by Lauren Dane
“Merrilee Tanner is stopping by soon so keep an ear out at the back door,” Katie Faith told her while she set up the front bakery case. “I finally talked my dad into letting me try some baked goods.”
“Merrilee really can use the money right now, what with her Mandy off to college this year.” Miz Rose patted Katie Faith’s arm.
You came from a small town, you pulled together. It was just how she’d been raised. Diablo Lake was an extended family. Even the Pembrys were part of that.
“I don’t want to get here at three in the morning to bake everything myself but I wanted food. I picked up one of Merrilee’s better than sin cakes and thought maybe she’d be willing to do some baking for me. I figure we can start with a few things and see how it goes.”
“When I was younger, Merrilee’s uncle Pete had a restaurant in his carport. People could walk right up get served off plates they returned a few days later.”
Katie Faith started laughing. “Well. That sounds...uh, colorful. What kind of food?”
“I used to think it was road kill, but he never would say. Said it was all a secret family recipe. Yeah, for raccoon.”
Ew.
“Huh. What happened?”
“There was a big fight between Pete and some of his friends. Spilled out into the street. Carport caught fire and his wife made him close up after that. She left him about six months later. He was a decent cook, but a lousy husband.”
Katie Faith clucked her tongue. “This town has some stories, I tell you. Oh, hey, Merilee just pulled up.”
There was a special kind of magic around Merrilee Tanner. Nearly six feet tall. Sturdy. She spent a lot of her life outside and it showed. There was a solid strength to her that Katie Faith loved.
She had long hair she kept in a braided coil that ended at her butt. Except for when she worked magic. Then it was free like a wild river of gold. She baked like an artist and played the mandolin and could chop wood and change her own oil. Her husband had died a decade earlier and she’d raised up four daughters, two of whom were now off in college.
She was one of Katie Faith’s heroes.
Immediately the scent of warm blackberries filled the space as Merrilee came inside with several big bakery boxes in her arms.
“Morning! I’m not going to fib, I’m in a fine mood today. Probably because school is back in at long last and my house is quiet for the first time since May.”
They all laughed as they unloaded the muffins, loaves and bar cookies. “Went berry picking so I figured I might as well make something for you with them. I’ll come by later to see how things are going. I have a few ideas for tomorrow.”
“Great! I’d love to hear them. Thanks again, Merrilee,” Katie Faith called out as Merilee headed out.
She brought out a few things from the kitchen. “I found these cake plates in the shed behind the house. Daddy said these were around when he was a kid. I thought they were pretty. A good thing to have here in the shop, don’t you think?”
Miz Rose’s face lit at the pretty stands. Some were porcelain while others colored glass of some sort. Katie Faith had used a lead testing kit on those before using them with any food. She arranged them all artfully with all the baked goods and the little cards with prices on them.
“What’s that? Can I buy one of those to eat?” A handsome man stood at the counter. A cousin of Darrell’s if Katie Faith remembered correctly. Four or five years older than they were. Three other men his age stood with him, all Pembry wolves.
“This here muffin is called blackberry cobbler. I’ve got some peaches and cream loaf, a dollar a slice. Chocolate chip cookie bar or butterscotch chip.” Katie Faith rattled off some prices she’d been toying with and given the way he said he’d take one of each along with a cup of coffee she had made a good guess.
“I can’t believe that boy just spent all that money on some stuff that he could make at home for under a dollar,” Miz Rose whispered after he’d left.
“Convenience and a sweet tooth. Wolves love cake and pie and all that stuff. I need to work chocolate into more things. Which I think is a good, basic life goal. Chocolate in all the things.”
As she’d figured, the news about what had happened the night before had spread and led to a steady flow of customers into the Counter. Sure, they came to gawk, but she’d make them pay for the privilege.
“Hey, Katie Faith. Miz Rose.” Carl came in with TeeFay. “We just wanted to check in on you. See how you were.”
Everyone else in the place eavesdropped unashamedly.
“It’s a nice day. Sun’s out. Got some new baked goods in to go along with your soda, shake or coffee.”
Katie Faith appreciated them coming in. Knew part of it was to stand behind her and let the wolves know they’d best leave her be. Part of it was because they were like her own parents, she and Aimee had spent so much time in one another’s homes.
Still, she wasn’t going to get into what happened the night before in front of half the town.
“We just had breakfast with your mom and daddy,” TeeFay said. “He said he’ll be coming in later so he expects a malted to be waiting for him.”
That made her laugh. “As if he could sneak one past Momma.”
“It keeps his mind busy, trying to figure out how to cheat on his diet when your mom isn’t looking.” TeeFay winked.
“Which is never. I can tell you that for sure. My mother doesn’t not look. She always looks.” Katie Faith knew it first hand.
They chatted some more before each one headed off to their jobs.
A gaggle of good looking Pembry wolves came in, all straight white teeth and really great hair.
They greeted her good naturedly. She didn’t blame them for what happened with Darrell, though that jackwagon would be banned from the Counter for life.
“You remember me, Katie Faith?” one of them asked.
“Uh, you’re Danny right? Your momma and Darrell’s are cousins.”
He grinned. “Yeah, that’s me. So, you want to go out to dinner or something?”
“I’m pretty sure I babysat you, Danny. Are you even a legal adult?”
Miz Rose chuckled in the background but Danny blushed. “I’m twenty-one. Legal and then some.”
“Ah. Okay. Well. Thanks for the invite, but I’m going to have to say no thank you.”
“Why not? Are you with someone? I have older cousins,” he blurted.
Katie Faith gave him a raised brow with enough severity behind it he bent his head and broke eye contact.
“That’ll be three dollars even for the soda and the slice of peaches and cream.” The day she let some kid she wiped snot off make her feel like she had to give him an accounting of her life was the day she gave up entirely.
“Thank you. Nice to see you. You should come by the theater. We’re always happy to find you a pair of tickets. My dad says.”
“I’m sure I’ll see him to say thanks. There’ll be plenty of movies to see once the weather turns.”
Not that she’d be taking free movie tickets, though she’d get a kick out of sharing this story with Jace.
She shifted her attention to the next wave of customers coming in.
And one of them was JJ.
“Afternoon, JJ. How are you today?” Katie Faith called out.
“Just thought I’d come by to see how you were feeling. And maybe also get a cherry Coke.”
Sure that was all he was up to. Not that he couldn’t have just asked Jace.
“I’m always good when business is good.” Katie Faith turned to make his soda, placing it in front of him with a smile before she headed over to deal with other customers.
“I told Damon to mention this, but I bet he hasn’t yet. We’d like to give you the friends and family discount on your rent
,” JJ said all casual-like as she came back down to his end of the long counter.
Ha! As if.
“I appreciate the gesture, I surely do. But I can’t do that,” she said quietly and respectfully. He was trying to get her allegiance, she understood the why of it. But that wasn’t how she was going to play this whole situation.
“You’re the gal our grandson wants. You’re back here in town taking care of your family like you should be. Least we can do,” JJ insisted.
“The pie Jace brought me yesterday was payment enough. Patty sure does know how to bake a mean banana cream.”
He sized her up. She knew people didn’t take her that seriously, that guys like JJ thought she was dumb but pretty and easily manipulated because she was female.
He’d learn eventually. That was her resolution for living back in Diablo Lake. Stand up for herself and not take any guff. Even from her boyfriend’s grandpa.
Her dad came in, her mother at his side, which got people focused on something else and made her dad’s face flush with pleasure. People cared about him and it was nice for him to see it in their faces.
“Where’s my malted?” he asked as he came around the counter.
“In your imagination, Avery,” her mother said calmly as she escorted him back to the other side of the counter at a barstool.
Her mom gave her a kiss on the cheek as she passed. “You go on home now, Miz Rose. Your ride is here.”
“I’ll see you day after tomorrow for your next lesson,” Miz Rose called out as she left.
“Glad you’re here, Mom. We’ve been crazy busy today.”
“I bet every rubbernecker in town was over here today.” Her mother narrowed her gaze at JJ a moment.
JJ toddled off after leaving her a ridiculous tip and repeating his offer of a rent discount. Her mom rolled her eyes when Katie Faith explained what all had happened.
“We got two dozen calls at least today. Scarlett is suddenly very interested in having me down at the Presbyterian Church lady lunch things.”
“You think she wants to cook you for dinner?” Katie Faith teased her mother.
“If anyone could, it’d be her.”
“I figured I’d find about six dozen people in here,” Jace said as he came in holding a large bag.
Everything inside lit up at the sight of her handsome man.
“We just had a lull. Everyone will be so bummed they missed the moment you came in here. I’m sure if you wait five minutes half the town will be back.”
He kissed Nadine’s cheek and shook Avery’s hand before turning his attention back to Katie Faith. “Ha. Not interested in anything but our late lunch. I brought sandwiches, chips and some soda.”
“You two go on out and enjoy the park bench for lunch. Avery and I know how to run this place while you’re out,” Nadine said, making a shooing motion with her hand.
Jace opened the door for her and they headed a block up to the green space that was the town square. Picnic tables dotted the grass under the big oak trees.
Jace laid out all the food while she set about unwrapping things and opening sodas.
“I didn’t know what all you’d like, so I made you a turkey as well as a ham and a tuna fish. Or you can eat them all.”
“You made me a sandwich?” She blushed.
“Three.” He preened a little, making her laugh.
She grabbed the ham. He’d eat the other two sandwiches for a snack and not even break a sweat.
“Thank you.”
They ate as people stared at them while trying to pretend they weren’t.
“Had a Pembry offer me free movie tickets and your granddaddy offered me a rent break. I’m getting all sorts of stuff these days.”
“I’ve seen you naked. Totally worth free movie tickets.” He kept his tone dry but she laughed so hard she nearly choked.
“Am I worth some popcorn too?”
He nodded, expression still serious. “A premium sweet treat like a big bag of M&Ms too. Or a slushie.”
Katie Faith snorted and then coughed because she got embarrassed about the snort.
“You’ll turn my head, sir,” she managed to wheeze as she got her breath back.
He looked at her, taking in the details of her face, the play of expression across it as she shared a meal with him. Eating the sandwich he’d made and brought to her.
“JJ came by to offer the discounted rent himself, huh?” Jace shook his head. “Damon tried to talk him out of it yesterday. I told him not to do it and that you’d say no if he asked. I also said I didn’t plan to get in the middle of it.”
She took him in carefully. The afternoon sunshine seemed to glint off bits and pieces of her magic as it floated around her like dust. He caught her anise scent with a happy sigh.
Ever since she’d been back—especially since their first kiss—his life had been a series of amazing moments.
Right then was one.
He’d tuck this picnic with her into his memories, remembering the glory of falling in love with her.
“You’re fucking beautiful. You know that?” he asked her.
She smiled, quick and genuine. He loved her smile. The one she used only on him. “Thank you. That’s very nice to hear. I do love you in your uniform. Especially the pants because they hug your butt perfectly.”
He really couldn’t imagine anyone else saying that to him. He grinned her way. “I’ll keep that in mind. We haven’t used my handcuffs yet. We should pencil that in.”
Her blush brought more of her scent his way. He breathed deep, sucking in as much of her as he could.
He hummed. “You still smell like me,” he told her slow. Teasing.
Her blush deepened as her eyes flew wide and then narrowed. “I took a shower this morning. I should know, you came in and hogged all the space.”
She wasn’t complaining, though. Her tone remained that husky sex voice she had. There were no lies either. She said the words and they pleased her. Her expression caught between sexual attraction and romantic teasing as her mouth formed each sound.
He wanted to lean in and sip them from her lips.
“You know how much I like it when you’re wet.” He let that hang a few seconds. “Before you left I unbuttoned your blouse and rubbed my face all over your tits. Remember? I had a little scruff so your skin was pink. Your heart pounded too. Like it’s doing now.”
She swallowed hard, licking her lips.
“It pleases me that my scent is on your skin. I’m happy to know every single wolf who sniffed around you today got a snout full of me all over you.”
Though it galled him to no end that any Pembry would offer her free anything. Katie Faith is mine. Those little sniveling shitheads trying to sniff around Katie Faith were lucky he was more amused than offended.
Her scent changed for Jace. Delicious and sticky sweet. No one knew that side of her. No one knew that alluring combo like nothing and no one else but her.
“That was so hot you had to pause to imagine sex with yourself, right? I know the feeling. Happens to me all the time when you talk all sexy like that. Thinking about sex with you is nearly as good as the actual having. But I’m going off on a tangent now.”
“I’m pretty much always thinking about sex with you. Do you imagine sex with me? Or sex with yourself? Because for the record, I’m up for both as long as I can watch the latter. Come to think on it, I’d be okay watching the former too.” He waggled his brows. “But I was also thinking about how these pups can sniff around but you only change for me. Bloom for me.” He tangled their fingers together. “I was thinking that you’re all mine.”
She really should be annoyed by all that bravado. But she really liked it. Like a whole lot.
He was always so laid back. Until he wasn’t. W
hen he turned up his intensity his smolder was nuclear. Even as he was bossy or went all alpha male you’re mine, she got swoony around him.
Because it was him. Anyone else but Jace and she’d have tossed something at his head by now. But the way he said and did all that he-man alpha wolf stuff to her just totally worked.
He was so sexy and so dirty and wow, she was so lucky.
“I guess you’ll just have to buy me tickets for the movies in the future,” she said. As for being his, there was nothing to argue about. He made his declaration, she accepted that. None of those things seemed to be at issue.
She could go out in the middle of the street and declare him her boyfriend, lover, whatever. She could say it like, “oh Jace, that’s my boyfriend” every five minutes for a day or two. Or she could live her own damned life without having to verify her relationship status when here she was having lunch with Jace. In public like relationship type people did.
“This is going to be crazy for a while,” he said quietly.
“A while. I never figured you for an optimist. It’s going to be crazy forever because this is Diablo Lake. I can’t take a rent break from JJ. I need to pay my own way.”
“Eventually we’ll live together, right? Because you know, wolves, we have a thing about that.”
“I know you all have a thing about that to get girls to let you sleep with them. This is very fast.” She gave him a raised brow.
“Well, sure, that part’s true too. The sex part. But, you’re not living in Nashville or wherever. We aren’t dating. We’ve been dancing around one another for the last month. And before that a few years. We were always coming to this point right here.” He said the last with a smug expression. “I’ve known you since we were kids. Fast.” He sneered and still looked sexy doing it. “I like sleeping next to you. I want to continue doing that. Eventually we can do it in the same house. I’m not going to pretend otherwise.”
“We’ll deal with potential rent issues then.”
He started to argue and she realized being in love with this lunkhead was going to be a full-time job.
“Don’t argue, for goodness sake.” She held a hand up. “Some things you won’t win and this isn’t even a big deal. Jeez. Save it up for when it’s important.”
