Page 72 of Fastlander Phoenix

Okay. Well, that made the “mate” terminology make sense. “And what are your feelings on shifters?”

“What areyourfeelings on them?” Kendra asked softly. “I mean, I would like to know so I can feel safe talking to someone I know won’t judge me.”

“My feelings are irrelevant. I wouldn’t judge you no matter what you share. My job is to work through your feelings with you so you can understand yourself better.” She didn’t know why, but Kendra was grating on her. She was feeling this sense of protectiveness over Wreck with each personal question Kendra asked her, but she didn’t know why. Sometimes clients asked questions. It was okay. It was just conversation.

Kendra placed her hands on her knees and locked her arms, straightened her spine. “My family doesn’t like shifters.”

“What do you feel about them?”

“I didn’t like them either, but now this guy is in my life, and he snuck it over on me. He got me to like him before I found out he wasn’t human. I feel tricked. Wouldn’t you feel tricked?”

Questions, questions, questions. “I think I would feel sad that the person I cared for felt like they couldn’t tell me what they were right away. I think I would wonder what kind of trauma had made them so careful about telling people what they are.”

Kendra smiled. “So you do like them.”

“I like good people. Doesn’t matter if they are a human, or a shifter, or a ten-foot purple cockroach. If they are good people, they’re good by me. Do you feel like the man you are dating is a good person?”

“I feel confused. It’s like my old feelings about shifters are warring with what I see in front of me. He seems nice andgenuine, but he has a dark side. All men have a dark side, but this is different. It’s a dangerous dark side.” Kendra leaned forward and rested her elbows on her thighs. “Possibly deadly.”

“If your instincts are telling you that he is dangerous, those are valid feelings. Maybe you should take some time to think on pursuing a relationship you are so unsure about.”

“Did you know that different shifters have different powers?”

Timber nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, this guy has some very big powers.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t want to say. You would think I was crazy.”

“I promise I won’t,” she said with a smile. “I’ve seen crazy. You aren’t that.”

Kendra lowered her voice to a whisper. “He can control fire.”

Timber’s heart kicked up to racing. “W-what? He’s a dragon, or something?”

“He’s the reason I was late. I live in Saratoga, and he wanted to spend the day together. I didn’t want to rush him. I want to figure out if we are a match or not. Get it? Match? Fire joke.”

She could barely make out Kendra’s words over the whooshing sound in her ears that was pounding to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Kendra was pretty. Gorgeous, actually. Perfectly-highlighted hair, blue eyes—when they weren’t hidden by those goddamn sunglasses. Perfect bone structure, and the figure of a goddess. She was tall, and walked with a confidence that Timber could absolutely see attracting droves of men.

Fire.

Saratoga.

“H-how long have you been seeing him?” she asked, trying hard to steady out her voice.

“We’ve been talking for a few months, but we just started meeting up in person a month ago. He built a fence for my new house…Timber? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Yes. I’m great.” Her chest cavity was physically hurting, and it was hard to draw in a breath.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Kendra said. “Do you want me to get you a glass of water or something?”

Timber rubbed her cool fingertips across her forehead, massaging, as she stared at the geometric pattern of her office rug. What was happening? Why would he do this? He’d been with her so much. He’d been so present.

“Please go on,” Timber said, if a little breathlessly. “I’m completely fine. Just had a dizzy spell for a second.”

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