Page 30 of Handcuffs & Honey

Julian smiled. “That’s a beautiful way to look at it.”

Elijah grinned. “Or they’ll drive me batshit crazy and I’ll end up wearing a straitjacket.”

It was Elijah’s way of lightening the mood. Jokes. Bad ones, but still jokes. “Well, if someone else tries to run you off the sidewalk, call me,” Julian said. “I’ll rescue you from small rubber tires and a cane.”

Elijah looked as if he was going to say something else, but the back door slammed open, making Julian scream.

Chapter Eight

Dominic pulled his weapon and aimed it when he heard the scream. It was pure instinct, until he realized it had been his entrance that had made his mate scream.

“Why would you bust inside the diner!” Julian had a hand over his chest. “Don’t ever do that again!”

“I wasn’t afraid,” Elijah said, though he had paled and was clinging to Julian.

Roman was the only one who appeared relaxed, like nothing could faze him.

Dominic shoved his gun into his holster. “Sorry about that. The door was stuck. I had to use my shoulder to get it open.”

Roman arched a brow. “I’ve been out there twice today, and the door worked just fine.”

It was Cannon’s fault. He’d made a coffee run after Ezekiel had left, and the bastard had put an extra shot of espresso in Dominic’s coffee. Now he felt edgy. Hopefully it wore off soon. Preternatural beings might not be susceptible to human diseases, but caffeine was a whole other story.

“You scared me half to death.” Julian walked over to him, and Dominic thought his mate would embrace him, but he slapped Dominic’s chest instead. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“You already said that.” Dominic pulled Julian into his arms. He knew his mate was safe. Roman would have called if anything had happened, but to see it for himself calmed him down.

“Is your ex-boyfriend’s father still after you?” Elijah asked then looked over his shoulder as if Ezekiel would burst into the kitchen next.

Dominic looked down at Julian.

“I told him what was going on,” Julian confessed then whispered, “but left out the part about Ezekiel being a wolf shifter.”

Dominic was speaking to Elijah but looking down at Julian. “He’s still on the loose.”

“Why?” Elijah asked.

“Because he hasn’t technically done anything wrong, so I can’t arrest him.” Dominic squeezed Julian to him a bit tighter. He was ready to get his mate out of there. He hadn’t sensed the guy following him to the diner, but he’d rather have his mate tucked away at home.

“That sucks,” Elijah said. “We all know he’s up to no good. Can’t you just arrest him for being scummy?”

Dominic wished.

“Okay, time for you to head back to work.” Roman steered Elijah out of the kitchen. He looked over his shoulder at Dominic. “Let me know if you two need anything.”

“Thanks.” Dominic took Julian’s hand and led him to his pickup truck out back. Too bad Ezekiel had seen it on his way to the station, or Dominic wouldn’t have to worry about being so careful. He was going to park it in his garage when they got home.

Just to be on the safe side.

Not that Dominic worried about the wolf shifter. He’d tear the bastard to shreds if Ezekiel thought of coming into his home, but all Dominic wanted to do was relax now that he’d told his men he was taking the next two weeks off.

Denali had thought Dominic was crazy for taking time off when he had someone after him, but Dominic wasn’t going to let anyone stand in the way of being with Julian. He wasn’t going to uproot his life just because Ezekiel wanted revenge.

Besides, if Dominic couldn’t trust his men to run things in his absence, he’d failed at his job to properly train them.

Julian scrambled in on the driver’s side and then scooted over. After making sure the back door to the diner was closed, Dominic jumped into the driver’s seat and drove down the alleyway, emerging onto the street.

“Did Ezekiel really take it that badly?” Julian had ducked down in the seat.

---