I gave Martin a short nod and let myself back into the house. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't look back, nor did I allow myself to feel anything when I heard the car doors shut and the vehicle pull out of mydrive.
Martin was backin less than an hour, his face a somber mask. He stopped in the kitchen and I heard his indrawn breath as he started to speak, but it was followed by a sigh and he slowly walked back to the guest bedroom. I'd finished kneading the bread and I'd stuck it back in the proofer. I felt numb all over, but the baking was helping. I didn't stop for a break once the bread went in. I went right to the pantry and got the ingredients for my chocolate crinkles. Martin's radio was clicked on and the sound of music, power tools and blenders kept me company for most of the rest of theday.
By the end of it, I'd finished everything despite the unexpected course of events, and felt marginally better. Jeff was a werewolf. He knew the laws of the clan and had continually chosen to break them. Part of me felt horrible for turning him over to Mark. The rest of me knew it was the right decision. Mark was a brutal leader, but that was how he stayed in power. Fairness, but the ability to kick someone's ass in minimal time ensured his power base. I felt sorry for whatever woman stepped up to be his wife. She was going to have her handsfull.
I was just putting everything away and cleaning up the kitchen when Martin came out. I opened my mouth to speak, but he interruptedme.
"I hope you know you deserve the best. Do you honestly think Jeff was thebest?"
That wasn't what I expected him to stay. I'd outgrown Jeff months ago though I hadn't realized it fully until today. The sight of the man standing in front of me was the epitome of the kind of man I wanted for the future. He was coiled power with the ability to use it without harm. He was kind and generousand...
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Iasked.
Martin blinked a couple oftimes.
"It's lonely here," I admitted. "I like to cook, but I don't like to wastefood."
He swallowed hard and a frown knitted between his brow. "I'll stay if you let mehelp."
"Fair enough. I'll put you in charge of thesalad."
"I'm sure I can't screw that up." Amusement warred with hesitation as he reached over to wash his hands in the sink. "Let me grab a clean shirt from the truck," he said and headed outside. I couldn't help myself. I watched him go all the way until the door shut besidehim.
Lord have mercy that man had a nicebehind.
I'd already grabbed all the salad ingredients out of my restocked fridge when Martin came back in wearing a long sleeved blue henley. The color set off the deep olive of his complexion and made my mouth water a little bit. I showed him all of the salad stuff and to my surprise and delight, he washed his hands again before he started handling the ingredients. I asked him if he liked chicken stew and he announced he was a Romani and stew was his jam. Whatever that meant, but it sounded good so I went withit.
After he'd shredded all the lettuce, he went in to grab his bluetooth speaker and turned on some bluesy music. We settled into a nice rhythm of cooking with the occasional joke, when I heard the door click open. I spun around thinking Jeff had somehow managed to get away from Mark when I saw it was something wayworse.
Myparents.
Dad's gaze narrowed slightly as he took in the sight ofus.
My mother's lipstwitched.
"Darling," she said, "would you care to explain why your contractor is choppingvegetables?"
22
Istoodthere dumbfounded with roux dripping from my spoon as my brain spun with the possibilities on how to explainthis.
Smooth as silk, Martin jumped in for me. "Katie had a pretty busy day with some unexpected delays so I offered to help her finish making dinner for her gueststonight."
I was going to climb him like a tree and kiss the shit out of him. Not only did he come up with an explanation, he also inferred I had company coming over. Thus giving my parents the hint they were intruding. Politely,though.
My mother's eyes sparkled. I don't think she bought it for an instant, but my father looked mollified. "She could have called me," shesaid.
I plunked the spoon down on the rest and walked over to give them both a hug. "I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately. Things have been...weird."
Mom huffed. "Not as weird as seeing you in the daily newspaper and the massive line of people in your yard. Honestly, Katie, it looked like Woodstock out there. All you needed was someone naked and a marijuanadispensary."
I blinked at her. "I'llpass?"
"One more day of it and it would have devolved. What did you say to get them toleave?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. I just did my best to ignoreit."
"Huh. Maybe I should do that to your sister so she'll moveout."
