Page 12 of Runaway Wolf
“As friends,” he amended, choking down the wolf’s angry snarl. Even at that, she still looked shocked. “But just you and me. I think Noah and Penny will be busy. Unless you want to check with them and see if they’re available?”
She scribbled her signature on the receipt and slid her card into her pocket.
“No, I don’t want to bother them if they possibly have plans. We’ll just keep it you and me.”
The front door jangled as he held it open for her to pass through.
Noah and Penny were inside the car watching their approach, so he didn’t touch her this time as they walked back side by side. But it was okay, because they were going to have time together.
Just them. Because Penny and Noah would want to be in the seats together, which left her with him by default.
When they reached the car, Penny and Noah stayed in the front, with Noah in the driver’s seat.
Last minute, Penny unlocked the car doors with a grin. Isaac held the door open for her, and she slid in quickly. He came in right beside her.
“We got into the front for a quick getaway. Just in case you two got murdered by that ninety-five-year-old shopkeeper.” Penny winked, and Noah re-locked all the doors with a loud click.
“Nice to know you and Noah were safe!” Caitlin huffed.
“You were safe, too.” Noah winked in the rearview mirror. “That’s the alpha next to you. His wolf may be vicious, but he’s loyal. He’d probably eat anyone who tried to wax you.”
His wolf wanted to preen when she turned his way. Tilted her head and studied him as Noah pulled away and headed back toward the highway.
“What color is your wolf?”
“Charcoal.”
“Ice-blue eyes?”
He nodded, just once.
“They’re that color now,” she whispered.
“That’s when he’s close to the surface. He wants to know what’s going on.”
“But nothing’s going on.”
“He’s protective. Smelled your fear when we left the car.”
And maybe that wasn’t the whole truth. He was also a vain monster who wanted her to notice him when he felt Noah complimented him.
She brought her hand up to the scruff shadowing his jaw and scratched lightly with her fingertips. Then, like she was cooing to a pup, she murmured, “It’s okay.”
Just like that, he felt the stalker inside him fall hard—deeply, suddenly, irrevocably—in love. And the man?
He wasn’t unaffected either. Of course, he was tied to the beast’s emotions, but he had rational thought, not just instinct and pheromones.
He studied her. Golden brown hair, streaked with sun-kissed strands, lighter on the ends. The same heart-shaped face as Penny, little bow-mouth and pointy little chin. Obviously sisters. But she was more delicate looking, reserved. She brought out his protective instincts.
Penny was more of a firecracker and sure, she was gorgeous. She tended to wear bolder colors, even had her hair tinted with strands of red instead of the natural gold.
But Penny never made him feel like Caitlin did. Penny never gave off more than a sisterly vibe for him—and no, it didn’t matter that someone in his clan showed interest first.That wouldn’t have mattered to the wolf. If the beast wanted something, he would have taken it.
But Caitlin? Caitlin was… interesting, to say the least. Fucking cute in her mannerisms, gorgeous as fuck, sexy in that burgundy shirt and skinny jeans. The white, puffy vest like she was afraid to freeze. He wanted to keep her warm.
So he reached out and took the hand that had scratched his jaw in his. Twined his fingers with hers, used his thumb to rub the soft skin there.
She didn’t pull away.
