Authors: Vanessa Devereaux
Jill
headed off with Charlotte and Melanie in tow. He tried to
follow,
but that iron-like grip held him in
place.
“You
are not moving until you’ve met Ava and asked her to go for a drink with you.”
“What
if I don’t like her once I’ve spoken to her? What if she doesn’t like me?”
He
didn’t have chance to say
any more
because the next
thing he knew, he
was
looking straight at Ava.
Jill
had told him he was blushing earlier when Ava’s name had been mentioned, and by
the
burn
in his cheeks he guessed it was
true. A shifter woman had never caused this sort of reaction and how a human
was achieving
it,
he didn’t know. As well
as the blush of his skin, his cock and balls were pretty much on fire too. All
things pointed to this woman being his true mate, but how could he, Nick
Pearson, possibly be destined to spend the rest of his days with a human?
“Ava,
I’d like you to meet my business partner, Nick Pearson. Nick, this is Ava
Spencer.”
He
stood frozen, his mouth open and nothing coming out until Maisey kicked the
back of his leg. He quickly reached for Ava’s hand and shook it, hoping she’d
focus on his face, look into his eyes, and not down at his crotch which said
everything about the way he was feeling.
“Nice
to meet you,” he said, giving her hand a firm squeeze.
“Same
here. I think I saw you yesterday when I left the class,” said Ava. She had
beautiful green eyes, slightly wolfish, and long eyelashes that fluttered when
she spoke. In fact, she made his knees weak which for a wolf meant he was
smitten.
“Yes,
I seem to remember you while I was checking to make sure Maisey was doing a
good job with her yoga instruction.” He winked at his wolf buddy so she knew he
was only teasing her.
Maisey
looked at her watch. “I hate to run off like this but my prenatal yoga class
students are probably wondering what’s happened to me.”
“No
problem. I would love to stay and chat with Nick,” said Ava.
Maisey
left them, hurrying along the corridor to the classrooms like her butt was on
fire.
“She
has lots of
energy
,” said Ava.
“She
sure does, but she’s still young,” said Nick.
“That’s
true. When I was her
age,
I tried to run
a couple of miles a day.”
“You
like to run as well as practice yoga?”
“I
love it. In fact, you know of any good places to run around here?”
He
knew lots but not suitable for humans because the terrain
was purely wolf
country.
“There’s
a couple of jogging paths over by the lake,” said Nick.
“Really?
I’ll have to check it out.”
There
was a few seconds silence.
“How
about I buy you a drink in the café next door?” asked Nick.
Maisey
had been bugging him to put a cafe inside Downward Facing Wolf and he was
seriously thinking about it. And yes, he knew Maisey was thinking more along
the lines of asking Ava out of a drink at night, but maybe this would take care
of it.
“I’d
love that,” said Ava.
“Shall
we just walk there?”
“Sounds
good to me.”
She
pulled on her jacket and slung her purse over her shoulder as they headed
toward the door. Nick held it open for her. As he stepped out, the wind chose
that moment to gain intensity and some snow began circling in the air.
“Does
it ever get warm here?” asked Ava, pulling on gloves that looked more suited to
middle of winter than the end of March.
“I
take it you’re from somewhere warm,” he said.
She
pulled up the collar of her jacket and shivered. He had the urge to put his arm
around her to keep her warm. He, as his wolf half, could keep her toasty hot.
“Florida.
You
ever
been
there?”
Nick
shook his head.
“Maisey
tells me you’re here to write some stories.”
“That’s
right.”
They
walked across the parking lot to the strip mall that housed the café.
“And
you’re here for both business and pleasure?”
“Yes,
I guess a little of both,” said Ava.
He
held the door for her and then followed her inside the café.
“You
get us a table and I’ll grab us some drinks. What would you like?” asked Nick.
She
took off her gloves. “I know I shouldn’t but I figure I can work off some
calories later. Hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream.”
He
liked her more with each passing second. A woman who consumed what she
damned
well pleased and used physical activity
to get into shape. And she was definitely in his kind of shape. Curvy and more
woman to hold.
Nick
walked to the counter and ordered one chai latte and one hot chocolate with a
double serving of whipped cream. He stood by the pick-up area and watched her
take off her jacket and hang it on the back of the chair. The outline of her
breasts caused a distinctive mound under her sweater. He licked his lips.
The
order finally came up and he walked to the
table
she’d picked by the window. He placed the mug of hot chocolate in front of her.
She wrapped her fingers around it. Pretty pink polish adorned her nails. He
could imagine her running them up and down his back and chest.
He
sat, hoping she didn’t catch sight of yet another one of his erections and
conclude he was always in a constant state of arousal. He glanced out the
window where the snow had started to fall with more gusto.
“So
you and Maisey co-own Downward Facing Dog?” she asked. “By the way, I love the
name and the logo. I’ve always had a thing for wildlife.”
He
didn’t know quite what to make of that last statement. Did that mean she’d find
his wolf appealing?
“Well,
she’s basically the owner and I’m a silent investor.”
“So
you go into business with other people rather than by yourself?”
Nick
nodded.
“Sounds
interesting.”
“And
what’s the business part of your visit to Kalispell about?” he asked.
She
took a sip of her hot chocolate causing a tiny speck of whipped cream to cling to
the tip of her nose. He smiled. “Here let me,” said Nick, reaching across the
table and wiping it away with this index finger.
She
laughed. “I do that every time. Maybe my nose is too long.”
“Oh,
I think it’s just fine.”
She
smiled at him. Pretty smile. Lovely lips.
“I’m
writing a couple of profiles about local businesses.”
“Downward
Facing Dog?” asked Nick.
“Actually,
no, sorry.”
They
were doing
great,
but free publicity
didn’t hurt. So maybe if he asked nicely she’d give them some sort of mention.
“Any
businesses I would know?” asked Nick.
“One’s
a motel out of town.”
“And
is that where you’re staying?”
She
nodded. “I hate living out of a suitcase and looking at just four walls every
night.”
“Me
too, so how about I come by tomorrow and take you out for a meal and maybe persuade
you to write about Downward Facing Wolf.”
“That
sounds great…I mean the taking me out to dinner bit, although with a little arm-twisting
I might be convinced to write about the yoga studio.”
“I’m
very good at
arm-twisting
,” said Nick.
Holy shit, he was flirting with a human and it was such damn fun.
“Part
of the secret of your success?” She leaned across the table. He detected the
smell of cocoa on her breath. He couldn’t take his gaze off her lips. Pink and
very full. What would it be like to kiss a human? He was tempted to lean across
the table and answer his own question.
This
was all going in the wrong direction. He’d mocked Aiden, Trent, Christopher,
and Dane for choosing human mates. Been horrified the first time Aiden had
informed the group that he was marrying one. Been scared that this could mean
the end of them and the perfect world they’d made for themselves on this new
planet.
However,
it was working, wasn’t it? Nothing bad had happened so why
was he being
so cautious. If the other guys
could pull it off, surely he could too.
He
looked at Ava. Couldn’t get a more innocent face than hers. Very doubtful she’d
cause trouble for anyone, human or shifter alike.
“Will
I have to dress up or will it be a casual place you’re taking me?”
Her
voice made him realize that nothing that been said for a few minutes and he’d
rudely left their conversation hanging.
“Causal
but nevertheless it’s a very nice place.”
“That
should be a challenge for my wardrobe.”
“I’m
sure you’ll look great whatever you wear.”
Now
he really was flirting.
She
reached across the table and ran her index finger down the back of his hand. A
gentle touch but it made his nerve endings tingle, and his cock harden.
He
turned over his hand and let her rest hers inside his palm. Even as a kid and
teenager he’d had bigger than average hands. As a wolf, bigger than average
paws
as all alpha males did. Ava’s hands fitted
so nicely inside them. This human could very well be his mate and all things
were pointing to it.
“How
come no lady has captured you?” she asked. Eyelashes fluttering again. Now she
was flirting with him and that was even more fun.
“There’s
no one that’s been able to catch me. And I could ask the same of you. No man
caught up with you?”
“I’m
a career girl, hoping for that next big promotion.”
“Nothing
wrong with that.”
He
liked a woman who did her own thing. That’s why he’d been so eager to help Maisey
find her way in the oftentimes competitive business world.
Ava
glanced at her watch.
“I
have to be running along so I can check in with my boss.” She downed the rest
of the hot chocolate and set the mug back on the table.
“Tell
me where you’re staying and I’ll come by and pick you up,” said Nick.
“The
Evergreen Motel. It’s one block from Highway 90, and it’s room 145.”
He
didn’t know it, but he could easily find it. “Shall we say around seven?”
“Perfect
for me.”
She
stood. He stood too. He’d let her leave and he’d finish his tea before he
headed out.
“See
you tomorrow and thanks for the chocolate.”
He
tried not watching her walk out of the door and across the parking lot, but the
temptation was too much for him. He swung around on the chair not taking his gaze
off her as she sashayed. That’s what you called a butt wobble like that, wasn’t
it?
Nice ass.
He
turned back and looked down into the remaining tea. A few days ago he would
have said you were crazy if you’d told him he’d made a date with a human.
However,
that was before he’d laid eyes on the gorgeous Ava.
Chapter Four
Nick
sent her blood swooshing around her body. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. All
that swooshing was happening mostly in her pussy. She was pretty sure her
ovaries had twirled too as she’d sat talking to him. Who would have thought the
best-looking
guy she’d ever seen
would be
here in the middle of what she considered nowhere. How long had she avoided
cute guys because of Cole? It was foolish because all handsome guys weren’t
like that bastard. Maybe it was time she put her prejudices aside and finally
took a chance in her life.
She
looked around at the lack of big brand name stores and fancy restaurants. She
already missed the big city. Her son, her condo, and yes, her cat too. Damn
this assignment. However, if it wasn’t for Nick and the prospect of getting to
know him a little better during her stay here, she’d beg her boss to bring her
home and give her another assignment. A saner one.
The
light turned red, allowing her to stop and look at her hand. The same one she
rested against his. Biggest hands she’d ever seen. Strong and muscular. She
could imagine them touching her, squeezing her breasts, and then those fingers
plucking her nipples.
The
blast of a car horn made her jump.
The
light had turned green and she’d been daydreaming. She put her foot on the gas,
propelling the car forward only to realize the light had turned back to red and
she barely missed getting t-boned.
Her
heart beat so fast the noise bounced around in her head like a bass drum. She
hadn’t daydreamed like that since she’d been in high school and thought about
Cole. She could hear her father’s voice.