Who didn’t want someone who believed they were worth being spoiled? It’s a gift, she thought as they ambled back to where Damon had already set out a mug for her and produced a platter of cheese and meat with a flourish.

  “Biscuit and I were looking at the progress on the house. The view you’re going to have from the kitchen sink is going to be staggering.”

  “I poured you some mulled cider. It’s got bourbon in it. I also have nonalcoholic. I’ve got the usual suspects as well. Beer. I can make you hot tea. There’s wine and bourbon as I mentioned.”

  “I love mulled cider, especially when it’s also got bourbon. Thanks.” Ruby settled into the chair and he showed up with a blanket lined in shearling that he tucked around her legs.

  “I figure we can have a snack while we wait. I made chicken. Country captain chicken, my grandmother calls it. It’s her recipe. It’s got about twenty minutes left.”

  Smooth-talking cool kid Damon Dooley was flustered and nervous. What a thrill!

  “Sounds really good. Perfect for a chilly night.” Ruby sipped her drink and then patted her knees. “The blankets are a very nice touch. Thoughtful.”

  “I want you to be comfortable.”

  It was a simple thing but integral.

  Ruby reached out to squeeze his hand briefly before she helped herself to some of the cheese and crackers and stuff he’d laid out. “This would have been a fine dinner in and of itself,” she told him as she added a little bit more of the strawberry jam to the pile on her cracker.

  His grumble of outrage told her what he thought about that. “How was your week?” he asked, settling back, his long, powerful legs stretched out.

  “Weird. But mostly not too bad. We’re getting into a rhythm at work. Partly because we haven’t had long enough to get into fights, but also because we seem to work well together. I learn things from them all every day. I’m doing what I love to do and I’m back in my community. It feels absolutely like where I’m supposed to be right now. What about you? How was your week?”

  He clinked his mug to hers. “It’s been a busy week at the Mercantile. With Samhain, Collins Hill Days and Halloween all coming up we’ve been slammed with mail orders and all sorts of housewares. Everyone wants to get the last of their outdoor home improvement done before the middle of next month so we always stock up on paint and nails and new drills. Weatherizing and all that too. Jace works over at the mechanic shop when he’s not working on Dooley business.”

  “I imagine getting ready for the Halloween dinner is taking up all sorts of energy and time.”

  Every year, the shifters in Diablo Lake held a huge dinner after the little ones finished trick-or-treating. Some of them showed up the day before to start whatever meat they were presenting to the community. They had their specialties and guarded recipes zealously. Everyone brought something. It was an undertaking that took up a huge amount of work hours just to coordinate who was doing what and when. And to do it all without offending anyone. There were a lot of moving parts and a lot of them had sharp teeth.

  Damon snorted. “You could say that. My grandma Patty’s in charge of the organizing committee so I know things’ll be handled well. It’s a load off my mind to know she can handle it and then Katie Faith can learn on the job, which is good too.”

  “Helps everyone see she’s learning to be part of Dooley even if she’s a witch and not a shifter. Plus your grandmother is like mine, cunning. And Ms. Patty is good at politics too. Katie Faith knows how fortunate she is to be learning from someone like her.”

  “Thank you. That means a lot. People underestimate her. They don’t think she’s smart when in reality, she can run circles around most folks. When I say that to her, she just laughs all evil-like and says it’s even more satisfying to kick their asses when they thought she was a dumb hick instead of an alpha wolf.”

  “I sure do love your grandparents,” Ruby said, laughing.

  * * *

  The dogs went right to the edge they’d agreed upon—somehow—with Damon, but not one nose farther. There was much snuffling and barking and peeing and running back to check on Ruby.

  “This plot, lot, whatever you call it where a house goes,” Ruby waved a hand at the area they sat in, “is perfect. The light at my house is lovely at sunrise and sunset, but up here you’ve got enough elevation that there’s not much to get in the way.”

  “You guessed that the kitchen would have an excellent view of sunrise light. And I definitely think it will. The master takes up a corner that’ll have a wraparound balcony to take advantage of both. Shifters get up early so the eastern exposure will help me wake up but also since I’m up, why not have the house built in such a way that I get the most out of it?”

  “Absolutely. I didn’t take the largest bedroom in my house because the smaller one had a better view and feel to it. Your house should make you happy. There’s very good magic here,” she told him. “So many shades of green. Browns, some deep blues. The water is very clean. I’ve never lived anywhere in Diablo Lake that wasn’t surrounded by other witches, so this is new to me. But my magic seems to love it.”

  He nodded. “Your presence, even in just the week or so that you’ve lived in the house, has changed the land. There are apple trees just over there.” Damon pointed. “They’re fruiting now. Won’t be long before the branches will be heavy with ripe apples.”

  “Excellent! I’m making spiced apple cake for the Samhain bonfire. I’ll pay you in baked goods if you let me pick them.”

  He just looked at her for long moments and then shook his head. “Ruby darlin’, you’re welcome to the apples on my trees and whatever else that suits your fancy and grows on my land. I’ll even help you harvest it all.”

  Ruby knew she gulped like a cartoon character, but he managed to make an offer to help her pick apples into something sexy and mysterious.

  That moment, naturally, was interrupted by the approaching gallop of the dogs. Ruby managed to sternly order K Mags drop it before she got a lapful of warm and bloody dead rodent.

  K Mags sat next to the treasure though, proud, and Ruby sucked up her dread and apologized. “Yikes. I’m sorry, Damon. Let me get that cleaned up.”

  Damon just rolled his eyes, but stayed her progress with a wave of his hand. “I did some reading about Cairn terriers,” Damon said, surprising her. “They dig and hunt rats and the like. It’s what they were bred to do.”

  “Maybe. But last week he dropped a still-twitching mole on my bare foot.” Ruby shuddered.

  Damon tossed a piece of salami to K Mags. “We can work on that. But I promise I’m not offended with the little brothers doing their jobs.”

  “Little brothers?”

  “I’ve gone back and forth about dogs and what they are in relation to what I am. But Biscuit and K Mags are part of your pack, and in some way also part of mine. They’re curious and brave. That’s a combo that means it’s helpful to have a big brother or sister. Essentially an older shifter who can relate and help guide the younger ones through hard times. When they’re here, I think on them as little brothers.”

  “Well. That’s just.” She looked up at him, struck by the depth of sweetness in him. “What lucky dogs they are. Their mom too,” she settled on.

  He ducked his head again and busied himself dealing with whatever type of deceased rodent K Mags had brought and cleaning up the evidence well enough that within a few minutes, it had been forgotten.

  At last, a timer dinged and he popped into the trailer and five minutes later he’d come out again, carrying a tray with steaming plates of chicken and rice and a little basket overflowing with bread.

  “Here we go. I hope you’re hungry.”

  “I even get tableside service? This date is really good so far, Damon. I’ll leave a positive review online.”

  He snorted.

  The food smelled really tasty and after the first bite neither of them said much for a few minutes, just eating and enjoying the night.

  “This is really good,” Ruby told him.

  “It’s one of my company recipes. I have four or so that I’m good enough at I make them for special occasions. My grandma’s is better, I think. But this is close.”

  “I’ve had this lots of times, but I can say without lying that this is my favorite so far. The tomatoes are what takes it over the top.”

  “Last jar of tomatoes I had. Aimee’s mom brought me all sorts of stuff at the end of summer last year. I only realized recently that the tomatoes would be perfect. She puts a little hot pepper in hers. Makes the sauce a little extra zesty.”

  Who’d have thought he’d appreciate home-canned ingredients and perfecting recipes? It only made him more attractive.

  “Maybe next time I’m canning I’ll give you a call so you can come help,” she told him, thinking about how a second helping would be a compliment to his skills in the kitchen so it was a nice thing to do.

  It certainly made him look happy as he popped up and took her plate off to get her some more.

  And then, after they’d finished dinner, Damon pulled out marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers. “Figured s’mores for dessert would be a good thing,” he said. “If grown-up Ruby is anything like twelve-year-old on a campout Ruby, that is.”

  “Sure isn’t a bad thing,” she agreed. Also not bad that he’d remembered something she’d loved as a kid.

  “That was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on a camping trip,” Ruby told him honestly. Then again, it had been before she’d known the real difference of camping in places that had community showers and toilets at the very least. “Even though I was the only girl and you and my brother just pretended I wasn’t there. Gathering around the campfire at night for s’mores made up for it though.”

  He laughed, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingertips. “I like having you around,” he said quietly. “You were gone for years but now that you’re back, it’s like, well, I don’t like to think about you being anywhere else.”

  In the yellowy gold light from the string lights, Damon looked even sexier as he leaned close enough for her to meet him halfway for a kiss. She hummed, delighted, as he licked over her bottom lip before he nibbled it.

  He just meandered around her mouth, tasting and teasing in little licks and nips. It left her caught between breathless anticipation at what he’d do next and pleasure from whatever he’d just done.

  But then he pulled away, the cad, and set about impaling fluffy marshmallows on the end of a stick before handing it over. “You get those all gooey and hot and I’ll stack the chocolate.”

  If she hadn’t heard the slightest tremble in his voice, she would have been annoyed he’d been so unaffected by that kiss.

  And it wasn’t even just the kiss—though ten of ten, would kiss again—it was also that whispered confession that he liked her around. And the date as a whole.

  It was wonderful. And thoughtful. It wasn’t as if Damon was a bad guy at all. He was funny and flirty and good at all sorts of stuff. But this...she’d never experienced a date like this. She was probably spoiled for life now. How else could anyone compete with this?

  Just shy of totally blackened outsides, Ruby left two marshmallows on each bed of cookie and chocolate while Damon held the top—more cookie and chocolate—on. Smooshed together, it was a melty, gooey, sweet and sticky mess that tasted a little of woodsmoke and fresh air.

  The best dessert she’d ever had, hands down.

  It didn’t hurt at all that it was eaten while she sat next to the most beautiful individual she’d ever met in person who also kissed her like she was the tastiest thing in the universe.

  * * *

  When Damon rose, Ruby helped him clean up the remains of their dessert but before she tried to wash the dishes, he pulled her close.

  “I think we should dance awhile.”

  “That so?” The attempt at super-confident sexy bravado was undercut a bit by the way her pulse thundered in her ears. She knew without a doubt he heard it too.

  “Don’t move,” he murmured after kissing her quickly. A few beats later, music began to play. “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young. “Dance with me,” he said and she took the hand he held her way and in a few steps, she rested her body against his. His arm banded her waist, holding her close and her cheek rested on his chest, over his heart.

  * * *

  Damon had danced his share. Had always loved the dance floor because that’s always where the girls and the fun were. But this was different. This was different even from the times he’d held Ruby against his body before.

  The stars wheeled overhead as the fire in the firepit crackled. He buried his face in the curve of her neck and breathed in deep with a groan of pleasure he hoped didn’t scare her. She snuggled closer and he smiled against her skin.

  By that time, her scent had burrowed into him, snagging his attention. Teasing. Sensual. Delightful.

  Anticipation rode his spine as the few seconds it took for Ruby to turn her face up to his for a kiss stretched and heated. It was no time at all while also feeling like hours.

  His gaze flicked from her lips, parting on a sigh, to her eyes and the way her lashes had swept down.

  Damon bent his knees and met her lips with his. A soft, warm brush as she opened on a gasp. A good gasp, that had a little teeth at the end as she grazed his bottom lip. When he returned the nip of teeth, she gasped again and he knew he’d never, ever tire of that sound.

  She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him along with her to the footstool she stood on to bring herself closer to his height.

  Fuck. Yes.

  With a snarl, he stepped closer and banded her waist as she slid her arms around his neck and pulled him impossibly nearer. His heart beat so hard Damon was sure she heard it too.

  And then they were kissing. Lips, teeth and tongues a tangle of need and pleasure.

  It went on, an endless loop of kissing that seemed to spin a web that bound them together.

  She was fire in his arms, her body against his, every brush of contact sending sparks of desire through him. Damon wanted to strip her down slowly and worship every inch of skin he revealed.

  He would.

  Not that night though.

  As much as he ached for her, the first time they slept together wasn’t going to be in the lumpy bed of the trailer.

  When they moved back, both dazed, mouths kiss swollen, Damon picked her up and put her safely back on the ground.

  “Thanks for dinner. And dessert. And the s’mores.” Her grin brought one of his own in answer.

  “You’re welcome. When I say it was my pleasure I really do mean it.”

  He had to be at the Mercantile at seven thirty to get it ready to open at eight and it was already after one in the morning so he loaded the dogs and their gear up and then helped Ruby into the passenger side and drove them back to her place.

  “What are you doing Sunday?” he asked once he’d carried the dog beds back inside. “I’m at the Mercantile until six tomorrow night and then there’s Dooley business I need to attend to.”

  “I’m taking my grandparents to church. But they go to the first service so I’ll be free by noon or so.”

  “Want to go for a hike? Not strenuous or far. But up to the ridge and back? It’s easy enough you could bring the dogs too.”

  “All right. Yes, that sounds fun.”

  “I’ll pick you up here at twelve fifteen or so. Just text me if you’re running behind.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “Yeah. Liking that more and more every day,” he told her as he gave her a quick kiss and then headed off into the night. He needed a run before he went to sleep.

  * * *

  Ruby watched his taillights as they faded from view and then closed the curtains.

  “So, that happened,” she told the dogs.

  In the mirror after she’d taken off her makeup and was getting ready to brush her teeth, she noted how swollen her lips were even still.

  The last few minutes before she left weren’t full of sweet kisses. Or even brief kisses. No, Damon’s kisses were a claim. It didn’t matter that her lips would be fine in a few minutes. She’d feel the weight of those kisses long after that night.

  Chapter Eight

  “If you don’t tell me about that date right now I’m going to get mad,” Nichole said as she cruised into the clinic the following afternoon. “A text that says, ohmigod it was an amazing date, ttyl, isn’t enough. Oh and I brought you a sandwich.” Her sister-in-law held up a tote bag. “Coleslaw too. Take a break. I know it’s your break time. I called ahead to see.”

  “You’re so bossy,” Ruby said with a snicker. “It was a really good night,” Ruby admitted after they got themselves seated in the little break room. “He made me dinner. And we had s’mores for dessert. We danced under the stars. The dogs were there, by invitation. There was a goodly amount of kissing. All of which I’d give a ten of ten.”

  Ruby described how he’d decorated the whole area and had a fire going and all the accessories she’d need to stay warm.

  “That’s so romantic! He’s really going for it, huh?”

  “It’s familiar and very different at the same time. Being with him is easy. I like him. I’ve always liked him. But as a man, he’s grown into someone I’d like to know better. When I talk, he listens, you know? All his attention is on me, even if he’s in the middle of something. It’s flattering and sexy and overwhelming.”

  “This is all very promising, I must say. Your brother is like that. As if there’s nothing in the world but me when I’m speaking or doing something. The men in your family were raised right.”