Page 29 of Midnight Mate
Gossip.
Hushed conversations.
Sideways looks.
That’s all it was to them.
To me, it was my entire life.
But no more. My father had been right about one thing. I was no son of his. And as much as it hurt my heart to leave her behind a second time, I’d have to walk away from my mother, too. I couldn’t stay in a town with him in it. I couldn’t have these run-ins on the sidewalk. Couldn’t think about what he might be putting her through later because of his temper toward me and his habit of drinking his feelings.
I wouldn’t live like that again.
When my leg healed, I was done here. Done with him. Forever.
* * *
Icould eat dinner with Cat and leave town when this was over. I could even kiss Cat and still leave town. If I was really good, I could have my way with her and then drive into the sunset.
Fuck. Even as I thought the words, I knew I was lying to myself.
My brain needed to escape this place, once and for all. My heart needed—who knew what it needed anymore. But my wolf? My wolf neededher.
And it wasn’t going to settle for one dinner or one kiss or even one roll in the sheets.
I was so screwed.
But there was no going back.
The sun had set by the time I knocked on Cat’s apartment door for our dinner date. I’d gone to her old house, the one she’d grown up in, but the woman who’d answered the door had explained Cat had sold it a year back. Now, she lived in an apartment downtown. The woman had given me the address without hesitation. A perk of a small town, I guess.
While I waited at the door, voices filtered out from inside. One male. One female. My hand tightened into a fist.
A moment later, footsteps sounded. The door swung open. At the sight of the male, jealousy reared up, ugly and vicious. Then, he smiled in a way that felt non-threatening and maybe even a little flirty.
“Easton Raines, as I live and breathe.” His southern drawl was a little too heavy, almost as if he was making it up.
“Nice to meet you.” I offered my hand, which he gladly accepted.
“Rudy Rascal, the roommate. And the pleasure is all mine, believe me.” He waved me inside. “Come in. The beauty queen is almost ready.”
I stepped into a short hall that opened into a large living space done in modern lines and soft furniture.
“Cat, your prince charming is here,” Rudy sang.
I bit back a smile. Prince Charming? Sure. Why not?
Cat appeared from the hall and stopped short at the sight of me.
Hot damn. She’d worn her hair down again. Just like earlier, my fingers itched to get lost in those golden waves. But I forced them to remain at my side. While she glared at me, I studied the off-the-shoulder black dress she wore. And was rewarded when I scented her pheromones rising.
My wolf practically begged me to close the distance and rip that dress right off her sexy frame.
Down, boy, I thought—in more ways than one.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, ignoring my compliment.
