It was answered on the first ring. “It’s Warren, boss. That guy is back.”
“Watch him,” came the quick reply.
“Will do.” Warren ended the call and settled in for the morning. Jones was relieving him at noon. Collins would take the night shift. Quinn wasn’t on watch rotation yet because he was the new guy. Macmillan didn’t care how well vouched-for the guy was. He didn’t get left alone until they were one hundred percent certain of his loyalty.
The stranger at the garage moved with a fluid grace that was common in werewolves. Maybe he was just an uncommonly graceful human, but Warren didn’t think so. There was a sense of barely controlled menace about the guy.
No, he was a werewolf and he was here for a reason. The mission was to find out what that was and who was involved. Raising his binoculars, he took another look at the doorway before lowering them. He could easily watch the entrance from here.
He wanted a smoke, but couldn’t risk someone noticing the smell. Those werewolves were wily bastards with enhanced senses. He glanced at his watch and sighed. Noon wouldn’t come fast enough.
Meredith checked her liquor order for the third time. Nothing was adding up today. She blamed that on her poor night’s sleep. And that was Isaiah’s fault.
Just the thought of his name sent a tingle down her spine and caused her sex to clench. She dropped her clipboard on the bar and tugged on her hair in frustration.
“You okay?”
She’d been so caught up in her thoughts she hadn’t noticed Benjamin coming out from the kitchen. He was wearing faded jeans and a T-shirt that should have been consigned to the scrap bin months ago. They all dressed casually when the bar was closed. All except her. As she dealt with suppliers and such, she opted to wear a pair of black dress pants and a tailored white blouse. Classic and simple.
“I’m fine.” She offered him a smile, but his blue eyes, so much like her own, still looked concerned. “I didn’t sleep well last night,” she offered, hoping he’d leave it at that.
“I’m not surprised.” His gaze went to the front windows and he peered out at the busy street. “We’re all a little tense and will be until we’re sure this Striker guy is gone for good.” He stopped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, his fingers digging at the knot of muscles there.
She groaned as he worked on a particularly tense spot. “I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.” That was what had kept her awake most of the night. She vacillated between never wanting to see him again and desperately wanting to see him. It was no wonder she couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts had circled round and round until she’d wanted to scream in frustration.
Of course, the arousal heating her skin, making her body pulse and tingle, hadn’t helped either. She stepped away from her son, not wanting him to become aware of the heat coursing through her body.
His gaze narrowed, but he thankfully said nothing.
“It was quiet last night.” She picked up the clipboard and held it in front of her breasts. She should have worn a sweater instead of a blouse. Her nipples were plainly showing through her bra and the thin material.
“Yeah.” Benjamin raked his fingers through his shoulder-length black hair.
He kept it tied back with a leather cord when he was working, but otherwise he let it flow free. It was straight like hers. Both her boys took after her more than their father. That had always been a sore spot for Maxwell.
“Listen, Mom,” he began. He stopped and paused, glancing out the window again. “I know this time of year is hard for you.”
Oh, God. The last thing she wanted to talk about with her son was the fact she was going into heat. But she’d always prided herself on being honest and straightforward with them. It was a biological fact of their species. And there were two women in this pack so they needed to be aware of it. But still.
Thankfully, Neema had Teague to help her get through it when it was her time. Heck, they enjoyed it. And why wouldn’t they? They loved one another. She’d never had that. Never known what it was like to be with a male who loved her. Maxwell had wanted her. But he hadn’t loved her. Nor had she loved him. That made all the difference.
Benjamin was waiting and looking more than a little disconcerted. She laughed to try to ease his tension. “That’s an understatement,” she answered wryly. As she hoped, he grinned and some of the discomfort left him.
“It’s a fact of life and we’ve dealt with it before,” she reminded him.
“Not with an eligible male wolf sniffing around.”
Meredith tensed and glared at her son. “So that’s what this is all about. You’re afraid I’ll let my hormones rule my judgment.”
He shook his head. “No. Yes. No.”
She straightened her shoulders and met her son’s gaze head on. “Which is it?”
“I don’t know,” he blurted out. “I love you and I’m worried. You didn’t see the way that guy was looking at you last night.”
What was left unsaid was the way she’d looked right back at Isaiah. Her sons were very intelligent, astute men. And so were the rest of the pack. There could have been no mistaking the spike in her arousal around Isaiah.
“I’ll handle it.” She was alpha. It was her job to handle the tough situations. She’d been doing it for years.
Benjamin brushed a lock of hair over her shoulder and offered her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hope so.”
He plucked the clipboard from her hands. “Let me finish that. Why don’t you go and take a nap. Otherwise you’re going to be beat by the end of tonight.”
Meredith didn’t argue with him. She skirted past the tables with the chairs piled on top, ignored the clang of pots and pans coming from the kitchen, and hurried by the office where Kevin was hard at work.
Her apartment, which was usually her haven, seemed stifling today. She longed to shift, to run. But that was impossible, especially now with the pack on high-alert.
Still, she could shift. She hurried into her bedroom and kicked off her shoes. Slipping out of her clothing, she tossed them onto the chair in the corner. She closed her eyes and embraced her female wolf.
Her skin rippled and tingled and she fell forward, her hands touching the floor. Bones cracked as her limbs reformed. Her jaw elongated as black hair grew from her skin, covering her body in a thick pelt.
Meredith glanced into her floor-length mirror, studying the large black wolf that stared back. She was still in there, but the wolf, with her instinct to run, was at the forefront. It took all her control to keep the wolf from racing to the front door and clawing at it until she was free.
The bed beckoned, but she couldn’t bear the thought of lying there. Not where she’d spent the night thinking of him. Padding out to the kitchen, she lay in a beam of sunshine, soaking up the warmth. Exhaustion beat at her and she closed her eyes, curling her body until she was comfortable.
The wolf’s thoughts pushed her own to the background, allowing her to focus solely on the physical. The wolf was physically aroused, felt the call, the lure of the male werewolf she’d met last night. But he wasn’t here now. Eventually, she settled enough to drop into a light doze.
Her last thought before she gave into sleep was that she hadn’t seen the last of Isaiah Striker.
Chapter Five
Isaiah walked into Haven at a little past eleven o’clock that night. He’d fought with himself for hours, forming one argument after another as to why he should stay away. None of them mattered. He needed to see Meredith.
And there she was. As though she sensed his presence, she turned her head away from the couple she was talking to and their eyes met. He’d thought that last night was an anomaly. That seeing her again wouldn’t feel like taking a punch to the heart and a roundhouse kick to the gut. He was wrong.
If anything, the impact was even more striking, her appeal even more pronounced. Like last night, she was wearing a slinky, form-fitting dress. This one was silver and was slit all the wa
y to the top of her thigh on the right side, allowing him a glimpse of her long, shapely leg as she sauntered across the room. Her movements were unhurried. Graceful.
Her hair was up in some kind of twist and anchored at the back of her head. Isaiah’s fingers itched to tug away the clips holding it and watch her glorious locks cascade down around her.
Her eyes seemed darker and more mysterious. Probably a trick of the lighting, but effective nonetheless. Long, thick lashes framed them, brushing against her high cheekbones when she blinked. Her lips were stained a dark burgundy color that highlighted their sensual shape. But there was no welcoming smile to be found.
All the fatigue, all the aggravations of the day washed away as adrenaline coursed through his veins, pumping up his muscles and sending much needed energy racing through his body. He felt alive with anticipation.
Her gaze flicked over his shoulder and he knew he was about to get some unwanted company.
“You were told not to come back.”
Isaiah turned and faced Hank. Waves of aggression rolled off him. The younger male had been away from his post when he’d arrived. It was wishful thinking to imagine he’d go unnoticed for long, not with them watching for him.
“I didn’t listen.” He started to give Hank his back, to let the other werewolf know he didn’t view him as a threat. A low growl rose up from the younger man.
“Control yourself,” Meredith hissed, placing her hand on Hank’s arm. “The last thing we need is one of you out of control.” She included him in her scowl, but Isaiah knew she wasn’t worried about him losing it, but the younger male.
“And you,” she whirled on him. “What are you doing here?”
He raised his hand and stroked two fingers down the soft curve of her cheek. “I came to see you. I told you I’d be back.”
Waves of frustration, anger and, finally, acceptance rolled off her. “You’ve seen me. Now leave.”
He shook his head. “I haven’t eaten since this morning.” He hadn’t taken the time after he’d slipped away from his surveillance of Riley’s Garage. He’d hit his motel room long enough to shower and change before catching a cab to the club. The fact that he hadn’t walked, hadn’t taken the time to stretch his legs was telling. He hadn’t been able to get here fast enough to suit him.
He glanced around and saw a table for two over near the edge of the small dance floor and started toward it. Hank made to follow him, but Meredith stopped him. “You need to keep a watch on the door.”
He frowned as he caught an underlying tone of fear from Meredith. What was she afraid of? He heard the swish of material and the click of her heels on the hardwood floor and knew she was right behind him. A whiff of her perfume assailed his nostrils and his dick immediately stood at attention. No doubt about it. There was some powerful chemistry between them.
He stood by one of the chairs, his hands on the back of it as he waited for Meredith to sit. She gave a frustrated huff and slid onto the seat. The last thing she wanted to do was bring more attention to them so he knew he’d win this small battle. Isaiah took the chair nearest the wall. The vantage point gave him a good view of the entire club.
“You can’t stay,” she began.
He leaned across the table and caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “What’s wrong?” Her skin was so soft, so inviting. He wanted to kiss away the worry lines between her brows. He shook his head. This was so unlike him. He knew he should be concerned about what that meant, but he couldn’t work up the energy to care.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated, looking at him like he was out of his mind. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. A male I don’t know has come sniffing around and I don’t know what his game is.” She glanced around to make certain no one could hear them before she continued. “Why are you here?”
Isaiah sat back in his chair and studied her. He figured he had about two minutes before another male member of her small pack made his presence known. Her sons had already been alerted to his presence and were glaring at him from behind the bar. The other males he’d met last night were stationed on either side of the club, their eyes glued to him and Meredith. The young female werewolf was nowhere to be seen.
He shook his head and sighed, knowing she probably wouldn’t believe him. “I came here on business for my pack and I happened in here by accident. I never came looking for you, Meredith. Nobody sent me. I’m no danger to you or yours.
“I had to see you again,” he continued when she sat there watching him. “There’s something between us.” He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Damned if I can explain it.”
“I’m nearing heat,” came her wry reply.
Isaiah chuckled. “Yeah, I caught that. But it’s more than that. I was drawn in here by your voice, by you.”
“You ’bout ready to leave?” The challenge came from off to the left as one of Meredith’s sons stepped up beside her.
“Michael.” Isaiah could hear the warning note in her voice.
The younger male shook his head, a muscle in his jaw rippling as he clenched his teeth. “He needs to go.”
“All this focus on me is attracting attention,” Isaiah pointed out. “That’s exactly what you don’t want.”
“If you don’t leave, I can give you some help,” Michael threatened.
Isaiah bared his teeth. “You’re welcome to try.”
“Enough.” The words were softly spoken, but they were solid steel. Meredith stood and pushed in her chair. “Get something to eat. Stay and enjoy the music. But we’re done.”
She turned her back on him and headed toward the bar. Michael shot Isaiah a triumphant look over his shoulder as he rested his palm on his mother’s back to guide her.
Isaiah tensed. He knew Michael was her son, but he didn’t like seeing any male touch her. Jealousy was a new emotion for him. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like anything that made him feel as though he was out of control.
He thought about leaving, about getting up and walking out of here, out of Meredith’s life forever. Except he couldn’t make himself do it. For the first time, he had an inkling of what Joshua felt for Alex.
Not that he planned to mate with Meredith, even if she’d have him, which he suspected she wouldn’t. She was too used to running the show, to being alpha. He suspected there was a darn good reason why she, a beautiful werewolf in her prime, was running around without a male beside her.
All he wanted was one night in her bed. Maybe two. The sexual attraction sizzling between them was off the charts. She felt it as much as he did. The trick was to get her to acknowledge it.
The same waitress from last night hurried up to his table and placed a menu in front of him. “Meredith sent me to take your order.”
A slow smile turned up the corners of his mouth. She must not want him to go if she was encouraging him to have a meal. Either that or she was trying to rush his meal so he’d leave.
Isaiah opened the menu and began to order. He was starving. “I’ll start with a double burger with the works, fries and a basket of ribs and wings.” He rattled off the rest of his order. Tammy’s eyes grew wider the more he ordered. When he was done, she took the menu and headed toward the kitchen.
Two hours later, he was pleasantly full and enjoying the three-piece jazz combo as they wound down for the night. The food had been excellent and he’d had the added attraction of watching Meredith all evening.
Every muscle in his body was tense with arousal. He’d had an erection the entire time, a testament to the attraction he felt for her. It had been both arousing and torturous to watch Meredith laughing and chatting with patrons. She had an easy stride, more of a glide as she circled the room over and over again, checking on people. A word here, a pat on the shoulder there. Bringing a smile to everyone.
Everyone but him.
She’d made a point of avoiding him. He didn’t know whether to laugh at her audacity or drag her over his knee and spank her for torturing him all ni
ght long.
At least the rest of the pack had settled down. Oh, they were still all watching him, but they weren’t quite so obvious about it. Even the younger female werewolf returned to work, although she kept to the far side of the floor, serving customers well away from him.
The club was filled with people having a good time. Laughter and chatter surrounded him. The smell of perfume, sweat and arousal mixed with that of the liquor and uneaten food, creating a scent that was unique to such places.
He should have hated it. Shouldn’t have been able to last a half hour, let alone several. To say he disliked being closed in and surrounded by humans was an understatement. Yet, he felt none of the clawing pressure to escape that he usually did. Both he and his wolf were content to watch Meredith. Her mere presence seemed to calm the agitation that constantly plagued him.
Either that or he was desperate to get laid.
He wanted to believe that. There was no future for him here. Meredith had an established life and seemed quite happy without a male butting his nose into her business. There was no way he could permanently settle in the city. Impossible.
But that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy one another’s company, burn up the sheets and make some very pleasant memories. He pondered for a bit and wondered if he could convince her of that.
The band announced their last song of the night. He hated to see it end. Meredith chose that moment to walk across the dance floor. She was obviously heading for the stage, but he rose quickly and intercepted her. “Dance with me.”
Heat rolled off his body in waves as desire punched him in the gut. She was getting closer to going into heat. She smelled ripe and desirable. He wanted to rip off her clothes right here, right now, and mount her until they both yelled in pleasure.
Sweat popped out on his temple as he slowly ran a finger over her bare shoulder, down her biceps and back up again.
“I shouldn’t,” she began, and he knew she was going to say no.
He forestalled that by putting one hand on the small of her back and urging her closer. She put a hand on his chest in protest, and he captured it and began to sway with her in his arms. “Just one dance,” he murmured.
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