Chapter 17

Denny

I had seen Autumn and Kylie run into my room about an hour ago, but they hadn’t surfaced since. I was pretty certain I wasn’t going to get my room back in time to change. Remy finally took pity on me and let me borrow clothes from his closet.

“This isn’t a big deal. I just wanted to grab a fresh tee-shirt.”

“Jeans and a tee-shirt? On a date? To the restaurant you work at? Dude, you dress nicer than that to serve people eating there.”

I groaned. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this. It’s what I told her to wear, too.”

Braxton laughed. “She has backup getting dressed for this date. Trust me, she is not wearing jeans and a tee-shirt no matter what she told you.”

“Take whatever you want from my closet. We’re basically the same size,” Remy offered.

“Thanks,” I grumbled.

“What’s going on?” his friend Sadie asked.

Sadie had mated one of our DOG brothers her freshmen year. Pete was a senior at the time, but he’d gotten into a grad program and stuck around with her. They lived in mated housing, but spent a lot of time in the doghouse.

“Denny has a hot date tonight?” Remy explained.

“Wait, didn’t you say he found his mate?”

“That’s his hot date,” Braxton told her.

I just grinned. I was going on a date with my mate. I wasn’t stressed about what I was going to wear. I just wanted to be with her.

“Come on. I’ll help you,” Sadie volunteered.

I groaned.

Remy laughed. “She probably knows my closet better than I do.”

Sadie and Remy had been best friends since before they arrived at the ARC. So it didn’t surprise me to hear it. She probably picked out most of his wardrobe, too.

I didn’t argue with them. I let her drag me off to his room as she went through half a dozen options before settling on a pair of black jeans and a green button-down shirt that she said made my eyes popped—whatever that meant.

I wasn’t the type of guy that put much effort into appearances. Well, I wasn’t a slob, but more of a jeans and tee-shirt kinda guy unless at work where I was required to wear black pants-not jeans-and a white button up dress shirt with the black apron they issued me.

Even though I was in jeans and not slacks, it felt a bit too much like work attire to me. I didn’t bother telling Sadie that, though. She would only argue with me. If this was what one wore on a nice dinner date, then so be it. I just hoped the girls were correcting Lauren, too. If not, I was going to change, no matter what anyone thought.

Checking the time, I knew we had to hurry if we were going to arrive on time for our reservation.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Rem told me. “We’ll handle everything for the party tonight. You just enjoy your date.”

Somehow, that did not bring me any comfort. Caleb would be there, though. That was some consolation. At least I knew he wouldn’t the boys get too out of control and destroy my house.

A catcall sounded from the living room.

“You could always ditch him, Lauren, and go out with a real man,” Kevin said.

I growled while the others laughed.

Walking back to the living room had my wolf on edge. But when I entered the room and saw my girl standing there in a short black cocktail dress, looking like a goddess, all my irritation with my brothers disappeared.

All I saw was her.

It was like tunnel vision and when she turned to smile at me, the rest of the world faded away until only she and I remained.

“Wow,” I managed to say.

She blushed.

I didn’t remember my feet moving, yet suddenly I was standing before her and all I could do was kiss her.

As the guys loudly and obnoxiously hooted, the spell she’d cast on me broke.

It didn’t even dawn on me that her little sister was there watching everything until she caught my eye, giving me two thumbs up. I grinned back at her.

Lauren buried her face in my shoulder.

I was clearly embarrassing my mate.

“We should get going,” I said, even though just looking at her took my breath away.

“Okay,” she whispered.

I proudly escorted her from the room and outside. Neither of us spoke until we reached my car. She let me open the door and help her into my passenger seat before I ran around to jump into the driver’s seat.

“You look incredibly beautiful tonight.”

She squirmed in her seat at my compliment.

“So much for jeans and a tee-shirt,” she grumbled.

I laughed. “Sadie and Remy wouldn’t let me get away with that, either.”

“Sadie?” she growled.

“Oh, I guess you haven’t met her yet. Surprising. She practically lives at the house. But simmer down. She’s happily mated to Pete.”

“I’ve heard of them, but don’t think I’ve met them yet.”

“You will. Sadie was over hanging out with Remy, so Pete will be along eventually.”

“And he’s just okay with her spending time with another male?”

I snorted. “He sort of has to be. Sadie and Remy are lifelong friends. They came to the ARC together. Braxton, Caleb, and Monte too, along with two other gals, Delilah and Rose. The seven of them arrived together and, surprisingly have remained close all these years. So Pete didn’t have much choice but to get on board with it. He and Remy didn’t get along at first, but once it all came out that Sadie and Pete were true mates, Remy settled down and they came to an understanding.”

“That’s crazy.”

I shrugged. “It’s all good. They’re happy, so that’s all that matters.”

“I don’t know if I could do that,” Lauren admitted.

“Do what?”

“Just be okay with you being best friends with another female.”

I wasn’t sure why, but her words made me happy.

“Feeling a little territorial?”

She sighed and looked out the window, turning away from me like she was embarrassed.

“I guess you could say that.”

“I’m sorry I flirted with that woman at the hotel just to save a few bucks. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“It’s alright. I really thought I was handling this whole mating thing just fine, right up until that moment.”

“Well, don’t hit me, but I’m relieved to hear it. I haven’t handled everything nearly as well. I was worried maybe it was more one-sided on my part. I like knowing it affects you, too.”

“How can it not?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been growling at everyone and constantly on edge, and you just seemed to be taking it all in stride.”

“I guess I’ve had more practice in hiding my emotions well.”

“Because of Kylie?”

“Yup.”

“You don’t have to do that with me, Lauren.”

“Do what?”

“Be so strong all the time and act like nothing bothers you. I can sense sometimes when it does.”

“I can sense you, too. When you’re in a heightened emotional state, that is. Not like all that time.”

“That’s exactly how it is for me, too.”

“It means our bond is growing, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does. Does that bother you?”

“Yes, because it will make it so much harder to leave you when it’s time for me to go home.”

I bit my tongue and refused to reply to that.

How the hell was she still talking about going back to New York?

I just couldn’t understand it. My wolf was growing more agitated by the second.

She huffed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned leaving. I know your wolf doesn’t like to hear it.”

Damn right he didn’t like hearing it. Neither did I.

I didn’t respond as we pulled up to the restaurant. Out of habit, I parked around the side without even thinking. It meant we had a short walk to the door, but I needed that time to calm myself down.

“Are we okay?” Lauren asked sadly.

“Yeah, we’re fine. I just don’t want to talk about you leaving. Not tonight, okay? Just give me tonight.”

“I can do that,” she said.

I knew there was a lot that we had to discuss and some big compromises ahead of us, but this was our first date, and I just wanted to enjoy it without thinking about what the future might hold.

I put all my frustrations aside and decided to just enjoy the night. So, I offered her my arm and proudly escorted her into the restaurant.

Monica was working as hostess for the night and didn’t notice me right away. Then she did a double take.

“Denny. I heard you were coming in tonight. This must be one special lady. I don’t think you’ve ever brought a girl here before.”

“Nope, and she is very special. Monica, this is Lauren, my girlfriend. Lauren, this is Monica. We work together.”

I didn’t miss the way Lauren stiffened next to me when I called her my girlfriend. I used the term to discreetly let her know that Monica was human. Though, in hindsight, I supposed Lauren could have sensed that on her own.

She smiled and exchanged pleasantries. Nothing appeared off on the outside, but I could sense her unease.

Monica sat us at one of the most private tables in the restaurant. It was a highly sought after spot that I always enjoyed working. The tips were usually great.

The second she left us, my mate turned on me.

“Your girlfriend?”

“Sorry. I didn’t think you’d get so upset about it. She’s human,” I said. Mouthing the last words.

“I’m not an idiot, Denny. I could smell that.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to call it.”

“Girlfriend just sounds so cheap and fleeting. You’re my mate.”

“Yes, I am. Next time I’ll go for fiancé, but trust me, she would have asked to see the ring.”

Lauren rolled her eyes.

I couldn’t hide my smile. First she’s talking about going home, and now she’s upset that I cheapened our relationship but calling her my girlfriend. One thing was very clear, my mate was extremely confused and likely fighting her feelings.

The bond made us feel a connection to each other, and it was hard to suppress. I’d been battling my own demons over it, riding that fine line between needing to claim her and terrified she was really going to leave me.

“Hey Denny and beautiful lady friend. Welcome. I’m Marco and I’ll be serving you tonight. Can I suggest some of our finest wines for the evening, or perhaps another kind of beverage?”

“I’ll just have water,” Lauren said.

“Babe, you can order whatever you like.”

She just looked up at me and blinked. “Water’s fine. Really.”

I sighed. “Two waters.”

When Marco left us to retrieve our drinks, I scowled.

“You could have gotten anything,” I told her.

She laughed. The sound instantly calmed me.

“But I wanted water. Honestly, it’s my preferred beverage with food. It doesn’t fill me up like soda or even wine. And Autumn told me this place has the best food around.”

I relaxed at that. “She’s right. It does. I eat here most nights. Perks of working here.”

I didn’t really need the money right now, but if I was ever going to leave the New Orleans Pack and the money I received each month, though nowhere near as substantial as the Westin wolves received, I knew I was going to have to learn to earn on my own.

Working didn’t bother me. I enjoyed it even. But I also saved every single penny I earned here.

Having been moved to the bottom of the hierarchy back home meant I’d grown up with certain privileges that had been ripped from me and my family as punishment after my brother died. Stipends were paid based on rank, so it had been devastating to my family in more than one way.

I never wanted to go through something like that again, so I stayed frugal and saved for a rainy day. It wasn’t like I needed it. Living at the ARC meant all my basic needs were met. If Lauren agreed to stay here, I could petition to move into mated housing, or we could stay in the doghouse. Others before me had done it, so I knew the guys wouldn’t mind. As far as I knew, they all liked her. I didn’t expect any complaints if we decided to live there.

“So what’s good here?” she asked.

“Everything. Autumn wasn’t kidding about that. But my favorite is the manicotti with a side of veal.”

It made my mouth water just thinking about it.

She scrunched up her nose. “I’m not a big fan of veal. How is the carbonara?”

“Tastes like it’s straight out of Italy from what I’ve been told. Not at all like the cream slathered stuff Americans call it. It’s very good though. And if you want more protein than the bit of guanciale that comes on it, you can always add a meat as a side. I always do.”

“How about some chicken?”

“Sure. You got it. Salad?”

“Ceasar.”

When Marco returned with our waters, I placed our order.

He left us only to return a short while later with a large plate featuring a sampling of most of the appetizers.

“The chef insisted. For your special night.”

I grinned. I was going to have to thank him when I go back to work next week.

“Thanks, man.”

“My pleasure. You know, most of us use our connections and discount to wine and dine all our dates, but Denny’s never brought a lady here before as far as any of us can remember. You must be very special.”

He reached for her hand and dramatically moved to kiss it.

Lauren looked stunned at first, but quickly found her wits and yanked her hand away just as he made his move. Instead of kissing her hand, he face planted into our table.

I burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a nearby customer.

“Nice try, Romeo. But this one is all mine.”

He knew damn well I wouldn’t say something like that unless I absolutely meant it.

Marco and I worked together frequently. He knew I was an insatiable flirt, yet I never crossed that line of being professional no matter how many propositions I received. And he’d been happy to be sloppy seconds on more than one occasion when I turned down the advances of a beautiful woman.

This time his entire being changed from a cocky little shit trying to rial me up to genuinely curious after my mate.

“I’m Marco.”

“You said that already,” she responded, completely brushing him off.

“That’s my girl.” I hadn’t meant to say it aloud. It just sort of slipped out, but the way Lauren beamed back at me was worth it. “This is Lauren.”

“Your girlfriend?” he asked, sounding a bit surprised.

I wasn’t exactly known as the settling down type.

“She’s more than that.”