Free NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 by Nocturne Page B

they should step into the waiting room and though he was loathe to leave Gabriela for even a second, he knew she was safe. And that was all that mattered.
     

Chapter 7

One Week Later
    Gabriela opened her eyes to the smell of food. Hamburgers? Her stomach growled at the scent of cooking meat. She threw the covers off and inhaled deeply. Before going in search of the source of the smell, she stripped off her clothes and hurried to Owen’s guest bathroom.
    Ever since she’d woken up about a week ago, completely healed from her injuries, she’d been sleeping in Owen’s guest room. She didn’t remember being taken to Dr. Shahi’s or directly afterward, but he’d told her that they’d brought her back to his house so she could heal without worrying about any humans seeing her.
    In all that time Owen hadn’t touched her intimately, much less kissed her. He’d been perfectly kind and overly watchful, like a mother hen, but it was all so clinical and distant. It was as if he felt guilty about what had happened to her. That thought was worse than anything. He was watching after her because of guilt . Absently she rubbed the middle of her chest, embarrassed she’d stayed so long at his house when she wasn’t sure he wanted her anymore. Part of her wondered if he saw her as an obligation now.
    Ethan had been scarce and Skyler was living with Israel now—though the she-wolf had called Gabriela every day this week. So had her parents, who were insisting she move back home immediately. Well, her mom was insisting. Her father had a surprisingly different opinion.
    She was pretty sure she’d outstayed her welcome with Owen and after dinner tonight, it was time to return to her parents’ house. Though it was embarrassing to admit it even to herself, she’d been hanging around Owen’s house hoping against hope that things between them might turn physical again. After that night in the cave, she knew she didn’t want just one night with him. She wanted a heck of a lot more. But he’d been impossibly distant and so freaking polite it grated on her nerves. Strangers were polite to each other and they were anything but that. But maybe he wanted to pretend that night had never happened. Normally she’d have no problem going after what she wanted. But the thought of facing his rejection had her locked down in fear.
    Even if things between them never progressed any further, she was staying in Bear Mountain. She’d quit her job a few days ago—her bosses were not surprised and they’d offered her glowing letters of recommendation—and she’d already talked to Sharon, who told her that the detective’s job was hers if she wanted it. Gabriela would still have to go to the police academy when the next class opened up, but she would receive a few months of on-the-job training before that. She wasn’t sure if it was something she wanted to do forever, but she was bone tired of traveling constantly and tired of the clandestine nature of her work. She already had to hide what she was from people. But she hadn’t told Owen about her job relocation stuff yet.
    That would have to wait until she figured out what had changed between them in the past week. She didn’t want him to think he’d affected her decision—even if he sort of had.
    After a quick shower she ran a blow dryer through her hair and changed into black yoga pants and a matching black tank top with a cartoon jaguar on the front. Despite the cold outside, Owen kept his place warm and she could scent the burning embers of the fire downstairs so she didn’t need anything heavier. And if she was being completely honest with herself, her yoga outfit was like a second skin so if she was leaving tonight, she wanted him to see everything he’d be missing.
    She tossed all her clothes into the bag her mom had brought over, then made the bed and straightened the room before heading downstairs. The stairs led directly to a wide-open living room so she dropped her bag by one of