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Why is it that I turn into some kind of blubbering teenage boy around her?

Seemingly satisfied, she nodded. “Guess that makes sense.”

She brushed back her auburn hair and took out her phone, the emotion in her eyes back from earlier.

“That thing you asked the other day, if I felt strongly enough for Nigel to not be able to leave,” her eyes lifted from the device, glimmering, “I couldn’t argue that I wouldn’t be able to walk away.” Her soft smile faded. “And Nigel doesn’t deserve that. He deserves someone who couldn’t leave with time. Not if his life is on the line.”

I truly admired her strength and candor. It was few and far between who had it these days. And yet, I still wanted to comfort her in a way that went directly against my own interests.

“It’s true you should rethink the relationship with Nigel, but you don’t have to cut him off entirely. He’s still a friend, yes?”

As if she hadn’t thought about it, her eyes jerked up to mine. “Friend?”

“If his pack agreed, then nothing says he can’t join us. It’s less likely to get back to his kind if his own people are on board. Granted, it wouldn’t be ideal to move with that many people, but I could schmooze a few of the upper crust to permit their presence under the guise of a necessary collaboration.”

I cradled my chin contemplatively.

“The Shadow Goblins are a big undertaking. Taking down an entire group of them would take all the help we can get. It wouldn’t seem unreasonable to ask a local pack to help. After that, I’d use the connection to employ them more than once. It wouldn’t look suspicious that way. The Organization has worked with different kinds of creatures to achieve certain ends, and with my endorsement, it’s not likely to be questioned.”

She seemed genuinely surprised I’d offer. “You’d do that for me?”

“If that’s what you want,” I said, keeping the bitterness from tainting my voice. Her entire mood changed the minute it was about that wolf, and the envy burned my throat like acid. “It may appease him to some degree and thwart reckless behavior.”

If left the way he was, the wolf would chase her. I was sure of it. I’d seen too many like him who abandoned themselves, their duties, their everything just to chase someone they loved. I got the feeling if she agreed to a friendship and collaboration, he’d be appeased enough not to act senselessly and get himself killed. Because foremost, I wanted to avoid the heartbreak in her expression.

I’d do whatever it took to redeem myself in her eyes.

Her lips moved and she glanced at the door, a curious action I took note of. But before I could really ponder her perplexing actions, she had her arms wrapped around me and her cheek against my chest.

It was ridiculous how rigid and confused I became in an instant. Me, a Hunter who’d lived longer than anyone in the business. Who most creatures with any amount of intelligence feared. Who never let anyone come close enough to touch. Who not once had been caught so completely off guard I visibly reacted to a shameful degree.

“Thank you, Phil. You might be a grumpy old man, but you’re a real softie sometimes. And I’d be the first to say I was wrong about you.”

I couldn’t even be angry when her heat was merged with mine, her small body a perfect fit inside my arms, which I brazenly wrapped around her. “I hate to point out something when you’re being friendly, but it was you who worried about others seeing us. This is definitely going to send the wrong message.”

Blushing a vibrant red, she fled the embrace, and I instantly regretted saying anything at all. “I’m so sorry. I just—”

“Lost your mind for a bit? It happens.”

Her glare was unfortunately just as cute as her blushing. “Forgot where we were for a second, but you’re right. Lost my head for a minute. Why else would I hug an asshole?”

Chuckling, I motioned for the door. “Not the first time a woman’s forgotten herself around me.”

Her palpable disgust made me smile. “You’re seriously the worst. Maybe that’s why you hate Edward so much. He’s a gentleman.”

“Not the way I’d put it. He stalked her, and then up and left for months.”

The spritely Hunter’s happy grin put heat into my loins. “For someone who says he doesn’t like the movies, you remember a lot of details and specifics.”

I internally cursed how clever the girl was. “Just walk. You don’t want to make the wolf wait.”

“The wolf?”

Schiesse.

I cleared my throat, not one to mindlessly say something. “Nigel awaits.”

Her laughing eyes stayed on me for a second before she shrugged. “I’m a little nervous now.”