Wolf Song (Wolf Song Trilogy #1)(22)

Recently, he’d caught another scent when he ran on her property.

Hunters.

The bastards had been sniffing around his pack’s borders and camping on Michelle’s land. No doubt without her knowledge. That gave Jace all the more reason to speed up their odd courtship. Her protection was at stake, and he’d be damned if he left his mate in danger. She was his future.

Michelle’s head popped up, humor sparkling in her pretty eyes. She held up his purchase. “I love the abs on this one.”

He gawked at the semi-naked male torso covering the matte-finished paperback he’d snatched from the shelves without looking.

What. The. Fuck.

***

Michelle bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud at the shock written on Jace’s face, though it came as no surprise to her. The hot specimen of male virility that she’d lusted over since he’d sauntered through the double doors of her bookstore was gay.

She winked in an attempt to ease his visible distress. “It’s really a great read. Good choice.”

“It’s not for me,” he choked out.

Bless his little baby heart. “Sure.” She moved to the register and rang up the romance novel.

“Seriously, it’s for my sister, Kate.” His downcast, grimacing face tugged at her sympathy.

Michelle had discovered the surprising revelation of his sexuality a month ago on one of her nature walks through the wooded property behind the house she’d inherited from her Aunt Cecelia. She’d stumbled upon him there. With another man. Both in various states of undress. Then his equally hot friend had chucked his damned pants. She hadn’t stuck around to witness any man dangle action. Instead, she’d gotten the hell out of Dodge before she could technically be arrested as a voyeur.

Discovering Jace’s sexual orientation had somewhat depressed her. An entire week after she’d seen him in the forest, she hadn’t been able to meet his gaze out of embarrassment. To learn something so intimate and personal about him without his knowledge, it shamed her to feel the way she did about him. She’d foolishly imagined he’d made the twenty minute drive over from Los Lobos each week to her store in Collins, South Dakota because he might’ve been interested in her. At last, she’d found the man of her dreams, and he turned out to be gay.

She’d shrugged off her disappointment. It wasn’t his fault, and she wasn’t about to lose the only friend she’d made since moving here. But that hadn’t stopped her from lusting after the hottest guy on this plane of existence. The fact he was gay hadn’t affected her late night fantasies one iota.

Michelle deposited his money in the register and slid the drawer closed with a soft click. She placed his book in one of her pretty paper bags with the polka dots and set it on the counter in front of him. “Hope your sister enjoys your purchase, Jace.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. His lips curved with a sensual smile she’d be sure to dream about tonight. “What are you doing Friday night?”

“Let me think.” Michelle scrunched her nose and tapped her chin with her finger. Then she snapped her fingers. “Oh, that’s right. Not a thing.”

He released a deep, throaty laugh that did funny things to her insides. Shit, she had to get laid soon. She could practically feel her damn eggs dropping. If she didn’t watch it, she’d tackle her sexy, gay friend without a tad of remorse. She repressed a shiver and waited for him to continue.

Amusement reflected in his dark brown eyes. “Perhaps you could help me out. I have this date night coming up with my sister….”

Huh? Her eyebrows rose. She knew it was a small, country town, but—

“No, wait.” He held up his hand in a halting motion. “I mean, it’s a double date. With her and her boyfriend. I’m supposed to bring someone. Would you go with me?”

Well, she hadn’t expected that. “I’m not so sure, Jace.”

“I’m sorry.” He fidgeted with the handle on his paper bag. “I should’ve asked if you were seeing someone.”

Michelle bit her tongue to keep from blurting out no, but you are. “I’m not, but wouldn’t you rather ask someone else?”

“Why?” He frowned and appeared genuinely perplexed.

Hmm, what’s a polite way to say this? “I just thought…I might not be your type.”

A scowl formed on his handsome face. “Why wouldn’t you be? You’re perfect.”

His reason for asking smacked her in the face as if he’d flung his bag at her. He needed a cover in front of his sister, who probably had no idea he was gay.

Michelle noticed her fingers thrummed the wood countertop. She laid her palm flat to still the nervous action.

Oh, what the hell? It wasn’t as if she had a social life to speak of. Jace had been nothing but kind to her, bringing her cherry Danishes and coffee from the diner down the road each week when he stopped in. He was the only person in her new small town who’d taken the time to get to know her somewhat. Apparently, everyone else thought she had the cooties or something.

Michelle huffed out a breath. “All right. Sure, why not? Where? And what time?”

“How’s seven p.m. sound? I thought we might grab some dinner in Los Lobos. Is that all right?” When she nodded, his face brightened and he smiled a sinful grin that hit her below the belly.