Pushing those thoughts out of her mind, she closed her book, as she’d been on the same page for the last hour and she just couldn’t get into it.Her thoughts kept drifting to Lord.There were moments she was sure she still felt his hands on her, but each time she spun around, he was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, she had had enough, and the only way to distract herself was to start baking.She walked right into the kitchen, and even though there was no reason for it, she then spent the next two hours baking a whole load of double-chocolate cookies.The scent filled the hours, and after the first batch baked, she sat down with a cold glass of milk and ate one.It was then she decided she would bake lots of cookies to package for the ranchers tomorrow.She even decided to use the last of the candy bars.It was the best way to use them without eating them all herself.
It was during this bake-a-thon that Lord arrived.The moment she saw him, she didn’t know what to say.She had a bowl of butter and sugar in one hand, and a wooden spoon in another.
“Hi,” she said.
“What’s this?”
“I’m using up the last of the candy.I figured it would be good to give the ranchers a sweet treat tomorrow,” she said.
“Good.I don’t want candy lying around.”
He stood and she was pretty sure he kept looking at her.Astrid glanced up, just to check to see if he was, and his gaze was right on her.She didn’t want to break this moment where he’d walk off.There was nothing for her to say.
“Uh, so, the, uh, full moon is in a couple of days.”
“I’m aware.”
She pressed her lips together, trying to figure out what to say to him, and then she forced a smile.“Do you want me to go back to town, or will I be okay to stay inside the house?”
Lord’s bland, almost expressionless look changed.It was subtle, but it was all in the eyebrows.The way he suddenly seemed to be glaring at her.She had no idea what to do or say.
“Why?”he asked.
“Well, back at my parents’ house, during a full moon, we’re not allowed to go out.”
Lord smirked.“Don’t worry.My wolf has no interest in coming into the house.You’re going to be safe.”
“It’s not about being safe.It’s just about ...I don’t know what it’s about.”She tried to smile.This was awkward.
“I had fun this Halloween,” Lord said.“And I wasn’t expecting to.”
There went her heart racing again.Was it her, or did she detect a bit of a smile on his lips?She was sure he was smiling, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment, just in case he wasn’t.She nodded her head.
Astrid wanted to scream and fist bump the air, but that would just make her completely immature, and that was not what she wanted.
What made her stomach twist was the moment he reached out, took a cookie, and had a bite.That moan he expelled, she felt deep in her core, and she was pretty sure the sound he made actually aroused her.This took her by surprise.
“This is a good cookie.”And with that, he was gone.
Get a grip.
She needed to get her head on straight.He only said it was a good cookie.This was not a date or anything.It was just Lord trying a cookie.That was all.
And yet, she couldn’t deny how damn happy she was that he liked what she baked.
****
“Are you nervous?”
Lord turned toward Blake, a little confused, and he was not the kind of guy that got confused about anything.
“About what?”
“You know, the full moon tomorrow night.Being alone with Astrid.”
What was it about the full moon that seemed to have the whole human population in a state of panic?In most situations, the wolves rarely even ventured to town.They were not drawn to built-up areas, or at least in his experience they never were.They much preferred to stay to the open woods, and around No Wolves Road, there was a shit ton of woods.Lots of forests, going on for miles.
