Evan grinned. “Hey, that’s the kind of reputation that impresses my pack.” Although, as he looked around, he had to wonder…
Dexter finished colouring the picture he was working on and handed it to Amy. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before scrambling over her to get to the floor.
He twisted to face Evan. “Be nice.”
“I’m always nice,” Evan insisted.
The kid planted teeny fists on his hips, his expression far too serious for someone that young. “If you make her cry, I’ll get even with you.”
Then he darted off, escaping into the kitchen.
Evan looked into Amy’s face. “You have quite the admirer there.”
“He doesn’t trust a lot of guys. His dad abandoned them before Dexter was born, and the guy Laney was living with until recently made it clear he thought Dex was nothing but a nuisance.” Amy took a sip of coffee, staring into the café. “After she left Mike the first time, he tracked her down, stole her savings and left her with a broken arm and fingers.”
Anger rumbled in Evan’s gut. “What the hell?”
“They were part of the Dawson Creek pack. The Alpha gave the bastard a lecture, and that was that. So she moved south. When they got here, she came to me. I helped her find a job. They live upstairs from the café, and there’s always at least one of the pack around to protect her in case her ex shows up again.”
Evan gave in to a momentary mental fantasy that involved ripping off the bastard’s arm and using the bloody stump to beat some sense into him. “Good. If they need any more help, let me know.”
She tilted her head. “Yeah, you would be good at that part. Providing defense. Only, can you see why she never came to you in the first place?”
Indignation set in fast. “I’m not an ass like the Dawson Alpha. No one gets away with shit like that in my pack.”
Amy shook her head. “If you can’t see it, I can’t explain it.”
Their meals arrived, Laney still moving cautiously, but at least not throwing the food at the table and running.
Evan worked even harder this time to display his usual charming-and-completely-not-scary self. “Thanks. It looks great.”
She dipped her chin briefly.
Amy brushed her hand along the other woman’s arm. “My thanks as well. Will I see you later this week?”
Laney nodded, glancing at Evan before focusing on Amy. “Are you still going to make it?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The food was good, he was sitting across from his mate, but at the same time Evan wasn’t quite sure what was going on. Somehow in the last while he’d lost all control. It was more than uncomfortable, it was downright frustrating.
A reluctant smile twisted Amy’s expression. She spoke in a whisper. “You did okay.”
The faint praise shouldn’t have thrilled him as much as it did. “I feel like I should get a gold star, or something, for that.”
Her lips twitched harder. “Eat. You’ll need your strength for later.”
“I could misinterpret that so many ways.” He allowed the heat inside to escape in his tone.
Her eyes flashed for a brief second with that incredible passion he craved to indulge in, then faded to sorrow. “Wait and see if you’re still interested in me after talking to your Beta.”
Her warning was sincere, but Evan shook his head firmly. “There’s nothing he can say that can change my mind,” he insisted. “You’re mine, Amy, and I’m not letting you go.”
She looked both pleased and nervous at his comment.
The tug of war between them continued.
Chapter Ten
There weren’t a lot of people awake and moving around the Takhini pack house at this time of the morning. Evan pushed the front door open for her, and Amy boldly marched through the entrance.
“Shaun and the guys should be around somewhere.” Evan followed closely, his body heat a security blanket around her shoulders. “The common area is just to the right.”
She wasn’t sure if she should confess this, but in the interest of total disclosure, it was necessary. “Evan, I already know the layout of the entire place.”
“Amy, Amy, Amy.” He clicked his tongue. “Have you been spying on me?”
“Do I really need to answer that?”
“Spying is the least of what she’s done.” Shaun stood before them, his arms crossed over his chest. He wore a disgusted expression as if he smelled something rotten.
“Hello again, my sparkling ray of sunshine. I’ve missed you so.” Amy patted Shaun on the cheek harder than necessary.
“Yeah? Well, I’m watching you. I’m watching you closely.” Shaun did that little pointing thing, aiming two fingers toward his eyes then directing them toward her. “Because you are one dangerous woman.”
“Shaun, back down,” Evan snapped.
“She started it,” Shaun protested.
“I said, back down.”
There were a half-dozen wolves in the common area and more trickling into the room, checking her out.
Since Evan didn’t seem to be interested in introducing her, Amy ignored the questioning glances. Instead she turned her focus to the quiet, dark-haired woman tucked into the corner of the room. Her hands were folded in her lap as she perched on the very edge of a couch, as if ready to spring to safety at any moment.
At her side sat an enormous shifter Amy recognized as one of the bears who had remained after conclave had concluded. She nodded politely, but spoke to the woman at his side.
She held out a hand. “Hi. I’m Sa…Amy.” Maybe not using her first name would hold off a few problems for a while.
The dark-haired woman slowly accepted the greeting. “Amanda.”
Mr. Shiny Suit beside her leaned to the left as he extended his hand. “Justin. You have a bit of explaining to do, young lady.”
“Hold that thought,” Amy requested as she lifted a finger in the air. “Amanda, you okay?”
The woman seemed surprised at the question. “Of course, I am.”
Amy stood silently for a moment. “We can talk later if you’d like.”
Amanda got very busy looking nowhere, and Amy knew she’d guessed correctly. From the questioning glances Justin was directing her way, a lot of her work from the past year was about to come to light. That didn’t mean she could ignore a person like Amanda whose body language was all but screaming for comfort.
Offering help was part of who Amy was, and as necessary as breathing.
Evan stepped behind her, his hand settling on her lower back. “Let’s take this to my office.”
Amanda excused herself and vanished into the back of the pack house, but the rest of them ended up crowded into the small room. Her, Evan, Justin and Shaun.
Amy hung back at the door. She didn’t need to be around when the truth came out. “I’ll wait outside while you talk.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Evan caught her by the waist and pulled her to his side. Already the contact was so familiar she was sad that the coming minutes would tear it away. He tucked her onto the chair next to him.
Amy eyed how far it was to the door in case she needed to make a quick getaway.
Evan folded his arms over his chest. “So. I’m here. What was so damn important you felt the need to break a direct order and track me down?” he demanded of his Beta.
Shaun gestured to Justin. “He’s the guy with the goods.”
Justin handed printed pages to Evan. “These are from the accountant I told you about. He faxed them over this morning.”
Evan shuffled through them, clearly not seeing their importance. “What am I looking at?”