“I’m enjoying this far too much to give it back,” hemocked.
She tugged again, but he didn’t let go.“Grayson! Let go or the date is off.”
Her tinkling laughter was like a soft melodyin his ears.
“Not until you explain.”
Jamie gave up with the tug-of-war. “Okay,you got me. It’s an oldtop, and I had a thing for werewolves back then,” she admitted. “Iwas just a kid, before my mum married a warlock and I found outwerewolves exist for real.”
He had wondered. “What about now you knowof our world?” Grayson held her gaze. “Do you still have a thing forwerewolves?”
She shook her head and laughed. “I walkedheadlong into that one, didn’t I? I must be crazy letting Willowset me up with you. You’re infuriating, you know that?”
“Infuriating? I suppose it’s animprovement on the othernames you’ve called me.”
She regarded him for a moment, her expressionserious now. “I’m sorry. You wound me up and sometimes I say stuffbefore my brain catches up.”
“I’m sorry about everything too.” Hecouldn’t apologise any more. It was up to her now.
The slightest nod of her head warmed hisheart.
“How about we start again?” she said.
“Best thing I’ve heard all day, but you stilldidn’t answer my question.” He grinned. “Do you still have a thingfor werewolves, or not?”
Jamie crossed her arms, her eyes glinting with amusement. “If Idid, you’d know about it, alpha.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Are you going to take me out, or what?”
If that was some kind of challenge, bring iton. “You bet I am. Come on.”
“But I need to change.”
He wouldn’t change her for the world. “As I said, you’reperfect as you are. Just put on some flat shoes, trainers orsomething.”
“Flats, why? Where are we going?”
“Although I draw the line at thesweatshirt. Seriously, Team Jacob? I’m insulted.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Nor did you.” Stalemate. He couldn’tremember when he’d had this much fun, and they hadn’t even beguntheir date yet.
She rolled her amazing eyes. “Wait there and I’ll grab someshoes.”
He waited, his chest filling with a happinesshe hadn’t felt for a long time.
Jamie returned, her dog tucked under her arm.“I’ll take Cujo to Willow’s. I’m sure she won’t mind looking afterhim.”
“Cujo can come too.”
She frowned. “Where are we going?”
“I wanted to take you somewhere special. Myfavourite place, in fact.”
“Argh, you’re not going to tell me, areyou?”
He chuckled as he opened the front door forher. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Jamie grabbed a red hoodie from the hook by the door and lockedup, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.
Grayson caught every word; she called herselfcrazy for agreeing to date a werewolf. “You do know my wolfie earscan hear you.”
She glanced at Willow’s door. “Keep your voice down. Willowdoesn’t know.”
He’d suspected as much when he’d been talkingto her on the phone. Grayson pretended to zip his lips closed.
Outside her apartment block, he fished hiskeys from his pocket and pressed the remote to hisRange Rover. He heldopen the door and Jamie climbed into the passenger seat.
“You ready?” he asked, sliding behind thewheel and turning the ignition on.
“No.” She flashed a grin his way. “Yet hereI am in a car, with no idea where an alpha werewolf istaking me.”
Grayson chuckled. “Still not tellingyou.”
He glanced up at the sky as he drove out ofthe car park.
On the journey, he observed the skyrepeatedly and sniffed the air too.
Damn, it didn’t look good. The weatherforecast had promised clear blue skies all day, but the air held the scent of animpending storm even though the only hint of clouds were in thedistance.
With any luck, they could have a picnicbefore the rain ruined everything, and he wanted it to be perfectfor her.
Jamie rummaged through his CD collection as he drove, takingthe mickey out of some of his choices, but most of them weren’this, they were Luna’s—she loved her girl bands and cheesy popsongs.
She settled on an R&B album, one ofhis favourites, and fed it into the CD player. “I love this album; their best, if youask me.”
He couldn’t agree more.
Half an hour passed while he sang—badly—tothe songs, much to Jamie’s amusement. So what if he embarrassedhimself? It was worth it to hear that melodic laughter of hers thatwas slowly seeping intohis heart.
Grayson indicated and slowed down to take thelane that led to Beckett Hall.
Jamie frowned. “We’re going to yourhome?”
“Yes and no.”
She groaned and fake-slapped his arm.
Electricity sparked where her fingers brushedhis skin, sending tingles up his arm. His thighs jerked together.Grayson stared ahead, gripping the steering wheel as he focused hisattention on navigating the potholes.
He pulled into the gravelled driveway.
Alice stood at the door. He might have knownshe’d spot them on the security cameras.
His dear aunt; by the size of the wickerhamper resting on the stone steps, she’d outdone herself inpreparing the picnic.
He could only hope it would impressJamie.
Chapter Eight
Jamie spotted the picnic basket by Alice’sfeet. “Your big surprise is a picnic?” She grinned at Grayson. “Ihaven’t been on a picnic in ages. My dad used to take me all thetime.”
Grayson switched off the engine andshifted to face her. “Really? You don’t mind that it’s not some five-starrestaurant?”
She found his genuine surprise endearing.“No, it’s a lovely idea.” She glanced at the sky. “Not sure aboutthe weather though.”
“It’ll be fine, I hope.” He leapt out ofthe car and came aroundto open her door.
He was playing the perfect gentleman, she’dgive him that. Somehow, a date with a werewolf was getting moreappealing by the second.
Jamie shuffled over the seat and steppedout of the car, but the ground was further down than shethought, and shestumbled.
Grayson caught her, his massive arms powerfulyet gentle as they circled her waist.
Heat radiated from his hand as he splayedhis fingers on the small of her back. His scent, earthy andmasculine, surrounded her. “Steady on. Are you okay?”
Her cheeks burned. He probably thought shedid that on purpose. Cujo yapped in the footwell, as though toagree. Her dog really needed some lessons in loyalty. She squaredher shoulders and took a step back. “All good, thanks.”
“Jamie, how lovely to see you again,” said Alice, beaming asshe
