by Brenda Trim
“I’m sorry,” she stammered and scooted further back on the seat, putting distance between them.
“Don’t apologize. I enjoyed it,” he replied then the four-wheeler took off again. Brenlee had to grab his waist or fall off the vehicle, but she kept her distance. Being near Zane was too intense, and she couldn’t go there.
Why couldn’t he be a shifter, she thought to herself as they pulled up to the workshop. That would solve all her problems.
Chapter 4
Zane grabbed his bags, and followed Brenlee to the workshop, which was a barn located on the property a few miles from the main building. A strong gust of wind had Zane hoping the place was well insulated. Otherwise he would freeze his ass off when the temperatures dropped over night. Shifters withstood the cold far better than humans, but he didn’t seem to have enough of the DNA in his blood to make a difference.
Looking around, Zane had to admit the area was beautiful, but Zane’s eyes refused to stay away from Brenlee’s shapely ass. Her tight jeans left little to the imagination, and his body hardened at the thought of exploring her curves.
There was no denying his attraction to the woman. Everything about her roused him. Her long blonde hair, light brown eyes and captivating smile had him hook, line and sinker. Not to mention, what he’d learned thus far about her intrigued him.
Brenlee was sensitive, family-oriented and genuine, and he desperately wanted to know every detail about her life. Likes, dislikes, details of her childhood, hobbies, what she looked like when she climaxed. You know, the usual.
Zane shook his head and cleared his perverted mind. If he wasn’t careful his growing erection would be impossible to hide. He hoped she couldn’t smell his arousal. He read an article somewhere explaining that shifters could scent a woman’s arousal, but it didn’t mention men.
God this woman had the whole package. Zane’s only complaint about Brenlee was her hot and cold attitude. It was confusing as hell, and he didn’t understand it. She didn’t seem like the type to play games, and he hoped that wasn’t what she was doing. That shit was a deal breaker for Zane.
Brenlee opened the large wooden door and they stepped inside. It was cold and dark, answering his earlier thought. The place wasn’t insulated very well. That would be a problem. As much as he preferred to stay on their property, he doubted he would be comfortable.
As if she knew what he was thinking, Brenlee walked toward a large portable heater and flipped its switch. “There’s another one in the bedroom upstairs. You should be plenty warm up there. Lawson and Ryan recently renovated the upstairs and added walls and insulation. Before, it was nothing but a loft with haystacks. At least now it has a bed and dresser. Oh, and the bathroom is down here. There’s even a shower, albeit a small one,” she explained and pointed toward a closed door.
“This is way more than I was expecting. I figured the bathroom was the nearest tree outside,” he admitted with a chuckle.
“Yeah, Liv said she was tired of riding the four-wheeler back to the hotel every time she had to pee. Must be nice to be a male. You just whip it out whenever the need strikes,” Brenlee said as she bent over and picked up an empty water bottle laying on the floor.
Her position had Zane adjusting his aching shaft. “I’ve got a striking need,” he muttered low as she tossed the trash in the wastebasket.
“Do what?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Huh? Oh, I said men and their striking needs,” Zane responded quickly then tugged at his collar when she gave him an odd look.
“Help yourself to whatever’s in the refrigerator,” she offered as she passed a stainless-steel appliance. Come on,” she motioned as she walked toward a stairway. “These are new, too,” Brenlee explained as her boots pounded the wooden steps. “Before, it was a rickety ladder that I stayed away from,” she added then laughed.
“Afraid of heights?” he asked and followed her up the stairway.
“Afraid of falling,” she quipped, and Zane laughed at her joke.
As soon as they entered the small bedroom, Zane let out a whistle. “Nice woodwork,” he said as he eyed the room then tossed his bags onto the bed.
The floors and trim were made from the same weathered wood as the barn, but the paneled walls were stained a dark brown. The contrast was warm and inviting. The twin-sized bed and dresser were made of rustic pine, which complimented the decor nicely.
His gaze snagged above the bed. Hanging on the wall was a metal silhouette of a wolf howling at the moon. “That’s beautiful,” Zane commented as he marveled at the intricate detail.
“Lawson made it. He and Ryan specialize in ironwork,” Brenlee informed him as she stared at the artwork.
“They’re very talented,” he replied and she nodded in agreement.
“You haven’t seen the best part,” Brenlee stated and walked over to a set of sliding barn doors. She pushed one to the side, revealing a window that overlooked a lake nestled behind the barn.
“Wow,” Zane breathed. “Your brother wasn’t kidding about the view. This is incredible,” he said as he slid the other door in the opposite direction so he could absorb the full scope of the scenery.
Brenlee stood at the window and nodded her head. “It’s perfect.” Her voice cracked with emotion as she stared out the window. It was obvious Safe Haven meant a great deal to her.
He was drawn to her, and didn’t understand the urgency to get closer, but his feet were moving before he could think about it further. Zane stepped behind Brenlee and couldn’t believe it when she leaned against him. His heart kicked up a notch as her perfume assaulted his senses. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Something stirred inside his chest, and Zane acknowledged it felt right to be with her.
Before his nerve dissolved, Zane placed his hands on her waist. He turned Brenlee so she faced him and stared into light brown eyes. He tugged her long braid, enjoying the silky feel. “You’re perfect,” he told her then slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
Zane’s lips meshed with Brenlee’s in a tender kiss. She tasted like peaches, and he wondered if it was lip gloss, or her natural flavor. His mouth moved against hers, and he pulled her closer. Craving more, he licked the seam of her mouth. Brenlee moaned and parted her lips. Zane delved inside, and her sweet peach flavor filled his mouth. His tongue slid against hers in a slow, erotic dance.
His mind spun out of control, making him dizzy. Kissing Brenlee was better than any sex he’d had with other women. His cock jerked painfully, needing more. Zane pulled Brenlee against his hard length and deepened the kiss.
She tilted her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their breaths turned to pants as they explored each other’s mouth. When she sucked his lower lip, Zane imagined her sucking other parts of his body, and a growl left his throat.
“Do that again, and I can’t be held responsible for my actions,” he murmured against her mouth.
Brenlee gasped and pulled away. Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes bulged. “I’m so sorry, Zane. I shouldn’t have allowed that to happen. Please forgive me,” she said and stepped back.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked and reached for her hand, but she moved further away.
“No. You’ve done everything right. I just can’t be with you,” she admitted with a shake of her head.
“Can’t why? It was a kiss, nothing more,” he explained. And, a damn good one, in his opinion.
“I can’t get involved with you,” Brenlee explained and clutched her throat. She swallowed hard then continued. “I don’t know how to say this…but, I’m looking for a shifter to share my life with. I can’t get involved with a human, no matter how much I like you.”
Zane couldn’t help but smirk at her comment. Her expression quickly changed, and her eyes narrowed. “Is that funny?”
“Kind of,” he replied with a chuckle.
“How so?” she asked as her hands flew to her hips. He mentally chastised himself for enjoying the flash of anger in her brown
eyes, but it was sexy as hell.
“Brenlee, don’t take this the wrong way, but I kissed you. I didn’t propose,” he commented then walked to the bed and sat down.
“I’m aware, Zane,” she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
Her thin sweater stretched over her ample bosom nicely. If there was one thing that appealed to Zane more than anything else, it was a woman’s breasts. The bigger the better. He didn’t want just a handful. Zane wanted to bury his head between the lush globes and stay there for the rest of his days.
“I just didn’t want to give you the wrong impression,” Brenlee insisted, drawing Zane’s attention away from her chest. Why was she making such a big deal out of a kiss?
“I appreciate that. Look, I like you, Brenlee. Would I like to get to know you better? Sure. Am I looking for a serious relationship? Not really. My hands are full right now with everything. I need to stay focused on that,” Zane admitted as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
“Of course, you do,” Brenlee replied and pink stained her cheeks. “I feel silly now. I wasn’t implying you want something serious with me. Let’s pretend the kiss never happened,” she suggested as she turned her back to Zane and glanced out the window again.
“I can’t forget that kiss, nor do I want to,” Zane informed her as he stood and walked to her side. She looked up at him, and their gazes locked. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t make his knees weak. Brenlee Scott was exquisite, and every cell in his body came to life when she was near.
“I enjoyed it, too,” she confessed then pressed her lips together tightly as if she regretted her words.
“Tell you what. Why don’t you let me take you out, just a couple of friends hanging out together having some fun,” Zane offered and nudged her arm.
“Just friends, huh?” Brenlee questioned but her tone was laced with doubt.
He wanted to tell her that being only friends with her would be next to impossible. Even now, he wanted to pull her in for another kiss. He craved her sweet peach flavor. In fact, he would never eat a piece of the fruit without thinking of Brenlee. But he sensed her wariness and didn’t want to scare her away. So, he ignored his impulses, and decided the platonic route was his only option. For now, at least.
“Cross my heart,” he assured and made an X on his chest with a finger. “I mean, worst case scenario, you spend some time with a handsome, fun-loving guy while you’re waiting around for Mr. Right to come knocking at your door,” he relayed with a smile.
“Oh, so you’re going to introduce me to a handsome, fun-loving guy?” she countered with a wide grin.
“Well played, Miss Scott. Well played,” Zane admitted. “So, is that a yes?”
“I guess it couldn’t hurt. Although, I’m not sure where we can go. It’s not safe for shifters right now,” Brenlee said and the playful banter quickly dissipated. Sadness filled her beautiful brown eyes and he saw genuine concern about leaving the property.
“Yeah, I figured that after what I witnessed at the gas station,” he agreed and ran a hand through his hair, pushing it off his brow. “Let me worry about the where. Say, this Friday?”
“Sure. Friday sounds great,” she replied with a smile. Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and Zane admitted Brenlee’s smile was by far her best feature.
Honestly, everything about her was enticing. This friendship thing was going to be a challenge. Zane said he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and that was the truth. Yet, his gut told him Brenlee was exactly what he’d been searching for his entire life.
Chapter 5
“Okay, spill it,” Haylee demanded and nudged Brenlee.
Brenlee glanced up from the cutting board and eyed her older sister. She knew where this conversation was headed but didn’t want to give Haylee the satisfaction. “Spill what?” she asked nonchalantly and popped a piece of carrot in her mouth.
“Don’t play coy with me, Bren. I want to know what’s going on between you and the sexy attorney. Does Zane have a mighty long chain?” she asked and waggled her brow.
Brenlee burst into laughter, and practically choked on the vegetable in her mouth. “You’re shameless,” she accused and smacked Haylee on the arm.
“Yeah, so?”
Brenlee shook her head. There were times she questioned if she was related to the brazen female. Then again, Hannah was Haylee’s twin, and didn’t act a thing like her, either. Haylee was one of a kind, that was certain. But, Brenlee loved her for her honesty and directness. There was no guessing with Haylee. What you saw was what you got.
“We’re friends, if you must know,” Brenlee responded and continued chopping veggies. They were preparing the meal for the lunch shift, and Brenlee offered to bring food to the conference room so Bart and Zane could continue working.
Ashley, the cook at Safe Haven, bustled about the large kitchen. The Hispanic female went non-stop throughout the day, cooking the meals for the shifters. Brenlee didn’t know when Ashley had time to sleep with as much food as she prepared. Luckily, each female at Safe Haven took shifts helping since their population quadrupled with the additional packs living on the property.
Brenlee enjoyed helping and took at least two shifts a day. Her parents owned a restaurant in her hometown of Dunlap, and she and her sisters were raised in a kitchen. Cooking was in her veins and reminded her of the good times from her youth.
“Friends shmiends. You’re a damn fool if you don’t want more with that fine piece of ass. Hell, at least see if he’s good in bed before you put him in the friend zone,” Haylee advised as she prepared tuna salad. With such a large crowd to feed, lunches were kept simple. Most days it was soup or salad, along with, sandwiches.
Brenlee considered her sister’s words. She couldn’t deny Zane was an exceptional kisser. Her body went up in flames when they’d kissed in the loft, and it took every ounce of willpower not to throw him on the bed and have her way with him. Still, she meant what she said to Zane. She was looking for a shifter and couldn’t get caught up in feelings toward a human.
“Can I ask you something?” Brenlee asked and looked to her sister.
“Shoot,” Haylee replied.
“I know Lawson and Ryan are beyond happy with their life mates, but don’t you think it’s better to choose a shifter? I mean, when I think about Mom and Pops, and how happy they were. That’s what I want,” she informed her sister.
Haylee stopped what she was doing and cocked her head. “I think about Mom and Pops all the time. Yes, they were a perfect couple, but I’m not going to rule out a male just because he’s not a shifter. What I want in a life mate is someone who makes me laugh every single day then fucks me senseless every night. That’s my idea of perfection.”
Brenlee nodded. “There is something to be said for that. Laughs and lays,” she snickered.
Ashley looked over her shoulder from the industrial-sized stove. “Amen to that. Knox makes me giggle and groan every day,” the dark-haired female professed with a broad smile.
“Did I hear my name, my spicy amante?” Knox asked as he entered the kitchen and strutted straight toward Ashley. He swept her in his arms, leaned her back, and planted a kiss on the female that left Ashley gasping for air.
It was hard not to be envious of the PDA. They were another couple that had found happiness, despite the fact she was human, and he was shifter. In fact, Knox repeatedly asked Ashley to share his life force, declaring his devotion to the human. Her response was always the same. ‘Why mess with a good thing?’ Still, it was obvious how much she adored the male.
Regardless of how many shifters and humans joined together, Brenlee wanted a shifter. Only a shifter would understand what it felt like to have an inner animal that was just as much a part of you as the human counterpart. To know the call of the wild and answer it unapologetically. A human couldn’t relate to her deepest desires or fulfill them.
“Lunch is ready,” Haylee interjected, and Brenlee snapped out of her musings. “
Let’s take these to Lawson and the others.”
Brenlee finished preparing four individual salads while Haylee placed sandwiches and drinks on a tray. They grabbed forks and napkins on their way out of the kitchen and headed to the conference room where the group was working.
As soon as they stepped into the large room, Brenlee’s gaze landed on Zane. Gods, he was gorgeous. He was dressed casually, wearing black jeans and a fitted green sweater that complimented his eyes. Their gazes locked, and butterflies swarmed in her stomach. What was he thinking about?
His intense stare left her feeling naked and vulnerable. She had an idea what he might be thinking and wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On the one hand she loved being admired by a hot guy, but on the other she knew Zane would want more from her and she wanted a shifter. SO much ran through her head in that moment and she wasn’t prepared to deal with any of it, so she quickly looked away.
She hadn’t seen him since they’d kissed, and it felt awkward to be in the same room. Making her way toward the large wooden table, she set down the tray she was holding. “You guys hungry?”
“I am,” Liv piped in and rubbed her pregnant belly. “This little boy, or girl, has quite the appetite,” she added and reached for a sandwich. Her sister in law glowed with her pregnancy. Lawson deserved all of the happiness he’d discovered with Liv. And, Brenlee was excited to become an aunt.
“Don’t blame it on the baby,” Bart teased as he reached for a sandwich of his own.
“Ha ha, very funny, BS,” Liv countered and flashed him an eat-shit grin. Brenlee giggled at the banter. She knew the real meaning behind BS. Liv told her the nickname stood for bullshit because Bart was full of it.
Brenlee was thankful Bart and Liv’s friendship had survived the past year. When Liv met Lawson, she had fallen hard and fast for Brenlee’s brother which hadn’t sat well with Bart. He’d harbored feelings for his girlfriend from college and couldn’t accept her with another male. But then Bart met Erika, a shifter who recently joined the Hollow Rock pack, and he’d discovered a deeper, more meaningful love.
