Page 36 of Trees Take the Long View

I knew I shouldn't let myself get jealous. I knew that, of course I did: but seeing Dean give attention to a cute guy, and feeling that he probably didn't want me anyway, combined to make me feel extremely jealous. I probably wasn't hiding it very well. Being a wolf and hiding my feelings don't go well together for me.

"Do I have permission to call your parents for you, Tyler?" asked Dean, looking solicitously at the tiger.

Tyler looked bashful, and stared down at his feet for almost five seconds before he said, "I guess." He clearly wanted to jump at the chance but was embarrassed to.

"All right. We'll do that right now. Do you need anything first?" He glanced at Amos to get him on the good host bandwagon.

Amos jumped at the chance. "You're probably hungry after all that shifting. There's plenty to eat. I'll arrange for a spread, shall I?"

Tyler's cheeks turned pink. "I think I've taken advantage enough."

"Nonsense. It's not every day I get to entertain a tiger and a wolf." He smiled to show there were no hard feelings on the whole "conning you out of money" front, and excused himself.

Dean gave me a significant look and tilted his head after Amos. I stared at him, uncomprehending. Dean sighed. "Could you follow him, please, and make sure he doesn't call the cops before we get things sorted out here? Tyler's just started trusting us, and we don't need that."

There was an awful lot ofusandwein there, but sure. I gave him a quick nod and slipped out after Amos. Tyler, standing with his hands folded behind his back, apparently casually looking at art on the wall, watched me out of the corner of his eye until I was gone.

I caught up with Amos before he got anywhere that smelled like food. He gave me a pleased, surprised look when I fell into step with him. "Following along? I thought you'd be part of the interrogation."

I tried to look bored, or like maybe I didn't understand. Better yet, looking hungry would allay his suspicions. Not that I really thought he'd call the cops on Tyler. He was having far too much fun. This was probably the most interesting thing that had happened to him in some time.

"Why don't I fetch you some clothes so you can shift? Or do you prefer to be a wolf?"

I cocked my head at him skeptically. How was I to answer him? I couldn't exactly bark once for yes to question one, growl twice for no to question two. He laughed, and apologized. "I'm sorry. Let me rephrase that. Would you like me to get you something to change into, so you can shift?"

I considered it, and finally nodded. It would keep him busy—and it was about time I got back on the same footing with the rest of them. Even the tiger was in human form. I thought I'd mind him less in his tiger form, even if he could probably kill me with one swipe of the paw: because Dean couldn't see his cute naked body if he stayed a tiger.

Amos eyed me thoughtfully. "Hm. I think you're about my size. Come on, let's see what we can find! We'll have to be quick, as you two will want to eat soon." He hurried on.

I stared after him indignantly for a moment.Excuse me, I'm a lot more muscular than you!Then I hurried after him, hoping my bulging muscles would snap the seams of his shirts, but sadly realizing that was probably not what would happen at all.

His bedroom seemed cozier and more homelike than I'd expected. Not a single overhead mirror or sex toy in sight, just some quiet décor and cozy lighting. I don't know why I expected it to be lavish and sensual. I guess I just thought someone who wanted a tiger would do everything in a big, loud way. This was almost an ordinary bedroom, just a little bigger than average. It looked like he didn't share it with anyone, too. There were no signs or smells of recent occupants, besides him.

He efficiently materialized some cargo shorts and a few t-shirts.

"I'll leave these here, and step out for a moment." He gave me a nice smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, you know. You have quite beautiful fur." Then, smelling embarrassed, he stepped outside.

I shifted and pulled on the clothes, feeling oddly numb. Did Dean really like the tiger, or was I being stupid because I felt like he didn't like me the way I'd hoped he someday would? Really, I shouldn't be surprised by that thought. I'd always known it was possible.

He'd been very open about it. I'd been the one who was stupidly optimistic, with no real reason to be at all. Why couldn't I have just accepted my fate, and left him alone? It hurt to know I'd been so stupid, on top of everything else.

"Done," I called. Sadly, the clothes fit me quite well. There were no bulging muscles even slightly stressing the fabric. He opened the door as I was staring down at myself sadly. "I used to be bigger than this, I swear."

He gave me a look that was somehow fond and affectionate, as well as frankly appreciative of how I looked wearing his clothes. He gave off a satisfied scent, as if he was very pleased about something. "Oh, I think you look quite nice as is."

"Well, you're into shifters, so what do you know?" I countered.

His brows rose at my frank words, but rather than getting mad at me, he simply looked amused. "Is that what you think is happening here?"

"Um, yes." He'd probably hit on the tiger boy after this. Not that I could really blame him. Tigers were cooler than wolves, and human-Tyler was very cute. A bit too doe-eyed to look tigerish as a man, though.

"I happen to find you quite fascinating, I admit. I wouldn't say all shifters have that effect on me. By no means. Here, why don't we walk while we talk? I'm sure you're hungry."

He shepherded me down a hall and we headed to the kitchen. I could smell it now. He must've texted or called someone to ask them to start cooking, because I could smell meat and asparagus and something heavenly that I didn't know the name for, even from here.

I raised my head a little to catch the smell, and tried not to drool. He was right: I was starving. Shifting and running could do that to a wolf. "What is that?"

"Yorkshire pudding, an old favorite. I learned to love it in England."