SEAL Wolf In Too Deep(16)
“That’s what this call is all about? It’s not a date. We’re partners, remember?”
“You’re not a widowed, fatherly type, unlike the retired partner she used to have pizza with on Friday nights,” Rose told him.
“Hell, Rose, it’s not a date. She’s been missing her old partner. He was her mentor, and I do things a little differently so it’s taken some getting used to. I just thought it would be a nice thing to do.”
“If you say so.”
“She’s human. I have no intention of being anything more than her dive partner on the job.” And why was he explaining himself to his sister?
“You haven’t dated any of the single wolves in our pack.” Rose had brought that fact up more times than he cared to think about. Some of it was because the women thought that if they talked to his sister, she could convince him to start dating one of them.
He hadn’t wanted to. The truth of the matter was that he really liked Debbie, even though he knew nothing could come of it. She and he loved to dive, for one thing. And with the criminal investigations and rescue missions, they both were really into their jobs. As for any of the new she-wolves in the pack, he had no real connection with any of them, except that they were lupus garous like him. There had to be more to a relationship that would last a lifetime if they mated.
“Got to go, Sis.”
“All right. But remember… If this maniac comes after us, and he sees her with you too much, he might also go after her.”
“We work together. She’s a police diver. And we’re fairly new partners. So if he knows about the family, that’s one thing. If he’s watching us, I don’t want her around the rest of the family.”
“I know. I’m just saying this business with you taking her out for pizza…”
He let out his breath, annoyed with this discussion, but then remembered what a shock she and Lori had had earlier today. “Are you really all right?”
“Yeah, Everett’s here. Mom’s here too. We’re fine. Just…be careful with her.”
Like Rose had been careful with Everett? Even though Everett was a wolf, she’d gotten into a mess with him all on her own, so Allan really didn’t think she should be offering him advice on relationships. “Talk to you later.”
When he arrived at the pizzeria, the parking lot was packed. He spied Debbie’s blue Ford Escort parked out front. Allan also recognized Rowdy’s bright red sedan parked nearby. Frowning, but not wanting to make anything of Rowdy’s presence—it was a Friday and the pizza place was really popular with locals—Allan headed inside the busy restaurant.
The jukebox was playing golden oldies and the lights were dimmed. Three cooks stood at butcher-block tables behind glass windows, tossing pizzas in the air as they put on a show while making them.
Allan loved the atmosphere in the place. Long, dark wooden tables and benches filled the center of the restaurant. A mix of booths, some small for more intimate parties and others larger for family and friend gatherings, were situated along three of the walls. A long bar accommodated a dozen patrons as they sat on red vinyl seats, drinking and conversing. The place was a mix of old world, mountain view, and rustic. The ceiling fans, green crystal lanterns, and drink glasses lining the dark, smoky mirror all added to the ambience.
He glanced around the room to see if he could locate Debbie and spotted her talking to Rowdy, who was standing next to the jukebox and making a selection. Allan shouldn’t have cared, but he didn’t like that Rowdy was talking to Debbie, smiling and laughing along with her as if they were on a date.
“Only You” by the Platters began to play.
Why should it matter that the two of them were enjoying each other’s company? They all worked for law enforcement in some capacity. Allan couldn’t get involved with Debbie. Yet he felt all growly in that instant, wanting to show his alpha posturing and let Rowdy know to back off. What would Debbie think of that? And Rowdy? He’d probably get a kick out of it.
But the warier side of his nature kicked in. What were the odds Rowdy just happened to be here alone at the same time as Debbie was here? Allan thought back to how Rowdy just happened to drop in at the clinic at the same time Debbie was there. Hell, was he stalking her?
Getting his annoyance under control, Allan headed toward them. Rowdy saw him first. He smiled a little, as if he knew it would bother Allan that he was having fun with Debbie when she was here to have dinner with Allan.
As soon as Allan joined them, Rowdy said, “Debbie asked if I’d have pizza with the two of you. So what do you like on yours?”
Surprised as hell that she would invite Rowdy to join them, Allan glanced at Debbie, wondering if she had felt obligated to be polite since Rowdy appeared to be alone. She was all smiles, which showed just how pretty she was, her long dark hair pulled back, her brown eyes sparkling. She seemed to be thrilled to be here, and Allan was glad he had offered to join her. But if he’d picked her up, he wouldn’t have had to deal with Rowdy joining the party.
“I love double cheese and mushrooms, if that’s good with everyone,” Debbie said.
Allan snapped his mouth shut. Okay, he reminded himself, this wasn’t a date. She was just his partner, and they were just having a pizza. And Rowdy wasn’t dating her either. Just three people that had work in common and now were having a dinner out. So why did Allan feel like telling Rowdy to get lost? Or interrogating him about why he seemed to be at the same places Debbie was today?