Page 14 of Hard Shift

She nodded and headed toward the door, only to remember at the last second that she hadn’t driven herself. “I’m going to need my car.”

Rhys glanced at his brothers, and some type of silent communication transpired between the men. Both men gave a curt nod. “We’ll take you.”

“Listen here, buddy. I just need my car.” She stepped up to Rhys. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’ve survived my entire life without you or your brothers assisting me.”

Rhys cleared his throat and held her gaze. “Gentleman, could we have a moment?”

“Rhys.” She could hear the warning in Colton’s tone.

Rhys glanced up. “I need a minute with my mate. I just want to talk to her.”

“Sheis right here.” She glanced over her shoulder to the others. “And just so you know, if you hear him screaming like a little girl…he deserved it.”

“Come on, guys; let’s give them a minute.” Colton ushered the other two cousins out of the room.

Elizabeth laced her fingers together, waiting patiently for the others to clear out of the room. Rhys wanted to talk? She had plenty to say.

“Rhys—”

He held up his hand and moved to the other side of the table, out of her reach. Smart, not that a table would stop her from reaching him to strangle the life out of his very thick neck, but whatever made the shifter feel safe. “I understand your need to put criminals away, and I understand your need to be independent, and I respect that about you. I have no intention of standing in your way.”

“Good.”

He cleared his throat. “I just need you to understand something about me. Lizzie, I just found you, baby. When you ran out of the bar last night, my bear and I went out of our minds. I don’t expect to be your constant shadow, but for right now…in these first few weeks, my bear and I need to be close to you. Not because we don’t think you can do your job, but because the need to protect you is ingrained in both of us…the man and the beast. We just want to be with you. So please, just this once…humor me. I conceded on the sleeping arrangements; I’m not pushing you into a mating bond, and I won’t interfere in the investigation, but let me be near you. INEEDto be near you.”

His admission was sincere. She read it in his eyes, heard it in his words, and smelled his genuine concern. Over the last year, whenever she’d met a family member of a missing person, they all gave off the same worried scent. Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip between her teeth while weighing his request. It wasn’t uncommon for shifter males to be possessive. It was in their nature. She knew that much for certain. She could even appreciate the fact Rhys wasn’t trying to elbow his way into the situation through his association with Colton, or act like a caveman and insist, as if that would’ve helped, but what did it mean if she acquiesced? That she was agreeing that they were meant to be mates? Was that something she was willing to do?

“You’re thinking too hard,” he announced. “How about we try the first girl, and if you don’t like how it goes, we’ll get your car.”

She let out a deep breath and gave a quick nod. “Fine.”

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