Page 6

A n alarm teased her from sleep and when the bed moved, she opened her eyes. A naked Daire flipped back the covers and sat up. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled when he confirmed she was awake.

“Pretty sure the sun isn’t up,” she grumbled.

“You’d be right,” he said. “I have some work to do at the Wulfrun Site. You’re more than welcome to stay here and rest.”

“I better get back,” she said with a sigh. “I don’t want Payton to worry too much.”

He reached back and took hold of her hand. “Wanna see the site?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’d love that, if I won’t be in the way.”

“Not at all,” he replied. “I kind of like your company.”

“Oh, wow. Kind of, eh?” She chuckled. “I kind of like yours, too.”

“Awesome,” he said. “Okay, give me about twenty minutes and I’ll treat you to some of the best coffee in town.”

Giving him a thumbs-up, she shamelessly stared at his tight ass as he headed to this en-suite bathroom.

“Stop ogling my butt,” he said sternly, but then gave a little wiggle right before he closed the door.

Smiling, Kinleigh rose and started to dress. She left the bedroom hunting for her shoes, once more admiring the beauty of the home. She hadn’t appreciated the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the sprawling vista of the forest until she saw the morning sun play peek-a-boo through the tree branches. Her wolf sat up and took notice, tongue hanging out as it urged her to go for a run.

“Maybe tonight, girl,” she murmured.

“Ready?”

She turned and nodded. “I think you promised me the best coffee around.”

“That I did.”

Daire walked over to the credenza and slipped his wallet in one of the back pants pockets and cell phone in the other. Then he held out his hand to her and Kinleigh slipped hers into his. After he helped her into his truck, he reached over to secure her with the seat belt and then gave her a quick peck on the lips. She checked him as he sauntered around the front of the truck and slid behind the wheel.

“So,” he began as he headed down his driveway. “What are your plans for the evening?”

“I’m not sure. What are your plans?”

“I was hoping to convince a certain beautiful honey-blonde woman I know to have dinner with me.”

“Oh, anyone I know?”

“Maybe,” he teased. “She’s beautiful.”

“You said that already.”

“Yes, but it bears repeating,” he said. “She has sky-blue eyes. A very cute button nose. And little angel kisses over her cheeks.”

“Angel kisses?”

“Some people call them freckles.”

“Ah,” Kinleigh said, acting like she knew who he was talking about. “I think that rules out Esmeralda.”

“You are definitely right about that.”

“Linda? Abby? Sue? Ginger?”

“Do you know a Linda, Abby, Sue or Ginger?”

“No. Do you?”

“I think my first-grade teacher was named Sue, but no, not her. Or them. I’ll give you a hint.” He leaned closer, like he was going to whisper a secret. “She’s a good kisser.”

“Is she?”

He nodded “The best.”

“Really? The best?”

“Bestest of the best.” He pulled into a spot in front of a coffeehouse, turned off the engine, and then moved closer. “I don’t know if you realized it or not, but you blew my socks off, lady.”

She batted her eyelashes. “Would you like me to blow something else tonight?”

“And now I’m gonna walk around all day with a hard-on. Thank you for that, Miss Shire.”

She winked, then exited the truck cab. He came around to open the door to the coffee shop for her.

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“Of course, milady.”

Inside the coffee shop, a bubbly redhead waved at them.

“Hi, Daire,” she greeted. “Hi, Daire’s friend.”

“Morning, Keegan,” Daire said. “This is Kinleigh. She’s Luna Payton’s cousin.”

“Oh, then double welcome.” A woman stepped from the back to behind the counter. “And this is my cousin, Mairi, visiting from Scotland.”

The pretty redhead waved at them.

“I’ll take a dark brew with sugar,” he ordered, then turned to Kinleigh. “My treat.”

“A small cappuccino, please.” She nudged Daire. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

In a few minutes, Daire paid and they waved as they left.

“You were right,” she said as she sipped her coffee. “This is good.”

Daire drove them to the construction site where he worked on new single-family homes for the growing town. Payton told her there had been a mass application to join the pack, so much that she needed someone to help with all the petitions. Her cousin had even asked if she wanted to stay in Sheridan and work for them.

For a moment, Kinleigh actually thought about it. Even though she loved her dad and her pack, a restlessness flowed under her skin. An itch to find the place in this world where she belonged since Vaughn had taken away her future as Luna. Whoever her father trained to become alpha would have his own mate, regulating her to watch from the sidelines. It wasn’t that she yearned for that position, but she’d grown up with the knowledge that whoever she married would be alpha.

Until the High Luna gave her a cheating liar of a mate.

“Jericho wanted each house to be eco-friendly,” Daire explained, snapping her out of her dark thoughts. From the tool chest in his truck bed, he pulled out two white hard hats and passed one to her since they were in an active construction site. “Recycled glass. Recycled steel. Reclaimed wood. We also use precast concrete, which takes less energy and material to produce.”

They walked along the dirt-strewn road, past houses in various stages of completion. The hum of saws, hammers, and drills echoed around. Various people raised their hands in greeting. The layout of the community impressed her, showcasing how Jericho paid attention to the needs of his people.

“Hey, Daire!”

They both stopped and turned as a man hurried up to them. He was big and brawny, good looking in a lumberjack sort of way. Short dark hair, dark beard, wearing flannel.

“Morning, Beta Ledger,” Daire said. “Have you met Kinleigh?”

“Not yet, but I do know you’re Payton’s cousin. I’m Ledger Klayman.”

She bowed her head to honor his rank. “Nice to finally meet you.”

“Hey,” he said, looking at Daire. “I looked over the estimates you dropped off and I like the numbers.”

“Great,” Daire said, smiling. “I’ll place the order once I drop Kinleigh at Jericho’s.”

“All right, I’ll see you later.” Ledger turned to Kinleigh. “My mate and I are planning a barbecue this weekend. I hope you can come.”

“Thank you,” she replied. “I’d like that. Is there anything I can bring?”

“Bring whatever and who ever.” He threw a wink toward Daire.

She saluted him. Ledger turned and gave a wave before heading back to one of the framed-out houses.

Kinleigh glanced up at Daire. “We’ve established we’re not calling this thing we’re doing as dating, so I’m not calling it a date, but would you like to go to the barbecue with me?”

He slid his arm around her lower back and pulled her into his body. “I would love to go on another non-date date with you.”