Page 24 of The Reluctant Wolf and His Fated Mate
Damon
At lunchtime, Damon met up with Sophie at his cabin. Once he entered, the scent of a cooked meal reached his nostrils and he moaned. “It smells delicious in here.”
“I made panini for us,” she declared with a jubilant smile and opened the panini maker that he’d used maybe twice the entire time he’d owned it.
She wore a soft off-white cashmere sweater that set off her auburn hair and clung to the lush curves of her breasts. Her black jeans hugged her rounded hips and thighs. He salivated, and it had nothing to do with the food.
His wolf wagged his tail.She’s perfect for us.
She made sandwiches. Settle down, Damon told his wolf.It’s just lunch.
“You didn’t have to cook.” He strode over to Sophie and kissed her on the cheek. “But I’m glad you did.”
She scooped the panini, each dripping with cheese, onto plates. “I wanted to. After all, you’ve been taking care of me. It’s the least I could do.” She picked up an apple and sliced it. “I also picked up some fruits and veggies.”
He laughed. “I tend to forget to buy those.”
“I noticed.” She grinned and added the pieces to their plates. “Hope you don’t mind that I fiddled around in your kitchen. I figured I’d make us some lunch before we head out.” She opened a jar of pickles and added a spear besides the panini.
“Fiddle at will.” He picked up the pickle. “Consider this your house while you’re here.”
They carried their plates and glasses of water to the small rectangular table near one of the picture windows. He’d designed this cabin with mountain views in mind and this window revealed a view of the forests where he liked to hunt.
It was odd eating with someone there. He usually ate alone, scarfing down his food. With Sophie, he slowed down, enjoying just being near her. “Did you buy anything else in the village this morning?”
“I did.” She arched her brows. “I bought some clothes, like this sweater, and some toiletries. Since I noticed you have a hot tub outside, I even bought a swimsuit, just in case. What a great way to relax your muscles after skiing.”
Damon’s throat went dry. Picturing Sophie in a swimsuit in his hot tub left him statue still. He took a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled slowly. “It does indeed,” he managed to utter.
He took a bite of the panini and moaned as the flavors of smoked ham, melted cheese, and tomato mingled on his tongue. “This tastes even better than it smells.”
“One of my dad’s specialties,” she declared with a proud grin and took a bite. Cheese stretched from her lip before she stuck out her tongue and captured it.
He tried not to stare at her mouth, but it was a struggle to break his gaze. Finally, he succeeded and said, “Tell me about your family.”
Her gaze drifted as she appeared to pull together her story. “I grew up northwest of Boston. Not near the coast where I live now, but farther inland. I have two older brothers, both of whom have moved away. One to New York and one to Vermont, but we still try to get together for the holidays. My parents split their time between the family home and Florida with the rest of the snowbirds.”
“They’re not skiers like you?”
“They were.” She sipped some water. “We all used to come up here to the White Mountains. But once my brothers moved away and I went to college, that stopped. They preferred getting away from the snow rather than seeking it out.” She shrugged. “Guess that means I’m on my own coming here.”
You have me now. He bit the words in and stuffed the panini in his mouth before he said something stupid.
“This was my first trip with my roommate, Tara. She’s more of a beginner, though, so you know what that’s like.”
“I do.” That typically meant skiing the easiest trails all day, which could get boring.
“What about you? Does your family live around here?” she asked.
“My parents are dead.” His voice came out without emotion in his practiced response.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her gentle eyes caressed him with concern.
He swallowed the rock-sized lump. “It’s been a long time.” After a measured exhale, he said, “We’re like a family here on the mountain. Our CFO, Grayson Marks, has looked out for me since I lost my parents.”
“That’s great. You must be close.”
“Like brothers.”
