Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.
Cannon closed his eyes and tried to get a grip. Her citrusy and spice scent was driving him wild, stronger now that he was in her home. He recognized her misgivings, understood them, though it hurt him to see her look so unsure of him, of them.
But what did he expect? Maybe fated mates didn’t just come together with fireworks and waves crashing against the shore like the fairytales said. Maybe he would have to put in some effort.
Good thing he was a Wolf who was used to working hard. Looking around her kitchen, he saw the truth behind her warning. The cupboards were not bare, but he would have to do some shopping for future meal preps, he thought. And yes, he was already making lists in his head of what stuff to buy and bring for when he stayed over. But before all that, Cannon needed to win his mate’s heart.
Of course, he knew the adage about food being the quickest way to a man’s heart. He only hoped it would work in reverse.
Step one, he thought, make dinner for my mate.
He already put the kettle on, but waited for her to appear before he set about making the tea. According to his new BFF, the nurse named Pat, she’d been pulling a double shift.
With only hospital food for sustenance, the poor thing must be starved. The good news was, Cannon was used to preparing meals from the most basic ingredients, which is what happened whenever he visited his old college friends.
Whistling while he worked, Cannon soon found everything he needed to get a meal cooked. He took a bit of this, and a dash of that, and pretty soon the kitchen was smelling like good, healthy food, and not so much like household cleaner and disuse. He’d always had a way about him in the kitchen, something his friends would have given him shit for if he hadn’t been able to kick their asses.
Taking classes in Culinary Arts to perfect his methods, while getting his degree in Business, Cannon was now the owner, and head chef of a moderately successful local restaurant. He loved to cook food that people enjoyed eating.
Not knowing what Eira liked to eat, he was hoping to tempt her Wolfish side with a nice stir fry, packing plenty of heat and some homemade flat bread. She had flour and good olive oil, plenty in the way of dried herbs- though he preferred fresh he would make do, an onion, one and a half peppers, two carrots, and some broccoli spears, and a package of chicken breast in the freezer.
Cannon got to chopping and slicing right away and was just about to remove the bread from the oven when Eira walked in, casually towel drying her hair. She was sniffing the air, a smile on her beautiful face, and his heart slammed hard against his ribs.
“What is that? It smells amazing!” Eira exclaimed.
“Uh, just some food, you must be starved. Go on, sit,” he said, holding out a chair.
“I can help—”
“Please, it’s the only way I can thank you for saving my life,” he teased.
“I hardly saved your life, Cannon,” she replied, laughing.
“Tea will be just a minute,” he said, and turned to grab the pot and mugs while he waited for the kettle to return to boiling.
“You have a great smile,” she said lowly, and he was shocked to find he was, in fact, smiling. Had been, he realized ever since she came in the room.
“Thank you. I hope you’re hungry,” he remarked, dishing up a heaping pile of the vegetable and chicken stir fry, adding slices of flatbread to the side before placing it in front of her.
“Oh wow!” She gasped, and he poured her tea.
“This is amazing. I had this food here? In my house? I so don’t believe you,” she teased, digging in with gusto.
Cannon chuckled, watching her greedily as she took her first bite.
“What? Why are you staring at me? Do I have food on my face?”
“No! Sorry, I’m just getting my reward,” he told her frankly.
“Your reward,” she frowned.
“Yeah. Oh no! Not like that,” he blurted. “A chef’s reward is the look on a person’s face the first time they taste his or her food. You seem to like it. That’s my reward,” he further explained.
“Oh, I see,” she said, and went back to smiling as she chewed. “It’s remarkable, really.”
The food wasn’t the only thing.