Jared (River Pack Wolves 3)(8)

“I kind of stumbled into him,” Grace explained, hoping that would be close enough to the truth to convince Kylie. “And I can’t get him out of my head.”

“Hot?”

“Super hot. Like, burn out my vibrator hot.”

“Yes!” Kylie fist-pumped on her behalf, and it made Grace grin. “So what’s the problem?”

“Well… he’s not really the sort I should hang out with.”

Kylie’s eyes lit up. “Oooh… a bad boy. Yum. Those practically set the bed on fire.”

Kylie would know, but Grace certainly wouldn’t. She was still a virgin, something she also kept from her friend, the sexual dynamo. Too hard to explain why. But maybe… with Jared…. Grace had considered it before. If she shifted while in the throes of passion with another shifter, there wouldn’t be a need to explain. That was the real reason she had never gone all the way with a man before. Whenever she got riled—usually angry, but other passions could do it as well—her wolf threatened to come out. The beast within was hard for her to control under reasonably normal circumstances—and losing her virginity was not a normal circumstance.

Grace sighed. “I’m sure this guy would be insanely hot in bed.”

Kylie shrugged. “So what’s the problem? It’s not like you have to marry him.”

“I really can’t even date him, Kylie.” Grace bit her lip, hoping. “But you know what? Maybe I’ll just come straight out and ask if he’s interested. You know, just a one-night thing, then we go about our business.” Maybe even tonight, she thought wistfully.

“Now you’re talking. What guy is going to say no to this?” Kylie showcased Grace’s slumped over form with her hands.

Grace straightened and glared at her.

Kylie retracted her hands. “Now that getting you laid is taken care of…”

Grace rolled her eyes.

“…we need to get back to work,” Kylie continued without missing a beat. “I’ve got that photo op with the veterans at the VA hospital almost set up. Can the Senator be there this afternoon?”

Grace fumbled around for her pad, finally found it, and swiped it open, checking the calendar. “Looks like he’s open from one to three. What’s the story there?” It was a relief to talk about work again.

“Some outrage about the VA treatment of a veteran who came in, but they sent away.”

Grace frowned. Their soldiers were ridiculously underpaid to begin with, and many of them had been to hell and back overseas—the least their country could do was give them decent health care. “Why did they send him away?”

“Something about how he couldn’t fill out the registration forms properly. Some kind of mental confusion. Turns out the guy had diabetes and was going through an episode.”

“How does something like that even happen?” Gracie stood up, her anger rising with her. “Tell them the Senator will definitely be there. I’ll make sure of it. I’ll work up some kind of policy statement in the meantime. Do we know who was responsible for turning the vet away?”

“Some new hire in the registration office,” Kylie said. “Sounds like a training issue to me.”

“New funds for training—got it.” Grace made a note on her pad. “I’ll look into it and get a statement together. Where’s our speechwriter this morning?”

Kylie shoved away from the desk. “Nolan straggled in an hour ago. Not sure what his deal is—but I’d bet money he was out clubbing again last night.” Kylie waved her fingers goodbye and strode toward the door of Grace’s office. Just before she left, she grabbed the doorjamb and leaned back, stage whispering, “Speak of the Devil!”

Then she disappeared, and Nolan appeared in her place, arms spread wide dramatically. “And he shall appear!”

Grace couldn’t help but grin. Nolan was tall, lanky but well-built, with sparkling blue eyes that were usually filled with either humor or a smoldering sexiness that said he wanted to take her to bed. He had almost landed her, too. In fact, if there was ever a man Grace wished she could burn up the sheets with, it was Nolan Pearson. He was hot, smart, and had all the right politics. And had written many a fine speech for her father over the two years he’d been working in the campaign office. He’d almost talked her into taking the risk and crawling into his bed. Twice. And as he sauntered into her office now, she couldn’t help wondering how she’d managed to say no. Other than the fact that it would unravel her life completely.

Which, it appeared, was just a matter of time, anyway.