Chapter Fifteen
“Ready sweetie?” Holly asked.
The little girl nodded.
“Alright, I’m gonna drop you off at Aunty Selena’s first, then Dante and I will pick you up when we come home, okay?”
Another nod.
She took Hannah’s hand in hers, grabbed her purse, and left the loft. Taking the elevator, they went up one floor to Quinn and Selena Martin’s apartment. She rang the doorbell and waited.
“I know it looks like a murder scene in here,” Selena said as she answered the door, little Jacob at her hip, “but I swear to you, I haven’t killed my children. Yet.”
Holly glanced around, barely suppressing a laugh. Two easy chairs were turned on their sides and the coffee table had been cleared of its knickknacks. The couch was smeared with small red handprints which looked suspiciously like strawberry jam. “Looks like breakfast time was interesting.”
“It’s always interesting in the Martin household,” she said with a sigh. “Hello, Hannah,” she greeted. “Lizzie and Anthony are in time out for about an hour. Maybe you and I can play with Jacob until they’ve learned their lesson?”
“I’ve learned my lesson!” a high-pitched voice called from down the hallway.
“You shush, Elizabeth!” Selena called back. “One hour. No less.” She shook her head. “I had to put Anthony in time out, too. He didn’t want to rat out Lizzie, and I’m proud of him for that, but I couldn’t give him any less of a punishment even though I know she started it. He was crying, though, because he was looking forward to playing with Hannah today.”
“I’m sure it’ll be a good lesson.”
“I hope so. So, did you need to get going? Sorry, Quinn’s running a little late,” Selena said. “I’m sure you have a pretty busy day today.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Holly said. “For everything.”
Selena waved her hand. “You’ve thanked me a million times already. Like I said, just give us a couple of free meals when you’re up and running and we’ll be even. I promise to leave the kids at home.”
“Hey Holly,” Quinn, Selena’s husband greeted as he jogged down the stairs from their loft bedroom. “Sorry about the wait. Hey, baby doll,” he said to Hannah as he ruffled her head playfully. “Alright, I’m ready.”
She and Selena chatted for a bit, then she kissed Hannah goodbye as Quinn gave his son and wife a kiss. She followed Quinn to the elevator and down to the garage. As they did every morning for the past few days, Quinn drove her to the restaurant before heading off to work.
The day after Christmas, Holly and Sharice had talked over the phone regarding the future of Petite Louve. Though the insurance would pay for the repairs and renovations, their people still needed work, especially during the holidays. Dante had a solution: he offered to take in some of their staff and to call up other restaurants in the area to see if they could help the displaced employees.
Much to her surprise, the response had been overwhelming. Several restaurants in the neighborhood took on their waiters, cooks, and even busboys temporarily until Petite Louve re-opened. It had been a big weight off her shoulders, and she was glad Dante had suggested it.
With their people taken care of, Holly and Sharice were free to oversee the repairs and renovations. Except for the smoke and the big hole in their window, the dining room was left relatively unscathed. However, the kitchen was a mess. Everything had to be replaced and redone. It had broken her heart the first time she saw it the day after Christmas. Dante had been there to support her, holding her hand as she inspected the damage.
The contractor had told them they could be ready in a month, which was fine considering it could have been worse. Of course, Holly still had to worry about Hannah, and a renovation site certainly wasn’t a place for a little girl. And, again, Dante provided the solution—their neighbors, Selena and Quinn. Selena was off from work for the holidays and was only happy to watch Hannah during the day for a couple of hours since she was home with her kids. It also meant she could get a ride from Quinn, instead of taking a cab to the restaurant every morning.
They still hadn’t found out what had happened at her apartment. They called the police and reported the break-in, but it obviously wasn’t their top priority. That’s why Dante had hired a private firm, Lone Wolf Security, to look into it and provide added security for her and Hannah. Incidentally, Quinn worked there with his brothers, who also happened to be Lycans. He and Killian had interviewed her for over an hour, trying to find out who was attempting to hurt her. She still felt uneasy knowing whoever it was was still out there, but being around Dante and the Lycans, she and Hannah couldn’t be any safer.
When Quinn dropped her off, she headed to Muccino’s first to check in with Dante. She went around to the back, entered through the kitchen door, and found Dante in the middle of the room, his back to her, talking to Andres and Jorge.
“… And has anyone seen Enzo?”
Andres shook his head. “No, Chef. But he said he was running an errand.”
“All right, when you do see him, tell him I need to talk to him about the guest list for New Year’s.”
“Sure, Chef,” Jorge answered. When she locked eyes with the line cook, he nodded toward her.
Dante turned around. The serious expression on his face turned bright when he saw her. He crossed the distance between them and hugged her. “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, kissing her square on the lips. Behind them, Andres and Jorge gave them appreciative whistles and whoops. He turned his head. “All right you degenerates, get back to work,” he said, a hint of humor in his voice.
“Yes, Chef.” They laughed as they went back to their workstations.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, just the usual. Enzo thought it would be nice if we shut down early on New Year’s Eve and have a party for everyone and the staff, yours and ours. Well, whoever’s in town, anyway. He wants to make it kid-friendly, too, so Hannah can come and we won’t have to worry about a sitter.”
“Oh, that would be lovely.” Holly’s heart was practically bursting with joy. Dante’s family and extended family had accepted her and Hannah and made them feel welcome. Just the other day, while they were having dinner at the restaurant with Frankie, Grant, and the kids, Lucas had called her “Uncle Dante’s girlfriend” and no one corrected him. Dante simply smiled, while his sister gave him a knowing look.
“Yeah well, it’s his damn idea, so he better help with the planning,” he grumbled. “How’s everything? Hannah?”
“She’s over at Selena’s.” Holly relayed to him what had happened with the kids.
“Hmmm, I don’t like how that Anthony looks at her and follows her around like a lost puppy.”
“Dante!” She swatted him on the chest playfully. “He’s five and she’s seven. I think you can put the shotgun away for a couple of years.” Of course that comment made her blush because of what it implied. That Dante would be around to watch Hannah grow up into a teenager. She cleared her throat. “Uhm, I should really go over now and check on Sharice.”
He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”
Hand in hand, they went over to Petite Louve, greeting the workers as they stepped around piles of lumber, tools, and workbenches scattered all over the kitchen. Since they just wanted a re-creation of the old kitchen and it was being done by the same company, the work was going to be done quickly. They only had to delay their original grand opening date by two weeks.
Holly and Dante walked down the hallway to the offices. Holly felt a shiver down her spine remembering the last time she had been here and where she and Hannah had nearly lost her lives. Dante put a reassuring arm around her, and his mere presence and delicious scent calmed her down.
And possibly made her horny. God, the sex had only gotten better in the last few days. She still felt weird about having sex with Hannah in the same apartment, and even though she had her own room and Dante’s lofted bedroom upstairs was enclosed, she still insisted on being quiet.
“What are you thinking of?” Dante asked.
“Nothing?”
He gave her a lascivious smile. “I’m thinking of nothing, too.” His hand moved down her waist to cup her ass.
“Dante!” she admonished as they reached Sharice’s office. She grabbed the door handle. “Can you please behave in front of Sharice? She is still my boss.”
As she opened the door, loud moans, a gasp, and the distinct sounds of kissing filled the air.
“What the—Sharice!” Holly exclaimed as she saw two people entwined on top of the desk. Still locked in a passionate embrace, Sharice and Enzo’s heads turned toward them when they entered. Sharice let out an undignified squeak, then pushed Enzo away.
“Holly!” Sharice scrambled off the desk and shoved her dress down. “You’re here early,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“Not more than usual,” Holly said with a raised brow. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“I told you we should keep this off hours,” Sharice hissed at Enzo.
“Babe, you can’t come to work looking like that and expect me to keep my hands to myself,” Enzo said, giving her a wink.
“This is how I always dress,” she pointed out.
“I know.”
“Ahem.” Dante cleared his throat. “If you’re done with your errand, Enzo, we have work to do. And for fuck’s sake, zip up your fly.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He looked to Sharice. “I’ll be by at seven, babe. See you, Holly.” He gave Holly a two-fingered salute as he walked past them.
Dante shrugged. “I’ll see you later.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Sharice.”
“Dante,” she acknowledged with a slight nod.
With a last look at Holly, Dante left with Enzo in tow.
Holly pivoted to Sharice. “So … too young for you, huh? An ‘arrogant SOB’?”
“Oh please,” Sharice said, regaining her composure. “We’re just having fun.” She shot Holly a pointed look. “At least I’m not moving in with him.”
Warmth crept up her cheeks. “That’s only until my landlord finishes fixing the water damage.” Since they ruled out Sharice and the restaurant as targets, they decided not to tell her about the break-in.
“Uh-huh. Girl, you haven’t stopped smiling all week. I thought I was going to have to send you to the hospital. Or the exorcist. But then again, it’s probably not a demon that’s inside you.”
“Sharice!”
Sharice walked behind her desk. “All right, c’mon now, let’s go look at those modifications to the kitchen.”
“Eww.” Holly wrinkled her nose. “I’m not getting anywhere near your desk. Let’s go find a surface where you and Enzo haven’t been making out on.”
***
“Really, Enzo?” Dante berated as they left Petite Louve.
“What?” his brother asked. “You the only one who can play footsie with the neighbor?”
Dante shook his head. Enzo didn’t mean it in an insulting way, of course. But still, he knew his brother’s reputation. “There’re a million girls in Manhattan, and you go after her?”
“She’s one of a kind, bro,” he said with a wistful sigh. “You understand, right?”
He recognized that look on Enzo’s face. He’d seen it often enough when he looked in the mirror. “Yeah, yeah.” Enzo winced. “Now what?”
“It’s just …” Enzo scratched his head. “I dunno. She’s fine hopping in the sack with me, you know? But everything else … she won’t even go out for a meal. It’s always my place or hers, and then wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am and we’re done. Why they hell do you think I suggested having that party? I asked her to go away with me on New Year’s, somewhere quiet and romantic, and she turned me down flat.”
Dante stopped in his tracks. “Holy shit.” Then he let out a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You.” He looked at his brother’s dumbfounded expression. “You’ve finally found the one girl who can resist your charms, and you’re head over heels for her.”
“Well, we can’t all be walking around canoodling like honeymooners,” Enzo shot back.
His brother was right. After Holly had moved in with him, neither of them tried to hide their relationship. Sure, Frankie and the Lone Wolves knew the real situation of why it was necessary for her and Hannah to move in, but, essentially, the cat was out of the bag.
And he was glad. He wasn’t going to hide what he and Holly shared. He was happy. Really happy, it seemed, for the first time in his life. It was nice having her nearby during the day, and he found himself leaving as early as he could to get home to her and Hannah. He’d even skipped out on dinner service once or twice, though his staff never begrudged him since he hadn’t even taken a real vacation in five years.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that the sex was phenomenal. He couldn’t wait to get Holly alone in their bedroom, right after they tucked Hannah in. Holly was so damn sexy, passionate, and hot, and he could make love to her for hours and hours. It still felt like she was holding back a bit, maybe because Hannah was sleeping under the same roof. Which is why he was looking forward to tonight.
“Hello? Dante?” Enzo waved his hand in front of Dante’s face. “Jeeze, you’re a head case today. Scratch that, you’ve been a head case since you met her.” He laughed. “I’m happy for you, bro. She’s a keeper.”
“I know.”
“So, is she yours? I mean … like your True Mate and stuff?”
“It’s complicated.” Frankly, it was something he didn’t want to think about because he wanted it to be true, but he didn’t want to have to find out the definitive way. His wolf, however, thought otherwise. It wanted a pup, badly. It wanted him to get her pregnant now and see her swell with their child.
He wanted it too, but he didn’t even know how to start explaining it to her. Would he scare her away? Or what if it turned out she wasn’t his True Mate and she was disappointed. No, it didn’t matter anyway. True Mate or not, Holly was his.
They reached Muccino’s, and Dante threw himself into his work. He already told his crew he was leaving by five and not to expect him until after lunch time tomorrow. They all approved heartily, of course, ribbing and joking with him the whole day, right until he left through the back door of the kitchen.
Holly was already waiting outside for him. “Let’s go home,” she said.
That was all he wanted right now. He wanted to step on the pedal, run some red lights, and break a few laws because it would be worth it to get home as early as possible. It seemed like forever, but they were finally in the elevator of his building. He pressed the button to his floor.
“Hey,” Holly said. “We need to get Hannah first.”
Dante put on his best feral smile, then backed her up against the wall. “Nuh-uh.”
She frowned. “What do you mean? Did Selena bring her back already?”
He trapped her between the wall and his body. “No,” he said, nuzzling at her neck. “We’re not getting her back tonight. The kids are having a sleepover at Selena and Quinn’s. Including Hannah.”
“What?”
Dante nipped at her delicate skin behind her ear, where her scent was strongest. It made her moan and grab onto him, and he could smell her arousal. “We’re all alone tonight, sweetheart. You can scream as loud as you want while I fuck you and whisper dirty things in your ear.”
“Dante ...”
The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival on his floor. Dante stepped out. “Well?” he asked, holding his hand out to her.
She giggled and took his hand. “Let’s go.”