by Brenda Trim
Bluetooth connected and Kelly’s voice echoed through the car speaker. “Bart, thank you so much for getting right back to me,” she muttered. Her voice was shaky, and he heard a sniffle at the end of her sentence. Oh, hell. He should’ve ignored the text.
“Are you crying?” he hedged.
“Yes. I’m so sorry to bother you with my problems,” Kelly confessed. “I just didn’t know who else to call.”
“What happened?” His mind was all over the place. He’d been so caught up in his thoughts about Erika and the pack, it was hard to focus on anything else.
“It’s Fortified. They let me go today,” she blurted, and he heard her breath hitch.
“What? Why?” Bart was more confused than ever.
Kelly was employed at Fortified Investigations, a company he hired from time to time for research, and the last thing he needed was for them to go belly-up.
“Apparently, there’s not enough money in the budget to keep four of us on the payroll. Guess I’m the weaker link,” Kelly sobbed.
Bart considered her words. He was a businessman and constantly made similar decisions. If he were honest, he’d probably choose Kelly, as well. She seemed less serious about her position compared to the others he’d dealt with.
“I’m sure it was a difficult decision for them to make,” Bart replied, avoiding his honest opinion about the situation. “Don’t worry, you’ll find another job.”
“Yeah, but that could take months. I can’t afford to be unemployed. Look, I hate to ask, but do you think there’s a place for me at your office?”
Bart froze. He couldn’t hire someone he was fucking. That was a terrible idea. “I don’t think that’s a wise decision, Kelly. Surely, you can see why,” he insisted.
“I know what you’re saying, but I promise it won’t be for long. Just until I find something else. I really need this favor,” she begged, followed by more sobs.
Bart exhaled. Women and their tears got him every damn time. He did feel bad for Kelly. Getting fired was the worst. And, he’d told his assistant, Patricia, she needed a secretary. Maybe Kelly could be a test run.
“Let me think on it and see what I can come up with,” he offered. “Come by my office Monday.”
“Oh, thank you. You’re the best,” Kelly exclaimed, and Bart heard the relief in her tone.
“Don’t thank me yet. You might be washing dishes,” he countered with a chuckle.
“I’ll wash anything you want. Want to come over and get dirty together?” she purred, and her tone went from desperately needing a job to desperately needing sex.
His wound-tight body immediately responded to her sexy voice. Images of Erika filled his mind. He could only imagine what it would feel like to have the alluring shifter in his bed. He imagined her sweaty body writhing beneath him as he made love to her for hours on end. Damn, if his body didn’t need a release, he thought as his cock jerked painfully.
“I’m in Hollow Rock right now. It will take me a few hours to get there,” he told her as he pulled onto the dirt road leading away from Safe Haven.
“I’ll wait up for you. The front door will be unlocked,” Kelly murmured.
“Keep the bed warm,” Bart replied and ended the call.
As he drove toward Chattanooga, his mind drifted back to the hotel and the shifters that lived there. He thought about how he’d judged their kind for so many years. He admitted he initially viewed them as savage creatures.
He couldn’t have been more wrong about their species. They were a caring, loving group, and Bart admired their loyalty and honor. He understood why Liv fell in love with Lawson.
He also thought about Erika. Her mesmerizing blue eyes, her soft full lips, and a body he craved to explore. But it was more than that. She called him on his bullshit and didn’t throw herself at him. And that made him want her even more. The old adage of wanting what you couldn’t have was true. He’d never wanted a woman more, and there had never been one more off-limits to him.
He slammed his neck against the headrest. “What the hell are you thinking?” he muttered aloud.
He couldn’t pursue Erika. He needed her. Bart wanted the shifters to trust him and felt the best way to achieve that was hiring one to his staff.
A large part of him wanted to throw ethics aside and woo the hell out of Erika. His gut told him he was insane to even consider it. His body screamed Erika was worth it. And, his brain told him to focus on his career, not a dead-end dalliance with a sexy as sin wolf shifter.
Bart didn’t know anything for certain, except that he was getting laid in a few hours. Too fucking bad it wasn’t with the woman he truly craved.
Chapter 2
Erika walked into the large, empty dining area and spotted Lawson at the far side of the room, sitting at a table. He was reading a newspaper and looked up as she approached.
He placed the paper aside and smiled. “Hi, Erika. Please, have a seat,” the pack leader instructed and motioned toward an adjacent chair.
“Hey, what’s up?” she replied and plopped into the seat.
When she received the text message from Lawson, she automatically assumed it was a pack meeting. Now, her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered why the alpha needed a one-on-one with her. Had she done something wrong?
“I wanted to touch base about tomorrow. Are you ready to start your new job?” he asked, and his steel-gray eyes pinned her in place.
“Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose,” she answered honestly.
“How much time have you spent around humans?” he asked pointedly. Clearly, there was no beating around the bush with the alpha. Lawson got right to the point and Erika appreciated that.
She nervously wrung her hands. Truth was, she’d never spent time with humans, except when she was held captive by Elaine Jensen. Would that make a difference to Lawson, she wondered as she contemplated her answer. She wanted more than anything to contribute to the pack and was elated when Lawson chose her for the job. The idea of not being useful made her stomach twist in knots.
Not one to lie, Erika sat straight and met his gaze. “Honestly, my first encounter with a human was when I was kidnapped. Other than that, the humans that live here at Safe Haven have been my only interaction.”
“I see. I probably should’ve had this conversation before I volunteered you for the job. Given your work history, I really think you could be an asset to Bart, but if you’re not comfortable working with humans, I’ll send someone else in your place,” Lawson assured her.
“I want to work,” Erika quickly interjected. “I need to earn my position in the pack. You’ve been so great, taking me in,” she confessed as emotion clogged her throat.
For years, she’d hopped from pack to pack, trying to find her place. Her family lived in New York, but she hadn’t spoken with them since she was a teenager. In fact, they had no idea she was kidnapped or endured untold torture in some laboratory.
Erika was the outcast in her family. Her father never accepted her because she was underdeveloped, due to a premature birth. Her small size left her vulnerable to bullying, and Erika spent her childhood and teen years fighting to survive in her family, and the pack. She left home at the age of seventeen and had searched for a place to call home ever since.
Lawson and the Hollow Rock shifters welcomed her into their pack, and she hoped it was a sign that her life was finally changing for the better. Now, he might reject her and send her away if he didn’t think she was a productive member.
“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll find work for you if you decide against the job in Chattanooga. There’s always something to do around here,” he said with a chuckle.
Erika exhaled a sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t kicking her to the curb. “I definitely want the job. I think it will do me good to become better acquainted with humans, especially since Mr. Smith seems determined to help shifters,” Erika admitted.
“Good. I’m glad to hear you say that. When I first met Bart, he wasn’t my favo
rite person, but he’s grown on me,” Lawson shared with a smirk.
“Like fungus?” Erika countered and they both laughed.
“Something like that,” he replied as his gaze drifted to the side. “There’s my Sunshine,” he blurted, and his face lit up like a night sky filled with stars.
“Hey, Outlaw,” Liv called out as she walked toward their table.
Erika hadn’t spent much time with Liv, but she genuinely liked the pack leader’s life mate. The human was warm, kind, and friendly. It was the exact opposite of what she’d experienced during her captivity with the selfishly cruel species.
Most days, Liv dressed in skirts and a lab coat (occupational hazard of a scientist), but today she was wearing a sweatshirt and leggings. Her long red hair was braided into pigtails and her lovely face was free of makeup. A natural beauty, for sure.
Erika noted she was taller than any human female she’d seen. In fact, Liv was about the same height as her which was nice because Erika was always the smallest shifter in the room.
Liv leaned down and placed a tender kiss to Lawson’s lips and Erika couldn’t help but smile at the affection she saw between the couple. In her experience, most relationships were built around obligation and duty, and she’d given up on the notion of love and devotion. Watching Lawson and Liv, Erika acknowledged there was hope, after all.
Liv pulled away and glanced her way. “Hi, Erika. Hope I’m not interrupting,” she said with a smile.
“Hey, Liv. Not at all. Just talking about my job at the governor’s mansion.”
“Oh, that’s right. Tomorrow’s the big day. Don’t let Bart work you too hard. He can be overbearing at times, but he’s a real softy underneath,” Liv explained.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Erika answered as she thought about the rumors floating around Tennessee about the eligible bachelor that was her new boss.
Personally, she didn’t see the attraction. Not that Bart Smith wasn’t easy on the eyes, but the guy was full of himself. Why did females throw themselves at males just because they had money and power? It was so demeaning.
“So, whenever you two finish, I’m ready to train,” Liv announced and looked toward Lawson.
“I think we’re done here,” Lawson offered and met Erika’s gaze. She nodded her agreement and stood up.
“I’ll touch base tomorrow after I settle in,” she relayed and turned to Liv. “So, what are you training for?”
“Nothing in particular. Just staying on top of my game,” Liv admitted then briefly shared a knowing look with Lawson before her gaze returned to Erika. “I’ve had to fight for my place in the pack.”
Erika could only imagine what the human had endured, trying to survive among wolf shifters. Erika related to struggling for position within a pack, and she guessed they had more in common than Liv realized.
“I bet it’s been difficult for you. Although, it’s surprising because I haven’t felt one ounce of animosity since I’ve been here. Everyone seems to get along great,” Erika shared.
“It wasn’t always that way. We’ve had to weed out the bad seeds,” Lawson interjected, and grabbed Liv’s hand. “But we’re a united front now, and nobody messes with my life mate,” he added.
“Well, I’ll let you two get to training,” Erika said and turned to leave.
“Why don’t you join us?” Liv asked.
Erika spun and faced the female. “Really? Are you sure?” she stammered. She’d never been included in anything before and it threw her off guard.
“Absolutely. Lawson usually trains with Slate, and the two of them typically gang up on me,” Liv informed and winked at Lawson.
“Hey, as I recall, you kicked both our asses last time,” he blurted and threw his arms up when Liv punched his stomach. “See? She’s ruthless,” he added with a fake groan.
“Please, Erika. You can’t leave me to fight them all by myself,” Liv begged, and clasped her hands together in a pleading notion.
“What type of training are we talking about?” Erika asked.
“Just a little kickboxing. But don’t go all wolf on me,” Liv teased. “I’m a weak human, remember?”
“Don’t let her fool you,” Lawson countered. “She wasn’t born shifter, but she’s got the heart of a warrior,” he boasted, and Erika could hear the pride in his voice.
She was curious what went down amongst the pack members before her arrival, but had a sneaky suspicion it involved a challenge between Liv and another female shifter. What Erika did know about challenges was they were a fight to the death which meant the human beat the odds stacked against her. Very impressive.
Erika’s mouth twisted and her eyes narrowed as she looked at Liv’s pitiful expression. “Sure. I’ll join you, but I need to change clothes first.”
“Yay!” Liv shouted and clapped her hands. “We’ll meet you at the barn.”
“Sounds good. Be there in fifteen,” she answered as she made her way toward the elevator. A workout was exactly what she needed.
Erika hopped off the four-wheeler and walked toward the large barn. A cold breeze brushed against her skin, and she took a deep breath. Shifters loved cooler temperatures and Erika was no exception. It invigorated her inner animal and she glanced to the forest, contemplating a run.
Voices inside the barn snagged her attention, and Erika decided to join the others. If she was going to fit in, she had to make the effort. Opening the wooden door, she stepped inside. She immediately spotted Lawson, Liv, and another male. Erika realized it wasn’t Slate, after all, but his brother Blade. She instantly felt guilty that she never had one conversation with the male, despite the fact she saw him in the dining hall at least once a day.
In the few weeks at Safe Haven, Erika was introduced to each pack member but finding your niche within a group was difficult. And, it didn’t help that she kept to herself for the most part. Typically, she was the loner in the pack, and spent most of her time in solitude.
Erika hoped Hollow Rock would be different and acknowledged it wasn’t going to happen by itself. If she didn’t do her part, she’d never be accepted. Is she wanted a different outcome, her actions needed to change.
Liv turned as Erika approached the group. “Hey, come on over. We’re just warming up,” she said and bent at the waist, stretching.
The barn was larger than it looked from the outside. Erika knew this was where Lawson and his brother, Ryan, operated their welding business, but had no idea there was more to it than that.
Several large pieces of machinery took up most of the space but off to the side, in one of the stalls, was a workout area. No horses that she could see, but there was plenty of exercise equipment.
“You know Blade, right?” Liv asked.
“Yeah, of course. Hey, Blade,” Erika said with a wave.
“Hey yourself,” the blond-haired male answered with a wide grin.
Blade was extremely good-looking. His athletic pants hung loose around his waist, and his muscular torso was trying to break free of the tight t-shirt. If he flexed too hard, the dry-fit material would surely rip in two. Not that she would complain if it did.
Lawson bent over and reached into a large plastic bin and pulled out a pair of boxing gloves then tossed them toward Erika. She was so busy ogling the handsome shifter that she didn’t see the red gloves coming until it was too late. They smacked her in the face then toppled to the floor.
“C’mon, Erika. I know you’ve got better reflexes than that,” Lawson teased with a shake of his head.
Heat suffused her cheeks and Erika quickly snatched the gloves from the ground. “Sorry. Guess I wasn’t paying attention,” she muttered and proceeded to put on one of the gloves.
“Looks like you were paying attention, just not to me,” Lawson said with a wry grin, and he and Blade chuckled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Erika snapped. She suddenly felt like the bud of a joke, and her defenses went into overdrive as she struggled with the second glove.
>
Blade walked over and gently grabbed her hand, helping her maneuver her digits into the snug contraption. “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s just meddling,” he offered as he tied the strings, securing the glove.
Don’t let your insecurities get the better of you, she chastised. Hollow Rock wasn’t like the last pack where she was constantly strong-armed. She needed to relax and not take everything so personal.
She blew out a breath and shook her head. “No, it’s my fault. Got a lot on my mind with this new job,” she admitted and punched her hands together. The pop of the gloves echoed through the room as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “Let’s rumble,” she shouted.
“Oh, I like her,” Blade declared as he slid on a pair of black boxing gloves.
Next thing Erika knew, the male was dancing a circle around her, jabbing in her direction. “Hey, I thought I was sparring with Liv,” she announced as she glanced toward the couple.
Lawson had Liv in a bear hug and Liv was screaming with laughter. “Put me down, Outlaw!” she screeched.
A pop to Erika’s shoulder threw her off balance, and she almost fell on her ass. Her gaze jerked to Blade. His gloves were held high, covering his face, but she could see his dark brown eyes and his waggling brows.
“Oh, you’re going down for that,” Erika announced then threw a quick jab. It landed square on his lip and his head jerked back from the force.
Blade’s eyes went wide with shock while at the same time Erika gasped. She expected him to block her punch, not take one to the face. Blood trickled from his lip and Blade licked the crimson fluid from his mouth. His expression quickly turned from surprise to determination and his brown eyes darkened.
“Want to play, Erika?” he challenged and raised his gloves.
“You sure you can handle it?” she taunted as she danced around the male.
“Oh, I’d like to handle you,” he replied, and Erika didn’t miss the insinuation.
