Chapter 5

Don’t wanna work.

Ares’ wolf pouted. Heading into the garage for seven a.m. proved tough since he’d spent the night thinking about Charly. He’d enjoyed himself yesterday. Spending time with her and Greta had been awesome. Now that Charly didn’t eye him as a threat, she’d opened up. She had a sharp sense of humor, a husky laugh, and a sexy vibe that had him semi-hard the entire time they hung out. Thank fuck for loose jeans and a long Henley.

She’d not spoken much of her past, briefly mentioning they’d been living there about six months after moving from the west coast. When he’d tried to ask why the relocation, a shadow crossed her face and she’d mumbled, “The cost of living got too high.”

Which made sense on the surface until you realized Ontario had the second-highest cost of living in Canada. A glance around her place showed furniture too used to have been worth moving, and so he could only assume she’d left on the fly. Escaping a situation that led to her feeling like she needed to have a knife on her person. At least, she’d worn one their first encounter. He noticed she’d removed it not long after his arrival the day before. A sign of trust? He could only hope.

What could she have been fleeing? No sign of a ring being recently on her finger, and she’d been emphatic about not wanting to date. Had she been trying to escape Greta’s dad? He’d not asked, nor had she volunteered anything about the sperm donor. Given how far she’d moved, it didn’t seem like dad was in the picture. Or had she intentionally left him behind?

Work let him bum off early, and he headed over to her place, with Selene, who volunteered to bring Mom’s car over. More like she wanted a peek at Charly and Greta.

He parked on the street, while Selene placed Mom’s car in the driveway. Selene didn’t turn up her nose at the shabby neighborhood but rather said, “Your girlfriend’s place is the nicest looking on the block.” No need to ask how she guessed with Rudolph out front.

“Be nice,” he warned.

“I’m always nice,” Selene teased.

“You’d better not have my baby pictures on your phone again.”

“Who me?” She batted her lashes and was laughing as Charly opened the door.

Before Charlotte could wonder at the beautiful stranger he’d brought, he did a quick introduction. “Charly, this is my sister, Selene. Selene, Charly.”

“Nice to meet you.” Selene held out her hand, and with a bemused look, Charly shook it.

“Ares!” The squeal led to Greta shoving past her mother to throw herself at Ares.

He lifted and tossed her into the air, to her squealing delight. He then settled her on his hip as he beamed. “Sis, I’d like to meet, her highness, Princess Greta.”

“Hi. Nice to meet royalty.” Selene waved.

“I’m not a princess for real, silly,” Greta snickered. She cocked her head before saying, “You’re the bunny lady.”

“I am. Guess Ares told you about it.”

He hadn’t actually, but she might have overhead him with Charly. “Maybe your mom will let you come visit them sometime. We also have chickens and goats.”

“What, no cows for your cheese?” Charlotte inquired.

“Nah. Goat’s got a nicer flavor to it, and the lactose in it is easier to digest.”

“I like cheese,” Greta admitted.

“Me too, princess. Me too.”

“Come in.” Charly stepped aside. “Would you like some coffee?”

“I can’t stay,” Selene stated. “I need to go shop for a suitcase since mine decided to croak. Stupid zipper busted.”

“Maybe if you packed less clothes…” Ares teased.

“Now them’s fighting words,” Selene growled, which led to Greta giggling and whispering, “She’s funny.”

“Glad to see someone appreciates me.” Selene flicked her hair.

Greta tucked her head against Ares. “I’m helping Mama make dinner.”

“Which is going to be delicious.” Over Greta’s head, he addressed Charly. “I’ve got to chauffeur Ms. Packs-too-much to the store before dropping her off at home, but I promise to be here by six at the latest.”

“Your sister is welcome to join us.”

Before Ares could refuse on her behalf, Selene chirped, “I’d be delighted. Need anything while we’re out?”

“We should be good.”

“We’ll be back in a jiffy then,” he murmured to Greta as he pried her from his chest.

Her lower lip jutted.

Charly tucked Greta against her and murmured, “Guess we’d better make sure we prepare the bestest supper while we wait.”

“Okay.” The pout tugged at his heartstrings.

The pup is sad.

Ares knew better than to counter Charly’s parenting, but damn, it wasn’t easy. He wanted the little princess smiling.

Selene mocked him as they left. “You are so in trouble.”

“Trouble how?” he asked as he headed for a store that sold luggage.

“That little girl adores you.”

“Can you blame her? I’m awesome.”

“Mom’s got eyes for you too.”

“Does she really?” The truck swerved as he turned to look at his sister.

“Yes, really.”

“She told me she doesn’t want to date.”

“I get the feeling she might change her mind. The vibe between you two is hard to ignore. Just remember what I said and take it slow.”

It might kill him because he wanted nothing more than to kiss Charly—among other things.

Sniff her crotch.

Yeah, that might have to wait even longer.

Should pee on her lawn to warn off others.

Again, not something he should be doing in public. The neighbors would call the cops on him.

Shopping didn’t take long. Selene walked into the store and picked the girliest, most flowery suitcase they had. She then insisted on getting a gift for the dinner invite, a bottle of white wine.

When they returned and Selene handed it over, Charly’s brows lifted. “That wasn’t necessary.”

“No, but I insist we drink it.”

“I don’t have wine glasses.” Charly opened a cupboard, showing off mismatched cups.

“In college, I used to drink mine out of a travel mug. It prevented me from spilling it.”

Charly’s lips curved. “No travel mug but I’ve got plastic sippy ones.”

“Sippy cup, please,” Selene exclaimed. She glanced at Greta. “We can be juice buddies.”

His sister actually meant it. She clinked her pink cup with its spill-proof lid filled with wine against Greta’s, which held apple juice. Ares abstained since he’d be driving, but Charly had a glass with dinner, which turned out to be the best mac and cheese with hunks of ham he’d ever eaten. He made sure to tell her so.

“You’re just saying that,” Charly huffed as he helped her clear the dishes. They’d sent Selene to watch Christmas cartoons with Greta.

“I will have you know I take my food seriously.”

“It’s just pasta and cheese.”

“Not just any cheese, a blend of three, giving it its creamy texture. A hint of garlic, a touch of chipotle, and then the salty hunks of ham.” He kissed the tips of his fingers. “Perfection.”

“Mama, I’m on television.” Greta’s excited yell had Charly dashing in a panic to the living room to see.

She instantly froze as the video on screen showed the market this past weekend. People strolling. The stalls. There he was with his trees. And grinning ear to ear, as a snowman handed her a candy cane, Greta.

“What is this?” whispered Charly.

“YouTube video from the weekend. I cast it from my phone to the television.” Selene grinned at Greta. “You’re a movie star.”

“Anyone can see it?” Charly sounded faint.

“Yeah, but at three hundred views, it ain’t going viral. Not yet anyhow, but you never know. Maybe the princess will become famous.” Selene nudged Greta, who giggled, but Charly turned pure white.

Ares didn’t think; he acted, grabbing her by the hands and leading her outside, where she bent over and breathed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing.” The faintest of replies.

“Don’t nothing me, Charly. You freaked out seeing Greta on screen.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

It didn’t take a genius to fit the pieces of this puzzle. “You’re worried someone will see her.”

She glanced sideways at him, still bent over, her hair partially hiding her face. “I’m overreacting.”

“So I’m right. You are concerned.”

She straightened. “Yes, but like your sister said, doubtful it goes viral. I mean, who cares about a small-town Christmas Market?”

“Care to tell me what’s got you scared?”

For a second, he didn’t think she’d reply. Then she whispered, “He can’t find us.”

“He who?”

“Greta’s father.” She turned from him. “I know that sounds horrible, but trust me when I say she’s better off far away from him.”

“Did he hurt her? You?”

She shook her head. “I’d rather not talk about it. Let’s leave it at he’s not a nice man. And to give you an example, when Greta was just a baby, he walked out, claiming she wasn’t his kid.”

“She was, I take it?”

“Yes, and the paternity test proved it,” she snorted. “But she was not the right kind of kid, according to him. He called her defective.”

“Defective? Is he blind?”

“He never explained. I assumed it was because she was a girl or something stupid.”

“What a fucking idiot. Not only is she perfect, Greta’s got an awesome personality.”

“She is amazing, which is why I had to leave. More than five years after he walked out, he suddenly reappeared in our lives demanding we live with him. When I told him to go away, he threatened to take Greta from me.”

“I think a judge might take issue with that.”

“Oh, he wouldn’t wait for a judge. Barry would literally snatch her. From the street, school, her bed. He wouldn’t care.”

“You left to protect Greta.”

“I had no choice.”

“It’s unlikely he’ll see the video and figure out you’re here.”

“You don’t know him. He’s resourceful.” She hugged herself. “Argh. I hate living like this.”

“Would it help to know that if he shows, I’ll have your back?”

We will eat anyone who tries to harm, agreed wolf.

“No, because I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“Dear Charly, I’m tougher than I look.”

I am. Your skin is too soft.

“You’re too darned sweet,” she grumbled.

“Nah, that would be the pie.”

“It was good pie,” she admitted. “There’s not much left. I kind of had a piece for both breakfast and lunch.”

He laughed. “I swear it’s like you’re trying to make me fall in love with you.”

The words emerged from his mouth, and he froze.

She froze.

They stared at each other.

“Uh…” He had no comeback.

But she did. She leaned up and brushed her lips over his cheek, murmuring, “I’m almost tempted to let you.”

Then she went back inside.

And he grinned because she didn’t tell him to fuck off.