“My mate is going to drive me insane,” Wyatt said for the hundredth time. “I know she wants me. She sure as hell doesn’t hide it in her dreams, and when I talked to her today, she’d leaned in to kiss me. I could even smell her arousal, yet she continues to deny it.”

He didn’t understand it. Not even the tiniest bit! One second, she was burning hot for him, then frigid in the blink of an eye. She could give the popular Disney Princess, Elsa, a run for her money.

Wyatt paced back and forth in front of Cam’s Diner as Ethan leaned against the light post, listening to his rant.

Wyatt had followed Callie to work, making sure she’d arrived safe and sound. What kind of a mate would he be if he hadn’t? When the diner opened for regular business, he’d grabbed a newspaper from the box inside and slipped into a quiet booth in the back corner, thinking what better place to keep an eye on Callie, and maybe learn a little bit about his all too human mate.

He noticed she’d faltered when she first spied him tucked away in the small booth before she pulled her ponytail tight and plastered the fakest smile he’d ever seen onto her beautiful face. Wyatt could only assume she was determined to meet the day with stride instead of running away from him, once again.

She had taken his initial order of a country style omelet with mushrooms, which she scrunched up her face in disgust, and a side of bacon. She’d diligently refilled his cup before it reached the bottom. Overall, Callie was one of the best waitresses he’d ever had.

He watched as she made her rounds, smiling at each new customer. She greeted everyone, other than him, as if they were friends or family. Then again, they could have been for all he knew. That’s how little he knew about his mate. It didn’t sit well with him. Not at all.

Hours and several cups of coffee later he’d noticed Ethan outside and motioned for him to join him. Ethan refused, opting instead to wait on the sidewalk.

“You don’t want to go in and grab some food?” Wyatt asked, puzzled by his brother’s reluctance to enter the diner.

“No. I’d rather not. I have a few things to take care of this morning. I’d like to go see the Alpha to find out about more permanent housing around here, since it looks like one or both of us will be here for a while.”

“Good idea. Have you caught any scent of your mate yet?” Wyatt had been so caught up with trying to figure out how to get Callie to speak to him that he hadn’t bothered to ask Ethan if he’d had any luck.

“Let’s get you settled with Callie first, then I’ll figure things out on my end.”

Classic evasion.

Wyatt arched an eyebrow at his brother, but decided to forego the interrogation Ethan deserved. Something was up. He knew it, his wolf knew it. He only hoped his brother would talk to him about whatever it was sooner rather than later.  

“So, what are your plans with Callie? Are you just going to sit around the diner all day, like some creepy stalker?”

Wyatt looked ashamed. That was exactly what he’d planned to do. Now that he heard exactly how his plan sounded… well, he should probably come up with a new plan.

 

***

 

Callie couldn’t help but notice when Wyatt got up from his table to walk outside for a talk with his brother. She was going to have to face him at some point, and they were going to have to have a real conversation—whether she wanted to or not.  

She tried not to watch his every movement like a hawk, but her eyes were glued to him. She wanted to deny the physical attraction she had for him, but she couldn’t. His presence commanded her attention. She felt drawn to him like she’d never felt to anyone before.

Her attraction to Trevor had always felt forced. She had always admired his looks, but more than once she’d found herself sickened as soon as most words flew from his mouth. Trevor had been hot, but in an arrogant asshole sort of way.

Wyatt, on the other hand, was like sex on a stick, then dipped in chocolate. Six foot three of solid muscle. Legs roughly the size of tree trunks, stuffed into jeans that hugged the tight ass that she wanted nothing more than to sink her teeth into. She’d never been so wicked or wanton when it came to thoughts about sex.

“Mmmm, mmmm, mmm. That man. Honey, he is divine with an uppercase damn D. You decide what you’re going to do about him yet?” Ruby Jean asked with a dreamy sigh.

Callie giggled. “He is hot. I’ll give him that. But I’m still debating all of my options.”

“Debate? What is there to debate about? Maybe you should take him for a test drive to see how many orgasms he can give you in one night.”

“Ruby Jean!” Callie blushed.

“You want me to ask him for you?” Ruby Jean smirked.

“No! I most certainly do not. I’m sure he’s quite skilled at giving orgasms. I mean—look at him.” Callie motioned to Wyatt, who appeared to be deep in thought, tucked away in his corner booth after his conversation with his brother.

Ruby Jean rolled her eyes. “Fine. How about we just ask him if he likes to eat pussy?”

Wyatt popped his head up. A faint smile pulled at his lips as his eyes met hers.

“Jesus Christ, Ruby Jean!”

Callie wanted to die. Right there on the spot. She’d never been so embarrassed in her life.

“Humans kill me. You know that, right? A bunch of damn prudes. And just so you know, baby girl—you should always find out the answers to questions like that before you make any major decisions about a man.”

“What are we talking about?” Camryn set her tray down and grabbed a fresh pot of coffee before she made her rounds once more.

“Whether or not Callie’s new man likes to eat pussy,” Ruby Jean proudly announced.

Cam chuckled and Callie wished for the power of invisibility.

“We are not. I need to get back to work.” Callie grabbed her tray and marched right over her dignity. Thanks to Ruby Jean, it too had died of embarrassment and flaked to the floor. She imagined it lying there in a pile or pink glitter or something…

As much as she wanted to avoid Wyatt until she found a way to scoop up her dignity and reattach it to herself, she simply couldn’t. He’d parked his ass in her section, and that was where he’d remained all morning, other than his short trip outside to talk to his brother.

“Can I get you anything else?” Callie tried not to make eye contact, but failed. Go figure. She had to work to pull herself back from him, as she felt herself leaning closer with each second she stood waiting for his answer.

“You can have lunch with me today on your break. I noticed there were a few picnic tables out back.”

God, his voice. It made her body tremble. Goose bumps broke out over her flesh. “I—ah, don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

“It’s just lunch. In the open—where everyone can see us. And I promise to be on my best behavior. Otherwise, I’ll hang out here until I get a chance to talk to you.”

Sounded a lot like blackmail to her, but if that’s what it was going to take to get him out of here so she could concentrate on her job—so be it. It’s just lunch. What could possibly happen?

“Fine.” Callie glanced at her watch. “I’ll be taking a break in a little over an hour. I’ll meet you out back.”

She nearly melted into a puddle when Wyatt smiled up at her. Perfect white teeth, and my gosh, honest to goodness dimples.

“Perfect. I’ll be there.” Wyatt popped a couple of twenties on the table and stood. “By the way, you should have told Ruby Jean the answer to her question.” Wyatt winked.

Callie tried to say something, anything—but the words wouldn’t form as her mouth popped open and slammed shut.

“After last night’s dream, I know you know the answer.”