Page 25 of Protected By Her Mate

I trace a finger over her forehead, briefly touching her once rich auburn hair, now dull and limp against her skull. “You either need to disappear or make a splash. Which will it be, my beauty?”

I close the drawer. One more whiskey before I decide how to use sleeping beauty.

Chapter 10

Blue Force

LENNOX

“This is where you live?” Charlie hands me a grocery bag. Does she sound disappointed?

After Paddington Inc., we agreed to head to my place to sort through the ASHRA file and plan our next move. It’s more private than either of our offices.

Who am I kidding? I wanted to bring Charlie to my place, see her among my things, have her scent on my chair, in my kitchen… in my bed.

But judging from the look on her face I’m wondering if I should have hired a decorator before bringing her by.

“Is there something wrong with it?” I try not to sound defensive as she pulls her coat off.

“It’s perfect,” she says with a grin that sends my stomach into a backflip. “Gives off real serial killer vibes. I like it.”

“Serial killer?” I ask, taken aback.

“Yup. No windows, one exit, newspaper clippings taped to every wall. Every surface covered in books and old-timey shit. Definitely serial killer vibes.”

Is that bad? Yeah, it’s probably not good. “Uh, sorry about that.”

She laughs and takes the bag from me, thunking it on the only uncluttered surface I have, a small side table next to my recliner. She insisted on stopping by a convenience store for snacks before coming over.

“Your place is cool. Eclectic.” She pulls out bags of chips, a jar of dip, handfuls of what looks like Halloween candy, and an oversized bag of Twizzlers. Seeing the look of horror on my face, she says, “Stakeout food.”

“We’re not going on a stakeout. We’re doing research into ASHRA.” I pick up the jar of queso cheese dip and read the nutrition label. I shudder imagining what this crap will do to her insides.

She shrugs. “Same thing.”

“You know heart disease is the leading cause of death globally for humans.”

She tilts her head back to look at me. “So you’re the guy people avoid at house parties, right?”

“I don’t go to parties.”

“Shocker.” She drops into my chair, grabs a bag of chips, opens it with exaggerated movements and tosses a handful in her mouth, chewing loudly.

My stupid wolf thinks her stubbornness is cute while the rest of me wants to bite those smart lips of hers. “I’ve never had anyone over before. I’m not set up for two.” I move a stack of books from a small table, lift it and set it in front of Charlie, placing the ASHRA file on top.

“You’ve really never had a guest before?” she asks. Before I can stop myself, I hear her whisper of a thought,wow, the only one allowed into his wolf den. I’m special!

If only she knew just how special. “Yes, the only one.” I echo her thoughts and her eyes light up. My wolf leaps happily around inside me, an uncomfortable feeling when we’re here to investigate a murder. Maybe two unless Catherine Grant turns up alive.

Opening the file, I kneel at the table, pulling the pages out. Handing one to Charlie, I take another, unfolding it and spreading it on the table. “This is interesting.”

She looks up.

Examining it closely, I add, “It appears to be the blueprints for a building, including the basement where it’s been marked.”

She squints at it. “No conveniently placed address on there I suppose.”

I crack a smile. “No such luck.”

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