Page 74 of A Wolf's Wound
“What’s your name?”I ask.He’s tall, with dark eyes and dark, shaggy hair.I peg him as around my age, and I don’t get the sense that he’s a shifter.
“So what are you up to on this beautiful day?”he asks instead of answering my question.
“Oh, just enjoying my coffee,” I say.
“Caffeine, the nectar of the gods.”He grins, and I laugh.
“I’ll drink to that.”I lift my cup toward his.So he doesn’t want to tell me his name.That’s okay.Maybe a little mindless chitchat with a stranger will help take my mind off Ryder.
“What do you do, Hannah?”
“I’m a veterinarian.”
“That sounds cool,” he says.“I love animals.It would be amazing to work with them all day.”
“Yeah, that’s a big part of why I became a vet,” I tell him.“I’ve always felt such a great bond with animals.What about you?What do you do?”
“I’m an entrepreneur,” he says with another smile.“I love it.I get to be my own boss.Which means no one minds if I take long lunch breaks and talk to pretty women instead of getting back to the office.”
I blush as I realize that he’s flirting with me, but I don’t hate it.In fact, after the confusion of the past twenty-four hours, some straightforward flirting seems like a great palate cleanser.
“Sounds like a great life.”I grin back, deciding to flirt with him a little too.Why not?He’s cute, and I like his laid-back manner.This is just a fun diversion.I don’t even know the man’s name, after all.And I don’t really care about that right now.
“Oh, you have no idea,” the guy says.“Are you new in town, Hannah?”
“I am.I just moved to Stonehaven a few weeks ago.”
“I thought so,” he says, looking at me.“I would have remembered if I’d seen you before.”
His words sound like a compliment, but something in the man’s gaze is unnerving.He’s looking at me too intently, too carefully.It’s like he’s sizing me up for some reason.
“Well, I’ve been pretty busy,” I say lightly, sitting up straighter and uncrossing my legs.I want to be ready to move.“I don’t get out a lot.”
“That’s a shame, a beautiful woman like you.”There’s an edge to his voice that I don’t like.It’s a little bit mocking, a little bit sinister, and a lot alarming.
“Yeah, well, you know how it goes,” I say, reaching for my purse.“Look, it’s been nice to meet you, but I should go.”
“Why?”he asks, putting his hand on top of mine.He twines his fingers around mine and squeezes tightly.
I wince and try to pull my hand away, but his grip tightens.“My boss is expecting me back at work.She’ll be looking for me soon,” I lie.
“Don’t go, Hannah,” he says in a low voice.
“Let go of me.”I glance around, but no one else is in the outdoor section.
“Isn’t that what you told Ryder at first?”the man asks.
I freeze.He looks at me, smirking.“What?”I ask quietly, too stunned to say more.
“I said, isn’t that what you told Ryder at first?”he says in a taunting voice.Seemingly pleased with himself, the man releases his grip on my hand and pushes some hair out of his eyes.
“How do you know Ryder?”I ask but then shake my head.“Forget it.I don’t want to know.I really need to go.”
I yank my hand away and Shadow jumps up.I grab my purse and we begin to walk away.But the man catches up to me and grabs my arm.
“Leave me alone,” I say, whirling around.“If you don’t, I will scream so loud your eardrums will shatter.”
“I don’t think anyone will hear you,” he says.
