Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale (25 page)
Read Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale Online
Authors: Jordan Summers
At least she’d managed to catch the lamp before it had broken.
She looked up into the most unusual pair of amber eyes that she’d ever seen. Her breath hiccupped. Never in her life had she ever seen a man so devastatingly handsome.
Jet-black hair hung loose about his broad shoulders. Cassie normally didn’t like guys with long hair, but on him it worked. Muscles rippled beneath his well-tailored shirt, as he crossed his arms. Black jeans hugged his thick thighs.
He was powerful like her ex, Carl, but different. Whereas Carl found the need to remind everyone around him that he was wealthy and important. This man didn’t need to flaunt his power or influence so blatantly. He wore his strength like a cloak—subtle but there nonetheless for everyone to see.
Even from across the room she could tell he was tall, at least six four. Out of habit, Cassie’s eyes darted to his left hand. He wore no ring. She allowed her gaze to travel over his impressive physique once again. Spit-shined boots covered his large feet.
You know what they say about a man with big feet?
The thought raced through her mind before she could stop it.
She felt her face heat.
It hadn’t been forty-eight hours since she’d left her nightmare named Carl.
What was she thinking?
Her hand covered her tender brow, a not so gentle reminder of why she had left her ex, and why she was through with men, especially rich, powerful men—for good. She pasted what she hoped would pass for a smile on her face and extended her hand.
“My name is Cassie Roberts.”
For a few seconds the man simply stared at her outstretched hand, then he stepped forward and ever so gently clasped her hand.
The contact sent a jolt through her arm. Cassie felt it zing through her body. Her toes curled inside her boots.
The man obviously felt it, too because he frowned and dropped her hand like it was a hot potato, then rubbed his palm along his jeans.
Out of self-preservation, Cassie took a step back.
***
“Aidan Fortier,” he said, shaking off the remaining discomfort his body felt from touching her soft skin.
Aidan waited for some sign of recognition to cross her features. There was none. Some of the tension in his shoulders diminished, but it didn’t leave completely.
Something about this human made him uneasy. She was different. Every time he inhaled, her womanly scent beckoned him like the most succulent aphrodisiac. It took every fiber of his being not to bend her over a chair and take her.
He closed his eyes hoping to escape the sensory overload.
It must be the desperation
, he thought.
Aidan so wanted to find his bondmate that he was willing to convince himself that a human female might fit the bill. He shook his head, dismissing the insane thought, even as Damon’s taunting face flashed in his mind.
“Please, Mrs. Roberts, take a seat.”
“Miss,” She corrected. “I’m not married.”
Damn her, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
Aidan stood until Cassie settled herself onto one of his richly upholstered navy-blue chairs. He then sat down across from her.
“Weatherly tells me your car broke down.” He watched her, but she didn’t bat a lash.
“Yeah, unfortunately. I thought I’d be able to make it to Portland, but Stan had other ideas,” she said.
Aidan’s muscles tensed. “Stan?”
She laughed. “Stan’s my car.”
He frowned. “You named your car?”
“I thought all guys did.” She looked at him with open curiosity.
“You are most definitely not a man,” Aidan said incredulously as his gaze assessed her again.
“Yeah, I’m aware of that.” She laughed. “But my Uncle Bob never held it against me. He raised me as if I was just one of the guys. It’s why I became an auto mechanic. He passed on a few years ago.” Cassie quieted.
Aidan raised a quizzical brow and his lips twitched. A woman who named her cars and worked as a mechanic should be dismissed without a second thought, but Cassie Roberts fascinated Aidan. He’d never met anyone quite like her, human or wolf.
“You said you were a mechanic.” Aidan watched her closely. “I take it you didn’t acquire any of your uncle’s skills?”
Cassie’s eyes flamed instantly. “I’ll have you know Uncle Bob taught me everything he knew about cars. I can fix just about any engine that exists.”
“Then why didn’t you?” His tone took on a more serious note. Why was she really here? Had her car truly broken down? Or had she lied to gain entrance to his home?
Cassie’s gaze dropped to the floor. Pain flashed across her face. “Someone pawned my tools, my uncle’s tools.” She blinked back the tears, then met his gaze squarely.
Her changing scent was driving Aidan insane. She wasn’t lying, but Cassie wasn’t telling the whole truth. He couldn’t call her on it without having to explain how he knew. So Aidan chose to remain silent.
Whatever had happened pained her deeply. The expression on her delicate face had changed as fast as the Oregon weather.
“So you’re an auto mechanic by trade?”
“Not exactly.” She scrubbed her face. “At least not anymore.”
Aidan knew an evasion when he heard one. He decided a less aggressive tact would work best, considering the woman had been hit.
“Where are you headed?” he asked.
She seemed relieved by the topic change. “Portland.”
“Is family meeting you or anyone else?” Aidan didn’t want to know if there was a man waiting for her, but something inside demanded an answer.
“Nope, I’m going there for my new job.” Cassie crossed her fingers and knocked on the wood side table.
Aidan laughed. “Do you need luck?”
“Not really, but any extra can’t hurt.”
“True.” Aidan flexed his hands and leaned back in the chair. He was about to ask her about the new job waiting for her, when Weatherly entered the parlor.
“Excuse me, Sir. I’ve been unable to repair the young lady’s car. I’ve brought a vehicle around front for her to take in to town.”
“Thank you, Weatherly. That’ll be all.”
“You don’t have to—”
Aidan held his hand up to halt her speech. “It would be my pleasure.” He flashed her, a brief smile. “Besides you can’t exactly stay here.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Aidan had realized they were a mistake. The thought of her remaining here in his home took up permanent residence inside his mind.
The woman was trouble. Of that he had no doubt. But Aidan couldn’t shake the feeling that if he let her leave, it would be the biggest mistake he’d ever made in his life.
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