Ash's question hung in Vane's mind as he made his way back to Bride's shop. He didn't know what choice to make and Ash hadn't really helped.
In wolf form, he nosed his way in the door of her boutique. Since he'd moved in with her, Bride had made it a habit to leave the shop door ajar any time he left. As if she knew he'd be back.
She'd also made him a comfortable pallet behind her counter so that he could lie quietly and watch her while she worked. And he did like to watch her, especially when she interacted with other people. There was a kindness to her that others he'd known lacked.
He particularly liked to watch her with Tabitha. The two of them were extremely amusing. At least when they weren't discussing how much every member of his gender, with the exception of their fathers, sucked.
He half-expected Tabitha to attempt to neuter him just because he was male. Right now, Bride sat on her wooden stool beside her register as she finished eating half of a deli sandwich.
"There you are," she said, smiling at him. "I was wondering what happened to you."
She held out the other half of her sandwich and let him eat it from her hand. Vane finished it off, then placed his head in her lap. She stroked his ears and the tenderness of it shattered him.
Maybe Ash was right. Didn't he owe it to both of them to at least give her a choice? Vane Kattalakis had never allowed fear to govern him. But then, he had never lost anyone he loved until eight months ago.
In one night, he had lost everything.
Gods, he was so tired of being alone. So tired of not trusting anyone.
Of having no one to laugh with.
Maybe Bride was his future.
Maybe he would try this and see.
But how?
What did humans do to court each other?
Bride sat on her stool as she cleaned up after her lunch and tossed the garbage in the trash can. The last two days had been horrible as she put her tiny apartment in order and did her best to forget Taylor and his cruelty. Except the rat bastard had yet to return her stuff.
"Please don't make me have to go and get it," she said as she reviewed a catalogue for new merchandise by her register.
If she did, she was taking Tabitha with her just for the sake of vengeance.
And if Tabitha happened to bring a tire iron well, it wasn't as if Bride could keep her from it. It was a free country, after all. And if the tire iron ended up falling against Taylor's kneecaps a time or two or three dozen, well, accidents did happen.
Relishing the thought, she reached down and petted her wolf behind his ears and felt instantly better.
Over the last two days, Vane had become her constant companion. He sat even now behind the register at her feet, completely content just to be with her. If only she could find a man so loyal.
The door to her shop opened.
She looked up to see Taylor coming inside. Her heart stopped. He was tall and good-looking in that phony TV sort of way. He wore a pair of khakis and a black Ralph Lauren polo shirt.
He strode into the store like he owned it. Like he hadn't carelessly broken her heart just a few days ago.
"Hi, Bride," he said with that perfect capped-tooth smile of his. "Are you alone?"
Her wolf started to growl.
"Hi, Taylor," she said, reaching down to touch and soothe her companion.
"Except for my pet, yeah."
"Pet?" He peeped over the counter to look at Vane, who was now on his feet with his ears laid back.
Taylor stepped back. "That's a hell of a pet you have there. Did your dad give him to you?"
"What do you want?" she asked. "I know you didn't just come to shoot the breeze with me."
"I've, um, I've got your stuff outside and wanted to know what to do with it."
She looked outside to see a small moving van parked behind Taylor's red Alfa Romeo. "You were supposed to have it here two days ago."
He made a disgusted sound at her. "Yeah, well I've been busy. You know, I actually have a life."
She rolled her eyes at him as anger took hold. "You know, I do, too."
"Yeah," he said with a laugh. "Eating bonbons and watching TV is so time-consuming."
She gave him a reproachful glare. "You are such a jerk. What did I ever see in you?"
He held his arms out as if he were presenting himself to her and smiled.
"Same thing every woman sees in me, babe. Face it, we both know you'll never have another guy who looks as good as me interested in you."
Vane leaped at him.
"No!" Bride snapped, but it was too late. The wolf had already latched on to Taylor's arm.
Taylor screamed out in pain.
She grabbed the wolf and pulled him back. Vane strained against her, barking and snarling ferociously as he finally let go of Taylor's arm.
She pulled him into the back room and locked him up.
Taylor held his bleeding arm to his side. "That's it. Consider yourself sued."
"Don't even try it," she said, her own temper snapping as she came back to where he was standing. "You were on my property. I'll tell the police you were threatening me."
"Yeah, right, who would ever believe that?"
"Any anchor person at the other two stations who hate you as much as I do."
His face went pale.