“—and apart from that fact that he hasn’t turned up any decent leads on the ring, he’s now being openly rude to Rolf. I’m starting to seriously doubt if he was a good choice for this mission.”

I nodded, even though I hadn’t heard a word Caleb just said. He didn’t seem to notice, stopping just long enough to take a slurp from his milkshake before he launched into another rant about Robbie. It would be a comical image if I didn’t already feel like shit.

After a morning of conference calls with alphas from prominent US bear and wolf packs, we stopped at Bewitching Bites for lunch. Caleb was pleased with the progress we’d made this morning, but I wasn’t so cheery, mainly due to the fact that I’d hardly heard a word that had been said.

So far, my plan to get Willow Summers out of my head hadn’t exactly worked. In fact, it was a massive fucking failure.

Willow’s soft, dreamy voice floated around me, crowding out all the other, less Willowless conversation. Her dark curls bounced in and out of my view. And she was—

—walking into the bakery.

I blinked. No, I wasn’t imagining it. That was Willow Summers, walking up to the counter, dragging her right leg with a slight limp. She wore a tailored suit that clung in all the right places, and the neckline plunged deep, revealing the hint of cleavage that made my breath hitch. Her eyes scanned the rows of treats on display. She didn’t seem to have seen us.

“—if I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was like he can’t even read or something—” Caleb was still droning in, as if the hottest girl in the universe hadn’t just walked in.

I stood up, grabbing my coffee cup. “I need another coffee,” I said.

“But you haven’t finished that one—”

I leaned against the counter, placing myself between Willow and her view of the cakes. “Willow Summers, as I live and breathe.”

Willow jumped. “H-h-hi, Irvine,” she stammered. Her eyes darted toward the door, and she gripped a thick organiser against her chest, sadly obscuring her glorious cleavage.

“I didnae think this place could get any sweeter, but you proved me wrong.” Behind me, Caleb snorted at my ridiculous line, but from the way Willow’s cheeks were burning red, I ken I’d hit the mark. “What brings you here?”

Willow bit her lip. “I-I have a meeting with Belinda. We’re going over m-m-menus for a wedding.”

“Sounds delicious. If you want my recommendation, try the Heaven and Hell cake.” I pointed to the multi-layered cake decorated with whisky ganache and chocolate curls that took pride of place in the cabinet. “It’s innocent on the outside, but wicked bad on the inside. Reminds me of someone I ken.”

“Um … sure.” Willow barely glanced at the cake. Her dark eyes fell on mine. I lost myself in them. The connection crackled between us, and it took every ounce of self control I had not to slide her up on the counter and tear open that sexy jacket.

I leaned in closer and lowered my voice. “The thing about Heaven and Hell cake is that sometimes, the first taste isnae enough. You need another taste, and another.”

Willow swallowed.

The foot of space between us shrunk away to nothing. The way she was looking at me was even more intimate than the kiss we’d shared. That look said I’m scared, but I want you.

I’m scared too, Willow Summers.

Caleb’s arm draped over my shoulder, and he leaned in, shoving his face between us. “Irvine, won’t you introduce me to your friend.”

Shite. The last thing I wanted was Caleb scrutinising our connection. “Sure thing. Willow, this is my friend Caleb. We’re just having coffee. Caleb, this is Willow Summers. She recently moved to Crookshollow from London.”

“My pleasure, Willow.” Caleb held out his hand, shooting her one of his brilliant smiles. Even though I ken he was insanely devoted to his fiancée, Rosa, I had to fight off the urge to deck him.

“We’ve already met,” Willow said, shooting me a nervous glance. She didn’t take Caleb’s hand, and after a few awkward moments, he retracted his hand.

“We have? I can’t say I remember you.”

How can anyone forget someone that gorgeous?

“It was at Bianca’s wedding. Elinor introduced us. I was the wedding planner.”

“That’s right. I remember now. Elinor and Bianca have been singing your praises. We’re all friends, and there are probably quite a few couples who could use your services.” Caleb grinned, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Oh, that’s … that’s great.” Willow forced a smile. I glared at Caleb. Couldn’t he see she was uncomfortable?

“In fact,” Caleb continued, giving me a sly wink. “We’re all heading to the pub tonight, to celebrate an important merger Irvine and I negotiated. You should join us.”

Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea. A chance for Willow to get to know more people in Crookshollow, and see that shifters weren’t all bad, even if some of them did want to do bad things to her body.

And maybe a chance for me to see her in another cleavage-baring outfit.

“I-I-I have something tonight,” Willow stammered out. “But thank you for the invitation.” Her eyes met mine and she bit her lip. Damn. It was hard to focus when she did that.

“You should come. Elinor will be there,” I said. “And Alex. Bianca, too.”

“Not Bianca,” Caleb said. “But it’ll be a fun group.”

Now it was my turn to arch an eyebrow at him. Not Bianca? Was Caleb really that pissed at Robbie that he wouldn’t invite either of them out with us?

Apparently, he was, because he gave a curt nod, then turned his attention back to Willow. “I’ll see you there, Willow. Irvine, meet you back at Raynard Hall when you’re done here.”

Caleb gave us both a final wink, and shoved his way out the door. Inwardly, I cringed, knowing I’d have to explain how I ken Willow later. But it was hard to dwell on my problems when I was alone with the most beautiful woman in the world, and she was biting her lip in that way that drove me crazy.

“Well, will you come tonight?” I wanted to kiss that worried look right off her face. “I’d really like to see you again.”

“I …” She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“Because what happened the other night was a mistake.” Willow’s eyes darted to the door again.

“If that’s true, it’s the most glorious mistake I’ve ever made. And judging by the way your tongue wrapped around mine, you agreed at the time. So what changed?”

She looked like a deer caught in headlights. “We can’t talk about this here.”

I swept an arm around the bakery. The line had snaked around us, and the tables were all full. Everyone was either talking and laughing or staring at their phones. “No one’s listening.”

She leaned forward, rewarding me with another tantalising glimpse of her cleavage. Her cheeks flushed an even darker pink. “After what Robbie did, it’s already dangerous enough—”

“Forget about that for a moment. We sorted it. I want to ken why it is you’re so determined to ignore the attraction between us.” I reached out and grazed her hand with the tips of my fingers. The energy leapt between our skin, igniting my whole body. Willow’s eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away.

“Because I’m human, and you’re … what you are.”

“It’s nae unnatural, us being together. Werewolves and humans have been mating since the beginning of time. It’s how our species continues.” I stoked her finger, and a small sigh escaped her lips. “Not all shifters are evil.”

“I beg to differ.”

“That wasnae what you were saying when my hands were all over your body.”

Willow’s breath hitched, and her dark eyes widened further. “That’s not … I’m not usually …”

“All I’m asking is that you give me a chance to show you that good things can happen when shifters and humans co-mingle. Come to the pub with us tonight. I promise it will be worth your while.”

I traced my finger over the back of her hand. She shuddered, her eyes fluttering closed as the connection sparked between us.

“I’ll … I’ll think about it.” I could tell from the way the flush spread all the way down her neck, she wouldn’t be able to stay away. She held up her organiser, obscuring half her face. “I have to work.”

“Of course. In that outfit, you wonnae have any trouble knocking ‘em dead.”

The spark in Willow’s eyes told me that compliment had hit home. “Goodbye,” she whispered, and hurried around the counter, where Belinda was waiting for her.

I ken she’d come tonight.

If I had anything to say about it, she’d come more than once.

I’d seen that look in her eyes. For all her fear, she wanted it just as much as I did.

She felt the connection, which meant I’d just dug an even bigger trap for myself.

Willow Summers, you’re under my skin. Maybe, if I can show you that not all shifters will hurt you, there might be a chance for us yet.