Page 46 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

But Patrick had put her off. In fact, when she called him he seemed almost happy things turned out the way they did. That jerk probably hoped Gerard would mess up, especially after he quit working for Patrick.

A key in the lock brought her out of her head. Gerard stepped into the apartment, fully dressed with shoes even. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Where have you been? Causing more trouble exposing yourself?”

He dropped to the couch beside her and tugged her into his arms. She didn’t resist but settled on his lap. His skin started out cool but quickly warmed with her touch.

“I was getting another job.”

“For real? Where?”

“Furniture moving company.”

She nodded. “That would be good for you with your strength. I heard some of them pay really well. But we’ve got a problem, Gerard.”

“I know.”

“You know about the news report that you exist?”

“I do, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to tell you something.”

She slid around on his lap so she could face him. “Go ahead.”

“This will get harder for a while. I knew when I came to get you that I was exposing myself. I knew the humans could see me.”

She let him go on without interrupting.

“Patrick has been pressuring me to kill the humans, but that’s not what you want.”

“What do you want?” She prayed he wouldn’t say he agreed with Patrick because she wasn’t sure she could be with a man who actually wanted to kill people.

“I want to live in peace. I want to live alone—with you.”

“My sweet Gerard. Other people complicate your life, don’t they?” She touched his forehead with her own and rubbed his stubble-roughened chin.

“If he’s exposed, he won’t easily kill humans. If I don’t work for him, I won’t be pushed either.”

“Manipulated you mean. In some respects, I wish we had listened to your brother and my sister, but I still want to live here.”

“As do I.” He hesitated.

“Was there more?”

“You know that you’re my mate.”

She made a small noise that wasn’t an agreement or disagreement.

“I love you,” he said in a flat but meaningful tone.

“Is that your DNA speaking?”

“It’s me speaking. I want you to be my wife. Will you?”

“So unromantic, but I’m not the kind of girl who needs romance. All I need is one thing.”

“A baby?”

She laughed. “No, I wasn’t going to say that.”

“I will give you as many as you want.”

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