Dade sat in the truck, gripping the wheel, eyes downcast. Good. He should feel like worm slime after trying to push her away like that. She could practically see the war he waged within himself to keep her close or to keep her at arm’s length, but he needed to pick a side. She’d known love. The good kind where she and Jay had respected each other and talked through their problems.
Dade was a different beast altogether.
She could be patient and wait for him to come around, but ultimately, he would have to be the one to decide whether to jump all in or not.
Dade shut the truck door a little too firmly. Gravel shuffled behind her, and his shoes made hollow sounds on the stairs as he strode toward where she stood on his darkened porch. She closed her eyes as a delicious wave of warmth crashed through her middle when he reached around her to unlock the door. He smelled amazing, like soap and pine sap, and something heady that belonged only to Dade.
He pushed open the door and took the duffle bag from her, then flipped a light switch inside. She gasped in surprise as she did a slow circle in the living room to take it all in. The cabin was small—one of those big front porch, tin roof, log siding models. But inside, the space was so open it looked much larger than from the outside. Wood walls, wood floors, an old fashioned stone hearth, sparse furnishings, and dark light fixtures gave the home a mannish feel. In the kitchen, the appliances were stainless steel, a contrast to the old-timey wooden cabinets and countertops. Along the back wall over the kitchen was a set of stairs that led to a single door.
She rented a cabin just outside of town, but it didn’t have character like this home did.
Dade busied himself with folding a blue and orange blanket that had been left wadded on the dark leather couch, but every few seconds, he cast his eyes her way, as if he needed to see her reaction to his place.
“This place is amazing. And unexpected.”
“How so?” Dade asked, draping the folded blanket across the back of the couch.
“Well, you’re a bachelor. I thought there would be dishes stacked high in the sink and TV trays of old microwave dinners sitting out.”
Dade smiled and hooked his hands on his hips. “Ma didn’t raise a slob. If she came over and my place was a mess, I’d have to hear about it for a week. Besides, I like my living space tidy. My bear gets restless around clutter. I start feeling like I need to come up with escape plans.” He dropped his gaze. “That sounds weird.”
“No, it doesn’t. You’ve been through a difficult life and have had to hide what you are. My new instincts are overwhelming. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you, but your animal liking a tidy home isn’t weird.”
Dade’s blond brows drew down as if he was uncomfortable with the turn in conversation, so she gave him an out. “Where is your bathroom? It’s been a long day, and I want to clean up.”
“I don’t like this,” he murmured. Dragging sad eyes to her, he said, “I screwed up in the truck. I let the conversation turn, and before that, we’d been having fun. I got in my own head, and now you’re talking to me like we’re strangers again. And I don’t like that.” His voice dipped lower. “I like when you are smiling and happy with me.”
“Well, I like when you aren’t trying to push me away.”
His chest heaved as he inhaled a deep breath. Nodding his head toward the stairs, he said, “I’m going to make you some dinner. Food, meat especially, will help you heal faster. Take your time.”
Quinn padded up the stairs and made her way through the door. His room was like the rest of the house, tidy and clean, not even a streak of dust on his dresser. His bed, however, was covered in jumbled sheets and a dark, disheveled comforter, as if he’d slept rough last night.
With a grin, she spun and landed on the soft mattress. Rolling on her side, she inhaled his pillow. Some of her new bear powers were pretty cool. Imagining the monster that would rip out of her again in a week or so was terrifying, but being able to smell every detail on Dade, to be able to pick his scent out of all the rest, was awesome.
“Are you sniffing my bed?” Dade’s deep voice sounded from the doorframe.
With a squeak, Quinn sat up and clutched her chest. She shot a horrified glance at the bed, imagining how ridiculous she must have looked, then scrunched up her nose. “I’m sorry.”
Dade pushed off the frame where he’d been leaning and approached slowly, as if he was stalking prey. “You don’t have to say sorry for anything, woman. I came up here to apologize and found you on my bed, looking hot as hell in those little cutoff shorts.”