Kurt leaned back in his chair and stretched his neck, putting his hands behind his head and flexing his biceps. “After we speak with anyone Lori Clang knew tomorrow in Seattle, what do you say we fly back to DC and interview Delaney’s intern? I bet we can find good ol’ Rodney at his restaurant.”
Mia thought through the case as well as the problems with Seth’s pack. Her leaving the state now would not make him happy. Even so, she had a job to do and desperately wanted another crack at Rodney Newcomb. “Okay,” she said. “We’ll head to DC.”
Chapter22
Seth finished placing the steaks on the white tablecloth he’d set with antique crystal candlestick holders and his mother’s fancy china at one end of the ridiculously long rosewood table. It matched the dual china hutches and expansive chandelier that took about a week to clean properly.
The front door opened. “Seth?” Mia called out.
“Back here, in the dining room.” He listened to her footsteps as she turned the corner and walked into the opulent space. It was one he very rarely used, but tonight he wanted to make a statement.
She faltered in the doorway and took in the romantic place settings. “Seth?”
He smiled and pulled out a chair for her. “Come sit down.”
She hesitated as a light pink filtered across her cheekbones. “Oh,” she murmured.
God, she was adorable when she was thrown off guard. It was true he wasn’t the most romantic of males, and it was obvious that she wasn’t used to these kinds of gestures. He would have to change both of those facts. “Come on, Mia. We need to eat.”
She swallowed and walked forward before looking down at her dark jeans. “I’m not really dressed for a fancy dinner.”
Considering he was wearing jeans and a torn T-shirt, he had to grin. “You’re dressed perfectly.” In fact, the deep green sweater matched her eyes and made her look even more beautiful than usual, which was almost impossible because she truly was the most exquisite woman he’d ever seen. “Come eat.”
She crossed the light wood floor and took her seat, reaching for the linen napkin. “You cooked for me?” She sounded bemused.
“I did.” He pushed in her chair, careful to stay gentle. “We have steak, salad, and rolls. I bought the rolls.” He moved around the table and sat, then poured generous portions of a Leonetti cabernet into their glasses, nearly filling them.
She frowned. “I can’t have wine.”
He paused. “Oh, yeah.” He doubted wine would hurt a wolf shifter pup, but he grimaced. “That’s right. I forgot. Not that you’re pregnant, but that, you know…no wine.” Did he suck at this romantic stuff? Apparently, he did. He fumbled and reached for the crystal pitcher to pour water into the bigger goblets.
She smiled and lifted hers before taking a sip. Then she looked around at the ornate furniture. “I never thought about it, but you don’t have any silver in here.” Her little scoff was cute.
He relaxed, his shoulders lowering. “Yeah, it’s a little obvious, right?”
“Who needs silver, anyway? We don’t.” She reached for her fork and dug into the salad. “This is good,” she murmured.
“It’s from a bag,” he admitted. “I did barbecue the steaks.” He’d never been a cook, but if that made her happy, he’d learn. “How are you on your case?”
She rolled her eyes. “I have no idea. It gets more confusing as the days go on, and it’s nice to take a break from it.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Why did you make me dinner?”
He reached for a remote control and pressed the button for the sound system. Music from long ago began to flow through the room, and realization dawned across her lovely face as she listened toSomeone to Watch Over Me. “They’re playing our song,” she said softly.
He grinned. “There’s so much going on. I haven’t really had a chance to tell you how happy I am about the baby. I thought we could use a night.”
She drank more of her water. “We could definitely use a night.”
He looked around the room, and as usual, it felt as foreign as it ever had. In the end, he and his father had reconciled, and Seth appreciated the lessons that Ben had taught him through the years. Even so, this home wasn’t his. It didn’t feel like him. “Do you like this place?”
Mia faltered and took another bite of the salad. “Um, I think it’s nice.”
They were definitely on the same page. “I’d like to burn it down and start over.”
She gulped. “Burning it down seems extreme.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, but at the same time, I’d like to build something that’s ours. That’s more, you know, us. The location is perfect because it’s at the center of the pack and people can get here quickly if I need them. It’s central to the mine, as well, but this house...” He let his voice trail off.
She looked up at the ornate carvings in the ceiling. “It really isn’t us, is it?”
