“A disagreement about what?” she asked.
He motioned her closer, tugging on the arm of her chair to roll it an inch or two forward, just enough that he could lean in to whisper in her ear. “My wolf thinks I should be dragging you off to a dark corner of the library and running my paws all over you.”
Her heart lurched with his sexy words whispering against her skin. A shiver literally ran up her back. She pulled away to look into his eyes. “But you disagree.” Damn, it was hot in here. Was he really saying this to her?
He dropped his gaze to her chest, the buttoned shirt still inconveniently puckering. Then he slowly drew a hot line with his gaze as he worked his way back up to her face. His grin was wicked and sexy and was igniting her nether regions. “Oh no, we definitely agree about that part.”
She swallowed. “I see.” Not that she did, but she was having trouble forming words.
“The thing is, my wolf is convinced you’re a shifter. A wolf shifter to be precise. He insisted we come back and find out, because he really, really wants it to be true.”
Is that what he wanted? A shifter to get hot and heavy with? It made sense for a shifter to want to be with their own kind. “I’m sorry to disappoint him.” And at that moment, she kind of wished she could have been—at least for a quick tryst in the stacks. That would certainly redeem this hellacious day.
“You’re sure you’re not?” he asked again.
“Afraid so.”
But instead of looking disappointed, he seemed a little relieved by her answer. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He straightened up from the floor and leaned against the library table, thankfully giving her room to breathe again. Although she instantly missed his closeness even as she was glad to be released from the intensity.
He glanced at her computer screen—it had gone dark while they talked. “You’re looking for a new job.”
She pulled in a breath and tried to regain some dignity. “Yes. The last one was… well, morally challenged.”
He blazed a smile. “Maybe you could help me out with something.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You mean, other than saving you in the alley?”
His face fell into a frown. “I had that under control.”
“And not reporting you for phone theft?” She enjoyed the small squirm he did on the table.
“I was just borrowing it.”
“I see.”
“Okay, okay.” He held up his hands. “Ms. Olivia Lilyfield, I need your help, and I’m willing to pay you for it.”
That got her attention. The smirk fell off her face. “What do you mean?”
The smile was back on his face, although gentler this time. “My brothers and I run a private security firm. Riverwise—maybe you’ve heard of it?”
Heard of it? They only handled the most prestigious, and secretive, clients in the Seattle Metro area. “I might have heard you mentioned in the Tales once or twice.”
He gave her a scowl, but it seemed mostly teasing. “It so happens, we’re in need of a secretary, er… office assistant.”
“Really?” Her pulse quickened. Was he actually offering her a job?
“I think you’re just what we need… under one condition.”
Her shoulders slumped. “What?” God, if it was something sleazy, she was just going to give up on this day and go home and eat ice cream. All night.
“Well… it’s kind of embarrassing. And a bit awkward.” He looked genuinely uncomfortable—which just intrigued her.
“Well, if you were doing your job in stalking me, you should know that I specialize in embarrassing and awkward.”
He let out a short laugh, and the smile was back on his face. She really liked it much better that way. His smoldering hot looks made her panties dampen, but this look—this smile—seemed like it was an infrequent visitor to his face. Like there were more dark clouds than sunshine in his life. And for some reason that made her heart hurt, even though she really shouldn’t have any feelings whatsoever for this man. Beyond the obvious. Any woman with a pulse would lust after Jaxson River.
He was studying her face, his expression growing serious. Then he dropped to one knee and drew close to her again. “Here’s the thing,” he said, taking a breath and letting it out slow. “I need a mate.”
Her eyebrows hiked up. “A mate?” It was a shifter thing, mating for life. Some kind of magic that bound them together—that was about all she knew.
“Yes. It’s expected. I’m alpha of my pack, and I’m supposed to take a mate to solidify my leadership position. And, if possible, mate with one of the daughters of a rival pack. To form an alliance of sorts.”