Page 4 of Drew

“Friends?” Drew supplied when she faltered. “You don’t have friends?”

She took a deep breath. Drew had to fight to keep his gaze on her face. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in town.” Sadness crept into her expression. “Unfortunately.”

Drew’s gaze narrowed. His wolf bristled beneath the surface. Was she preparing to run? From him?

Callum appeared at his side. “We’d better get going. We have that party tonight, and they’re waiting.”

“Right.” Drew nodded, but his gaze tracked Alyssa.

“I should see to the other guests.”

“Of course.” He stepped aside as she passed by. He was about to say something more when she turned back around, the business card held firmly in her hand.

“What’s Wildlings?”

Drew’s smile was predatory. He’d purposefully chosen to give her the business card for the bird sanctuary rather than his BBQ and grill company. Whatever her reason for attempting to avoid him, he knew women loved a man with a soft side. And Wildlings was his soft side.

Before Drew could explain, Callum stepped in, singing his praises. “Wildlings is a foundation Drew created to help rescue and rehabilitate birds. You know, birds hit by cars or baby ducklings who have lost their mother.”

As predicted, Alyssa’s gaze grew soft. “That’s so sweet.”

“Just doing what I can to help the environment.” Drew shrugged. It wasn’t the first time he’d used Wildlings to get into a woman’s pants, but never had it mattered as much as it did with this woman.

“It’s a small building on an enormous piece of property over by the sixth county line just outside of town,” Callum continued. “Great for hiking, if you don’t mind going off the beaten path.”

Alyssa looked almost wistful. “That sounds really nice.”

“Call the number on the card.” He’d written his personal number on the back. “I’ll show you around the facility sometime.” Drew held up his hands and smiled. “Totally innocent, I promise.”

She tapped the card against her palm while chewing her bottom lip. “Totally innocent?”

“Completely,” he lied. He had to get to the bottom of the mystery that was Alyssa Mayers.

“Then I might take you up on that offer,” Alyssa stressed the word might. “No promises.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t expect any.”

A vibrantly dressed woman called her name, drawing her attention across the room. Excusing herself, she made a fast exit.

Drew stared after her until Callum nudged him. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I’m getting itchy. I need to run.”

The call of the moon was enticing Drew as well. He’d done all he could at the gallery. He’d give Alyssa a day or two to call him, but any longer than that, and he was tracking her down. He couldn’t wait too long.

The snow crunched beneath their feet as they headed out of the gallery and down the street toward Drew’s truck. “So what the fuck is with the girl?”

“What do you mean?”

Callum sent a don’t fuck with me look his way. “Come on. You have no interest in art. Never seen you try so hard to impress a girl. Is she more than a piece of pussy? I mean, I get that she’s a looker, but—”

Drew glared over the truck's hood, his voice sounding like a growl. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

Holding his hands up, Callum’s weak laugh sent clouds puffing from his lips as his breath hit the cold air. “Okay, okay.” They climbed into the cab. “But seriously, what’s with her? Her scent was…”

When Callum trailed off, Drew glanced toward him. “Her scent was what, exactly?” He’d spent the last day trying to place it. Perhaps Callum had some insight.

He exhaled. “It’s different, man. I don’t know what it is about her, but something is off.”

Drew started the truck. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

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