Page 6 of Loan Wolf (Green Valley Shifters: Generations #1)

6

CLARA

C lara climbed off the bike, feeling as clumsy as an adolescent in front of her crush. Not that she had a crush. She fumbled with the kickstand and finally got it balanced without her.

Gabe, fortunately, had stalked away to get her the rental contract from behind the counter and Clara had a moment to breathe deep and try to compose herself.

Gabe. Gabriel.

Her angel.

Now that she realized who he was, Clara could see the boy he’d been in this chiseled man. He had the same kind eyes and quiet air. But he’d grown up—and out!—just as she had. He wore a torn T-shirt that could not hide the fact that he was absolutely ripped beneath it. Short, spiky dark hair begged for tidying and one pierced ear had a gold stud. That same side had tattoos of wolves, vines, and pawprints twining down around his arm to his wrist. Did they extend up his shoulder? Down his back?

Clara was dying to peel that sweaty T-shirt off him and find out.

Was he shifter strong? Clara wondered. Or was it just the human strength of someone who worked hard for a living?

Could she be his mate ?

It was the question she had every time she met someone she was attracted to, and the answer was always no.

Shifters were rare outside of Virtue; Clara knew that was why they had moved there, so that her papa and her sister could be somewhere that they fit in. Green Valley had a few shifters, at least, but they were still very secret here.

Chances were that Gabe was just a really hot guy who had once been kind to her, and that was why she was so turned on. He was devastatingly handsome and his tattoos and pierced ear were dangerously panty-watering.

“You got your own helmet?” Gabe asked, after she’d paid and signed the contract. She took a copy of it with one of his maps.

“A helmet?” Was he kidding?

“Safety first,” he said briefly. “Just because I look like a rebel doesn’t mean I bend the rules for anyone. You’re wearing a helmet off my property if you’re taking a bike. It was on page two in twenty point letters.”

He looked like he was used to this argument, and Clara could just imagine him forcing a helmet on one of the jocks he’d painted the “sportsball bike” for. He’d probably win that argument, she thought, so she let him lead her over to a rack of helmets and select one for her. It had a small sunflower painted on the side.

“Not quite a matched pair,” Clara said, settling it onto her head. She’d forgotten she was wearing a ponytail and paused to take out the elastic. “ Now can I rent a bike?”

She needed something between her legs, and if she didn’t get out soon, she was going to make an idiot of herself over this guy.

“Just a minute, let me adjust it.”

Gabe had to stand very close to her to cinch the straps and Clara was intensely aware of his closeness, like he was radiating heat. He smelled like grease and something wild, and his hands were clever. After he’d settled the helmet more correctly on her head and tightened it, he pursed his mouth and said, “Hang on…”

Then he reached for her and for one crazy moment Clara thought he was going to take her face in his hands and kiss her.

He only tucked her hair back behind the straps with both hands at once, in a tender moment that seemed to last forever.

“Sorry. It was just that, well, there you go. I’ll see you with Daisy in three hours.” Gabe turned away abruptly and his back was almost as fascinating as his front.

Clara gave the strap of her helmet an unnecessary tug and went to roll Daisy out of the shop. She paused at the door. “Thanks!”

Gabe didn’t turn, just raised his tattooed arm in a dismissive gesture.