ten, and I’m a three out of ten. You could do a lot better, so I can’t help but feel suspicious.”

“In that case, you’re a ten out of ten, Bethany. I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful or desirable in my forty years. I’ll do everything in my power to make this work.”

Her breath caught. She’d been good at gauging fake people in her life, and he sounded sincere. Should she mention the huge age gap? She wouldn’t offer that she was only twenty-five just yet.

“Is there even anything to do in this little town?” From what she knew, there was nothing to do but stare at the trees—no theatre, decent restaurants, or entertainment of any sort.

“You’re new here. I can show you around. I rarely come into town, but the off-beaten areas are pristine. I can show you a lot of hidden treasures.”

Bethany nodded her head. She wanted to run off with this man right now, no looking back. But she had to be smart. “Maybe we should have coffee or something first. You know, to get to know each other.”

“We can do that.”

Bethany cringed after her suggestion. What would they even talk about? She had no background, and her life was the opposite of fulfilling. If he expected to hear about her hobbies, travel, or rich history, he was in for disappointment. She’d have to keep the conversation focused on him.

Bethany wanted to know every detail about her mystery man.

“Not at the diner, though.” She giggled. “Definitely not at the diner.”

She looked him up and down when he glanced at the building, but quickly averted her eyes when he turned back.

“You’re not married, are you?”

“I wouldn’t be asking you on a date if I’d already found my life mate.”

Even the way he spoke was unique. She liked it. He wasn’t trying to be someone else.

The door to the diner opened. Joe stepped out and began locking up for the night. The jangle of his keys was distinct in the quiet of the night. Caleb’s demeanor shifted. The softness in his eyes became hard. He turned, using an arm to sweep her behind him.

“Be sure to send my regards to your boss,” Caleb called out. His tone was confrontational, not friendly.

“I’m sure you’ll be hearing from him,” said Joe. Then he added, “See you Monday, Bethany.”

“You can’t wear that shirt,” Reese said.

“What the fuck is wrong with my shirt?” Caleb glanced down at his tartan shirt. It had a couple of tears from the axe but other than that, he didn’t see a problem with it.

“And that is why there is everything wrong with it,” Brian said.

“I can’t believe you agreed to go on a date. It’s so human,” David said, finally speaking up. “You should have just claimed her right there in the parking lot.”

His pack had swarmed around him the moment he’d returned yesterday after consulting with Joe, the bear. Having a bear close wasn’t good. It meant there were more of them, and in his world, they were shady pieces of shit. They weren’t good at control and fights with them could come at the cost of a limb.

In bear form, they could go crazy, almost psychotic. Turning into a wolf was one thing, at least they had control of their animal. The moment the human gave up control to the bear, it often spelled chaos.

He’d seen a great deal of destruction caused by them, and it wasn’t pretty.

“She’s human. That means new rules. I did offer to buy her jewels,” he said.

“Why jewels?” Reese asked.

“They’re pretty. I thought all women liked jewels. It shows you’re serious and willing to spend all that money on them.”

“It’s official, you’re fucking crazy. Not on a first date—”

“This is the second,” he said, interrupting Brian before he could continue.

“When was your first?”

“She got me coffee.” He looked at David, who was already shaking his head.

“I hate to say this to you, Alpha,” David said. “But that doesn’t exactly make it a first date. She got you the coffee as a thank you. We were there, remember?”

“It was a sweet and kind gift, and I treated it as such. I don’t see a problem.” He wasn’t going to be swayed. A first date was always a problem for him. He never knew the right rules or what to say or even what to expect. That wasn’t going to happen with him this time.

He’d gotten the first-date curse out of the way. Now they were going to a nice bar where there was good music and steak. There was no way this date was going to suck. He’d put way too much thought in it.