I vaguely realized I was close to trampling fans while driving myself forward. If I was right and the brunette was the woman my body insisted was my mate, she was making a beeline to the door. She wasn’t even bothering to take a quick peek.
I’d scratched and fought my way to the front of the line with every woman chanting.
“Beast. Beast. Beast.”
None of it mattered because she was ignoring me.
“Christine!” A moment of silence killed the chaos just long enough for the girl in question to turn her head.
There were the huge eyes the color of purple petunias I’d planted in her yard. And her luscious lips, the ones I hungered to bite and lick were on full display, yet instead of a smile as I’d hoped for, she wore a scowl that could rival any winger ignored on the ice. She didn’t waste any time either, punching in the code for the security system and throwing open the door in a huff, disappearing inside.
“Is that the girl?” Tony asked as soon as he flanked my side.
“That’s the girl.”
“She works here?”
“Not that I know of. She’s a teacher.”
“You fucked a teacher? Man, that’s… Hot.” Tony whistled. “But if she doesn’t work here, how did she get in?”
That I couldn’t answer.
I turned my head slowly. “I need to find her. Can you hold back the piranhas for me?” I nodded toward the reporters and women who were still making lewd offers.
He smacked me on the shoulder. “Sure thing, buddy. You know what? I’m kind of digging you more than I was before. I mean in a totally bro kind of way.”
“Got it.” He was still explaining what he meant as I headed for the door, fumbling with remembering the code. By the time I swung it open, I was staring at an empty corridor.
That wasn’t about to stop me. I rushed forward, close to being frantic. How was it possible she was working here? Maybe I’dbeen seeing things and the woman who’d walked in was just a lookalike.
And I’d terrified her.
Hell, if she’d thought a flesh-and-blood-eating monster was chasing her down, of course she’d run. But what about the feeling I’d had, that I was chasing my mate?
That’s exactly what I did, my footsteps echoing on the scarred tile floor as I attempted to chase her down. I flew down one hallway after another, confused how she could hide from me.
Out of complete frustration, I even barged into several rooms, including a woman’s restroom.
“Get out!” a lady screamed just before slamming a stall door shut.
“Sorry. Is there a beautiful girl in here with long, dark curly hair?”
“How would I know, buddy? What if there was?”
“Then I’d need to talk to her and tell her how sorry I was that I was an ass. I’m shitty with apologies.”
The woman laughed. “All men are asses. What makes what you did so noteworthy?”
“I lied to her.” Leaning against the door, I shook my head. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“Why did you lie to her?”
“I wanted her to like me. Before you ask what’s not to like, a lot of things including that I’m a hockey jockey with puck bunnies trailing behind me. Also, that I’m a shifter. Two things shedoesn’t like. I thought if she got to know the real me then maybe she’d accept me for who I am.”
Why was I sharing private information? Because something compelled me to confess my sins. As if that would work.
“Did you come clean?” the woman asked.
