Page 4 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“You can’t run down there.”

“Says who?” She jerked her hands free of his hold, although to be fair, he already started to release them. Big as he was, she doubted she’d get away from him without ripping her own arms off.

The big guy nodded toward her feet. “It’s not safe.”

She looked down and then out to the curb. Sure enough, during her mad dash, she had lost the broken flip-flop. But how did the stranger take all that in during the head-on collision?

“The city keeps this area very clean. Even our alleys look good. Not that what I do is any of your business.” She turned to go again, and for the second time, he stopped her. She smacked his hand from her arm. “Don’t push me. I have friends on the police force.”

“There’s glass.”

“Where, huh?” She gestured to the dark alley. “It’s black as soot down there. And I can use my phone to light it up.”

His all-seeing eyes scanned her body. She tightened her belt, even though it was pretty snug now. No part of her body was visible other than her shins and feet. Let him lust over those if he wanted.

“You don’t have your phone,” he said.

“Oh now you have x-ray vision, not just see-in-the-dark ability. What I want to know is why you got in my way?” She narrowed her eyes at him and stepped closer, tilting her head back because dude was super tall. “Were you about to have a secret meeting with him?”

“With who?”

“You know.”

As the guy considered his answer, she studied him. Only now did it hit her just how much this man had going for him. He had to be six foot five, maybe more. After falling on him, even in dim light she saw that he was handsome—a combo of pretty boy and rugged good looks.

Dark hair and pale eyes. She couldn’t quite see the color and lamented the fact. He wore jeans that hugged sweetly narrowed hips and a T-shirt that molded over his big chest a bit too much. As a matter of fact, his clothes looked like he just picked them up from the cheapest secondhand store, but they didn’t have his size.

Traveling her gaze down his solid form, she came to his feet and gasped. “Hold up, you’re complaining about me not cutting my feet, and you’re barefoot.”

Suspicion and worry about this man’s sanity started to rise. As fearless and tough as she thought she was, she wasn’t without vulnerability. Common sense said she’d better get out of that alley before his brand of crazy jumped on her.

“Um…” She licked her lips and tasted blood from the earlier bite. “Thanks for the warning. I better get going.”

She sidestepped the guy and ran back across the street to her car. After slamming and locking the door, she looked toward the alley. The big guy was gone. Her heart did somersaults as she scanned the tops of the buildings and even the sky.

“Okay, now you’re being silly, Lachelle. It’s not like you’re going to see him flying away.” She snorted in amusement and found her phone still lying on the floor.

“Hey, sweet cheeks. I know it’s late, maybe I can come over.”

Several minutes passed while she waited for an answer. At last, Skip responded.

“Dorry, szleep, morrw?”

“Liar. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Skip, and you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

Chapter 2

“Hey, sis, how’s it going?” Lachelle gushed. “I want to see my nephew. I’ll drop by your place later about four. I have a present for him.”

“Today? No, uh…” Janessa fumbled for an excuse, something she had been doing for months. “I have a couple appointments. How about we meet tomorrow for coffee at that shop we like?”

“What’s going on with you? I’m starting to think you don’t like me anymore. Or the family.”

“Lachelle, you know that’s not true. I love you. You’re my favorite sister.”

“I’m you only sister. Remember that.”

“I remember. You wouldn’t let me forget even if I wanted to.” Her older sister chuckled. “I have a lot going on. In case you forgot, you’re the one who doesn’t keep to a schedule. You like to be a free spirit and all that mess. I’m the one who needs my world in order.”

---