She Wolf and The Detective: (Suspense, Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy) (Book 1-3)

by Michael Reyes

  Faith nodded over to the counter to beckon Andrew over to follow her. “I honestly hadn’t expected to hear from you, especially so soon, after last night when, well, you know.”

  He grinned, laughing just a little bit. “You mean when you rejected me in front of representatives of most of the packs in the region, including the entirety of my own?”

  Faith blushed, looking genuinely apologetic. “Yeah, that. I’m sorry about everything, especially leaving so fast. I just don’t like being put on the spot and I didn’t want to make it worse. I find that, when in front of a crowd, the longer I speak the worse it gets.”

  “Really now?” Andrew asked, surprised. “You came to the table guns blazing; you don’t strike me as the type to get shy.”

  “One cappuccino please,” Faith ordered, before turning back to Andrew, shrugging, “I’m full of surprises.”

  “So am I. I’d love to get to know you well enough for you to find out some of them. You kind of wrote me off the other night.”

  Andrew paid for her drink, with Faith thanking him while ignoring the dirty look the barista shot at her, and the two headed back over to where Andrew had been sitting.

  “I am sorry about that,” Faith said, “I can sometimes tend to write people off too quickly. I admit, you’re not as bad as I expected.”

  “Thanks,” Andrew said, sitting down. “I think. Coming from you that sounds like a compliment but I’m not entirely sure.”

  “Trust me, it’s a compliment,” Faith said, taking a sip of her coffee.

  “Well, then thank you,” Andrew grinned. “So, does this mean I get a second chance?”

  Faith let out a loud sigh, as if she were horribly inconvenienced by the whole thing. Her smile, however, let him know that she was kidding.

  “I suppose it won’t kill me to give you a second chance,” she grinned, “after all, you did buy me coffee.”

  “It doesn’t have to be a date though,” Andrew clarified, “I meant it earlier, I just want to get to know you, even if it’s in a ‘just friends’ way.”

  Faith blinked, eyes widening just a bit as she grinned. “You actually mean that, don’t you?”

  Andrew stared at her, just a bit puzzled. “Yes, why wouldn’t I?”

  She grinned. “Well, in my experience, guys typically run in the other direction at the prospect of becoming just friends. But, I don’t know, you seem like you’d actually be okay with being just friends. It’s different.”

  He laughed. “Personally, I think I’m pretty normal; it’s just the rest of the world that’s backwards.”

  She snorted out a laugh. “Maybe, but I have to say, it’s refreshing.”

  “Well I’m glad,” Andrew smiled, taking a sip of his coffee and grimacing as he realized that it had gone cold.

  “Not enough sugar?” Faith asked, referring to his coffee.

  “No, it’s just cold; I was busy reading.”

  “Nice and a bookworm, two great qualities.” Faith smirked.

  “Are you flirting?” Andrew teased, laughing.

  “Oh honey,” Faith purred, leaning in just a little and letting Andrew get a very impressive view down her dress, “When I flirt with you, you’ll know it.”

  Andrew swallowed, suddenly feeling as though the room had gotten about ten degrees warmer.

  “So,” he said, clearing his throat just a bit, “tell me about yourself.”

  Faith smirked. “Is this an interview?”

  Andrew flushed. “Okay Miss Criticism, what would you have me ask?”

  “I’m sorry,” Faith laughed, “I just like giving you a hard time; it’s a nervous reflex.”

  “Do I make you nervous?” Andrew said, his turn to tease.

  Faith flushed, and Andrew had to say it was a good look on her. It was nice to see that she wasn’t always a juggernaut of confidence and sarcastic quips, and he liked it.

  Faith took a sip of her coffee as she gathered herself. “Well, to answer your original question, I don’t know what to say. I don’t usually talk about myself. What do you want to know?”

  Andrew grinned. “Nothing too deep or life-shattering I suppose, it can just be basic like what are your favorite television show and the last book you read?”

  She smiled, glad that some of her anxiety at having to speak about herself had been somewhat eased. “Well, as far as TV goes, I like the classics. Don’t laugh, but when I was little, I would spend hours watching I Love Lucy reruns. I also really like the Twilight Zone.”

  “So you like black and white shows?” Andrew asked.

  She nodded, grinning. “Yeah, they seem to have more depth to them than the shows now do. As for the last book I read, it was Bridget Jones’s Diary.”

  “Really? That seems . . . different, at least in comparison to what you watch.”

  “I’m part of a book club, and like I said, I’m full of surprises. I read all kinds of books; I don’t like to limit myself.”

  “Good to know.”

  “So, what about you Mr. Alpha?” she asked, using the nickname from earlier. “What’s under the hood of your car?”

  They stared at each other for a moment before they burst out laughing.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, that sounded much dirtier than I’d originally planned.”

  Andrew snorted, making Faith laugh even harder. “I don’t mind, I enjoyed it.”

  Faith flushed, shaking her head at herself before smiling. “I won’t even try for another metaphor; how about just tell me about yourself?”

  Andrew grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want to try for another one? I’m really curious to see what you’d come up with.”

  “No thanks, I think I’m good.” She smiled, cheeks still a faint tinge of red. “So, what are your interests, your likes and dislikes, your pet peeves and your hidden secrets?”

  “I don’t think I have many hidden secrets; I think I being a werewolf is big and bad enough.”

  “Fair point,” Faith smirked, “What about the rest?”

  “Oh boy,” Andrew laughed, leaning back in his seat. “Well, likes and dislikes is such a broad topic. I like pie, I like cute animals and I like coffee; I dislike reality TV shows, books with movie poster covers, and the color yellow.”

  Faith laughed, before her eyes narrowed just a tad and she looked down at her bright dress.

  “I’m kidding about the color yellow,” Andrew grinned, “You look great.”

  Faith smirked. “You’re terrible.”

  “But in a loveable way, right?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Continue please.”

  “Well,” Andrew sighed, thinking, “As for pet peeves, I’m not sure that I have many; I’m pretty easy going. I guess I don’t like rude people.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a pet peeve so much as being a normal human being.”

  “Well then I guess I don’t have any pet peeves.”

  “We’ll see about that,” she teased, leaning in conspiratorially.

  Andrew leaned in as well. “Oh really?”

  “Yep.”

  He smiled. “Well, if you want to find out, you’ll have to spend a bit more time around me.”

  “You’re pretty smooth, aren’t you?” Faith joked, sitting back. “But I guess I don’t find your company unbearable, so I think I can handle that. But I get to plan our second date.”

  A dark eyebrow quirked in interest. “A second date? I thought this was purely a friendly meeting.”

  “It was friendly, but I personally think it could get a bit friendlier.”

  “Really?”

  Faith shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant. “We agreed it had the potential to either be a date or a friendly meeting; I think I’d like it a bit better if it were a date.”

  “I’d like that too.” Andrew smiled.

  “Great!” Faith said brightly, standing up. “But I have one condition.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?” he asked, standing as well.

  The corner of
her mouth lifted a tad in a smirk. “I get to pick the next date,” she repeated, pecking him on the cheek before turning swiftly and heading away and out of the café.

  Andrew blinked, unsure of what had just happened but confident that it had been great.

  He foolishly wanted to touch the place where Faith’s lips had just been like a smitten teenage girl but used what little self-control he had to resist and sit back down.

  He flipped open the book, finding his spot and attempting to pick back up where he left off, delving back into the story.

  He finished the chapter he had been on before, but found himself uninterested in continuing, his mind otherwise occupied with thoughts of Faith.

  She was certainly an interesting one. He didn’t know exactly what he thought of her, but he knew that he liked her. It was too soon to think of a courtship, but honestly, he wouldn’t exactly be opposed to one either.

  Despite the tricky start they had gotten off to, he had felt a real connection to Faith when they talked. She was confident, but with a shy side, and had just a bit of a mystery to her. A mystery he wanted to get to know more about.

  It was weird; yesterday morning, winning over a woman had been the farthest thing from his mind, as he instead focused on making sure his pack was stable and preventing encroachment onto his territory from rogues. Now, try as he might to focus on things, they couldn’t hold his attention for long.

  Instead, his thoughts were full of wondering what she would plan for their date and if she was thinking about him as much as he was thinking about her.

  He grabbed his book, walking out of the café and to his car to get back home. Hopefully being around his pack would distract him just a bit from thinking about when Faith would text him next.

  Honestly, he was a bit disgusted with himself. He was a grown man, an Alpha. He shouldn’t be this preoccupied with one woman. Suddenly, something his dad had once told him floated across his mind as he drove.

  Werewolves had less of a choice in their life mates than humans. With werewolves, there has to be a deeper connection. His dad had told him that he would know when he found his. He said that it wouldn’t hit him hard, not like those movies where the couple fall in love at first sight and get married the next day, but that it’d be a gradual buildup, and eventually, he wouldn’t have any doubts, he’d just know that he’d found the one.

  To him at the time, it had all sounded ridiculous. Like something out of a Disney movie or a cheesy teen romance novel. But now, he was wondering how much truth there was to it, and if he was beginning to feel the stirrings of that with Faith.

  He felt just a bit ridiculous thinking all of this, but at the same time, he couldn’t help feeling just a bit hopeful as well. Maybe, just maybe, he was on his way to finding the one.

  Chapter 4

  “How was coffee?” Abbie asked as Andrew walked through the door, a knowing look in her eyes.

  “It was fine,” he said curtly, though he couldn’t quite hide the smile on his face.

  “How fine?” Chloe smirked, looking up from the magazine she was thumbing through.

  “Regular fine, or super fine?” Abbie asked, giggling just a bit.

  Andrew rolled his eyes, heading for the stairs. “Fine as in none of your business fine,” he smirked, heading up to his room.

  “So, I heard you went on a coffee date?” Leo asked curiously as he crossed Andrew’s path in the hallway, on his way from the bathroom.

  “When did this pack develop such a penchant for gossip?” Andrew groaned.

  Leo held up his hands. “What can I say? It’s interesting. But if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand. I just have one question.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Was it fine, or fine?”

  “You all are the worst,” Andrew muttered, listening to Leo’s uproarious laughter as he walked to his room, shutting the door behind him with an exasperated sigh.

  “So I see that you’ve been out with the East Pack’s Alpha,” Natasha said as Faith walked through the door.

  If one looked at Natasha, with her frizzy red hair pulled up in a bun, flour-dusted cheeks from baking and pink apron, no one would take her to be an aggressive Alpha that was violently protective of her pack.

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t because you forced me to,” Faith muttered, walking over and stealing a cookie off of the pan that Natasha had just pulled out of the oven.

  “Believe it or not, I didn’t do it because I want to get our pack latched on to another; I did it because I’ve heard good things about this guy and trust the woman who contacted me.”

  “Still, it would have been nice to have a choice in the matter,” Faith muttered around a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie.

  “I care about you,” Natasha said, “And I know that you’ve been lonely. I’m not trying to force a mate on you, obviously you had the power to reject his offer; I just thought it would help to get you out and playing the field.”

  “Playing the field?” Faith laughed, “Did you actually just say that?”

  Natasha chuckled. “I did and I’m entirely unashamed. Now, tell me about this coffee date.”

  “It was just coffee,” Faith murmured, jumping up to sit on the counter, feet swinging back and forth.

  ‘Yes, but you were out for a while; the coffee must have been really good.”

  “It was, I had a cappuccino, just the right combination of coffee and foam, you should go sometime; I think you’d like it.”

  “Must you make things so hard?” Natasha sighed, putting a second batch of cookies in the oven.

  “I don’t have to, but it sure is fun,” Faith smirked, smiling at Natasha’s exasperated huff.

  “Remind me why I took you in again?”

  “Because you love me and I make a mean red velvet cake.”

  “Not frequently enough,” Natasha muttered, setting the oven’s timer. “So, was this just coffee, as you said this morning, or was this a date?”

  “It was a coffee date.”

  “You realize that tells me nothing.” Natasha sighed, leaning up against the counter beside Faith.

  “Yep.”

  “You know what I think,” Natasha said, a smile creeping on to her face, “I think that you like this guy. If you didn’t, you would have just outright told me and been done with the whole conversation, and if it had gone poorly you probably would have come in here ranting to me. So, I can only conclude that it went well and you like this guy. Which means, if that’s the case, there’s only one question left to ask, and that’s whether or not you plan on seeing him again. So, do you?”

  Faith shrugged, turning away to hide the flush in her cheeks. “I don’t know, maybe,” she muttered, wanting to sound indifferent and nonchalant.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Faith rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine, yes I had fun and yes I’m going to see him again, and, before you ask, yes it will be a date.”

  “Where are you two going?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I told him that I wanted to plan it, I just haven’t decided what we’re going to be doing.”

  “You know, I can always give you a few ideas if you need some.” Natasha smirked. “I can even help you pick out an outfit and paint your nails while listening to Cindy Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

  “Okay, the teasing is totally unnecessary.”

  Natasha laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time, just desserts if you ask me since getting any information from you is like pulling teeth.”

  “Fine, we’re even,” Faith said, “now, can I go to my room or do you want to pull any more teeth?”

  “Go on, go upstairs,” Natasha said, waving her off. “We can revisit this conversation later.”

  “Oh boy, can’t wait,” Faith groaned, shaking her head as she headed for her room, grabbing another cookie off of the table as she went.

  Chapter 5

  Andrew glanced at his phone as he entered his bedroom after
his shower, something he was prone to doing every few minutes since he’d spoken to Faith at the coffee shop.

  This time, however, he was pleased to note that while he had been showering he’d received a message from Faith.

  He frowned as he realized that he still hadn’t found out her last name.

  So, I’ve decided on what we’ll be doing, the message read, making Andrew eagerly type back.

  And what will that be?

  It’s a secret, you’ll find out when we meet

  Do I at least get to know where I’m meeting you at?

  I’m not sure, I’ve been debating on whether I should pick you up and blindfold you for the journey or if I should have you meet me there.

  Think fast, I’m dying from anticipation, Andrew typed back quickly, grinning at the immediate response he received.

  Well, that sounds like an intensely personal problem

  Andrew moved to type back but there was another text.

  I’ll send the address in a minute, just be there, tomorrow, five o clock sharp.

  I’ll be there, Andrew typed back, heart pounding in his chest, can’t wait

  :)

  It was just a tiny, emoticon smile, but Andrew felt his face flush and a wide smile split his lips in response to it. Then, expectantly, a sudden rush of panic. It was a surprise: he had no idea where they’d be going. What would he wear?!

  “You look sharp boss,” Harley said, eyeing him sideways over the book he was reading at the kitchen table, “big plans?”

  Andrew made a conscious effort to prevent a blush from coming across his tanned cheeks as was prone to happen at the mere thought of Faith lately. Instead, he gave a half-shrug. “Just headed out, not quite sure what I’ll do yet, so I dress for any event.”

  “Smart thinking,” Harley hummed, “and perhaps just a bit mysterious,” he added, grinning.

  “That’s the goal,” Andrew said, “Do you think you can hold down the fort for me for the day? Leo’s watching a Star Wars marathon so, unless the house is burning, and maybe not even then, there’s no hope of drawing him from his room.”

  Harley chuckled. “Aye, aye captain,” he said, placing a hand over his left eye in imitation of a pirate. “Have fun, but not too much fun.”