So that was it. The tightness around her chest lightened. “Honestly, no.”
He didn’t move. “I know about your husband’s reputation. There are rumors about how many people he’s murdered.”
“Ex-husband.” A spark of anger flared. “His actions had nothing to do with me. Up until the end, I didn’t even know what he did. You don’t understand—I was Leo’s prisoner, not his partner.”
He kissed her then, slanting his mouth across hers in a ruthless, hard way that would have cowed a lesser woman. But she was a shifter and strong, and she met his urgency, deepening the kiss. As her arousal grew, she realized she welcomed him the way she would have welcomed a long absent mate.
Mate?
The thought was like a dash of cold water in the face.
Ripping herself away, she ignored the flash of hurt in his face. “I’ve got to get ready to go to work.” She ran for his house. He followed at a distance.
Stepping aside to allow him to unlock the door, she tried to slow her breathing and calm her racing pulse.
Fumbling with the door and his key, Colton didn’t look at her. His breathing sounded loud and harsh, as erratic as hers, telling her she had the same effect on him. As soon as he turned the lock, she dashed inside.
Alone in her room, she closed the door and, panting, sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hands shook, little tremors that both infuriated and frightened her. How was this possible, that Colton Reynolds affected her so violently?
She didn’t need this sort of complication in her life. Staying alive would take every resource she had.
Pulling on the microscopic, stretch miniskirt, along with her black heels, Jewel smoothed down her referee shirt, dropped her silver wolf necklace inside the neck, and peered at herself in the mirror. She looked like someone entirely different from the woman she’d once been. More confident, less soft. Leo had made her timid, ripping her natural confidence from her like a leaf from a tree.
She liked to think she’d regained herself. She would believe it, too, if only she could change.
Inside, her wolf snarled in agreement. This inability to allow her other self force must be why, despite her marksmanship lessons with Colton, she didn’t look at all like the fierce and excellent huntress she’d once been.
She wanted to be that huntress again.
Worriedly, she realized her wolf had been especially restless lately. Perhaps simply licking her wounds, but she knew that when the wolf made another attempt at freedom, the urge would be a powerful one. The more time that passed, the more the urge would gain strength. Soon, she would have no choice but to try again.
When she emerged from her bedroom, Colton waited, lounging against the kitchen counter. The heat darkening his gaze reminded her of his kiss, and she felt her entire body respond.
“Ready?” He fished his truck keys from his pocket.
“Sure.” Face burning, she brushed past him on the way out the door.
They made the short drive into town in silence.
As he pulled into a parking space, she turned to look at him. “You don’t have to stay.”
“I know.” He gave her a grim smile. “But I want to.”
Though she knew she shouldn’t ask, her tongue seemed to run away with her mouth. “Why?”
“Someone’s got to protect you.”
“I can protect myself.” Normally, this would be an absolute truth. Even though she couldn’t yet shift, she retained her above-average strength.
He shook his head. “Not yet, you can’t. Are you ready? I’ll walk you inside.”
Feeling oddly self-conscious, she nodded. “I’m not sure I like this,” she told him, as they headed for the entrance to the bar. “I’m not used to having someone try and protect me.”
Colton stopped dead in his tracks. “That bastard,” he swore. “He was your husband. If any man should ever take care of a woman, a husband should.”
She reached for the door handle before he could, yanking it open and heading into the noise without replying.
Again, the bar was packed, even by the time she arrived for her nine-to-close shift. A popular, local band warmed up in preparation for their set. Lifting her hand in a quick wave, Jewel headed for the kitchen. She’d barely punched in when Big Al approached her.
