Lone Wolf (First in Lone Wolf Series)

Chapter Seven

"Don't know how you do it, I love the way I lose it everytime. What's even better is knowing that forever you're all mine. The closer you get the more my body aches. One little stare from you is all it takes. I melt everytime you look at me that way. It never fails, anytime, anyplace. This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt. I melt." Rascal Flatts 'I melt'

“Dinner?” Dawn asked with a frown.

“Yes.” Grange replied as he grabbed a handful of freshly baked dough balls rolled in cinnamon and sugar.

“Stop that!” Dawn scolded as she swatted at his hand. “I have a big order for those and I’ll never get it done if you don’t keep your furry paws out of them.” Grange grinned.

“Sorry.” he replied, though he didn’t look sorry as he shoved them into his mouth.

“And you want to take me to dinner? How can you be hungry when you’ve been here every hour on the hour eating all my merchandise?”

“I have to make sure you’re staying off that foot.” he countered.

“She’s staying off it, Grange. I’ve been doing the running and Nickolai has been doing the cooking.” Trig assured him as he came out of the kitchen with flour smeared across his nose.

“A big change from the work I did in my last pack.” Nickolai admitted with just the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.

“Grange, it’s been three days since I hurt my ankle. It’s actually feeling nearly completely better.”

“Which only shows that I was right in keeping you off of it.” Grange replied and Dawn rolled her eyes. “And I promise you that I am hungry enough to eat dinner. It’s part of being a wolf, we eat a lot.”

“Dinner at the diner? I’ve never seen you eat at the diner.” Dawn stated with a frown.

“I don’t usually.” Grange admitted. The scents were overwhelming in the diner and he usually chose to eat his meals elsewhere.

“I think he’s trying to do ‘normal’ things with you so you don’t feel so overwhelmed.” Trig whispered and Grange’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the pup.

“Why don’t I go to the diner, order us something to eat and we can go have a picnic somewhere away from town?” Dawn asked as she laid her hand on Grange’s bare forearm. As always she was amazed by the amount of heat he put off. “I don’t want you to make yourself uncomfortable simply to spend time with me.” she added.

“Can we come on the picnic?” Trig asked happily as he shoved a cookie into his mouth.

“No.” Both Grange and Dawn snapped in unison.

“I think that was a negative.” Nickolai stated before going back into the kitchen.

“They will help you close up and I’ll be back in an hour.” Grange said, turning his attention back to Dawn. She nodded and then stopped breathing when he moved in and let his lips dance across her cheek, coming to a rest on her ear. “It will be nice to have you alone.” he whispered and while Dawn was still busy trying to get her mouth and brain to function together once more, Grange slipped from the bakery.

She was only faintly aware of Trig chuckling quietly as he walked back into the kitchen to help Nickolai clean up.

Dawn was equally pleased to finally have time alone with Grange. The last three days since coming to terms with what he was and accepting him in her life had been great. She had had plenty of time to adjust and think about the future but she hadn’t had any time alone with Grange.