Page 7 of Snowed In With the Grizzly

Andfuck.Is she really offering me her hand to touch? I take it in my massive paw and grasp it reverently. It’s tiny and encased in a woolen glove, but I can feel her warmth flowing through to my own hand. Soon, I’ll be feelingallher warmth against my body, with no barriers between us.

One of her pale gold eyebrows is raised questioningly. I frown. Did I miss something?

“And you are—?”

Damn, I’m supposed to be telling her my name, like a normal human. “Jaxton,” I say.

“Pleased to meet you, Jaxton,” she says and laughs again. I love the way my name sounds in her mouth. When she’s mine I’ll get her to say it to me over and over.

They’re a minute away.

“I’ve been having a little car trouble,” she continues, clasping her hands together. “But I really need to get some reinforcements from Twin Falls before the storm blows in. I was wondering if you’d be willing to give me a ride there?”

She’s so hesitant, so apologetic for asking, but my heart is bounding in my chest.

My girl, enclosed in my vehicle. Only inches away from me. Her delicious scent filling the interior. My beast shudders beneath my skin. It’s more than I can handle. I swallow hard.

But now she’s backing away. “I’m s-sorry, it’s too much. I shouldn’t have asked—”

“I would love to,” I manage to get out.

But first I need to get rid of the cops. They’re almost here. I need to get her inside so she doesn’t overhear whatever they’re going to say to me.

She’s staring at me, confused, expectant.

“You want a warm drink before we go?” I ask.

They’re driving down the lane leading to the cabins now. I can hear the gravel crunching.

Twenty seconds.I open the back door to the cabin and invite her in.

But she frowns and turns away. Then she heads to the front of the cabin, just as their car comes to a halt.

My heart sinks. They’re going to tell her about my brother’s latest screw up—whatever it might be. And she’s going to run like hell.

I stay in the shadows, ears pricked up.

“Evening, Miss,” says a throaty human cop voice. I clench my fists, just imagining how he’s looking her up and down.

“Evening,” she says politely.

“This is Jaxton Faulkner’s place?” says another voice. Thin, reedy.

“I guess so,” Rowan replies.

“Is he home?”

There’s a half-second pause.

My blood pounds in my veins; my beast prepares to burst out of me.

“No,” she says.

I blow out a long breath. She’s protecting me? There’s no reason why she would do that. Unless—

Mine!my beast roars.

Is it possible she feels the mate connection, too?

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