Lured

2-3

IN THE SHOWROOM APARTMENT, Nathan strode across the lounge and tugged back the cardboard flaps on one of a dozen packages lined against the wall. “These what you hoped they’d be like?”

I smiled at the shiny, vermillion door I’d ordered for one of the kitchen units. “Perfect.” I nodded to the other packages. “The white ones—are they as glossy?”

“Exactly the same, but white.” His mood seemed to have improved since morning. “You want to check?”

“Sure do.”

From the corner, he retrieved another flat-pack piece of cardboard and brought it over. Opening the flaps revealed whiteness as brilliant as fresh snow.

My lips curved as I ran a finger across the door’s surface.

“This will be the lounge.”

Nathan and I turned at Josh’s voice.

He smiled. Beside him stood the dark-haired, young woman from the other day.

The hackles shot up along my spine. Eyebrow raised, I sent Nathan a sideways glance before I fixed a stare back on her.

“It’s a good size.” She smiled up at Josh—way up. From a vertical perspective, she had to be at least a foot below Josh’s six-three height.

Josh walked over, kissed my cheek. “Are the doors right, Jem?”

I nodded but continued to watch the girl.

The girl followed Josh’s every move. As he walked, her eyes tracked his legs, his arms. When he spoke, she studied his lips, his eyes. During his interaction with me, she never broke contact with him. She had to be either unnaturally interested in a man she didn’t even know, or naturally very observant. I couldn’t figure out which.

“This is Marianne.” His hand came to the small of my back, nudging me forward a step as he gestured toward the invasion.

Face to face, I studied her. Pegged her to be around twenty-one. Without a doubt, pretty.

I saw why she’d taken Josh’s attention—but her eyes led me to believe the deal went deeper than the surface, as they contradicted the outward youth she portrayed, making her look like a calculating, wise, old owl.

I didn’t realise how long I stared, or that I hadn’t spoken—even the narrowing of my eyes didn’t register.

Josh leaned in close. “Please, play nice, Jem.”

All sorts of ideas whizzed through my mind, like to drag her arse outside and request, not too politely, that she find another male to set her sights on—preferably not one from our pack. Instead, I took a step forward and extended my hand. “I’m Jem.” My lips stretched in an attempted smile.

“Nice to meet you, Jem.”

On release of her hand, I resisted the urge to wipe my palm across my jeans leg and turned to Nathan instead.

He frowned—probably at my outright rudeness—and offered his own hand. “Nice to meet you, Marianne. I’m Nate.”

Nathan always introduced himself as ‘Nathan’ to strangers. He always reserved ‘Nate’ for friends and family.

I scowled. Am I the only one impervious to her?

Breakable, tiny fingers folded around Nathan’s. “Hi, Nate.”

“Come on.” Josh stepped away from me, placing a guiding hand on Marianne’s elbow. “I’ll show you the rest of the rooms.”

As soon as she was out of earshot, Nathan whispered, “What’s up with you?”

“She’s lying.”

“About what?”

“She doesn’t give a damn about these apartments. The only thing here holding her attention is Josh.”

“Does that really matter? Josh seems content enough to play along.”

“If she likes him, she could say. I’m sure the truth would work just as well.” I sounded like a sulky child.

“Perhaps she’s shy.”

“Does she look shy to you, Nate?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t know much about women. Haven’t had much experience with them.”

“Except for Beth.”

His gaze, as it met mine, filled with anguish, I presumed at the mention of his human wife—the mother of his two sons. Nathan had sent her away over ten years before, after Connor’s wife had been killed in an attack by another pack. He believed it the only way to keep her safe. Neither Sean nor Ethan had seen her since.

Except for Beth,” he said at last. “And you.”

I smiled. “Surely, I’m too much of a pain in your arse to count?”

His chuckle told me my attempt at lightening the moment worked. “Jem, you overestimate yourself. Come on, let’s round up and get home.”