Page 58 of Found Objects

“Shit.”

“That was terrible. You wanna try again?”

“Fine. I should’ve stayed and fought with you, not run away at the first sign of trouble.”

“I get you being mad, but you can’t blow hot and cold on me. Pick one and do that.”

“I pick hot, then. I have no interest in running cold on you in any way.”

“You say that now, but I feel a very particular way about your future.”

“I know that, but please, Mere,” he murmured, taking hold of my free hand in both of his, “gimme another chance.”

“You need a mate, a wolf mate, who can be what you need when it’s time for you to take your rightful place in the pack.”

He was smiling as he gazed at me. “Man, have you got some gorgeous eyes on you.”

“You’re not listening to me.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he tightened his hold fast, making sure I couldn’t move. And I could pull my hand free if I wanted. I was innately stronger than he was. But I didn’t want to. I did, however, need to make my stand clear. “I will not be a diversion that you cast aside when the time comes for you to take a mate.”

“I have no interest in doing anything with you that involves us being apart.”

“You’re not––”

“I think a man who comes to take care of my brother as soon as he knows he’s sick, protects the children of my pack, and built a women’s shelter and one for animals in the town I now live in, might be just the mate I need, Merritt Baker.”

“I—”

“Thank you for letting us stay with you tonight.” He leaned in, his mouth close to my ear, his warm breath on my skin as he spoke. “I know you’re doin’ it for Ev because you would never think of letting him down, but it means a lot to me as well.”

“Of course.” I eased my hand free of his before leaning forward on the chair so I was farther away from him and closer to Evan.

Immediately, he slipped his hand up under the hem of my sweater to the small of my back, the rough calluses sliding over my bare skin.

I turned to look at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Nope. My brain’s workin’ just fine.”

“Move your hand.”

“Up or down?”

I had an answer, but it got tangled up somewhere between my head and my mouth.

“Listen,” he said, and his voice had gone all gravelly and low, “I was a jackass the other day, and I’m woefully sorry.”

“Woefully?”

“Do not make fun of a heartfelt apology.” He eased me back so I was resting against his chest before he pressed his nose to the side of my neck and inhaled deeply. “I’m all tangled up over you, Mere, and until I sort this, I can’t do anything else.”

“And when were you planning to tell me all this?”

“I was on my way back to see you, but then Ev threw up black goop all over the grass.”

“You didn’t think I’d buried whatever bones were out there on your uncle’s property?”

“Of course not.” He huffed, side-eyeing me. “I know your heart.”

“Oh?”