Page 47 of Can't Help Growling in Love
Then I push all thoughts of Asher from my mind because I can’t afford to be distracted at work, no matter how much I want to play through every hour we’ve spent together.
A hand grabs me as I walk past the nurses’ station, and I find myself facing Tia and Peter, sitting in the rolling chairs, matching expressions of interest on their faces. I stifle a sigh and sink into the third chair. I knew this was coming, and this is as good a time as any—my appendicitis patient is out of surgery, resting on the ward, and the kid whose parents brought him in with a high fever has had a dose of antibiotics and Tylenol, so I’ll be back to observe him in fifteen minutes unless something changes.
“Spill,” Tia demands, leaning her elbows on her knees. “Tell Auntie Tia everything.”
I press my lips together, wondering where to begin. Then I blurt, “Well, my basement flooded.”
She raises her eyebrows. “We know. Does this have to do with the hickey on your neck?”
I gasp, turning toward the glass wall behind me to check if it’s visible to everyone.
“It’s fine, it’s under your collar.” Tia puts me out of my misery, her voice amused. “I wouldn’t have let you walk out of the changing room like that.”
“Thank you.” I face them again. “I’ve been seeing a guy.”
Taking a deep breath, I explain things from the start, right to my current living situation.
“You’re hooking up withAsher Summers? Our favorite radio show host?” Peter covers his mouth with his hand. “You’ve been holding out on us. Have you ever dated a supernatural before?”
“Yeah, one of my exes is a ghoul,” I admit, choosing the easiest of his questions. “But Asher iscompletelydifferent. He treats me so well. He made me breakfast this morning, he drives me to work when it rains, and he’s super sweet. I think he might be the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. And I like him. I really, really like him.”
My cheeks heat at the admission, but it’s such a relief to say it out loud.
But he’s still squinting at me suspiciously. “You’ve been together for how long?”
“Um, we started chatting a few weeks ago.” I count through the days, eyes widening at the realization of how quickly we’ve progressed. “I mean, when the relationship feels right, it’s doesn’t make sense to hold back?”
My voice rises at the end, making the statement a question. Am I rushing things? I don’t want to push Asher too far, too fast, only to have him spook and run from me. I’d rather take things slow and make sure we’re both on the same page.
Tia glances at Peter, then back at me. “You do know the full moon is coming up in three days, yeah?”
I frown at the wall calendar behind her. “Right. Well, it’ll be all hands on deck as usual.”
“No, babe.” She shakes her head. “I meant—Asher is awerewolf. He’ll be shifting and…”
She stops herself, a fang sinking into her lower lip.
I frown, a little annoyed that she’s clearly keeping something from me. I’m about to demand an explanation, but it’s Peter who leans forward and pins me, his gaze stern.
“Listen. A werewolf on a full moon.” He swallows, then lifts his gaze to the ceiling, his ears turning a bright red. When he speaks again, his words flow faster than before. “Okay, so I never told you about this, but a couple of years ago, I was, um, invitedto participate in a full moon run. With a couple of unmated wolves.”
Tia swivels on her chair to face him. “Acoupleof wolves?”
He clears his throat. “Yeah. It was…educational. Easily the best sex of my life. But that’s not the point.”
I stare at him. “How is thatnotthe point?”
“We’re discussing your love life, not mine,” he retorts, sending me a dirty glare. “I wouldn’t share this unless it was important, okay?”
This severe attitude is so unlike him, I nod meekly and motion at him to continue.
“Well, after all was said and done,” he goes on, voice slightly strangled, “the guys told me about scent mates.”
Tia nods, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah, I was thinking the same based on June’s description. Could be what we’re dealing with here.”
I glance from one to the other. “Wait, what?”
“I’m not saying it’s a fact,” she says slowly, “but have you ever had a guy obsess over you like that?”
