Damn it. Why didn’t she have a weapon of some kind in her car?
And why didn’t she know how to use said weapon?
“I’m a friend of Dante’s. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” Hands held out in a surrender position, he slowly backed up. “Why don’t I get Dante and get you some help? Okay? I’m Jace by the way.”
She blinked up at the man named Jace, unsure of what to do. He might have said he was a friend of Dante, but considering the bar’s name was in his line of sight, that could have been a wild guess and a pretty damn good lie.
Nope, she wasn’t getting out. She’d just call the bar from her car and have Dante—or the cops—come to her. She reached in her purse and cursed because she’d forgotten she didn’t have her phone to begin with. As she had just started to really panic, she let out a breath when she saw Dante himself walking toward them.
“Nadie? Jace? What’s going on?” He didn’t sound alarmed, more like curious.
“Nadie?” Jace rasped. This time there was something like awe in his tone, and she had no idea what he meant.
Had Dante told him about her? No, that would be stupid. There was no reason for Dante to do so. She was nothing to the dragon.
Dante walked up to Jace, cupped his cheek, and then gave a nod. Nadie felt as if she’d been slapped—she hadn’t known Dante had someone…let alone a man. No wonder Dante didn’t want her. He already had his mate. Oh Jesus. Fate really was that cruel to her.
Yet something important clicked inside her at the same time at the intimate sight.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her throat dry.
Dante moved, pushing Jace a step back then stood by her car door. “Come on into the bar, Nadie. We have a lot to talk about.”
She shook her head. “Tell me here. What’s going on?” There was something off about this, something she didn’t understand. It wasn’t fear running through her right then—no, it was something much warmer, something filled with undeniable promise. She needed to put a stop to it before it went anywhere…especially since it seemed Dante and Jace were an item—or something much more.
And once again, Nadie had been left on the outside looking in.
“Nadie, please,” Dante begged. “Come inside. For me?”
At that last word, she nodded. She’d never seen her dragon beg, and she didn’t want to see it again. He wasn’t the type to do so, and that meant something far greater than she could imagine was going on here.
“Fine, but you need to tell me what’s going on when we get in there.”
Dante nodded. “Yes, I’ll tell you everything. Finally.”
She got out of the car and swallowed hard. She looked at Jace and blinked. The feeling of being by his side was strangely just as intimate and heated as being by Dante’s. That didn’t make any sense, and yet she wasn’t sure she wanted it to. For some reason she wanted to move closer to them both, hold them and never let them go. The warmth in her belly wasn’t a mere attraction, no, it was something far greater.
Something tugged at her heart, her breath, her…everything.
She had a feeling she’d just taken a step toward a future she hadn’t thought possible, but this time, she wasn’t turning back.
Find out more in Tangled Innocence. Out Now.
To make sure you’re up to date on all of Carrie Ann’s releases, sign up for her mailing list HERE.
Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?
From USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Holiday Montana Series
Charmed Spirits
Jordan Cross has returned to Holiday, Montana after eleven long years to clear out her late aunt’s house, put it on the market, and figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Soon, she finds herself facing the town that turned its back on her because she was different. Because being labeled a witch in a small town didn’t earn her many friends...especially when it wasn't a lie.
Matt Cooper has lived in Holiday his whole life. He's perfectly content being a bachelor alongside his four single brothers in a very small town. After all, the only woman he'd ever loved ran out on him without a goodbye. But now Jordan’s back and just as bewitching as ever. Can they rekindle their romance with a town set against them?
Warning: Contains an intelligent, sexy witch with an attitude and drop-dead gorgeous man who likes to work with his hands, holds a secret that might scare someone, and really, really, likes table tops for certain activities. Enough said.
Find out more in Charmed Spirits. Out Now.
To make sure you’re up to date on all of Carrie Ann’s releases, sign up for her mailing list HERE.
Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?
From USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Montgomery Ink Series
Ink Inspired
Shepard Montgomery loves the feel of a needle in his hands, the ink that he lays on another, and the thrill he gets when his art is finished, appreciated, and loved. At least that's the way it used to be. Now he's struggling to figure out why he's a tattoo artist at all as he wades through the college frat boys and tourists who just want a thrill, not a permanent reminder of their trip. Once he sees the Ice Princess walk through Midnight Ink’s doors though, he knows he might just have found the inspiration he needs.
Shea Little has spent her life listening to her family’s desires. She went to the best schools, participated in the most proper of social events, and almost married the man her family wanted for her. When she ran from that and found a job she actually likes, she thought she’d rebelled enough. Now though, she wants one more thing—only Shepard stands in the way. She’ll not only have to let him learn more about her in order to get inked, but find out what it means to be truly free.
Find out more in Ink Inspired. Out Now.
To make sure you’re up to date on all of Carrie Ann’s releases, sign up for her mailing list HERE.
Need another dose of paranormal? Try NYTimes & USA TODAY bestselling author VIVIAN AREND’s Wolf Signs. Book 1 in the Granite Lake Wolves.
Robyn might be deaf, but she's more than capable of heading alone into the great outdoors. The big, hunky Keil announcing she's his mate, and a wolf-shifter? That's a little more unexpected!
WOLF SIGNS
Robyn came back into his line of vision and his brother stopped her.
“Good morning, Robyn. How do you say that in sign?”
Robyn paused. She flipped him a thumbs up, and placing her left hand by her right elbow, she lifted her right hand in an arc.
TJ copied her. “Oh, cool, like the sun rising. Hey, Keil, look,” and TJ signed good morning to him.
A chuckle from Robyn made them both turn and regard her with amazement.
“You can laugh?” TJ asked.
Her smile fell away and Keil swore inside. She wrote a fast note and disappeared out the door. He checked to make sure she was just headed for the outhouse before reading the message.
I’m deaf, not mute. Lost hearing as a child. Virus. I have an ugly voice. Two sugars, please.
TJ gave a soft whistle. “Man, oh man, is she going to be a handful. I’m glad she’s your mate and not mine. Did you two fuck—?”
Keil hit him. Not hard enough to do permanent damage but hard enough to make his eyes register the shock of it. After picking himself up off the floor, TJ carefully exposed his neck to his brother.
“You will use that brain of yours to remember to be polite when you speak to and of my mate. Understood?” Keil drawled the words as he poured the coffee and prepared Robyn’s cup for her. “Even though it’s none of your damn business if you were thinking straight you’d already know the answer. Use your bloody nose. No, we have not mated yet. Yet for some insane reason she let me kiss her and hold her, and while I’m pleased to report that yes, she’s officially my mate, I have no idea why she doesn’t seem to know a thing about wolves.”
He sat at the table. “So I
don’t want you making any stupid remarks until we figure this out. Got it?”
TJ shrugged. “I’ll behave. I figure it might be kinda freaky to be told something like ‘Hey, didn’t you know you’re a werewolf and, oh, by the way, you’re my mate. Oh, and there’s going to be a challenge to the death next weekend for the leadership of our pack and I’m one of the headliners for the match.’ I think telling it all upfront might be the easiest way.” He turned back and flipped the ham. “Besides, there’s nowhere for her to run while we’re here. Gives you two time to work it out.”
For the second time in as many days, the door behind them slammed open and Robyn charged in, her face red and her eyes blazing. She glared back forth between the two of them, her nostrils flaring slightly.
For not knowing she was a wolf, she had the evil-eye thing down pretty good, Keil thought as a shiver ran down his spine. He watched TJ struggle to keep his feet.
She surprised them by speaking. Her voice was gravelly and harsh but very powerful. Keil had heard a few Alphas over the years and she ranked up there with the best of them.
“Who is my mate?”
Like a flash TJ pointed to Keil. “Crap, has she got my number. I hope she doesn’t tell me to go jump off a bridge or something because I—”
Robyn stormed up and grabbed the pad of paper. Keil read over her shoulder as she wrote.
If you don’t want to be overheard don’t talk where a lip reader can see you.
Werewolf?
Mate.
Challenge. To death.
What the HELL are you talking about?
She pulled away from the table but stopped to add, Where is my coffee? And it had better be strong.
~*~
WOLF SIGNS is available now!
For information about Vivian Arend’s releases, plus free vignettes, sign up for her mailing list HERE.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Also from this Author
Fighting Fate (Redwood Pack #7) Page 22
