Page 35 of Howling Mad
“I save my culinary prowess for special occasions.”I tap her ankle with my foot.“Seducing beautiful wolf shifters or national holidays.That sort of thing.”
She’s about to respond when we hear the front door open, followed by the unmistakable sound of Penelope’s gym bag hitting the floor.
“Honey, I’m home!”Penelope calls.“Is it safe to proceed, or should I break out the hazmat suit and industrial-strength—OHMYGOD!”
She freezes in the kitchen doorway, eyes comically wide as she takes in the scene of Finley in a too-large T-shirt (mine), me in yesterday’s jeans and no shirt, two plates of eggs, and the intimate tableau we clearly present.
“You’re back early,” says Finley weakly.
Penelope recovers quickly, a sly grin spreading across her face.“Clearly.Though not early enough to be scandalized properly.”She sniffs the air.“This explains why the apartment reeks of wolf pheromones.I thought someone had set off a musk bomb.”
I nearly choke on my coffee.Finley buries her face in her hands.
“I’m not saying anything.”Penelope backs out of the kitchen, hands raised in mock surrender.“But I told you so.”She stage-whispers the last part, winking at me before disappearing down the hall.
Silence descends as the intimate bubble of the morning bursts, reality crashing back.I glance at my watch and grimace.
“I should probably go soon,” I say reluctantly.“I have a client meeting at eleven with someone a day ahead in time zones.”
She nods, but disappointment flickers across her face.“Of course.Real life beckons.”
I reach across the table, tangling my fingers with hers.“Last night wasn’t a one-time thing for me.You know that.Right?”
“I know.”She squeezes my hand.“Me neither, but it’s going to be strange.Isn’t it?Going from matchmaker and client to...whatever we are now.”
“Wolves who found each other despite themselves?”I suggest.
Her smile returns.“I like that.”
I reluctantly leave her apartment forty minutes later after a goodbye kiss that nearly makes me call in sick.The drive to my apartment passes in a blur of memories from the night before.By the time I reach my home office, I’m fifteen minutes late and completely unprepared for the meeting.My thoughts remain firmly entangled in Finley’s bed sheets as I boot up the computer for the meeting with Tokyo and Carl.
The meeting is a disaster.I transpose numbers, forget key points in my own analysis, and at one particularly mortifying moment, refer to a market upswing as “howlingly good.”Mr.Nigi, thankfully, thinks it’s a charming wolf colloquialism rather than a Freudian slip revealing where my mind actually is.
By the time the client exits the conference call, Carl’s patience has evaporated.“What the hell was that, Thornton?You’re my most reliable analyst, and today, you’re performing like an intern after a three-day bender.”
“I apologize.”I straighten my tie, hastily thrown on just before connecting to the call, striving for composure.“It won’t happen again.”
“Is something going on I should know about?Health issues?Family problems?”
“No, nothing like that.I just...”I hesitate, uncertain how to explain that I’m distracted because I’ve potentially found my mate.“I’m dealing with some personal matters.”
He sighs.“Just get it together before coming back to work Monday.”
That’s unexpected.“Thank you.I appreciate it, and I’ll get things sorted by Monday.”
ByMonday,myheadfeels more settled, and I’m back to normal, at least when it comes to work, though I watch the clock as it gets closer to lunchtime.Promptly at noon, I leave the office, and I’m soon ordering Finley’s favorite turkey club sandwich from the deli near Romance Expected, along with two coffees.One black for me, one with caramel syrup and extra cream for her.The server raises an eyebrow at my specific instructions.
“Let me guess,” she says, scribbling on the cup.“New relationship?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only to those of us who’ve witnessed the evolution of the ‘I know exactly how she likes her coffee’ phase.”She hands me the receipt.“It’s cute.Nauseating, but cute.”
I arrive at Romance Expected just after noon, balancing the food and drinks while pushing open the door with my shoulder.The bell jingles cheerfully, announcing my arrival.
Red glances up from the reception desk, a knowing smile spreading across her face.Today, she’s wearing a kimono in various shades of crimson with matching red-framed glasses.
If it isn’t half of our most recent match.”She grins in delight.“To what do we owe the pleasure, Mr.Thornton?”
