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She peeled out in reverse, but before she took off, she rolled down her window and shouted, “I’m not surprised the mayor lost interest in you. You’re clearly not worth it.”
I would have laughed at her childish comeback, but I had said all I needed to say, so I let it be. I was more annoyed by the mention of Ridge. My head was all fogged and jumbled over him. It didn’t help that I’d scented him earlier when he came into the diner, which was more than enough to jumpstart my arousal, but I was also annoyed because he’d listened to my demands and dutifully stayed away from me. I hadn’t expected that, but he didn’t seem to have a problem following instructions like I’d thought he would. So far, that wasn’t going over well with the demanding, monstrous wolf that shared my body. I was having to work harder than ever at keeping her under lock and key.
The worst thing was that everybody knew about the interest he’d shown in me when I arrived. This was not the place to have a one-night stand or a fling, because one way or another, the entire town would find out about it.
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that.”
I’d forgotten that Lola was still behind me. Her soft, hesitant voice spooked me.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied. “She’s just a bully who needed someone to snap back at her.” Nine times out of ten, it worked to bitch back at someone like Audrey, but someone like Lola would be easy prey for the Greenthorne family. I hated that.
A sweet smile was on her lips. “Thank you, anyway. Not many people have the guts to put the Greenthornes in their place. Mostly because they’re annoying afterward, and it’s not worth the hassle.”
I shrugged. It didn’t bother me. Much. I wouldn’t be here long enough to have to deal with their crap, but I was happy to handle it for Lola while I could.
I motioned toward the front door of the diner. “Oh, well. Look, I need to get back to work, but I’ll see you around.”
“See you around.”
We waved and headed off in different directions. As I entered the diner to finish my shift, people eyed me with interest. I hated how everybody kept watching me. Maybe after all this time of being sought and watched and stalked, I should have been used to it. But I had always relied on that creepy feeling to let me know when it was time to get away from hunters.
When I felt eyes on me here, it was mere curiosity, not because the people wanted to kill me. So I didn’t get the same sense of being watched. It meant I wouldn’t have that head start when my luck ran out.
This wasn’t the safest place for me. It was time to move on. No matter what I’d told the sexy-as-sin mayor or how nice it’d be to become better friends with Margo—and potentially Lola—it was best if I left town when I got my first paycheck. I didn’t want to bring trouble here. It wouldn’t be wise to settle down, even for a few weeks.
My wolf whimpered and howled. She paced around restlessly, and it took every ounce of energy I had to tamp her down for the rest of my shift. It was exhausting. Frustration oozed out of my pores. After everything we’d been through—the isolation of being on the run, being lost and confused—the wild animal was choosing now to be the most problematic. She’d never had issues with us moving on before. In fact, she got itchy if we stayed somewhere too long.
Ridge’s face popped into my head, and the wolf whined again. So that was why she was putting up such a fuss. Well, too bad. I was determined to forget about him.
Listen here, wolf, we’re avoiding the mayor, and we’re not mentioning him again. We need to leave town.
Chapter7
Ridge
I clenched and unclenched my fists over and over as I led Deputy Hill toward the sheriff’s office. I had a weekly meeting with the sheriff because as nice a place as it was, this town didn’t run itself, and I was the mayor, the man in charge of making sure it seemed like itdidrun itself.
After what he’d done, he was lucky I didn’t turn my wolf loose and let him at the little prick. My wolf was ready to make an example out of Hill, and I battled with him to not violently assault the deputy for putting his hands on Tori. The sight of him with his hands on her, the fear in her eyes and her scent, had been more than I was prepared to forgive and forget. The urge to snuff out this threat to her was not something I had ever felt the need to do for another person. As far as my wolf and I were concerned, Tori was off-limits, and nobody should dare to go near her.
For the last three days, she’d haunted my thoughts. I couldn’t get anything done without her running through my mind. Sleeping in my bed was torture. Even though I’d washed the sheets twice in bleach, her scent still permeated the bedroom. I gave up two nights ago and slept in one of the guest rooms. Her scent evoked images of her beneath me and memories of how my cock had felt wrapped in her pussy.
An erection seemed to be a constant infliction for me, and no number of cold showers or jerking off left me satisfied. The only thing that calmed me down was replaying the fear in her eyes the morning after. I really didn’t want to see that look again.
My wolf and I were in a constant tug-of-war about checking up on her, but I stood steadfast. I was in charge, and this time, I meant what I’d said. The fact that she’d stuck to the bargain and stayed in town filled me with relief. Seeking her out would have meant breaking my promise. I wanted—no, Ineeded—her to trust me. And I’d bet every dollar in my bank account, every piece of art, every asset I had that breaking my word would scare her off. If she slinked away, my wolf had made it clear he’d go insane and demand we chase after her. It would take an army and a shitload of willpower not to track her down.
As the mayor and alpha, I couldn’t do that. I had commitments, responsibilities. The only way to guarantee she wouldn’t flee was to keep my end of the deal and stay away, no matter how much my wolf and I ached to see her again.
There were some advantages to my status in town, though. Just because I couldn’t check on Tori in person didn’t mean I hadn’t asked Diana Bogford about her a few times. Well, several times.
Diana and I were close. She was a maternal figure in my life. She was also big on discretion and never once questioned my concern for Tori. I’d peppered her with questions. Like, could Tori pay for her room? Was she able to get everything she needed? I hated the idea of her wanting for anything. I wanted her life to be easier, not harder.
During our last conversation, Diana had said, “Oh, Ridge, our newcomer has been faring just fine. She’s fiercely independent, you know. Scrappy. I like her.” Her chuckle had made me smile.
Tori was all that and more. I hated that some bastard part of me wanted her to struggle a little so I could step in, be a knight in shining armor. I had to laugh at that thought because Tori would only see that as me messing around in her life. She’d never accept anything from anybody unless they were giving it in payment for something she’d worked for herself.
It was so refreshing and a change to the usual dynamics of my relationships. I admired her.
“What about your conversation with that large shifter pack in Montana?” Clawson’s question interrupted my musings of my little wolf.
