Page 6 of No Harm No Howl

“I got this,” Gia squealed.

“Yeah, you do. So go get what you want.”

“I will.” Gia nodded and saw Gerri out before she started to freak out.

FOUR

RUSS

Russ tapped his foot under his desk, feeling like he was about to explode. He’d been on edge since his texts with Gerri Wilder yesterday. He had gotten to the office at six a.m. to make sure he was ready when his supposed mate showed up. Every nerve ending in his body felt as if they had been bound together with a padlock placed around them.

He wanted to believe that his mate would walk in. That it wouldn’t be some cruel joke by someone who wanted to hurt him or wanted something from him. Only time will tell. Straightening his desk for what felt like the tenth time, Russ checked his watch and headed for the front door, hoping whoever Gerri was sending to him was truly his fated mate.

The sun shone through the high glass windows at the front of his office building, making it nearly impossible to see into the parking lot. He paced back and forth, his soul itching to meet this woman … whoever she was. Though he didn’t know how he would react if it was some kind of trick. Would he explode like the bomb he currently felt like? Or would he seethe quietly in his anger?

A light rap on the glass door pulled him from his attention. His heartbeat sped up, leaving him feeling like it had jumped against his rib cage, trying to make a quick escape. Russ drew in a deep, calming breath, quickly unlocked the door, and held it open for the woman.

The cool breeze poured into the office carrying the woman’s scent with it. One whiff was all it had taken for his beast to surge forward, demanding control of their body. Russ fought his inner wolf, knowing that shifting and clamping down on her neck before he’d even introduced himself would be a colossal mistake. He may be a typical alpha male, but he wasn’t a dick, and that would be a dickhead move.

The woman was stunning, with long chestnut hair styled into soft curls that hung to the middle of her back. He could easily get lost in her beautiful dark-brown eyes with flecks of gold in them. Her tiny nose was pert and slightly regal. She had high cheekbones that perfectly offset her lush, full lips.

Jesus, he wanted to kiss those lips to see if they were as soft as they looked. His eyes continued on a southward path until he nearly choked when they landed on her generous breasts. Holy hell, he’d motorboat the hell outta’ those bitches. As much as he wanted to linger at her breasts, his journey continued further south to her hips.

Damn! he thought, breaking out in a cold sweat.Those hips were made to cradle me.

Those curves of hers were absolute perfection. She was absolute perfection.

MINE!his wolf growled in his mind.

Yes,he agreed. She was theirs.

The look on her face was one of pure shock. She’d had no idea that she was going to meet her mate. Her mouth flopped open, and she quickly snapped it shut before repeating the process a few times.

“Please, come in.” Russ worked to keep his voice neutral, his demeanor calm.

“I … I’m sorry. I have to go.” She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

“Wait! You’re here for the job, right?” Russ asked, hoping to keep the woman here just a bit longer. He could tell she was freaked out. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that little bit out.

“Yes,” she said with a tiny nod of her pretty little head. Her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

“Please, come in. Let’s discuss the position, pay, and benefits. I assume you brought your resume with you?” he asked, trying like fuck to remain as neutral and professional as possible. “Gerri told me she had someone in mind for the position.”

“Son of a bitch. I’m going to freaking kill her,” the woman growled. In seconds flat, she had gone from being a scared little mouse to the beast he knew she housed inside of her.

“Kill who?” he asked.

“Gerri. I can’t believe she did this to me.” She eyed him up and down like he was a piece of meat before letting out a soft growl. “Sorry, I need to go. There’s been some sort of mistake here.”

“I’ll pay you twice your normal salary,” he barked out, not knowing what else to say. He didn’t want her to leave. He needed her to stay there.

“Excuse me?” She turned back toward him.

“The job. The executive assistant. The one you came here to apply for today. I’ll pay you twice your normal salary.” Russ didn’t know if he’d even made a bit of sense with the word vomit that had just flown from his mouth.

“You don’t even know if I’m qualified,” she said with a gasp.

“Why don’t you come in, and we’ll discuss it.” He sent a quick prayer to God, or anyone else that might have been listening, that she would say yes.

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