Page 5 of His Lucky Moon Mate

Not now. Maybe not ever.

Grrrr.

Chapter 3

Shannon’s mouth dropped open as Binder drove past a set of security gates, down a private access road that seemed almost guarded by the tall trees on either side of each one-way street. This was wealth. Real wealth. Not the kind her father hustled for his whole life, gambling, using lies, manipulations, and riddles to gain.

This was the way to the Macconwood Pack House or the Manor, as she knew it was called. How did she know? Easy. She paid attention. Plus, Shannon was pretty much the manager of the Lucky Moon Casino. When they moved to a new territory, she would discuss things and go over the reports the security team brought back after casing each location. Of course, now she knew the surveillance was doctored after her father got his hands on it.

Damn the man. He was supposed to get approval from the Pack before stepping one toadstool into their territory. Now she was at the mercy of a Werewolf! And not your average run of the mill, ambulance chasing, butt sniffing Wolf Shifter, either. This guy was unbelievably good looking, and a freaking lawyer to boot.

He sent her ovaries into hyper drive with just one long-lashed look. She frowned, turning her gaze back to the scenery. He drove unhurriedly, humming along pleasantly with the radio. Every now and again she felt his attention on her, but whenever she looked, his eyes were on the road. Maybe she imagined it.

He was just so big, so commanding of her awareness. Like he was the only person in the world, never mind the car. Ugh! She was being daft. Shannon was simply not used to being around attractive men who’d not only had the strength and stamina to carry her across half a damn forest, but flirted with her while doing it.

Geezus. Was she so hard up she’d drool all over a virtual stranger, one who was more beast than man, just because he was sexy as hell and paid her a compliment?

Yes, in fact, get us a bib before we drool all over his lovely upholstery, will ya?

Her inner slut appeared to have no qualms at all about it. Well, shite. Shannon huffed as Binder pulled into a small lot with a few other cars already parked. He turned to her, his gaze questioning, but she ignored it. Shivers ran through her. That little furry bastard of a groundhog swore it would be an early spring. But even so, big fat snowflakes were starting to fall from the sky, dusting the ground with so much white.

“Here, put this on,” Binder said.

His voice was deep and low. The vibrations it created made her shivers even more pronounced, but it had nothing at all to do with the weather. Shannon was not about to tell the Wolf that. She took the proffered item, startling when she realized it was a thick, soft sweater.

“Do you need help?” he asked, and she would have sworn she saw hope in his dark eyes.

“Um, I got it, thanks,” she whispered, tugging the thing over her head.

Did she say it was soft? Heavens! It was more than that. The heather gray fibers must have been shorn from some sort of divine sheep or goat. Shannon stifled her moan as she lifted the collar to her nose and breathed in the tantalizing coconut and lime ocean scent she associated with him as she snuggled deeper into the fabric.

“Better?” he asked. His voice seemed even deeper than before, though how that was possible, she had no idea.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, trying to act as though she hadn’t been sniffing at his sweater.

A curvy girl, she would have worried that his sweater would not fit, but Binder was large and wide in the way of Shifters. His gaze never left her, and she swallowed down her embarrassment, reaching for the door handle.

“Wait there,” he commanded, jumping out of his seat before she could tell him to feck off.

Shannon could get her own doors, but there was something about the way he’d told her to wait that made her foolish body obey him. He pulled open the door and held out his hand, which she ignored to his apparent amusement if the Wolfish grin he gave her was any indication.

Following him down the path towards the front door, Shannon wrapped her arms around her body. The sweater definitely did a better job of keeping her warmer than before, but she was used to a much more temperate climate. As if sensing her discomfort, Binder slowed his pace and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into the unbelievable warmth of his body.

“You don’t have to?—”

“I can hear your teeth chattering, Butterfly. Just let me do this,” he murmured, and she acquiesced, unable to do anything else.

His body heat felt delicious as he tucked her into his side. She couldn't deny that. Nor could she pretend she didn’t enjoy his sweet, decadent scent. The doors were opened by a trio of children who looked to be preschoolers, and Shannon was immediately charmed. Binder narrowed his eyes and addressed the three, two boys and a girl rather sternly, but she had only to look up to see he was barely keeping it together.

“Owen, Rafaella, Valen,” he said.

“You’re Balvinder,” one boy started.

“You work for Uncle Dib and Uncle Kurt,” the other finished.

“I am and I do,” Binder replied. “But what are you three doing answering the door?”

“We knew you were coming with your mate,” the larger boy said, and Shannon almost stumbled.

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