Page 22 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan***

I can’t keep my eyes off her. This waiting is killing me. If

she were a wolf, she would have been mine already. No, she is mine; I

just have to make her see it. I stand by the grill, next to the pool, and watch

her as she moves around the kitchen making the salad. She fits in perfectly,

and all this feels so right. This gives me a glimpse into what our life

will be like and I can’t wait. She walks out and waves at me as she sits on one

of the sun lounges. I remove the steaks and potatoes from the grill and head

toward her.

“Let’s eat.”

She gives me a smile that tells me she bit back what she

wanted to say, and I shake my head. She follows me inside and helps me set the

table.

“You have a dirty mind, Miss Bryan.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Well, if you know what I was thinking, then I guess you

have a dirty mind also, Sheriff McKenzie.”

“With two dirty minds like ours, we could get into some

trouble.”

“You’ll get no arguments from me.”

I sit across from her and watch her green eyes sparkle. “I

bet I won’t. Dig in.”

After a few bites, she beams up at me. “This is delicious!”

“Thank you. Maybe next time, you can make me

dinner.”

“Deal.”

Not even through the first date and I already have a second.

I’d say this is going well.

“Why are you still single?” she asks. “The women here must

be crazy.”

“There have been… possibilities.”

She throws her head back and laughs, exposing her beautiful

neck. I look down and my dick hardens at the sight of her breasts jiggling with

laughter. Fuck.

“Touché, Sheriff… But a guy like you should be married with two-point-five

kids by now.”

“I’ve just been waiting for the right woman.”

I stare into her eyes, all laughter gone from my face. She

shifts uncomfortably and looks down at her plate. That’s not like her. Did I

say something wrong?

“I wish you luck in your hunt then,” she says.

“My hunt?”

“For the right woman.”

Oh, but I’ve already found her. “I think it’s been

going very well lately.”

She looks back up at me with a smile.

“Good. You don’t have much time. What are you… like, forty?”

“Ah! Good one. I’m actually thirty-one.”

“Five years older than me. You’re practically ancient.”

You have no idea, my love.

“So, you’re twenty-six. Tell me something else about you.”

She looks up to the ceiling, chewing her lip as if pondering

what to say.

“Hmm… something about me….” Then she smiles and looks right

into my eyes. I stop breathing because, once again, her beauty has taken my

breath away. “38C.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“38C. That’s my bra size.”

Fuck me. I can’t believe she just said that. I stop mid-chew

and look down at the body parts in question. My dick is straining against my jeans,

and I have to adjust myself—for all the good it does.

“Anything else?” she asks.

I look back to her face and the mischievous smile on her

lips. I need to steer this conversation in a different direction. I clear my

throat to avoid my voice coming out as a high-pitched squeak.

“Birthday… favorite color… movie?”

“November twenty-seventh, red… Casablanca.”

“Casablanca? A little before your time, isn’t it?”

“I guess I’ve always liked… old things.”

“Is that another jab at my age?”

“Aww, your poor, aging brain can’t keep up?”

“My dear, with age come wisdom and experience. There’s a

lot I can teach you.”

She licks her lips alluringly, biting down on the bottom

one. I raise my glass in a toast and smile at her. She got my meaning.

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Giggling, she clinks her glass against mine.

“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful

friendship.”

With a chuckle, I stand and offer her my hand. Friendship

is not what I have in mind for you, sweetheart.

“Come. Have a drink with me by the pool.”

“Certainly, old man.”

At that remark, I pull her against me and throw my arm over

her shoulder. She giggles, picking up the wine glasses while I grab the bottle.

I’ll show you old.