It was one thing for him to be a shifter, but a billionaire shifter complicated things on a whole new level.
"If it's the inheritances you're worried about, some of it is genuinely mine. The rest of the money comes in and is maintained through a shipping company I run. So don't worry, if I decide I want to spoil you, I'm not spend my great-granddaddy's cash on it. This will be all on me."
She blinked at him. "Wait, you run a shipping company?"
He smiled. "Yes, it's all very anticlimactic, isn't it? My father bought older companies and sold off the assets, and my grandfather was a lawyer, all perfectly normal, boring stuff."
That same cute blush returned to her cheeks. "No, it's not boring or anything. Just different from what I thought."
That was the point, and it was good.
Garret didn't tease her further. He pulled a chair out, noting the increase in color in Miranda's cheeks as she sat and he pushed her chair forward.
Dane walked through the doors, spotting them. "Oh, good, you're here."
He left without another word and returned with Jax walking behind him. They both carried two platters, one in each hand, and they were filled with meats, cheeses, breads, and salad.
Garret heard the grumble of Miranda's stomach at the sight of the food.
"No peanuts?" he asked, just to be sure.
"I checked the packaging and everything," Jax said. "All is nut free. I have to go back for the salad dressing, drinks, and mayo, though."
"Thank you," Miranda said as the platters were set in front of her. Since the table was already set for over a dozen people, all she had to do was grab her fork and take what she wanted.
"I'll come and check on things later," Jax said, and he and Dane took their leave.
Garret waved them off and smiled as he watched his mate, immediately pleased at the healthy appetite Miranda showed when she grabbed turkey shavings, cheese, and bread, and stacked it all together to make a sandwich.
She took big bites, chewed not as much as Garret would have wanted her to, and licked her fingers when she finished.
When Jax returned with the mayo, she added that to her next sandwich, then drank a full glass of apple juice before eating a salad and making yet another sandwich.
"God, that was good, thanks so much."
"Would you like more?"
"No, I'm way too full," she said, even though she reached over to one of the plates, grabbed a cheese cube, and nibbled on it. Garret could tell she was somewhat embarrassed, though he couldn't figure out why.
"Your body is warm. Are you feeling well?"
That dark color rose up her neck and settled into her ears. "How can you tell if I'm warm or not?"
"I'm sitting beside you. I can feel you. I can always feel you."
She shivered.
"Does that bother you?"
Miranda shook her head.
Garret pressed his elbow to the table, leaning his head on his fist as he observed his woman. "Then what troubles you?"
A soft groan escaped Miranda's throat as she squeezed her eyes shut, and only then did Garret realize this might be serious.
"I didn't want you to see me eat."
He blinked. "Why not? You're going to see me eat. You're going to see me hunt and kill something and eat it like you ate that rabbit."
"Oh God , don't remind me of that. I still feel horrible about that."
"So why are you uncomfortable letting me see you eat?"
Miranda pressed her hands together on the chair between her knees. The sheet around her middle was startling to slip down, revealing more of her creamy peach skin, but she didn't seem to notice.
"It's not just about seeing me eat; it's about seeing how much I eat."
"I eat a lot."
"That's different. I'm a woman."
Garret sat back in his chair, arms folding as he turned his head to stare. "That is by far the most foolish thing I've ever heard in my life. You're a woman. What of it?"
She shook her head. "You just don't get it because you're a cool alpha wolf right out of a shifter romance novel. You probably eat ten times a day and never put an ounce of fat on all those
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