“Yes.”
She stepped away from him. His wolf pounced inside his head, wanting to follow her. The moment she was gone, his father stepped into the room.
“Enough!”
That one word silenced the wolf inside him. His wolf grew silent until Marshall was able to take breaths without fear.
“Thank you.”
“You’ve got to take your time. Don’t rush.”
“I’ve got a lot to make up for.”
Luke sat beside him. “You’re not going to hurt her with this other boy?”
“No. Trey will fuck up on his own. I’m not going to get involved. I’m going to show her she can depend on me instead.”
“I’m pleased you’ve finally decided to take that stand and not another one.”
Marshall wanted Trey out of the picture. “Is it possible for her to be my mate?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s human.”
“Son, it has been years since a human mated with one of us in this pack, but it’s not unheard of.” Luke stood. “She’s coming back up. Your mate is designed to suit you, to complete you. Your wolf will know what to do when the time is right.”
Nodding, Marshall stayed sat as Scarlett appeared in the doorway.
“My parents couldn’t make dinner, but they’d like to extend the invitation to you this weekend.”
“I’d love to.” His father left them alone. Marshall smiled at her. He’d do whatever it took to keep Scarlett in his life.
The weekend came around too soon for Scarlett’s liking. Her mother had dragged her out to the shops in order to prepare for dinner.
“What do they like?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know them.” They were walking up and down the aisles looking at everything they could.
“Meat, men love meat.”
“It’s not just Marshall and his dad.”
“This is so hard.”
Scarlett stopped when she saw Jack was in the store. He was pushing a trolley while holding a list. The moment he saw her, he waved.
“Marshall know you’re here?” he asked, when they passed.
“Erm, I doubt it.” Her mother walked off toward the butchery. “He’s coming for dinner, but we don’t have a clue what to do for him. My mom, she’s not exactly the best person to plan a dinner.” Her cheeks were heating.
If someone was to tell her months ago that she’d be in the supermarket talking to Jack while also helping to plan a dinner, she’d have laughed at the absurdity of it.
“You don’t have Marshall’s cell number?”
She shook her head.
He pulled his cell phone out, pressing the device to his ear.
“Hey, I got your girl in front of me. She’s wondering what to cook.” Jack stopped, and she heard Marshall talking. “Here you go. He wants to talk to you.”
Taking the phone from Jack, she pressed it to her ear. “Hello.”
“Hey, baby. I’ll make sure you have my cell number when I see you.”
“It’s okay. You really don’t need to do that.”
“I’ll make sure you’ve got it. What do you need to know?”
Heat bloomed inside her. Glancing up at Jack she saw he raised a brow at her.
“My mom, she’s struggling about what to make you for dinner. Do you have any suggestions?” she asked.
“Yeah, steak. Anything with beef and potatoes and we’re all set.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s the same. We’re pretty normal, Scarlett. Oh, we love chocolate.”
“Okay. Meat and chocolate, got it.”
“Scarlett,” he said.
“Yeah.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
Her cheeks were on fire. “Bye.” She passed Jack the cell phone, wishing she could leave but knowing it was rude.
“Yep, she is. Yep … yep … bye.” Jack put his cell away.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. You need any help call me. In fact.” Jack pulled out a pen that he’d placed behind his ear. She watched him scrawl on the paper in front of him, tearing it off. “Here, call me whenever you need me and can’t get in touch with Marshall.”
She took the number from him. “Erm, thanks.”
“See you around, Scarlett.”
Pocketing his number, she didn’t know if she should throw it in the trash. She still didn’t trust either guy. Grabbing the trolley, she made her way toward the butchery department to find her mother still looking at the array of meats.
“Beef,” Scarlett said.
“What, honey?”
“I found one of Marshall’s friends. I called him. They like beef and potatoes as a family. They’re also chocolate fiends.”
“Oh, honey, you know you’ve got to bake them your chocolate cake.”
“I don’t think—”
“We’ve got more than enough time for you to do it. Come on, they’ll love it.”
She stood beside her mother as she ordered one of the largest pieces of beef she’d ever seen. They were filling the trolley with all the goodies that would last them a couple of weeks. Her mother begged her around the supermarket until Scarlett caved, grabbing the ingredients to make the cake.
When they got home, her mother started working on the beef while Scarlett set to work on the cake. Her father was preparing the table and watching football. Every now and then Scarlett would stop as she couldn’t believe she was making a cake for Marshall and his family.
“So, honey, you’ve not mentioned this Marshall much. Is he nice?”
“Erm, yeah.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He was being nice so far. She didn’t know why, but she wasn’t going to worry her mother.
She avoided any more questions as she got busy cleaning up the mess while the cake was finishing in the oven. When it was out, she used the time to go to her room where she sat on the edge of her bed. Pulling out Jack’s cell phone number, she stared at the digits scrawled in a line. Fisting the piece of paper, she threw it into the trash. Standing up, she stared into the mirror as the doorbell rang.
Scarlett saw they were still early for dinner.
Her mother shouted her that the door was for her.
Heading downstairs, she found Trey at the bottom of the staircase waiting for her.
“Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to head out. Maybe go watch a movie?”
She stared at her friend and offered him a smile.
“I, erm, I can’t.” She made her way down the last couple of steps until she stood in front of him. “My mom invited Marshall and his family around. I can’t go out.”
There was no joy or thrill coming from Trey’s presence. When she first met him, she’d been charmed by his attention. He didn’t look that impressed with her answer.
He didn’t come to find me during lunch break.
The last couple of days it had been Marshall who found her, Marshall who comforted her. They were working together on the comparison of two very different poems. She’d been allowed to sit back for gym because of her bruised eye. Marshall always took the time to come over and see her. Trey started to treat her as a passing thought, not that she minded. She did however notice that Cheryl was paying a lot of attention to Trey just lately.
“Okay, maybe another time.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” She didn’t make any arrangements, and neither did he.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
She didn’t say anything as he disappeared out of the door. Closing the door, she watched him walk toward his home. He held a cell phone to his ear, and she wondered for a split second who he was calling.
Heading back into the kitchen, she finished off the chocolate cake, leaving it to stand in pride of place on the kitchen counter. Her mother begged for her help, and she took over in the kitchen.
Her mother was an excellent doctor but not a great cook.
Scarlett was putting the finishing touches to the dinner when the doorbell rang once again. This was it.
Blowing out a breath, Scarlett waited for her mother to walk in.
“They’re here.”
“Everything is ready.”
“I hope we’re not coming across as rushed. Your father showed them to the table already.”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” She picked up the tray with the meat and walked into the room. Scarlett was wearing a pair of jeans with a red shirt. The clothes fit perfectly and covered all of her rounded bumps and lumps. At least she hoped they did. The only seat available was across from Marshall. Her father sat on one end while his dad did the other. Her mother sat beside her, and it was the same for his mother.
“This looks divine, honey,” her father said.
“I wish I could take all the credit. Scarlett did most of it.”
Her cheeks heated as everyone turned to look at her. She scooped some mashed potatoes onto her plate. The conversation started up around her.
“Do you like to cook?” Marshall asked.
“Yes.” She nodded her head.
“It tastes delicious.”
Focusing on her own plate, she tried to ignore the joy building inside her. Their parents were oblivious to them as everyone talked, eating their dinner. When it was over, her mother couldn’t keep her mouth shut and let them all know that Scarlett had made a special chocolate cake for them all.