Romancing the Paranormal

by Stephanie Rowe

  “Don’t think so, what?” Garrett actually gave a crooked smile at her brave stance against him.

  “You’re not my alpha,” Janna replied, not liking the fact that she was attracted to his smile way more than she should be.

  His smile slid slowly off his face. “Do you belong to a pack?”

  “You know I don’t,” Janna countered, wondering why she felt the need to push this man. Her beast was happily urging her on, and that surprised her. Her beast was usually just fighting to break free, but so far, she had won that war. So why now was she listening to her beasts’ desire to fight with this man.

  “Are you in my town?” Garrett took a dominant step toward her as he asked that question.

  “In the flesh.” Janna spread her arms out as she gave her smart-ass response.

  Garrett’s eyes flared as they ran up and down her body. The intensity of his gaze when they met hers was electrifying. “As long as you are in my town and under my protection, I am your alpha.” His last step brought him so close to her that, she could feel his heat. Her beast growled a soft purr and she felt herself sway toward him. With all the purring her beast was doing, her mother may have been mistaken and her father was a damn cat rather than a wolf.

  “They’re coming after me, aren’t they?” Janna asked, taking a step back, his closeness doing something to her body she wasn’t used to.

  “Yes,” Garrett replied, the one word spoken deep and truthfully.

  Janna’s stomach dropped and then rose quickly to her throat. She was terrified, but knew she couldn’t stay here and put these people at risk. There were too many children. “I need my car fixed so I can get out of here.” When he didn’t say anything but shook his head, Janna frowned. “I’m not putting anyone in danger. I have to leave.” She started to walk toward the way Dell disappeared.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Janna.” Garrett stopped her by grabbing her arm and leading her in the opposite direction. “We are going to let Jonah calm down and process that he has a daughter. Then we are going to figure out what is going on. One thing I can promise you is that you are safe here.”

  Janna looked up at Garrett as she let him lead her. “But you don’t even know me.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He looked down at her, his gaze penetrating. “I know Jonah, and that’s good enough.”

  As much as Janna wanted to protest, a part of her felt safe for the first time since her mother had been killed, and it was such a relief. The other part feared for the young children she had seen earlier as well as the two she brought here. “But what about your people…your pack? If they are coming here for me, I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”

  As they continued through the small town, he led her up to a small white house. Before opening the door, he stopped and looked down at her. “It’s my job to keep my pack safe and it’s a job I do very well. You are under my protection and I will make sure no harm comes to you.”

  He turned, opening the door for her, but she didn’t move for a second, surprised at the sincerity in his dark golden eyes. Not sure what to say to that, she just kept it simple as she walked past him into the house, trusting him fully. “Thank you.” She stepped past him

  CHAPTER 6

  A delicious aroma hit her senses as soon as Garrett opened the door. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent, her eyes closing as her stomach growled loudly.

  “It’s about time you got here.” A woman’s voice filled the room.

  Janna’s eyes popped open only to land on a beautiful redhead who had walked into the room. Her beast growled a threat deep inside her as a nip of jealous swirled in her stomach, which was absurd. She hardly knew this man, at least not enough to be jealous of another woman. The stress must really be getting to her.

  “Roxy, what are you doing here?” Garrett’s voice was more annoyed than angry.

  “I wanted to make you some dinner.” She walked closer to Garrett, but her eyes stayed on Janna. “Who’s your friend?”

  “How did you get in?” Garrett stepped in front of Janna, blocking Roxy’s view of her. “You know what? Never mind, I don’t want to know. I have business to take care of, Roxy.”

  Janna took a step to the side so she could see the woman and suddenly felt sorry for her. The woman’s face went from beet red to pale within a split second of Garrett’s dismissal. She could see this woman had feelings for Garrett, but of course, him being a man, he didn’t get it. They never did. The woman looked from Garrett to her without any emotion other than hurt.

  Taking a step forward Janna reached out her hand. “Hi Roxy.” She smiled. “I’m Janna. I’m sorry that I interrupted your plans tonight.”

  Raising her eyebrows, Roxy took Janna’s hand with a shake then let go. “It’s okay.”

  Hunter walked in at that moment and took in the situation. “Oh, shit.” He gave his brother a look of pity. “Awkward,” he whispered loudly in a strange tone.

  Janna frowned at him. “You’re already on my shit list and I’ll still throat punch you.”

  Hunter raised his hands in surrender, a large smile playing across his lips. “Sorry.” His tone of voice and large grin indicated he was anything but sorry.

  “Listen, why don’t you guys do your…thing?” Janna backtracked toward the door. “And I’ll talk to you later.” She barely glanced at Garrett as she reached behind her to open the door she had just stepped through.

  “Do not go out that door,” Garrett ordered, his eyes narrowed in warning before he turned his focus to Roxy and Hunter. “Out! Both of you.”

  Roxy, Hunter, and Janna all started talking at the same time. Garrett stood in the middle of them, his eyes narrowing further to the point of almost closing.

  “I was just trying to…” Roxy started to say before she burst into tears then ran out the door.

  “Way to go, brother.” Hunter frowned as he watched Roxy run out the door, his eyes on her ass. “I guess that’s another heart I’m going to have to mend.”

  “Hunter, you are so close to getting your ass handed to you.” Garrett frowned at his brother. “Now go, make sure Roxy is okay.”

  Hunter shook his head sadly as he headed toward the door. “If I must.” He sighed heavily, heading toward the door.

  Janna watched quietly, suddenly liking the younger brother. As annoying as he was and conceited as he was, he made her smile, which was something that had been missing in her life for quite some time.

  “Oh.” Hunter snapped his fingers, stopping at the door. “Jonah is ready to talk again. He wants to see her.” He nodded at Janna.

  “Her has a name and is standing right here.” Janna responded. “And her will be ready to talk to him when she is ready.”

  “Nice.” Hunter nodded with a smile. “I will tell him that her will see him when her is damn good and ready.”

  Janna covered her laugh with her hand as Hunter closed the door behind him. Glancing to her left, she saw that Garrett was staring at her oddly. “What?”

  “You have a nice laugh,” he grunted before heading to the kitchen.

  “Ah, thanks.” Janna tilted her head, watching him walk away while wondering about that little statement. Figuring he expected her to follow, she did and was surprised when she walked into the kitchen. A small table with a romantic setting for two, down to lit candles, warmed the small kitchen. She felt really bad for the redhead Roxy. “I’m sorry your night was ruined with your girlfriend.”

  Garrett was also looking at the table, but with a frown. “It wasn’t ruined.” He blew out the candles then stood straight, rolling his shoulders. “And Roxy is not my girlfriend.”

  Cocking her eyebrow, she looked at the table again. “Anyone tell her that?”

  “Actually, yes, repeatedly,” Garrett grunted again, turning off the stove before opening the oven door looking in.

  Dropping her bag, Janna sat down at the small island bar that sat in the middle of the small kitchen. The aroma of whatever was in the oven hit her full fo
rce, her stomach growled loudly. Loudly enough that Garrett looked up at her from his bent position at the stove. She watched as he pulled out a large pan of lasagna. The cheese was browned to a perfect golden color and bubbled with juicy sauce. She watched him set the lasagna on the burners before bending again, taking out a steaming loaf of bread and setting it next to the lasagna. He looked at her again as he grabbed one of the plates off the table, handing it to her.

  “I’m fine.” Janna shook her head, not taking the plate. “I’m not hungry.”

  “And you are a liar.” He brought the plate closer to her, urging her to take it. “Your stomach proved that. They probably heard it down the street.”

  “That was rude to bring up.” Janna frowned, still refusing the plate. “And I am not eating something a woman made for you with romantic intentions. There’s a woman’s code for something like that. It’s not right.”

  “A woman’s code?” This time Garrett cocked his eyebrow with a laugh. “God help us.”

  “If God can’t, we women will have to.” Janna shot back.

  “Suit yourself.” Garrett shrugged, taking the plate and digging into a big slab of lasagna before breaking off a hunk of bread. Setting his plate down across from her, he went to the refrigerator, poured himself a large glass of milk, and then sat down.

  “Milk?” Janna looked from the glass surprised to Garrett. “Really?”

  “Does a body good.” He raised the tall glass, drinking half of it down in one drink.

  “It sure does.” Janna sighed, watching the muscles in his throat work as he finished the milk.

  Garrett glanced at her, putting the glass down. “What?”

  “I ah…” Crap she said that aloud. She watched as he started to eat, and then frowned. “I can’t believe you are eating the food she made after being so mean to her.” Janna watched as Garrett shoveled in the delicious looking food, actually catching herself licking her lips. His eyes rose from his plate catching her doing just that. She watched as he took another fork full of cheesy lasagna, bringing it to his lips. Slowly, he put it in his mouth, chewing it with his eyes closed.

  “It is not my fault that women break into my home, cook dinner, and then expects something from me that they are not going to get,” he finally responded after a long swig of milk. “And anyone who knows anything about wolves, knows it’s against our religion to let any food go to waste.”

  “Women?” Janna said surprised.

  “Yeah, women,” Garrett grunted, breaking off another chuck of bread and slathering it with butter. “I never know what I’m going to find when I walk into my house.”

  Janna’s eyes couldn’t stay off the buttered bread. “Like what?”

  “That is something me and you will never have a discussion about.” Garrett shook his head, using the bread to sop up the sauce from the lasagna.

  “So you use these women?” Janna frowned, her eyes leaving his plate to land on him.

  “You’re a woman so you would think that.” Garrett frowned with a jaded laugh. “No, I don’t use them, but I could very easily. Every woman from sixteen to sixty wants to be mated to an alpha, most will do anything to have that status.”

  “And you really hate the benefits that brings.” Janna snorted, not believing it for a second as she watched him finish his meal from one of those women. “Come on. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

  Garrett pushed his plate away, sat back in his chair and stared at her for what seemed like forever. “Some alphas probably take advantage of the situation, but I don’t.” The stare he was giving her was full of nothing but the truth of his words. “I am more than an alpha.”

  A wave of respect for this man overwhelmed her. He didn’t seem like a player to her. Quite the opposite. He wasn’t like the type of person to say anything he didn’t mean, as it would be a waste of his time. Garrett Foster was a man who spoke his mind and damn the consequence. Making a decision to put her trust in him, she gave him a small smile. Standing and grabbing an empty plate, she filled it with the lasagna and bread. Setting it down on the island, she glanced at his milk. He pointed to where the glasses were. Filling up the glass with milk, she walked back over, sat down and took a large bite of lasagna. Closing her eyes, she moaned.

  “Oh, my God,” Janna said, between chewing. “I so couldn’t judge you if you did use them for the food, if they all cooked like this.”

  Garrett laughed. “Roxy is a sweet girl and can cook like a dream, but someone else has his eyes on her.”

  “Hunter?” Janna frowned, not believing that boy had eyes for one girl.

  “Ah, no,” Garrett snorted. “Hunter has his eyes on anything with a…”

  Janna held up her hand stopping him. “I get the point,” she replied with a laugh.

  They sat eating in silence, both lost in their own thoughts and comfortable with the quiet and each other. For once, Janna’s beast seemed at ease, letting her have peace to enjoy a meal. The restlessness she usually felt was still there, but not so close to the surface.

  “It’s really nice what you did for Leda and Sam.” Garrett finally broke the silence. Janna looked at him surprised. “Sam likes to talk, especially about you.”

  Janna shrugged, but smiled when Sam was mentioned. “They’re good kids. They were just hungry, but took from the wrong guy.” She shook her head, remembering her first meeting with Sam and Leda. “I stopped in this little restaurant to grab a bite to eat. I noticed Leda and Sam right away because they sat at their table with just water. I watched as a guy got up, leaving his plate. Sam snuck over grabbing what he could, then went to go back to share with his sister, but the man came out of the bathroom and saw him. The guy was a real ass. Instead of being kind, he picked Sam up shaking him and yelling.”

  “And you came in being the hero.” Garrett leaned further back in his chair stretching, but his eyes never left her.

  “Well, if being slammed across the room so he’d drop Sam is what a hero does, then yeah, I was a hero.” Janna cringed, rubbing her still sore ribs. “But I’d do it again.”

  “No one did anything to help?” Garrett frowned. “Weren’t there any men there?”

  Nodding, Janna tried to hide her grin. “Yeah, there were, but then Sam tried to shift and sent a few running.”

  Garrett laughed. “The kid is something else.”

  That sobered Janna’s light mood instantly. “I want you to be honest with me, Garrett.” His name felt weird on her lips, but comfortable. “Is my being here putting people in danger? I don’t understand exactly what’s going on other than the man who killed my mother is going to be hunting for me, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt. You have a lot of kids here and I would never forgive myself if something happened to someone because of me.”

  Slowly, Garrett got up and walked around the small island stopping in front of Janna. Leaning down slightly, he lifted her chin with one knuckle bringing her gaze to his. “No one comes into my town to harm or take anything from me or my people. That includes you.” He leaned in closer, breathing deeply. “Trust me, Janna.”

  All Janna could do was give one short nod. When he didn’t attempt to move, she cleared her throat, her eyes plastered to his. “I do.”

  Rubbing his thumb against the softness of her chin, he slowly let go. “Good, because nothing will happen to you under my protection.”

  Janna let her breath out as he turned away. Finally, she looked away from him as he cleaned up the kitchen, and down to her half-eaten meal. Her appetite was gone, at least her appetite for food. It seemed like her body had a different appetite in mind as did her beast, who woke up full force. Grabbing her plate, she dumped the remains in the trash and helped him finish cleaning up in silence. Once it was all done, she turned to see him staring at her.

  “I guess I need to see Jonah.” Her voice indicated it was the last thing she wanted to do at the moment.

  “Not tonight.” He reached down grabbing her bag she dropped. “I’ve a guest room upstairs. Yo
u need to rest.”

  Sighing, Janna nodded, happy hearing those words. Rest was something she hadn’t been able to do much of lately. She could fight him about staying here, but she wasn’t going to. She spent enough nights sleeping in her car, and a hot shower with a bed sounded too good to pass up. She was too tired to fight. “I would kill for a shower.”

  Garrett turned as he led her out of the kitchen to a set of stairs. His eyes ran down her body with a heat she actually felt.

  “Well, I wouldn’t actually kill, but…” When he grinned and continued up the steps, Janna rolled her eyes at herself. Sometimes, it was just best if she kept her mouth closed.

  Once at the top of the steps, he pointed down one end of the hallway. “The bathroom is down there with towels in the small closet.” He opened up a door leading into a small room with a bed and night table. It could definitely use a woman’s touch. He set her bag on the bed. “If you need anything, just yell.”

  When he turned toward her, Janna realized just how small the room was with him inside it. She tried to calm her breathing as he stood staring at her, probably waiting for her to say something. “Listen, I really appreciate everything you’ve done.”

  “I haven’t done much.” Garrett actually looked a little embarrassed as he eased his way out of the room. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be busy.”

  Janna nodded and watched him leave, shutting the door behind him. Loneliness surrounded her like a heavy cloak as the door closed, leaving her standing there staring. Biting her lip to keep from calling out to a man she hardly knew at all, she went to her bag, pulling her clothes and toothbrush out. This was ridiculous. Maybe it was just because he made her feel safe that she felt this toward him. She just wondered what it was exactly she felt toward him, as she stood staring at her stuff. With a huff, she grabbed some clothes and headed for the shower. She was tired and needed sleep. She would be over this fascination she seemed to have developed for Garrett Foster, but as she walked into the hall, she looked around, hoping to see him near.