his jaw and she knew what was coming, but she wasn’t
going to budge. The corner of her mouth tilted up and she raised a blonde
eyebrow as she met his dark eyes. She felt for the keys around the ignition,
but came up empty.
“It’s keyless. You need to be added to the database first.
Here, let me scan my thumb, then you just push the button. Tate leaned over
Cat, his wintergreen scent filled her nostrils. She felt warm in places she
shouldn’t and she held her breath to stop breathing him in.
If only she could stop the furious pounding of her heart. His
face was close to hers for one fraction of a second too long. She wondered if he
was doing it on purpose.
Their breath mingled and she could have sworn she saw desire
in his eyes. She swallowed. Her eyes felt heavy as she stared at his full lower
lip. It looked so tempting.
She wanted desperately to taste it, but just like that he was
gone. He walked around the car and sat in his seat, eyes forward as if nothing
had happened. The roar of the engine snapped her back to attention and Cat put
the SUV in gear.
“Where are we headed?”
“I need some things from town since I’m not allowed to
work.”
“What things?”
“I don’t know, things , you know, like shampoo, conditioner,
deodorant, tampons, batteries for my feminine massager.”
“Really?”
“Hey, you asked, buddy!”
“Can’t you get a real man to do that for you?”
“Yes I’m sure I could, but no thank you! Real men smell.”
“Wolves don’t.”
“Oh, yes they do! Especially when it rains! Then there’s all
those pesky emotions. Werewolves can not handle emotions at all!”
“What?!” Tate was stunned. He couldn’t believe his ears.
“Listen, Tate, I do not need to deal with anymore cry baby
men who want a commitment! Werewolves are the worst, It’s all like, you’re my
territory, yadda yadda, boo hoo. Ugh. Let me tell you, I’m fine with Mr.
Vroom Vroom!”
Tate laughed aloud at her outrageous commentary surprising
them both. Cat couldn’t help but smile. He did not laugh often.
She continued with her quips the entire twenty-minute drive
to town. It didn’t matter if half of what she said was an outright lie or not.
Tate was feeling refreshed and jovial in a way he hadn’t for
a very long time by the time Cat put the SUV into park in the almost full lot
of the local grocery store.
“Geez, it looks like they’re having a sale. What is everyone
in Maccon City here?”
“It’s worse than a sale.”
“Huh?”
“Blizzard warning.”
“Oooh. Yeah, everyone’s buying their bread, milk, and eggs. Like
that ever stopped the snow. But anyway, come on! Those forecasts are never even
accurate.”
“Alright let’s just hurry up. I smell ice.”
“No duh, Tate, it’s winter. Who are you, Queen Elsa or
something?”
Tate didn’t reply. He stood behind her stone faced and
unmoving as she grabbed a shopping cart and muttered to herself about ice and Werewolves
who thought they were the next Storm Jackson! She didn’t see his amused smirk.
True to her nature Cat was in out of the store in record
time. Tate paused, raising a perfect black eyebrow when she did in fact
purchase a twelve pack of double AA batteries. She rolled her eyes and kept
shopping.
“Guess you were serious about Mr. Vroom Vroom?”
“You know, men always do have their minds in the gutter! Not
surprising you’d remember that bit of our conversation!”
“You do know you were the one to bring that up, not me.”
“Oh please, like you can talk to a woman without bringing up
sex or hitting on her?”
“Um actually, I can. I talk to you all the time.”
Ouch that stung. Cat had no intention of letting him see her
squirm. She grabbed some snacks and headed to the check out line.
“Everywhere I go men are always coming on to the women
around them.”
“Men and women can be just friends.”
“No way. It’s almost impossible for them to work together
let alone be