Dinner

A week had passed by before I ever knew it. My dish and internet service had been installed earlier in the day and I'd spent most of the remaining morning rearranging furniture. I knew it was silly but moving things around made the house feel a little more like it was really mine.

Lucien had yet to make a reappearance but that didn't stop me from thinking about him. I hadn't built up the courage to keep running to the cemetery instead I had started running up the long drive to the mailbox everyday. It wasn't that I was afraid of running into Lucian again, I just wasn't ready to find out what was doing all of the howling in the woods at night.

I was sitting on the couch in the living room searching for any local jobs when I heard a loud booming knocking sound from the front door. My heart instantly dropped as I jumped up tiptoeing to the door almost afraid of what would be on the other side. Taking a deep breath I opened the door unable to hide the grin that appeared on my face.

Lucien was lazily leaned against the column on the front porch. His eyes moved up my body and I instantly wished that I had dressed in something besides a pair of leggings and an oversized faded tshirt. Letting out a sigh I looked down shaking my head, at least I had painted my toenails this morning.

"I was thinking of cashing in on my dinner tonight."

I looked up seeing him smirking at me as he made his way to the porch swing. Crossing my arms I shrugged, "I haven't even thought about what I wanted to cook. Do you have any request? I may need to make a quick trip to town."

Lucien motioned for me to come sit beside him as he shook his head, "whatever you have is good. I have to run some errands in town myself but I should be back by six if that works for you."

I nodded as I made my way to the swing slowly sitting down beside him. Once I was seated he pushed the swing off with his foot. I looked over at him, "that's fine. You better not stand me up though you're the only person besides the dish installer I've seen all week."

He laughed, "it does get kind of lonely out here."

I nodded looking out toward the woods. "I've been wondering, are there many wolves in these woods?"

Lucien's face fell, "wolves?"

I suddenly felt foolish for asking. "Yes, I've heard a lot of howling at night. I just assumed that it was wolves. I guess I could be wrong. I just wondered if they were something I needed to worry about when I run to the mailbox."

Lucien's face looked relieved, "you are right. There are wolves in these woods but you don't have to worry about them. They won't bother you."

I frowned looking up at him, the way he had said it was like the wolves would know specifically not to mess with me. I shook my head laughing to myself. How the hell could anyone tell wolves who to mess with and who not too.

Looking over at me Lucien arched his brow, "I better get going so you can figure out what you are going to feed me tonight."

Laughing I nodded, "I was thinking cereal."

Lucien stood up laughing, "at least make it good cereal."

Watching Lucien’s truck pull away I began to panic. I had no clue what to cook for him. I didn’t know a single like or dislike of his, hell the man could be a vegetarian for all I knew.

I had lied earlier when I told him I didn’t have any plans for supper. I did and they had involved pizza rolls. I laughed as I pictured the expression that would be on his face if I sat down a plate of Pizza rolls in front of him. No Lucien was definitely a meat and potatoes type of man.

Deciding what to cook was turning out to be far harder than it should have. I wanted to cook something good but I also didn’t want him to think I went out of my way for him. Biting my lip I opened my fridge eyeing the roast I had picked up to cook during the weekend. Roast was simple yet delicious.

The entire time I was cutting the vegetables up I second guessed myself. Was this too much? I didn't have time to cook it in the crockpot like I usually did so I would have to throw it in the oven. I still had plenty of time to make it tender but my nerves still got the better of me. I didn't relax until I had everything in the oven with no chance of being able to turn back now.

Heading upstairs I dug through my clothes and even some of Aunt Violet's with no luck. I found myself having the same problem with my clothes as I had with the food. I didn't want to look over done but I also didn't want to look homeless.

Giving up I pulled out my favorite pair of jeans and a black shirt that had Aztec print on the sleeves. It would have to do. Changing clothes I walked to the bathroom grabbing my brush and frowned at the green eyed girl in front of me. Pulling my hair out of its messy bun I shook my head, I was a fan of the whole messy bun concept but today my hair was awful. Lucien might not want to come back after seeing the train wreck I had been.

It wasn't until I had straightened my hair, applied some makeup and had slid on some shoes that I finally relaxed. I had to admit I cleaned up nice, I had no middle ground. It was either homeless or all the way.

Making my way downstairs I couldn't help but feel proud. The house smelled amazing and the house had done a complete 180 from the last time Lucien had graced its doors. Going to stand in the door that led to the dining room I wondered if we should eat there. Personally I ate all my meals at the kitchen counter. I would feel like an idiot eating alone in that huge dining room. Ok no, I wont' lie. I ate a majority of my meals on the couch watching tv.

The dinning room was so formal but the island counter was so informal. Shit why did one meal have to be so hard? It would help if I knew more about Lucien but I knew nothing other than the fact that he had appeared out of nowhere in a cemetery. That wasn't exactly a plus. At least he was hot as hell, I could forgive a lot of things just by looking at him.

By the time I heard Lucien’s truck pull up I had moved things from the dinning room back to the island counter twice finally deciding to stick with the bar in the kitchen. I stood still and silent waiting on his knock I barely even dared to breathe. When the knock at the door finally came I jumped and had to force my feet to move one in front of the other.

Opening the door I told myself to get it together even as I smiled, "look at you right on time."

Lucien returned my smile as he walked in, "you sure have the house smelling good."

As he walked by me I closed my eyes thinking about how good he smelled. Get it together Samantha I said opening my eyes bringing myself back into reality. Following behind Lucien to the kitchen I looked at my watch, "the rolls should be ready in just a minute."

"You didn't do all of this for me did you?"

The smirk on his face made me roll my eyes as I walked by him. "Maybe some of it but don't be expecting this much."

He laughed watching as I pulled the rolls out of the stove and placed them on the stove. "I hope your hungry," I said as I grabbed us two plates.

As Lucien began fixing his plate I fixed us both a glass of tea before I fixed my own plate and sate down beside him. Taking a bite I was pretty satisfied how it had turned out. Lucien looked over at me, "this is really good. I'll have to cook for you sometime."

My brow automatically went up as I tried to imagine him in a kitchen cooking. He laughed, "by cook you know I mean taking you out to eat right?"

I laughed, "yeah, that will work."

The remainder of the meal we made small talk not really focusing on any one subject. When we were both done eating I stood grabbing our dishes taking them to the sink and was surprised when Lucien started running the dish water.

“Um no you will not," I said shaking my head so he would know I meant buisness.

He shot his eyes at me pushing me out of the way with his hips, “you just put the leftovers up and clean off the counter.” I stared at the back of his head, he sure was bossy. But I think I’m ok with that. Watching as he washed our plates I smiled, yeah I'm pretty ok with it.

With the dished done and the food put away Lucien suggested we go sit out on the porch for a bit. I agreed following him out into the night air. Walking to the steps I looked up at the sky, "the moon is so pretty tonight."

In fact the moon was huge tonight. I had a childish urge to reach out and grab it. Glancing over at Lucien I saw he had his eyes focused on the orb in the sky as well. Taking the lead I sat down on the porch swing hoping he would follow.

As he sat down I looked over at him, "so random question but you don't know anywhere around town that is hiring do you?"

Lucien stopped the porch swing looking at me as if I had grown three heads. “Samantha why on earth do you think you need a job?”

I shrugged feeling awkward, ” I don’t know maybe because everybody else on the planet has one. I mean the money Aunt Violet left can’t last forever.”

Lucien sighed, ” did that lawyer even tell you how much is in your checking account? Did he tell you about the annuities?

I let out a breath. The lawyer had told me a lot of things. Too many things at one time and my brain had been unable to remember everything. "Yes, I guess. I really don’t know I don’t remember.”

Lucien started swinging us again, “trust me you are fine, but to answer your question I know exactly where you can find a job.”

I don't know why but I felt like I had disappointed him in some way. As he turned to look at me with that frown of his I just started babbling trying to make him see my reasoning. "I just don't want to end up broke and alone ok. I mean I know there is money in the bank but..."

Lucian reached out moving a stray strand of hair out of my face. "you're not alone anymore Sam, you are going to be ok."

I looked up at him, no one ever called me Sam. Not since I was younger. The way he spoke my name sent shivers down my entire spine and I prayed he didn't notice.

The sudden howl of a wolf startled us both. It sounded close as if it was just beyond the tree line. Lucien grabbed my hand and pulled me up, “thank you for supper. I hate to run but I need to go handle some things. If you really think you need a job, which I say you don’t, then be up at 830 and I will pick you up.”

I nodded swallowing the knot that had formed in my throat. I had so many questions but he had made it obvious by the look on his face that he was done. When he hit the bottom step he looked up at me and I nodded whispering “okay.”

He shook his head at me before walking to his truck never once looking back. I crossed my arms watching him. I couldn't figure him out. What had made him change his entire demeanor so fast? Had I angered him?