Chapter 7 - Reiner

Downtown Green Lake is usually slow and low-key, just the kind of place you want when you’re trying to blend in. Most shifters living here, despite their wolf sides, tend to be gentle folks. Hardworking people who don’t usually cause much of a fuss or draw a lot of attention.

But right now, it’s filled with people from Stardust Hollow, and our sleepy little town is overwhelmed. Shop owners and service employees alike already have their hands full today, and it’s barely past lunchtime. Even the hardware store is experiencing an unexpected turnout. One of the proprietors is helping a customer change a filter, and I make eye contact with him for just a second. An awkward nod passes between us, and he tugs his ball cap down, returning his attention to his purchase.

I love this town. Really, I do.

I also really don’t want these pack members here any longer than necessary. When they all return home and things go back to normal, I will go back to living my simple, uncomplicated life. Until then, we’re stuck with them.

Once I grab what I need and pay, I start back toward my car when an unwanted scent fills my nostrils. Cursing, I come to a dead stop, trying my damnedest to avoid turning and catching sight of her, but no such luck. There she is, right across the street, with her arm linked with Piper’s. My faux lover Jane laughs with our beta’s wife and disappears into the throngs of shoppers, none the wiser.

Everything in me tells me I should not follow. I should hop in my car and go home and not look back.

But I think about the way she tasted, her softness, and the warm, wet brush of her tongue against mine. The high-pitched moans that caressed my ears, and the way she quivered in my arms.

Shit. I’m getting hard all over again.

After Jack interrupted us, Jane took off so fast, I’m surprised my welcome mat didn’t catch fire. We never did end up going to dinner. No doubt, she was thrown off by Jack’s little comments, and I can’t blame her for that. He does have a tendency to needle, and when he gets rolling, it’s hard to make him stop.

Again, I know I should let her go.

There’s nothing keeping me glued to this spot; no reason why I can’t escape the two chattering women and lock myself in my truck. Maybe I should go home and take a shower to rid myself of the sticky heat she seemed to fill me with when I touched her. And yet, I don’t move.

Maybe it’s the odd sense of curiosity I feel, or maybe my subconscious won’t allow me to let her disappear so easily. All I know is that when they duck into one of the stores, I cross the street and stick close enough to follow the tinkle of their laughter through the aisles, taking extra care to stay out of sight.

“I saw the way you two looked at each other last night at Evan’s place,” Piper’s voice teases. “Give me the gossip.”

I roll my eyes, peeking down an aisle and seeing that they’re surrounded by women’s clothing, blouses, dresses, nightgowns. They’re browsing and chatting, not interested in leaving anytime soon. I lean against a shelf, pretending to look at the contents. A sign that says “Bubble Bath” is staring back at me, but my mind is focused only on Jane.

Piper giggles, lifting a red and green knit top to her shoulders and spinning around with a flourish.

Jane smiles, folding her arms and twisting her lips in a nervous expression. “There’s really nothing to tell, Piper. Honestly, this is all just so… unexpected. For both of us.”

“I’ll say,” Piper agrees. “I’ve known Reiner for a while, since I first came to Green Lake. He’s the last person I expected you would hit it off with, but the moment I saw you last night…” She playfully slaps Jane’s arm and squeals. “You two were drawn to one another, everyone could see it. I swear, I felt like I was watching a couple of magnets struggling not to cling to one another.”

“Now you’re just being silly.”

“Uh-huh,” Piper replies, grinning and wagging her brows. “If I’d known he was your type, I would’ve introduced you a long time ago. I feel like such a shit cousin. I guess I just thought you were too young for Reiner, is all.”

Silence.

When I peer over a shelf, I see Jane staring at her shoes, looking a bit frazzled. She’s chewing on her lip, and I have the distinct feeling that Piper won’t give up until Jane tells her everything. The truth will get out one way or another. Which means I will have to intervene here.

I take a few steps in their direction, but before Jane can say anything, Piper comments, “You know, Lenny thinks it’s all just a giant scam.”

Jane gasps, and I stop walking.

“Scam?” Jane repeats.

“I know, I know. My brother is always looking for some kind of conspiracy. Always seeing plots and schemes where there are none,” Piper says quickly. “He says you’re not Reiner’s usual type, but I told him that’s probably what makes you special.”

Jane squares her shoulders, and something in her posture tells me she’s back in the game. I sidestep and go back into hiding.

She starts tearing through the rack, mumbling to herself about fat-shaming assholes, clearly agitated. She holds something to her body that is far too small, gives it a brief once-over, and tosses it aside, looking disgusted. Finally, she jerks some skimpy, lacy number free from its hanger and holds it up with an angry glare. “If this was a sham, why would I bother buying lingerie for my boyfriend to enjoy?”

Oh, good God.

Piper is stumbling over herself, going on about how she didn’t mean anything by it, but my mouth has gone dry. An image of Jane wearing what she just pulled from the rack invades my brain. I picture her sprawled out on my bed, her legs spread wide and beckoning me over… I can almost taste her. Almost. What if she’d let me taste more than her lips?

My eyes move on their own to the dressing room at the end of the aisle. There’s no attendant, and I don’t see any cameras. I could drag her in there, give her a taste of exactly what she’s getting herself into.

Fuck. I adjust myself behind the shelf. I need to get out of here. Now.

With a low growl, I turn on my heels and stalk back to the entrance.

***

A few hours later, I’m at home, trying desperately not to think of Jane. I’ve already jerked off twice, and yet she’s still invading my thoughts like some kind of curse. Normally, I’m not hung up on a woman at all. I can usually take her or leave her, totally fine with either option. But Jane? I can’t get my mind off her.

I need a distraction and a good, stiff drink. Maybe even someone else to take the edge off. My wolf is restless, insistent, and the only way I can think to calm him is to go for a run.

I strip down naked─no need to ruin perfectly good clothes─and am about to shift when a sharp knock beats at my front door.

A rumbling growl sounds from my chest, reverberating through my very bones as I move through the living room and head into the foyer. I should probably grab a shirt or put on some pants, but I’m over it. Most of us in the area are in the same pack, minus the Stardust Hollow wolves, so my nudity is probably nothing they haven’t seen before.

But when I swing the door open, it’s not a pack member standing on my welcome mat.

“Jane,” I say her name slowly, as if asking a question. My mind goes back to the lingerie store and that scandalous outfit she was holding. I try not to think about how snugly it would stretch across her curvy hips or strain against her ample breasts.

It’s useless. I groan, scratching the stubble lining my jaw.

Her gray eyes flick down, and I swear I see a hint of blush on her cheeks. But she shakes it off and smooths her wavy black hair behind one ear. “Sorry, I would’ve called, but I don’t have your number. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

She can’t stand still, rocking back and forth on her heels, hands clasped tightly in front of her. The subtle movement causes her full, plump breasts to jiggle, drawing my attention once again to those stiff, perky nipples that are poking through her dress.

My focus snaps back to her when she clears her throat pointedly.

“No, I was just, uh… come on in.” I step aside and wave her through.

She hesitates at first, then closes her eyes and sucks in a deep, shaky breath before letting it all out and strutting past. “Sorry for dropping in unannounced like this.”

I shut the door and walk over to the couch, where I have a throw blanket tossed across the back. I wrap it around my hips and sit down, hoping to lessen the intense atmosphere in the room. “Don’t worry about it. What’s up?”

“So,” she pauses, flicking her tongue out to moisten her lips, and my stupid dick twitches in response. “Dinner.”

I tuck an arm across the back of the sofa. “What dinner?”

“With my family,” she explains. “My aunt is putting together a dinner, and she is insisting I bring you along. I tried to tell her that we hadn’t gotten that far yet, but she’s relentless.”

My shoulders slump. I do not have the energy or interest to go hang around a group of Stardust Hollow shifters. No, thank you.

“Sorry, I can’t make it.”

She walks to the couch and plops down on the edge of the cushion, facing me, and lifts one brow. “Can’t, or won’t? Because I thought we agreed to try to make this believable.”

I huff, gritting my teeth, and cross one ankle over my knee. “There will be plenty of other opportunities for us to play kissy face in public, sugar.”

“You mean, when it benefits you? When it’s your friends we’re trying to convince? You don’t know my aunt, Reiner. If she thinks for one second I’m faking things, she won’t leave me alone until I break down and tell her. If I show up without you tonight, she’s going to start asking questions. Worse, she’ll probably march right over here and start poking around. And if she does, everyone will know we’re lying. She won’t stop until she figures out the truth.”

I sigh, squeezing the back of my neck with my hand and looking up at the ceiling. She makes a good point. If anyone in her pack finds out, then my pack will learn the truth, too. And I don’t want to even think about what Rafe will do if he finds out I’ve been using his wife’s cousin.

“All right, give me your phone. I’ll put my number in it, and you can text me the information. When and where, and that sort of thing.”

“Thank you,” she says, and for the first time since she walked in my door, she seems genuinely pleased. She pulls out her cell, unlocks the screen, and hands it over to me. Our fingers brush, and the hairs on my arm prickle at the sensation. My wolf stirs within, lifting his massive head with a grunt, telling me to take her.

I let out a slow breath and tap in the numbers. When I press send, my phone dings from somewhere in the kitchen.

“There. We should probably come up with our own private signals, too. In case one of us needs an exit out of a conversation. A code word, if you will.” I hand the phone back. “You know, save one another from unsavory social obligations.”

“And by that, you mean my family.”

“Oh, I’ll be just as bored at any of our pack gatherings. Trust me.”

She stands, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear, and smiles. “I appreciate it.”

“Sure, no problem.” I stand as well, running a hand through my hair. The blanket around my hips begins to slip, and in my effort to stop it from pooling at my feet, I let go. “Aw, shit.”

Jane is biting back a laugh when I lower my arms.

“Right, I’ll just…” I hook a thumb over my shoulder, hoping to avoid this becoming any more awkward. “I’m going to go finish getting dressed now. Be right back.”

“No, no,” she says. “Don’t bother. I’ll show myself out. See you at dinner. Bye!”

I watch the door swing shut behind her, and finally, I hear her tickle of laughter bubbling to the surface. I shake my head, retrieving the blanket, and head to my room, my run long forgotten.

This should be an interesting evening.