Page 17 of The Secret Mate Society

Ethan's fingers twitched against the table."Uneasy?No, I'm fine."

"Your heart is racing," I said before I could stop myself.

His eyes widened."How could you possibly know that?"He paused, scrutinizing me with a new intensity.

I mentally kicked myself.Stupid wolf senses making me slip up."You look tense,” I said, trying to cover it up.“And I can see the artery in your neck,” I added, pointing toward it.

The waitress returned with our drinks, and Ethan immediately buried his face in whipped cream, leaving a small white dot on the tip of his nose.Despite myself, I found it endearing.

"Look," he said, voice lower now, "I don’t know you that well and I’ve been told to keep some distance from this case.There’s things I can’t talk about.”

I raised an eyebrow, my interest piqued."Been told by whom?"

Ethan wiped the whipped cream from his nose, his gaze darting around the coffee shop as if checking for eavesdroppers."People involved have told me to keep quiet.Including the police.”

There was something about the way he said it and the sudden quickening on his pulse that told me he wasn’t being truthful.I could smell the anxiety on him like a spice on the breeze.Clearly he knew more than he was letting on, but I knew if I continued to push, he would run.

“So… is that the only reason you called me back here?”Ethan asked, a hopeful look in his eyes as he lifted his gaze.

I hesitated, caught off guard by the hopeful undertone in his voice.The truth was, I should have just told him to leave it alone and walked away.That would have been the smart thing to do.But those goddamn green eyes… I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

"What other reason would there be?"I asked, my voice gruffer than I intended.

His cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked down at his ridiculous whipped cream mountain."I don't know.Maybe you enjoyed our conversation last time?Despite how short it was."

My wolf stirred again, this time with interest rather than suspicion.I tamped it down firmly.Getting involved with a human—especially a nosy journalist—was the last thing I needed right now.The pack had enough problems with these attacks drawing attention to our territory.

"I think you're reading too much into things," I said, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Right."Ethan nodded, his disappointment evident despite his attempt to hide it."Strictly professional."

The scent of his disappointment made something in my chest twist uncomfortably.I found myself wanting to say something to make that look on his face go away, which was ridiculous.He took another sip of his latte, leaving a fresh dot of whipped cream on his upper lip this time.

Without thinking, I reached across the table and wiped it away with my thumb.The moment I touched him, a jolt of electricity shot through me, and Ethan froze, his eyes widening.I pulled my hand back quickly, my fingers tingling.

"Sorry," I muttered, licking the whipped cream off my finger without thinking.I froze immediately, the taste of him on my tongue sending tingles down my spine.My wolf nearly leapt out of me, forcing a shift right there in the middle of the coffee shop.

Why the fuck had I done that?

"No, it's...it's fine," Ethan said, his voice slightly breathless as he stared at my lips."Thanks."

The silence that followed was charged with a tension I couldn't ignore.His scent had changed, mingling with something sweeter that made my nostrils flare.Desire.It was unmistakable, and my wolf recognized it instantly, responding with a primal hunger that took all my willpower to control.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure."So… how’s Portland treating you?Getting settled in?”

Ethan grinned knowingly.“Oh… we talking about personal stuff now?No longer just professional?”

I rolled my eyes, fighting back the smile that threatened to form."Just making conversation."

"Sure," he said, taking another sip of his latte, his eyes never leaving mine over the rim of his cup."Portland's fine.Different from what I’m used to.Smaller, quieter...except for the mysterious cattle mutilations, of course."

"Of course," I echoed, trying to ignore how the afternoon light caught in his blonde hair, giving it an almost golden glow."And the job?The Gazette treating you well?"

Ethan shrugged, his fingers fidgeting with the cardboard sleeve on his cup."It's a step down from where I was before, but it's a chance to rebuild.I, uh...I had some issues at my last position."

My curiosity piqued despite my better judgment."Issues?"

He hesitated, and I could smell the shame that suddenly rolled off him."I got a bit...obsessed with a story.Crossed some lines I shouldn't have."His voice dropped lower."Cost me my job, my reputation, and almost my career."