BC connected to the television signal once again, his sensors automatically adjusting to process the familiar dramatic opening theme. The title "THE HOOD AND THE WOLF" appeared in elegant script as sweeping orchestral music filled his audio processors.

  ---

  Red adjusted her shopping bags as she walked through the outdoor mall, enjoying the way her yellow sundress caught the afternoon breeze. She'd taken extra care getting ready today—fresh manicure and pedicure, hair styled just right, strappy sandals that made her legs look good. The warm sun felt nice on her bare shoulders.

  The familiar rumble of a motorcycle engine made her look over her shoulder. Her pulse quickened when she saw the bck bike approaching, and Wolf pulling up beside her slowly. He cut the engine and pulled off his helmet, that confident smirk already pying at the corners of his mouth.

  "Well, well," he said, his eyes traveling appreciatively over her appearance. "Don't you look nice today."

  Red felt heat creep up her neck but tried to py it cool. "Oh, looks like that bandage is gone," she said, noticing the small scar near his hairline. "What was that all about?"

  Wolf leaned back against his bike, clearly trying to deflect. "Nothing major. Just a little mishap."

  Red crossed her arms and gave him a look. "I'm waiting."

  "Why do you care?" he shot back, that familiar edge in his voice.

  "Because I do," she said simply, surprised by her own honesty.

  Wolf studied her face for a moment, then his expression softened slightly. "Well, I'll tell you if you let me take you out to lunch."

  "How about you tell me as you drive me home," Red countered, her heart beating faster at her own boldness.

  "Okay," Wolf said, patting the back of his motorcycle. "Jump on."

  Red looked at the passenger seat and shook her head. "I'm not riding on the back seat." She walked up to the front of the bike. "Move over."

  Wolf raised an eyebrow but shifted back, making room for her. Red climbed onto the motorcycle in front of him, settling between his legs. She could feel the solid warmth of his chest behind her as he reached around for the handlebars.

  "Okay, I'm ready," she said, trying to ignore how intimate this position felt.

  "You know this is going to be sorta challenging to drive with you sitting against me like this," Wolf said, his breath warm against her ear.

  Red batted her eyes at him coquettishly over her shoulder. "I thought you were the Big Bad Wolf. I thought you could handle it."

  Wolf's eyes darkened with interest. "You're being a brat right now."

  Red smirked. "So?"

  As they drove off, Red found herself very aware of Wolf's arms on either side of her, the way he was taking his time with turns and driving slower than necessary. She could tell he was trying to extend their time together.

  "You need my address?" she asked.

  "I remember your address," he replied.

  "Oh yeah, you do." Something about that made her stomach flutter—part excitement, part warning bells.

  "So what happened?" she pressed as they moved through traffic.

  Wolf's voice grew more serious. "I was delivering a package for my brother Wendell. Someone set me up, jumped me, took what I was carrying."

  Red felt something cold settle in her chest. "I'm gd you're all right."

  She could feel his smile against her hair. "So you do care."

  Red elbowed him gently. "Shut up."

  "So are you in trouble or anything?" she found herself asking, though she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

  "Nothing I can't handle," Wolf said, but Red caught something in his voice—a hint of worry he was trying to hide behind his usual tough-guy act.

  Why do I care? she asked herself, but immediately heard Rapunzel's voice in her head: Because you're interested in him.

  No, I'm not, she argued with herself. He's a bad person. He tried to rob my grandmother.

  But she was still sitting here between his legs, still letting him drive her home, still worried about whether he was in danger.

  "So you're sure you're fine?" she asked.

  "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, though she could hear the slight tension in his voice.

  They were pulling into her neighborhood now, slowing down as they approached her driveway. Wolf brought the bike to a stop and cut the engine, but neither of them moved immediately. The tension between them was thick, electric.

  "So," Red said finally, "when are you coming back to the restaurant to have a meal?"

  Wolf turned to look at her more directly. "So I can actually come there without getting any shit from you?"

  "I feed you, don't I?" Red said defensively.

  "Yeah, you feed a lot of people. Will I be there as a customer, or as someone you actually want to see?"

  Red felt her cheeks burn as she climbed off the motorcycle. "You figure that out," she said, not able to meet his eyes.

  She could feel him watching her as she walked toward her front door, could practically feel his gaze on her backside. Part of her wanted to look back, but she forced herself to keep walking, fishing for her keys with hands that weren't quite steady.

  Behind her, she could hear Wolf's quiet chuckle, and she knew he was enjoying every second of her flustered retreat.

  What am I doing? she thought as she unlocked her door. What the hell am I doing?

  But even as her rational mind screamed warnings, she found herself hoping he'd actually show up at the restaurant again. Soon.