"That's okay. Thanks." Ella cast him a shy smile.
Her guileless response made him want to reach out and grab her again. His inner wolf agreed.
"Join me for dinner," Wolf blurted. "We can discuss my budget," he quickly amended.
Ella was biting her lip as she considered his offer, when the roar of bikes outside distracted her. Vick, Tony, Mark and Jericho entered the clubhouse carrying on like they usually did.
The four Shifters looked Ella up and down with a familiarity Wolf didn't appreciate. Before he could let out the subtle growl forming in his chest, the men burst out laughing.
"Sorry man. We didn't know you were trying out a new sweet butt," Jericho chuckled.
Ella frowned as she looked from the jack asses to Wolf. She'd relaxed around him, at least marginally, but suddenly that damn wall was back up again.
"Is there a bathroom I can use?" Ella asked uncomfortably.
"Of course. The ladies use the bathroom on the other side of the hall. It's the one that wasn't demolished," he pointed out.
The four mongrels watched Ella walk away despite Wolf glaring at them. Mark had the audacity to laugh so hard he doubled over.
"I'm not interviewing a club whore, assholes," Wolf growled low, so only they could hear him.
Ella was as far from a club whore as you could possibly get. In fact, the suggestion grated on Wolf's nerves for some crazy reason.
"Could've fooled us." Jericho pointed to Ella's retreating figure.
Wolf turned to see what had them acting like idiots.
"Fucking hell," he groaned as he watched her disappear into the bathroom.
"Come on man. That's hilarious," Jericho insisted.
Ella
Ella nearly died when Wolf tried to blame the damaged wall on the non-existent earthquake.
If he only knew the cause of the apartment tremor.
Ella was so distracted, she nearly broke her neck, when she stumbled over the prybar. It took everything in her power to keep it together, as Wolf's large capable hands gripped her behind. He lingered for a bit longer than was necessary. The searing heat from his palms, working its way through her, settling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe it was her imagination, but Ella thought Wolf looked at her with more than casual interest, as he held her against his rock-hard body. He smelled so good, like leather and musk.
Oh god, relax, relax. One, two, three, four … . Ella struggled to dispel the cascading feelings of desire that were stirring up her curse. Thankfully he let her go just in time.
Ella knew she shouldn't go to dinner with Wolf, but she really wanted to. She was going around and round in her head, when the four rowdy bikers walked in. The guys were just as massive as Wolf, making her wonder if they put steroids in the town drinking water.
No wonder the clubhouse looks the way it does. All it would take is one drunken brawl, to do some real damage. Exhibit A; the hole in the wall.
The men were typical bikers, rough around the edges, matching leather jackets, grease on their jeans, and tattoos peeking out here and there. At least they didn't sport long shaggy ZZ Top beards, or have pot bellies, like so many of the bikers she'd seen. Even though Wolf wore a tailored suit, she knew he was every bit the badass these other men were, perhaps more so.
What Ella didn't understand, was why the four men laughed and called her something derogatory? They didn't know her. Ella felt the need to flee, when their mocking tone caused a horrible memory from middle school to surface.
Her teenage years had been so awkward. Miserable really. She was just learning about her quirky nature, and it was taking its toll on her. Sabine was sick all the time, so her parents had little time for her, between doctor's visits and hospital stays. Ella had been desperate for her mother's attention as womanhood struck. Her mother was so stylish, but Rene was doing her best to hold herself together, much less bother with an awkward preteen.
Ella shivered as she recalled the horrendous perm that turned her into a human poodle. Ella's attempt at a self-makeover had failed miserably. She was lucky she didn't burn her hair off with all those chemicals. The worst part was going to school looking like she'd stuck her finger in an electrical socket. Kids could be so cruel. The popular boy sitting behind her in class laughed, as he informed her he spat in her hair. If Ella had the power then, that she had now, she might have sent him careening into the wall. Instead she shut down her despair, and congratulated him in her most scathing sarcastic voice.
Granted it was over a decade later, and she'd grown into all her body parts, but Ella still felt like that ugly duckling. It was foolish, but she couldn't help it. Ella sighed as she hustled into the bathroom, and attempted to calm down.
Oh, dear god. THIS is the ladies room?
Grungy didn't quite describe it. Ella could only imagine what the men's room looked like before the pipes ruptured, hosing it clean.
Ella smoothed down her jacket, then turned to use the toilet. That's when she caught a glimpse of something white on the back of her skirt. Her eyes widened as she saw two large drywall-dust handprints, one on each cheek.
Ohhh, Ella repressed the screech that wanted to bubble up, as she scrubbed at the dusty marks. No wonder the men had been laughing at her. What did they call me? A sweet butt? What is that? Some sort of whore?
The way they asked Wolf if he was trying out a new sweet butt, made it sound like a common occurrence. Ella imagined Wolf going through girls like water. At least that was the implication from the comment the blonde guy made.
Ella couldn't believe she got all worked up with his hands on her butt. He could've grabbed my arms to steady me, like a normal person, she huffed. He probably gets away with pawing ladies all the time. All he has to do is flash that panty melting smile. God I'm so stupid. He's probably getting a good chuckle right about now.
The flare of excitement Ella felt earlier was instantly crushed. It was replaced with embarrassment and frustration.
"What are you moaning about?" Ella muttered to herself as she hovered over the toilet.
How many times do you have to remind yourself, you aren't like other people? And even if you were, getting involved with a man like that would no doubt end in heartache.
Ella took several deep breaths, steeling herself as she exited the bathroom. Ella couldn't look at Wolf, so she toured the room, taking a few pictures with her cell phone while guesstimating the dimensions. It gave her a chance to dispel her lingering embarrassment.
"I think I have what I need. Wolf, I'll have to take a raincheck on dinner. I should get home and let Wright out, but thank you," Ella said politely without making eye contact. "Is this the only space you want me to work on, or do you want to include the bathrooms and the connected kitchen?"
"They all need to be redone."
"Ah man. Seriously?" the blonde biker groaned.
Ella hoped the complaint wasn't directed specifically at her and what she might do to their den of iniquity.
Whatever.
"Alright, I'll put a proposal together." Ella turned toward the complainer and the brown-haired biker, who were tearing out the broken studs in the damaged wall. "By the way, you should to stop what you're doing. That's a load bearing wall. You need to get a lolly column, or the place is going to come down around your ears." Ella might be a girl, but that didn't mean she didn't know her business.
"Shit! I'm a grease monkey, not a damn carpenter," the blonde complainer grumbled.
"Shut-up, you whiney bastard," the brown-haired biker shoved the blonde.
"Cut it out," Wolf growled at the two men, then led Ella out to his car. "Thanks for the advice on the wall. You sure I can't get you to change your mind about dinner?" Wolf wore a slight frown and appeared genuinely disappointed.
Ella shook it off. His puppy dog eyes wouldn't work on her.
I'm sure you'll find a new sweet butt soon.
"No, but I really do appreciate you giving me this opportunity." Ella remembered her manners, giving him a genuine smile. She didn't want Wolf to think she didn't appreciate him giving her the job in exchange for rent.
Wolf nodded, then they drove the five minutes back to the apartment in silence. Wolf kindly opened her car door when they arrived, and walked her to her apartment.
"Should I pick you up for the get-together tomorrow night?" he asked.
Ella repressed a groan. She forgot she agreed to go to the party at the clubhouse.
"I'm not sure what I've got going on tomorrow. I can find my way. What time should I be there?"
If Wolf picked her up, it would feel too much like a date, though she doubted he intended it that way. Then again, maybe he did. In that case, she shouldn't encourage him.