Charming the Wolf: A Paranormal Shifter BBW Romance Read online

  Jensen called her over and pointed to the new additions. "Guys, this is Zane, she's the other big boss. She says jump, you say how high. Understood?"

  They all nodded. She was torn between being aggravated and appreciative.

  Jensen pointed at each one, calling out a name. "Jeremiah, Jules, Franklin, Kort, Calum, and that guy at the end with the hat is Matt."

  Zane said, "Good to meet you guys. Our other crew is coming in tomorrow, I have them out shopping today. They appreciated the break from clearing brush and rubble."

  They all chatted for a few moments and she could feel the heat of Josh's gaze burning through her back. At that moment, Des stepped outside and called her over.

  "Hey, Zane, how's work going?"

  "You know, same old, same old. Speaking of, why didn't you just come to the speed dating thing last night?" If Des had come with her, she probably wouldn't have thrown caution to the wind and gone home with Josh. Maybe.

  Des just shrugged and said, "I'll get around to it. Setting up the practice really is killer."

  "So that's why you are still home at noon?"

  "Hush you, haven't you ever heard of a home office?"

  "Don't think I'll let you off the hook." As Zane was starting to work on Des, her phone rang. She glanced down and a little grin wiggled across her lips. "Speak of the devil, it's them. I better answer it."

  As she said hello into the phone, Des tapped her watch and said, "Whoops, gotta go!"

  Zane could only roll her eyes at the fleeing woman's back. She glanced back at Josh, shocked still by the dark expression on his face. She turned away from him as the woman from Mate in a Minute chattered in her ear.

  As she stepped off the patio and into the house, what the woman was saying finally seeped into her brain. Zane said, "Excuse me, could you repeat that?"

  Zane listened to her repeat the three names. Not one of them was Josh. He hadn't said yes to a date with her. She walked deeper into the house, taking a moment to gather herself. Could I be more stupid? Every nasty word anyone had ever called her flashed through her mind. What else could I expect going home with a man I barely knew? No matter how much my fox likes him, he was never a forever kind of guy.

  Still, she was going to have to work with him for months. She put on her cheerful face. Momma always said fake it til you make it. She was going to fake it no matter how much it felt like her heart had been ripped out of her body. All I wanted was that one last fling. And that’s what it was, a fling.

  So when Zane turned around with a big smile on her face as the brothers, including Josh, walked into the kitchen, she just purred into the phone. "Of course, tonight is fine. Seven-thirty will be perfect."

  Josh flinched. He clearly realized she'd made a date. His lips thinned, but she just kept her face pleasant and happy. She smiled at the room and kept walking as she hung up. She could practically feel waves of something coming off Josh.

  But what right could he possibly have to be upset with her? She was the stupid one who'd assumed he would have said yes to a real date with her. So she just sauntered through the room, until she met up with Jolie.

  The problem with BFFs was that they could tell at a glance when something was wrong. Jolie's head tilt was questioning but Zane just gave her a little shake.

  Zane said, "I'm going to run over to the office to redraw the deck area plans. Do you want me to update the 3D model before you look at it? For Gabe?"

  "You know Gabe gave me free reign." Jolie sighed. "I just wish there wasn't, you know, priceless statuary tucked into every goddamn spot. It's going to take us so much longer to clear everything."

  Zane was so stuck with Josh for months. She was only going to be able to hide in the office for so long. Jolie's arm was tense as Zane patted her arm, trying to comfort her.

  "Don't worry, hon, we'll get it done. You won't be stuck with workers forever."

  When her phone buzzed in her pocket, she was just grateful to have an excuse to step to the side.

  Seven

  Josh watched Zane walk out of the house and cringed. He was such an idiot. Jensen slapped Josh's back, knocking the wind half out of him. His brother said, "You had that speed date thing last night and you're still looking at pretty girls like they are Little Red Riding Hood and you're the Big Bad Wolf who wants to gobble them right up."

  He couldn't stop the low growl, shocking his brothers into silence. "Have some fucking respect. Be professional."

  Eyebrows raised, Jensen tilted his head in acknowledgment. "Noted. Sorry, I know you weren't keen on the whole speed dating thing."

  Josh was not about to tell his brothers he'd met Zane before. Not only would it be insufferable for him to live with them, they were fairly likely to embarrass the shit out of her. Not that she needs my help. She seems to have everything under control.

  "You guys know I said no to everyone. It's not like I have time to date." He left unspoken all their obligations.

  But Jensen shook his head. "Sure it's a big job, but it's not that you will or that you even should be working all the time. You're gonna burn out."

  Before he could say another word, a massive crash outside interrupted them. Zanea. I have to check on Zanea. He ran out of the house, followed by his brothers. Zane and Jolie were standing to the side, a pile of collapsed lumber next to them.

  His voice rough, he said, "What the hell happened?"

  Jolie said, "Damnedest thing. It just collapsed, damn near took us both out."

  Zane's hand clutched the front of her shirt, and it took everything in Josh's power not to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder and carry her far, far away from the danger.

  Zane was a little breathless. "I'll have to have a word with the guys who delivered it. I've never had a problem like this with them."

  Josh's eyes caught Jolie's worried look. She said, "Good thing you're so agile. It could have been a lot worse."

  At that moment, a booming voice called out, "What the hell, Jolie?"

  She waved at the massive man coming out of the house. "Sorry, Gabe. Just a little construction noise. You know how it is."

  Gabe took one look at the scene and growled like Josh wanted to. In a few steps he swept Jolie into his arms and carried her into the house.

  Zane just gave Josh a tight smile. "Mates. What are ya gonna do? If we told him how close we came to being squished, he'd lock her in the house forever."

  Josh cleared his throat. "I'm understanding his urge."

  Her eyebrows shot up into her hairline and her mouth twisted. She half hissed at him, "Please, excuse me. I need to get this cleaned up so I can redo my plans if we're not going to fall behind."

  Her eyes blazed and he took a half step towards her before he caught himself. She wouldn't much appreciate it if he manhandled her. Possibly ever, but definitely not on a job site. He couldn't keep the gruffness out of his voice. "I'll have our new guys handle it. I know the plans are more important than grunt work any of us can do."

  Her eyes were still agate hard, but she accepted his peace offering. "Thank you." She couldn't resist a dig at him. "Besides, I don't want to be late for my date tonight."

  "About that...I said no to everyone." He had to make her understand. His pack was in trouble.

  Her eyes were a bit brighter but her smile never slipped. "Honey, you're assuming I said yes to you. Or that I wanted to see you again."

  "You vicious little fox." He closed the distance between them, their bodies near enough that he could feel her heat radiating through his clothes. His wolf howled, the need to claim her driving him near the brink.

  Zane stepped back, giving a growl of her own. "I guess the big bad wolf should go back to hunting rabbits."

  Before he could say another word, his brother, Jensen, slapped a hand on his shoulder. Josh had been so focused on Zane that he hadn't heard them come up behind him. "We'll get started clearing this out of the way for you, Zane."

  She smiled so sweetly at his brother, Josh damn near got
diabetes. Between his wolf yapping and his surging hormones, he wanted to pull her into his arms and mark her as his before she went on a date with another man. "Thanks, Jensen. I'll see you tomorrow."

  They watched her turn on her heel and saunter away, her hip sway making his blood hot with need. As soon as Zane turned the corner, Jensen thwapped his brother upside the head.

  "Are you out of your freaking mind, Josh? What got into you?"

  "I think I fucked up. She was at the thing last night."

  "Ohhh, and you said no? She doesn't seem petty."

  "Yeeeeah, I said no. Except she came home with me. And just found out I said no. Except, I think she's my mate." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

  A long silence stretched between them until his brother finally muttered, "You complete and utter walnut."

  Eight

  Zane glared into the mirror.

  Hair: sleek.

  Lips: bright red.

  Eyes: smoky.

  Shoes: stiletto perfection.

  Inner fox: deeply confused and resentful as hell that she wasn’t getting that hunky wolf again.

  She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt either. Her body wanted Josh, there was no denying that. She wanted him desperately, even a little madly. But she was long past the age where she was willing to play stupid games.

  He might have been game for a night of fun. Incredible, mind altering, forget her own name FUN. But he’d made it very clear that he didn’t want to date her. Being willing to fall into bed with a warm body wasn’t exactly a vote in his favor.

  Sure, she’d slipped away without talking to him, but it was a workday. And she’d just assumed that they’d mutually connected and that they’d go on a date. Sure, the rejection stung like the dickens. But what had she really expected?

  So, she would go on this date with someone who would hopefully not be as boring as she remembered. At the very least, she wouldn’t be moping about being rejected.

  Zane glanced in the mirror one more time before she hurried to meet Mr. Boring But Said Yes.

  She was just glad she hadn’t worn a watch. It was everything she could do not to keep glancing at her wrist. What was tolerable for five minutes of chatting was mind numbing for an hour. A long, droning hour where he went on and on about the specifics of his job.

  Zane could have chalked that up to nerves and wanting to fill space, but he literally never let her get a word in. She was just expected to listen to him and make noncommittally agreeable noises when he looked at her.

  The wine was tart and fresh in her mouth as she sipped and tried to figure out how rude it would be to just get up and walk out. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she glanced over at the bar. Josh was looking at her.

  He raised his glass to her and turned away.

  She could feel her face flush and had to put her glass of wine down before it shattered in her tightening grip. Not only was she trapped in boring date hell, but she was being observed by the one man in the world she would rather not see right now. Zane turned away from the bar and back to her date.

  The smile that brightened her face was big enough that it actually made her boring date stumble over his words. In the single pause he’d given her, she reached over and patted his hand. “Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies’ room.”

  Head held high, she walked towards the bathrooms. Why do they always have to be near the bar? She did her business and again contemplated just paying the bill and leaving. Except then Josh might think he’d pushed her out.

  No way, no how, was she giving him that satisfaction.

  She carefully reapplied her scarlet lipstick and fluffed her hair. Her armor felt strong again, until she stepped into the hallway and Josh was leaning against the wall, staring down at his phone. Her heart skipped about eight beats before she realized he must be waiting for his date.

  He looked up at that moment and his gaze locked on hers. “Was hoping you wouldn’t take forever.”

  Her stomach fluttered with a wicked yearning. How dare he make her want him, after rejecting her? A tight smile on her face, Zane said, “Did you need something specific from me? I need to go.”

  “Oh, you weren’t planning on ditching that bore?”

  “I’m not impolite, so no, I was not.” His look made her flush, like he knew she was a liar. “Even if I was, I’m not sure we have much to say to each other.”

  It was his turn to flush right to the tips of his ears. With a smirk she couldn’t keep off her lips, she turned to walk away from him. Before she could take a step, his hands were on her arms and his body crowding her. Zane couldn’t remember what she was supposed to be doing when he was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek.

  She tried to step back, away from him, but he followed until she was stopped by the wall. His hands rested on either side of her head, while hers splayed flat against the wall. Zane couldn’t move even if there was a million-dollar check involved. Not when his breath was hot against her cheek.

  His low growl vibrated through her body and she felt a growing wetness between her legs. All she could think about was having him again and again. Zane wasn’t sure which one of them moved first, but his lips crushed against hers and she was lost in his taste and heat.

  The sound of the blaring bar finally penetrated their moment and Josh broke away from her. He looked down at Zane and licked his lips. He said, “Screw that guy, come home with me.”

  His eyes blazed and her inner fox yowled with need. For half a heartbeat, she almost gave into her body’s need. Until she remembered that the reason she was on this date was because he’d said no. She was good enough for his bed, but not to be seen in public.

  An inner strength she didn’t think she possessed let her finally step away from the warmth of his arms. She smiled sweetly at him and said, “Maybe I will screw that guy. Thanks for the idea.”

  Before he could do more than twist up his face into an angry frown, Zane spun on her heel and sauntered away. She could hear his growl so she put a swing in her step. Let him see what he was missing.

  Nine

  Zane slunk into the house, not wanting to run into her deliriously happy best friend. It wasn't Jolie's fault she'd found her fated mate. But Jolie was waiting for her in the kitchen.

  "Hey Zane." Jolie tossed her a flaky croissant. "Des caught a glimpse of all those hunky contractors and is determined to win their stomachs if not their hearts."

  For a moment, Zane considered ripping Des's eyes out for daring to look at Josh. Instead, she stomped over to the coffee machine and prepared her morning cup.

  "Well, aren't you a cheery soul this morning. Late night date again?"

  "No." The snarl stopped Zane in her tracks. She hadn't meant to snap at her friend. "I'm sorry, Jolie. I don't know what's gotten into me." Or not gotten into me. I should have gone home with Josh last night.

  "I guess the date didn't go so hot?"

  Zane slumped against the counter, her head drooping back. "Girl, I almost died of boredom. Died, I tell you. He was a total blowhard." Should she tell her friend about running into Josh? She found herself wanting to keep that blistering kiss private. "At first I thought it was nerves, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but no, he just liked to hear himself talk."

  "Okay, so he's not your future."

  "While I'm thrilled you are happy, I regret this whole stupid bet and I'm never ever going to bet against you again."

  "Until the next time."

  "Well, sure. And the worst, my date turned into an octopus in the parking lot. I didn't even want to give him a handshake and he wanted to get in my taxi and come home with me."

  The air suddenly became sharp and electric and she turned slowly towards the door. Josh had come in, not with his brothers' exuberant energy, but stealthily. His face was tight and he'd clearly heard her. Her tongue nervously licked at her lips.

  Jolie was oblivious to the tension in the room. She just smiled and t
ossed a croissant at Josh. "Oh hey, Zane was just catching me up on her awful date."

  Josh said, "I guess he wasn't a winner. I'm assuming he took no for an answer."

  Zane's skin burned under his gaze. She wasn't going to wilt or give an inch. "Oh, I didn't say he wasn't a winner, if you know what I mean."

  He started to say something, then just nodded at them both and walked out of the house.

  Jolie said, "Funny, that's how Gabe sounds when he's getting all mate crazy."

  "Don't read too much into it. He's just another good-looking bad boy, and didn't you tell me I needed a nice rabbit to settle down with?"

  "Are you sure? He looked pretty unhappy hearing you might have been manhandled."

  "Just because someone is randomly possessive doesn't mean that they are your fated mate. They could just be a controlling dickhead."

  "I guess you’re right. It just...well, never mind. If he was your mate, your skin would feel like prickles when he was near."

  "Anyways, we have a big day today, don't we?" There was no denying that she and Josh had dynamite sexual chemistry, but that didn’t mean they were mates, fated or otherwise. If they were mates, he wouldn’t have rejected her.

  Josh stomped around outside, fuming. He wasn't jealous, he knew there was no way she let her shitty date take her home. Josh was, however, enraged that some lowlife shifter had laid hands on his woman. Or not his woman. Zane certainly was able to walk away from him. He was going about this all wrong. If he couldn't keep his shit together, they were going to get kicked off the job. And if they got kicked off the job, he wouldn't get to see her every day.

  And that wasn't acceptable.

  Even if it was agonizing seeing her and not touching her. His brothers knew something was wrong with him and were giving him a wide berth. No one wanted to deal with a cranky wolf, apparently.

  Jensen quietly came up to him and said, "Hey Josh, when you were helping with the collapsed lumber pile, did you notice anything funny?"