Chapter Five – Louise

“There’s someone to see you,” Ronni said, coming into the building where the stray cats were housed. This was Louise’s favorite place. She’d learned early on she was a cat person rather than a dog person, and spent as much time in here as she could making a fuss over her new furry friends.

“To see me?” Louise’s expression changed from surprised to worried. “What do they want? Is there a problem with Storm?”

A world of fear hit her. What if there had been an accident? What if Storm had gotten sick?

“Hey, relax. It’s a guy, dressed in leathers. Tight leathers,” Ronni said, her voice full of appreciation. “He said it’s something about fixing your car.”

“Oh,” Louise said, her fears slipping away, to be replaced by anticipation. Zak had actually come back! She had to admit she was surprised; Louise had figured she’d seen the last of him and her car.

“Oh? Is that all you can say?” Ronnie asked. From her expression Ronni was obviously going through a whole lot of speculation on what a man like Zak was doing with her car.

“Well, he fixed my car.” Louise stated the obvious, hoping Ronni would let it slide.

“He does not look like any mechanic I’ve ever seen. I don’t deny he’s got the physique, but since when do mechanics wear tight leather pants?”

“I have no idea what mechanics wear,” Louise answered feebly.

“OK, keep your secrets,” Ronni said. Luckily, her supervisor had not taken offense at not being told the gossip. If there was gossip. In reality, Louise was telling the truth. Zak was her mechanic, even if he had found her on the side of the road.

Louise took off her gloves and set them down next to the pen she’d been cleaning out. Then she followed Ronni out of the building and across to the reception area. She resisted the urge to comb her fingers through her hair and make herself look more presentable, because that would mean she cared what she looked like. And she didn’t. It did not matter to her one bit what Zak thought of her looks. She was not interested in taking this relationship any further. Not one iota.

Liar, she told herself when Ronni opened the door leading to the reception area and Louise caught sight of Zak. Ronni was right, those leather pants should be illegal.

“Hi,” Zak said, his eyes caressing her body as she entered the building.

“Hello.” Louise kept her tone friendly, but not too friendly. She only wished she had the same kind of control over her heart, which was hammering in her chest so loud she was sure both Zak and Ronni would be able to hear it.

“I fixed your car.” He held up her keys.

“Thank you,” Louise said, taking a couple of steps forward and reaching for them. Damn, she hoped he wasn’t going to play that game where he backed away and made her reach for them. If he did anything that looked as if he was playing with her, Ronni would get ideas about their relationship.

“It’s parked outside.” He handed her the keys, and she took them gratefully.

“You drove it here?” she asked, surprised but also relieved she wouldn’t have to walk to fetch it. Working at the animal sanctuary was physically demanding, and she was often tired when she finished, and longing for a hot bath.

“I did.” He paused, and then added, “I had to make sure it was fixed. I didn’t want you to get stranded on your way home to…”

Louise knew what he was doing, he was fishing for information. Did she want him to know where she lived?

“Bear Creek,” Ronni said from behind her.

Louise turned and gave her a stern look, but she had her eyes down, looking at some paperwork.

“Bear Creek,” Louise repeated, knowing there was little point in keeping it to herself now.

“Great. I’m staying in Bear Creek,” Zak replied. She was about to remind him that he promised to fix her car and not expect anything in return, when he turned away from her and reached for the door. “I might see you around.”

“We might. And thank you again,” Louise held up the keys. She really should say more, but she was frozen to the spot and didn’t know what she was supposed to do. She didn’t want a relationship with any man, not now that Ollie was taken, and certainly not one who looked like trouble on two wheels. She had a baby to think of. There was no way she was going to do anything to jeopardize her life.

“No problem.” He flashed her a smile that was like the sun coming out on a cloudy day.

“You aren’t going to offer to drive him back to wherever it is he left his bike?” Ronni hissed.

“It’s not time for my break,” Louise said, in way of an explanation.

“It is now,” Ronni said. “Go on.”

Louise looked at Zak’s back as it retreated. OK, so she was more like looking at his butt, which was encased in those tight leather pants, making her feel hot and flustered. “I can’t.”

Ronni got up from her desk. “Why not?” She cocked her head at Louise. “He fixed your car, you never paid him, and he walked away with only a thank you in his ear. The guy is a keeper.”

“I don’t want a keeper,” Louise said, wanting to escape back to the cats.

“Listen, Louise, I know you’ve had it rough.” Ronni put her hand up to stop Louise from talking. “Don’t worry, I do not know the details, but I do know that when you started working here, you were scared. And now you have blossomed.”

“I can’t risk getting hurt. I have a baby…”

“I completely understand, but that guy is into you. Really into you.” Ronni opened her eyes wide as if trying to convey a hidden meaning.

“I’m not ready. I can’t let myself get into a situation where I’m going to get let down.” Louise was insistent; she did not want to be coerced into anything that opened her up to more hurt. Zak might be a nice guy, but the bike and the leathers were a reminder of Ajax. A reminder she did not need.

“That is why this is perfect,” Ronni said encouragingly.

Louise frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“He’s a shifter.” Ronni pronounced each word slowly.

“How do you know?” Louise asked, whirling around to look at Zak, but he’d gone out of sight.

“Takes one to know one,” Ronni replied lightly.

“I’ve already fallen for a shifter, and got my heart ripped out. I can’t be with one when I’m not his mate, no matter how good he looks in tight pants,” Louise told Ronni firmly.

“How do you know you are not his mate?” Ronni asked, as always the voice of reason.

“He would have said,” Louise answered.

“Not necessarily. How does he know that you know?” Ronnie emphasized her meaning.

“About shifters?” Louise asked.

“Yes, he can’t exactly come out and say, hey, you’re mine, let’s get it on,” Ronni said in a deep voice.

“I… He never gave any indication,” Louise said.

“And stopping and helping you out, without expecting anything in return, is not an indication?” Ronni asked.

“I can’t go after him. It’s too late.” Louise said, her decision made.

“Don’t let love scare you,” Ronni said. “If there is any chance he might be your mate, you should go and give him a ride.”

“And then what?” Louise asked.

“See if you can get him to admit it. Then you’ll know.” Ronni went back to her desk. “Or don’t. The choice is yours.”

Louise pulled the door open and went outside, walking quickly down the driveway that led to the road. When she couldn’t see Zak, she broke into a jog. Now that she had made a decision, she wanted to get it over with.

“Damn it.” She reached the road, but he wasn’t there.

Swinging around, she ran back to her car, which was parked just outside the security gates of the sanctuary. Placing her hand on the door, she stopped, reconsidering her actions. Was she simply chasing Zak because she was on the rebound from Ollie?

OK, so technically, she was not rebounding, since they had never been together. Friends, yes, boyfriend and girlfriend, no. That did not change the amount of hurt and disappointment she had felt when he broke the news he had met his mate.

Was going after Zak her way of overcompensating? But what if he really was her mate?

He wouldn’t have walked out of her life. Not without at least giving her some indication he wanted her.

Louise’s shoulders sagged forward. If Zak was a shifter, and she was his mate, there was no way he would have simply walked away. Ollie had told her about the gut-wrenching need to be with his mate from the moment he’d met her.

Something akin to relief swept over Louise. The moment had passed; Zak and his leather-clad body had walked out of her life. And she was happy about that.

Liar.