CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Bianca marched up to Talon and planted her hands on her hips. “You have been sitting here for hours.”
He simply grunted and shifted his weight, but he refused to budge from the booth.
She sighed. Talon had again tried to dissuade her from coming in to work this morning. They had driven to Yaya’s house first thing in the morning and placed the nice, new handle at her doorstep. Those thorny bushes had parted to let Talon through, so Talon had knocked on the door and called out that he was delivering a new handle for Boris.
When Talon got back to the truck, he had wanted to turn around and drive Bianca straight home, instead of dropping her off at the diner. He had grumbled and sulked, and had been reluctant to let her out of the truck. Finally, when he saw that there was absolutely nothing he could do to change her mind, he had walked into the diner with her and stayed the whole morning. He didn’t move even after the lunch crowd came and left.
Bianca knew that Talon was worried but there really was nothing to worry about. “I’m safe here, Talon,” she said gently. “I’m working. It’s business as usual.” She gestured around the diner. There were a few patrons in the diner, drinking their coffee and lounging around after lunch.
Things were rather quiet in the diner today, which wasn’t a surprise.
“Look around. It’s just the regulars. All familiar faces. Nothing’s going to happen to me,” Bianca said.
Talon narrowed his eyes. “She might come back.”
“Sariah?” Bianca shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Carly said that Yaya came and cast a protective spell around the diner last night. Anyone with magic in their blood will be repelled. So witches can’t come in. That’s why we’re having less customers today, but Carly and Nelson don’t mind. They said it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“I agree. I’ll stay here until it’s time for you to knock off,” Talon said stubbornly.
Carly walked past with a pot of coffee and beamed at him. “More coffee? How about some pancakes, Talon? Nelson just...”
Bianca stopped her from refilling Talon’s cup. “No, Carly. No more coffee. Talon’s just leaving.”
“I am?” Talon raised his brows at her.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “You have work to do. I know you promised to finish that table for Mr and Mrs Johnson. And you have new orders coming in. I know you’re busy, Talon. Don’t waste your time sitting here, twiddling your thumbs.”
“I’m not...”
Bianca hauled him up by the arm. “I’ll be fine.” She huffed. “Go, be productive. The world needs a good carpenter. Go on. Come and fetch me at the usual time, okay? I love you!” She gave him a peck on the cheek and shoved him out the door.
Carly stifled a laugh as she watched Talon trudge sulkily to his truck. He sat in his truck and glared at the diner until Bianca waved him off impatiently.
“I bet he’s going to come back,” Carly said, watching Talon drive off.
Bianca rolled her eyes. “I know he loves me, but this is ridiculous! I’m here at the diner, working. I’m not in any danger.” She blew out a breath. “And Talon has his own deadlines too. He can’t just drop everything and sit here the whole day.”
Carly grinned. “Nelson didn’t want me to come in today either. He said he can cook and serve the food himself, no problemo!”
“They think they’re supermen,” Bianca laughed. “They want to be everywhere at once, and do everything themselves.”
The two women chuckled and chatted a bit more before going back to work.
The next two hours went by rather uneventfully. A few patrons came and left. Overall, it was a rather slow day at the diner.
Bianca was wiping down the tables when she saw Talon across the road. He was leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed on the diner.
Bianca frowned. “That big stubborn wolf,” she muttered. The diner was empty and Carly had gone to the back. Bianca untied her apron and hung it on a hook by the counter.
“Carly, Nelson,” she called. “I’m just stepping out for a while, okay? I’m going to talk to Talon.”
Bianca crossed the road quickly and hurried up to Talon. He pushed himself off the tree and blinked at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, jabbing a finger into his chest. “Don’t you have work to do?”
He looked around quickly, scanning the surroundings.
“Stop it,” Bianca scolded. “There’s no danger around.”
Talon shook his head. “You need to come with me,” he said tightly.
“What?” Bianca frowned. “Why?”
Talon uttered three words. “The black wolves.”
Bianca’s eyes widened as her hands turned clammy. She remembered those savage black wolves who had chased her through the woods.
Talon hadn’t mentioned them again since that first night. He didn’t want to remind her of her horrific ordeal and upset her. It was over, and she thought that those black wolves wouldn’t bother them anymore.
“They’re back?” Bianca gulped. “Did they attack you?”
Talon didn’t reply.
“We have to go now,” he said, grabbing her wrist.
“B-but...”
“Now!”
Bianca stuttered as he pulled her towards a small car and opened the door. “W-where’s your truck? Where did you get this car?”
“Get in,” he said, pushing her into the car. He got in and locked all the doors before starting the engine.
Bewildered, Bianca stared around the small car. “Whose car is this? Is this a rented car? What happened to the truck?”
Talon kept his eyes on the road and floored the pedal. Bianca paled as the car turned the corner on squealing tires and hurtled towards the other end of town.
“What’s going on, Talon? Talk to me,” she pleaded. “You...you’re scaring me.”