Chapter 26: Lottie

Cooking with Sophie and Ginger is the most fun I've had in years. Even though Hunter insisted on driving me here, he did leave for a good portion of the time I was learning to cook. I'm thankful for this because I made a fool of myself more than once. But now I can successfully cook scrambles eggs without turning them to rubber, make toast and coffee without burning it, and even a chicken casserole. It's a lot easier than I thought it would be, but it still took me two tries to get it right.

Sophie also made chocolate chip cookies that smell heavenly. She promises to teach me to bake on another day. Apparently, that deserves its own lesson.

Hunter strolls into the kitchen just as we're cleaning up. I slide my near-perfect chicken casserole in front of him on the kitchen island and smile proudly.

"Look what I made."

He sniffs it and hums appreciatively.

"Go ahead, take a taste."

Handing him a fork, he doesn't hesitate to plunge it into the creamy cheesy noodles and chicken. The bite is more like an entire serving size on his fork, but he fits it into his mouth easily, his eyes widening in surprise at the taste.

"Tastes just like Moms."

Which is the biggest compliment he could give me. Last night, when he stayed at the cabin with me, he made dinner for us again since I'm apparently useless in the kitchen. Well, maybe not anymore. His cooking skills still far succeed my own, though, and probably always will.

Spending another night under the same roof as Hunter and him still not doing more than being thoughtful and sweet and giving me nothing more than toe-curling kisses was infuriating. How dare he get a girl all excited and leave her hanging.

I know he wants more with me and I him. Every moment I spend with him increases it threefold. His scent, the deep timber of his voice, the feel on his body so close to mine but not touching skin to skin. He's fast becoming a drug, even more addicting than the cinnamon rolls at Sticky Bun's.

Hunter chews and swallows and immediately takes another mouthful.

"That good, huh?"

"Mmhmm," he mumbles through a mouthful of food.

Watching him eat something I made, and it being good, makes my heart all fuzzy inside. Before he can protest, I snap a Polaroid for my growing collection of memories. All I've ever known is music; it's all I've ever been good at, and it's all I was allowed to do. Being able to make something else with just as much of myself in it as my music is a new sensation. One that I'd like to repeat.

Sophie pulls the cookies out of the oven and barely sets them on the cooling rack before all three of us reach to grab one. Hunter shoves the entire thing in his mouth in one go while Ginger and I take more reasonable bites of ours. They're warm and gooey and fill my stomach with warmth beyond just their temperature.

I feel a wholeness growing inside when we leave Hunter's parent's house. One that makes me smile for no reason and sticks with me the entire way back to the cabin, containers full of leftover casserole and cookies at my feat.

"I have a surprise for you," Hunter says as he helps me out of his truck when we arrive home.

"Really? What is it?"

I love surprises. He could say it's something as simple as a walk in the woods and I'd be excited for it. I wouldn't mind if he shifted back into wolf form and we went for a walk.

"The library puts on a movie under the stars night in the old abandoned drive-in theater. The screen is on the ground, and no cars can drive in there anymore. It's become overgrown with grass that is decently comfortable on a blanket or in a folding lounge chair. They're having it tonight, and I thought we could go."

My heart races with excitement, but I don't want to be too obvious that I'm excited to go out to see a movie. He may not know it, but the only movies I've seen in a theater were movie premiers I was forced to go to, and most of them sucked. Going to a drive-in wasn't even on my list of things to do while living incognito, and now I'm wondering why it wasn't.

I try to mask my elation with calm interest.

"And that's not too exposed for you?" I tease. He chortles.

"No, I think I can handle one night at the movies. Besides, we'll be surrounded by lots of other non-humans and humans. We'll be completely safe. Vincent won't start anything in a group like that. He may be an asshole, but he doesn't like to deal with so much collateral."

The thought has me cringing. Just thinking about Vincent hurting all those innocent people has me hating him even more. Shaking the horrible mental image of screaming townspeople from my brain, I focus on the fun movie-under-the-stars aspect of my evening.

"What movie are they showing? Please tell me it's something good and not something lame like Mission Impossible ."

" Mission Impossible is not lame. But no, they aren't playing any Tom Cruise movies. They like to play old classics that are appropriate for all ages. This week is The Wizard of Oz ."

"That sounds great, I love that movie. I don't think I've watched it since I was a kid."

Hunter grins as we enter the cabin, casserole dish in hand.

"Good. Cause that's not the only surprise I have for you."

"There's more?" I squeal in uncontrolled delight.

"Yes, but you have to wait till later to get the rest."

Pouting out my bottom lip, I give him my best puppy dog eyes. I love surprises, but I hate waiting to get them. He just shakes his head at me as he puts the casserole in the fridge.

"That's not going to work, Nightingale. You're just going to have to wait. But I promise you'll love it."

"I better."

Hunter's expression turns playful as he stalks over to me, trapping me against the back of the couch with an arm on either side.

His nose skims down my neck, and tingles prickle across my skin. Pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the crook of my neck, I shiver.

"Promise," he whispers against my skin, his lips never breaking contact as he lingers there, practically absorbing into me.

How I could so easily fall for this man. With his sultry words and easy affection. Not to mention the body on him that radiates heat against mine and is corded with muscles that flex and shift and taunt me to touch them.

Maybe soon I will.

~Hunter~

Lottie is the most impatient surprisee ever. For the whole afternoon she tries to get me to tell her the other surprise, which I don't. What good is a surprise if you know what it is? Plus, I enlisted my sister to help organize the surprise, and I don't want to get Lottie's hopes up if Ginger isn't able to deliver my request.

For a movie in the woods, Lottie sure did dress up for the event. I told her she didn't have to, but she insisted she was comfortable, and that's all that matters. The plunging neckline of her jumpsuit far too low to be worn without a shirt underneath, but she does it anyway. The black lace of her bra that thankfully covers enough to not flash anyone, beckons me to tear through it with my teeth and release her perfect breasts hidden beneath. The practically sheer white sweater she wears over the ensemble isn't nearly enough to quash my growing desire or divert my gaze from her.

We couldn't arrive at the drive-ins soon enough. I need something to distract me from staring at Lottie.

The makeshift movie theater doesn't have any parking, and you can't drive up to it like you used to be able to when it was a functioning drive-in theater. Meaning we have to park in the lot across the street from the firehouse and high school on the corner. The old road leading to the theater is no more than a narrow dirt path that curves behind the high school sports field to the repurposed space.

I help Lottie out of my truck as she loops her Polaroid camera over her shoulder. She's almost as bad as my dad, carrying her camera with her everywhere. I appreciate that it's instant and not digital. I don't have to worry that any of these photos will appear on Instagram, the bane of my existence.

She looks me up and down with a quizzical expression on her beautiful face, the ends of her short blonde hair brushing her jaw.

"You said this is like a blanket on the ground situation, right?"

"Yup."

"So, where's your blanket?"

One corner of my mouth quirks up, and her expression shifts from questioning to amused.

"I've got it covered. Don't worry."

Her lips purse in a stifled smile, but she doesn't press me to tell her. Perhaps since we're here now she has enough patience to wait until we walk down the path.

Placing her hand on my bicep, I pull her close to me and guide us down the path. Thankfully, Lottie has more sensible taste in shoes than my sister, and we make it to the grassy field relatively easily.

There are already a few dozen people here, their blankets spread across the ground and couples paired up close together while they wait for the movie to start. As usual, Dottie has set up a snack table offering free popcorn, water, and an array of toppings to make "gourmet" popcorn.

Lottie gasps at my side, and I turn to find her wide-eyed and smiling so big I'm sure I can see every one of her teeth.

"Wow, this looks amazing. Can we get some popcorn? I love dipping mine in nacho cheese."

"Of course, but first, let's find our spot."

She nods and lets me lead her to the far back corner, slightly separated from the majority of the people clumping closer to the screen. I like having a little space from everyone, and being out of direct ear shot of others will benefit us both. I don't plan on sitting silently watching the movie. I'm going to use every opportunity I have to get to know Lottie better.

Nestled against a fallen tree trunk, I find the next surprise I have planned for Lottie. A large thick blanket is spread across the ground a few pillows propped against the trunk with a small cooler sitting nearby. Which hopefully holds surprise number three.

"Here we are," I announce when we approach the impeccably set up picnic. Ginger did good, I'll have to thank her. She's never going to let me forget it.

"Is this for us?" She kneels and scoots onto the blanket, making herself comfortable and setting her Polaroid camera to the side, not even waiting for me to confirm it's ours.

"Yup. All ours. I like to have my space. Plus, I like having a backrest, but I also want to cuddle with you and keep you warm. Because once the sun goes down, that thin thing you call a top isn't going to keep you warm."

Her laughter is bright and warm, and I bask in its ease. Sitting down next to her, I lean against the plethora of pillows, making sure to press myself up close to her side. She doesn't protest and reciprocates the gesture, settling in and getting comfortable. The act has my inner beast growling in pleasure. Lottie may be coming around to the idea of us—the idea of being my mate.

"How did you do all this?" she asks.

"Ginger helped."

"Well, remind me to thank her because this is great." She takes in the nest of blankets and pillows my sister assembled. I'll admit it is very comfortable.

"So, what's in the cooler? Is it another surprise?" she asks eagerly.

"As long as my sister was able to acquire what I asked, then yes. Go on, open it up."

Sliding the cooler in front of her, she sits up and lifts the lid, her eyes going wide at its contents. The special meal I asked Ginger to pick up from Jared for tonight.

"I know our little town isn't anything close to Los Angeles, but you mentioned wanting sushi the other day, and I thought maybe I could give you something you're missing."

She reaches in and pulls out a clear container filled with rice-wrapped sushi rolls. I'm not a sushi expert by any means, but they look good to me. I had no doubt Jared would be able to make them even though they don't offer them on the menu at Dottie's. He is an extremely talented chef, and I had full trust he could if he had the ingredients. I'm just happy he was able to on such short notice.

"Oh my goodness, Hunter. This is the best surprise ever. I love it. Thank you. Sushi is my favorite, and I have been craving it. Where did you get it? I haven't found it anywhere in town."

My chest swells, and my spine straightens ever so slightly under her praise. I was able to give her something no other could.

"I have my connections. I am the mayor, after all."

"Well, you may have to introduce me to your connection because if this tastes as good as it looks, I'm going to need more."

"I'll give you anything you ask of me, Nightingale."

A blush pinkens her cheeks, and she ducks her head self-consciously. So, unlike her outgoing personality. For someone who's been in the spotlight a good portion of her life, it's interesting to see her shying away when it's just the two of us.

"Well, are you going to eat it and tell me how it tastes?" I ask when she sits staring at the container of food without opening it. "How will I know it's any good if you don't tell me?"

Her posture eases, and she opens the lid, picking out a roll and popping the entire thing in her mouth. Her eyes close, and she moans around the food in satisfaction.

"Good?"

With her mouthful, she can only nod vigorously and doesn't pause to speak once she finishes chewing before shoving another roll in her mouth.

Note to self; buy Lottie as much sushi as she wants.