Her heart pounded. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I'm really glad you came by when you did."
He reached to toy with an idle curl she had lying on her shoulder. "Me, too."
"I, um… I'll have to make payments to you for the movers."
"Don't worry about it. It's a gift."
"Vane—"
"Don't worry about it," he insisted. "I told you, money has no real value to me."
How much money would he have to have to be able to say that about fifteen thousand dollars? And why would a guy this rich be hanging out with her?
"Well, it has value to me and I don't want to be obligated to you for anything."
"You're not obligated to me, Bride. Ever."
"No, I have to pay you back."
"Then have dinner with me and we'll call it even."
She shook her head at him. "That's no way to pay you back."
"Sure it is."
She opened her mouth to respond, then remembered her other Vane. "Oh no, I have to go get my wolf. He'll be beside himself!"
Vane went pale at her words, but she didn't notice since she was already headed back into her store.
He looked around to make sure the movers couldn't see him, then flashed himself back into the closet in the back room as a wolf.
He had barely made it before she opened the door.
"There you are, boy," she said, kneeling down to pet him. "I'm so sorry I had to put you in here. You okay?"
He nuzzled her gently.
She gave him a tight hug and then stood up. "C'mon, baby, I have someone I want you to meet."
Vane ground his teeth at her words. How on earth could he meet himself? He was powerful, but that was beyond even his abilities.
Instead, he bolted for the half-open door and kept running until he was sure she was out of sight.
Bride went running after her wolf.
"Vane!" she called, rushing to the door. She couldn't see a trace of him anywhere.
"You called?"
She jumped, then turned to see the human Vane behind her. "No, my wolf—"
"Is named Vane?"
She opened her mouth as her face heated. "It's a long story."
He just smiled at her.
Oh Lord, how did she get herself into these predicaments?
"Well, I wouldn't worry about him. I'm sure he'll come back."
"I hope so. I've gotten kind of attached to him."
Vane's heart sank. That was the last thing he wanted her to tell him. But in truth, he'd gotten attached to her, too. Something that was lunacy.
He dropped his hand from her hair even though what he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss those lips. Both parts of him wanted nothing more than to strip their clothes off and rub himself against her. To feel her soft skin sliding against his. Taste her flesh with his tongue…
Bride swallowed at the look on his face. He stared at her as if she were a cake he was about to devour.
No man had ever given her such a hungry, needful look. She was paralyzed by it.
"Hey, lady?"
She jumped at the mover's call. "Yeah?"
"Where do you want us to put the bed?"
She looked up at Vane. "I'll be back, okay?" He nodded. She left his side and felt his hot, heavy stare on her the whole way as she went to the movers. Vane struggled to breathe as he watched her walk away from him. That woman had the best-looking ass he'd ever seen. And he loved and hated the way she wore her hair up. Tendrils of it hung down, grazing her neck, making him want to lick every inch of that tantalizing flesh.
Did all wolves feel like this with their mates? Or was it something about Bride? He didn't know for sure. But he was now human with her. God help them both.
Chapter 4
Not once in her entire existence had Bride ever felt more awkward. What did a woman say to a man who had bailed her out of one of the worst moments of her life?
"Thank you" was so inadequate for what she felt for him. He was truly a hero to her.
She left the apartment and headed back toward her store while the movers continued to unload her belongings.
At first she didn't see Vane anywhere. Had he left?
His motorcycle still stood where he'd parked it.
Frowning, she looked inside the store and found him browsing through a rack of slinky dresses that had come in earlier that morning.
He paused at a snazzy black number that had caught her attention. It was made of heavy silk with a halter top that would look great on someone built like Tabitha. She'd ordered them on impulse because she knew instinctively that the dress would really set off the beaded choker Vane had bought for her.
She'd originally planned on displaying the two items together.
Bride opened the door and headed toward him. "Would you like to try one on?" she asked playfully.
He laughed at that. His entire face lightened and his green eyes sparkled. Gracious, no man should be so handsome.