Page 16 of Lycans & Lattes

She smiled, and I could sense the tension in him loosen.

“Well, in that case, do me a favor,” she said to me with a wink. “Go for the trees in the back left. The tourists neglect them, and they’re teeming with fruit.”

“Will do!” I offered, grateful to have a task to fulfill.

“And here’s a blanket.” She tossed a thick picnic blanket into Wyatt’s basket. “In case you want to get cozy.” She waggled her brows at him. “Have fun, you two!”

Wyatt’s cheeks flushed. “Aisling, that’s . . . Nope. Not going there. Stay out of trouble, and tell Liam I’ll stop by tonight.”

“Will do.” Aisling waved us off and went back to organizing the booth.

Did she . . . I stared at the blanket, then at Wyatt’s red cheeks. Did she just give us a fuck blanket?

Was that a thing people did here?

What the hell was happening, and why the hell had it been so awkward between them?

Wyatt took my hand, our sweaty palms rubbing together as we walked. Several yards down the path, a copse of trees appeared that had been overtaken by heavy, ripe fruit.

“So, you didn’t know about Liam getting injured?” I asked, doing my best to find something to fill the silence. “Doesn’t he supply apples to the bakery? And don’t you run with him during pack nights?”

“I’ve been a bit . . . distracted,” he said, clearly uncomfortable.

“With what?”

“That kind of has to do with what I wanted to talk to you about,” he hedged with a weak smile. “But let’s fill up our baskets first.”

I was about to protest when he pulled me closer, planting a kiss on the top of my head. In an instant, my whole body was buzzing again. All of my storming questions slipped into the back of my mind as I enjoyed the ease and warmth of walking with his hand in mine.

8

Wyatt

This date was a disaster.

First, I hadn’t been able to find my favorite red plaid shirt—the one Willow had given me for Christmas three years ago. And then I’d bungled the flower handoff with my awkward rambling. And now I’d shoved my foot so far into my mouth that I was pretty sure I could taste shoe leather.

I fought the urge to look over my shoulder toward Aisling. I hadn’t accepted today’s deliveries, and no one in the pack had told me that Liam was injured. I didn’t know whether my mother was keeping me out of the loop on purpose or if Liam had decided it wasn’t worth telling me, which was worse. We’d known each other since we’d been pups and, technically, his family line was second-in-command.

Even if I weren’t alpha, I would still feel responsible for him.

Willow was more attuned to my emotions than I’d expected. I’d felt her monitoring me during my exchange with Aisling. Her hand had clenched when my jaw had. She’d pressed her body to mine when I’d felt exposed.

I needed to tell her.

It was now or . . .

I’d considered not telling her. Sure, it would be a huge deal if she ever found out on her own. She’d likely never speak to me, and I’d lose my favorite person in the whole world, not to mention one of my steadiest clients. But when I glanced down at her, I had to fight the voices compelling me to blurt out everything and ruin our not-so-perfect date.

At some point, the inevitable would catch up with us. But for a blissful hour, we laughed, played, and picked far too many apples.

I laid out the thick blanket beneath two apple trees, our heaving baskets doubling as weights to hold down the corners. Willow splayed herself across the soft fabric, her golden hair haloing her perfectly freckled face. I watched her soak in the rays of sun for as long as I could, wanting to hold on to these last few moments when I was just Wyatt and she was just Willow.

But if ever there was a time, it was now.

I cleared my throat. “So . . .”

Willow cracked an eye open. “Is it time for this dreaded news?” She rolled onto her side, then lunged for her basket. “Wait, let me get an apple ready just in case I need to throw it at you.” She plucked out a sizable specimen and held it aloft. “Here. This one’s chunky enough to bludgeon.” When I didn’t laugh, she added, “Okay, you’re officially freaking me out.”