Night Wolves

Chapter 4: A Little Something Wild

A little while later, I found myself rushing to get back to my bungalow to see if the mysterious male-model burglar was still there. I pulled up in the driveway a few minutes later and parked my SUV near the house. Then I thought of hitting the wolf and what Cruz had insinuated before I left. But I know for a fact that I hadn't imagined hitting the wolf.

I slowly walked to the front of my car to check the damage, wondering why I hadn't thought to do it earlier. But waking up to a naked man in my living room, asleep on my couch, had thrown me for a loop.

Walking slowly toward the front of the car, I looked down and the front grill had been smashed, so it had definitely happened. I sighed, looking around the house to see if there had been tracks. Near the house were bare human tracks that I followed around to the side of the house. But they stopped abruptly, and wolf tracks picked up in their place.

“No!" I said in disbelief, looking down at the wolf tracks. “There's no way he could have been the wolf." Absurd! I quickly pushed the thought from my mind, lifted the first few bags of groceries from the car, and headed toward my bungalow.

When I tried the door, it was locked, so at least he had the decency to lock up when he left... unless he was still there.

“Hello?" I asked in the empty space as I carried the bags into the house. “Cruz? Are you here?"

Nothing.

After setting the bags on the counter, I quickly headed out, grabbed the rest, and headed back inside... then locked the door behind me. At least now he couldn't break in again so easily. But how did he get inside in the first place? I know I locked all the doors.

But who knows? If a sexy burglar wants to get into your house, then he'll get into the house… one way or another.

“Lucky me," I mumbled to myself as I started putting the groceries away.

Once everything was in its place, I fixed a steak and a baked potato, wanting meat for some reason. Maybe because I didn't get to eat my steak from the other night. I shook my head, still unable to believe that Cruz had eaten what I put out for the wolf. But if he was that hungry, then he was welcome to it. I'm sure that the wolf found food elsewhere.

My brain refused to wrap itself around any other explanation.

When my dinner was ready, I sat in the living room and opened a book app on my phone, opting to read while I ate. I scrolled through my books, but nothing seemed as interesting as what had occurred in my own home that morning.

Then I thought of something.

Out of curiosity, I scrolled through the wolf-shifter books and started reading. But then I quickly closed the app when I started looking for similarities between the stories and what had happened this morning.

I tried to put the incident out of my mind, but the scientific part of my brain wanted an explanation. But I wasn't going to get any answers in paranormal romance books, so I clicked off the app and slid my phone onto the table. Then I clicked on the television and found a mindless show to get lost in and eat in peace... when there was a knock on the door.

Setting my dinner aside, I quickly crossed the room, opened the front door and gasped. Cruz was standing there dressed in a suit without a tie and his hair was combed neatly. And he looked hot!

He raised an eyebrow mischievously. “May I come in?"

I scoffed. “What? Not breaking in this time?"

He smirked, giving me his impish grin. “No, not this time." He shrugged. “I thought I'd be a gentleman this time."

“That'll be the day," I teased, unable to resist the jab as I motioned with my head. “Come in."

He chuckled when he saw my dinner. “Ah! Having steak again, I see."

I laughed. “Want some?" I shrugged. “I have another in the freezer I can cook up real quick." I sat down and resumed eating but hit the off button on the television remote, not wanting to be rude.

“No, thanks." Cruz smiled, shaking his head. “May I sit down?"

I shrugged. “Sure. Why not?"

He sat on the edge of his seat, moving his jacket aside. “So, do you have any plans for tonight?"

A smile spread across my face. “So, you broke into my house last night and now you're here to ask me out."

His shoulders lifted as one corner of his lips curled into a sexy smile. “I'm not sure if you know it, but there's a Blood Moon tonight and I was wondering if you'd like to watch it with me."

I smirked, enjoying his discomfort a bit too much. But then again, he was the most confident man I'd ever met, so I doubted if he was uncomfortable at all. “And that is cause to dress up?" I motioned over his body.

He tilted his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. “You like what you see?"

I burst out laughing, shaking my head. Well, his discomfort was definitely gone. “Do you try hard to be this annoying or does it come naturally?"

This time, he burst out laughing. “No, it comes naturally." Then his expression turned serious. “Some friends of mine are having a bonfire party tonight for singles and I thought you might like to come." He shrugged. “So, what do you say?"

I heaved a sigh and then bit off a huge bite of my steak, not worrying about impressing him.

He smirked. “Oh, now that's attractive," he teased.

I shrugged. “It just comes naturally."

He laughed again, shaking his head.

I took a sip of my iced tea, taking a moment to think. “So, how is everyone dressing? Casual dressy, or jeans-and-a-dress-shirt casual?" Cruz chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Wear what you want... or nothing at all. Makes no difference to me."

I burst out laughing. “Oh! Don't tempt me."

He smirked. “I won't mind at all. I promise."

“Oh, I bet not." I sighed, thinking. On one hand, I had nothing at all planned for the weekend. And on the other hand, a gorgeous guy is asking me out. Umm... decisions, decisions. “Okay. Against my better judgment, when is this soiree?"

“Whenever you get ready." He shrugged, laughing. “I was going to take you out for dinner before we went, but I think that's no longer necessary." He motioned toward my half-eaten steak.

I laughed. “So, would you like to watch television while you wait?"

Hs shook his head. “No, thanks. Never liked it much."

“Neither do I," I agreed. “Actually, I prefer a good book over just about anything." Or a good man, but that's beside the point. I hadn't had one of those in a while, either.

He sat back, casually crossing his legs. “Really? Me, too. Who are your favorite authors?"

I shrugged. “I have many. You?" I took another sip of my iced tea.

“I have many, too, but I prefer the classics," he replied. “Moby d**k—"

I burst out laughing and sprayed the tea in my mouth everywhere. Thank goodness, it was only a swallow. I was still laughing when I said, “Sorry. I guess I'd better clean up this mess and start getting ready. What time is the bonfire?"

“It's going on now, but whenever we get there is fine." He laughed, biting his lower lip as he got to his feet. “I'll tell you what. I'll clean up this mess while you get ready."

I bit my upper lip to keep from laughing. “I can't ask you to do that."

He shrugged, one corner of his lips curling into his impish grin. “Happy to do it." He motioned with his head toward my bedroom. “Go get ready and I'll take care of this." Then he looked at what was left of the food on my plate. “That is, unless you're not finished eating."

I shook my head. “No, I've had quite enough." I carried my plate into the kitchen, set it in the sink, and headed toward my bedroom. “Be right back," I threw over my shoulder as I passed.

In my bedroom, I locked the door and then quickly flung open the closet door. Now... what to wear.

I had a cute short red dress with spaghetti straps that would look awesome with heels, or a beige one, or a cute black lace dress. None of them was right for a first... kind of a date... with a guy I'd just met. Then my gaze fell on a new red dress I'd bought and had never worn, floor length with slits up the sides and cut outs at the waist with spaghetti straps.

“Perfect." When I slipped it over my head and ripped off the tags, it fell over my body like water, showing my curves. As I looked in the mirror, it was a bit dressy for a bonfire, but I'd been wanting to do something wild for a while. And it was either now or never. I just hoped it wasn't a mistake.