Page 5 of She Wolf

“Half ham and God no,” he says, screwing up his face and passing the box over to Anna.

“Oh Knox, what’s the big deal? You should try it,” she says, making him narrow his eyes. “Never my English muffin. You will never sway me into putting pineapple on a flippin’ pizza.”

I pat his head for not cursing in front of Jack as he opens the lid to his sausage and pepperoni-topped pie and grabs the biggest slice. Jack sidles up to me with a plate that I load up with fries, mixed greens, and a few slices of the boring four cheese in front of me. I ordered it because I wasn’t really feeling pizza but now it’s all here, I’m sorry I didn’t have my usual.

Just as I push the box away and grudgingly pick up my fork, Gunner reaches across to put two slices of BBQ chicken, my favorite, onto my plate without a word, and then continues his conversation with Callan Knight and Adam Hollywood as if he didn’t just read my mind.

My cheeks flush when I catch Anna watching me. She thinks Gunner likes me as

much as I like him. Actually, her exact words have been, “he fancies the pants off you,” Her suspicion purely based on the reasoning that he’s always doing sweet stuff like that for me.

He’s always so kind and thoughtful with me that it makes me wonder if she may be right. That in turn makes me over-analyze everything Gunner says and does, making my head spin with possibilities and maybe a little fear.

The first night I met Gunner, Casey had invited me to his first charity event with the Wolves for moral support. Moving from Minnesota had been hard for him and Nick, my ex, had put on his whole fake-brother-in-law routine, making sure Casey knew we’d be there for him.

We had gotten all dressed up, the drinks were flowing, and I was so happy to just be in Casey’s orbit again.

Champagne glass in hand, and Nick nowhere in sight, I had started talking to a woman who worked for the Wolves when I heard my name.

Excusing myself, I turned around to the sound of Casey’s voice and it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. My heart stuttered in my chest, and I had felt a wave of heat flush my face because standing next to my brother had been the most incredibly good-looking man I had ever seen.

He was tall, even taller than Casey, and broad with huge shoulders, his tux practically straining at the seams, but it was his striking eyes that made me vibrate from the inside out. Cognac swirled in those golden browns, and I’ve been hypnotized ever since.

Since then, I’ve been storing away every look, every accidental touch, every word he's ever said and then running them through the privacy of my mind on repeat. Those thoughts fuel my dreams inthe dead of night when my brain is free to wander.

It’s times like this, when we’re surrounded by all our friends, that they get shrouded in doubt. Could I really ever be enough for someone like him?

A laugh from the other end of the table draws me back to the present and I inwardly chastise myself for staring at Gunner for way too long.

I take a bite of the smoky, sweet goodness of my pizza, savoring the flavors as Jack finishes his food and with a big smile helps himself to another slice.

“Mom, can I eat this and carry on with my show?” The time on the giant

wall clock, that’s more like a piece of art than an actual timepiece, tells me he still has fifteen minutes or so before he needs to start getting ready for bed, so I nod but tell him to be careful and take extra napkins.

He jumps up from his seat and as cautiously as a seven-year-old can, makes his way back into the den. You would think Casey would be precious about his place but he’s not when it comes to Jack. He just wants us here, mess and all.

“So do you think you’ll stay here or…?” Casey asks Knox over the table.

“No way, man,” Knox says, pointing his nibbled pizza crust at Casey and Anna, “not with you love birds shacking up.”

Casey throws a fry at him. “Shut up!” he mutters, pulling Anna even closer to him. Casey is absolutely desperate to move Anna in as soon as possible, but I’m sure Knox will stay here a little longer.

“I’m jokin’ but Wood said I can stay with him a while. I need to be in the city and I

can’t be bothered searching for a place yet. No offense, but I’m not lookin’ for the white picket fence.” His huge hands grab at the fries in the middle of the table.

Ever since he called it quits with his high school girlfriend, the summer before college, he’s been this way. She was the smartest girl we knew albeit a little wild. She was good for him; they were good together.

Now he’s never even slightly interested in dating the same girl twice. Whatever happened between them that summer changed him.

“Move in anytime,” Adam says to Knox around a bite.

“I thought you were moving out here?” Casey asks Adam, looking confused.

“I am. I spoke to the realtor and the old lady who’s selling, didn’t I Callan,” Callan nods, his mouth full.

“You can stay with me while it gets sorted though. Maybe you can take the apartment after I’ve moved.” Adam tells Knox,

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