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Dylan took the bag, peered inside, then looked at Reardon. “Thanks, mister. I bought that with my own money.”
“Did you now? Must be a special wolf to get a special gift like that.” A warmth started at the center of Reardon’s chest and spread outward, hitting every part of him. This boy had thought to buy him a gift with his own riches. Had anyone ever bought him a gift from the heart like that? Not that he could remember.
“Alator’s awesome.” Dylan angled his head and narrowed his eyes. “Your eyes are like his.”
That’s because theyarehis.“So I’ve got wolf eyes, do I?”
A little sound escaped from Brandy—a noise that resembled a moan. A noise that further tightened parts of Reardon’s body. Did she agree he had wolf eyes? Did she like that he had wolf eyes? If the increase in her breathing rate was any indication… well, aye, she did like it.
“Yeah,” Dylan said. “They’re the same color, don’t you think so, Mom?”
“Umm… yeah, I guess.” Brandy fiddled with the other bags she held. “We should probably get going.” She glanced up at Reardon. “The wolves are waiting.”
“Don’t let me delay you,” he said.
“Nice meeting you, Reardon.” She gave him a little smile, and his name coming from her lips made a flash of pure lust race through him.
“Likewise, lass.” He angled his head to Dylan. “Lad, have fun with your wolves. Hope that toy pleases.”
“Oh, it will. I know what Alator likes. He’s my best friend.”
Reardon wanted nothing more than to scoop up the boy and say the feeling was mutual, but he contained himself, gave a nod to Brandy, and somehow managed to walk away from them.
He didn’t get too far.
A terrible, intermittent rumble roared from somewhere, followed by a loud screeching. Reardon had never heard either noise before so he angled his head as he would have in wolf form to ascertain the source of the clamor. He snapped his attention to the street and though nothing was making that horrible sound there, his excellent hearing knew it was close by. After a few moments of listening, his sharp eyes settled on a vehicle spinning out of control and moving at an incredible speed. With its oversized wheels, the machine was bigger than Brandy’s SUV and Meredith’s smaller car.
Reardon shifted his gaze to where Brandy and Dylan were stepping off the curb on their way to the SUV.
Oh, Gods!
Didn’t they hear the screeching? Didn’t they see the vehicle hurtling down the road? Didn’t they…
No, they didn’t because the noise wasn’t as loud to them as it was to Reardon’s wolf-enhanced ears. No, they didn’t because the vehicle was at the beginning of the street. Brandy and Dylan were toward the end and the street had a hill in the middle big enough to conceal what was coming.
If he didn’t get to them right now, it’d be too late.
Reardon took off at a run, his long legs able to cover the area quickly. In a matter of seconds, he was grabbing both Brandy and Dylan around their waists, hoisting them off their feet, and toting them to an area clear of the street and the whirlwind movements of the approaching vehicle. He tumbled to the grassy ground with both of them and they all landed in a heap.
Dylan was the first to get back on his feet, but Brandy was right behind him, her mouth open and ready to deliver what Reardon was certain would be a scolding. When she caught sight of the speeding vehicle, however, her eyes widened as her mouth hung open.
The three of them stared—along with other people who now saw the disaster about to unfold—as the wayward vehicle slammed into Brandy’s SUV. Glass exploded. Metal crumpled. More screeches filled the air. Everything happened in slow motion. Reardon was sure he could actually see glass shards suspended in the air and fiery sparks hovering.
Brandy stood there, a shocked expression on her face, as her SUV went from perfectly intact to tragically disfigured.
“Our car!” Dylan shouted, his hands going to his head.
Brandy looked down at Reardon still on the ground but sitting now, his elbows resting on his knees. “Our lives,” she said so quietly Reardon almost didn’t hear her. “You…you saved our lives.”
The way her blue eyes zeroed in on him made his heart kick wildly against his ribs. “I’m sorry I threw you to the ground though, lass.” He indicated the streak of green on her shorts from hitting the grass.
She rubbed at it, but didn’t take her gaze off him. “These aren’t my favorite shorts anyway.” A small, shaky smile formed on her lips, and again Reardon wanted desperately to reveal himself to her. To hold her. To comfort her.
“We could have been roadkill.” Dylan put his arms around Brandy’s waist and pressed his head against her chest.
Brandy’s arms came around the boy. “But we’re not. Thanks to Reardon. How did you get to us so fast? How did you know that truck was coming? I didn’t even hear or see it until it was so close.”
Reardon got to his feet and brushed off his pants. The knuckles of his left hand had gotten scraped and fresh blood smeared over them. He shook his hand out, letting some blood drip to the grass.
