“This looks wonderful.” Lucy beamed at her latte. “I always love the foam art. You’re quite gifted, Lenora.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” She quipped back with her usual cheek, setting down a plate of croissants. “Aaand, black for the Deputy.”
Cade raised an eyebrow as Lenora handed him the mug. He hadn’t told Lucy about his job yet. Hell, they hadn’t talked about much of anything yet, had they?
“You two let me know if you need anything else,” Lenora grinned, giving Cade a meaningful look.
Fucking hell, did everyone know?
“We will, thanks.” Lucy smiled.
Cade just nodded to the barista, who gave him a wink before heading back inside.
Great. Just fucking great.
The last thing he needed was the gossip mill getting its grind on him and Lucy being mates. He hadn’t even talked to her about it yet. But he knew in his bones it was true, and not just because Tane had pointed out a few particulars.
Cade had never been this attracted to someone before, never been so singularly focused, and that was saying something, considering he was one of the best trackers in town.
He couldn’t believe he’d missed the signs when he’d been in wolf form, though. He’d been drawn to her even then, wanting to protect her, to claim her. But he’d thought that instinct was because of the kindnesses she’d shown him.
“This is delicious.” Lucy smiled.
“How’d you know I liked lattes and croissants?”
“Lucky guess.” He lied, remembering the way she’d cradled her milky coffee and fed him bites of her croissant.
Shit, how the hell was he going to tell her about this?
It was clear she found him attractive. If the way she kept staring at him and the flush across her skin hadn’t already told him that, the scent of her arousal was a dead giveaway.
And damn, was that a spectacular bouquet.
“Listen, Lucy…” he let his voice trail off, wondering what the fuck he could say to get her home with him. He didn’t want to have this conversation here. Though they were alone on the patio, shifters had incredible senses and he didn’t want to risk any witnesses for this convo. Especially not if she declined him, which she’d be well within her right to do.
And it would shatter him if she did.
Unlike some of the other shifters in town, wolves mated for life.
“Lenora called you Deputy.” Lucy picked up her latte in both hands. “I thought you were a vet tech.”
Cade glanced down at his scrubs and shook his head.
“I work in law enforcement, not medicine. I’m just in this getup because I spent the night at the clinic.”
“Because of your leg?”
Cade nodded, taking a drink.
Man, she didn’t miss much, did she?
“How’d you get injured? If that’s okay to ask.”
“You can ask me anything, Lucy.” He wanted her to, actually. It would make this whole thing much easier. “I was in a collision.”
“Oh, my gosh!” She covered her mouth with her hand. “That’s terrible.”
Her concern warmed his heart, and Cade reached across the table to take her hand.
