Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

“Oh, guys, I am so sorry to end this, but if I’m going to get my Calc homework done tonight, I have to get a move on,” Dominique said, checking her phone before standing up. She was working on getting her degree from the local community college and took this job specifically because of the hours.
“Yeah, sure. You are so right. We should all get back to work,” Mara said, feeling a tad guilty for setting a bad example.
“Hey Bruno, here’s my number in case you wanna do something like this again,” the blonde Bunny replied, biting her lip as she slipped him a piece of paper.
“Oh, uh,” Bruno looked at the thing, a confused expression on his face, but he did not move to take it.
Thank the gods. Mara was barely keeping her skin at the moment. Holy moly. Her inner Bunny was one seriously territorial little furball once she had a few beers in her tummy. And for no reason at all.
He is not ours.
Her inner beastie chittered and snapped her teeth angrily. She was so not playing around when it came to the big, sexy male.
“Call me anytime,” Dominique invited.
“Come on, Dom. We have stuff to do,” Manny grumbled, and pulled the younger woman away from the table by tugging on her sleeve.
“Um, Mara, can I talk to you?” Bruno asked, and she noted Dom’s number was still untouched.
Yay! Bonus points to the big man.
“Yeah, sure,” she mumbled and stood up, grabbing their empty beer bottles and tossing them into the recycling. “About what?”
“The Luani Pride wedding this weekend,” he said.
“Um, yeah. So, what about it?”
“Well, I’ve been put in charge of security, and I wanted to know what you had planned for the setup?”
“Oh, um,” she replied, a little surprised—and disappointed. “I am waiting to hear from the bride and groom, but they were leaning towards a traditional, sit down dinner, as opposed to a buffet. They will let me know by tomorrow morning latest.”
“Okay,” he replied, still standing there as she collected her belongings. “So, that wasn’t what I really wanted to ask you.”
“It wasn’t?”
“Nah. Um, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to grab a bite with me?” Bruno mumbled so low, she almost didn’t hear him. Almost. But Mara was a Bunny, and she had great hearing.
She blinked slowly. It sounded like he was asking her out. Her tummy-flies were all aflutter, but Mara needed him to clarify.
“Are you asking me out? Like, you want to take me out to eat?”
“Well, no, actually,” Bruno said, rubbing the back of his neck like he was nervous.
Mara frowned as her tummy-flies plummeted with his response. Why was she so disappointed? She didn’t like him, anyway. Right? Crap. Now, she was ten times confused.
“Okay, so no, you don’t want to take me out.”
“Not exactly, but uh⁠—”
“Bruno, do you want to take me out or not?” she screeched and winced at the sound. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make us both deaf.”
“No, it’s okay. You’re cute when you squeak,” he grumbled, and damn her tummy-flies were back and her heart was pounding.
Danger. Danger.
“Anyway, I’m sorry, what I meant was, look, you’re a chef, but maybe, I don’t know, maybe I could cook something for you.”
“You want to cook for me?” she asked, stunned by the suggestion.
“I mean, yeah,” he said, looking down at her from his incredible height.
Sweet, hot, thoughtful man.
Mara’s heart was pounding against her ribs as he followed her outside. She usually walked to her apartment a few streets down, but Bruno had driven his monster truck and she stopped, unsure of what to do. Seriously, who even was this big brute of a man?
She was just a single Bunny. A hard worker, yes, but tonight was probably the most interestingly fun thing she’d done in quite a while. And it was nothing. Just some dick jokes and beer. Bruno was probably used to far more thrilling nighttime adventures.
Facts were facts. Mara was plain, vanilla soft serve while Bruno was blueberry basil gelato with a balsamic reduction drizzle.
He was this hulking man who oozed sex appeal while she was practically a virgin with two mediocre sexual partners under her belt. None of which managed to make her come. But that was her fault, apparently.
Frigid—that’s what they’d called her. Mara was simply not capable of inspiring passion in others. That was why she’d agreed to take part in the Cottontail Flock’s Meet and Mate.
“I’m not asking for anything else, Mara,” he growled her name, and fuck, she got chills. “Not tonight. Just me, you, and some food. Come on, kit. Whaddya say?”
“Yes,” she whispered, accepting his proffered hand.
Chills raced up her arm and down her spine, and something heavy was happening just then when Bruno touched her. She felt the purr coming from his chest as he stepped right into her personal space, brushing up against her with his hard, warm body.
Powerful, sexy, simple man.
He smiled at her spoken agreement, and the result on his already too handsome face was breathtaking. Bruno was deeper than she’d expected. Straightforward, commanding all her attention effortlessly.
He wasn’t confusing her with his words. Wasn’t trying to get into her panties. Wasn’t working any masculine witchery on her. He’d just asked to make her dinner, and that wall she’d built around her heart cracked just a little.