Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Because . . . ?”
“I just don’t.”
Given that he was gay, Gwen had no idea what his issue could possibly be. “You’re being weird. I don’t have time for weird.” With that, she brushed past him and strode out of the house, shouting a farewell to Marlon.
Bracken beat her to the car, an amused grin on his face, and opened the rear door for her. Then he hopped into the passenger side just as Zander slid into the driver’s seat. They rode in silence . . . until Bracken starting chuckling. Zander shot him a dark look, but the other wolf just kept on laughing to himself.
“I’m not finding anything fucking amusing,” Zander growled, but Bracken just laughed harder.
Soon enough, they arrived at Half ’n’ Half. As they exited the SUV, Gwen noticed Brandt standing on the other side of the parking lot with his friends. He glared right at her, but that glare morphed into a confused frown as he looked at Zander and Bracken.
“That Brandt?” Zander asked.
“Yep,” she replied. “Don’t approach him. Even if you handed his ass to him, he’d be smug because he’d managed to cause a scene outside my place of work.”
It went against Zander’s nature not to act, but he knew that if he didn’t respect her wishes, she’d insist that he not come with her in the future. He wanted her to trust him. So he contented himself with doing as his wolf had done—he merely tossed a snarl at the human.
Inside Half ’n’ Half, Zander claimed the same booth as last time. After taking their orders, Gwen disappeared. Wearing a knowing smirk, Bracken made a show of ogling her as she walked away, which nearly got Zander’s fist planted in his face.
“On the one hand, Z, I’m glad she didn’t listen to you and cover up. On the other hand, a part of me doesn’t like that every guy here will be imagining having those legs wrapped around his waist while he—”
“Don’t,” Zander bit out. He really didn’t want to hit his friend.
“I should have seen this coming. Physically, she’s not your type. But she has the other qualities you go for. She’s smart. Confident. Capable. Stubborn enough to deal with you and your bullshit.” Putting down his beer, Bracken sobered. “On a serious note, don’t act on whatever you’re feeling. She’s got a shitload of stuff going on right now. I don’t think she’s got time for someone who is awful at being part of a couple even when the relationship isn’t serious.
“Don’t get me wrong, Z, there’s nothing I’d like more than for you to let someone in your life. You’ve been on your own too long, and you’re getting too used to it—and yeah, your wolf’s partially to blame for that. But this would be a really bad time to do anything about it.”
Honest with himself about his limitations, Zander could admit that he’d never been good at relationships. It wasn’t just because his wolf fought him so hard. The simple truth was that he’d never found relationships fulfilling. Probably because he typically didn’t connect with people.
“So, we’re agreed that you’ll just content yourself with staring at her legs?”
Zander sighed. “Are we really having this conversation?”
“It would seem so.”
“Well, it’s ending. Now.”
“Fine.” Bracken took another swig of his beer and stood. “I’ll be five minutes. I need to—”
“I really don’t want to know what you’ll be doing in the restroom, Brack.” Ignoring his pack mate’s chuckle, Zander chugged down more of his own beer. That was when he scented Gwen approaching, and his wolf retreated again.
Gwen set two plates of food on the table. “Here. Enjoy.” She was about to walk away, but then a large hand rested on her leg. She froze, watching as Zander used his thumb to scoop a little red sauce from her thigh. She had no idea why the movement seemed almost . . . sensual.
“You had something on your leg,” he told her. “Of course, if you’d been wearing jeans . . .”
“Are we still on that?” she snapped, impatient.
“Yeah, we are.”
Gwen stifled a smile at his hard tone. “Hmm. I see.”
“See what?”
“You’re one of those people.”
“What people?”
“You can’t let it go when you don’t get your own way. You can’t just chuck shit in the ‘Fuck It’ bucket and get on with your day.”
His mouth curved, and he shrugged one shoulder. “I like to get my own way.”
Well, Gwen could see that. She could also see that although he sat alone, he didn’t look alone. Maybe because he dominated his space so completely. He appeared at ease with his own company, not lost or lonely the way many pack animals did. “I realize that shifters are tactile, but could you move your hand?”
“You don’t need to be so uneasy. I won’t bite. Yet.”