Page 13 of A Surprise Baby for the Wolf Shifter

“You’re awfully grumping for being loved down with a woman all night long,” he said, continuing to poke the wolf. Almost literally.

“Yeah right. An invisible woman,” I muttered as I nailed a two-by-four into a wall frame. Gemma might as well have been invisible. But she was in my mind, as clear as day. Her smile. Her curves. Her beautiful blue eyes. Even the way she tasted stayed on my tongue when I allowed myself to think about it.

“Don’t deny it,” he said.

I twisted to face him head-on. My words came out gruff as I said, “I have nothing to deny. I’m tired. My lack of sleep has less to do with sex and more to do with me getting in my own damn way, okay?”

“Sure, sure. Just don’t nail your hand to the framework,” Guy said.

I shook my head. It was impossible to keep him from being so lighthearted. Though making others feel better was his shtick. It suited him. And though I would never admit it to his face, I appreciated that about him the most. I would deny it, should that little secret become known.

As I said. Big, fluffy, cuddly, teddy bear.

Literally.

I adored him as I would a brother, but sometimes his optimism irritated me. I shot him a warning look. One that should have told him I wasn’t in the mood for his jabs. Well-intentioned or not.

He finally caught on and sighed. He ran his hand through his hair and shrugged sheepishly. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

I nodded. “I accept your apology.”

“Is there anything I can do?” he offered.

I shrugged. “I seriously doubt anyone can do anything to help me at this point.”

“I have an idea,” he said and smiled wide.

“I’m probably going to regret asking,” I started, “but do share…”

“How ‘bout this… we head to the joint after our shift is over and you and I can talk about whatever it is over a couple of beers. You can vent. I can listen. No touchy-feely stuff necessary.”

A beer did sound amazing. It would do me some good to be surrounded by a set of different walls for a few hours. I nodded. “All right.”

“That a boy!” Guy said.

I glared at him again. This time, I added a smirk with it. He laughed and took a couple of steps back. “I’m done! I’ll back off now.”

I had a plan, and a distraction for a few hours at least following my shift. A couple of beers and some guy time, and then a nice long run with my wolf.

* * *

A couple of hours later,I sat in the barstool next to Guy. He downed the last of his third beer and I had just finished telling him everything about Gemma.

“Welp,” he said and smiled. “I was right. Sort of.”

“About what?” I asked, confused.

“Your mood was because of a woman,” he said and winked.

I slapped the back of his arm. “Can you be serious for once? I’m literally going out of my mind here.”

He chuckled. “I can see that.”

“Helpful, Bear. Very helpful,” I muttered.

“All I can do is listen. It’s up to you to decide what to do. You can throw a couple more ideas my way, if you would like. Talk them out,” he offered.

I shook my head. “What’s the point? She probably wants nothing to do with me.”

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