Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 335

Abby

I turn the plain white business card over in my fingers for at least the dozenth time, still conflicted. In the week since that bizarre encounter with the man named Damon, I’ve agonized endlessly over whether to accept his cryptic catering offer.

On one hand, the opportunity could be a huge boon professionally. My name attached to some exclusive elite event, paid handsomely? It’s terribly tempting given my situation, and I’d jump at every opportunity to get my team and I some extra work.

But everything happened so oddly. Damon’s intensity, his influence and background remaining vague—does blind ambition make me desperate enough to ignore the nerves that such ambiguity stirs in me?

With a frustrated sigh, I tuck the card back into my pocket just as the front door opens. Karl’s silhouette fills the entryway, snowflakes clinging to his dark hair. “I brought croissants,” he says as he shakes the snow off of his jacket. “Chocolate ones. Your favorite.”

Grinning, I jump up from the couch and close the distance between us to capture Karl’s cold mouth in a warm kiss. He responds immediately, his lips smiling against mine.

This is the way it’s been for the past week. I’m incredibly grateful that he’s staying with me, although he’s leaving in just a couple of days. It’s going to be much lonelier around here once that happens.

“You’re distracting me with this ‘hello’,” he teases. His cold hands slip under my sweater and cause me to yelp.

“Maybe that’s the point,” I murmur against his neck.

Suddenly, however, our moment shatters abruptly when a slip of paper flutters to the floor from my pocket. We both glance down in surprise to see Damon’s stark white business card near our feet.

Karl’s expression shifts. He crouches to pick up the card I’ve been agonizing over all week, scanning the minimal text with a frown. “What’s this?”

I bite my lip briefly. I guess there’s no sense in hiding details from my Karl at this point. “Remember that customer from last week?” I ask. “The one that asked me to cater some exclusive event?”

“Yeah,” Karl says, turning the card over in his hand. “Is this him?”

I nod. “Yep. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. It could be good for business, but… I don’t know. I’m still not sure.”

Karl nods slowly as he gazes down at the card in his hand. Then, recognition seems to flicker through his eyes. “Damon Eyler,” he says quietly. “Hm. That name sounds familiar.”

Without another word, he turns toward the couch, tugging me along by the hand. I curl into Karl’s side as he grabs his phone off the coffee table, quickly typing the mystery man’s name into the search bar.

Moments later, image results pop up on the screen. My jaw drops in shock to see those striking green eyes and tidy beard staring up at me. “That’s him!” I call out, then furrow my brow. “But—that article calls him Prince Damon?”

I glance between Karl and the phone wildly. He gives a slow nod, recognition finally dawning on him. “Yes. I knew it,” he says thoughtfully. “Damon is the current heir to the kingdom of the Gray Isles.”

“The Gray Isles?” The name rings a bell, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

“It’s a chain of islands quite a ways off the northern coast,” Karl says. “An ancient kingdom; one of the first packs, actually. The royal family is incredibly wealthy, but also extremely low key. It’s probably why you haven’t heard of them. They’re more involved in luxury car manufacturing now rather than actual ‘royal’ duties. Just figureheads and businesspeople, really.”

“Still, though,” I say. My thoughts whirl dizzyingly. An actual prince wants me specifically to cater for his event? It seems too good to be true.

Oblivious to my internal crisis, Karl continues scanning the article details. “You said that he told you he’s been watching you since the cook-off,” he says. “Royalty is weird like that. If they want something, then it becomes… the entire world to them.”

There’s a suggestive note to Karl’s rumbling voice that snaps me out of my reverie. I smack his chest lightly. “Oh, stop,” I coo. “I barely even spoke to him at the restaurant.”

“He seemed to act quite familiar with you, though,” my wolf teases. “You had to practically pry your hands away from him.”

My wolf’s words almost make me blush. “Well, either way, I’m not interested. I’ve got Karl.”

Karl, once again seemingly oblivious to my inner thoughts, simply shrugs. “Either way, this could be an amazing opportunity for you,” he says. “Have you even called yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Why not?” Karl asks. “Just picture it: Chef Abby caters for a prince. A prince. Hell, maybe he’ll even vouch for you with this whole food poisoning case. Could be a useful ally.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes a bit, although Karl’s words are tempting. “Yeah, right,” I say. “I think royalty has better things to worry about than petty drama involving chefs.”

“It’s not just petty drama,” Karl corrects me. “If it’s true that someone was trying to poison the food at the Alpha gathering in order to kill some Luna’s kids, then this is huge. And if this prince is really as enthralled with you as he claims…”

I nod mutely, my pulse racing as I take the card from his hands. One call wouldn’t hurt, right? And besides, aside from the whole Alpha gathering debacle, this is a chance of a lifetime.

Finally, I nod. “Alright. I’ll call, if only to get the details.”

Karl grins and leans back on the couch as I dial the number on the card, my heart pounding. After two rings, a crisp professional voice answers.

“Eyler Industries. How can I help you?”

Taking a deep breath, I introduce myself. The woman on the other end seems to pause, then replies, “Ah, Miss Abby. It’s so nice to hear from you; Mr. Eyler mentioned that you might call, and would like to know if you’ve considered his proposal.”

I swallow, glancing over at Karl. “Well, I was actually wondering if you could give me the details,” I reply. “Such as the location, the length, that sort of thing.”

“Of course.” The woman pauses, and I can hear typing on the other end before she answers. “The event will be located at Mr. Eyler’s beachside estate,” she replies. “It’s a week-long affair.”

My eyes widen. “A week?”

“Yes,” the woman replies. “Of course, Mr. Eyler would provide full room and board at no cost to you or any staff that you may bring. You would be staying in luxury in his estate; no expenses spared. Whatever you and your staff desire, you shall have it.”

Her words cause my heart to pound even harder. A full week, living in the lap of luxury at a prince’s estate…

For the remainder of the phone call, I manage to glean some more information from the woman. She gives me the exact location, which just so happens to be three hours from the city. So not only would I be gone for a week, but I would be out of the city for a week. Outside of Officer Martinez’s jurisdiction.

But, then again, I’d be staying with a literal prince.

It’s all so much. I gratefully thank the woman and hang up, slowly turning to Karl. He’s staring at me with a shocked expression on his face; he heard everything.

“A week,” I murmur, running a hand through my hair. “I’m not so sure…”