The diner clock hit eleven and a smile lit my face with the ding of the bell. "Hey guys, good to see you in again today."

Nate and Adam stepped in and surveyed the empty diner.

"Why? Did you miss us?" Nate asked with a flirty raised brow.

I shrugged and pointed my chin to Adam. "Dunno, I still got to see this one all day."

Nate smirked. "I heard you two had fun."

Reaching for the menus I asked, "dinner tonight?"

He shook his head. "Just cake. And..." He quieted for a moment before adding, "we'd like for you to join us."

"Oh, well," I stuttered, "I'm working. I can't, sorry."

He nodded with a teasing grin to the empty room. "I'm sure you'll keep up with the other tables."

I looked at the clock again. "Well, closing is in an hour. I need to finish my night responsibilities."

Marjorie yelled from the back, "no she doesn't!"

I twisted to her sweet face peeking through the order window. "Marjorie?"

"I am finishing the closing routines. You go sit with them." Her twinkling smile said it all.

I huffed a silly sigh. "You sure?" She just nodded appreciatively so I turned to the boys. "Alright. You two go choose a booth, I'll grab the cake."

"Nope!" Marjorie laughed. "Go sit! I'm servin'." She turned to Nate. "Drinks?"

Nate and Adam both chorused, "coke."

She turned to me, "and you lady?"

"Water please."

Nate grabbed my hand and he guided us to a side booth.

I spoke jokingly annoyed. "Just because you have Marjorie eating out of your hand, doesn't mean I am. This is not a date."

He looked faux horrified. "Elise. Of course it isn't. I wouldn't dare do that to you. See," he pointed to the other wolf, "we've got Adam with us. He doesn't want to come on our dates."

"No, I don't." Adam shook his head staring over us.

"Alright," I conceded. "But don't think you're getting a date that easy. You didn't even manage to call me today."

"Why should I do that?" He asked sweetly and nodded Adam's way. "I already got to hear all about your day. Besides, I didn't really think you wanted me to call. I had to give you so much pocket money just for some digits, I figured I'd have to add a few more bills to your bank account before you'd actually want me to call you."

My eyes widened. "Don't you dare."

His eyes shown a sparkle that seemed up to the challenge. "How about this," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I won't call until you ask me to call. Then I can know for sure you want me to."

I tried to bite a teasing grin away. "Then you may never get to hear from me, Sugar."

He shrugged, showing he thought different. As for me, I wasn't sure if I would ever ask.

Adam pointed to my clear plastic gloved hand. "You took off your bandage."

I looked at him incredulous. "You can't believe I was going to wear your mess of a wrap all day?" I held up my glove to show through to the palm sized square band-aid. "I've still got a band-aid on, it just didn't need to go over my whole hand." I took off the food worker glove and set it aside. "I still have to wear a glove over it for sanitary purposes, but it's fine."

His eyebrows pushed even lower down his eyes. "It's not fine. It is still hurting you."

Nate looked over worried. "It's still hurting?"

I put my hand in my lap, away from prying eyes. I had been painfully banging it into things all day. "Well, maybe just a bit. It is pretty itchy though." Darn sticky honey. I scratched over it a second and then turned back to Adam. "And I also keep saying that it's just a bee sting. Get over it."

Marjorie wandered out then with a tray and set the cakes and drinks out. "You guys just holler if you need refills or anything. I'll be in the back."

She turned, but Nate stopped her. "Will you box up whatever extra cake you have. We'll take it all to go tonight."

"Sure thing, Sweetcheeks." She strode back to the kitchen and busied herself.

I grabbed my fork and took a bite. Mmm...vanilla-y and soft, buttery and sweet.

Nate spoke around his own mouthful. "I don't know how you do it Elise, but I just can't get over this cake. It's so good."

Blushing, I stared at my slice. "Thanks."

"I don't get what makes it so good." He contemplated to the ceiling.

"Oh you know," I gave him a teasing smile, "baked with love and all that jazz."

He smirked and took another bite.

"I don't know, ask him," I pointed to Adam. "You had him stand in my kitchen all day." I addressed Adam with a purr. "Didn't you see my secret ingredient?"

He shook his head and finished chewing, "it was cake. Nothing interesting about it."

"Ooo, ouch," I acted fakely hurt. A damsel in distress. "Nothing interesting about it. Why don't you stab me while you're at it Sir!"

"Adam," Nate chastised. "This is the best thing we've ever eaten. You and me both know it."

Adam met my eyes staring deep. It made my stomach hot. "I didn't mean to offend, Miss Winters. It is very good. I just meant there was nothing that didn't make sense in the recipe."

I straightened, my cheeks warming a touch. "I know what you meant Adam. I just had to tease you about it."

He looked back down to his plate for another forkful.

Marjorie came back out with another round of drinks and the extra cakes. "Looks like we had about a cake and a half left tonight."

He grinned. "Thanks Marjorie. You're a doll."

Adam opened a box and cut himself another slice with a butter knife.

Nate smiled over to me, fork sliding through his slice. "Alright Elise. Time to tell me about yourself."

"Me? What's to tell?" I asked confused. "I'm boring. I'm a twenty-four-year-old that's worked for a diner for a decade and lives on a farm. I work and work. That's it."

"Hobbies?"

I shrugged with a sad air. "I guess the farm mostly, baking, maybe some reading, watching movies, you know, basic boring stuff." I was a dumb loner. Was he really going to make me roll in it?

"What's your favorite movie?" He asked around a sip of drink.

My eyes wandered the ceiling thoughtful. "I guess X-Men?"

He snorted. "X-Men? Shouldn't it be some gooey romance?"

I shook my head, no. Goodness no! I hadn't seen a chick flick movie since I was fourteen. Really? Was it that long? "Nah. X-Men. I like the powers. Normal people doing extraordinary things. I love it." My cheeks pinked then when I realized he would take that a bit different being a wolf that could do extraordinary things.

"Who's your favorite character?"

"Jean Grey of course. Level 5. Phoenix." I smiled. "What I wouldn't do to have telekinesis. Sure would help waitressing."

Nate guffawed. "Yeah. I can imagine a line of dinner plates and drinks following you out of the kitchen."

I giggled as I imagined it. I even caught Adam's grin.

Nate leaned forward. "What do you think about Wolverine? You know. Dangerous. Dark hair. Super strong. Great healing. Long claws. Devilish good looks?"

I smiled. "He's pretty nice too."

He leaned back and put his arm against the neck rest. "Wolverine is my favorite."

It wasn't lost on me why Wolverine was probably his favored character.

"Well," I teased just to mess with him, "I think I'm more of a Cyclops fan myself."

Nate chuckled, "fair enough." He took another drink and then announced, "okay, what else? How about... what is your favorite food?"

"That's easy." I held my hand in front of my mouth until I finished swallowing. "It's a Thai dessert. Sticky rice and mango."

"Thai?"

"Yeah, you know. Thailand. Thai food. I love Thai food."

"Really? Me too." He looked impressed.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure. Thai is not very common with the people around here."

"No, seriously. I love Thai. There's this restaurant. It's about an hour from here, called the South Thai Royal that is excellent. I love the pad sah ewe or whatever you call it. Basically just stir fried noodles."

I narrowed my eyes at him and then yelled to the back. "That's no fair Marjorie!"

Her head poked out the window. "What Darlin?"

"You can't go telling him everything about me like it's some silly coincidence!"

She looked thoughtful. "What did I tell him this time?"

I laughed. What an actress. "About my favorite restaurant. About pad see ew."

Nate glanced to me. "South Thai is your favorite restaurant?"

"As if you didn't know." I spoke louder to the back, "Miss Marjorie is a little cheat."

He chuckled. "Marjorie didn't tell me that."

I turned on Adam. "You went through my stuff! Found a receipt or something?"

"Did not." Adam put his hands up. "You were there too."

My brows came down in confusion and twisted back to Nate. "You seriously just randomly know about South Thai Royal? You just happen to go to my favorite restaurant in the city?"

He smiled. "Me and Adam last went what," he turned to Adam, "three months ago?"

Adam nodded. "Juneish. For Palmer's birthday."

"Right. Right." He turned to me gleeful. "Well, guess we've figured out our dinner plans when you finally consent to that date."

I shocked still. Date? To South Thai Royal? I couldn't decide if I was angry that again I was tricked into something, or actually excited to go to my favorite place. My lip turned up, "maybe," was all I consented and then I couldn't stop the full grin from rushing to my face.

I sat silent for a minute looking out over the booth behind Adam. Then I absentmindedly pulled a strand of hair from my face and over my left ear. I tried to imagine if I really could date someone. Could I? Nate seemed to be bringing down my defenses. I hadn't even wanted to think about dating anyone for a really long time.

Did I want to now?

Maybe?

"What's that?" Adam asked alarmed.

I twisted around the diner, sure to find some large bug, rampaging murderer, or something out of the ordinary.

"Your hand," he groaned. "Miss Winters!" He spoke frustrated. "There was something wrong."

"Huh?" I looked at my left hand and noticed the violet spike just sticking out from under the bottom of the bandage. My hand raced back under the table. "Nothing!" But I knew I said it too forcefully, too obviously. My hand would be taken by a wolf's in four, three, two....

Yep.

Nate stared at the harsh line. "What is it?" He slowly began to peel the large band-aid away.

My face set in resolve and burn of the freshly pulled skin. When the band-aid was off both sets of eyes flew wide to mine.

I didn't even try to pull my hand back. It was rock solid where it was. "It's fine!"

Adam seriously growled. "You keep saying that. You are still lying!"

I rolled my eyes. "No, look. It's okay. I know it looks bad, but that's always what my bee stings look like. Alright?" I glanced down to the irritated bump in the center with the series of violet lines coming from the inner point. The lines shot out in straight angles like a circuit board. "It's just an allergic reaction."

Nate's eyes folded me with power. "This is not an allergic reaction, Elise. It looks like..." he paused looking at Adam and Adam nodded his silent thought, "it looks like wolfsbane poisoning."

A strong punch to the gut. I closed my eyes in defeat. That's exactly what it was. My words were soft as spider's silk, "it'll heal in a couple days."

"Not if it's wolfsbane poisoning."

Adam added, "and you have wolfsbane patches all over your property."

"I know I have some aconite plants growing. They're pretty." Like that was the reason. "I promise, it will be completely healed in a couple days," I reiterated.

"A couple days?" Nate asked. "Really? Elise, there's like... oozing and everything."

"Eww..." I checked back over the sting. "Don't be gross. It's not 'ooze'. It's honey." I shrugged. "You know, healing and antibacterial properties and all, that come from honey."

"This is not funny," Nate spoke furiously. "This is bad. We need to get you back to my doctors."

I looked up to him in horror, the idea of going to another packhouse triggering in my mind. "No! Look, I'm not going to the doctor for a bee sting. You'll find out it's better tomorrow."

Both were unconvinced.

"We're going," Nate commanded and started pressing me out the booth cushion.

"Stop it! I promise, just tomorrow." I tried to show my positive truth. "Oh! Wait, I know. Marjorie!" I called to the other room, "Marjorie!" She wandered out and Nate tried to hide my hand under the table. "No, give it here." I pulled my hand away.

"Yes Elise? Need more drinks?" She glanced at the empty glasses.

"No, no drinks," I held my hand out to her to show her the purple streaks. "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

She looked at my hand and winced. "Aww girly. That sting looks bad today."

I nodded, "Yes, but have you seen me with bee stings like this before. And have you seen them heal? These two think I'm going to die."

She laughed. "Oh Boys. She has those silly stings all the time. Don't you go worrying about her."

Adam looked skeptical. "You've really seen her with purple veining coming from bee stings before?"

"Yes, I certainly have. Even just a month or two ago. One on her arm. Those bees of hers are mighty tricky sometimes."

Nate softened as he looked over my arms as if he'd see remnants of old wolfsbane poisoning. "And she'll heal? I mean on her own?"

"Well, it's not like she's ever been to the hospital for them if that's what you mean. Her throat don't close up or nothin'. You sure are sweet for caring for her so much." Marjorie smiled and I put my head up in the air as if things were now solved.

Humph.

Nate shook his head appeased. "Alright. I believe you Marjorie. I was about to scoop her up and take her to the hospital on my own."

I placed the food worker glove back on over it, sans band-aid. "You believe me now?"

"Yes," he nodded apologetic. "Well, what if we call it a night?" He turned to the clock closing in on 11:30. "I'm going to get what's left of these cakes back to my friends."

I scooted out of the booth and Nate followed after. He turned and tossed a hundred dollar bill on the table. At least he was a good tipper. Or maybe he was just paying Marjorie off for making me sit with them. I grinned and followed him to the door.

He turned back and smiled. "You rest that hand. I expect it to be better tomorrow or I'll be very upset."

I teased, "and then what? You won't want to call me anymore?"

"Maybe," he thought, "if it doesn't heal quick, I'll have to get that date sooner, before you get too sick on me."

I bit my lip. I better put more honey on the sting pronto.

"Goodnight Elise."

"Night." I slightly waved as the ding of the diner bell rang his departure.

I took a deep breath and wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into giving those wolves cake the first day. Maybe I'd regret it, but I was in too deep now. Just gotta trust it was what I needed to do.