“Who was the grump?” Bryan asked as he casually put an arm around her shoulder.
“Mr. Mancini? He’s my boss. Usually, he’s really nice. When I applied for the job, at first I didn’t think he’d hire me, but after he thought it over, he did. Since then, he’s helped me learn the ropes, given me good shifts, and generally been really great. I’m not sure what was wrong just now.” Frowning Elise considered the incident, then gave a shrug. “We were really busy today, so maybe he’s tired. I know I am!”
They arrived at the restaurant and sat down. Under the cover of the table, Elise slipped her shoes off and wiggled her toes, sighing in relief. Bryan noticed and playfully reached down, grabbing her ankle. Elise gave a squeak and jerked her foot back while Bryan grinned, looking entirely too pleased with himself. She couldn’t help but laugh. Gosh, but she’d missed him.
“So, how have you been?” Bryan reached across the table and took her hand. His expression sobered. “Has that Alpha been treating you okay?”
“His name is Kane,” she gently reminded. “And yes, he treats me very well.”
Bryan exhaled gustily and looked at little disappointed. “Yeah, I supposed he would. Much as I’d like to hate the guy for taking you away, everything I’ve heard about him tells me he’s all right. I think a part of me wanted him to be a rotten thug so I'd have a reason to go beat him up.” He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "Male ego, I guess."
Thinking that Kane would likely wipe the floor with the younger man, Elise made no comment. Instead, she turned the initial question back on him. “And how are you? And I mean really, not just the politically correct 'fine' that people always give.” Elise studied her friend’s face carefully. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been bitter and angry, almost slinking away after Kane had warned him off.
Silence stretched between them. Bryan was staring intently at their entwined fingers, his thumb tenderly caressing the back of her hand. Finally he looked up. “I’m all right. I spent the first few days in an angry funk and then another couple wandering around feeling sad and lost. But now I’m okay. I’ve actually been doing some thinking—”
The waitress arrived to take their orders, interrupting whatever Bryan had been going to say. He chose a burger and fries while Elise picked the soup and salad luncheon special. As they placed their orders, Bryan started searching in his pocket for something. When the waitress moved away from their table, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and held it up triumphantly for Elise to see. “Here, before I forget. Sarah sent her recipe for squash soup. She said you’d been talking about it.” He made a face. “Who calls to talk about soup?”
Elise laughed. “We do. I was telling her about Helen, one of the members of my new pack, and how she likes to cook. Sarah said that she was making squash soup when I called and then I said that Helen told me she’d never made it before and...” Catching the look on Bryan’s face, she giggled and snatched the paper from his hand. “Never mind. Just tell Sarah thanks.”
“Sure.” Bryan stared at her for a moment, a faint smile on his face. “You know, Elise, when you laugh like that you have to be one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with the ease of familiarity, and let his fingers trail down her cheek before allowing his hand to return to the table top where he fiddled with the cutlery.
Feeling inexplicably uncomfortable with the gesture, Elise picked up her napkin and arranged it in her lap, keeping her eyes down. “Thanks, Bryan. That was a nice thing to say.”
“No, it wasn’t a nice thing to say. It’s the truth. I’ve always thought you were pretty and when you laugh, your eyes get all sparkly. Plus you’re sweet and always trying to see the positive side of things.”
Elise shifted in her chair, suddenly nervous. What was Bryan getting at? He’d never gone around spouting her virtues like that before. Surely he wasn’t still thinking that they—?
The arrival of their meal cut into her line of thought and they both waited silently for the waitress to place the food on the table.
Once the server was gone, Elise cleared her throat. She had a bad feeling that Bryan was going to ask her to run away with him or some such thing and she wanted to head him off. “You know, Bryan, I am bonded to Kane.”
“I know that. I—”
“And it wasn’t a normal bonding. It was part of a political alliance to keep peace between the packs and ensure that we all have enough territory to roam. It’s binding for life.”