3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

C andy

The doorbell chimes, jolting me out of my brooding thoughts. I glance at the clock—ten a.m. sharp. Must be the new babysitter Maury hired. I roll my eyes, already dreading the stuffy, judgmental type he probably picked to keep me in line.

I swing open the door, a snarky quip locked and loaded, but the words shrivel on my tongue as I take in the sight before me.

Holy hell. This is no ordinary babysitter.

He's tall, at least six foot six, with broad shoulders and a chiseled chest that's on full display, seeing as he's not wearing a shirt. Just a pair of snug jeans and a stuffed duffle slung over one muscular shoulder. But that's not even the most shocking part.

Perched atop his tousled sun-bleached hair are two very real, very wolf-like ears. They twitch slightly as he cocks his head, his piercing blue eyes assessing me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. Motion behind him has me leaning sideways to see a very wolf-like tail swaying calmly from side to side.

My gaze slides from his muscular arms and fur-capped shoulders to his huge human-like hand, relaxed at his side—I hear wolven have retractable claws, like a cat. A slight huffing sound snaps my eyes back to his face. When his lips quirk into a half-smile, I catch a flash of his honest-to-God fangs.

"You must be Candy," he says, his voice a low, gravelly rumble I feel in my bones. "I'm Courage, your new bodyguard."

I blink, trying to process this unexpected twist. Bodyguard, sure. I was in too much trouble to fight it. But a wolven bodyguard? With the ears, fangs, bushy tail , and the whole shirtless bad-boy vibe? It's like something out of those paranormal romance novels my friend Maggie reads.

"You're… not what I was expecting," I manage, my gaze now glued to his impossibly chiseled abs. Get it together, Candy.

He shrugs, a ripple of muscle. "I get that a lot."

Right. The Others. I've seen them on the news, heard the debates about their integration into society. Seen the heinous, prejudiced memes the Purists pump out on a daily basis. But I've never actually met one. Let alone had one show up half-naked at my door, claiming to be my glorified babysitter.

I realize I'm staring and quickly step aside, motioning him inside. He crosses the threshold, his movements fluid and predatory as he scans my living room like he's checking for threats. Or maybe escape routes, in case his new client tries to make a break for it.

"So, you're here to what? Keep me out of trouble?" I aim for nonchalance, but my heart is doing double-time as he turns that knowing blue gaze back on me.

"That's the job," he confirms with a nod. "Maury Gold filled me in. No more public scenes, no more…" His eyes flicker down my body and back up, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "Wardrobe malfunctions."

Heat floods my cheeks and I cross my arms, suddenly feeling exposed even though I'm fully clothed. "That was an accident."

"Uh-huh. Well, my job is to ensure that's the last of the public accidents." He says it mildly, but there's a steel undercurrent that tells me he's not messing around.

Fantastic. Not only do I have a babysitter, but he's a super-hot, super intense wolven who looks like he could bench press me one-handed. This should be fun.

"So what, you're just going to follow me around 24/7?" I challenge, lifting my chin. Why am I starting a fight with this guy? Maury told me this was the deal—take it or he'll fire me.

"Better get used to it. I'll be sticking to you like glue, sunshine. Someone's gotta protect the world from any more surprise peep shows."

Oh, I could definitely get used to this view. Bad Candy. Do not ogle the hot bodyguard. That's how sex tape scandals start.

I clear my throat, trying to regain some semblance of control over this bizarre situation. "Well, I hope you brought more than one change of clothes in that duffel. We're going to be spending a lot of time together."

His eyes gleam, a hint of something wild and dangerous beneath the surface. "I'm very low maintenance. Besides, it wasn't my privates splattered all over the front page. Don't worry about me, little human."

Little human. A shiver races through me at the almost fond way he says it. Like I'm a cute kid sister he's been tasked with keeping out of trouble.

Oh, we'll see about that. If Courage thinks he can just waltz in here with his muscles and his fangs and his stupidly sexy voice and get me to behave…

Well. He's in for one hell of a ride. And I'm not sure which one of us will be hanging on for dear life.