Page 19 of Shattered

Keeley rattled off Mackenzie’s phone number and address. “Look, if it doesn’t work out, you can always use me. I don’t mind the company, plus the kids love Abby, anyway.”

“Okay,” Aurora said. “It’s a deal.”

“Also, I wouldn’t call him,” Keeley added. “I’d just go. It’ll keep the weirdness out of it, especially since the party.”

So, the other woman had been thinking about the situation from the Halloween party, too. “Right, might be for the best.”

Two hours later, Aurora parked her beat-up sedan in the driveway of Mackenzie Raferty’s home. Her stomach churned and her palms were damp. She rubbed them on her dark jeans in an attempt to remove as much moisture as possible. After the party, she couldn’t get the sight of the giant wolf standing over her or the way he licked her out of her mind. She touched the spot where she swore, he’d nipped her, but all she found was smooth, sensitive skin. Not even a small bruise marred her flesh.

In her dreams, the vision of an ice-blue-eyed wolf crowded the darkness. He, how she knew it’d been a he, she didn’t understand, yet he calmed her. It was as if he protected her. Life for her and Abby hadn’t been perfect by any means. Perhaps it’d been her subconscious trying to give her a bit of safety or happiness? She didn’t know. The physical stuff, though...she could do without it. Sitting there, as she was, goosebumps formed on her skin. Her breasts felt swollen and if the throb in her clit didn’t go away soon, she’d die.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Aurora got out of the car with a huff then strode toward the front door. She knocked on it and took a step back. She didn’t do this—rely on other people. It’d been her and Abby for so long, asking for help was foreign to her. But she was way past desperate.

“I’m coming.”

The door swung open, and the breath Aurora was about to exhale got caught in her throat. She coughed, fighting for her breath as her eyes filled with tears.

“You okay?” His dark, rough voice had the hairs on her arms standing on end.

“Yeah. Sorry. I swallowed down the wrong pipe.” She couldn’t admit the sight of him again sent her body into an overload of arousal. The man had to be the age of her father, if he’d still been alive. No way in hell, she could ever imagine herself in bed with the man standing before her, especially after the incident at the party.

“Keeley said...” Aurora cleared her throat. “Keeley said that maybe you could help me out.”

“Fuck. This should be interesting. No good comes from her meddling ways.”

“Kalkin agreed with her,” Aurora said.

“Even better. The only good that comes from them are their pups.” He winked at her as he stood back, allowing her to enter. If he even remembered what had happened at Keeley and Kalkin’s home, he sure didn’t act like it.

Aurora stepped into the foyer. Boxes were stacked against the wall, labeled and ready to be moved. The place didn’t have a homey vibe to it. It was broken.Maybe Keeley and Kalkin were wrong.She rubbed her arm as she followed him into the kitchen. “So, about what I’m here for—”

“Want a cup of coffee? I just brewed a fresh pot. Was going to enjoy a cup before I got back to work,” he inquired. “That is if you’re old enough to have a cup.”

“I happen to be twenty-four. I’m old enough to vote, drink, or have sex,” she replied before slapping her hand over her mouth. Warmth bloomed in her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she’d said all that out loud.

He chuckled. “I take that as a yes then?”

“Actually, no. I’m not a fan of it.”

“How about a glass of iced tea? I always keep a pitcher in the fridge for when Keeley stops by.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Have a seat.” He pointed to the table across from him. “If I knew I was having company today—” He lifted his chin in the direction of the boxes.

She frowned. “Sorry. After the Halloween party, Keeley and I thought it would be best to just come by.”

“What happened at the Halloween party?” He handed her a glass of tea, before pouring a cup of coffee.

“Well... You, uh... Wait, don’t you remember?” She cocked a brow.

“Sure,” he said. “I went to the party, met you and Abby. Shot the shit with my brothers and friends, then went home. You and Abby were already gone by the time I got ready to leave, though.”

She took a giant gulp of tea. “Right. I guess, you know all those wolves and vampires and unicorns...”

He chuckled. The rough sound skirted down her spine and pooled low in her belly. “It’s something when we get together.”

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