Free Pursued by a Werewolf (Mystic Isle, Book 4) by Selena Blake

perfect just as he was, but she kept that thought to herself.
    She nodded and then headed for the Tiki bar, in search of a stiff drink. Cal was behind the bar, popping tops on a long line of beers. Another rowdy group of guys took up a couple of tables in the corner. They hit on the waitress and laughed when she swatted their hands away.
    Avery shook her head at their antics and plopped onto the barstool. She watched Cal shake his head at the pretty brunette waitress and gather the beers on a tray, delivering them himself.
    She smiled at his protectiveness. He reminded her of Hunter.
    Her body was still on red alert thanks to that wickedly realistic fantasy. Squirming atop the seat, she studied the liquor bottles on the wall. If only that daydream had been real. If only he’d sweep her into his arms and touch her, drive her wild, make her feel so…complete.
    Maybe she should renegotiate their deal. Would that work? Could she just walk up to him and say…what exactly? Let’s go back to my place? She sighed and rested her chin in her palm.
    Renegotiating their deal wouldn’t stop other women from checking him out. It wouldn’t stop her ridiculous jealousy. About the only thing it would do was keep her from resorting to pleasuring herself. This was Mystic Isle! She should be able to find someone to rev her engine here. She shouldn’t have to go back to France unfulfilled and…itchy.
    When Cal returned, he shot her a smile, but it wasn’t as bright as normal. He didn’t look well rested either, or as easy going as he usually did. Was the conversation she’d overheard the other night to blame?
    “Cocktail?” he asked, both hands on the bar.
    “Yes, please.”
    He nodded and moved away to fix her drink. She watched his easy movements. He was totally at home behind the bar: making small talk with customers, mixing drinks, tidying the bar and the bottles on the glass shelves on the wall behind him.
    Despite her feelings about relationships and destiny, she hated the idea that someone couldn’t be with the person they loved. It reminded her of her own love. Her own relationship and how she’d been denied that chance at forever. The ache in her heart was less these days but she doubted it’d ever fully go away. As it was, it felt like a mass of scar tissue in her chest. A strong reminder of what she’d had, what she’d lost and why it was better to have fun with no intentions of forever.
    “Everything all right?” Cal asked as he placed a goblet in front of her. He looked at her with friendly concern.
    “Yeah. Sure.”
    He huffed out a short laugh. “You don’t sound too convinced of that.”
    He really was good at his job. Just like a good bartender should, he got to know his customers, worked his way into their confidences and made them feel like a friend.
    But she couldn’t tell him what was really bothering her, especially not after what she’d heard in the bushes the other night. He was obviously suffering and if anyone needed comforting it was him.
    “I’m not. But I’ll get over it.”
    “Time does that.” He didn’t sound so sure himself.
    “One would think.” Time had created a blissful amount of space between now and her old life. But it had never really wiped away the memories. Sure, faces she’d once known as well as her own were now blurry, just vellum covered images in her mind’s eye. The betrayal didn’t sting as it once had. These days it was more like a sore muscle.
    Making a concerted effort, she straightened and took a sip of her cocktail as he wiped down the counters. He kept one eye on the group of guys. Was he worried that they’d start trouble? Latham had a strict no violence policy and as an all-seeing god, he had no problem policing his island. It was like he was a magnet for any nefarious intention.
    “How’ve you been?” she asked Cal.
    “Good.” He put away the rag, washed his hands and then started polishing glasses. “That’s not entirely true,” he said