Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine

Chapter 28

Seeing Sean and Lily, and reliving those hours in the prison… the pain, the terror. Not knowing if I’d live

or die.

My whole body shudders.

And that stupid ring…Sean had taken me to that jeweler and I’d tried it on. He’d been ready to buy the

same pink solitaire for me, and I laughed and said it was too extravagant. I told him to save his money.

My love didn’t cost anything.

We got pregnant that night.

I didn’t know it at the time.

But I knew for Sean…it meant something to him that I wanted to be his mate—and I wasn’t worried

about money or jewels or material things.

"Grace... are you going home?" a man's quiet voice asks.

Hearing my name drags me back to the present. I lift my head and see a man about thirty years old

smiling shyly at her. He has short hair and wears the uniform of the Fleet.

Oh. I know who this is. I remember now … Gus, from the Sanitation Service Center's Fleet.

"Yes," I reply. “I’m going home. My shift’s over.”

"I'm free. Let me drive you," Gus says.

His light eyes crinkle at the corners. He looks kind. A little bashful even.

Claire had said Gus might be interested in me. That’s sweet, but I have no intention of getting into a

relationship.

“I appreciate it. But you don't have to.”

"It's all right. I have a car. It’s no trouble to give you a ride home,” Gus says, making a second attempt.

"Huh! Your car is too cheap. This is Grace Cummins—she only wants to sit in a luxury car. If you could

buy her a six-carat diamond ring, maybe then she’d let you drive her around,” Farah says.

There was an expression about bad pennies always turning up. I never understood what it meant when

my grandpa said it, but I think maybe it applied to people like Farah.

I inwardly sigh.

I’d hoped to do this privately. To let Gus down gently.

Gus's face immediately turns red, not knowing what to say, and feeling very embarrassed by Farah’s

comments about his car.

I turn to Farah. “I think perhaps that’s your dream. Because you only care about material things. Or

maybe I have it wrong, and you’ll go home with anyone who asks you?”

Farrah sucks in a breath. “You—you..."

I turn back to Gus. ”Thank you for the offer. You’re very kind. However, I live nearby and I'm used to

walking home.” I give him a genuine smile and wish him a nice night.

I leave quickly after that, wanting to avoid a scene.

I purchase sirloin and vegetables. I hadn’t cooked in many years, not in prison or the years I dated

Sean before—his pack had servants for that—but I recall recipes from growing up with my grandfather

and having someone to cook for makes the process enjoyable.

In the months when I got out of prison, I’d throw anything together. Food was only sustenance and I ate

to ensure the proper nutrition. Jay savors the dishes I prepare so I take more care in how I prepare

them.

He comes home as I’m plating the steaks.

“That wolf nose of yours has good timing.”

He grunts. But I know he’s smiling. He removes his shoes and hangs up his coat. Then he comes

beside me to wash his hands.

His nearness has the oddest effect on me. God, I miss my wolf. Jay’s scent is clean and like a forest,

but with my wolf, I know it would be so much more nuanced and strong. His shoulder brushes against

mine and it sends tiny prickles of awareness dancing along my skin.

Does he feel it too?

I don’t dare ask. We are well aligned in our brother/sister relationship.

It is enough for me.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Great.”

His dark eyes flash to mine and that burst of gold in his irises is his wolf.

“I thought I warned you not to lie to me, Grace.”

There’s a ripple of power that rolls off him as he says it.

“Jay…I felt that.”

But how is that possible? I have no wolf anymore.

He is not my real kin.

There is no blood bond between us nor am I born of his pack.

His eyes widen as if he too is baffled by what that might mean.

I force a smile. I’ll not ruin things now that he’s back.

“Sit. Please. Let’s eat.”

I load the sliced lean meat onto his plate. And the potatoes and roasted vegetables. He nods and digs

in.

The silence is companionable while we eat. It’s nice having him back. I know it won’t be forever, but for

now, it eases the loneliness.

That, too, will pass.

I’ll not allow myself to wallow in what could’ve been or what has been taken from me.

It’s okay. You’re okay.

Tomorrow is a new day.

I ground myself in the present. In the sight of Jason sitting across from me. In the flavors of this meal

I’ve prepared. In the security of having all of my basic needs fulfilled.

I smile and keep the conversation going. “You were busy with jobs these last few days. That’s good,

right?”

Jay’s lips twitch. “Yes. I’ve been busy.”

“If you need help with anything—different clothes or resources, or whatnot, let me know.”

He takes another bite, chews and swallows then says, “You’re taking your sisterly role seriously.”

Is he teasing me? I’m not sure how to reply so I don’t say anything.

I realize I may have overstepped. This is a grown male. He has Alpha genes. And here I am treating

him like a teenager.

My phone rings and I welcome the distraction.

I grab it from its charger. “Hello?”

"Is this Grace? This is Gus. Clare gave me your number. I just, uh, would like to... tell you not to take to

heart what Farah said. I know you're not a materialistic girl. Although I'm driving a domestic car, I'll work

hard and get a better car in the future.”

Before I can reply, Gus ends the call.

“Who was that?” Jay’s tone is sharp.

I tilt my head at him. I’m sure you heard. “His name is Gus.”

Jay grunts. “And who is he?”

“A colleague from the Sanitation Service Center," I reply as i set my phone on the table and resume

eating.

“A male colleague?”

Again, I know he heard the voice. ”Yes.”

"Does he like you?"

I shrug. ”Maybe.”

"What about you? Do you like him?"

I set my fork down. "If he finds out that I've been to prison before, he will stay away from me. So it's not

important whether I like him or not."

"Is there something wrong with you being in prison before? If he truly likes you, he will not mind that,"

Jay says.

“Oh, I’m not so sure. Many people might not mind such things. Until…they do. Love is not so ‘true’ as

the movies make it out to be.”

Jason doesn’t let it rest. ”What if that guy accepts that you were imprisoned before? Would you like him

then?”

His question gives me pause. Am I open to a new relationship or the possibility of one, even? I don’t

know. ”If someone is willing to accept me, knowing that I'm an ex-convict…I suppose, maybe.”

Jason looks unhappy. "Would you like him?" He’s determined to get an answer from me.

I think about it. I’m still a wolf. Even without mine…it’s in my genes. If I want to have a family today—if

that is even remotely physically possible—it would be better to stay within my species. Hybrids are not

treated kindly.

"No," I finally say. "I'd treat him like any other colleague."

Moreover, I have no desire to get into a relationship.

His smile deepens as he asks, "Do you like me, Sister?"

"I like you," I reply without hesitation.

"I like you too. I like you very much," Jason says.