Page 16 of Wolf's Midlife Bite

She laughed at the joke, even though she knew it was true. “I guess you really aren’t. Did everything go okay with your test? You said your sister would be able to help you with that.”

“Not a problem at all.” Deftly handling a pair of extra-long chopsticks, Brody quickly scrambled a couple of eggs in the bottom of the wok. Those came out, and neatly cut strips of marinated beef went in next. A delectable scent immediately filled the kitchen.

“I know it’ll be a couple of days until we get our results back, but I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I have mine.”

“I’ll do the same. I don’t think we have anything to worry about, though.” Brody had lines around his eyes, the kind that came not only with age, but from studying his art so closely. They deepened now as he focused on the meal he was making, easily flicking the beef in the pan until it was mostly cooked and then putting it back in the marinade.

Robin pulled in a breath but kept herself from sighing. She really liked Brody, more than she wanted to admit. He was just a random guy who happened to give her a tattoo, and she wouldn’t have met him at all if Poppy hadn’t gotten behind on her schedule. She’d noticed the connection between them immediately, a link that felt as though it’d always been there. As nice as it was, it made her realize that a chasm had opened between them, a distance she was unsure how to cross. All she could do was try.

“I think I should also apologize for Dr. Watson’s behavior,” she began.

He set his metal spatula down on the counter with a thunk and turned to her, his eyes blazing. “How can you possibly work for someone like that, anyway?”

Robin blinked. “I know he’s terrible, but the paycheck keeps me coming to work every day. Now that I’m single, I have to pay for my mortgage and everything else on one salary. Watson brings in a ton of clients—though I’m really not sure why—and plenty of them are rolling in money. Between insurance and private payments, he can actually afford to give us decent pay without thinking he’s shorting himself.”

“Until he has to pay for your lab fees,” Brody growled. He picked the spatula back up again and stirred the rice that he’d added, tossing in vegetables every now and then.

Well, maybe that explained some of his attitude. He wasn’t being weird about the blood test, not really, but he was being weird about something. If it was Dr. Watson, then she couldn’t really blame him. The guy was an ass, and there was no denying that. “Just ignore him. He’ll be over it by tomorrow.”

“It’s not any of my business, but I really don’t like the guy. Even before he said anything to you.” His stirring became a little more aggressive.

“You’d like him even less if you spent more time in there,” she noted cooly, realizing just how many things she could complain about if she truly opened up.

He let out a bit of a laugh, but not a humorous one. “When you came into the shop and said you worked for him, you didn’t say anything about all of that.”

“He has a lot of patients,” she reasoned. “You never know if one of them might be right around the corner and happen to overhear. Plenty of them are loyal enough that they’d gladly run right in there and tell him what I said, and then I’d be out of a job. That’s the last thing I need.”

“Mm.” It was barely a grumble on his part.

Robin was silent for a time as she watched him cook. He obviously knew what he was doing. He added ingredients with little thought, tasting the sauce and grabbing more seasoning off the shelf above the stove. The cutting board and knife on the other side of the kitchen showed her he’d actually prepped everything himself instead of buying it prechopped like most people did these days. He was a man of hidden talents—many, from what she could tell thus far. Something still seemed to be hiding under the surface, a splinter that had yet to work its way out. What was it? Was he married? Had a kid he hadn’t told her about?

He plated their meals and carried them to the dining table adjacent to the kitchen before grabbing a beer for himself out of the fridge. His eyes never lifted to hers. “I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will.” It smelled amazing, and everything looked as professional as if they’d gone to a restaurant to dine. There wasn’t a thing wrong with this picture, but she felt the tension between them like a hard metal rod that poked her in the chest and kept her from getting any closer.

“It’s really good,” she said after she’d had a few bites. It’d been so easy to go out for burgers with him on his motorcycle, and even easier to fall into bed together. So why was this all so awkward now?

“Thanks. When I was still interning as a tattoo artist, I didn’t make much money. Stir fry can be a great way to use up leftovers, plus I can’t seem to help but make a ton of it.” He put his fork down and looked at her.

Not just looked at her. Brody studied her. He reached the very depths of her soul, the intensity of his eyes increasing the longer he looked.

“What is it?” She put her fork down.

“I want—no, I need—to tell you something.”

Ah, so here it was. He was a con man, or he committed tax fraud, or the mob was after him. Something.

Brody folded his hands on the table in front of him. The tendons in his throat shifted as he clenched his jaw. “I was perfectly honest with you when I told you the blood test would come back negative. I’m in perfect health.”

“That’s…good.” She’d never doubted he was honest about that, so this statement made her even more uneasy.

Brody sighed and swiped a hand through his hair. “What happened today wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I bit you.”

Robin pressed her lips together. “Brody, I’ve been in the dental industry for a long time now. I know what it feels like when someone bites me, and that wasn’t it.”

“That’s because it wasn’t the kind of bite you’re used to. It wasn’t a human one.”

What he said was complete nonsense, yet it still made her heart thump louder against her ribs.

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