Chapter Eight
Mike was at a loss. He had no idea what had just happened or what he should do for that matter. Everything had been going so well. Rin had been smiling and having fun and he’d been proud of himself for behaving like a gentleman. How many times had he wanted to reach out and touch her, touch that smiling face, pull her into his arms, and kiss her? There had been a few times when it had been a herculean effort to remain casual. The sound of her laughter, the sparkle in those dark brown eyes, well, they made him feel almost bubbly. Rin had been through a trauma, he had to keep reminding himself. The last thing she needed was to deal with a horny wolf. Slow and steady would win this race. He’d let her get to know him, become comfortable around him, and then maybe he could test the waters, so to speak; see if she was amenable. It was a good plan, a solid plan, and things had been progressing nicely.
Then suddenly, it had all changed. The smile was gone, the sparkle disappeared. Her skin had gone waxen and the scent of fear had brought his wolf dangerously close to the surface. He let out a growl even now and had to take a few deep breaths to keep himself from chasing after her, scooping her up into his arms, and bringing her back to his place where he could properly protect her from whatever had sent her running.
He’d kept his eyes trained on her as she entered The Cedars. He’d give her a few minutes so she didn’t feel like he was stalking her, before walking over to check on her.
“Michael Myers. The man with the fictional serial killer’s name. How are you?”
Mike’s head swung in the direction of the door he was still blocking. He had heard comments regarding his name all his life; comparisons to Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise, or Shrek, Austin Powers, or references to Wayne’s World thanks to Mike Myers, the Saturday Night Live alumni, so it certainly didn’t bother him anymore, but Mike didn’t feel at all sociable at the moment. Still, he pasted a smile on his face in greeting as Susan Fuller, no, she was Susan Black now, exited the diner with her mate Sebastian by her side and Sebastian’s brother Christian bringing up the rear.
It had been around Thanksgiving of the previous year that Susan had come to Malsum Pass in search of Sebastian. To say she had changed the cranky bear shifter’s life would be an understatement. The male had gone from unapproachable and scary to downright pleasant to be around. Some might now even call him personable. In fact, the male was currently smiling and holding out a hand in greeting whereas the Sebastian Black formerly tagged with the moniker Black Bastard, would have snarled a warning that earned him a wide berth.
“I heard you guys had come for a visit.” Mike returned with a smile he wasn’t feeling as he was introduced to Sebastian’s brother Christian who was almost as big as his brother. “How long are you in town?”
“A few weeks, maybe longer. I wanted to have a snowmobile adventure, but someone,” Susan looked pointedly at her mate and cleared her throat loudly, “said it wouldn’t be safe in my condition.” She rolled her eyes at this while Sebastian let out a little chuff of sound as his free hand settled possessively over the slight mound of his mate’s belly and she continued with a grin. “So we came for snow angels and snowball fights.”
Christian Black glanced back into the mostly empty diner with a look of speculation, before returning his attention to Mike and grinning. “I’m actually thinking I may stick around. The views in this town are spectacular.”
Sebastian let out a snort. “She’ll tear your balls off and feed them to you, but hey, it’s your call.”
Mike took a step back, not sure what the two brothers were talking about and not particularly caring at the moment. He needed to go check on Rin. “Well, ah, it was great to see you all again. I’m sure we’ll cross paths before you leave.”
Susan shot him a bright smile as he continued to edge away. “Good to see you too. Take care.”
That was all the encouragement Mike needed to take off across the road like a shot. His female needed him. Maybe he didn’t have the right to call her his as yet, but it was the truth. He knew it, his wolf knew it; he just needed to figure out how to convince Rin to take a chance on him. That he would be there for her if she needed to lean on him. That he would bolster her when her courage was flailing, support her, protect her… She just needed to let him in.
Of course getting into the bed and breakfast was easier than actually getting to Rin. Margaret Tully was in a huff as soon as he made an appearance, going on about doors being slammed, but Rin had barricaded herself in her room and wouldn’t come out. His wolf wanted to break the door down, luckily the human side of him was in control enough to suppress the urge. “Please just tell me that you’re all right.”
Several hard beats of his heart passed before he heard her. Her voice was weak and slightly hoarse, but the message was clear. “I’m fine. Please. I just need to be left alone.”
It went against every instinct to walk away when he knew she was in distress, but what choice did he have. He nodded, knowing she couldn’t see it, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. “If you need anything, anything at all, please call me, Rin. I’m your friend. Even if you just need to talk to someone, day or night.”
Mike hesitated, his ears straining to hear a sound that she might be coming to the door to open up for him. When the silence continued, he hung his head and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he moved away from the door and made his way back downstairs. He wouldn’t let this defeat him. She needed time and space and he would honor that.
Leaving his number with Margaret to give to Rin, Mike made his way back to the car that was still parked in front of the diner. She would call, or she’d come by the garage to use the gym. Now to head home and sit by the phone like the pathetic love-sick fool he was. He would see her again. No need to feel like this was the end. It was just the beginning.
Mike had barely gotten into his apartment above the garage when he scented, Tim, the town’s fire chief, paramedic, and Mike’s lifelong best friend, who currently had his head stuck in Mike’s refrigerator.
“You know you have nothing to eat in this place, right?”
Mike flopped down on the couch and leaned his head back against the cushions with a drawn out sigh. “I have beer.”
Tim closed the refrigerator door and shot Mike a look of disgust. “Beer is not food.”
“If you want food, go to the diner.” Mike shrugged. “Here you take your chances.”
Tim stared at him for a moment, hands on hips, before letting out a grunt. “What’s got your panties in a bunch, Runt?”
Ah, yes… Runt. Not only did he have to deal with comparisons to movie characters because of his name, but his lack of size had earned him the ignominious nickname of Runt early on, that had, unfortunately, stuck.
Mike let out a pitiful sigh. “Have you met Rin?”
“The little fox shifter that came home with Connie?” Tim flopped down on the couch beside Mike, picked up the TV remote and started surfing through channels. “What about her?”
“I think I’m in love.”