If Garrett had hoped that spending a couple hours talking at the bar would help Dawn sober up, he was wrong.

Though he managed to signal Mina to cut Dawn off, he’d quickly realized his small human was extremely susceptible to drinking, and even after several beers, she was smashed enough that she’d probably be indisposed for the rest of the night.

“You know,” she said, drawing a finger down his chest. “You don’t look like a construction worker.” She shook her head clumsily.

“Oh?” His tone was amused. “What do I look like, then?”

“A model,” she said, glaring at him. “You don’t… You just…” She blinked, as if she’d lost her thoughts. “Ugh, this is why I don’t drink. I get too honest, and—”

“All right,” he said, helping her off the stool and catching her in his arms when she tripped slightly.

It felt so good to hold her even for the few seconds it took to set her back on her feet. When she looked up at him, red hair mussed and red lips pouting, he felt his heart skip a beat.

He grabbed her hand to lead her out of the barroom, ignoring the hoots and whistles behind them as she glanced back in confusion.

“Ignore them,” he said. “They’re just being stupid.”

“Why are they acting like that?”

He sighed, deciding honesty was the best answer. “Because they’re assholes and think I’m going to go do something with you.”

She looked up at him, her mouth making an innocent O shape. “Oh. Are you?”

“No, of course not,” he said gruffly. “I would never take advantage of a woman in your condition. Besides, you’re my client.”

She glared at him thoughtfully, and he regretted the words the instant they’d left his mouth.

He didn’t want her to be just his client, but he’d been trying to make her safe and…

She jerked her hand away and stumbled down the road in the direction of the hotel, waving slightly. “It’s too bad you don’t want to do anything to me,” she called back to him. “I haven’t had any in such a long time.”

His groin reacted to that immediately, and his bear took notice.

Mate. Cave. Now.

No.

He ran up to her and caught her as she stumbled again, hoisting her into his arms. She was such a warm, soft little armful that he didn’t know how he was going to be able to set her down when he got to the hotel.

To his surprise, she snuggled in against him, holding his collar in her hand.

Something so powerfully protective he couldn’t compare it to anything else washed over him, making it suddenly hard to breathe.

She looked up at him expectantly, and he forced himself to listen to his human side, to do the decent thing and take her home and leave her there, alone.

She told him her cabin number, pulled out her keys for him so he could unlock the door, and he walked in and set her down on the couch inside.

He didn’t trust himself to go into her bedroom. Not when she was looking at him with such frank “take me” eyes.

“Well, make sure you do up the deadlock, and don’t let anyone else come in.” He rubbed the back of his hair. “And you shouldn’t usually give a guy the key to your hotel room.”

“Yeah, but…” She held up a hand for him to give the key back, and he did. “I trust you, Garrett. I don’t know why, because I’m not in the habit of trusting people, but I just do.”

God, she was more than he’d ever hoped for.

But this wasn’t the way he wanted to get to know her more. Especially physically.

He was sure she would be embarrassed about this in the morning, and he should go before anything happened that either one would regret.

“All right.” He bowed his head in a slight nod. “I’ll talk to you later. You be careful, all right? And check in if you need anything.”

She nodded dazedly, and then, before he could get to the door and leave, she stumbled over the carpet and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

He sighed, summoning all the restraint he possessed as he turned to extricate himself from her, but stopped when he saw the pure want in her eyes.

She was his mate. How could he say no to her?

Alcohol made people more honest, not totally unaware. So that must mean on some level she did want him, deep down.

Even if it was on a shallow level for now.

She reached up, trying to grab his shoulder, and he leaned down so she could put her other hand in his hair. “I’m just so drawn to you,” she murmured in his ear. “I don’t know what’s happening.”

He was trying to process those odd words when she surprised him by suddenly kissing him, moving her warm, soft lips over his and eliciting a low growl from the animal inside him.

His arm curled around her waist, bringing her close, and his tongue swiped in, claiming her mouth. When she moaned and pressed against him, he nearly melted on the spot.

But then he forced himself to step back, gently setting her away from him. “Dawn,” he said in a pained voice. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” She looked confused and disappointed at the same time. “Is there something tomorrow?”

He leaned in, knowing she wouldn’t remember the words he was about to whisper in her ear. “No, but I’m probably going to want to see you every day for the rest of my life.”

She swayed slightly, pulling back to look at him. “What?”

He caught her around the waist and took her back to the couch, laying her down on it. “Nothing. I’ll tell you again later when you’re able to understand.”

She said nothing to that, just curled up and turned over to face the back of the couch, getting comfortable. Within minutes, she was snoring, so Garrett set the handle lock and left, closing the door behind him.

Surely with even that lock, in this small, sleepy town, she’d be safe.

Still…

“You aren’t thinking about sleeping outside and waiting for her, are you?” A gruff voice came out of nowhere, and Garrett turned to see Grayson and Hunter walking up the street.

“We came to see where you went,” Hunter said, putting a hand on his hip. “So I take it the conquest wasn’t successful.”

“She was drunk,” Garrett said flatly, catching up with his friends. “And no, her door is locked and the hotel seems to have good security, so I’m not worried.”

“But you are,” Grayson said sharply. “I can smell it.”

Garrett frowned. “Well, I’m going to try not to because everything will be fine.”

And because it was fucking crazy to sit outside on a client’s doorstep after letting her kiss him when drunk.

He had no idea how much she’d remember in the morning or how it would affect their working relationship.

But at least she hadn’t heard the last words he’d said when he’d whispered, the words that would have given him totally away.

Even if a part of him wished she could have.

“Well, come on,” Hunter said, throwing his arm around Garrett’s shoulders. “No moping. Let’s get you back to your truck, and Hunter and I are staying at the hotel, so if you want, we’ll keep an eye on her.”

Garrett raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“My room’s that way,” Hunter said. “But no worries.” He put up his hands defensively at Garrett’s protective expression. “For God’s sake, man, we know she’s yours.”

“Tonight definitely confirmed it,” Grayson said, looking thoughtful. “She was in heat for you. I could smell it.”

Garrett couldn’t help it. He pulled back his fist, but before he could hit Grayson, Hunter jerked him out of the way, leaving Garrett swinging at nothing.

Hunter scowled as Garrett composed himself. “I did that because you would regret it in the morning. Calm yourself down, you damn bear. No one is taking your mate.”

Garrett blinked, feeling sanity take back over. He was glad Hunter had stopped him. Even in jest, he had no desire to hurt his friend. “I’m sorry, Grayson.”

Grayson shrugged. “I guess I deserved it, but I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“He’s a wolf,” Hunter said. “Wolves smell things. On the other hand, one doesn’t need a great sense of smell to tell that human wants you. She was practically—”

Garrett raised a hand threateningly at Hunter, who laughed and backed off.

“I get it, I get it,” Hunter said. “Anyway, Grayson will make sure you get to the truck and are safe to drive. I’ll head to my room. Keep an eye on things here.”

“Thanks,” Garrett said, hoping his friend could see that the human in him appreciated Hunter, even if the bear in him was ready to fight anyone for even a whiff of an insult to his mate.

“You’re welcome,” Hunter said, heading off into the night, soon becoming merely a silhouette with a hat in the darkness.

Grayson studied Garrett as they walked to Garrett’s truck, then shoved his hands in his pockets as Garrett unlocked the truck and got into the driver’s seat.

“I really am sorry,” Grayson said. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Garrett looked at his friend apologetically. “I’m sorry, too. I guess this is… unlike anything I’ve been through before.”

Grayson nodded frankly. “Good thing we’re here to help you through it.”

Yes, it definitely was.