of garlic preceded Roxie when she returned. Ryann’s stomach growled in anticipation. She had a weakness for Italian food. All heads turned her way, and she blushed. She hadn’t thought the sound of her stomach grumbling had been that loud.
She looked at Roxie. “It smells delicious. I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
“ Well, help yourself, and eat as much as you want. I made lots.”
No one spoke as the food was dished up on their plates. Once she had hers, Ryann picked up her piece of garlic bread and took a bite. It was really good, so was the lasagna when she had some of that.
While they ate, a large bottle of red wine was passed around, everyone filling the wineglass next to their plate. And as the meal progressed, it went around a second time. Once that was emptied and another bottle had been opened, Ryann knew there was no way she’d be able to keep up with the others at the table. Two glasses were her max, especially if she wanted to remain sober for later. She wasn’t one of those drunks who could liven up a party. No, finding a corner somewhere and going to sleep was more her style. She doubted Dirk would enjoy that.
When the food was all gone and everyone was on their fifth glass of wine—not that any of them appeared to feel the effects of the alcohol—Ryann was still amazed by how much they’d had. It also made her think that Dirk really couldn’t be in any condition to drive. And after having her two glasses, she didn’t want to get behind the wheel either.
Trying not to be too blatant about it, she leaned toward Dirk, and whispered, “When you want to leave, I think we should call a cab. Neither one of us should be driving.”
He smiled and replied just as quietly, “I’m fine. I can drive.”
“ I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We don’t need you to get a DUI.”
From the end of the table, Roxie said, “Ryann’s right, Dirk. You don’t need one of those. You two can stay over. So can Jager and Daylen.” Her gaze seemed to lock on Dirk’s. “I insist.”
“ Really?” Dirk asked. “You’re going to be like this?”
Roxie smiled. “I’m afraid so. I told you I was going to watch you.”
Ryann got the distinct impression she was missing out on part of what Dirk and Roxie’s conversation really meant. She had a feeling it all didn’t have to do with Dirk driving while under the influence. But she didn’t say anything.
“ Fine,” Dirk said with a sigh. “I guess we’ll be staying the night.” He turned to Ryann. “You don’t mind, do you?”
She shook her head. “If you want to stay, I’m fine with it.”
There was no way she’d pass up the chance to actually spend the entire night with Dirk in a bed. It didn’t matter where it was, so long as he was in it.
Chapter Six
After dinner, Dirk kept shooting Roxie looks that let her know he wasn’t exactly thrilled with what she’d done. He hadn’t counted on having to stay the night at her place with Ryann. Actually, he hadn’t planned on spending the entire night with Ryann at all. It would just be asking too much of him. He was only a man, and with the mating urge riding his ass, the desire to make love to his mate would be extremely hard to resist.
Well, Roxie had just made sure he was put in a situation that he, and especially she, wanted to avoid. He could’ve driven without having to worry about blowing over. All his kind metabolized alcohol differently than mortals. For him to be in the range where he’d get nailed with a DUI, he’d had to have been drinking all day. And Roxie knew that, being a werewolf herself.
Not that he could’ve told Ryann any of this, since she had no clue what he was, or the fact that she was spending her evening with a bunch of werewolves. Though with Jager around, and never knowing what he’d say next, he could let the truth slip. And that was not how Dirk wanted Ryann to find out.
Dirk probably would’ve enjoyed the evening better if he
She looked at Roxie. “It smells delicious. I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
“ Well, help yourself, and eat as much as you want. I made lots.”
No one spoke as the food was dished up on their plates. Once she had hers, Ryann picked up her piece of garlic bread and took a bite. It was really good, so was the lasagna when she had some of that.
While they ate, a large bottle of red wine was passed around, everyone filling the wineglass next to their plate. And as the meal progressed, it went around a second time. Once that was emptied and another bottle had been opened, Ryann knew there was no way she’d be able to keep up with the others at the table. Two glasses were her max, especially if she wanted to remain sober for later. She wasn’t one of those drunks who could liven up a party. No, finding a corner somewhere and going to sleep was more her style. She doubted Dirk would enjoy that.
When the food was all gone and everyone was on their fifth glass of wine—not that any of them appeared to feel the effects of the alcohol—Ryann was still amazed by how much they’d had. It also made her think that Dirk really couldn’t be in any condition to drive. And after having her two glasses, she didn’t want to get behind the wheel either.
Trying not to be too blatant about it, she leaned toward Dirk, and whispered, “When you want to leave, I think we should call a cab. Neither one of us should be driving.”
He smiled and replied just as quietly, “I’m fine. I can drive.”
“ I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We don’t need you to get a DUI.”
From the end of the table, Roxie said, “Ryann’s right, Dirk. You don’t need one of those. You two can stay over. So can Jager and Daylen.” Her gaze seemed to lock on Dirk’s. “I insist.”
“ Really?” Dirk asked. “You’re going to be like this?”
Roxie smiled. “I’m afraid so. I told you I was going to watch you.”
Ryann got the distinct impression she was missing out on part of what Dirk and Roxie’s conversation really meant. She had a feeling it all didn’t have to do with Dirk driving while under the influence. But she didn’t say anything.
“ Fine,” Dirk said with a sigh. “I guess we’ll be staying the night.” He turned to Ryann. “You don’t mind, do you?”
She shook her head. “If you want to stay, I’m fine with it.”
There was no way she’d pass up the chance to actually spend the entire night with Dirk in a bed. It didn’t matter where it was, so long as he was in it.
Chapter Six
After dinner, Dirk kept shooting Roxie looks that let her know he wasn’t exactly thrilled with what she’d done. He hadn’t counted on having to stay the night at her place with Ryann. Actually, he hadn’t planned on spending the entire night with Ryann at all. It would just be asking too much of him. He was only a man, and with the mating urge riding his ass, the desire to make love to his mate would be extremely hard to resist.
Well, Roxie had just made sure he was put in a situation that he, and especially she, wanted to avoid. He could’ve driven without having to worry about blowing over. All his kind metabolized alcohol differently than mortals. For him to be in the range where he’d get nailed with a DUI, he’d had to have been drinking all day. And Roxie knew that, being a werewolf herself.
Not that he could’ve told Ryann any of this, since she had no clue what he was, or the fact that she was spending her evening with a bunch of werewolves. Though with Jager around, and never knowing what he’d say next, he could let the truth slip. And that was not how Dirk wanted Ryann to find out.
Dirk probably would’ve enjoyed the evening better if he
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