Page 35 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

Kelvin snickered before commenting. “He probably wants to know what color dress to wear the little pansy.”

“Shut up!” The words burst from Terry and elicited a wide-eyed stare from Kelvin. “The guy is very important to the Alpha Mate, so you’d better show respect,” Terry spoke through gritted teeth.

“Sure thing,” Kelvin stated sarcastically. “You best be careful, lest too many people see you cavorting with Mr. Grange. It might start a rumor.” He smiled hatefully. Terry studied the man for a moment before answering. He wondered if this was how others saw him. Was he this crass, this base? A week ago, he would be sitting here, joining with Kelvin and his off-color remarks and adding some of his own. A week ago, he was the same man who was now seated across from him, and the realization nauseated him.

“Not everyone is as immature as you are, Kelvin.” Terry turned away to look back out the window and saw Henry getting out of his car. He was parked on the street near the diner. He looked so handsome Terry wanted to eat him up. Henry made eye contact with Terry and then noticed Kelvin.

The friendly smile on Henry’s face slid off, and a blank countenance took its place. It was as if Henry didn’t even recognize him. He looked past him and just kept walking; he never stopped at the diner. It took Terry a minute or two to realize what had happened. Henry assumed Terry was with a friend and simply pretended not to know him. He was keeping Terry’s secret, and it broke his heart.

“Well, it looks like your little friend forgot your lunch date, Terry.” Kelvin watched as Henry walked past the front of the diner. “Too bad I’d love to know what’s in fashion this season.” Thankfully Kelvin’s wife showed up and relieved him of the obnoxious man’s company.

He wanted to throttle the guy; he was so angry at how the day turned out. He finished his coffee and paid his bill before walking idly back out onto the sidewalk. It looked like Henry had ducked into one of the stores that lined the street, but he had no idea which one. His car was still parked by the diner, but he was nowhere in sight.

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Henry roamed the aisles of the hardware store, looking at everything and seeing nothing. It was such a shock to see that guy sitting with Terry; he didn’t know how to handle it. He couldn’t just go in and sit down, not knowing how Terry was dealing with it. Had he told him that Henry was coming, or would he ignore him? It looked like he was going to acknowledge him by the way he looked out the window and smiled at him, but it was too big of a risk.

Henry couldn’t understand why he was put in such a difficult position. Maybe it would be better just to quit now, give it up and go home. His phone rang, bringing him out of his thoughts. He’d decided to buy a key ring just to make the time spent worth his while. He was paying while answering his phone. “Hello.”

“Why did you run away?” It was Terry, and he sounded upset.

“I saw you were with someone and didn’t want to intrude,” Henry spoke carefully. He finished paying and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He looked to his left and saw Terry standing in front of the diner with his phone to his ear.

“Why don’t you come back and have lunch? It’s still early?” He gave Henry his most enticing grin beckoning him to return.

“Okay.” Henry hung up and stuck his phone into his pocket. Terry kept his eyes on him the entire walk back. When they were face to face, Terry took him by the arm and ushered him inside. They took the table by the window where Terry had originally been seated.

Henry noticed the guy Terry had been sitting with on the other side of the room seated with a female. The guy gave him a look like he was dirt and then turned back to the woman and continued their conversation. Henry was more than a little uncomfortable with that guy in the room with him. He was the type of man who would have no qualms about verbal or possibly physical assault if they were alone. Henry would be careful; homophobes like him always waited until no one was looking.

After they were seated and had ordered, Henry asked Terry who the guy was that was with him. “Friend of a friend, no one important.” He brushed it off.

“He’s shooting daggers at me. I don’t think he approves of your dinner companion.” The man was really starting to bother him.

Terry turned and gave the guy a scathing look, and he turned away. “Just ignore him. Everyone does.” Terry smiled warmly, but Henry could sense his anxiety. Lunch went off without a hitch after that. Conversation flowed, and the time flew. It was after one before they left the diner. Terry had to go back to work, but Henry thought he would investigate the town a little further and check out some of the shops.

Henry walked Terry back to the station before veering off towards the bookstore across the street. Terry watched him jog across the street and wished he’d had the nerve to kiss him or hold his hand or show him some kind of affection.

Henry realized that they hadn’t made any other plans. Terry didn’t suggest dinner or a movie or anything. Perhaps he needed time to think and decide what he wanted. Henry decided he wasn’t going to stress about it and just enjoy the rest of his day.

Terry toyed with the idea of calling Henry, but then thought he would just show up tonight at the Ranch. Hopefully, they could have an evening together without the added stress of discovery or having to explain himself or whatever else. He just wanted time alone with his mate to get to know each other.

He so desperately wanted to touch his mate. He wanted to hold him and learn all about his likes and dislikes and what turned him on. He smiled at the thought, looked at the clock, and wished for the time to pass. He wondered if others who’d found their mates were this anxious when apart from them? He needed to talk to a mated pair and get some pointers.

His friend Gary and his wife Marla were a mated pair, but he wasn’t ready to out himself to Gary. Kelvin and his wife were not true mates, but they both decided they wanted children and didn’t want to wait for their mate. They justified their marriage by saying that mates were very rare, and they didn’t want to grow old alone. A thought struck him, and he grabbed the phone off his desk.

“Hello.”

“Jamie, how’s the cattle theft going?” He chuckled while shifting the receiver to his other ear and stretched out in his chair.

“Slow as always. I have a lead, and I’m setting a trap tonight. Maybe I’ll have it wrapped up by tomorrow.” He sounded hopeful.

“I hope it’s successful. I really miss you around here. You’re the only friend who I can be completely honest with.” Terry’s tone became serious.

“You talking about your mate?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?” Jamie’s tone softened.

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