Page 37 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“Food, huh? That’s your whole world?” she joked.

His silver eyes locked on her and remained. “No.”

She tried to tamp down the emotion he stirred. At least she could say nothing frightened Gerard, and he had no problem admitting his feelings. How could she not get drawn in?

“It’s her,” someone whispered nearby. “That’s the woman on the news, and that’s the thing.”

Lachelle went still. She peeked at the person out of the corner of her eyes. A man stood with a woman, and the two whispered to each other and nodded their heads in her and Gerard’s direction.

Another customer was much bolder. “I’m calling the police. You get that monster out of here!”

The cashier joined the fray. “You believe everything you see on TV, man? There’s no way he’s…whatever they’re calling him. Oh yeah, Scale Man. That’s probably not even him.”

“It’s him alright,” the first whisperer said. “I looked at that video a hundred times. He’s going to kills us. Anybody packing?”

“Oh crap,” Lachelle muttered. “We better get moving.”

Gerard snatched the bag of snacks from the counter and all but dragged Lachelle toward the door.

“Get back here,” someone shouted behind them.

They ran out the door and along the walk. Lachelle’s muscles ached because she felt like any second someone was going to blow a hole in her back. Gerard wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her against him from behind. The ground raced away from them. Gerard had jumped straight up with her in his arms, and they came down on the roof of the drug store.

“Gerard, what are you—”

Wind whipped her braids across her face, and she and Gerard rose again. She screamed, realizing he didn’t just jump this time but flew. On her left and right, Gerard’s wings beat the air. Further and further, the ground fell away.

“Oh God, oh God.” She squeezed her eyes shut.

“You mustn’t be afraid.” His lips brushed the shell of her ear, and a chill raced down her spine.

“B-because it drives you crazy?” She wasn’t ready to open her eyes.

“Because you should see. Look down.”

“Are you nuts?”

“Look down, Lachelle. If you’re mine, you can’t be afraid. It’s not in you.”

“Excuse me?” Annoyance made her look at him, and then the landscape captured her attention.

They were so high her stomach dropped. Cars moved along the roads like ants. Okay, maybe not that small. Wind hit her cheeks and whirred past her ears. The sound of Gerard’s wings drew her focus, and she stared at them mesmerized.

The initial fear faded away, to be replaced with excitement. She couldn’t believe it. “This is fun. It feels exhilarating and scary at the same time. I love it! Can anyone see us?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, twisting to face him. Her fingers brushed the strong muscles and traced over the hard bones in his shoulders. He took her breath away as much as the wind.

“They can see us if they look up, but it’s dark. We should land.”

Gerard found a par

k, and they set down on the ground. He held onto her until he was sure she was steady.

An expanse of trees stretched out before them. The moon lit the path Gerard chose, but it was hard for her not to stumble over every little branch and rock. He guided her gently through the maze.

She looked up at him. “You can let me go now. I’m not going to fall smack on my face.”

He seemed hesitant to remove his hands, and she didn’t blame him. His fingers on her waist, even with the material of her pants and blouse between them and her skin, set her on fire.

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