Page 13 of Falling for the Werewolf
“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Is that so?”
Dani stood taller and straightened her shoulders. “You doubt me?”
“I don’t doubt your spirit, Dani. But, let’s face it; do you really think you could fight off someone, say, my size?”
“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you planning to attack me, Jace?”
She had no idea the things that had crossed his mind, the very erotic ways in which he wished to “attack” her with his hands, tongue, and the extremely rigid appendage aching in his jeans. It was a good thing he had excellent control over his wolf, or that was what they would be doing right now, instead of having this discussion.
As it was, he was doing his best to be a gentleman and not come on too strong. However, he couldn’t help his innate protective instincts.
“Of course not,” he barked. “I’m just saying that you need to be more careful. You have no idea what’s lurking out there.”
“Well,just say itsomewhere else,” she snapped, pulling a pocketed apron from behind the counter and tying it around her small waist. “I just met you. That does not give you the right to tell me what I can and cannot do. And, news flash: I don’t need you or any other man to protect me. Thanks again for the ride. I have to work.” With that, she pushed the swinging door into the back and disappeared, leaving Jace to wonder what the hell had just happened.
The cook smirked, obviously having overheard the whole thing.
Jace left before he gave in to the urge to remove that smug smile for him.
* * *
“Do you know she walks home alone from that diner every morning?” Jace ranted to Amos the second he walked through the door. “Through thewoods! Alone!”
Amos calmly placed his keys on the peg by the door.
“Anybody could just grab her. She’s a human female, and a tiny one at that.” Jace paced back and forth. “She’s supposed to be smart, right? So, tell me, Amos: what the hell is she thinking?”
“Feeling a little protective there, eh, son?”
“I ...” Jace’s nostrils flared with every breath. Hell yes, he was feeling protective! “What difference does that make?”
“You’ve spent what, the better part of one day with her?” Amos pointed out. “Doesn’t exactly give you the right to start telling her what she can and can’t do. She’s human, Jace. She doesn’t live by her instincts like we do. And last I looked, Dani was a grown woman.”
Yeah, Dani had already pointed that out.
Jace blew out a breath. “I know you’re right, Amos, but ...”
“But you can’t stand the thought of anything happening to her,” Amos finished. “I get that, son, I really do.” Amos laughed. “I guess some things just run in the family.”
Jace shot him a puzzled look.
“Your dad looked like that when he first met your mother.” Amos chuckled. “Said he knew from the moment he laid eyes on her she was the one for him. Neither hell nor high water could keep him away from her. That’s the way it is with our kind, Jace. Our animals know. They can sense when we meet our mates.
“Your mother fought it,” Amos continued, his lips curled in fond memory, “but not for long. Your brother Thomas came along ten months later. Best be careful, Jace.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“Seems to me you need to find a way for you both to get what you want.” Amos paused at the bottom of the stairs. “You’ll figure it out. By the way, I need you at Bess’s no later than nine a.m. tomorrow.”
“Nine?” Jace asked. “But you like to get started by seven—”
Amos fixed him a pointed look, laying his index finger aside his nose. Chuckling, Amos then turned and ascended the stairs, shaking his head.
