Chapter 7
Dina
F riday Night (technically very early Saturday morning), I am finally in my own room.
Closing the pizzeria is always a long process, but one of our cleaning crew didn’t show and I had to pick up the slack. So yeah, I got in way later than usual. And I broke a nail.
But the weird thing is I don’t even care.
And I know it is all because of him. Doug.
The Werewolf.
I flop back onto my bed with a satisfied sigh, hair wrapped in a towel, skin soft and clean from a long, steamy shower that successfully banished pizza grease, flour, and whatever awkward, maybe magical, tension clung to me after the weirdest shift ever.
The sheets are cool, the room dim and peaceful, and for the first time all day, everything feels calm.
Until my phone buzzes.
I glance at the screen, and my lips quirk when I see the notification:
A familiar glowing pink logo sits at the top of the screen, and I can’t help but bite my lip.
It’s the Date to Mate App.
DATE TO MATE INBOX
YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE FROM DOUG.
Oh ho.
“Look who caved,” I murmur and don a pair of tiny PJs, perfect for the heat of the season.
I pull the towel off my head and finger-brush my shortish curls. I have a lot of hair. It’s thick and texturized, so I keep it cut right above my shoulders.
I’m usually on the go and don’t have the time or the inclination for elaborate hairstyles. And I can’t do ponytails because they give me a headache.
Anyway, back to the Big Bad Wolf finally figuring out how apps work.
I snuggle deeper into the pillows and tap it open, half-expecting the text to be something gruff or begrudging.
DOUG
So, is it too soon to lodge a formal complaint about being cursed into dating?
I grin instantly.
DINA
Depends. Are you about to say something charming or are you going to scare me off with grumpy PI energy?
DOUG
Define charming.
I’m not great with soft stuff.
My idea of sweet talk is “You don’t look like a dumpster fire. Wanna grab dinner and fuck?”
I snort out loud. Is this guy for real? He’s probably trying to scare me off. But I have to tell you, I’m intrigued.
I mean, I know he has a rep, and yeah, Carina pulled me into her office before she left with Horace and gave me the third degree.
She even brought up safe sex, using protection, followed by a warning not to fall for some sexy Shifter moves because apparently they can do things with their mouths no humans can do—which I promise is nothing I ever want to hear from my sister’s mouth. Ever.
So gross.
Still, nothing she said makes me want to not follow through on this thing with Doug. Beneath the bandages and bee stings, the man is fine as hell.
DINA
Wow. Be still my beating heart.
You sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet, Wolfman.
DOUG
What can I say? I’m a catch.
Slightly hexed. Chronically unlucky. But I grill a mean steak.
I should warn you though, I also growl, I bite (playfully), and I’m house trained.
I laugh so hard I startle the cat, who gives me a death glare and curls up tighter.
Oh, this is dangerous.
Doug’s self-deprecating humor is just the kind of thing I like.
I should not find this so hot. And yet, I do.
DINA
So, is this your idea of flirting?
DOUG
No. This is just my natural charming self. Flirting requires effort.
I bite my lip, heat pooling low as my fingers hover over the keys.
Two can play this game.
DINA
I see. Well, go on then. Let’s see it.
Flirt, Wolf. Impress me.
There’s a pause.
Then my phone buzzes again.
DOUG
Time to get off the app, Sunshine. Text me your number.
My stomach flips. But I do it. I send him my cell number and four seconds later I have an incoming text message.
DOUG
You’re in bed right now, aren’t you?
DINA
Who is this?
DOUG
Who is this? How many guys you got texting you tonight—never mind, I can’t think about that or I’ll go Wolf. Now, answer the question, Sunshine.
DINA
Maybe.
DOUG
Yeah, you are. I bet you still have a pink comforter, and an eyelet trimmed pillowcase.
Bet your hair’s still damp from the shower.
Bet you’re under the covers, warm and soft, looking at your screen and wondering what it’d be like if I wasn’t cursed and bruised to hell and actually there.
Holy. Hell.
Okay.
Now, that’s some prime time flirting.
I took a moment to swallow my jitters before typing again. Slower now because my thumbs are suddenly clumsy.
DINA
Good for you, Doug. You’re doing so much better now.
DOUG
Oh, Sunshine, this is nothing.
You have no idea what I really wanna do to you.
DINA
Tell me.
DOUG
If I were there, I wouldn’t just flirt.
I’d make you forget all about my bad luck.
I’d make you forget your name, Geraldine Coppola.
My cheeks are burning.
This escalated fast.
And dammit if I don’t love it.
Before I can respond, my phone rings.
It’s him.
Doug.
Oh.
Oh boy.