Page 21 of Protected By the Wolf

“Wow, you’re really smitten, and it’s only the first date.”

“I know. I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” I clapped my hands together and tucked myself into a ball. I felt Millie’s arms come around me, and l leaned into her. She held me while I closed my eyes and let the anxiety roll through me. Relying on each other was something the two of us were good at. After going through high school and college together, we knew when the other one needed some quiet support.

After a while, I sat up, feeling a lot better. “Sorry about that. I have no idea what came over me. Do you want to make some ice cream? Ice cream always cures my nerves.”

“It’s midnight, Lira.”

“But you weren’t asleep,” I pointed out.

“I was worried about you. You’re usually texting me during the date to tell me everything that’s going right or wrong.”

Her response surprised me. “I didn’t think you liked when I did that?”

“I don’t. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t gotten used to it.” Millie crossed her arms, and even though she was the younger sister, sometimes I thought our roles should have been reversed.

“I guess I didn’t have anything to say,” I replied, knowing it was a lame excuse.

“You were that enamored with him?” she asked, brows raised.

Was it that incredulous to believe I could be serious about a guy? I mean, I hoped my family would think I would have a husband one day. In order to do that, I’d have to take a guy seriously. Except, I hadn’t met that guy yet . . . well, not until Bruno. I sighed. “I told you, Millie, there’s something about him.”

The next morning, Millie left to go out on her date. It was nice to see her so excited about a guy. What was annoying, though, was that she was being just as stubborn as I was with all the details. She told me they met at the gallery and then again at her friend Becca’s place, but otherwise, little else was shared. But who was I to say anything?

I sat back in my chair and smiled. In the last two years, I’d started getting worried she’d never meet anyone she liked, even someone she could go out to dinner with or simply hang out with as friends. But she seemed as smitten with this boy as I was with Bruno.

With Millie gone for the day, I was going to tackle some paperwork for my parents. I didn’t like doing it, but I’d put this job off for as long as I could that it had now become urgent. I was going through the second stack of invoices when Bruno called. Immediately pushing all the paperwork away, I walked out on the balcony and took a seat. My heart was thumping so fast, I wasn’t sure if I could stand.

“Hi, Bruno,” I said, sliding onto one of the sofas. Millie really did have a great view here.

“Hi, Millie. I was wondering if you’d like to come visit Sugarville today?”

Get to see his hometown? Yes please! “I’d love to.”

“Great! I’ll come pick you up.”

“Oh, no need for that. I can rent a car.”

“I insist.” His voice had gotten just a little bit lower, and it made my insides tingle. He must have heard the hitch in my breath because he then said, “I’ll see you soon.”

“See you soon.” My voice sounded raspy, which had never happened before.

Were we really going on a second date already? My smile stretched wide. I felt elated. I was going on a second date with Bruno!

He picked me up two hours later, and we headed for Sugarville. The trees became denser the further into Sugarville we drove. We talked about everything under the sun, and I felt like I could talk with him forever. I’d never get tired of hearing his low voice.

His hand had migrated over to hold mine, and I was clasping his close in return. In the past, if a guy had done that on the first or second date, I’d have moved my hand away. I didn’t like being touchy-feely with a boy until I was comfortable with him, but with Bruno, that feeling was instantaneous. Somehow, I knew he was my safe place and wouldn’t do anything I didn’t want him to.

Holding his hand and talking about why I loved traveling, while answering his questions about people, food, and culture was more fun than I thought it would be that we entered Sugarville before I knew it. I was immediately drawn to the town. It was quaint, and there were hardly any people milling about. Not like Crystal Lake, and definitely not like San Francisco.

“Where is everyone?”

“Either at home, work, or school. There’s not a ton of people who live around here. It’s very different to the city.”

“It’s lovely. It feels so safe and warm,” I said.

“It really is. And here we are,” Bruno added, pulling in to a parking space. “This is one of the establishments that make Sugarville worth coming to. Rosey’s Diner. The chef used to cook for Mom and Dad until they persuaded her to open up her own restaurant. She makes the best waffles and pancakes and BLT sandwiches.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Opening my door, I was out on the pavement before Bruno could walk around the car. I could smell the sugary scent of maple syrup and fresh pancakes on the air, and my tummy rumbled.

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