He's on My Mind

by Crystal Red

  “Nope. We’re alone.”

  “Good.”

  Her brow rose. “You know I wasn’t serious about having sex with you. I usually like to wait two weeks before I get more physical with a guy. I don’t want to just have a fling with you as I’m sure you’re used to.”

  He stiffened. Why the hell was she accusing him of being a dog? He’d had a serious relationship before. Even if it had turned to shit. It wasn’t all his fault. Some women were just fucking nuts. He’d tried to make it work with Victoria. He really had, but they weren’t meant to be.

  “Did I hit a nerve?”

  “Yes,” he hissed.

  “So, it’s not true?”

  He scratched his head. “What isn’t?”

  “About you having one-night stands?”

  “I only did once. Back in college.”

  She stepped closer. “Thanks for checking on me earlier.”

  He wrapped his arms tight around her midriff. “You don’t know how bad I want you.” As she pressed up against his chest, he felt her heart jump.

  “Kiss me,” she breathed.

  A surge of lust danced through him. Her warm breath tickled his face. He wanted her more than his next breath, but so many things stood in his way. Victoria. Beth. His secret. How could they get past all the things that stood in the way of a real relationship? Every time he tried to move on from the past it never ended well for him.

  Fuck regrets. Just as he leaned in to press his lips to hers, the door creaked open and footsteps thumped against the carpet. He jerked his head in the direction of the noise, pulling away from Kelsey.

  “How did I know?” Beth grumbled. A scowl formed on her face.

  “Your man too busy to give you any attention?” Brandon narrowed his eyes.

  “He has a lot of cases right now. What do you think lawyers do, anyway? Sit on their asses all day playing games?” Beth huffed, stomping into the kitchen.

  Kelsey nudged his shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. She has a six-month rule. It’s only been three months.” She laughed.

  “I heard that,” Beth snapped.

  “She’s waiting six months to have sex with her boyfriend?”

  Beth marched back into the living room, her lips tight. “Yeah, and it’s a damn good rule too. You two should try it sometime. Every time I see you guys, you’re sucking face. Get a room already.”

  “Beth.” Kelsey shot her friend a warning look.

  “We haven’t kissed yet. You’ve interrupted us twice already.”

  Beth shook her head and popped the top on her Sprite. She took a long drink. “I know you like her, but if you’re hiding something, you better get it out in the open right now.”

  Brandon shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “I appreciate your concern, Beth, but we don’t need your advice. I don’t butt into your love life so don’t do it to mine.”

  “Just go on a real date, already.” Beth swallowed another mouthful of her soda. “Then you can bang each other’s brains out.” Kelsey’s friend stormed from the room and then slammed her bedroom door shut.

  Kelsey stared at him with a twinkle in her eyes. “Now that she’s gone, you want to make-out?” She grinned.

  He winced. What was he going to do with this woman? Besides have his merry way with her, starting with her lips. “We should go on a date first.”

  She blinked. “When?”

  “Thursday night? What’s your favorite kind of food? Italian? Steak?”

  Kelsey shrugged. “I like almost anything. Olive Garden is pretty good if you’re not a cheapskate.”

  He captured her gaze with his, holding it long enough for her to suck in a breath. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “So, Olive Garden it is. Can you pick me up at six on Thursday night?” She batted her eyelashes.

  “Okay. See you then.” He waved, walking away before he could try to kiss her again. The right time would come.

  * * * *

  Once Thursday rolled around, Brandon had a couple hours to kill at work until his date with Kelsey. Although minutes seemed to drag on like hours. Every time he glanced at the clock, it moved in slow motion, only ticking and changing when he wasn’t looking at the thing. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d been on plenty of dates, but this one was different somehow.

  He worked on tuning the motor on a customer’s motorcycle. Now done with that task, he placed the key into the ignition and turned it over. The engine started with a loud purr.

  He grabbed a handful of paper towels and a bottle of glass cleaner. He shined up the headlights and chrome. After he was finished with that chore, he called the customer to tell him his motorcycle was done.

  The rest of the day passed quickly when he kept his focus on fixing up the other two bikes until around five o’ clock. Finally time for his date. On his way home from the bike shop, Brandon picked up a dozen white roses. Kelsey had opened up to him about everything she liked pretty much when she was drunk. One thing she’d told him was the kind of flowers she liked. After he arrived home, he hopped into the shower, cleaning up in a hurry. He shaved and then put some deodorant on along with a splash of cologne. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he sauntered into his bedroom.

  He decided on a pair of dark blue jeans, a black buttoned dress shirt and matching dress shoes. That would be the perfect outfit for his date with Kelsey.

  His stomach twisted in to a hard knot. It’d been a year since he’d last gone on a date. Would he remember how to be a gentleman? He didn’t want Kelsey to think he was an animal. Even if that was partly true. Keeping his secret wouldn’t be easy, but he had to do it for now.

  He exited his front door, running down the steps with the roses tight in his hand. With his nerves still knotted up, he approached Kelsey’s front door and then rang the doorbell.

  Brandon’s jaw dropped as Kelsey stepped out onto the front porch. She wore a short, sleeveless red dress that stopped at her knees and matching high heels. Her auburn hair was curled and part of it hung in a small ponytail with loose tendrils that fell against her face. A bulge thrust against the zipper of his jeans, begging to touch her. All he wanted was one caress. The other part of him wanted to be a gentleman and not lust after her as if she were a sex object. For now, the animal in him would stay quiet. He whistled.

  She smiled. “I guess this means you approve?”

  “Yeah, you look hot.” He placed the bouquet of roses in her hand. “You told me your favorite flower the night you were drunk.”

  Her cheeks turned red. “Thanks.” She smelled the roses and smiled again. “I’ll put them in some water. Be right back.”

  He sat on the cement stairs and waited for her to return. After she joined him again, he stood, offering her his arm.

  “Careful,” he said as they stepped off each step. “I wouldn’t want you to trip in those crazy heels.”

  “I thought you said I looked hot.” She laughed.

  “You do. I’m just not sure about the high heels.”

  They walked to his yard. He’d drive Chad’s blue Cobalt. He dashed over to the passenger’s side and opened the door for Kelsey.

  “Thank you.” She blushed as she got into the car. “I have to admit, I’m not used to my dates being such a gentleman. This is nice.”

  He grinned and helped her with the seatbelt. He climbed into the driver’s side before starting the car. The engine roared to life. As he backed out of the driveway, she turned on the radio to a rock station. Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard blared through the speakers. At least she had good taste in music.

  “I’m surprised you own a car, unless it’s Chad’s.”

  He stared straight ahead with his back tight against the seat. This was going to be a night of a lot of questions. He felt it in the pit of his stomach. What did it matter? The women he went out with always asked him questions. It was nothing new. Most were nosy.

  “Yeah, it is.” Brandon glanced over at her. “How many times hav
e you seen Victoria?” He swallowed as he waited for her to answer.

  “Only two times.”

  They didn’t speak the rest of the ride. He decided that was a good thing since he didn’t want her to question him about his ex, but he still needed to find out why she was here. Victoria needed to stay in his past where she belonged. He wanted the focus of his attention to remain on Kelsey, and he needed to redirect his mind.

  Once they arrived at the restaurant, he tucked her arm under his as they walked inside the green and gray building. The hostess led them to a booth and then handed Brandon and Kelsey a menu.

  “What are you hungry for?”

  I know what I want for dessert. You.

  He licked his lips. A low moan snuck past his lips.

  “Don’t be creepy now,” she warned.

  “You heard that, huh?”

  She rolled her eyes and set the menu aside. “Of course I did, but lucky for you, I have the same thoughts.” She leaned in closer, lacing his fingers with hers. “But you can’t hear mine.”

  Yeah, too bad he couldn’t. Jolts of excitement spread, zapping every nerve. He pulled away so she wouldn’t see the hunger that had to be stirring in his eyes. Kelsey fanned her face, squirming against the seat.

  “Are you getting all hot and bothered?” he asked with a sly grin.

  “No!” She looked down at her knuckles. “Maybe a little.”

  He leaned back, studying his menu. “We should get the never-ending pasta bowls. I can eat a lot.” He rubbed his growling stomach.

  Scents of chicken and pasta wafted around them. Something else was in the air. The scent assaulted his nostrils. He sniffed. Garlic bread? Yeah, but still it was something else. A familiar aroma. One bad thing about being a werewolf was he could smell everything. Good smells and the bad. No matter if it was right in front of his face or twelve feet away.

  The scent hit him again. Blood, lots of it. Either someone was dead or they were going to die. Oh, shit. Why now? Who could it be? He inhaled a long breath. No time to panic. He had to stay calm for Kelsey and protect her.

  “The food smells good, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  The waitress took their drink orders and then came back with their sodas. He kept his gaze on the kitchen door as well as the front one. Any unwanted guests and this date would go to shit fast.

  A couple seated a few tables over caught his attention. His wolf senses tingled as he listened to their conservation. They talked about getting a hotel room and fucking each other’s brains out. Not only was his sense of smell heightened, but also his hearing. He could listen to anyone’s conversations, even if they were across the room.

  The guy was defiantly a cheater, and either married or dating someone else. The damn bastard. He had a briefcase and a gray suit. The man flirted with the woman, who was probably his secretary or a client. Maybe he was a lawyer. Shit. Beth said her boyfriend, Steve, was a lawyer. What if it’s him? He really had no way of knowing unless he asked Kelsey.

  “Have you ever met Beth’s boyfriend, Steve?” He leaned closer, taking her hands in his. The warmth of her skin made his stomach flip flop. Would this feeling ever go away? Focus, damn it!

  “Yeah, why?” Kelsey released one of her hands and sipped her drink.

  “Just wondering. What does he look like?” His heart pumped hard until she answered.

  She tapped a finger to her lips. “He has wavy jet-black hair, brown eyes, stubble on his face. He’s about five-feet-nine, and he wears a lot of different gray suits.”

  Well, ain’t that a bitch? He really wanted to be wrong, but in the back of his mind he knew it was Steve.

  “Were they together when you left?” Brandon crunched on an ice cube. Anything to keep from thinking about Beth getting cheated on or Kelsey being in danger.

  “Nope. She said he had to leave for a business trip today.” She continued to sip her soda.

  A muscle in his jaw ticked. “I can’t believe that fucking bastard. He’s here, sitting a few tables away from us.”

  A dazed expression covered her face. “What? How could you know that?”

  He pointed to where Steve and the woman sat. “They just happened to catch my eye.”

  Kelsey gazed for a long moment at what he thought was Steve’s table. The color drained from her face. “It is him. I can’t believe it. Beth is going to be so heartbroken.”

  “We have to tell her.”

  “I know,” she whispered, curling her fingers tight over a napkin.

  A few minutes later, their waitress brought out their food. They’d only finished eating half of it before his wolf senses burned again. Great, trouble. It was time to get out of there and fast. He waved their waitress over to get the bill. He paid for the food, left a tip and stood.

  Kelsey stared at him, looking baffled. “Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You know I’m not going to—”

  He pulled Kelsey to her feet and then set a finger on her lips. “I can’t talk about it here. If we don’t leave now, we’re going to be knee deep in trouble.”

  Kelsey held his hand and ran out the door behind him. His footsteps pounded the pavement as he dashed behind the Olive Garden. He sniffed. The intense smell grew as he headed into the back alley. Besides the putrid odor coming from the Dumpster, the scent of rotten flesh invaded his nose. Yep, someone was about to die there, and he had to make sure it wasn’t him or Kelsey.

  Kelsey clung to him. “What’s going on? Why did you bring me back here?” She shook against him while her breath hushed out in heavy pants.

  He didn’t have to wonder about the smell anymore. Two werewolves with red eyes and brown hairy bodies charged him. The first leaped toward him.

  Brandon dropped Kelsey’s hand. “Go! You’re going to get hurt if you stick around. Run to my car. Now!”

  Kelsey backed up a few inches, but then froze, not moving a muscle. “What the hell are—”

  He had no choice but to turn into his wolf form in front of her. Anger built inside him, and his claws came out. His clothes blurred as he changed. He bared his teeth at the wolves, snarling loudly.

  She stared at them with wide eyes, still frozen in the same spot. There was nothing he could do but fight the wolves and hope she didn’t get hurt.

  Brandon ducked as one of the wolves clawed at his hairy face. He swung at the wolf, scratching him in one of his eyes. One growled, and the other jumped toward Brandon. The second wolf knocked him to the ground.

  His gaze landed on Kelsey. Her mouth dropped open in horror. Loud screams filled his ears. The wolves clawed him again. His heart slammed harder and faster. He had to get up and fight back. Weakness threatened to engulf his body. He growled low in his throat. If he didn’t protect Kelsey, who would?

  Brandon batted one of the wolves in the face and rammed the thing with all his body weight, knocking it onto the ground. The wolf howled and then whimpered.

  Brandon jumped to his paw. He ran over to the wolf as it twitched, and bent to snap the thing’s neck. The wolf disappeared into a white cloud, and nothing was left of the body but ashes. Evil. I knew it.

  Brandon roared, waving to the wolf that was still alive. The wolf hung his head and whined as he ran off. Brandon groaned, rubbing his head as he changed back into his human form. Kelsey gripped the corner of the building, shaking like a leaf in the wind. With his heart in his throat, he walked over to her.

  “Maybe it’s time we talked.” He reached for her arm.

  “D-don’t fucking touch me! I don’t know what you are, but you’re never coming anywhere near m-me,” she sputtered with a quivering tone in her voice.

  “Kelsey,” he said in his best calm voice, “we need to talk about this.”

  “No! Leave me alone!” Her face twisted in to a scowl.

  “Kelsey, would you wait? Please.” He had to make her understand. He didn’t want to hurt her. All he wanted to do was protect her.

  “I can’t,” she yelled without looking back. Her hig
h heels click-clacked as she stomped against the pavement.

  Brandon ran after her, clutching onto her arm. Damn, she was fast. “Why can’t you listen to what I have to say?”

  Finally, she turned around to face him, but the sadness that lingered in her eyes made his gut ache. “Please,” she pleaded, tears filling her eyes. “I need time to think. This whole thing is a mistake.”

  His heart cracked. Not the response he’d expected. “What was?”

  “Going out with you.” She pulled out of his grip, hurrying to the front of restaurant, where she flagged down a taxi.

  As he watched her ride off in the cab, the ache in his gut grew deeper. He wished so many damn times he could change how he’d become a werewolf. The problem lay in the possible event. He didn’t have any control over his change into a werewolf and probably never would. So much for living a simple life in Missouri.

  Chapter Five

  The white and red taxi dropped Kelsey off at her place a few minutes after she flagged it down. No matter how many times she closed and opened her eyes, the scene played out again and again. Brandon wasn’t just a human, but an animal too. How could that be? She didn’t have any real answers, and maybe she never would. Why did this have to happen to her?

  Tears fell down her cheeks, and she wiped them away as she went inside. Kelsey didn’t want Beth to think anything was wrong, even if it wasn’t the truth. She’d really thought Brandon was different, but the secret he kept proved he couldn’t be trusted like the other guys she dated.

  Beth looked up from her romance novel when Kelsey entered the living room. “Back so soon?” She set her book onto the coffee table.

  Kelsey shrugged. “We agreed to go out to dinner. Plus, I’m not feeling well. My period must be coming.” She rubbed her stomach, but her abdomen didn’t really ache. More like betrayal. Her belly twisted.

  Beth’s lips pinched. “I don’t believe you. What did he do?”

  “Nothing. He’s not the reason I’m upset, okay?” She couldn’t make herself believe the lie, let alone Beth. So, why did she stand up for a guy she barely knew?