Julie pulled three books out of the shelf at eye level and peered at the other side of the bookcase.
“Are you two spying on me?”
“Not at all, Laurie was, uh, helping me find a book.” Samantha’s nervous laugh drifted to him from behind the case. Julie glared through the hole she had created before shoving the books back in place with a muttered curse.
She sighed and looked at him with faked grimness. “You’re not going to give up until you have your way, are you?”
Brendan couldn’t help but laugh. Was it any wonder he loved this woman? “Nope.”
“All right, since it appears I’m outnumbered. Let me go grab my purse from upstairs.”
Brendan watched her backside as she turned and walked away, tilting his head to get a better view of her retreating ass. More laughter rang out from behind the bookshelf, drawing his attention. Two sets of eyes watched him where stacks of books had been removed. The one he recognized as Laurie’s raised one eyebrow at him. Smiling, Brendan shook his head before crossing to one of the armchairs to wait for Julie. At least the women in her family appeared to be on his side.
Julie paused with her key poised to lock her apartment door. The sun was just starting to set and long shadows littered the ground. An eerie chill crept up her spine, causing her to shiver in unease. The hair at the back of her neck tingled, and she got the distinct impression she was being watched.
Looking around, Julie detected nothing out of place. A nervous laugh escaped and she shook off her discomfort. Clearly, reading all those mystery novels was getting to her. She needed to pull it together. She’d need all her wits about her to get through dinner with Brendan without embarrassing herself.
Kissing him had been more dangerous than she’d imagined. When he’d touched his lips to hers, Julie’s first thought had been to pull away. It was the rational thing to do. But the moment had been short lived as his kiss had robbed her of all thought. She’d only been vaguely aware of clenching his shirt in her fists as his arms circled her waist.
Then nothing had existed beyond him. The feel of his lips, his embrace surrounding her, supporting her as he’d arched her backward–it had gone to her head quicker than one of Laurie’s famous margaritas. Just thinking about it made her quiver with excitement.
As she turned from her doorway, something moved off to her left. She froze, her gaze scanning the forest surrounding the parking lot. Leaves rustled as a breeze blew through them, but nothing else moved. A shiver of a different kind ran down her spine. The feeling of being watched returned, bringing with it a premonition of pure evil.
She needed to get a grip. Nothing lurked in the woods. The town was too well guarded by the pack. Her upcoming dinner with Brendan must be making her more ill at ease than she thought. Projecting her fears on her surrounding environment wasn’t going to do anything but make her paranoid. Julie laughed at herself as she walked into the bookstore.
Brendan stood and crossed to her as soon as she entered.
“Gorgeous, as always.” He tried to pull her into an embrace, but Julie laughed and pushed him away.
“Enough. I’m hungry and you promised to feed me.” Grabbing Brendan’s hand, Julie dragged him behind her.
“Have fun,” Laurie’s sing-song voice sounded behind them as they exited the store. Julie didn’t even glance back.
As they rounded the corner of the store into the parking lot, Julie scanned the forest, trying to detect the presence from earlier. Nothing. No feeling of being watched, or sense of foreboding. Just her stupid imagination running away again.
“Everything okay?” Julie jumped as Brendan spoke directly behind her, his arm circling her waist. She looked over her shoulder and saw his gaze raking the woods, his sharp-eyed gaze moving from tree to tree.
“Fine. Just me being silly.” Julie shrugged off his concern, grabbed his hand and tried to pull him toward his truck, but she couldn’t budge him. She looked back and found him staring at her. His shrewd gaze bore into her.
“What?” she asked, biting her lip. He shook his head before stepping forward.
She was the most confusing woman he’d ever met. One minute she would lean into his embrace, and the next instant turn away from a kiss. And that moment in the parking lot worried him. She’d stared at the dark and empty forest as if expecting something to jump out and attack. There had been something in the air. Some strange scent Brendan wasn’t familiar with, but nothing worrisome.
Still, it couldn’t hurt to take a few passes by her apartment tonight. He’d feel better knowing she was safe. Actually, he’d feel better once he had her with him every night. When he could hold her in his arms, safe and protected from everything that caused her pain. Then his wolf would settle.
Dinner had reaffirmed his belief that Julie was perfect for him. It hadn’t taken long to draw her out of her shell, and soon after, she’d laughed and traded snarky comments with him. When he was around her, it seemed everything was right in the world. But now, as he drove Julie back to her apartment, she was silent, staring out her window.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, more to break the silence than anything else.
“They’re worth way more than a penny.” She laughed and turned toward him. Her chest rose as she took a deep breath, drawing his gaze to her breasts. His hands tightened on the wheel as it shot back to the road. “Why did you kiss me today?”
“I thought that was pretty obvious.” Taking one hand off the wheel, he threaded his fingers through hers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her staring at their linked hands.
“Brendan, you’re a great guy…”
“Oh please. Don’t tell me you’re giving me the ‘you’re a great guy’ break-up speech.” Throwing her one of his most charming smiles, he told her without words he wasn’t going anywhere. Nothing she said would change his mind. Brendan found her huff of frustration utterly adorable. Then again, he found everything about her adorable.
“What break-up? We aren’t together, so there is nothing to break up. And it would never work between us.” Ignoring her words, Brendan picked up their linked hands and brought them to his lips. Julie was running scared. But he held enough patience and stamina to outrun her. He was a wolf, after all.
Pulling up behind the bookstore, Brendan got out and rounded the car to hold Julie’s door open. He placed his hands on either side of her as she stood, and leaned in, looking deep into her eyes.
“Why don’t you come by my place tomorrow for dinner? I’ll cook.”
“Brendan, have you listened to a word I’ve said? A relationship between us isn’t practical.”
“I make a mean salmon dish. You like salmon, right?” He couldn’t help but smile as she blew out yet another exasperated breath and rolled her eyes.
“You are unbelievably stubborn!”
“I’ve learned stubborn people tend to get what they want. And Julie–” Brendan leaned in until they were mere inches apart. “I want you.” Flames of desire leapt into her eyes, pulling him forward as he leaned in for a kiss.
Right before his lips touched hers, she whispered his name. A plea. She couldn’t fight the attraction between them any more than he could.
“Just one taste,” he whispered before closing the remaining distance. She leaned into him, and his tongue swept inside, claiming her mouth. His hands clutched her waist, pulling her closer as her fingers wrapped around his neck and threaded into his hair. Sinking into her softness, he marveled at the feel of her in his arms. She was everything feminine and delicate, yet he knew from experience she could be strong and determined when it counted. And she was all his, just as soon as he could convince her.