He extended his hand to her as she got out, and as Kalliopi clasped it, electric heat shot through body like a bottle rocket.He guided her to the door and let her in.
“Here are the keys,” he said to her, not crossing the threshold.
“Did you want to come in for some coffee?”
“No, thanks.I’d be late if I stayed chatting with you.”He winked at her before continuing.“So, do you think you’ll want to go out for dinner with me tonight?Maybe around 7:30?”
“Okay.”
He smiled at her once more before closing the door.
Now that she was alone with her thoughts, her eyes grew heavy.All she wanted to do was take a bath and a nap before meeting up with Stan.
She opened up the fridge and found a few bottles of her favorite chardonnay wine, which was a high-test for shifters.It was even a good year, 1991.
The year my sister graduated and we shared our first drink together.
Kalliopi took a bottle from the fridge and smiled.She placed it on the kitchen counter and went on a search for a bottle opener.Once she found it and opened up the bottle, she shook her head.
It’s just got to be a coincidence that he knows I like this year.
She reached for a wine glass and poured the deep golden-yellow liquid into the glass.When she reached a full glass, which was two fingers from the top, no matter what the bartenders said these days, she brought it to her lips and took a sip.
Yeah, maybe she should have swirled the thing and inhaled the rich scent, but as a hybrid stork/wolf shifter, she really didn’t have to be a human wine snob to coax her five senses.She’d already relished the rich undertones of oak, butter, and cinnamon once she opened it.It was like a sip of heaven in a bottle.She took another sip before padding into the main bathroom and turning on the faucet to the clawfoot tub.
She might technically be on assignment, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t spare a little time to relax, and a good soak in the tub was just the thing.
When she opened up the linen closet to grab some towels, she noticed it was also stocked with bath salts, and they were her favorite scents of lavender, eucalyptus, mint, and vanilla infused into separate Epsom-salt jars.She reached for the eucalyptus jar and opened it.As she took in the soothing scent, a calmness washed over her.She hadn’t felt this way in years.She was always on the go, trying to get everything on her to-do list done, so she never stopped to relax.Sure, she was built that way, but part of her knew that if she stopped even for just a minute, she’d fall apart.Whether or not she cared to admit it to herself, her ex had deeply hurt her, and she wasn’t sure if she could bounce back from it.
When she dumped some of the Epsom salts into the tub, the room filled with the eucalyptus scent, and Kalliopi couldn’t help but smile.Regardless of how she was feeling about her life, she knew one thing.Stan was scoring wicked high points in the first-impression department.Kalliopi shot a text off to Treasure before getting into the tub.
Girl—did you give Stan intel about my life?This might sound like a pun, but this place is filled with a few of my favorite things.
Treasure responded: Stan may have asked me a few things.So… how did he do?
He scored a 10 out of 10.I don’t know what you said to him, but thank you.
Don’t thank me—thank him!Have a good time!
I will!
7
“It’s good to see you, Dad.I’m glad we could catch up.”Stan’s daughter addressed him more formally than they usually spoke, but he understood the reasoning.It was why he’d asked her to have dinner here at the local bar with him in the first place.They had to talk things through.He’d known he had screwed up.Still, he wasn’t about to act like he was okay with her getting cozy with some random cadet.
“I didn’t think you’d be this excited to see me after I barged in on you and… Alex, was it?”
“It’s Andy, Dad.”Jewel corrected him with an exasperated sigh.
“Right, Adam.”Stan couldn’t help himself.
“Dad, come on!That’s not funny!”
“I’m sorry, princess.It’s just hard for me to let go.I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy, but no one is going to be good enough for my little girl.I’m a papa bear, and I get grouchy about that sort of thing.”
“Okay, first you need to know that Andy and I are focused on our careers and have no intention of dating.Second, I get where you are coming from, and that’s partly why I didn’t want to have this conversation with you.I was afraid of hurting you.I really am sorry for storming out of the dorm.That wasn’t very adult of me, but in my defense, I didn’t want to say something I’d regret.I guess you aren’t the only one who finds it hard to let go.I shouldn’t expect you to treat me as a full-fledged adult while I still want you to make me your famous grilled cheese sandwiches and do my laundry.”
“Fair point.”Stan let out a chuckle and patted Jewel’s hand.“But I must say, I’m a little surprised you are seeing things my way.I figured I’d have to get in a few more dad grunts before you listened.”
