Page 11 of Can't Help Growling in Love
The corner of his mouth tips up just a fraction, as if he’s fighting a smile. “Can we, um, start this over?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Start what over?”
He holds out a hand, balancing the coffees and the pastry bag precariously. “Hi, I’m Asher. It’s really good to meet you in person. I didn’t mean to act like a weirdo and ignore you, but you looked so bright, I freaked out.”
I glance down at my teal pants, then back at him. “You don’t like color?”
He’s dressed in shades of black and gray, the complete opposite of me.
But he’s already shaking his head. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I’m no good at this. At talking to people.”
My heart thaws just a little. Maybe he’s freaking out as much as I am.
I reach out and grasp his hand, cutting through the awkwardness. “Hi, I’m June, and I’m glad you decided to talk to me after all.”
He smiles then, and I’m staring again, because I’ve never seen anyone?—
“This is weird, right?” I blurt, dropping my gaze to the drinks tray he’s holding. “I made it weird by running out.”
He shrugs. “Maybe, but I was weird before you, so it cancels out.”
I could swear he leans in to sniff at me again, and I try to hold my arms tightly at my sides to hide my sweat. I’ve worked with several supernaturals and treated countless non-human patients, but it’s never bothered me before that my body gives awayso muchto someone with better senses.
“Could you stop smelling me?” I shuffle back nervously. “I swear I showered today, but I must have forgotten to put on my deodorant…”
His eyes flare wide, and he steps back, which puts him back in the rain. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You smell so good.”
I blink up at him, then reach for his sleeve like he did for me earlier, and tug him back under the awning. He flinches slightly at my touch, so I let go of him just as quickly as he did for me earlier.
His words take a moment to sink in. I smell good? I’d call him a liar, but the flush in his cheeks tells me he’s embarrassed about the confession, and I shouldn’t be judging his behavior by human standards. He’s not human, after all, and scent is crucial for communication with shifters, as well as other supernaturals.
He looks like he’s trying to breathe through his mouth to avoid sniffing me.
I groan. “Okay, officially the most awkward introduction ever, which is doubly sad for me because I was really excited about this.”
It’s a confession I wasn’t going to make, but it’s either admit that I’ve been trying to ask him to meet or leave here and never contact him again.
His dark eyebrows shoot up. “You were?”
“Yeah.” I fight back the heat rising in my cheeks. “I’ve enjoyed chatting with you. And you obviously know I’m a big fan of your program. You have a great taste in music.”
His smile lights up his face. “Stella—my boss—is always telling me I was born in the wrong decade.” He glances down at the coffees and grimaces. “Which reminds me. I should get these to the studio before she sends out a search party. We’re having a meeting to discuss how we’ll shut down operations.”
“What?” I forget all about the awkwardness at this. “Why?”
Asher shrugs. “She wants to retire and spend more time with her family, so she’s selling the place.”
My heart sinks. “No more Monster Tunes?”
“Sorry.”
He looks like he means it, too. His smile is sad, as if he’s already accepted the news but somehow knows how much I’ll miss hearing his voice on the radio.
“The other nurses will be devastated. The end of an era, truly.” I wrap my fingers around the bunch of keys in my pocket, and though I want to stay here and chat, I’m keeping Asher from his meeting. “It was lovely to meet you.”
I expect him to say his goodbyes and leave, but he’s still staring at me, his gaze intent.
“You rode your bike here?”
