He raised a brow. “I thought we were going to buy.”
“I don’t have that much.”
“How about a used car?”
“Reliable used cars are still expensive.”
Odd, he had no idea about the cost of mundane things. Had he really been some rich prince with servants to drive him around? “Okay, then. We’ll steal one.”
Gaby shook her head. “Are you kidding? Cops will be searching for a stolen vehicle.”
“Not if I ask the owner for his keys and compel him to remember donating it to a charity.”
“If it works, why not?” She glanced at a local restaurant. “Let’s get a bite to eat first.”
Kane scanned the area for trouble. No one had followed them. His wolf snorted. We are good at covering our tracks. He smiled. Yes, we are. This was not the first time he’d outwitted hunters. The question was who had been the hunters? The Keep as Avery mentioned, or enemy werewolves out to execute him?
Gaby smiled. “Pancake special. Just try not to wolf down your meals.”
Very funny. “I’m not a fan of pancakes, but I smell the bacon from here.”
They entered the restaurant and asked the waitress to take them to the back, away from the other customers. They quickly ordered a stack of pancakes for her and a ranch meal of eggs and bacon for him. The waitress placed a pitcher of coffee on their table.
“How did you sleep?”
“Despite the danger and uncertainty, I slept really well.”
In my arms, of course you did. Kane put down his mug and grabbed her hand. “Gaby, right or wrong, we were meant to meet.” He brushed his lips against her tender fingers. “You feel it, too.”
Gaby licked her lips and her green eyes moistened. “Yes, but we shouldn’t act on these feelings.” Her shoulders drooped. “What if you have…a wife or even children?”
Guilt bit his heart. A mate? Family? He released her hand, but couldn’t imagine anyone else by his side. His wolf snarled. I don’t sense a mate, but you can’t take a human. He shook his head. “No. My wolf would know if I’d mated. Just like he knows I was brain wiped and it was my fault.” He sneered. “Avery called it a werewolf lobotomy, yet, it failed since I never stayed in wolf form without a human memory.”
“Unless, it was a drug meant to keep you only human, but failed.”
“Now there’s a thought. Although, I don’t follow the logic.”
“Maybe your kind has the option of going human and forgetting your wolf nature.”
He chuckled. “If that’s the case, the drug failed miserably.”
“Then again, your retrograde amnesia might be due to the brain injury you suffered.”
“Who knows?” He returned to his meal and they ate in silent torment. He wanted her, and he knew she wanted him. Stalemate until he got his memory back.
Gaby sliced a pancake but before she popped the piece in her mouth, she perked up. “There must be a way to find out.”
“What?”
“If we head to wolf country, we can find a werewolf pack.”
He frowned. “I prefer to find out who I am, especially with my wolf reminding me the mind wipe was my fault.”
“I say, you trust your wolf then.”
Not when my wolf warns me against making you mine. Not to mention the edict to kill wolf charmers meant he shouldn’t bring her around any pack. He changed the subject. “What about you? Now that you are free, have any plans after our road trip?” Not that I’m letting you go. His wolf groaned, but agreed. Even if he made a promise to a potential mate, she would need to accept Gaby or let him go.
“I don’t know. Maybe work as a dog handler and devote the rest of my time to painting.” She sipped coffee and then stared at the cup. “Won’t be easy since I don’t have people skills.”