Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(47)

And just like that Katherine no longer thought that Markus's grunt was quite so rude. He, at least, hadn't blatantly ignored her. She viciously bit down on her bottom lip to prevent herself from saying something she'd probably regret and reluctantly took the last available spot at the table – on the chair directly on Bastian’s left. Caleb was on her other side, at least, which almost made her closeness to the blue-eyed man bearable. Unfortunately, she was also seated straight across from Markus.

Ugh.

Katherine observed as Bastian filled his plate with a copious helping of bacon and eggs before the others began hastily taking their fill as well. Trying not to watch Markus mash his food together in his open mouth, a dribble of the gravy Caleb had made making its way down his chin, Katherine helped herself to some bacon and snatched one of the delicious smelling biscuits. She spread some butter on the still steaming bread, which immediately melted.

A heavy sort of silence fell as everyone concentrated on their food – silverware scraping against plates the only sound that permeated the quiet dining room.

"Who made the bacon?"

Katherine glanced across the table and met the hazel orbs of the man seated across from her.

"I did."

Markus snorted. "Figures."

She tensed, her eyebrows furrowing together. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," he spoke slowly, as if talking to an exceptionally dim-witted person, "that it tastes more like charred ash than anything resembling food."

Katherine immediately felt an angry blush burst across her cheeks, heating her pale skin. What a prick! She opened her mouth to call him exactly that – and a few more colorful names, if she was honest – but wasn't even able to get out the soft sound of the "p" when a fist came down on the table, the force of the blow causing more than one plate to rattle.

She immediately turned her attention to the man who'd slammed his fist, still clenching a fork that speared two slices of bacon, onto the wooden table. He looked more than a little frustrated, the muscle on the right side of his strong jaw twitching noticeably.

"Enough," Bastian spat through clenched teeth.

Katherine fought the urge to talk back. She hadn't done anything! It was all that stupid bully of a man.

"Yeah," Sophie immediately agreed with her brother, though her glare was aimed at Markus and not Katherine. "Wouldn't want another bruise to match the one around your eye, would you?"

So Bastian had been the one to rough up Markus.

"So Katherine, I've been thinking,” Sophie announced, interrupting the tense quiet that the room had once again fallen into.

"Didn't hurt yourself, did ya?"

A spark of annoyance crossed the blonde's face, but neither girl made an effort to acknowledge the belligerent man.

"Yes?" Katherine inquired politely.

"If you were feeling up to it, I was hoping you'd let me show you around Haven Falls today. We can kill two birds with one stone and do some much needed shopping too. I'm sure you're getting sick of having to wear Bastian's retched shirt."

Katherine was thankful her cheeks were still an angry red from squabbling with Markus as she was sure a wild flush would have taken hold of her otherwise. She hadn't known she'd been wearing Bastian's shirt. Though now that she knew, it made sense – the thing nearly hung to her knees after all.

She couldn't stop her curious eyes from glancing at the man sitting on her right. He was staring resolutely at his plate of food, however, and refused to look at her. He shifted awkwardly, perhaps uncomfortable with her scrutiny.

Unless his discomfort stemmed from her wearing his shirt.

Well, it wasn't like she'd had a choice, Katherine thought angrily. She hadn't been the one to pick it out – or even put it on for that matter!

Unconscious people didn't exactly have superb motor skills.

"It's okay if you have something else planned..." Sophie trailed off, sounding confused. Her voice brought Katherine back to the present and the small brunette realized abruptly that she'd taken too long to answer the girl's question, having been staring unabashedly at Bastian instead.

"No, um," she flustered, desperately searching her mind for an excuse to say no. She wasn't exactly a huge fan of shopping. But the fact of the matter was that she was in desperate need of some new clothes. And she couldn't help but be curious about Haven Falls. If it was truly where she would be staying for the foreseeable future, she'd need to learn all she could about the place. "That plan sounds good," she finally hedged hesitantly.

"Great!" Sophie agreed exuberantly. "We can go as soon as breakfast's cleaned up. It's a bit of a trek into town, so by the time we get there, the shops should be open."

Katherine nodded complacently, impaling a bit of biscuit with her fork and popping it into her mouth.

But, of course, Markus had to put a damper on their plans.

"What about the lunch she's supposed to be making?" he demanded, pointing a butter knife in her direction, though his eyes were on Bastian and the question was clearly meant for him.

"God Markus, don't you ever stop?" Sophie scowled, clearly annoyed.

"It’s fine," Bastian immediately assured her before another argument could break out. "I'll be at a council meeting anyhow and since Sophie and Katherine will be gone, everyone can be responsible for their own meal."