Free The Reluctant Mate: (Book 13, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) by E A Price

bed and shuffled her feet around, trying to find her slippers.  She noticed a glass of water on the bedside table, next to painkillers and a note.  It said, ‘thought you might need these, take care of yourself, R’.
    “Reid,” she breathed.
    She rubbed her forehead as her wolf sighed like a lovelorn puppy.  She makes a fool out of herself, and he behaves like a total gentleman.  God, if it had been Beau or Mark, they wouldn’t have hesitated to take her up on her offer.
    “Assholes.”
    But then, Reid wasn’t attracted to her…  Oh, that thought bummed her out.
    “Oh well, TFI Friday.”
    If she could just get through the day without falling asleep or barfing, she could spend the next two days in bed, wishing she were dead.  Although, maybe she should apologize to Reid for her behavior, and she still hadn’t thanked him for his gift.  Damn, he probably thought she didn’t like it.  She needed to rectify that.  She desperately didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
    Yes, she should call him.  Her beast huffed in disapproval.  Okay, maybe it would be better in person.  Calling would be easier, less embarrassing, but she did want to see him.
    She found him comforting.  His very presence, his scent – everything about him soothed her, made her confess things she liked kept locked inside.  While part of her wavered about whether that was a good thing, she couldn’t deny that it felt good to talk it through with someone.
    The phone calls from her mom always hurt, but Reid made it seem like they could be manageable.  If it were Beau, he’d tell her to grow up and tell her mom to get lost.  Reid just listened and soothed her.  He wasn’t dismissive of her, he didn’t get bored of listening to her, he just… cared .
    And it only deepened this worrying crush she had on him.  A crush she shared with her wolf.  It was probably nothing; she’d get over it.  Her wolf was hardwired to want a strong mate – and there were slim pickings in her pack.  She just wasn’t interested in the single males.  And given that she hadn’t had sex for, ahem, a few years… yes, it was no wonder her pussy was virtually cooing at such an attractive shifter.
    Crap – she needed to get over it .  Reid could do so much better than a miserable old wolf like her.  Her animal pouted and turned her back, but she wasn’t denying that it was true.
    The phone rang, and she snatched it up, partially to stop the sound and partially because she thought it might actually be Reid.
    “Jo-Jo, you haven’t been answering your phone!” snapped an irate voice.
    Hope and excitement died a thousand deaths.  She sighed. “Mark, just leave me alone.”
    “Listen to me you stupid bitch…”
    She hung up and stared at the phone.  It rang in her hand, and she disconnected.  She wished she could say it was the first time he had been vicious.  He’d never been violent, but he’d been angry enough to resort to name calling more than a couple of times.  Which was whenever he’d lost money gambling and was trying to get her to sell some of her grandma’s jewelry to pay off his debts.  She never gave it to him, and it made him furious.
    It was probably time to change her phone number again.  Asswipe .
    At least, he was out of her life, and somehow the annoying phone calls didn’t bother her as much as they did yesterday.  She felt lighter… dare she even say it – happier?
    Yes, maybe she’d go and see Reid after work.
    *
    “Joey!  What a lovely surprise,” gushed Norma, ushering her into the house.
    Harry raised a hand in hello, but his eyes were glued to the TV.  The only thing that would drag him away from that thing was a power cut.  But then who was Jolene to judge?  She’d rather have Harry over her own father any day of the week.
    “I brought you back your dishes.  The cobbler was lovely, thank you.”
    Yes, she’d managed to rustle up a legitimate reason for popping by.  Course, she come via the garage and