My cougar surged at the sight of her like this, every instinct screaming to pull her against me, to wrap her up in my warmth and keep her there. Where she belonged.
“I’m Garner.” I kept my distance, my hands loose at my sides.
Her grip tightened on the blanket as she studied me. “I’m Elodie.”
“This is my construction site, so I can promise you that you’re not in trouble. You didn’t do anything wrong.” I kept my tone steady and my distance intact. “But this isn’t a safe place to stay.”
Her shoulders eased a fraction, though she stayed where she was, half sheltered by the open car door.
All I wanted was to prove she could trust me. “After last night’s storm, there’s damage I haven’t finished assessing yet. Fallen trees and unstable ground.”
Her fingers curled around the edge of the blanket. “I was going to leave as soon as it got light.”
“I believe you.” I took a breath, choosing my next words carefully. “But another storm is moving in this morning. Heavierthan the last one. You’re welcome to come back to my cabin until the rain passes. It’s about a half-hour drive from here.”
Her eyes widened slightly. Still wary but not closed off.
“I have an extra room,” I added quickly. “And my neighbors’ women can vouch for me.”
Her brow furrowed. “Women?”
I couldn’t call them what they truly were—mates. She’d find out soon enough, but now wasn’t the time.
“Wives,” I corrected smoothly. “Their cabins are close enough that they could easily pop over to introduce themselves.”
She studied my face, searching for any sign of deceit. I gave her none.
“If you’d rather move on, I can point you toward safer places to park.”
It killed me to make the offer, but I’d continue to watch over her no matter where she went.
Elodie was mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.
And I’d follow her anywhere to make sure she was protected.
3
ELODIE
Istood there with my blanket clutched tightly around me, trying not to stare at Garner and failing miserably.
Not that any woman would blame me. He was tall and broad-shouldered, built in a way that suggested real strength instead of gym hours. His jacket hung open over a fitted shirt, and his arms were thick with muscle, the kind earned through manual labor. His pale-blond hair looked even lighter against his tanned skin.
But his eyes captured me the most. They were a deep amber-gold, and when they met mine, something in my chest tightened in a way I didn’t understand. It felt like recognition, except that made no sense since I’d never seen him before in my life.
I forced myself to focus instead of focusing on the fact that I was feeling desire for the first time. “Your cabin is about thirty minutes away?”
He nodded. “Roughly.”
I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat before I admitted, “I don’t think I can make it that far.”
His brow furrowed with concern. “Why?”
“My gas light’s been on since I left town.” I winced. “I was planning to stop first thing this morning.”
Garner didn’t get judgmental at all. He just replied, “That’s easy enough to fix.”
