Page 31 of Ravenous

I took in the sight of the detached building. She didn’t use it to park her car. The garage was an art studio. There was a potter’s wheel on one side, and a kiln in the back corner. Racks of plain white pottery lined one wall. The other held racks of finished pieces. Beautiful vases, bowls, mugs, and plates in colorful hues were lined up neatly.

“Thank fuck the tree didn’t hit the garage,” I muttered.

Joy’s eyes went wide and a huge smile lit her face. “That’s what I said! I figure I got lucky.”

I cocked my head trying to figure out that logic. I was a half empty kind of guy, so all I saw was the damage to her house. “I don’t know about lucky,” I grumbled. “You could’ve died.”

“Daddy! Open the door!” Remy shouted from our house.

“Come and get the key,” I told her. She probably wouldn't be able to open the door herself with the key, but I was all about letting a kid try to do grown-up things. It would keep her busy for another few minutes, anyway.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’d say I got pretty lucky.” The innuendo in Joy’s tone got my dick instantly hard.

“Listen…about that and with you staying at our place...” I rubbed the back of my neck.

Remy ran up, and I handed her the key to the front door. “Hi, Joy!” she said. “I’m gonna supervise and get beers!” She raced away, more interested in her job than the neighbor. I was the opposite. I was here for the job, but my attention was all focused on Joy.

“I don’t have to stay at your place.” Joy waved a hand through the air as if it erased my concern. “I’m definitely cool camping here under my tarp. Even if there are raccoons.” She flashed me a smile, and I actually believed her cheerfulness.

Like this girl could make lemonade out of any amount of lemons. Even when believing I had just uninvited her from staying at my house.

“No, no. It’s not that.” I lowered my voice. “I don’t want Remy to know…” I trailed off then swallowed. Fuck it. I needed to be clear with her, so I met her blue gaze head on. “That I’m interested in you. I don’t want her to get confused, you know?”

Joy’s face softened. “Of course not. I totally understand. I’ll just be the neighbor staying on the couch. I mean, if you really are still okay with me being over there.”

“I am,” I said too quickly. “The clouds are comin’ in, and no way are you staying in your place if it’s going to storm again.”

My wolf needed her under my roof. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I thought she wasn’t comfortable or safe.

“So you’re…interestedin me?” Her dimples winked with an impish grin. Fate, she was cute.

I frowned. “I would think that would be obvious.”

“Well, I didn’t know if it was just about sex. Which is fine if it is.” She shrugged. “I mean, I’m the one who jumped you.”

Again with the lemonade. It was like she’d learned to keep her expectations of people low so they didn’t disappoint. I knew the feeling, but it made me grouchy as hell while it made her sunny.

We had as opposite dispositions as two people could have.

I cleared my throat and took off my cowboy hat to rub my forehead. “Fuck, Joy. I, uh…” Fate, I was bad at this. “To be honest, I haven’t dated much–well, at all–since Remy was born.” Ever. Just fucked on moon runs, and that was understood in advance that it was nothing. “She took up all my attention. But I’m definitely interested. I just…I also need to be cautious. For Remy.”

Fuck. I sounded like a coward.

Was I a coward?Yes. Because you said you wanted her to be your babysitter.Dumbass.

She nodded in understanding. “Of course. We can sneak into each other’s rooms after dark or something.” Joy flashed me that wide grin again.

I felt something foreign launch up my throat. A chuckle. Or the start of one. It made the corners of my mouth tip up. Her smile was almost contagious.

But her suggestion meant she was still only thinking about illicit sex. I needed to make her fall in love. With me. Which would be hard since all I knew how to do was screw her.

“Well, I was thinkin’ more like a date, except I don’t have a sitter.” Everything was so fucking hard with a kid. And a date? Never went on one. What the hell did I know about one? “Maybe her preschool teacher, Riley, could babysit.”

“Cody’s new wife? She’s great.”

Johnny’s truck pulled up, and he and Colton hopped out. “Hey guys!” Joy waved at them, and I wanted to punch both of their faces in.

When I asked them to help, I hadn’t thought about how my wolf would react.

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