“I think I scooped up everything that was in there.”
“Then how about I fix a salad while the steaks rest?”
“Sure, get crazy.”
She handed him the plates and went back into the kitchen. She found her stash of veggies on a shelf in his fridge. She took a moment to organize the whole thing, then in a few minutes had whipped up a simple addition to their meal. Fortunately, he had a bottle of blue cheese dressing in his fridge. Probably used it for chicken wings, if anything.
He was at the table with the steaks when she brought the salad out in a wooden bowl she’d found. “Did you make this bowl too?”
“Yep. In high school shop class.”
“So you’ve been crafty for a while, then.” She set it on the table, then took her seat.
He gave her a very direct look. “You could say that.”
She let that go by without a retort. She figured not saying anything might be better. Which was kind of the opposite of what she’d usually do, but this was new ground.
They ate, keeping the talk light. The steaks were good, the salad was…salad, and before long, they were cleaning up.
She gave him a quick smile. “Thanks for cooking.”
“Seemed fair since you provided the steaks. And the salad.”
“Which you actually ate some of.”
“Only to be polite.” He laughed. “Kidding. It was good. Bridget makes me eat salad sometimes. You dry if I wash?”
“You don’t have a dishwasher?”
“I do, but I don’t think I’ve ever used it.”
She snorted. “Come on, I’ll teach you. Not that you need to run it for such a small amount of dishes, but with two of us here, you will soon enough.”
They carried everything inside, and he pointed out the appliance in question. “There you go. I think the buttons are on the inside.”
She opened it and saw the controls on the top of the door. Then she peered inside the unit. The manufacturer’s energy tag was still hanging from the top rack. She yanked it off and looked at him. “You really haven’t used this before.”
“Told you.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“Three years.”
That was interesting. She’d assumed he’d lived here longer. “That’s not what I would have guessed.”
He shrugged. “It’s nice to be close to family.”
But why had it taken him three years to move up here? He’d been the fire chief for longer than that.
Then it hit her. A new house closer to his brother. A porch swing he never used. He hadn’t built this house for himself.
He’d built it for his fiancée.
And just like that, Jenna had sympathy for him. She didn’t want to feel that way toward him, but there it was.
The longer she was here, the more she grew to like him. To see him as a friend and not a foe.
A hundred feet of distance had never been so close.
Titus was as ready to run as a shifter could be. He itched with the need, especially because he’d come to a hard realization in the kitchen. Being around Jenna so much meant conversation. It was impossible to avoid if they were going to be civil, which he definitely wanted them to be.
But conversation required revealing small parts of himself.
That was a dangerous path. He wasn’t used to talking to anyone about things from his past. Hank and Bridget understood that there were topics better left unspoken. He preferred it that way.
But Jenna didn’t know that unwritten rule. And he was quickly discovering that even harmless conversations had a way of moving into personal territory without warning.
First, she’d asked about the porch swing. Then they’d verged dangerously close when they’d hit upon the subject of dating. Sooner or later, Jenna would probably come right out and ask about Zoe.
Women did that. He knew from Bridget and Birdie just how much they loved to talk about past relationships. If he let them, they’d bring up Zoe at least once a week. Maybe more.
He wanted nothing to do with that. No part of dredging up old history. Old pain. Old reminders about how wrong things had gone.
He was already on edge about that failed relationship, and he worried that if Jenna brought it up, he’d get mad. Not intentionally, but it was definitely a sore spot for him, and he knew it made him snap. He didn’t want to get angry around her, not when they were getting along. It was nice.
He wasn’t even really trying. Just being himself.
Was she trying? Was it hard for her to be nice to him? He hoped not.
But if he snapped, that could change things. Even if he apologized. Should he just tell her now about what happened with Zoe? A preemptive strike, as it were? That way, he could give her the short, easy version, and maybe, hopefully, that would be enough.
But then again, if he brought it up, she might think his past was suddenly on the table as a viable topic. He wanted to shut that down, not open it up.
He thought about calling Birdie for advice, but the second she realized he and Jenna were engaging in civil communication, she’d be all over them like the Velcro matchmaker.
Birdie would be setting up dates for them at the romantic restaurants in town before he could say no. Complete with strolling violinists, if that was an option.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Calling Birdie was out.
Bridget wouldn’t be much better.
That left Hank.
Titus snorted. He already knew what his brother would say. If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to help either.
Unsure which tactic to take, he decided to let things be for now. He’d be in wolf form during the run, so he’d be unable to speak to Jenna anyway, solving the problem temporarily.
“Jenna?”
The guest room door opened, and she came out, sneakers on. She looked adorably sporty. “You ready to run?”
“Yep.” He took a few steps backward toward the deck. “This way.”
“Lead on.”
He turned and went through the house, out onto the deck, then down the stairs to the backyard. The sky was dusky purple and getting darker by the minute. A bright, nearly full moon added a good amount of light, but his eyes didn’t need much.
The rich, loamy scent of the forest filled his nose as he inhaled. His wolf, already anticipating the impending run, panted with eagerness. Titus glanced over at Jenna. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“If you can’t keep up…well, I guess I’ll figure that out by the ache in my gut. If that happens, I’ll slow down.”
“It won’t happen. I’ll keep up.”
“All right, then.” He rolled his shoulders. “Here we go.”
He opened himself up to the change, putting his wolf in charge. The shift was instant, and a moment later he was down on all fours, the earth warm and alive under his paws, the breeze ruffling his fur.
He glanced at Jenna.
The look in her eyes was different. Curious. Her fingers extended toward him ever so slightly. She wanted to touch him.
He whuffed softly, then bent with his front legs stretched out.
She chewed on her bottom lip. “I just want to see what you feel like. Is that okay? If I touch you?”
He whuffed again, keeping his head down.
“If you bite me, I will not forgive you.” She sighed. “You can understand me, right?”
He nodded.
Tentatively, her hand came closer. Then her fingers coasted over the curve of his head.
A little breath of surprise escaped her. “Oh wow. You’re softer than I expected. And this is weird, isn’t it?”
His laugh came out like a sneeze.
She jumped back, then looked embarrassed at her reaction. Her hands clenched and went to her sides. “We should just run.”
With a woof, he straightened, gave her one more look, then charged into the forest. His wolf was in command. He was a creature of
instinct and drive. The joy of being able to run and have such freedom took over.
He howled, a short, exuberant burst of sound. Behind him, Jenna’s footfalls were quick and steady.
Good, he thought. Because he’d only just begun to run.
Titus in wolf form was stunningly beautiful. His fur was a sleek mix of black, silver, and gray. And incredibly soft. He was an enormous beast. Breathtaking, really, to be in such proximity to such a stunning animal.
She’d be lying if she said it wasn’t a little bit intimidating. And there was very little that set her back on her heels.
That hadn’t stopped her from asking to touch him, though. Maybe she shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t resist. Maybe that was the love spell; maybe it was just the rarity of being so close to such a magnificent creature. She wasn’t sure.
Seeing him in the attic, while she’d been under the influence of that magic bomb, was nothing compared to seeing him surrounded by forest and bathed in moonlight.
The best word to describe him seemed to be majestic.
But Jenna should have asked him more questions before he’d shifted. Like, could he understand her? She thought he could. He seemed to have nodded when she’d asked about touching him. Plus she hadn’t lost a hand, so that was a good sign. Did he remember who she was? She also thought that was a yes. Was there any chance he’d think she was a foe since she wasn’t also a wolf? She prayed that was a no.
She ran a couple of yards behind him, giving him room but keeping pace even as she watched her footing as best she could in the dim light. The last thing she needed was a misstep and a twisted ankle. If only he wasn’t so fast, but then, he had the advantage of four legs and a lower center of gravity.
He had a home field advantage too. He knew these woods, ran them all the time. Probably spent hours out here in his human form too. But running through this forest, either with his pack or alone, gave him a sure-footed confidence that she didn’t have.
Valkyries tended to have more of an affinity for cats thanks to Freya and her giant felines, but there was an elite group of berserkers who were actually known as wolf soldiers. She’d known a few. One in particular came to mind. She shook the memory off.
Now was not a time for gloomy thoughts. This run was to help release some tension, to get the blood flowing, and to enjoy nature. Fresh air and all that. Sure, it wasn’t four-wheeling through the mud, but it was still fun.
She’d never run through the woods at night. While following a wolf. Who was also a very sexy man with great kissing skills.
There was something kind of primal about that. Not the kissing. The wolf part. It brought out the warrior in her. Made her feel like she was preparing for battle. Even Helgrind crackled with anticipation.
Titus pulled ahead by a few yards as he picked up speed. She dug deeper and closed the gap he’d created.
A second later, she wondered if he was trying to put more space between them. She slowed a little, giving him room. They had a hundred feet after all. Why not let him have as much space as she could give?
She dropped back farther, leaping over a fallen log he’d jumped seconds ago. The gap widened.
Was there any chance the spell had worn off? She wasn’t eager to test it out here, but the thought was valid. How long could magic last against supernaturals, anyway?
They ran on, miles and time passing without regard. Jenna didn’t care where they were or what the hour was. If Titus needed this to be happy, then she needed it too. He’d be easier to be around if he was in a good mood.
Even more so if she was the one who’d helped that mood happen.
Ahead of her, Titus slowed to a trot.
Jenna adjusted her speed to match his, hearing the sound of running water. She wasn’t as familiar with the woods as he was, but she knew this area. Most locals did. They were near the falls.
Once she topped a small rise, the river was visible through the trees. She could hear the falls but not see them. They were farther up.
Titus stopped, looking back at her. He made eye contact, gave a short jerk of his head, then continued on to the bank. He went down to the edge of the water to drink.
She leaned against a tree, letting him do his thing. The tops of the trees swayed a bit, but in the thick of the forest, there wasn’t much breeze. The real heat of summer was still a couple of months off, though, and the air tonight had enough coolness to it to be utterly enjoyable.
She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The forest smelled so clean and crisp. She could see why Titus liked this. Of course, getting to run through the woods as a wolf had to be so much better than running through it as a human.
Something rustled in the woods behind her. She turned, keeping the tree at her back, and scanned the dark for any sign of what had made the noise. There were lots of nocturnal creatures. Could be anything. A rabbit, a possum, a skunk. She really hoped it wasn’t a skunk.
She glanced back at Titus. If it was a rabbit, would he go after it? She grimaced and was about to join him at the riverbank when she heard more rustling.
Once again, she peered into the forest, trying to see what had made the sound.
This time, the shadows moved.
She stood transfixed, watching as a hulking, man-shaped form emerged from the darkness. It was as if the shadows had given birth.
The form came closer, and bright, blazing eyes blinked at her. They looked like flames in the darkness. Arms reached toward her.
She sucked in a breath and stared at the thing in shock for a second, before snapping out of it. Questions ran through her head as she moved to unsheathe her sword. What in Loki’s name was this abomination doing here? Why was it here? Was it after her?
Then the guttural snarl of a wolf broke the silence.
Titus was in front of her, the fur standing up in a ridge down his back, teeth bared, jaws snapping. Truly a formidable sight.
The shadow creature hesitated, then growled.
Titus lunged forward, and the creature vanished like smoke in a strong wind.
A second later, Titus the man stood next to her. She spoke to him while her gaze stayed fixed on the woods. “Thank you.”
“You could have handled that yourself.”
That was kind of him to say. She wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but she nodded all the same.
He shrugged. “Wouldn’t have been right of me not to jump in.”
She exhaled, still wordless in shock. She clenched her hands to stop them from shaking. Why here? Why now?
He looked at her, and she finally made eye contact with him as he spoke. “Have you ever seen anything like that before?”
She had, but not in a very long time, and she didn’t want to talk about it here. Not when it could come back. “Can we go home? Now?”
He nodded. “Are you okay to run, or do you want to head into town and find a ride?”
“No, we can run.” She just didn’t plan to stop until she was back inside Titus’s house.
The run back wasn’t as much fun, but Titus had gotten the energy burn that he’d needed on the way to the river. Even if he hadn’t, he’d still be fine with going straight home, because Jenna seemed so shaken up.
That alone was enough to cause him concern. She hadn’t seemed this out of sorts even after the magic bomb had gone off.
Obviously that meant whatever the creature was they’d seen in the forest, the same one he’d seen in the attic, that was the reason for her alarm. Did that also mean she knew what it was? That she’d seen it before?
He’d asked her if she’d seen anything in the attic, and she’d said no. But maybe she had seen something and had chalked it up as a hallucination like he had.
As they approached his property line, he came to a stop and shifted back to his human form.
Jenna slowed but kept going toward the house.
“Hey,” he called out, glad to have a voice again. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t look at him, didn�
��t stop moving, just shook her head. “Not sure.” She put her hand on the railing that led up to his deck, finally turning. “I’m going to bed.”
He jogged to join her. “Jenna, we need to talk about what just happened.”
She stood there, staring blankly. Gaze distant. Like she was lost in thoughts she wasn’t ready to share.
He tried a different approach. “How about we have a couple of Warhammers and unwind from that run with a soak in the hot tub? The relaxation might do you good.”
She blinked. “You have a hot tub?”
He nodded. “Other side of the deck where it wraps around. Right outside my bedroom.”
At the word bedroom, her eyes narrowed slightly.
He held his hands up. “No funny business. Just a soak. Really. I take one almost every night.” She really looked like she could use a little relaxation.
After a moment, she nodded. “Sounds good, actually, but I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
“You have gym shorts and a sports bra?” He wasn’t going to guess what she had on under her T-shirt.
She hesitated. “Yeah, I have those.”
“Good enough. I’ll get the beers and meet you out there.”
“Okay.” She went up the stairs. “But just a soak.”
“Just a soak.” He followed but gave her some space by falling back until she was down the hall and opening the door to the guest room. Then he went into his bedroom, through the French doors out to the deck, and pulled the cover off the hot tub. He turned the jets on. The temperature was already good. He kept it cranked up so that he could use it at a moment’s notice. With his schedule, that worked best.
He went back in to change into trunks, grabbed two big towels from the linen closet, then hit the garage fridge for two of her special beers.
By the time he got back to the hot tub, she was coming out of the house through the main sliders. Her hair was still knotted on top of her head, but she was in running shorts and a sports bra. The exposed section of her taut belly was impossible not to look at. He’d known she was in good shape, but man. Good wasn’t the right word.
Her gaze raked over him, but she averted her eyes quickly. Trying not to look? The fact that she’d checked him out stirred feelings he was powerless to squelch.
The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12) Page 8
