Page 45 of The Healer

Rhys shot a glance at the clock above Aiden’s head. Perhaps another run before nighttime? His bear rumbled with eagerness—a feeling Rhys was happy to share. What was Lona doing now? Had she made headway at the clinic? Fuck, he should just succumb to the urge and pop in for a visit.

“She’s our doctor now that Amos’s chasing tail,” Jillie said.

Rhys’s attention snapped onto the older shifter. They were talking about Lona. “What do you think of the new doc?”

Jillie sipped her wine spritzer. “I have to admit, I like the way she treated Edison after what he did. Takes a true healer. And that she hasn’t gone soft on Dane is impressive.” She chuckled. “I’m starting to like her, but if you think she’ll give you the time of day, even after last night’s heroism, I don’t know. She takes after her grandmother, that’s for sure.”

Rhys clenched his jaw as his bear went berserk, roaring demands he couldn’t obey. He didn’t need advice from strangers on how to seduce a woman. Well, he did, but no one needed to know that. “I’m not planning on mating the woman,” he bellowed, then lowered his voice when the bar stilled. A pissed-off alpha tended to raise hackles. “I’d like to find out if she’s family of Callie and Valerie.” His eye twitched at that blatant lie. Right.

“Oh, then sure. She might be.” Jillie shrugged. “I have a vague recollection of Mona being from this side of the country. Might even harken from Inner City.”

His heart danced then settled into a tribal rhythm. Lona was a Devereaux, but how diluted was the connection? Callie had the right blood but was the wrong woman. Perhaps Ilona with the right blood could be the right woman? A woman he could mate.

“Doc said she’d text if she planned to pop by.” Aiden grinned, interrupting Rhys’s thoughts. “It’ll be late if she does stop for a beer. She said something about brawls petering out with most having found a willing partner for the night.”

With his bear excited, Rhys agreed to wait. Minutes turned into hours, and she didn’t show. Tossing notes onto the counter, he saluted Aiden, then left. In his SUV, Rhys gripped his steering wheel hard enough to bend it. The metal groaned, forcing him to release it. He needed to run, to rid himself and his bear of this restlessness.

His irrational behavior irritated him, making his teeth itch. How desperate was he to see the woman? What, like letting her know he only liked the idea of her because she might have Callie’s blood flowing through her veins? Yeah, that would go down well.

He drove to Cozy Cromwell’s and parked his SUV in front. Icy snow buffeted his body as he stripped off his clothing, flinging the items onto the seat before shutting the door. It was too late for a naked man jogging around Harriet’s house to arouse suspicion. Most would assume he was taking his beast for a run. A minute later, he galumphed through the forest. His heavy tread shook snow off the lower branches and trembled the hardened earth beneath him. His bear rumbled in joy when the wind ruffled their fur.

He had missed this. The moon was almost full, promising an entertaining few days in Coedwig. Perhaps he should corner Ilona under the guise of seeking information on her lineage. He sucked in a breath, wishing her scent filled his lungs. Tomorrow, he would have Noah trace the connection. With that decision made, Rhys gave his bear full rein, again.

Chapter Sixteen

WELL-MEANING INTRUDER

Ascrapingnoisepiercedthe fog of sleep. Ilona twitched then snuggled deeper under the blankets, dismissing the sound as a branch against a window. But when banging followed, she sat up and shivered. Cold air lashed across her bare arms, pebbling her unprotected nipples in her thin tank. The house had been warmer last night, but in the pre-dawn temperatures, the fireplace and central heating couldn’t cope.

She swung her legs off the side of the bed, her knees chilling in seconds. Better pajamas might be a good idea. Ripping the quilt off the bed, she whipped it around her and paused, listening for the direction of the noises.

Something tinkled, like glass touching glass. She spun, searching for a weapon of some sort. A boot? An electric toothbrush? Smothering a groan, she gripped the quilt at her chest and peeled her bedroom door open. Sticking to the side of the passage, she crept forward, one well-placed foot at a time, keeping her breathing shallow and silent despite her deafening heartbeat. The wall against her shoulder offered some comfort.

The closer she came to the kitchen, the more familiar the sounds: the popping of toast, the sizzle of bacon. Its delicious aroma merged with freshly brewed coffee. She peered around the wall and groaned. “Dane!”

The ass didn’t jerk in surprise. He must have had heard her approaching. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

He scooped bacon onto a plate of scrambled eggs. Coffee gurgled in the machine, and she sighed, eager for a cup. But succumbing to one meant he won.

“What the hell are you doing in my house?” She tugged the cover tighter, wishing she had taken the time to dress.

“Making you breakfast.” His puzzled expression shot frustration through her. “You like bacon. I remember that.”

“I also value my privacy.” She raised her arm to point at the door, then lowered it. Maybe he’d broken into her home because he needed her medical expertise. “Is someone hurt?”

“Nah, just thought a sweet breakfast and a drive to Lover’s Point made sense.” He placed two glasses of orange juice on the dining table.

She blinked at him, then at his bare toes like the cold didn’t seep through the floorboards. “Did you turn down the heating?”

“Nope, it’s set to seventy.” He gestured to the panel mounted on the wall. “You must still be sensitive to the cooler temperatures.”

“Still?” She chose a chair to slump into. “I doubt I’ll ever acclimatize.” After a sip of orange juice, she swallowed past a delighted hum. “Freshly squeezed?”

“Only the best for our doctor.” He winked, then chose the chair opposite her. “I did knock, but when you didn’t answer, I worried.”

“Sorry, I was super tired.” She flicked a glance outside at the dark blue skies and the bright glow of thick snow. His SUV wasn’t out front. “You didn’t walk here, did you?”

“Sure did.” He grinned, scooping eggs and bacon onto her plate.

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