Page 14 of Sweeter Than Honey
“Hmmm,” Allie buzzed around a bite. “Could you give me a specific example?”
“Like, do they still carry women off into the woods and force them to become their mates, and some of that archaic stuff? Or are they more like, you know, modern men?”
Allie considered this and then shrugged. “Well, Dax did momentarily consider carrying me off and holding me hostage until I agreed to be his mate, but he came to his senses before he did it. I think it was more a primal gut reaction on his part than something he’d actually have gone through with. I’d say the Estes Park pack is very modern in the way that they think and act, but they are shifters, after all… and some things are just a primal part of them. But I can’t imagine any shifter I know around here doing anything to a woman against her will. And if they did, they’d have hell to pay from the pack elders.”
“Yeah.” It was all Cara could manage in response. She ate in silence for a while. The bacon really hit the spot, followed by the flaky cranberry scones. The urge to cry pulsed through her for some stupid reason, but she held it back.
“Maybe you could recommend a tow company? My car broke down just outside of town and I’ll need someone to look at it.”
“Oh, my goodness, why didn’t you say anything earlier? We can help you with that. No need to call a tow.”
No way did she want this much contact with shifters. If what Allie said was true, then maybe stealing her baby would be that one primal part that they couldn’t ignore, consequences from the elders be damned. The wealth waiting on her child’s birth might tempt some to take the risk.
“No, no. You’ve already done too much. I’ll call a tow, really.”
Allie wasn’t listening. “Actually, Dax is out of town until this afternoon. No worries.Beard!” She hollered through the bakery while giving Cara a playful wink. “You’re missing breakfast, and I have a job for you!”
Cara nearly burst from her seat. Oh, hell no. “Allie, no, it’s really—”
“You know what? You’re going to need a place to stay, aren’t you?”
Jett appeared from the back. Cara sucked in a breath as his sudden appearance struck her. It was almost like she was seeing him for the first time. Thanks, blood sugar. Tall, broad shoulders. Hair as dark as night and eyes a shade of violet that made her feel like he could see into her soul. He was handsome, no, beautiful. A primal side ofherwanted to climb his body and see what muscles he had hidden under his shirt while holding onto his massive shoulders. Crap, that thought wasn’t happy blood sugar. That was horny pregnancy hormones. Or just plain stupidity on her part.He’s not on the menu, Cara.
His gaze met hers and heat went straight to her cheeks.
“Did you call me,Beard?” The question was pointed at Allie, though he was staring at her.
Allie ignored him.
“Jett just so happens to have a room for rent. Don’t you, Jett?”
He looked at Allie. “I do?”
“He does?” Cara said at the same time.
Allie smiled. “He absolutely does. He was saving it for the hired help he hasn’t gotten around to looking for, so I said he should start renting it out as an Air BnB. All the hotels are full with the mountain bike race going on this weekend, so this is perfect. There, it’s a done deal. Cara needs a place to stay, and Jett needs the company.” Allie crossed her arms, very self-satisfied.
“You can both thank me later. Now, eat.”
Chapter Eight
Jettsubtlyobservedfromthe corner of his eye as Cara fidgeted in her seat and poked at the food on her plate.
Allie was crazy if she thought he was taking this woman home with him. Air BnB, his ass. It was her attempt at inserting a warm body into his home so he wouldn’t be alone all the time. His family worried about him too much. He liked his solitude. And a woman like this wouldn’t be happy way up on his mountain. There wasn’t shit for internet and his television didn’t work. She’d probably complain too much or expect him to entertain her.
Besides, she was with child, and he found her way too attractive for this to be a good idea. She belonged to someone else… though he didn’t detect a male’s scent around her at all. The scents he’d noted on her car contained aggression pheromones from three male shifters, none of which he also detected on her. If he had to guess, she’d pissed someone off. He wasn’t one to care about gossip, but he’d be lying if he denied being curious about her story.
His sister-in-law’s suggestion that Cara stay with him made her visibly uncomfortable. He didn’t blame her. They were strangers, and he wasn’t the welcoming bed and breakfast type. Besides, no one had stayed in his home since his family had died, and he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear a stranger’s footsteps in the hall.
He stood near the bakery window, casually alternating glances outside and at her while he ate. She’d pulled her auburn hair into a ponytail over her shoulder. She had big brown eyes, a full mouth and a body that wouldn't quit. Seeing her in that nightie this morning had set off a firework of unexpected longing in him. It had been a long time since a woman made him feel breathless, but here he was, choking on his bacon because he’d forgotten to breathe while chewing.
He coughed. Loudly. Damn it.
She glanced at him; brow furrowed in amusement. “Forget how to chew and swallow?”
Even amongst the fresh aromas of bread, pastries, and slow drip coffee, he could make out her sweet, subtle scent. It reminded him of the rainbow-colored honey his bees gave him.
Clearing his throat, he reached for his coffee mug from the table, but she handed it to him first.
