The Moon Rises (42 page)

“Is it okay that I call you?” Gigi asked and Finn
couldn’t help grinning at her overly serious tone.

“No one checks my phone. It’s safe. How did it go
with Roger?”

“Kyle didn’t like the food, but Roger did and he
wants me to be his head chef.”

“Of course he does.”

“Should I work for Roger though? What if he’s
just pretending to want me as a chef to have sex with me?”

Finn grinned because Gigi always used the most
serious voice for things which weren’t all that serious.

“I suspect he wants you to be head chef because
you are an excellent chef. I also suspect he wants to have sex with you. Those
two things aren’t connected though.”

“But the rules in my head say I have to work at
the club.”

“So you work there part time and work the other
half at Roger’s place. Technically you’d still be following the rules, plus you
would get to do what you want.”

“Can a head chef work part time though?”

“I don’t know, but my old neighbor was the
executive chef at a bunch of places. He sort of oversaw everything, but he
wasn’t there every day. Maybe you could work out a flexible schedule with Silas
and Roger?” Finn said as he neared Michael’s apartment.

“Silas won’t like that though.”

“Screw him. He doesn’t even try your cooking
because he wants you as a waitress. He’ll be mad, but it’s not like he can fire
you. Too many customers like having you around.”

Gigi fell silent then sighed. “I’m nervous I’ll make
a bad decision.”

“Then don’t make your decision yet. Give it a few
days. Did Roger give you a deadline?”

“Not really. He’ll want to know soon though.”

“Make him wait. I don’t want to sound biased, but
you could get a job in a better place than Roger’s. I eat out all the time and
your cooking is better than any place I’ve been to. Roger knows this so he’ll
give you time to decide.”

“I love you.”

Finn shivered slightly at the sound of those
three words. “I love you too. Don’t be nervous about this. Just feel proud by
how you wowed him.”

“Okay. I miss you.”

“Hey, I’ve got to go. There’s a super hot chick
who needs help getting food out of her car.”

“Huh?” Gigi said then laughed. “Oh, I see you.”

Finn parked his truck and hurried to Gigi’s car
where she was pulling out containers of food.

“I wish I could kiss you,” she whispered with a
pout.

“Tonight I’m going to do more than kiss you.”

When Gigi licked her lips, Finn felt his skin
burn with need. He still remembered those delicious noises she made when he
touched her just right. Now wasn’t the time to get riled up though, not with
his brother inside.

Carrying the containers to Michael’s apartment,
Finn couldn’t help checking out Gigi as she climbed the stairs.

“Are you looking at my butt?” she whispered.

“Do you blame me?”

“There are words on the butt part of my
sweatpants. I don’t like having them there.”

“Then why did you buy the sweats?” he asked,
rather enjoying the words on her butt.

“I didn’t. Ella bought them for me as a joke and
I put them on without remembering there were words…”

As if hearing her name, Ella opened the door and
smiled. “Hell yeah, we got food now.”

Gigi said hello to Declan as she headed to the
kitchen where she set her tray of food on the counter. Michael was just
entering from the balcony when Gigi pulled back the wrap from the chicken.

“What the fuck is that?” Michael growled.

Finn set his food on the table and stood next to
Declan who was frowning at the angry enforcer.

“It’s fried chicken. I…”

Michael grabbed the food and aimed it for the
trashcan. Gigi cried out in panic, but Finn was the one who grabbed the tray
from his friend.

“What the hell are you doing?” Finn yelled,
wondering if Michael was losing his mind.

“Fucking bitch brought food.”

Declan was making a move towards Michael who
looked in a bad enough mood to tussle with an Alpha. Ella didn’t help by
yelling for Declan to kick Michael’s ass. Finn noticed Michael going for the
tray again and he jerked it away.

“Bad puppies!” Gigi yelled, startling even
Michael. “Stop fighting or I’ll take my food home.”

“No, Gigi, we’re good puppies,” Ella said. “Michael’s
the only asshole here.”

Finn pulled the tray from Michael and set it
down. Pushing the enforcer out to the balcony, he felt Declan following.

“Let me handle him,” Finn snapped in a tone he
rarely used with anyone, let alone Declan.

His brother eyed him then returned to the
apartment. Finn waited until Declan was out of earshot then he slugged Michael
in the arm. The enforcer growled and Finn knew maybe fighting with a Were even
Declan would have trouble beating wasn’t such a great idea. Yet Gigi worked
hard on the food and the jerk was going to toss it.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Finn whispered.

“She’s a whore, that’s what’s wrong with me.”

Finn shoved Michael. “You’re a dick and you need
to shut the fuck up about Gigi or I’m leaving and I won’t come back.”

“You’re defending her?” Michael growled, as he
ran his hands through his hair. “She wants to fuck me. You’re in love with her
and she’s making a move on me right in front of you.”

Finn was so pissed it took him a full minute to
start laughing. Pushing the enforcer farther from the patio door so the others
couldn’t hear, Finn patted Michael’s face.

“She doesn’t want to sleep with you.”

“Chicks like that try to win a guy over with
food.”

“Yeah, I know because she’s been cooking for me
the last week.”

Michael squinted. “You’re fucking her?”

“We’re dating, yes, but you need to keep your
mouth shut about it.”

“A damn week and you didn’t tell me?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Who am I going to tell? I only have two friends
and they’re fucking each other.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “Yes, but you yell out shit
during poker games and I didn’t want Ella finding out. She talks to my mom a
lot and we both know Ella has a big mouth.”

Michael shrugged. “I won’t spill your precious
secret. So how come she brought all the food then?”

“Because it’s your birthday tomorrow and she
knows you like fried chicken.”

“Oh yeah,” he said and shrugged again. “I forgot
what month it was. Did you get me anything?”

“Yes, shithead, but you won’t get it unless you
apologize to Gigi.”

“You’re so whipped,” Michael said, grinning as he
returned to the apartment.

Finn loved Gigi for many reasons, but her ability
to rebound quickly was in the top ten. She was already making plates for
everyone while Ella told Declan he was a wuss for not hitting Michael. The
enforcer ignored the Weres and walked to Gigi who he patted on the head.

“I forgive you,” Michael said, sniffing the food.
“Collar greens? Good girl.”

Gigi frowned at him and pulled away the plate.
“Why did you get mad?”

“I don’t like humans, you know that.”

“I’m not human though.”

“Close enough, nag, now fork over the food.”

Finn grinned because Gigi had to look up about
seven inches to engage in a staring contest with Michael.

“Sara’s human and you like her.”

Michael rolled his eyes, hating any mention of
the missing waitress. “You always cheat, nag.”

Gigi refused to let him have the food, blocking
it with her body as she stared the hell out of Michael.

“Fine. I’m sorry. Now move.”

Gigi smiled brightly and let Michael make his
plate. Finn inched into the crowded kitchen and when Declan and Ella were
focused elsewhere, he gave Gigi a quick kiss on the neck. Her smile was soft
and Finn hoped she would always smile so beautifully at him.

“Fried green tomatoes, nag?” Michael said,
patting her on the head again. “Now if you let me win all the hands tonight,
it’ll be a perfect birthday.”

Gigi hugged Michael who immediately looked ill.
“I’m glad you’re happy, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting you win.”

Declan laughed while Ella still looked like
Michael had a beating coming. Yet soon they all sat down for a nice dinner.
While Michael didn’t speak to anyone, he did eat three helpings and growled at
anyone who asked for a second serving. He planned to keep the leftovers and
anyone who interfered with this plan was asking for trouble.

As happy as Gigi was to cook for Michael, she
kept her word and he never won a single game all night.

The sixth day of searching for the monster went
like the first five, except she was out of Roger’s territory. Gigi drove around
a section of the grid in Anton’s area and found nothing. Yet she had only
started her search and the Circle was a large area to cover. The one difference
between days one through five and day six was how her car made a weird sound
when she used the brakes. Sensing an excuse to visit Finn on official business,
she pulled into the parking lot at his auto shop.

The guy who met her at the counter gave her the
look a lot of males gave her when an Alpha wasn’t around to keep them in check.
If Gigi liked staring, this guy was a fan of leering.

“I need to see Finn about my broken car,” she said
to the guy whose name tag read Clyde.

“I can help you, doll.”

Gigi stared at him like she stared at the Vamps
and the guy backed up. “I’ll get the boss.”

Liking how often her stare was becoming useful,
Gigi was grinning when Finn appeared from the back where lots of loud work was
taking place.

“Gigi,” he said with a nervous grin. “What are
you doing here?”

Taking a moment to look over Finn, Gigi felt her
skin blush as her heart began to race. His hair was tied back and he had a
smudge of something on his cheek. He was wearing dark blue work overalls with
his name on a white tag. He looked masculine and tough, where he usually just
looked sexy and soft. Swallowing hard, Gigi tried to focus, but his eyes were
watching her in a way which made her think of sex.

“My car’s broken. Can you fix it?”

“Broken how?” Finn asked with a grin.

Gigi gestured outside to where the car was parked
and he followed her. “When I push on the gas pedal, it makes an angry squeaky
sound. Can you make that stop?”

Finn smiled at her in a way which made her think
her car problem wasn’t real.

“Brakes sometimes do that. It’s probably fine,
but I’ll check them. In fact I’ll check the whole car out. Wouldn’t want you getting
stranded somewhere.”

Gigi sometimes forgot Finn was male. She was too
familiar with him, seeing him playing poker where he laughed his ass off or
spending time with him in her apartment where he was gentle and soothing.
Standing outside in the bright sun with him dressed the way he was and smelling
of sweat and car stuff, Gigi was very aware of how male Finn was.

“I need to use the bathroom. Do you have one?”

Finn smiled again and Gigi didn’t know why he was
finding everything she said so amusing. He led her back inside and showed her
to the restroom. When she emerged, he was writing something on an invoice.

“I’m going to have the guys rush your car so you
can head out.”

“I need to talk to you about another car problem,
but it’s not something I want everyone to hear.”

Finn frowned and handed the invoice to Clyde. “We can go into my office.”

Gigi followed Finn into his office which smelled
musky and male and only made her lust problem worse. He was frowning at her as
he shut the door.

“What’s wrong? Why are you talking in that weird
voice?” he asked.

“What weird voice?”

“My car is broken. Fix it,” Finn said, imitating
her deep serious tone which she realized did sound weird.

“Oh, I was trying not to sound like your girlfriend.”

Finn grinned and kissed her softly. “You hid it
well. I think the guys are under the impression you’re a guy in drag.”

Gigi laughed and ran her finger over his name
tag. “I do have a problem with paying though. I don’t want to use money so I
was thinking I could trade your services for sexual favors.”

“Ah,” Finn said, his grin growing naughty. “But
my girlfriend keeps me very satisfied.”

Smiling, Gigi pulled at his overalls. “You look
so sexy in this thing. Are you naked underneath?” Finn laughed as she tugged it
open and looked down. “Oh, you have boxers on.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”