“Yeah I thought so. I followed it until it died out. I didn’t scent any other witch but you though. Back to your upset.”
“I checked my messages. Nothing new. We’re at a dead end.”
He sighed. “We’ll keep looking. We aren’t giving up, Michelle.”
“I just…I want to help her.”
He stopped and turned to her. “You are. You’re here looking for her every waking moment. You’re doing all you can. Let’s connect with Pam and Damon, see what they’ve found.”
They headed back to the lot after he’d made a call to meet up with the other two.
Damon shook his head when they came out of the woods. “Nothing. We fanned out, checked near the waterways, the paths, everywhere. Nothing.”
She exhaled, disappointed. “Thanks anyway. I appreciate your help more than I can say.”
Josh turned to Damon. “Go back to the office and check in. Let them know I’ll be home if they need me.” Then to Pam. “Appreciate the help. Keep me updated.”
She nodded and said her goodbye to Michelle before she got in her car and drove away with Damon.
He moved to the car and opened her door. Deflated, she slid inside.
He got in, and once they’d gotten back on the road again, he spoke quietly. “Come back to my place for a while at least. Please? There’s nothing to do right now. You’re run down. You need some rest and I’d like to pamper you a little. I’m a good cook. Let me make you dinner.”
“I…” She closed her mouth. What was she arguing for? The longer she spent with him, the more she wanted him. More than that, she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to be with someone who knew her, all of her, and wanted to be around her anyway. She was too tired to be lonely that night. “Okay.”
He relaxed. “Good.”
Chapter Six
She checked her phone every few minutes until he finally put a hand on hers. “Your phone is on. You’ll hear it if you get a message or a call. My people all know where to reach me too.”
He’d called Damon and his mate, Gina, to come over for a bit. Josh had wanted to hold her. To kiss her and fuck her senseless to wipe the worry off her features for at least a little while. But he forced himself to be patient.
Nina called to report she’d hacked the cameras at the rest stops and that they’d stopped working for fifteen minutes at the first stop and six minutes at the second. Michelle figured it was a spell of some sort, but at least they could work out a rudimentary timeline based on that information.
But it was pretty close to what she’d already figured out, so she took some notes and ended up staring out the window again.
The loneliness seemed to flow from her in waves. He could fix that. Or try anyway. Gina was awesome. Funny, warm and totally accustomed to being surrounded by Others. She was exactly the kind of person who’d extend friendship. And clearly Michelle needed it. He wanted her to understand it was possible to live in a vibrant community of likeminded Others. Sure she couldn’t announce that witches existed to the world, but she didn’t always have to hide it either.
Damon and Gina arrived, and as he’d figured, Gina was warm, holding her hands out to Michelle.
“You’re Michelle. I’m so happy to meet you. I brought cake. I’m sure he’ll make you a lovely dinner, but he won’t have cake and one needs cake.”
“It’s the rules.” Michelle nodded with a smile.
Damon watched his woman, affection clear on his features, before he turned to Josh and thrust bags at him. “She wasn’t kidding. Dips and chips and cake. Oh and beer.”
Josh happily took in the way Gina drew Michelle out, chatting with her about every day things as well as magick and witches.
“Thanks for coming over.” Josh told Damon this as he poured chips into a bowl and Damon opened the dips.
“Gina would have barged in anyway. I filled her in…a little so don’t get that look.” Damon said it low enough that only another wolf would have heard. “It’s not a secret to anyone with eyes, Josh. Looking at a beautiful woman is one thing. Looking at your beautiful woman is another.”
Josh smiled. His. Yeah. “I’m taking things slow. She doesn’t know so keep your mouth shut about it.”
Damon grinned. “I like seeing you this way. All flaily and out of your element.”
“Flaily? I’m not flaily.”
“Ha. You are. And it’s good for you.”
Laughing, Michelle looked across the living room to where he stood with Damon in the kitchen. He held up the tray of food and she smiled.
They joined the women, and he settled in next to her on the couch. “Dinner is in the oven.”
“I was just inviting Michelle to our weekly get-togethers. The Owen witches who live down here, that is. They’re usually at our house, so you know they’ll be well guarded by a big, badass grumpy werewolf.”
If Michelle was there, Josh would be there too.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be around. I mean, once I find Allie she’ll need me in Roseburg. I have a job there.”
Gina’s gaze cut to Josh quickly and then back. Did everyone on the planet know Michelle was his mate or what? “I get that. I hope you’ll reconsider maybe settling up here. Once you get Allie back and safe. And in the mean time, you can drive up, right?”
Michelle nodded but her happiness had ebbed a little.
His life was in Portland. But she was to be part of that life. The center of it, of course. He couldn’t protect her if she lived in Roseburg. They needed to talk in-depth about all of this stuff. There was a lot to discuss. She was under a great deal of pressure, and he didn’t want to add to that stress.
So he’d take it baby step by baby step.
Gina and Damon stayed for dinner and cake and left shortly after that. It had been a really good several hours, and Michelle seemed lighter once he’d closed his door.
“I know today’s been a long one. Yesterday and the day before too. Did you know I have a giant soaking tub? It’s a good place to relax a while.”
One corner of her mouth quirked up. “Is that an invitation?”
He moved closer, his body brushing hers. “Do you want it to be?”
She took a deep breath, her eyes closing for long moments before she opened and snagged his gaze again. “I…” She licked her lips and he bent to do the same. She exhaled, and he pulled it into his lungs, heady with desire.
“We’ve known each other a long time, Michelle. That means something to me. More than what we were back in high school. You’re my friend. You can tell me anything. I am here for you, not just for this situation, but afterward too.”
She nodded, her eyes still on his, intent. “I want you,” she murmured, and he drew even closer, their bodies touching, heat spilling between them.
“Thank God. I want you so much my hands would be shaking if I wasn’t keeping them on your hips. But I know you’re going through a lot of stuff right now. I can wait.”
“Help me forget. Just for a little while at least.”
He swallowed and had a stern inner dialogue with his wolf. The wolf wanted to rut and claim and comfort. The man knew she needed the rutting and the comforting but the claiming had to wait.
He kissed each eyelid as he did this. Across her brow, delighting in the way the furrows smoothed.
Her hands slid up his chest, leaving heat in their wake. Funny thing, given that he was the shifter and his body temperature was higher than hers. But chemistry made it that way. Clicked with his and made it uniquely theirs.
Argument settled—for the time being, his wolf waited for the chance to do things his way—Josh eased her down the hallway toward his bathroom.