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I was about to close the door when Binx appeared, foot stopping it and far too close to me. Jumping backward, I startled.

“Binx!” Mama nearly shoved me out of the way as she hurried to take his arm and escort him inside.

I watched, mouth hanging open as the strong scent of bergamot and cloves wafted over me from behind, far more prominent than the hint I’d gotten when Binx went by. I spun to find Julian, ankles crossed, leaning against the threshold in a black oxford shirt with the collar unbuttoned and tight black pants.

Chapter 10

I’m Never Borrowing a Dress from Zoe Again

“What—”

“I’ve been invited to join in the book club,” he said with a smirk. Then he produced the book from seemingly nowhere.

“You like reading books about alphaholes?” I snorted.

“I know a few in real life. I wanted to see if I could uncover the mystery of why on earth anyone would find that attractive.” He brushed past me to take a seat on the sofa as several more people made their way inside our tiny house, including Daphne, Hazel, and Gladys. It seemed the whole island had shown up.

Chatter filled my ears as I gaped at the crowd. Then someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I spun to find Sam in form-fitting jeans and a light blue shirt that stretched against his broad chest. His hair was combed and pulled into a ponytail, and he held out a bunch of wildflowers to me.

“Uh, thank you,” I said, taking them only to sniff the bundle then set them awkwardly on the end table nearest the door.

“You ready?” he asked, and the way he stared at me made me feel like he may not have noticed the party going on behind me.

“I…” I thought about whether I should stay and keep an eye on Binx, but decided Julian wouldn’t let him do anything too crazy. “Sure.”

Sam escorted me to a tall, muddy jeep and without hesitating, lifted me by the waist and set me inside.

“Don’t want you to scuff those shoes,” he said, nodding toward my tallest heels.

“Did I dress wrong?” I asked, suddenly embarrassed. “Are we going to the bonfire or something?”

Sam laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he slipped effortlessly into the driver’s seat. “We can save that for our next date. Tonight, I have something else in mind.”

“Oh? Where are we going? The Rusty Shifter?”

Sam spun the car around and headed toward the road that went into the woods, the way that led to Hazel’s cottage and the fairy circle. My fingers tapped against my thigh as I considered asking him to stay somewhere public.

“You smell nervous,” Sam said, glancing over.

“I smell nervous?” I repeated. What did that smell like? I shook my head to clear it. “No. I just… I’m not sure what to expect.”

“Relax, Char. I only want you to have fun. I’m taking you to my house because I’ve been cooking all day. I have dinner ready and waiting for us.”

“You cook?” I blurted out. “That sounds great. I’m sorry. Things have been a little stressful at work.”

Sam frowned, pulling the jeep offroad and bouncing over a rough dirt path. “Any news on Lauren?”

A lump formed in my throat. “No. But it might help if you could tell me more about her. Like what she may have been into or anyone she may have been seeing.”

“Tonight is supposed to be a date, not work.” He nudged me with his elbow. “But I do want her found, so I’ll tell you all I know.”

I smiled, relaxing slightly as we climbed toward a log cabin perched at the top of a hill and surrounded by trees.

“Lauren was relatively new to shifter life. She’s been having trouble acclimating to the intense feelings and urges shifters experience.” He cut the engine and hopped down, coming around to lift me down again before I could do it myself.

“What sort of urges?” I asked as he let me glide along his body on my way to the ground. I ignored the move.

“Honestly? Sex. She was obsessed with the heightened sensations. It happens sometimes, especially with the newly turned. In her case, she became an addict.” His eyes darkened as he looked away.