by Karen Lynch
I flipped through the movie channels. “What do you want to watch? I’m not picky as long as it’s not horror. Let me know when I find something you like.”
I hit a dozen channels before he snorted. I tossed the remote on the couch and lay back, resting my head on a pillow.
“Gone in 60 Seconds. What is it with you guys and cars?”
He didn’t answer, not that I expected him to, and we sat in companionable silence, watching the movie.
Despite the loud action scenes, I soon felt my eyes growing heavy, until I could no longer keep them open. The wolf was engrossed in the movie, so he wouldn’t mind me taking a quick nap. Just to rest my eyes for a few minutes…
I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock going off in the bedroom, and it took me several seconds to remember why I was on the couch instead of in my bed. I looked down at the floor, but the wolf was gone. He must have left before daylight.
I tossed aside the soft throw that covered me. Funny, I didn’t remember getting it from the chair. Yawning, I stood and went to shut off the alarm. Most mornings, my dreams woke me before it went off, and it was strange and nice waking from an untroubled sleep for once.
My good mood dampened a little at the knowledge it was the wolf’s presence that had helped me sleep better. I hadn’t seen the bald man since Monday – if that had, in fact, been him – so there was no reason for Roland or his friends to continue watching my place. I was relieved not to be in danger, but I’d miss the wolf.
Probably for the best.
I’d come to like the werewolves, but I had to learn to take care of myself. Roland had enough to handle with two jobs and the pack. He didn’t have time to be worrying about me. And for all I knew, my wolf friend could have a mate and kids he had to take care of. It was selfish of me to want to keep him away from his life.
I thought about how nice it had been to cook for someone, to hang out with them and watch a movie. To sleep peacefully without fear.
Heaving a sigh, I went to my lonely kitchen for a coffee to start my day.
Chapter 15
Roland
“How’s it coming?”
I pulled my head out from under the hood of the Chevelle on Saturday afternoon and gave Paul a greasy thumbs-up.
“Almost there. We’ll be able to paint her next week.”
He tossed a cleaning rag at me. “That’s great because we got the Challenger.”
“No way.” I wiped my hands on the rag, but it only removed the top layer of grease. “I thought that guy was waiting to see how the Chevelle turned out.”
Paul smiled widely. “He was going to, until Evan showed him the pictures I’ve been sending him of the Chevelle work. Evan’s been sharing them with some of his buddies who are into classic muscle cars. We could get enough work from this group alone to keep us busy until Christmas.”
“That’s great, man.” I tried to do the math in my head, but that had never been my strong suit. I did know it added up to a number with at least four zeroes on the end. More money than I’d ever seen. At this rate, Paul and I could be partners before the year was out.
“You haven’t heard the best part.” His eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Evan’s friend, Dean, bought a sixty-five Shelby GT at auction, and it needs a ton of work. He’s seen the pictures of your Mustang, and he wants to come by next week to look at her.”
I stared at him. “You’re shitting me, right?”
“Nope.”
“Damn.” I’d expected it to take months and a bunch of jobs for us to start building a name for ourselves. I certainly never thought I’d have the opportunity to work on a Mustang Shelby this soon.
Paul chuckled. “I think the name Greene’s Classic Restoration has a nice ring to it.”
“I like that.”
He had already worked out how much it would cost to expand the garage and hire another mechanic. It wasn’t cheap, but together we could do it if we pooled the money we made for the next six months. That was providing we got the jobs we were hoping for.
The sound of an engine drew our attention to the open bay door, and I smiled when a silver Vespa pulled up outside. I hadn’t seen Emma since yesterday morning, and it surprised me how much I missed her already.
I hadn’t expected her today, and I’d planned to go see her after work – as me, not my wolf, this time. Both times I’d been to her place this week, I’d gone in my fur because she seemed more comfortable with me in that form. But as much as I liked being with her in any form, I couldn’t talk to her in my fur. My wolf loved being with her, but I wanted her to be as comfortable with me as she was with him.
When she’d brought me food and invited me in from the rain the other night, I’d figured it was out of kindness more than any affection she had for my wolf. But when she woke up screaming from that nightmare, she’d relaxed when she saw me there. I hadn’t imagined that. She felt safe with me. And when she’d cried, it tore me up inside not to be able to hold her.
After she dressed and came out of the bedroom, I’d been about to go back downstairs when she surprised me with her offer of breakfast. And then she’d asked me to stay and watch a movie. I figured it was because she was afraid of being alone, but it filled me with pleasure to know she took comfort in my presence.
I’d pretended to watch the movie, but I was more attuned to her, which was why I’d known the moment she’d fallen asleep. She’d looked so peaceful and beautiful in her sleep, and it hadn’t been easy to leave her, especially after seeing the terror on her face when she’d woken from the nightmare. If I ever found the person who caused her to scream like that, they’d wish they’d never been born.
I walked out to meet her as she shut off the Vespa. She pulled off her helmet, revealing glowing cheeks and a smile that made my heart squeeze.
“This is a nice surprise,” I said.
“I thought I’d come by and see where you work. And…” She went to the compartment at the back and pulled out a large plastic container. “Cookies, as promised.”
“You made cookies?”
She nodded proudly. “Last night after my shift. Steve supervised, but I did all the work. I hope you like chocolate chip.”
I grinned. “Who doesn’t like chocolate chip? Come on in. I need to wash my hands.”
She walked into the garage with me, her gaze taking everything in. The cleanest area was the office, so I took her there.
“You remember my cousin Paul?” I said when he followed us in, no doubt lured by the smell of homemade cookies.
She smiled at him. “It’s nice to see you again.”
I left them to run to the bathroom to try to wash most of the gunk off my hands. When I returned, I found Paul with two cookies in his hand and another in his mouth.
“Hey!” I shouldered him aside playfully. “She brought those for me.”
“Don’t see your name on them,” he retorted.
Emma laughed. “I made a whole batch for you to share.”
Paul shot me a triumphant look. “See.” He beamed at Emma as he snagged two more cookies from the container. “You are my new favorite person.”
She smiled prettily, and I shot him a look that said, “Stop flirting with my mate.” He smirked and went back into the garage.
“Would you like to try one?” She held up the container.
“Just one?” I gave her a wounded look, and she smacked my arm lightly. The brief touch of her skin on mine sent heat straight to my belly. Man, I was a goner.
She looked away quickly, her teeth tugging at her bottom lip, definitely not the reaction of someone unaffected by me. I could work with that. She might be keeping me at arm’s length now, but I had no intention of giving up.
“Take all you want.” She pushed the container into my hands. “I hope you like them.”
I bit into one. “Mmmm. This is as good as Grandma’s.”
“Liar. You’re just being sweet.”
“I’m always sweet,” I said with mock chagrin. �
��And I never, ever lie about food.”
Her face lit up. “I’m glad you like them. They’re my first cookies.”
“I’m honored.” I finished my first one and picked up a second. “Come on. I want to show you the car I’ve been working on.”
We went into the garage, and I walked her around the Chevelle, pointing out the work I’d done. She nodded and asked questions, even though I could tell she didn’t understand half of what I said. I didn’t care. I just liked having her there.
I patted the roof. “She still doesn’t look like much yet, but wait until we put on the new tires and get her painted next week. You won’t recognize her.”
“What color are you painting it?”
“Maroon. The owner wants her restored to her original state.”
Emma ran a hand along the side. “Does it run?”
“Does it run?” I slapped a hand to my chest. “I can’t believe you asked me that.”
Her laughter filled the garage, drawing me closer to her. My eyes met Paul’s over her shoulder, and he smiled knowingly.
Handing Emma the cookie container, I sat behind the wheel and fired up the engine. The Chevelle rumbled to life, filling me with pride. It had arrived here on a flatbed, barely able to start. When it left, it would look and drive like new. Better than new – classic.
I shut off the car and got out. I reached for the container and saw Emma rub one of her arms. She wore a light sweater, but Paul and I usually kept it cooler than normal in the garage.
“Let’s go outside,” I said.
We sat on the bench, soaking up the sun, and I devoured another cookie. “These really are amazing.”
“Thanks.” She smiled demurely. “You’re good for my ego.”
“You keep bringing me cookies and I’ll write songs about you.”
Her eyes widened. “You write songs, too?”
“No. That’s how good these are.”
I was pouring it on thick, but it worked. She laughed again and relaxed against the back of the bench. I wished it could always be this easy between us.
“I had another reason for coming today,” she said, looking a little more serious. “I wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me this week. It’s nice to know I have friends like you here.”
Friends? Yeah. “You’re welcome.”
“I haven’t seen that man since Monday. I’m still not sure it was the same man from Portland. Anyway, I think you and your friend can stop watching my place.”
“If you don’t mind, I think we’ll keep an eye on it for a little while longer.” Maybe I was being overprotective, but I’d learned to be cautious.
“I don’t mind. Will you send someone else this time?”
Her question took me off guard because I’d gotten the feeling she liked my wolf. Had I misread her?
“You don’t want my…friend there?”
She gave me a bright smile. “Oh, no, he’s great – even if he doesn’t talk. I just feel bad about taking him away from his own life. Hanging around my place isn’t the most exciting thing to do.”
“Don’t worry about that. He wants to do it.”
“Oh…good.” She watched a car drive past then looked at me again. “Can you at least tell me his –”
“Roland, can you give me a hand with this?” Paul yelled.
“Excuse me a minute.” I set the cookie container down on the bench and ran to help him with the Camry he was working on.
When I returned five minutes later, Emma was busy texting someone. My first thought was that it was Scott, and jealousy burned in my gut.
“Shannon,” she said, laying the phone on her lap. “She asked me to go to a thing with her and April tonight.”
“A thing?” I hid my disappointment. I’d planned to ask Emma if she wanted to do something tonight. But I was also glad to see her and Shannon becoming friends. Pete was my best friend, and I wanted our mates to be close, too. I just needed to convince mine to accept me.
“She said it’s like a battle of the bands. It’s in Portland at a place called…” She looked down at her phone. “It’s called the Attic. You know it?”
“Yeah.”
My stomach dipped, and not in a good way, as bad memories surfaced. I still felt guilty for convincing Sara to go to the Attic with Pete and me, and for not keeping her safe from Eli. If it hadn’t been for Nikolas, we would have lost her that night.
But that was last fall. There hadn’t been a vampire sighting in Portland since then, and Shannon and April were perfectly capable of protecting Emma if they had to.
Emma took a cookie and nibbled on it. “I’m not into clubs, but Shannon said it’s more of a place people go to listen to local bands. She knows a girl who sings in one of the bands.”
“Sounds like fun. Maybe I should see if Paul wants to go,” I said casually. I didn’t need to call Pete. He and Shannon were newly mated, so there was no way they were spending the night apart.
Paul walked out of the garage, wiping his hands on a rag. “Go where?”
“To the Attic tonight,” I said. “Bunch of bands playing.”
“I haven’t been there in ages. Who else is going?”
“Shannon, April, and me, for sure,” Emma told him. “I don’t know if she asked anyone else.”
Paul’s eyes lit with interest when he heard April’s name. I’d suspected he liked her, although he hadn’t said anything.
He tucked the rag in the pocket of his coveralls. “I could use a night away from here. Count me in.”
I looked at Emma. “You mind us inviting ourselves along?”
“The more the merrier.”
“Cool.” Paul snagged another cookie. “These things are addictive.”
“I’m glad you like them.” She took a small bite of hers and chewed it. “I might attempt real food next.”
Paul laughed. “This is real food.”
“I mean a meal.”
I picked up the container. “I could make a meal out of these. And I volunteer as official taster for all your cooking.”
“Me too,” Paul mumbled through a mouthful of cookie.
“You guys might regret that once you see how bad I am in the kitchen.” She got up, brushed crumbs from her top, and donned her helmet. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
I stood and waved a cookie as she started the Vespa. “See you tonight, Cookie Girl.”
The helmet didn’t hide her grin. “Later, Wolf Boy.”
“Where did you…?” I huffed. “Jordan.”
Emma’s laughter floated behind her as she drove away. I watched her go, unable to keep the smile from my face.
Paul chuckled and slapped me on the back. “Oh, man, you’ve got it bad. She’s a keeper.”
“Yes, she is.”
“When are you going to tell her she’s your mate?”
I let out a deep breath. “Soon. It’s complicated with her being human. She doesn’t feel the imprint like our females do, and she might not want to be my mate. Humans don’t usually marry that young.”
My chest ached every time I thought of Emma not wanting me. It was too soon to say I was in love with her, but I cared about her deeply. I’d wanted her before my wolf chose her, so I knew the imprint wasn’t the only reason I felt this strongly for her.
Paul looked unconvinced. “She might not feel the imprint, but that girl definitely likes you.”
“As a friend,” I muttered, remembering her evasion when I’d tried to talk about us.
Paul chuckled. “If that’s friendship, then I want a friend like her.”
“Bringing someone cookies doesn’t mean anything. When I try to get close to her, she pushes me away.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know about that, but I can tell you she doesn’t look at you like a friend. Like you said, she’s young. Maybe she’s shy when it comes to dating.”
Shy? I hadn’t even considered that because there had been nothing timid about the way she’d kissed me. My body warmed ever
y time I relived that smoldering kiss. But then she’d run away, and I’d been too confused to think straight.
Paul’s words gave me hope, and I was more determined than ever to spend time with her. And if she needed me to take it slow, I would, even if it killed me.
Emma
I shouldn’t have come here. I gulped some water to moisten my dry throat and tried to pay attention to the conversation between April and one of Shannon’s friends. Shannon was dancing with Peter, who had come with us tonight.
I’d thought I was ready to go to a club, but as soon as we’d walked in the door of the Attic, the bad memories began to flood my mind. It was at a place much like this one that I met Eli and entered the nightmare that would become my life. I’d gone with Chelsea and some other friends to hear a band. This was a different place and a different group of friends, but I still looked like I had that night so many years ago. It felt like the world had sped up around me, but I was stuck in that night, waiting to lose everything all over again. I couldn’t help but wonder if every male I looked at was human or another Eli searching for his next victim.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I jumped, my heart racing.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” said the red-haired boy Peter had introduced us to when we got there. His name was Dylan, and he played in one of the bands. “You want to dance?”
I nodded, and he led me to the edge of the crowded dance floor. Shannon grinned when we joined her and Peter, and the four of us danced together for the next two songs. By the time we went back to our table, I was feeling a little more relaxed but still wary of the people around us. Despite being here with four werewolves, I still didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t sure I ever would in a place like this.
“What time are you guys on?” Peter asked Dylan.
“We’re up last. Hope you guys stick around for it.” He waved at us and went to join his bandmates at another table.
Peter slipped an arm around Shannon’s waist. “What do you say?”
She leaned into him. “I think I can be persuaded.”
I smiled. It was impossible not to like Shannon and Peter, and to see how crazy they were about each other. They’d barely taken their hands off each other since we got here.