“Yes, she is my mate, and no she doesn’t know it. Shit, she doesn’t even like me right now. She’s read all the gossip. I’m sure us talking over here isn’t helping.”
Patrick grinned and spun around, heading straight for Sky. “Ma’am, I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast. I hope Damien is showing you a fine time and not giving you any trouble. If he does, you come find me.”
Damien tried to hide his smile as Sky glanced at the Sheriff and then looked away. “From what I’ve read, you owe your job to him. I’m not sure how much help you’d be if I did have an issue with your boss.”
Patrick whistled and turned to Damien. “Good luck with this one. You’re going to need it. I’ll be in touch.” He tipped his hat to Sky and walked out. Damien shook his head and dropped back onto the seat across from her.
“He’s a good man and a better Sheriff, regardless of what you’ve read. He does his job and is good for this community.”
Sky nodded, but didn’t look like she believed a word he said. He sighed and glanced over as Lizzie walked up with their breakfast.
“Sky, I hope you’re hungry.” Lizzie cackled as she started setting plates down in front of them. Damien hadn’t thought about how much food he normally ate. As a shifter, he had a larger appetite and metabolism. He peeked up at Sky to see her reaction to the food.
Chapter Eleven
Sky couldn’t believe how much food Lizzie was setting on the table. Biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage, hash browns, eggs, grits, toast and even pancakes! “Um, I’m going to need a to go box. I can tell you that now.”
She turned her attention to Damien. “You eat this way often? How the hell aren’t you four hundred pounds?”
Damien laughed and started mixing his eggs into his hash browns. “I’m at least that much in my panther form, but you forget about a shifter’s metabolism. We burn a lot of energy and need the fuel and carbs to keep going.”
Sky gaped at him as he started eating. She couldn’t even imagine putting away a quarter of the meal, but she was going to give it her all. She was curious if it tasted as good as it smelled. Panther. She could see that.
She picked up her fork and took a large bite of her biscuits and gravy. Her moan of appreciation was louder than she expected, and she froze. But so did Damien. His eyes glowed, and she swore he was growling under his breath. “Um, sorry, I wasn’t expecting the flavors to burst on my tongue.”
This time she was sure Damien groaned, but he never took his eyes off her mouth. “Uh, Damien?” Had she spilled something down her face? Why was he staring at her?
Damien tore his eyes away and went back to eating. Sky took another bite of her biscuits and tried not to make any noise this time.
“So, you parade your women around. Flaunt your relationship with the Sheriff and have the waitstaff sticking up for you. I can’t wait to see what else you have to show me in this town. I’m really getting an idea of your personality, plenty to tell Gerri.”
She licked the gravy off her fork and set it down, then picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. “Damn, this is good.” She lifted her eyes to see Damien clenching his fork tightly, his fingers were turning white.
Shit! Maybe she shouldn’t bait the shifter while he had sharp utensils in his hands. “I’m sure Gerri can find a woman who will ignore what goes on behind her back.”
Damien slammed his hand down on the tabletop. “When I find my mate, I will be nothing but faithful. She will be protected and treated like the only woman I will ever want. Maybe you should set aside your prejudices and give this town and me a fair chance.”
“Everything okay here? Can I get you guys anything?”
Sky tore her eyes from Damien to see Lizzie standing next to them. She was glaring at Sky, but her voice was polite. It was a talent Sky could use, but she wasn’t one to pull her punches.
“I’m fine, thanks. Just a difference of opinion, that’s all. Could I get the check and a box please. I think I’ve had enough for today.” Sky couldn’t eat another bite if she’d wanted to, there was a lump in her throat, and she wasn’t sure what caused it. Was it Damien’s speech about his mate, or the fact he didn’t deny any of her accusations?
Lizzie nodded and turned to look at Damien, Sky rolled her eyes when she saw her face soften for him. “Do you want a box, Damien?”
Damien smiled up at the woman, “Thanks, love. I’d appreciate it. But add it to my tab, no check.”
Lizzie nodded and walked away.
“I can handle paying for my own breakfast. I don’t need you doing it for me.” Sky realized she was probably being irrational at this point, but everything he did and said seemed to get under her skin. Why was he having this much effect on her?
“I’m sure you can, but I asked you out to breakfast, and I will pay for it. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re a kept woman.” Damien bit the words out, and Sky knew she had touched a nerve. She decided to change the subject.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me, and you inviting me for breakfast was very nice. Thank you for buying breakfast.” Sky nodded at Lizzie as she set boxes in front of them. “Is everything okay with the Sheriff? Your conversation looked serious.” Sky glanced up at him as they both scraped their food into the to go boxes.
“Yeah, just some random violence out at the warehouses.” Damien scooted out and stood, holding a hand out for her.
Sky bit her lip and glanced at his hand then up to his face. With too much internal debate, she decided to do the polite thing and let him help her from the seat. He didn’t step back and they ended up chest to chest. “You’re not a kept woman, and I would never treat you like one.”
Damien stepped back and grabbed both their containers, said bye to Lizzie and walked to the door and waited for her to catch up.
Sky needed a moment for her legs to work though. The growly words, his scent, and body heat sent her into a tailspin. She wasn’t sure she could make it out the door. Lizzie watched her with a knowing smirk, and Sky wanted to roll her eyes. She knew she had it bad, but she refused to give in easily. She wasn’t desperate, and no matter what Gerri said, she wasn’t going to have a one-night stand with anybody just to get some good cock. She straightened her back and gave a nod to Lizzie, then walked to the door where Damien waited.
“Thank you, where are we heading next?”
Damien didn’t respond until after he placed the food containers in the back seat and followed her around to the passenger side and opened her door. He shut it, and she watched as he walked around. He opened his door and slid into the seat, his scent hitting her, and she bit her lip to keep from moaning out loud. He had the power to turn her hormones into mush. If only she could separate her mind from her libido.
“I thought I would take you around town, a driving tour. To show you how much it’s changed and how happy the people are.” Damien sounded excited to share the area with her, but she couldn’t see how him showing the changes he brought to the town would help. It would just show how indebted the people were to him.
“Sure, sounds good. It will be nice to have some information on the town to give to your mate.” Damien’s mouth tightened, but he nodded and turned to the front of the car, putting it in reverse.