Page 16 of Trees Take the Long View

Dean cupped my head in his hands then, pressed his forehead against mine, and sighed, his thumbs rubbing restlessly against my face. "What am I going to do about you."

Fall for me and never recover, I hope.

"I hope you're okay with flying," he said.

"Sure. Are we flying somewhere today?"

He gave me a look like he was trying to figure me out and was starting to wonder if that was possible. "No. I just mentioned it to be a jerk."

I laughed at him, and gave him a light shove towards the bathroom. I was always mindful not to use my strength even playfully against non-shifters. They could be very fragile.

After that he got ready quickly. We stopped by to pick up my tent and my other possessions, making it quick. I went ahead and called my boss, keeping the conversation brief, and let him know I wouldn't be in today, or ever again.

He let me know what he thought of "irresponsible and shiftless" wolves.

When I hung up, Dean said, "No wonder you didn't want to call him."

"You could hear that?"

"He was pretty loud." He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, frowning. "He shouldn't be allowed to talk to you like that."

"Eh, he can be a jerk, but I mean, I did quit without warning." I shrugged. I never had to deal with him again, I didn't really care what he called me right now. "I'm really not shiftless, though. It's kind of funny that he picked that word, isn't it?"

At last Dean cracked a tiny smile. "I guess."

After a moment he asked, "Will you come back here, if..."

"No," I interrupted. "I only picked that town because it was quiet, and close to lots of trees, and didn't have a pack already."

"That was important? Not having to deal with a pack?"

Again I shrugged. "I'm kind of a loner. You read my file, didn't you?"

His mouth tightened. "Yes, but we're supposed to be getting to know each other, aren't we? Besides, your file didn't say why you're a lone wolf. Is it...not something you want to talk about?"

He was treading carefully, afraid it was just as touchy of a subject as working with the cops, and why I'd quit.

"No, no, it's fine. I've just always been a bit of a loner. I have restless paw, my mother says."

"You're still in touch with your family?"

"Sure. I visit once in a while. But I can never stay there very long. I like doing different sorts of things, changing it up, you know? I'm not the sort of person who could settle into a job for thirty or forty years and not get really bored, no matter how interesting the job was. That's why I thought working with the cops would be good, you know? Something different every day."

I shut up then. I was talking too darned much.

He nodded, and thought about that. "Well, I gotta tell you, I'm exactly the same way, so we're compatible in that way at least."

I released a breath I hadn't been consciously holding. "What, that's the only way you can think of?" I teased. "Not a single other area where we might be compatible?" I walked two fingers up his arm, grinning evilly.

"Quit it, I'm driving!" He shrugged me off. "But yeah, it helps to know you're not going to be pining for a pack, if we..."

"Ha! So you are thinking about it!"

"Of course I'm thinking about it," he growled, like the admission had to be torn from him. "I don't know what I'm thinking—but I'm definitely thinking about it."

You're thinking about being my mate, I told him silently, and sat in pleased, slightly smug silence for the next half hour and let him drive, and think, all he wanted to.

He smelled of longing, and wistfulness, and something that I thought could be loneliness. Oh yes, he was definitely thinking about it.