Life’s Spiced Up with Some Werewolf Reads

Chapter 38 – The Alpha And The Baker

“But you saw a person that day, and you showed him kindness that a lot of people wouldn’t. So yeah, I’d say that’s pretty damn incredible-pardon my language.”

I laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I’m a baker. I swear like a sailor.” Although I was changing the subject, a large part of me was incredibly flattered. I was so prepared for him to tell me I was off my rocker, but no, he’d given me one of the loveliest compliments I’d had in ages.

“Oh, is that a thing?”

“What, you’ve never watched

The Bear?

Pretty much any job that involves cooking and the public requires a colorful vocabulary.”

“Noted,” he said with another chuckle.

Goodness, this was definitely the best date of my entire life.

Sure, it wasn’t most people’s idea of a perfect date, but I was having great conversation with someone who thought highly of me and saw me not as a conquest or an opportunity to get laid, but as someone he really wanted to talk to. My belly was full and warm. I hadn’t mentioned it to Cas, but the very first street meat I’d ever had when I moved to the area was with my mom. It had been after my father died, and it had been a huge splurge for us. It was such a treasured memory that it was impossible for it not to cast a positive glow over the night.

Not that the date needed any help. I seriously couldn’t remember when I’d laughed so easily and so often while the conversation flowed so naturally. I was filled with feelings-too many for me to sort out at the moment-but I knew that somehow, this strange, hunky farmer made me feel less alone.

It was almost enough to make me forget about all the weird quirks I’d noticed about both him and the other McCallisters. Because really, what did it matter in the end? I knew Cas was a good soul, and that his family was down-to-earth and incredibly open, which couldn’t be said for a lot of other people in the world lately.

Besides, I was probably just paranoid from being overtired. Almost every single strange thing that I’d begun to pick up on had a logical solution. Although, silver allergies were pretty rare.

The minutes continued to tick by, but eventually my biology kicked in, and I absently rubbed my arms for warmth. Of course, Cas noticed right away, because he was exactly the type of gentleman who would.

“Are you cold?” he asked quickly, concern layering his voice. I had no doubt some men would be irritated with me for wearing something so impractical, but there wasn’t a hint of condescension in Cas’s words.

Yeah, I was definitely beginning to like this guy.

“I am,” I admitted even though I very much wanted to deny it. Lying to my date when he could see the goosebumps on my bare arms would be pretty stupid.

“It is getting pretty late,” he said, glancing at his phone. He sighed. “I should probably take you home, shouldn’t I?”

I wished I could say no, but I had to be up early. I’d done as much prep as I could do, and Saturday was my slowest day, but a baker’s work was never really done.

“Yeah,” I said, drawing the sound out. As if doing so would give us a few extra minutes. “Unfortunately, duty calls.”

“I really never should have given her my number.”

“Huh? Oh!” It took me a moment to get his joke, but it startled yet another laugh out of me. Not a big one, but most certainly a satisfying one. “I should just block her at this point.”

“If only it worked like that.”

“If only,” I agreed. “If wishes were fishes, I’d cast a hook.”

Cas tilted his head to the side, and it reminded me of when dogs did that particularly cute head tilt. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

“My mother used to say that. Hits a little different in our native language, though.” Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to recall a few instances when she used that phrase. I didn’t want to get locked in memories right now, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy their temporary embrace. “Basically, it was her way of saying that she wished the same.”

“It’s a good phrase. I can see why it stuck with you. Your mom had a way with words.”

A flush rose to my cheeks, and the backs of my eyes pricked with unshed tears. I loved my mother, but I was so used to having no one to share that with. My mother had had friends and a crochet circle she’d loved, but no one else. Her funeral had been lovely, but sparsely attended, and I hadn’t kept in touch with the few friends she’d had. A mistake on my part.

But now, with Cas genuinely complimenting my mother, it felt like she was getting the respect and recognition she deserved. I was very grateful for that.

“She did,” I said.

With that, Cas offered his arm to me. It was such an old-timey sort of thing to do, and yet I quite liked it. I especially liked that it seemed to be becoming a matter of course between us. Like a comfortable habit. It was insane to think that when we’d only known each other for a few hours cumulatively, but probably one of the less insane things I’d thought in regard to Cas lately.

“Shall we head to my valiant steed?” he asked, almost as if he could hear my thoughts.

“Let’s,” I said simply, taking his arm and resting my shoulder against his bicep whenever we stopped at a light or a crosswalk.

And what a bicep it was.

I liked people of all shapes and sizes. Skinny, coked-out line cooks, big muscle mommies, curvy women, art twinks, and Viking types with dad bods, but jacked guys had never really been my thing. However, that was rapidly changing as I spent more time with Cas. I liked the way his mass sat on him, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that his insane strength definitely appealed to me. I could picture him on his family’s land, tossing hay and wrangling animals. Not that I saw any animals while I was there, but with so many livestock guard dogs, there had to be some tucked somewhere back behind the houses.

Unless they weren’t guardian dogs at all, but I was beginning to care less and less about that.

When we made it to his car, Cas opened my door, ever the gentleman. Even though I was reticent for our time together to come to an end, I did have to admit it was nice to get out of the crisp breeze. It was gentle enough, but considering the temperature and my lack of dress, it definitely was giving me the chills.

I appreciated it when he turned the heat on full blast. He must not have been cold, because he turned off all the vents on his side and pointed the ones in the middle toward me.

“Thanks,” I said, rubbing my hands together in front of the vents.

“No problem,” he said, his tone almost as warm as the heat blasting onto me. “Let me know if you need anything else.”


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