“He’s a guard.”
“You think I can’t defeat a guard?”
“I only meant it’s not worth fighting over.”
“Don’t ever tell me you’re not worth fighting for.” My appetite, gone, I toss my fork back onto the tray. It’s bent in half. I didn’t even realize I’d crushed it. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“And it’s not even mushroom stew,” she says with a lightness returning to her face. “Maybe we can try some new recipes next time I drop by your cabin.”
“Visit? You’re not returning to my cabin?”
“I think I should stay in the center of the pack for a while. Give the shifters here a chance to know me better.”
“I faintly recall hearing that advice before.”
“From a shifter who kept pushing me away.”
“For all the wrong reasons. Won’t happen again.”
With her hand falling to my chest, she kisses me. “I’m not pushing you away, just looking for a way to fit in. I plan to talk to Langdon about that position he offered me. At least no one will die if I get distracted.”
I choke back my wince. She’s still blaming herself for that near-drowning. She fuckingsavedthe boy. “What happened at the river wasn’t your fault. Sadie Lynn is understaffed. Everyone recognizes this.”
She opens her mouth then shuts it, her smile long gone.
“But if this is what you want, a new job and… space from me… I’ll shut up.”
A dainty eyebrow lifts. “No more discussion on the matter?”
I clench my jaw, then force myself to relax. “Only about Langdon. He’s easy-going enough, but he can talk your ears off, so be careful.”
“I can handle chatty guys.”
I bet she can. “Like me?”
Her fingers move down my arm. “You, Garrett, are the least chatty shifter I know. And how I handle Langon will be quite different from how I handle you.”
I hope she doesn’t look down any further, because she’s making me hard.
“Copy that, Angel,” I mutter with a tiny shake of my head. Not giving up on her… just giving her the room she needs.
Her smile returns. “See you tomorrow?”
“In a few days,” I say, hating the timing of this next mission, but it’s not like I have a choice. “I’m going out with a team tonight, east of here. If Tiberius or anyone else gives you any trouble while I’m gone, go to Damien. Or Tess.”
She hugs me, and my arms wrap around her. Letting go becomes difficult, so I hold her a minute longer than usual.
“Stay safe, and come find me when you return, shifter. Just knock first. In case Ellis is inside.”
I kiss her cheek. “For you, I’ll play by the rules. Unless you tempt me.” I wink at her. “A shifter has his limits, darlin’.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
ANGEL
“You sure you got this?” Langdon asks as he hands me the list of goods I’m to pick up in Devil’s Peak, the closest town to Garrett’s pack.
I tuck the list into my jacket pocket. “It’s just a town.”
