When she’d walked outside onto her deck, the electricity had almost pulled me out into the open. But she wasn’t ready. I respected that.
The night before when I’d been at my lowest point, the shift had made me feel a little more in control. When she’d gone to bed, I’d finally left.
I cleared my throat, practicing what needed to be said.
“You are my mate and that’s the way it is.” Oh, yeah. That would go over well. I shifted in the seat, glaring at myself in the rearview mirror.
“Christine. I knotted you last night. That means you belong to me.” Uh-huh. She’d likely have me arrested and I wouldn’t blame her.
“So, we are going to date. We don’t need to get married. We can just live together and fornicate like bad bunnies.” Or wolves. Boy, I was sucking helium at this point. I truly had no idea what to say to her and a full day of trying to figure it out had just turned me into a crazed beast.
No pun intended.
Saying the crap out loud that was running through my brain wasn’t any better either.Why don’t you just say what’s in your heart?
After another glare, I made a face. “Mind your own business.” My inner voice also wasn’t doing me any good at this point.
Maybe I could use a lifeline and call my brother. Sure, he could be helpful. Nah. I had to do this all by myself. I was a big boy after all.
What pissed me off the most was that she was being hounded. I’d endured having them chase me down at the house. I’d sat through another meeting with both coaches and Ansley, who’d been thrilled that the bad boy of hockey was settling down.
And what had I done?
Not a goddamn thing.
I hadn’t shut them down. I hadn’t told them the truth. I hadn’t acted like a gentleman. I’d been nothing but a goddamn slug.
The Channel Five van was hanging out at her school and in truth, I was fucking fed up. The anger level was concentrated to the point I was ready to beat the crap out of someone. Tony was right. I needed to try to show her how I felt.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed the flowers I’d purchased for her and stepped out of the vehicle. I was almost upon them before the female reporter noticed me.
“Oh, shit. Mike, turn the damn camera on. We have a live one.”
I took long strides toward the two, refusing to back down.
The girl was giving me a hearty onceover. I’d use it. “Wow. If it isn’t Steven Masters.”
“So you know who I am.”
“Oh, yes. The Beast. You are all the talk of Tampa Bay. I’m Allison Walker, reporter for Channel Five and would love to talk to you.”
“The morning news is still on. Correct?” I asked.
She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, why?”
“Then you can go live. Yes?”
“Um…” She looked at Mike. “I’d need to call it in and double check.”
“You do that. I’ll be right here.” I took a step away, thankful I’d gone to great lengths to find out what school she taught at. After a couple of minutes, I checked my watch. We were already developing a little crowd of people from the school.
I had no idea about Christine’s schedule and refused to miss her. Finally, Allison approached.
“Mr. Masters, I was given the okay. We go live in thirty seconds.”
“Good. Then I have a few things to say.”
* * *
