Carolline Greene ambled out of the woods near where she’d laid her clothes, rubbing her head against one last tree. She chuffed in contentment, her tigon happy to be let free to roam and commune with the earth beneath her feet. The scents of the wildflowers and the soft, mild breeze soothing her like nothing else in the world could. Sadly, she couldn’t spend her entire day lounging around in and around the woods scent marking trees or splayed out on the grass. Her schedule at work was filled to the brim, and the time to dawdle was over. The rest of the day was calling her—loudly.

Shifting quickly, she slipped on a pair of blue sweatpants, pulled a white tank top over her head, and pushed her feet into her well-worn flip-flops.

She took one last deep breath of the fresh, clean air; letting it clear the buzz from going animal. The silence in the meadow settled around her, sending a shiver down her spine. It was the perfect ending to her morning ritual. The Zen of the moment, the best part of the day.

This was her thing. The perfect start to every day since moving to Garden. Who would have thought she would find what she so desperately didn’t know she needed in Wyoming? That a morning run through the woods in her tigon form, followed by yoga stretches to center her mind and body would feel so much better. That it would clear her head and prepare her for the day ahead. Something she’d never been able to accomplish as easily back East.

Unfortunately, she would have to cut her routine short if she wanted to meet up with her best friend, the good Sheriff Benson Matthews. She’d spent more time than usual weaving between trees and stalking small animals. Missing her morning dose of Ben, along with coffee and conversation, was out of the question in her mind. He was the other bright spot in her day. The familiar comfort of his presence made Garden feel more and more like she’d found home.

That and she knew she had a bit of a shitty day ahead. Maybe shitty wasn’t the right word, but she definitely wasn’t looking forward to it. She was slated to attend hospital-mandated annual training for most of the day, as well as getting in the appointments she couldn’t reschedule. Hours of dull topics like hospital policies and procedures, keys to effective teamwork and communication. Let’s not forget equal opportunity and sexual harassment lectures. All the general topics every employee suffered through once a year.

Huffing out a semi-slow, steady breath to send her potentially negative thoughts away, Carolline made her way back to her car.

An hour later, after a quick shower at home, Carolline walked into Cuppa Claire’s, spotting Ben in his usual corner table near the back. He hated having his back to people, wary of someone getting the drop on him. In her experience, those in law enforcement carried that quirk throughout their lives, even after they retired. After years of being on your toes, it was completely understandable behavior.

Claire, the owner of the café, waved to her as Carolline sailed by. “Want the usual, Carolline?”

Carolline smiled in return. “Yes, please.”

“Ben figured you would and already paid for it, but I always like to check,” she grinned. “I’ll bring it over.”

“Thanks, Claire.”

Carolline joined Ben at the table. Greeting him with a kiss on the cheek before sitting down. “Am I that predictable?” She chuckled.

Ben snorted, his lips lifting in a quick, temporary grin. “Yes. How was your run this morning?” He asked, and she was sure he did it to prove a point which she was going to resolutely ignore.

“Good. You should join me sometime. It might relax you enough to finally ask her out.”

Ben shrugged negligently, his eyes tracking someone behind Carolline. “No, I don’t know when I’d have the time to take her on a proper date.”

Carolline’s large caramel vanilla Chai Tea latte appeared in front of her. She turned her head to thank the server and found Claire instead, brilliant blue eyes riveted on Ben. Carolline looked between the two of them and smiled. It seemed the quirky, sweet Claire had a thing for the Sheriff, and really…who wouldn’t?

“Thanks, Claire,” Carolline said when Claire continued holding onto the cup.

Claire jolted and quickly looked away from Ben. “No problem. You two need anything else?”

Carolline looked to Ben, who was boring a hole into Claire with an intense, hungry look. “I’m good. Not so sure about him,” she muttered, very much aware they could both hear her no matter how quietly she said it. There was no pushing Ben, though, when he wasn’t ready to do something. Damn, she wished he’d pull his head out of his ass, and soon; but, instead, he insisted on staying steady on the silently pining path, taking the chance of someone else snapping up the overly-cute Claire when he wasn’t looking.

Ben looked away quickly, shuttering the lust in his eyes. “Thanks, Claire. I’m good…for now.”

A decidedly disappointed huff came from Claire before she spun away and scampered back behind the coffee bar.

“Seriously, do us all a favor and ask her out.”

Ben’s eyes bulged, “No. I told you I don’t know when I’d be able to take her out. There’s a lot going on at the office. Plus,” he said lowering his voice, “there’s no guarantee she would go out with me. I’m not even sure she’s interested.”

Carolline barked out a laugh. “You are so blind. I’m pretty sure she just had you undressed and doing extremely filthy things to her in the first five seconds she was standing here.”

Ben rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee. A true sign he was embarrassed by the conversation.

“Honestly. I think she’d love to go out with you. Or eat you up. She’s got it bad, Ben. Maybe as bad as you.”

Ben’s gaze skittered to where Claire had disappeared. Concern weighed down his brows. “She’s too small. I’d hurt her,” he said softly.

Of course, six-foot-six Ben would think that. “No, you won’t. You thought the same about me. Women are tougher than you think, big guy. Haven’t you ever heard the saying, great things come in small packages?” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down to get her point across.

A sudden spark of interest filled his eyes before shuttering quickly. “I have.”

“I think she would be really good for you. I’m surprised the place hasn’t gone up in flames with the way you two look at each other when you think the other isn’t looking.”

Ben’s mouth turned down at the corners. “It doesn’t bother you?” His voice was laced with concern, and she could see a small amount of torment playing across his face.

She could understand why he asked. They’d been friends for a while, having met years ago when they both worked and lived in State College, Pennsylvania. Ben had been on the police force and Carolline worked at the University on an Animal Health Studies Grant studying hybrids. Their paths crossed when a subject in her study was arrested for drunk and disorderly, and the only number in the guy’s pocket had been hers.

She and Ben had hit it off. Both of them hybrids. Carolline, a rusty-colored tigon. Ben, a sensuous black jaglion, something even more rare than her. She’d been attracted to his protective nature and intrinsic need to see everyone treated fairly, regardless of animal class or origin. His dark skin screamed lick me, and his muscles tempted her beyond all rational thought.

Neither had been looking for their mate, each busy with their careers at the time. They decided a friend with benefits relationship would be perfect. And it had been. Then. They satisfied their need for comfort and basic human affection when it suited them. Nothing more. Nothing less.

They went into the relationship with their eyes wide open. When it was time for him to move on and up in his career, she hadn’t shed any tears of abandonment, or felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest. She knew it was the same for him.

His company and the sex had been fantastic, and she’d been sad to see him leave; however, her world continued revolving just as his had prior to them meeting. They kept in touch over the years, and when he told her about a job opening at the hospital in Garden, she had applied. He told her the place would be perfect for her. The community welcoming of hybrids. The town leaders encouraging to others wanting to live there.

Now they were back together, so to speak, strictly in the friend zone. The sexual relationship aspect over years ago, neither of them in the same place as before. Neither interested in rekindling the physical relationship.

Carolline sipped her latte, closing her eyes enjoying the hot, sweet drink. When she opened them, it was to an expectant Ben. Oh, yeah. He’d asked a question. “Does what bother me?”

“Don’t play coy, Carolline. The fact that I’m interested in someone else.”

Carolline laughed softly. “No. I’m glad to hear you admit it, though. And I hate to break it to you, but you are not the love of my life, Ben. We’re friends with a past, one that will be left there. I enjoy our friendship as it is now, and only want the best for you. I want you to find someone to be with. Someone who makes you happy whether they’re your mate or not.”

He studied her for a moment before a genuine smile lit his face. He pressed one of his big hands on top of hers. “I want the same for you, Carolline.”

“Then ask her out. That would make me happy.”

Ben grunted and took his hand away.

“You never know what might happen,” she sing-songed and laughed.

Ben opened his mouth to say something when his phone went off. He unclipped it from his belt and answered. A few quick words, followed by a grunt or two, and his conversation was over.

“I need to go. Mrs. Timmons thought she saw a bear walking through her yard. She refuses to let one of the other men help her out.”

Carolline glanced at the slim gold watch on her wrist. “I need to go too. Required annual training today. At some point, I need to go over the records of some patients coming in for genetic testing, as well. This day might suck.”

Grabbing up her purse and latte, Carolline stood and turned for the door. She knew Ben would follow her. Another quirk of his, he didn’t like people at his back, even if he knew them.

Carolline waved goodbye to Claire, and chuckled quietly when Ben stopped next to her.

“See ya later, Ben,” she called out as she pushed through the door. Hopefully, the man would take her advice and ask out her friend. Outside, the sun shone down, heating her face. Raising it up, she soaked in a few rays before getting into her car. It was going to be a beautiful day, and she would be stuck inside listening to someone drone on about smiling and adopting a non-threatening attitude when working with someone.