Rowena was about to cut a heifer. Her eyes narrowed on the buxom brunette in a short leather skirt and ruffled peasant top smiling at Cross as she led them to their table which resembled an oversized Sand dollar. They were at Barnacles, a fancy restaurant that served garlic knots and automatically added a twenty percent tip with each meal. Rowena had never been to Barnacles. The prices were a bit too steep for her wallet and her ex-boyfriends never seemed interested in dining at a restaurant with an underwater theme that included sharks bursting from the dining room walls. Its interior design was a mash-up of The Little Mermaid meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Jaws. She loved it!

"Is there anything else I can get you?" asked the server. She batted her lashes at Cross. Her nametag read Winni but Rowena figured someone misspelled it. It should've read W-H-O-R-E.

"The menus," Rowena reminded her.

The server ignored Rowena and handed the menus to Cross. "If there's anything you need, please let me know." She ran a finger across her chest. "Anything at all."

To his credit, Cross wasn't paying attention to Winni. He handed a menu to Rowena. "Baby, I didn't know you liked seafood."

"I love all food," Rowena said, glaring at the brunette, who was still waiting for Cross to acknowledge her. "Except Chipotle."

"You don't like Chipotle?" The waitress gaped at Rowena.

"Nope. I dislike Americanized Mexican food just as much as I dislike other women staring at my man instead of bringing me a strawberry lemonade," Rowena hissed, pulling out the steak knife from the grouped silverware tucked into a red cloth napkin.

Winni's mouth fell open, and she looked to Cross for help, but he was grinning at Rowena. She cleared her throat and took a step back on her heeled boots before spinning around and rushing to the kitchen.

"I'm your man?" Cross smirked.

Rowena pointed her knife at him. "Are you denying it?"

"Never." His lips spread into a wide smile.

She couldn't help the tips of her mouth turning up. She put the knife down. "That woman was so rude. She totally ignored me to ogle you."

"She wasn't ogling me and if she was, it wouldn't matter. I'm here with you, my future mate. Wolves usually mate for life. It's very rare for those bonds to be broken. It happens-but I don't think you and I will have that problem."

Rowena looked around before lowering her voice. "Aren't you worried we may not get along in the future?"

He shook his head. "No, I had a visceral reaction when I met you. You were unconscious, but it still counted. That's never happened before. I've dated women, but none could attract me the way you did. Besides, your abuela said we were soulmates. You can't deny that."

Rowena's smile faltered. "Are you only with me because she said we were soulmates? You realize she's old? Has cataracts? Could've been wrong?"

Cross chuckled, shaking his head. "That doesn't matter. Even if she never mentioned us being soulmates, I'd still feel this connection to you."

Rowena's cheeks heated at his words.

"Are you getting shy with me?" Cross teased.

"Well, you're saying all this mushy stuff and I'm not used to it on dates."

"What do you mean?"

Winni came back with a basket of garlic knots. Rowena's mouth watered. She pierced Cross with a glare and pointed to him. "Are you going to be annoyed if I eat garlic knots now and later you try to kiss me and get a whiff of garlic breath?"

Instead of answering, he picked up a knot and took a bite, slowly chewing on it. "No, it won't annoy me. I like that you're already imagining us making out later."

Rowena rolled her eyes before grabbing a knot for herself. "You know, if this was one of the romance books Gina and I read in our book club, the garlic breath wouldn't be an issue."

"Those stories aren't real," Cross reminded her. "Books never mention the weird but real stuff like garlic breath, body hair, and hangnails."

Rowena sputtered into a cough. "I'm trying to enjoy the buttery goodness of carbs! Can we not talk about body hair and hangnails?"

An older couple at the next table stared at them mid-bite. Rowena huffed in annoyance, jerking a thumb at Cross. "He's a podiatrist, and it's rude to listen to other people's conversations."

They gave a nod and a nervous smile before turning away.

Cross snickered. "A podiatrist?"

Rowena shrugged. "For all I know, you have a creepy foot fetish."

"I always get pedicures," Winni's voice came from beside them. She placed their drinks down on the table. "If you have a foot fetish, I can let you see-"

"Nobody wants to see the bunions on your feet!" Silence pierced the restaurant as Rowena's voice captured the attention of the nearby patrons. "We're trying to eat here. That's just gross."

Winni's cheeks turned a bright red before she snarled at Rowena. "I do not have bunions!"

"We want a different server! One without bunions!"

"Too bad! You're sitting in my area, so you're stuck with me," Winni spat. "If I were you, I'd be nicer unless you want your food spiced with day-old snot."

Rowena gagged in her mouth. "Why are you holding onto your boogers?"

Laughter came from the next table. Winni huffed and stole a glance at Cross, who had a hand over his face. "Is it always this embarrassing to take her out in public?"

Cross lowered his hand and glared at Winni. "I'm not embarrassed. She's hilarious. You're the one who has been upsetting me by ignoring my mate."

"Mate?" Winni's brows lifted, and she turned back to Rowena. "You're just friends?"

A portly gentleman dressed like a pirate came scurrying up to the table. "I'm the manager here. Is there a problem?"

"We want another server," Rowena told him. "One who doesn't stare at my boyfriend and talk about her hammer toe and the bunions on her feet."

Winni gasped, shaking her head and turning to her boss. "I did not!"

"She did!" The man at the table next to them piped in. "We heard her talking about her feet. Highly inappropriate."

"I do not have bunions!"

Rowena turned to Cross and muttered, "Did you notice she didn't deny the hammer toe?"

"I do not have a hammer toe!" Winni screeched, her hands outstretched at Rowena. Cross stood up to block her, but the manager jumped in front of Winni. A busboy came running forward.

The manager held her arms at her side. "Winni, I think it's time you cashed out for the night. I'll have Priya cover for you."

After ordering their meal with Priya, a nice waitress who was in her fifties, Cross leaned forward and grabbed Rowena's hand. "I have to say this has been the most entertaining night I've had in a while."

Rowena shrugged. "It hasn't been the best first date because of that woman, but it's not the worst first date I've been on."

"What's happened on your other dates?"

"I once had a guy bring his mother with him," Rowena admitted. "It wouldn't have been so bad, but he expected me to pay for both of them."

Cross grimaced. "I bet he didn't get a second date."

"No, we dated for a while, but when he brought his mother to Victoria's Secret with me, I had to draw the line. What about you? Did you ever date any weirdos? Besides Angelina."

"I once went on a date with a woman who showed up with photoshopped pictures of our future children based on photos she found of me online. She also showed me a real estate listing of a house she thought would be perfect for our future kids. It was bizarre."

Rowena gave a stilted laugh. "Yeah, that would be totally weird." She picked up her phone. "Let me just delete some pictures real quick."

Cross chuckled, reaching for her phone. "Did you make pictures of our future children? I'd actually like to see them."

"No, I'm kidding. Oh, I remember my worst first date. A guy I met at the DMV took me to a racetrack. We were sitting in the stands and a bunch of cops showed up to arrest him. Turns out, he was a wanted serial killer."

"Serial killer?" Cross repeated, his brows raised.

"Yeah, he'd meet women, charm them, then kill them."

"You were lucky you escaped."

Rowena shrugged. "He went to prison and got therapy. He said he's a changed man."

"And you know this, how?" Cross asked.

"He writes me letters every few months. He always refers to me as the one who got away."

Cross choked on his wine.

"This is ridiculous!" a familiar voice cried out from the front of the restaurant. Rowena turned to see her cousin Carmen, wearing a white dress covered in red paint. She was standing next to a man in his eighties.

"Ma'am, you cannot come in here like that," the manager said, his hands up in front of him.

"Someone just splashed me with a can of red paint!" Carmen yelled. "In front of your restaurant. I deserve entrance, a free meal, and a new dress!"

"We aren't responsible for what happens outside of the building," the manager told her.

Carmen's eyes widened when she spotted Rowena. She pointed a manicured finger at her. "You!"

Rowena shook her head in dismay. "I can see the lipstick on her teeth from here."

"Is her date that old guy?" Cross asked. "He's old enough to be her grandfather.

Carmen marched forward, pushing the manager away and getting splats of paint on the floor. "I don't know how, but this is your fault," Carmen accused.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rowena said, giving an innocent shrug. "You really should talk to your therapist again about your propensity to blame others for the problems in your life. Oh wait, you can't because you slept with him and he lost his license."

"Today, someone slashed my tires. Then, someone wrote 'skank' on the windshield. Just now, someone drove by and threw red paint on my new designer dress! I don't know how, but I know it's your fault."

"It's not my fault you have enemies, Carmen."

Her cousin made a growling noise.

"You really must leave before I call the authorities!" the manager shouted at Carmen.

She pointed at Rowena. "You'll pay for this, Rowena. Your friend Gina is sitting in jail for murder and you're on a date at a fancy restaurant. You should be ashamed of yourself. Is it any wonder your parents went to Hawaii and didn't tell you?"

Rowena's smug expression faded as the manager dragged Carmen and her elderly date outside. Rowena sighed.

"Are you okay?" Cross asked.

"She's right."

"About the streak of bad luck she's receiving? Well, we both know that's the fairies."

"I don't care about that. I mean about Gina. My friend is in jail and I'm here at Barnacles."

Cross grabbed her hand. "If the situation were reversed, would you expect Gina to sit at home and worry?"

"No, she's too vibrant to do that."

"Rowena, you're already doing everything you can to find out who killed Karen to clear Gina's name. Selig is also helping. The Howler pack is at your back on this. Ignore your cousin's words. She's just jealous."

"I guess you're right. You know, if this were a scene in a paranormal romance, you'd take me outside and have your wicked way with me to make me forget my troubles."

Cross smiled. "Are you giving me permission to do that?"

"No, this is more like a cozy mystery."

A line puckered between his brows. "How are they different?"

"In a cozy mystery, murders happen off the page and there are no major sex scenes either. Just when things get hot and heavy, everything fades to black on the page."

His hand tightened around hers. "No, I think I'd rather we be in a paranormal romance-with all the wickedness. Tomorrow is a full moon."

Rowena raised a brow. "Are you thinking I'll put out after one fancy meal?"

"No, but I plan to seduce you, my future mate."

A fluttering in her stomach made Rowena lean back in her chair. "I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back. Please don't touch my lobster or chocolate cake."

He nodded. "I'll be waiting for your return."

Rowena stalked into the bathroom and stared at the mirror for a moment. She wasn't sure what Cross saw in her, but she wanted to believe him when he described her as attractive.

The sound of a lock clicking stole her attention. She turned to her left to see a woman with wild red hair and bright blue eyes staring at her. The stranger wore an oversized trench coat. Several gemstones pierced her ears.

Rowena frowned. "Did you just lock the door?"

The woman smiled, revealing diamond-studded teeth.

"Are you, like, a rapper?" Rowena asked, pointing to her own teeth. "Rappers usually have those diamond grills."

The woman removed her trench coat and tossed it to the ground.

"Uh... if you're some kind of hooker, I'm not interested," Rowena said, her eyes on the coat. She glanced back at the woman and gasped. The woman was wearing combat boots, leather booty shorts, and a matching leather bra. In her belly button was a large gemstone.

"Are you... are you a treasure troll?" Rowena shrieked, smiling, and clapping her hands. "That is so cool!"

"We heard you were looking for us," the woman said in a deep voice. "They sent me as a warning. That's actually my name-Warning."

Rowena's head jerked back. "Your name is Warning? Do you have a sibling? Is he called Caution? Or maybe Label?"

"Shut your mouth, human! Your shifter boyfriend didn't tell you? Trolls don't like to be bothered. You have the fairies looking for us, and we want it to stop."

"And how are you planning to warn me, Warning?"

Warning cracked her knuckles. "You'll find out shortly."

Rowena grinned. "You really don't know whom you're messing with."

"A pathetic human is no match for a troll."

"Possibly, but if you killed Karen and you're the reason my friend Gina is in jail, you're about to learn why Wal-Mart banned me from their store."

Warning stilled. "Wal-Mart bans people?"

Rowena cackled. "They do for fighting." Before Warning could reply, Rowena rolled on the ground and picked up the trench coat. She whirled it around so it could act like a rope.

"What are you doing?" Warning screeched, trying to dodge the snap of the jacket. She grabbed it, but Rowena tugged it toward her and slammed her fist into the side of her head.

The bathroom door handle jostled, followed by a banging sound. "Rowena, why is this door locked?" Cross asked from the other side.

"You need your shifter boyfriend to fight for you?" Warning snapped.

"No, I'm kicking your butt just fine on my own."

The door burst open, and Warning spun around to face a growling Cross. "You attacked my mate?"

Rowena jumped and wrapped the coat around Warning's throat. The troll struggled to get free, but Rowena wouldn't loosen her hold. Finally, the red-haired woman passed out.

A startled cry to their right made Cross and Rowena turn to see a petite older woman waiting to use the bathroom. "Wh-what's going on here?"

"Nothing to see here. We're just a thruple that's really into role-playing," Rowena explained, smiling.

Cross cleared his throat and gave a swift nod to the woman before lifting Rowena and Warning in his arms and striding to the rear exit. They didn't speak a word when they tossed an unconscious Warning in the backseat and sped toward Howler. A phone call from Cross had Liam and Matt waiting for them at the town's entrance.

"Rowena caught a troll?" Liam asked, his eyes wide.

Matt tied the troll up. "Don't worry, we'll take her to the jail cell for now."

Cross thanked them before leading Rowena to his home. As they entered, a plain-looking woman stomped into the room. "I want you to remove your hex!"

"Angelina?" Rowena asked, unsure if the plain woman was the once gorgeous wolf-shifter.

"Not now," Cross shouted, pushing past her. He dragged Rowena to the bathroom and perched her on the counter. He wordlessly looked her over, checking for bruises or cuts. When he was done, he placed his forehead against hers. "I was so scared. You were taking too long."

Rowena smirked. "What if it was just me taking a dump?"

He rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to push me away. I was worried. When I realized someone locked the bathroom door, I thought the worst. We'll interrogate the troll tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to hold you and do what they do in those paranormal romance stories you read."

"So, not the cozy mystery version?"

He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. "They both ultimately lead to the same thing, don't they?"

"They do. It's just how it's written on the page. Readers can still use their imagination." Rowena smiled.

"I'm okay with either version," Cross whispered, leaning forward to capture her lips with his.

Rowena was about to explain the pros and cons of each version, but they could do that later. For now, she was going to enjoy her boyfriend's warm embrace.

NOTE FROM SHEHOPES: OMG this story is a blast to write and I really hope you all are enjoying it. Has anyone had a crazy first date like Rowena? Do share in the comments. Thank you for reading, voting, sharing, and just sticking around the ride! -Sandra