Page 30 of Bred By the Wolfman

I’m about to argue, but then I try to take his point to heart. He’s a good guy, and he was just doing as duty called on him.

In a way, though, that kills my buzz. It wasn’t because of some hidden crush on me that he stepped in to help. He did it because it was right.

I gesture at his arm. “At least that should heal fast, like the vet said.” I giggle at the square of shaved fur around the wound. His skin is a pinkish-brown under his tawny pelt. “Sorry about that, though.”

He shrugs. “I’ll wear it to work with pride.” Then, suddenly, his eyes get huge. “Oh, fuck.” He glances down at his watch, then shoots me another panicked look. “I need to go. I’m so sorry.”

“Are you late?” I jump out of my chair and grab my coffee. “Come on, I’ll take you back to your house.”

Russ waves his hands. “No, no, it’s fine. I’ll just call a cab from here, it’ll be faster.” He takes out his phone and presses the screen a few times, and I’m surprised his claws don’t get in the way.

“How far are you going? I could take you.”

He glances at me, an uncertain look on his face. Maybe I’m taking this too far by even suggesting it? I’m about to rescind my offer when he nods briefly.

“Okay. Sure. I work at the hospital in Dunsville.”

I blink. “You work in Dunsville but live here?” It’s a good thirty minutes.

“I understand if you don’t want to drive that far,” he says apologetically. “Just let me call for a ride, and?—”

“No, no,” I say, waving my hands. “Come on. If it’s not too uncomfortable in my car.”

He shakes his head vigorously. “I would love that. Thank you.”

This time when we get in, I remember that I have an ancient sunroof. When I open it, he tilts his head and breathes in a big whiff of the passing air.

Damn. This should probably be the last time I see this guy if I don’t want to catapult head-over-heels for him.

RUSS

I don’t have half the things I need for a night at the hospital, but I’ll survive with what’s in my office. I always keep an extra set of scrubs and shoes in the closet, just in case. There’s no way I’d pass up the chance to sit in the car with Dee for half an hour, even if it gives me a massive crick in my neck and a raging boner. I keep my injured arm carefully placed over it, in case she glances away from the road.

Her scent spiked while we were waiting for our coffee, and I’m still wondering what she was thinking about. Is it too much to hope that it was me?

Ugh. It was probably her boyfriend. She hasn’t told me about him yet, and I’m not sure how I should act when she tells me. If she tells me.

If she doesn’t... I could interpret that message, but I don’t want to hope yet.

When I give her the hospital address, she raises an eyebrow. “So what do you do at the hospital?”

“I’m a doctor. I work in the maternity ward.”

Her mouth bobs open, and then she quickly rights it and turns the car on.

“Wow. So you deliver babies?”

“Lots of them,” I say, a little pride in my voice.

But instead of answering, Dee falls silent, and she’s staring ahead at the road with a puzzled look on her face.

“Is that odd?” I ask. “A guy who delivers babies?”

She flashes me a panicked look. “No, no, not at all. It’s... it’s nice. I guess.” She twists up her mouth like she wanted to say something else. “It’s really good, yeah. I just, um...”

“You can say what you’re thinking,” I tell her gently. “I’m not going to judge you for it.”

A smile curls her lips. “Well, uh, it’s just interesting you say that, because I’m pregnant.”

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