Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine

Chapter 75

GRACE

I hurry out of work and don’t look back.

I can feel Gus’s heavy gaze on my back. And his disappointment is like a blanket that continues to cling

to me.

I cross the parking lot and stop, seeing a familiar figure standing not far away, as if he had intentionally

been waiting for me.

"Jay," I call out in surprise and ran toward him. "Why are you here?"

"I got off work early today, so I came to pick you up," he says, reaching for my hand.

He threads our fingers together.

It’s like a current spreads from our joined hands.

Does he feel it too?

"Did you reject him properly?" Jay asks nonchalantly.

From the corner of my eye, I see Gus walking to his car.

He likely overheard.

"Yes, I've made it clear I do not want him and that there is no future for us," I say. My words might be

hurtful to Gus, but a temporary pain is better than a longer one.

Part of me hurts a bit too. Not in a romantic sense. More just a sense of loss for the life I thought I’d

have, and what it turned out to be. “But I don’t think he will suffer long or waste too much time on me.

He can find a better woman.”

”So, you were holding onto Gus while getting it on with another man!" Farah's voice suddenly sounds

out.

I rub my temple feeling a headache coming on. The world seemed never to lack people like Farah

Steele. I would say something snarky to that effect, and that maybe Farrah should spend some time in

jail—it was filled with nasty people just like her. But I don’t bother engaging.

Jay all but growls at the woman behind them.

I grab his arm.

I seriously doubt he’d lose control of his wolf. But he’s furious just now on account of me. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Don’t Jay. She isn’t worth it.”

“I’m not worth it?” Farah gasps. “You’re the low-life convict and you want to look down on me!?”

Jay calms immediately. He smiles down at me. ”So this is the one who spread the rumors about you,”

he says quietly as if Farrah had just confirmed what he’d suspected.

Farah slaps her hands on her hips. ”So what if I was? I did this for everyone's sake. We all have the

right to know if the people around us have committed a crime. If she is afraid that others will find out

about it, then she shouldn't have done it in the first place!"

Jason lets out a soft laugh. "It's good that you admit to it."

After that, he no longer paid attention to Farah. He turns to me. "Sister, let's go. I don't want to bother

with this woman anymore."

“Okay.”

I sling my arm through Jay’s and we walk away.

When we hit the main road, I tug him left when he turns right toward our apartment.

"I got my paycheck today,” I say. “Let's go shopping and have a good meal. We haven't had a good

meal out since we met."

"Then let's go and have a good meal," Jason says. "But I'll treat you. After all, I've been earning money

too, and you've been taking care of me all this while. I want to take you out. I should’ve suggested it.”

“O-okay.”

But from the way Jay said it…his tone makes it sound like it’s a ‘date’.

We walk to a restaurant I used to go to.

In the past, me and my law firm colleagues would often come here to have a meal after work. At that

time, eating here was like having a work meal.

But now, it had become a luxurious event that could only be enjoyed every once in a while.

I try not to dwell on that too much.

Just like I try not to draw on what it felt like when Ava took over. When we’d run through the woods and

track game through the snow.

There was a creek behind my grandfather’s house and the water in that creek tasted so fresh. Ava

would lap it up and drink until my belly was full.

It was fresh and carried remnants of the mountain snow.

Gosh, I’d taken many things for granted in my ‘prior’ life. If I was smart, I would appreciate every little

thing. Life was too fickle for anything less.

"That's good. I’m glad that we’re eating at a place you’re familiar with. You can do the ordering then."

Jason cleanly interrupts my thoughts.

I order all the cheaper dishes, with the most expensive one being a shrimp dish.

Although it isn't a lot of money, it’s already the most expensive meal I’ve had in years.

When the food arrives, we dig in.

Only as I’m starting on the pasta dish, Jay goes right for the shrimp. I smile, hoping he’ll eat them all

and enjoy every bit.

Only… he doesn’t take a bite.

He peels each prawn and then sets them on my dish.

Then he scoops some pasta on my plate and begins eating.

I stare at my dish in a daze.

”What's wrong? Why aren't you eating?" he asks

"I'm just thinking about how you’re very good at taking care of people. Anyone who gets the chance to

date you in the future will be very lucky." I fork a bite of shrimp and hold it up to him as if to punctuate

my statement.

Jay’s gesture reminds me of the old movies my grandfather would watch. Ones filled with chivalry and

romantic gestures. The kind of small and thoughtful acts that came from someone who cared about

their partner.

Looking back, Sean had never peeled a shrimp for me. He’d never filled my dish with the choicest

pieces of food—and at a pack event, this was a form of etiquette. I had served him, sure. But the act

was not reciprocated.

Come to think of it… He only pulled my chair out for me if we were at a corporate event and other

people were expecting it.

In fact, in hindsight, when we were dating in the past, it was obvious that although Sean said that he

loved me, those feelings probably weren’t very deep.

Of course, they weren’t deep, I chide myself.

That was why he had been able to distance himself from me so quickly after the accident!

“Eat before it gets cold,” Jay says.

His words drag me back to the present.

Where I’m sitting in a wonderful restaurant, across from a most handsome man, and he’s trying his

hardest to please me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Everything is different with Jay.

He smiles appreciatively.

When we finish eating, Jay gets up to pay the bill. I push my chair back to join him. My gaze passes

through the restaurant's window and I suddenly see a few familiar figures walking toward the

restaurant.

I turn around subconsciously as if she didn’t want the people to see her.

Then, the people really walk into the restaurant. I sneak a glimpse. They are being led by a waiter in

my direction.

Jason watches as he returns to the table. My eyes dart about nervously.

"What's the matter?” he asks instantly.