Chapter 10 #2
“Why did you take up for me?” The question just slipped out. “You were… powerful.”
I’d surprised my companion, her mouth twisting while she tried to figure out what I was talking about.
“You mean with that woman or the reporter hounding me?”
“Specifically, the woman with the petition. There aren’t a lot of people who’ll openly take a stand like you did. So why?” Every time her face flushed, I could swear I was able to read her thoughts.
Maybe it was wishful thinking that she was wondering what I was like in bed.
“Because I would do so for anyone. I can’t stand people who believe they have any right to criticize anyone else based on that person being unlike them in some way.
There’s way too much bigotry in this world.
What I’ve heard some people say, the horrible signs I’ve read, I don’t know how you and your family take it.
I would be enraged every day. You’re a shifter.
So what? You can turn into a wild, fearless beast. Okay, that’s kind of cool if you ask me. ”
“You think?”
She licked drops of wine from the rim of the glass and I sensed my control slipping. “Absolutely. I can almost envision you running through the forest, your dark gray fur gleaming in the full moon.”
The way she described my joy in running free was adorable. “How do you know I have gray fur?”
“Just a hunch. Maybe I can find out sometime.”
Now I lifted a single eyebrow, which caused her to shrug again, telling me that her being able to watch me turn into a vicious beast was not only acceptable but something she’d enjoy. Who was this woman?
“Who knows. Maybe we can arrange that.” Her fist was clenched again and being drawn to her was becoming a serious issue. “Well, the way you reacted was priceless. You put her in her place.”
“You mean like I did with you?” Her head was tilted, another challenge offered.
“Exactly like you did with me. Also rare and I like that.”
“What you see is what you get.”
“I happen to like what I see.” I polished off my whiskey, twirling the glass as I placed it on the table. I’d been questioning why I’d invited her out for a drink when all eyes were on us. Sure, we were in a local North Bend bar, but that only made it worse.
“You do, huh?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Her smile was entirely different than before. What was wrong with the men around her? Didn’t they compliment her at all? The same level of awkwardness settled in.
“I heard about the Portland NHL team. What will they be called?” she asked, embarrassed enough from not knowing much about hockey that her face turned bright red.
Damn, that caused a deep reaction in my cock. “Hellions. And it’s not a done deal yet. There are few more hoops to go through.”
“But you can try out for the team. Right?”
I tipped my head back and forth. The idea had been on my mind a lot. “Maybe. A new franchise gets to pick some players to make it all fair and square since they don’t have an affiliate AHL team yet. Free agents are allowed to try out in September.”
“So you’re going to, right?”
“You’re pushy. Like I said. Maybe.”
Reaching across the table, she grabbed my arm. “Don’t say maybe. Do it. However you can find a way to getting what you want, you need to try. Promise me you will.”
“Why is it so important to you?” I was genuinely curious.
Every time she shrugged, it was a way of her avoiding the topic.
She didn’t like talking about her feelings any more than I did.
“Because I know what it’s like to give up on a dream.
Don’t do that. You will never forgive yourself.
But if you try and don’t make it, no regrets. But I know you’ll make the team.”
“Stiff competition.” God, I wanted to kiss her right about now.
“You can handle it. I believe in you.”
Why was a woman who barely knew me convinced she could believe in me? I had no clue and it was unnerving as hell.
“Yeah, well, from your mouth to God’s ears.”
Her laugh was noncommittal. “Your family is nice.”
“Hmmm… Meaning?”
“I sat with them at the game.”
“Oh.” Groaning, I threw my head back, rubbing my face. “What terrible stories did they tell you about my childhood?”
“Nothing but how much you love the game. Your brothers are very much like you.”
“Three peas in a pod.”
“And they play hockey?”
“Beck plays for an ECHL team, the Cincinnati Icemen. He just got back to town for the summer. They didn’t make the playoffs, which makes him a bear to live with.
Cole found his love of competition only recently, playing with a local group for fun more than anything, although they’ve created a competition of their own.
” I laughed thinking about Cole’s aggressive tendencies.
“Cole is damn good and I’m glad we aren’t on the same team.
He’d wipe the ice with me. That is if he took the game seriously. ”
“He reminds me of you. Aggressive, opinionated, and very on the edge.”
“You got all that from sitting watching a game with him.”
“I did.”
Leaning forward again, I crowded her space, longing to know more about her. “When are you going to share stories about your family?”
Her face fell and that painful secret was peeking around the edges. “Like I said. There’s not much to tell.” When she looked away, I resisted my urge to push her. What good would that accomplish?
“You’re safe here, Georgia. We’re like family.”
“So I’ve heard.”
She lifted her head toward the television while I continued struggling with finding anything appropriate to say to her. Being tongue tied was not optimum for me. When her breath hitched in a different way, I followed her line of sight to a breaking news headline.
Another Shifter Found Murdered