Page 17 of Loan Wolf (Green Valley Shifters: Generations #1)

17

GABE

G abe knew that it was Clara the moment the door alarm sounded. He had the double doors propped open, but there was a motion detector at the entrance.

And there she was, rolling Daisy in astride, her helmet perched on her braids.

“Five minutes to spare,” Gabe said, trying to squash the joy that rose in his chest at the sight of her. Could he convince himself that it was just her legs that made him feel weak? She was gorgeous, that was all.

And our mate , his wolf reminded him unhelpfully.

Clara gave him an unwavering speculative gaze. “I’m thinking about extending our deal for the weekly rate,” she said, rocking in place.

Hope rose up and choked Gabe. “What part of our deal?” he asked. He wasn’t sure if his eyebrow raise was as good as hers.

She grinned, a slow, suggestive smile that was at complete odds with her messy blonde braids and wholesome looks.

He might have acted on that look and forgotten about the open door altogether, but there was a clatter from the sidewalk and a group of tourists came rolling their bikes in. The father stopped out on the sidewalk and appeared to be watching a game on his phone by the cheers and curses he was making.

“I’m afraid we’ve got a flat on this one,” the matriarch said. “Thomas, stop hitting your sister.”

Thomas did not stop hitting his sister, who was staring shyly at Clara, as Gabe came to collect the bike with the flat, rolling it to inspect the tire.

Clara scooted to the side on her bike, and exchanged an amused look with Gabe over their heads.

“Ask her,” Thomas hissed. “Ask her!”

“Are you Clara Montgomery?” the little girl blurted.

Clara smiled at her so warmly that even the edges of it warmed Gabe to his toes. “Yes, I am!”

“I told you,” Thomas said in a stage whisper.

“The ballet dancer , Clara Montgomery?” the sister said skeptically.

If Gabe hadn’t been gazing at Clara’s face, he wouldn’t have seen the tiny flinch. Her smile remained sunny. “Yes, that’s me!”

“They are very excited to see you this weekend at the season’s closing celebration,” the harried mother said.

“Amy wants to be a ballet dancer,” Thomas volunteered.

Amy flushed scarlet. “No, I don’t.”

“I bet it takes a lot of work and practice,” the mother said frantically.

“Oh, yes,” Clara said, catching her drift. “I’m up every day at five to start working.”

“Amy knows all the positions,” Thomas said, and he demonstrated, to Amy’s mortification. “First position! Second position!”

“Amy, stop hitting your brother.”

Cubs, his wolf said tolerantly.

Gabe found the culprit, a screw embedded in the tire. “This should be an easy fix. If you want to wait a few minutes, I can do that now, or I can get you a different bike.”

“I want one with flames!” Thomas exclaimed.

“You aren’t getting a new one,” his mother said. “It’s Amy’s bike that has the flat.”

“I liked that bike,” Amy said, sounding sulky.

“I’ll get it fixed right up,” Gabe promised.

“I’m going to head out,” Clara said loudly. “I’ll be back around closing time. It was nice to meet you, Amy and Thomas. Keep practicing, Amy!”

They chorused polite if confusing things after her and Gabe rolled the bike back into the shop area while Amy and Thomas were set loose looking at the bikes and accessories. “You don’t need a new helmet, Thomas. Amy, we’re not buying that. Stop touching those, Thomas. They’re expensive.”

Gabe patched the tire and reinflated it, bouncing to test the seal. “Give it a ride around the block and if it’s still leaking, bring it back, but you should be good to go now.”

Amy put her helmet back on with poor grace when her mother insisted, and the family finally left.

Clara hadn’t signed a new contract or paid the difference yet, Gabe realized, but she’d be back around closing. And if their deal was extended for the full week, he was going to need a lot more condoms. He kicked Pinochle off the windowsill and out the double doors, and put the clock in the window.