“But you don’t want to?” she guessed. That had to be it, because she couldn’t imagine in a million years why Jaxson River couldn’t have any woman he wanted—shifter or otherwise, for one night or forever.
“It’s not that I don’t want to.” He bit his lip. There was a weird sort of dance of emotions across his face. Whatever he was about to tell her, she had a feeling there was more behind it than whatever words he was carefully choosing in his head. “I’d very much like to have a mate,” he said finally, and that had the ring of truth. “I’m just not ready for it yet. Even though everyone else seems to think I should be.”
“Sounds like kind of a sticky problem.”
“It is.” He seemed relieved like maybe he expected her to judge him for not wanting to be magically bound to someone forever. She’d pretty much given up on “forever-type” relationships—they just weren’t in the cards for her—so she could understand. The world didn’t like it when you weren’t paired up with someone. Or at least wanted to be.
She put her hand on his, meaning to reassure him, but there was that weird sensation again—like touching him was waking up something inside her. She pulled back, using words instead. “I’m not much the mating type myself.”
He frowned at this. “You’re not?”
She shrugged. “Lost my parents early. Did years of duty tour through foster care. Had a couple disastrous boyfriends. Let’s just say, I understand the choice of staying single. Being in a relationship isn’t meant for everyone.”
His frown carved deeper. “Do you think you can be happy that way? I mean long-term. Without someone as a mate, er, I guess husband, in your case?” His earnest look was so sweet, so genuinely curious, she didn’t take any offense to it.
But it still made her shy. “Yeah. I mean, I hope so. My work is important to me.”
He glanced at the computer screen, confusion on his face.
“I’m still figuring that part out.” She could feel the edge of defensiveness creep into her voice.
“I see.” And strangely, it seemed like he did.
She relaxed the hunch in her shoulders.
A smile slowly grew on his face. “Olivia Lilyfield, I think you’re exactly what I needed to find today.”
“Come again?” Her face scrunched up.
He stood and offered a hand up from the stool she was perched on. She took it, even though every time she touched him just reminded her how much she really wouldn’t mind a quick tumble in the sheets with Jaxson River. Maybe that was still on the table if he wasn’t really looking for a mate. Then again, why in the world would he want to sneak off to the stacks with an overly curvy ex-reporter, possible secretary? It didn’t make any sense.
“Riverwise needs an office assistant.” His smile was confident again. “I need someone to help me manage the pressures of acquiring a mate. And you…” He tapped her nose with his finger in a way that made her blush. “… you need a job that means something. I think we can work something out to our mutual benefit.”
She bit her lip. “My rent’s due at the end of the week. Any chance of a check by then?”
He blazed a smile. “Absolutely no problem.”
She sighed, and the tension she’d been carrying since she strode out of the Tales office finally seeped out of her body. “Then, Mr. Jaxson River, looks like you’ve found your new office assistant.”
He tucked her hand around his arm and led her out of the library.
Jaxson’s wolf was yipping in happy circles inside him.
All because he was bringing Olivia back to the office. Of course, his wolf thought that meant they would soon be bending her over his desk and finding out just how luscious those curves really were… Jaxson sucked in a breath and held the frosted-glass door of Riverwise open for Olivia. He really had to stop thinking of her that way, no matter how much his wolf—and he—wanted that little fantasy to play out.
Everything he said to Olivia was true—she needed a job, Riverwise needed an assistant, and he needed someone to help him work this sticky mess of delaying a mate as long as possible. But even more, he was intrigued by the electric touches… her smart mouth… and what was this about her not wanting a husband? There was something wrong there. Something deep and dark and sorrowful in those chocolate brown eyes. And it was killing him not to know what it was.
Bringing her into the office meant he could keep her close. Spend more time with her. Maybe figure out where that dark sorrow was coming from. But he could already tell: the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted. And not just because his wolf was drooling for her.