Page 14 of Coming Home

I grinned. “That’s the cocky little shit I’ve been telling you guys about.”

“Jake, it’s our utmost job to keep humans from finding out about us. You’re a liability now. This should never have happened,” Crawley said.

“Well, it did,” Jake said. “So suck it up and deal with it. I can’t hulk out and morph into something I’m not, but I can pull my own weight and be an asset to this team. Okay, so I was surprised. I’m over it now. Who gives a shit what you are? As far as I’m concerned you are my brothers now, and I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

Shelby

Chapter 5

I was nervous and excited for my date with Walker as I got dressed and carefully applied my makeup. We were just having dinner, but he was taking me to a nice place in the next town over that I have been wanting to try.

Maddie and Lizzy had teamed up to introduce us two days ago and I’d gotten to talk to him a few times since. He was only here for a week and we were almost halfway into that, but that was one of the things that appealed most to me. There was no chance of commitment. This would just be a strings-free evening out with a man I didn’t entirely seem to hate.

There was on knock at the front door at exactly five o’clock. He was certainly punctual. I rummaged through the closet to find the heels I wanted to wear with my little black dress. I rarely had need for them, but didn’t mind dressing up, especially for a fancy dinner with a handsome guy, or at least that’s what I was trying to convince myself of.

Despite the no-strings-attached clause, I was still a nervous wreck. It had been a while since I’d been on a date. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach as I descended the stairs to find Walker looking dashing in a black suit and talking to my father.

I rolled my eyes, letting the irritation of the scene calm me.

“Shelby, you look lovely tonight,” my father said.

“Thanks, Dad, but that’s supposed to be his line. I’m not in high school anymore, you don’t need to give my date the run down.”

Walker laughed. “You really do look beautiful, Shelby.”

I blushed a little from his compliment and my nerves turned to actual excitement.

“Fine, I’ll leave you two to it, then,” my father said, shaking hands with Walker. “Don’t forget it’s a school night, sweetie,” he teased with a wink as he walked away.

I smiled and shook my head. “Sorry about that.”

He shrugged. “It’s fine. You ready?” he asked, nodding towards the door.

“Yeah, let’s do this.”

Once in the car I apologized for my dad again. “He really means well,” I tried to say, but Walker just brushed it off.

“Honestly, Shelby, it’s not a big deal. I’ve always liked and respected your father.”

“So this isn’t your first trip to Collier?” I asked, certain we’d never met before.

“No, actually I always accompany Maddie and the kids when they come, and I’m a Longhorn wolf, and I remember him visiting there as a child. He’s a good man and he was a great Alpha,” he said, instantly warming him to me.

“He is,” I said, proudly. “Though since he handed the ropes over to Thomas, I think he’s a little lost on what to do with his life. I take the brunt of that, I’m afraid. He’s always asking me to go fishing or out for a run with him. I try to oblige as much as possible, but sometimes it would be nice to just live my own life.”

“Have you considered moving out and getting your own place then?” he asked. There was no judgement in his voice, just curiosity. It wasn’t like it was uncommon for an unmated female to live with her parents until she took a mate.

“Of course I’ve thought about it, only a million times a day,” I laughed.

“So why don’t you then?”

I sighed. “It’s complicated. I mean, you know Madelyn, of course, so I’m sure you know her history.” He nodded. “That was really hard on them. I’d never tell Maddie just how bad it got. She lived through enough without harboring that guilt on top of it. I was the one that stayed to help them through it. Mom basically had a nervous breakdown and battled massive depression for years. Dad and I are pretty close because of it. I guess I feel like they both still need me too much and that it would be selfish of me to move out just for a little solitude.”

I didn’t know why I was being so open with Walker. He was easy to talk to and made me more comfortable than anyone outside of the family ever had . . . well, except for Ben.

I looked Walker over with his dark hair and bright blues eyes. He was very easy on the eyes and I suspected he could have any woman he wanted. He was panty-melting hot with the air of confidence that oozed sex appeal.

My lady parts clenched at the thought. It was the first physical response I’d had to a man since I was eighteen, and I had to admit, a part of me was relieved by it. I had often wondered if I had been broken beyond repair in that department with everything that had happened.

---