Bonnie cringed as Joan kept booming in her ears, "Where did you meet him? Was it online? Oh please, Bonnie don't tell me - "“No! I’m not online dating. I met him on your birthday at that club. Well, I kind of did. But then afterward…” She quickly explained how she caught her on Joan's panties at the club, lied about giving him her business card, and how he tracked her down and showed up at her apartment building the next day. She told Joan truthfully that she'd sent him away that day thinking him a stalker, but that his friends had interviewed her to get them back in the same room together and now here they were on a date. She kept out the part about the near-rape, him saving her, and the fact that she had a suspicion that he was supernatural. A werewolf. Plus, she didn’t want Joan to think she was dating a killer. Even though she was? “So, let me get this right. You’re calling me because you’re terrified you’ll jump on his lap and start grinding away right there at the dinner table

As the car door shut, Nate stared out the window, momentarily caught in what had just happened before he remembered Bonnie. Turning to her with forced casualness, he found her keenly staring at him like she knew everything. His heart slammed in his chest and he looked to the divider as Nick asked, “Where to?” “Central Park.” He heard his low voice crackle with shakiness and cleared his throat. “Thank you.” Nick nodded and met his eyes in the rearview, then pulled the car away, merging with traffic. The window rolled up to give them privacy again and Nate was grateful for the thought. But what to say to Bonnie with her looking at him like this, he had no clue. He took her hand and stared out the window, wondering what he could tell her and how much. It was a while before they got to 61st Street where the park began, and he took that time to consider the fact that he’d never revealed what he was to a human. Not since after the war. Up in the woods they had only been werewolves in the

Struggling, Nate began pacing back and forth. Finally, he stopped and looked at her, resigned. A wall that hadn’t been there before was between them and she hated to see it but she had no choice but to push for the truth. “Are you sure you want to know this? It might change your view of me.” She gave him the tiniest of nods. “I’m a werewolf.” She blinked and gulped, closing her eyes with strange relief. “I thought so.” His eyebrows rose. “You did?” “Yes. Didn't I guess you were a wolf earlier?” She stayed by the door, pressing herself closer to it as though it might suddenly become pliable and warm. She needed a hug. “Yes. The growl. The way they described the body in the news. The policemen asked–” “About a wolf,” he interjected. “Right. Of course, you would deduce from all that… What do you want to know then? Now that I've confirmed my secret I'll answer any questions you have for me.” “My mind is a blank.” He stared at her. “I'm not surprised. Well, let me just clear up a few

Panting, they quieted and he kissed the back of her neck and buried his face in her hair. “Marry me.” She froze. “What?” He pulled out, taking his time and lowering her to the bed so that he could face her. He held himself up on his elbow and searched her eyes. “Marry me, Bonnie. Be my wife.” She chuckled and closed her eyes, looking at him again after an incredulous moment. “You’re serious.” He nodded. “It’s our first date.” “So?” He shrugged like that meant nothing. With a fluttering heart, she pushed back a fallen lock of hair from his forehead, looking into his eyes. “I don’t believe in divorce,” she whispered. “If we were to do this, it would be for good. We’d be a team and best friends. Do whatever we had to to keep it strong, and not lose the love.” He gave her a calm, knowing smile. “I have no problem promising I can do that.” She paused, her blood racing so much she could barely speak. The crazy thing was, she believed him! Everything about the way he was looking at he

Bonnie swung Nate's arm lightly as they journeyed up a dark, stone path. “Things happen when they’re supposed to. I wouldn’t have been ready before now. In fact, I didn’t think I was even looking until I met you!” He relaxed, feeling gratified by the distinction that he had changed her mind in some way, just by his appearing in her life. “Did you want kids with these men?” “Boys. They were boys. And no. That’s one of the reasons they didn’t last.” She gave him a sideways glance. He had to ask the burning question. “Do you want them with me?” She walked on for a bit before answering and dropped the leaf from her hand. “I didn’t want children with them because I didn’t want to marry them. And since I want to marry you…that goes to say that I do want your children. Wow. Can you be patient with my getting used to this?” Her eyebrows lifted with curiosity. He squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. “You’re not the only one I’m going to have to be patient with. My…friends…they wi