Chapter 8

Geoff "Oh, Penelope. I didn't realize you were stopping by." Adelaide answered her door. Her scent filled his nose, making him inhale deeply. He leaned against the wall as they talked. "I wanted to surprise you with lunch. Do you have time?" She asked her cheerfully. If she used that tone, how can anyone say no? "Of course. I actually made the deadline for my first draft today, so my schedule is open." She informed her. So that's why he hadn't seen her. She must've been hammering away to meet her deadline. "Oh, that's fantastic! Then we'll make this a lunch of celebration. I'll invite Geoff along." She said to her. "No!" Adelaide yelled out. He clenched his fists. "Oh, it's just..." She sighed deeply. "I think I really messed up with him, Penelope. We haven't talked since I exploded on him." Adelaide 's voice had sadness tied into it. "Oh honey, he's a man. He'll get over it. Look, I'll go wait out in the car. Get yourself ready and meet me outside in ten. The choice is yours if you want to invite him." Penelope told her before her heels faded down the stairs and the door shut behind her. "Geoff!" She yelled, trying to catch her breath. He stared at her as she stood up straighter, blowing her hair from her face. "Will you join me for lunch? Actually, your mom and me." She looked around the glass on the floor and the paperwork on his desk. "Oh, I should've known you'd be busy. Uh, nevermi..." "I'd love to." He interrupted her, getting up from his seat. He stepped over the glass with his boots and shut the door behind himself. She stepped back as he shut the door and she took him in. He glanced down at his dark red button up and black slacks with black boots. "Are we going or?" He asked her. She shook her head and dashed down the hall again. "Well let's go." She called back to him as she rushed down the stairs. He smiled to himself as he followed her. Her words came back to mind. Happiness can be something small. Something silly. She stood at the door as he reached the bottom stop, his eyes looking over this woman before him in a new light. Her hair shined like gold as she looked up at him with those beautiful green eyes of hers. This was the happiness that he wanted. The limo pulled up outside a five star restaurant with valet parking. Penelope stepped out first and Geoff followed, holding his hand out to Adelaide . She took his hand, the shock shaking his core. He watched it effect her as she pressed her thighs together. He shifted her hand to the inside of his arm, the act taking her by surprise as he escorted her inside. Her eyes were like saucers as she gazed around the Greek styled establishment. "I feel very under dressed." She said, tightening her grip on his arm. He watched eyes narrowing in on her as the host ushered them to their seat off to the side by the chef's station. "You look beautiful." He whispered to her, listening to her heart pound away in her chest. Penelope took her seat, gesturing across from her. "Adelaide , how is everything else going?" She asked. "Therapy has been a bit of a roller coaster lately, but I think I'm doing better than I realized." She replied, her fingers wrapping around one another beneath the table. " What type of book are you working on?" Penelope asked curiously. Adelaide opened her mouth to answer, but she glanced up at Geoff and blushed lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Oh, it's nothing special really." She said, her eyes looking over the menu again. "Nothing special? You made New York Best Seller with book one, right?" She asked and Adelaide nodded, smiling shyly. "Best Seller?" Geoff asked to confirm. Adelaide started to play with her hair. He rested an elbow on the table, his chin on his palm. "It's either you tell me about it or I go buy it." He told her, making her swivel in her seat. "You wouldn't." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Try me." He dared her. She puffed her cheeks at him. Soft giggling sounded across the way and he glanced over to see Penelope smiling at them. "Isn't this a lovely sight?" She teased, making Adelaide blush more and turn her face away. He glanced down, spotting Adelaide 's hand just barely brushing against his knee. The waiter brings them the wine and three glasses. "Are you ready to order?" He asked them, a fake smile on his face. Geoff and Penelope order before turning their eyes on Adelaide who was still looking over the menu nervously. "Perhaps the Alpha could make a suggestion for the young lady?" The waiter offered, trying to hurry her along. Geoff glared up at him. "She can order on her own." He growled at him. The waiter stiffened slightly before nodding and going quiet. Adelaide buried her face in the menu, but her eyes stopped scanning it. "Take your time, Adelaide . Get whatever you'd like." He told her. "But it's all so expensive." She frowned. "Don't worry about the price. I'll cover it." He told her. She glanced up at him before nodding and looked over the menu once more. "I'll take the Pork Souvlaki then." She said as she handed over her menu to the waiter. He bowed his head before walking off. "I'm guessing you don't get many humans here, huh?" She asked them. "We have ties with humans that we do business with, but no human actually lives with us." Penelope told her. "Until you, that is." She smiled at her. Adelaide looked down at the table, her hands clenched on her lap. "I'll leave once I know I'm better." She told them. Geoff thought his heart stopped at her words. He felt Penelope's eyes on him, but he avoided it. "Adelaide , what all do you know about us Werewolves?" Penelope asked her. Geoff shot a suspicious look toward her and she smiled innocently back. Adelaide inclined her head as she thought it over. "Well, based from what I've gathered while being here a pack is normally ruled by an Alpha who has a Beta as a second in command." She pointed at Geoff. "In this case, Geoff is both the Alpha and the Werewolf King, which I'm still unfamiliar with." "That's good." Penelope nodded. "You all can shift into wolves." She tapped her chin, her eyes glancing off. He watched her, not realizing the smile on his lips. "Have you seen Geoff shift?" She asked her. Adelaide 's face turned red suddenly. "Well yes, but I didn't see anything." She defended herself, but he knew better. Penelope smiled with amusement. "He has a beautiful coat, doesn't he?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously now. What is she playing at? "Yes." Adelaide said, and for once he felt his own face grow hot. "It's soft to." Adelaide was smiling gently as if reliving the memory of the garden. He cleared his throat. "We came to celebrate, didn't we?" He said, raising his glass. The women raised their glasses with his. "To Adelaide ." He simply said. Penelope repeated his words, taking a sip. Adelaide looked at her glass before looking up at him. He gave her a quick wink before Penelope caught it, making Adelaide blush madly and down her wine glass. She let out a breath when she finished. "Wow, that's actually really delicious." She said. Penelope let out a laugh, refilling her glass. "Now Adelaide , there is one thing that humans may not know about us." Penelope started. Geoff glared over at her, but she ignored him. "And what's that?" Adelaide asked curiously.