Chapter 2
Dean
My bear rippled beneath the surface, fighting to get out as I leaned over the engine. Something about the woman called to him. And me. The urge to protect her was strong. I couldn’t get the scent of her from where she sat closed up in the vehicle, but I was certain she was human. Her shock at my nudity was too obvious.
I tried to focus on the car’s engine, but the image of her large green eyes filled my mind. Her blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders in loose curls, and her delicate features flushed prettily when she realized I caught her staring.
A rumble moved through my chest, and my nails lengthened into claws. I fisted my hands, letting the bite of the claws digging into my palms bring me back to the moment. My bear receded, though grumpy about it, and I regained control. The cuts would heal quickly enough, with my shifter healing.
After a quick look under the hood, I closed it. I walked to the side of the car and motioned for her to open her window. She shook her head and said, “It’s broken.”
My shifter hearing allowed me to hear her clearly, even through the window. “Just like your engine.”
Her shoulders slumped. “What’s wrong with it?”
“What isn’t wrong is the better question. I’m surprised you didn’t break down sooner.” I crossed my arms, noticing how her gaze followed my movements, her tongue darting out to lick her lower lip. My bear had me standing up straighter, as if wanting to show off my physique to her. “Looks like it was being held together by luck alone.”
“Which clearly ran out on me. And at the worst possible time.” She tipped her head back against her seat, and my eyes followed the line of her throat to where the vee of her blouse granted me a slight hint of cleavage, causing my bear to let out a low purr. Luckily, she couldn’t hear it. “Do I have far to walk before getting a signal on my phone?”
“About five miles.”
“Guess I’d better start walking.” She grimaced. “Definitely going to miss my job interview.”
“I can give you a ride.” The offer left my mouth before I even thought about it. “You headed to Dryston?”
She nodded slowly. “I am. But I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” I shrugged. “Besides, you’d be lucky to find anyone willing to come this far into Shifter Alley to pick you up. Unless you want to pay a premium.”
From the state of her car, I doubted that was an option for her, and the slump of her shoulders confirmed it. Taking pity on her, I continued, “I have a buddy who might get your car running again. He can look at it while I run you out to your interview.”
“That’s really kind of you.” She sighed. “If you’re sure it’s not a problem?”
“It’s not.” I had planned to spend the afternoon running around in bear form, but that could wait. Something my bear surprisingly agreed with. “You can stay here while I go get my truck.”
She looked around, her brows lowering as she realized I didn’t have a vehicle there. “Oh. Do you live nearby? How did you find me?”
“I was out for a run when I heard your car struggling. But my place isn’t far. I’ll be back soon.”
I jogged into the tree line, waiting until I was out of sight before shifting. I shook out the sting of the shift as I lowered to all fours and started toward my cabin, pushing my speed, my bear not wanting to leave the woman alone for long.
I lumbered up the steps of my back porch and shifted, pulling on the clothes I had left draped over the railing before heading next door to ask Dylan to check out the car. If anyone could get it going, it was him. Though I wasn’t optimistic after my quick look at the engine. He was sitting on his front porch with a beer in hand when I arrived.
“Human broke down on the highway. I’m giving her a ride to Dryston. Can you see if you’re able to get her car running?”
He lowered his beer and raised a brow. “What’s a human doing all the way out here?”
“Probably took a detour. Didn’t you hear the main highway was closed for roadwork today?”
“You know I don’t pay attention to that stuff.” He stood up and stretched. “I guess I can come along. I’d like to meet this human brave enough to detour through Shifter Alley.”
My bear gave a warning growl, and we both stilled. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. “Now I definitely want to meet her.”
Another low growl slipped out before I could stop it. I shook my head. “Sorry. My bear is acting weird today.”
We crossed over to my truck and climbed in. I grabbed the keys from behind the visor and pulled out of the drive. The trip was silent, but I knew Dylan was watching me, curious about my bear’s reaction. As we pulled to a stop behind her car, she climbed out, shading her eyes with her hands. Her scent floated across the distance and through my open window.
My bear let out a purring rumble, and my stomach tightened as I figured out why I was so drawn to her. She was my mate.
Lily
I ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich while I waited. There was still time to make it to my interview if he got back quickly enough. I told myself that was why I was anxious for his return. It had absolutely nothing to do with how handsome he was. Or how safe he made me feel.
When I heard a truck approaching, I jumped out of my car. I shaded my eyes against the sun, quickly recognizing the man behind the wheel. There was another guy in the passenger seat, but I barely registered him, unable to tear my gaze away from my rescuer.
He was slow to exit his truck, but when the other guy came near me, he picked up his pace, his long legs eating up the distance between us. Even clothed in jeans and a T-shirt, he captured my attention fully. There was an added intensity to his stare that wasn’t there earlier. He held out his hand and somehow the moment felt huge. As if he was offering more than just a handshake. I dismissed the silly thought and stretched my hand to his.
His hand swallowed mine, his palm hard and warm. My body erupted in tingles and my breath caught. A slow smile spread across his face as he tugged me closer. “I forgot to introduce myself earlier. I’m Dean.”
“Lily.” My voice was breathy.
He repeated my name almost reverently. I liked how it sounded coming from him, almost as much as I liked how my hand felt in his. And the way he looked at me. As if he saw beneath the surface to who I was inside, and approved. Was this some special shifter allure I had never heard about? If so, it was probably best they didn’t live among humans, because it was hard to resist.
A throat cleared, drawing my reluctant gaze away from Dean. And shattered the notion of the special shifter allure. Because the other man didn’t even remotely tempt me. Despite his good looks, with messy dark blond hair, and size, being almost as tall and broad as Dean. His sky-blue eyes twinkled as he watched us. “I’m Dylan. But don’t mind me. I’m just here to fix the car.”
“Oh. Thank you.” I turned and walked back to my car to pop the hood again, trying to ignore the sensation of Dean’s gaze on me. I was hyper-aware of my movements, and when I realized I was probably showing him my ass, bent over the way I was, I awkwardly crouched down in my pencil skirt and reached in to release the latch that way. “It just sort of sputtered and died on me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Dylan gave me a quick grin before passing me to lean over the engine. An inventive string of curse words from him had me ready to reach for my swear jar at the same time I mentally filed the creative phrasing away for future use. He stood, running his hand roughly through his hair. “Sorry. I meant to say, I look forward to the challenge.”
“Call me if you need any parts from Dryston,” Dean said. He slipped an arm around my shoulder and led me to the passenger side of his truck, a gesture that should have been too familiar, but instead caused me to melt into his side.
He opened the door, helping me in, and I used the time it took him to reach the driver’s side to lecture myself on my reaction to him. I wasn’t the type to swoon over handsome men. I had no time for that sort of thing. My life was about survival, and right now my survival depended on the job interview I had today.
Dean slid behind the wheel, immediately filling the space with his presence and almost making me forget my brief lecture. I can’t sleep on Maddie’s couch forever, I reminded myself. Maddie was too kind to kick me out, but I refused to take advantage of her generosity. Besides, I wasn’t used to having to rely on others, and I didn’t plan to start now.