Honorera walked out of the boutique dressed in one of the new outfits. She tugged at the shirt self-consciously, and Gabriel could tell that she was probably missing the bulk of her old gray hoodie. The clothes made her look older and more sophisticated and attracted more than one appreciative male glance in her direction. He gave them all a death glare that let all of them know that the girl was off-limits.
After the boutique, Gabriel took her to a department store so that she could pick up the personal necessities she needed like a toothbrush, a hairbrush, and deodorant. He waited patiently while she spent a crazy amount of time smelling different shampoos before she picked out a brand that she liked. He realized that shopping was a luxury for her. Gabriel cleared his throat. "You should buy what you need for the next several weeks."
She glanced at him quizzically and looked at the items in her handbasket. "This will last me for a month at least."
Gabriel sighed and took her hand, and lead her to the section for feminine products, pads, and tampons. She blushed furiously and looked embarrassed. She scanned the shelves and picked out what she needed. Gabriel only chuckled as much at himself as at her. Never in his life had he imagined himself shopping for tampons, but he found he didn’t mind at all.
They were headed toward the front of the store to check out when she stalled out in front of the stationary section. Gabriel raised his eyebrows curiously and followed her longing glance to a small display of art supplies. Of course, she liked art and drawing, and painting. He should have thought of that himself! He pulled her closer to the display and heard her sigh with longing.
Her head was down, looking at her feet as though she were ashamed of herself for wanting something. He used his hand to gently tip her head back up toward him. "Pick out anything you like. Don't be afraid, or shy... I want you to be happy."
"Money can't buy happiness," she whispered back at him, her dark eyes searching his face.
"No, but it can buy you art supplies," he said with a gentle smile and a shrug. "I'd pick something for you, but I really don't know what you like and need." Like a kid in a candy store, she scanned the shelves, picking a sketchbook, and a little kit of drawing pencils of different shades with erasers and sharpeners. A small box of colored pencils, and a plastic box to keep everything in.
She looked up at him anxiously. "Is that okay? Is it too much? Should I put something back??"
"Baby, relax. Just wait until we get to my home. There is a huge arts and crafts store there in town, you will love it." He held her hand because he liked it, and she didn't pull away. Her hand was small, and strong from manual labor. He liked the way it fit into his, like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly. She was so small compared to him, the top of her head just barely clearing his chest, but he loved it, and he felt ferociously protective of her.
They went through the checkout aisle and settled back into the truck. "Are you ready, baby girl?" He asked, fastening his seat belt, and donning a pair of sunglasses for driving.
She bit her lip and nodded.
He tuned the radio to a local station and hit the highway, heading west toward New York. Even as he drove, he kept an eye on her out of the corner of his eye. She was tense at first. Maybe she was thinking about the weird situation she was in. She had just gotten in the truck with a practical stranger and had agreed to go on a road trip to she-didn't-know-where. Maybe she was wondering if he was a kidnapper or a rapist…
Or a werewolf assassin? He set his mouth in a grim line.
Just then, almost as if in response to his musing thoughts, the new and popular pop song ended, and the DJ began to read the afternoon news report.
“...and in local news, Henry Mortem the owner and CEO of Mortem Stone Works was brutally attacked in his home in Pete’s Peak early this morning. Police say Mortem suffered multiple broken bones, as well as bites and scratches from an animal. Captain LeRoy LeBlanc said the bite marks were consistent with a very large dog… A representative from the Mortem family said in a statement this afternoon that Henry Mortem is stable and resting comfortably after surgery. The mining mogul says he feels lucky to be alive... Police are warning residents to be on the lookout for a man or group of men who may have a very large and aggressive dog in their possession. If you see anything suspicious call the Rutberg crime line at…”
Gabriel switched off the radio and glanced over at Honorera to gauge her reaction. If she was alarmed, her pensive face didn’t show it. He wasn’t even sure she’d heard the news report. She continued to stare out the window at the passing scenery. He casually switched on the Bluetooth and pulled up his favorite driving playlist.
He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he was reluctant to ask.
Gabriel was ready and willing to put that life behind him now. But anyone who dared to hurt his mate was going to pay. He had only spared Tanner Talbot because Honor had pleaded for him.
She probably didn’t even know that Henry Mortem had been largely responsible for her suffering all of these years.
*******
Honorera wasn’t thinking about Henry Mortem at all. All her thoughts were swirling around the sexy man behind the wheel.
Gabriel Shepherd had been kind, caring, generous, and attentive...In fact, he was treating her like a princess in a fairytale. He'd done more for her in the last few days than anyone had done for her in her entire life. He might be the nicest man she had ever known. Well, werewolf-man.
It still boggled her mind... this sort of obsession he had for her...and the infatuation she was feeling for him. She had never felt this way about anyone. Honorera had never had a boyfriend, of course. She'd admired some handsome boys from afar a few times and entertained the typical teenage crush, but she'd never seriously pursued anyone. And no one had ever pursued her unless it was to tease her and make her life miserable.
Now here she was with this insanely attractive man, who sometimes looked at her like she was... well something delicious he wanted to devour. She saw the hunger in his eyes, noticed the way he drew in her scent, and found every excuse to touch her. The touch was always casual, gentle, and careful. Like the way he had held her hand in the store, the way he brushed her hair out of her face, or the way he helped her into the truck. She was hyper-aware of every time their skin connected because she felt the fireworks, the sparks, the unexplainable heat. More than that, Gabriel Shepherd made her feel like she really was something to be desired... and it was a very confusing feeling.
Miles and miles rolled by, and as she watched the changing landscapes, she began to relax. She was riding into the unknown... but it was rather exciting. She'd spent her whole life cooped up in that trailer with Foster. She'd never really been anywhere beyond Rutberg, except for a few school field trips. She slipped off her new shoes and propped her bare feet comfortably on the dash.
Gabriel glanced over at her and smiled. "The seat reclines if you are feeling sleepy."
Honorera reached for the lever and tipped the seat back until she was comfortable. She could still watch out the window, with her head propped on her arm. After a while, the smooth motion of the truck, the music, and the gentle whir of tires on the pavement lulled her off to sleep.