“No, I’m being the man my mother raised me to be.” He took the crate out of her hands. “Come on, I’ll show you to the garage.”
He walked ahead, leaving her no choice but to follow. And to admire his mother for the fine job she’d done.
Jenna might have also admired the way his track pants fit his lean lower half, but she’d never admit to that in a court of law. She could do only so much to prevent the spell from working on her. As long as she could keep the effects to herself, she’d be fine.
She hoped. And said a little prayer to Freya that it would be so.
Halfway down the hall, he opened a door but paused, turning to nod at a door across the hall. “That’s the powder room. Guest room is the next door down, and it has its own bath.”
“That’s nice.”
He nodded. “Pandora suggested it when I built the house.”
“You built this house?”
He laughed. “No, I mean when I had the house built.”
Inwardly, she sighed with relief. She had a soft spot for men who were handy like that. Finding out he’d built this place might have given her weak knees, as odd as that might be. “Oh, right.”
“Anyway, this is the garage.” He pushed the door wider with his hip and went down the steps.
She was right behind him when he flipped on the switch, and she understood why they couldn’t park in the garage.
He was using it as a woodworking shop.
The smell of lumber filled the space with a rich aroma. She blinked twice. “This is all yours? I mean, you’re making all this stuff?”
He nodded. “The rocking chair is for Aunt Birdie’s birthday. The rocking horse is for Hannah Rose.”
Oh, this was as bad as thinking he’d built the house. Maybe worse. He was handy. Not just ordinary handy, but the kind who made beautiful things. Useful things. She walked toward a small, gorgeous stand. She wasn’t sure what it would hold, a vase maybe? But the color and shine of the wood, combined with the scrolling pattern carved into it, made it hard to ignore. “This is really cool. Who’s it for?”
He set the crate down, opened the fridge, and started adding her bottles to one of the shelves. “Agnes Miller. She owns the Bell, Book & Candle.”
“I know the shop, of course, but I don’t think I’ve ever met her. What kind of wood is this? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Katalox. I’d never worked with it before, but it’s what she requested. It’s very hard and very dense. Heavy too. Not easy stuff. But it’s what she wanted.”
“It’s really cool. It’s a stand, right? What’s it for?”
“To hold her crystal ball. In fact, I need to deliver it tomorrow since it’s done.”
That got Jenna’s mind working. “Is Agnes a witch, then? I think I knew that.”
He closed the refrigerator. “She is. And a pretty good one.”
“Maybe we could talk to her about our problem.”
“That might be stepping on Alice’s toes a bit.”
“Titus. We have been hexed. The more help we can get, the better. We can tell Agnes that Alice is working on it too. Never hurts to get a second opinion.”
He looked unconvinced. “I don’t know if that’s true where Alice is concerned. She can be…particular.”
“What if we haven’t heard anything from her by tomorrow when you go to see Agnes?”
“Fine. Then we can talk to her about what’s going on.” He shook his head. “Is this what you do to the perps you catch? Wear them down?”
She grinned. “Please, that was nothing.”
His expression went serious. “Listen, I have a favor to ask.”
He wanted something from her? She couldn’t imagine what it was. “Sure. I mean, we’re in this together. We have to get along. What’s up?”
“I really need to run tonight.”
“Okay, so run. Oh. Yeah. I’d have to go with you.” She shrugged. “I can run. You think I can’t keep up? I need to keep in shape for the 10K anyway. I’m the department’s anchor, you know.”
“I’m aware. But I’m not talking about that kind of run.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And it’s not that I don’t think you can keep up.”
“You mean, like, a wolf run.”
“Yes.”
“So? I can run through the woods just as well as on the street. What’s the problem?”
He frowned and looked altogether uncomfortable.
“Oh, for Odin’s eye, just spit it out.”
“You’re not a wolf, and I’ve never run with anyone who wasn’t.” He let go of his neck. “I don’t want to sound…selfish, but I either run with the pack or alone. And running with the pack isn’t like running with someone else. It’s hard to explain.”
Not to her it wasn’t. She crossed her arms. “You want me to keep my distance and let you do your wolfy thing.” She lifted one shoulder like it was no big deal, which it wasn’t. They both had to do whatever was necessary to keep the spell from getting the better of them.
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“No. Why should it? You’re a werewolf. I’m a valkyrie. We each have our things, right?”
He nodded. “Right. Thank you.” He turned like he was going back into the house, then stopped. “In the interest of full disclosure, because I feel like the only way we’re going to get through this is by being honest, the spell is definitely affecting me. But I’m doing everything I can not to let it change how I act toward you.”
She exhaled, suddenly aware she’d been holding her breath. “Same here. Thank you for saying that. I know we rarely see eye to eye on things, but as long as we’re civil, we’ll get through this without killing each other.”
The golden hint of wolfen glow lit his eyes. “I promise, what’s on my mind isn’t murder.”
She straightened at the feral tone of his voice. “Titus. You can’t say things like that to me. Being under this spell is hard enough without comments like that. I do have feelings, you know.”
Feelings she was struggling to control. Maybe she should kiss him and get it over with. Prove to herself that the spell was causing all these thoughts, that there was nothing truly physical or chemical happening between them. Because a love spell might make her want to kiss him, but it couldn’t create chemistry where there was none.
It was just magic. Plain and simple.
But what if it wasn’t? What if this magic had unleashed something that had already been inside her?
That was ridiculous. But just in case, she shelved the kiss idea. Now wasn’t the right time anyway. His eyes were already glowing.
And she had a pretty good idea of what that meant.
“What kind of feelings?” It wasn’t a question he should have asked, but his body was betraying him, his control was thin at best, and the woman in front of him radiated the kind of feminine strength that filled him with desire even when he wasn’t under a magic spell.
She shook her head, causing a few wisps of hair to swing free from her ponytail. “We shouldn’t have this conversation.”
“Why not? You think ignoring what’s going on between us is going to make it easier to bear?”
“Yep. Sure. Let’s go with that.”
“You’re lying to yourself if you really believe that.” Had her lower lip always been that full? “I thought valkyries were all about honor and truth.”
Her eyes narrowed at those words, the muscles in her jaw working. “Don’t push me, wolf. We are not friends. We never have been. We only barely managed to be polite to each other when your brother forced us to work together on the race. Anything I feel for you is because of this spell. That’s it.”
He rolled his shoulders like he was bored. “Still lying. Sad. I always thought your kind were such noble—”
“Fine.” She launched toward him, covering his mouth with hers in a move so fast she went from standing in front of him to pressed against him in a split second.
After a moment of shock, he clo
sed his eyes. He wasn’t going to protest, if that’s what she was expecting. His hands found her hips easily. Like they’d been there a thousand times before. Like they’d be there again.
Her kiss was insistent. And maybe a little angry. She was trying to prove to him that there was nothing between them. He got that.
But once again, she was lying.
Desire had a scent, at least to his sensitive nose, and she was sending it out in waves. She wanted him, plain and simple.
The spell had created tiny little ignition points of need inside him. Now, the heady perfume radiating from her caused all those sparks to flare like Fourth of July fireworks, setting him ablaze.
A deep growl built in his throat, and he decided to show her just how much of a liar she was. He kissed her back. She was warm and willing and the most perfect combination of hard muscle and soft woman. He lost himself in the moment. In her.
His fingers dug into her hips, pulling her closer. A rumble spilled out of her, deep and throaty and needful. It spoke to his wolf. The beast lifted his head and took notice.
The woman who’d been off-limits was now well within bounds.
But Jenna was no woman he’d ever experienced before. Although he didn’t really remember any other woman besides Zoe. It had been too long.
This was a damn fine way to break that dry spell.
The thought made a laugh bubble up, breaking the kiss.
Jenna pulled back, flushed and looking like she’d just ridden through battle. He liked that look. It was wild and a little reckless but undeniably strong.
She heaved out a breath. “Why are you smiling?”
“Why aren’t you? That was pretty amazing.”
She shook her head. “It was just a kiss. To prove that there’s nothing between us. You can turn off that glow in your eyes now and settle down.”
“My wolf does what it wants.”
She made an amused face. “Right. Your wolf. Well, then, get him a rawhide and tell him to chill.”
“The creature inside me is a wild animal. Not a domesticated house pet. If you think that side of me is so easy to control, you’re wrong.”
Her expression said she wasn’t taking this seriously, but she’d learn. If she was around him long enough.
He took a deep breath, which didn’t help, because all he could smell was lemons and sunshine and desire. “You’re also wrong if you think that kiss proved your point. If anything, it proved the opposite. We definitely have chemistry. Sorry if that’s a problem for you, but if we’re going to deal with this spell, better to be honest about what’s happening rather than to pretend nothing’s changed.”
“You want honest?” She squared her shoulders. “I’m not interested in you.”
Sure. She was so uninterested, she’d kissed him. “Tell yourself whatever you need to. Doesn’t matter to me. But don’t confuse what you want, or don’t want, with the truth. We’re attracted to each other. Admitting that will help us get through this.”
She lifted her chin ever so slightly. Her cheeks were still flushed and her bottom lip slightly swollen from the kiss he couldn’t stop thinking about. “I’m not attracted to you.”
He rolled his eyes. “All right, valkyrie. You go with that.” He turned and walked back toward the house.
“I’m not,” she repeated. Then a second later, she followed him. “Just show me the guest room, and I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Just so long as you’re not more than a hundred feet away.” He went inside, holding the door for her only as long as it took for her to get a hand on it.
He could practically feel how confused she was. He believed very much that she didn’t want to be attracted to him. But she was. He knew that. Everything about that kiss, that amazing kiss, had said otherwise. So did her scent. The flush of her cheeks. The size of her pupils. The thump of her pulse.
She was struggling with what she was feeling. Obviously, he wasn’t her idea of the perfect mate.
Truth was, she wasn’t his either. But he also knew life didn’t always turn out the way you expected it to. Zoe was proof of that.
He grabbed Jenna’s duffel bag from the kitchen, then went back down the hall to the guest room. She kept up behind him.
Did valkyries even have mates? They must. Her sister, Tessa, married Sebastian Ellingham, so that was proof right there that valkyries had relationships. Was Sebastian Jenna’s idea of the ideal man?
If that was the case, no wonder she wasn’t interested in him. Titus didn’t come close to having the kind of wealth and power that Sebastian had. He never would either. Didn’t want it. His life was just fine the way it was. He had a job he was good at, a great family, great friends.
He tried to ignore the obvious missing link but couldn’t.
He had no family of his own. He’d failed there. Zoe had chosen her parents over him. He didn’t blame her for it. They needed her. Needed someone to take care of them. And she’d stepped up.
It was admirable, really.
But losing her had left him broken.
He pushed the guest room door open. “Here you go.”
Jenna took the duffel bag from him and went in, looking around. “It’s very nice. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She turned, looking very much like she had something more to say. “What, uh, time do you want to run?”
“After dinner. Right around dark.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
There was more. He could feel it. He leaned against the doorframe, waiting.
She swallowed. “I’m sorry about the thing in the garage.”
Well, that was a little vague. And he wasn’t in the mood to let her off easy. “You mean you’re sorry about kissing me?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Yeah. That. I really thought it would prove something.”
“Oh, it did.”
She sighed. “Can we just have a truce and get through this? I was wrong to kiss you, okay? I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I’m not mad about the kiss.” Mad he wasn’t getting another one, maybe.
“Well…thanks.”
He straightened. Whatever she needed to get through this. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get settled in? If you want, after I shower I can fire up the grill and cook those steaks. If you’re ready to eat.”
“I am. That sounds good.”
“About an hour, then.” He walked away, down the hall to his room, doing his best to focus on another woman. Alice Bishop.
He had no idea how long it would take her to free them from this spell, but it was time for a phone call and an update. Because at the rate he and Jenna were going, they were either going to end up in bed together or kill each other.
Or both.
Jenna closed the bedroom door and exhaled. Why on earth had she kissed him? To shut him up? To prove there was no attraction? Because she’d really, really wanted to?
Maybe all three. She sat on the bed and lay back, closing her eyes. If those were her reasons, she’d failed. She hadn’t shut him up. She hadn’t proved there was no attraction. And she still really, really wanted to kiss him again.
They’d been under this spell for less than a day, and she was already losing her mind. And her ability to ignore Titus. He was becoming more irresistible by the hour, which was fueling her bad mood and her crankiness.
It wasn’t a good combination. An irritable valkyrie could do impulsive things. Which clearly, she was prone to.
Maybe she could distract herself from thinking about the whole situation for long enough to relax. Unlikely, but worth a try. She pulled her phone out to call Birdie and found a text from her mom.
An old friend of yours from the service called, trying to track you down. Ingvar Swenson? Said she’s coming to Nocturne Falls for some R&R. I told her where you work and gave her your number. I hope that was okay?
Memories, most of them very good, filled Jenna’s head and made her smil
e. She and Ingvar had done their time in the ranks together and become close friends. It was a shame they’d fallen out of touch as life had taken over. Jenna typed in her response. Of course that was okay! I haven’t talked to Ingvar in ages. Thanks for letting me know. Love you.
With that sent, she dialed Birdie’s personal cell number.
“Hey, Jenna. How are you?”
“I’m okay. I know you’re off work for the day, so I won’t keep you. I just wanted to check in, see what had come of Deputy May talking to Pandora, or if anything was found at the house that might lead us to who planted that bomb?”
“Hold up. How are you feeling? Are you still at the hospital?”
“Pretty much like myself. And no, I’m at—” She almost said, Titus’s house. Birdie would know that soon enough, but Jenna wasn’t ready to share.
“Titus’s house?”
Jenna rolled her eyes. How did the woman know everything? “Yes, but please don’t say anything to anyone about that yet.”
“You have my word. Glad to hear you’re out of the hospital, though. Nothing new to share on the case yet, unfortunately. Pandora doesn’t have any exes or possible stalkers that she can think of. House is owned by the Lemmons. They’re selling because they’re moving to Illinois to be near their grandchildren. Nothing unusual going on with them either. Not that I can see. Still digging through their financials to check for anything strange.”
“Okay.” Birdie was nothing if not thorough. “No prints at the scene?”
“None so far that couldn’t be identified and explained.”
Jenna sighed.
Birdie clucked her tongue. “I know, it’s frustrating. I promise I’ll call the minute there’s something new.”
That lifted Jenna’s mood a bit. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“You got it. Now you better call your sister and let her know where you are.”
“I was just about to do that. Have a good night.”
“You, too, honey.”
Jenna said goodbye, hung up, then dialed Tessa’s number.
It took four rings for her sister to answer, and then she was out of breath. “Hello?”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?”
The Werewolf Dates the Deputy Page 6
