There was a sexual charge in the air Ryan had never felt before and his wolf was noticing. He wasn’t prepared for the way she’d parried him like that. The blow job comment had been meant to shut her down, but it felt more like he’d turned her on. God knew, it had affected him that way.

Not good.

She stared up at him with a wry twist to her glossy lips. She wore a black tank top and black jeans that seemed at odds with her blonde beauty. And she was a beauty, even though he hated to admit it. There was something sparking behind her pretty blue eyes, inviting him to step forward and take her into his arms and…he had to take a step back.

His body wanted her.

His wolf wanted…

No.

“I don’t need any rabbits, little girl,” he said, tightening his hands crossed on his biceps. “Hop along to some other job.”

“Bracken hasn’t even interviewed me yet.” She kept that golden brow arched. Dammit, she wasn’t riling up the way she should. Usually, girls were easy to drive off. A few well-placed barbs and they’d back the hell away with their hands up.

This one was different.

“Besides…” she continued, sliding all her weight onto one foot and doing this insanely cute hip flip that made his heart flip right along with it.

Fuck, Ryan, get a hold of your damn self.

The air damn near hummed with promise, like she could say absolutely anything next. They could be the words blow job again, and he’d just unzip his damn pants right there.

No, I would not.

Okay.

Yeah, I probably would.

There was just something about this girl…

She took a little step toward him, the other hip moving sexually. There was a tiny slip of skin visible between her shirt and the top of her jeans, and he wanted to lick that whole damn seam.

No. You do not.

Okay.

Yeah, I do.

Fuck.

“Besides…” she said again, touching the fabric that covered part of his bicep. “I’m not interviewing with you, cowboy.” There was more seriousness on her fresh, enticing features than there had been a moment ago. “Bracken Trewitt’s the wolf I arranged to meet. He’s the one with all the power. You’re just a little underling, aren’t you?”

Kate continued to stroke the fabric of his shirt, like she was inviting him to something, but her words were very pretty little knives meant to slice into him. She didn’t know that he was a champion at overcoming her particular brand of flirtation.

He had to discipline his lust, or his pack wouldn’t survive. The Trewitts’ rules for their alpha weren’t traditional, but they were unassailable.

He could overcome this, as much as he wanted to tear those clothes off her body and pin her up against the bookcase and smell the leather-bound books and her skin and her arousal on him.

Shit.

It was harder to bear down with this one. He’d never felt something quite this strong. Certainly not this fast.

“If you’re interviewing with Bracken, you’re late,” he said, shaking off the lust haze. “We were supposed to start fifteen minutes ago.”

Her features finally darkened and she backed away. “I couldn’t get away from home in time. I texted Bracken to tell him I’d be late.”

“Well, that’s the first thing you’d have to learn, then. Bracken doesn’t text.”

“Noted,” she said with a nod, still undaunted. “What else should I know?”

He narrowed his eyes. Does she really not know? But she was so focused on Bracken, and his alpha hadn’t told him much about the communication he’d had with the Quade kid, which was how the older man had always referred to her. In fact, Ryan had been pretty shocked when he’d turned around to find a woman there. Not that it would matter—anyone could do the job—but he’d gotten the distinct impression that the Quade kid was a dude.

Maybe Bracken had been under the same impression.

“Answer me a question,” he said.

“You got it.”

“Why does my alpha think you’re a guy?”

She opened her mouth to answer, then quickly snapped her lips closed. The first signs of tension he’d seen from her were more distressing than he was comfortable admitting. He didn’t like seeing her all tight-browed and thin-lipped like that. He preferred her saucy and confident.

Touched a nerve, there.

“He really does think you’re a guy, doesn’t he? That wasn’t just a misperception,” he said, pressing down on that nerve a little.

“It’s not like that,” she said, through those tight lips.

“Then what is it like?”

She pushed a breath out through her nose and shook her head. “I’d prefer to discuss this with Bracken, if you don’t mind.” There was a flash in her eyes, and suddenly her smile was back. “As much fun as it’s been to spar with you, cowboy, I’d really rather speak directly with the alpha.”

“Would you, now?” He raised a brow, allowing himself a tiny smile. She really has no idea.

“Yeah. Is Bracken on his way? Or are we meeting him somewhere?” Kate reached out with one elegant, tanned hand, touching his arm again. “Are you my chariot?”

He pulled his lips to one side. “Better than that.”

“There’s something better than a ride on Ryan Travis?” she asked, her voice so suggestive, it sent shocks through him.

He leaned in, like he was playing along, and roughed up his tone. Two could play at that damn game. “There’s nothin’ better than a ride on Ryan Travis.”

Her eyes flared gold—a surge of wolf magick—and her pupils dilated. That response gave him a little surge of confidence, and he took a step toward her.

“This is a close second, though,” he said, almost close enough to kiss. The image of pressing his lips to hers suddenly flashed through his mind. He shook himself, not sure he hadn’t just dipped his head toward hers. Couldn’t afford that. This was a dangerous game to play.

But such a fun one…and it had been a long, long time since he’d any fun.

Before he knew what had happened, he was lowering his head toward hers. He froze, his lips less than an inch from hers. Can’t kiss her. But the pull of the magick was just too strong to resist. He pressed his lips to hers—so soft and sweet, tasting a bit like peppermint. She made the most suggestive little growl in the back of her throat, and Ryan’s hands slipped around her body.

The way she moved made him start to harden. It didn’t hurt that she was soft and supple and her body molded against his to perfection.

Kate slid her hand over his and moved their entwined fingers up to her breast. The sigh she made when his fingertips brushed over her hard nipple was practically heaven. It might as well have been genetically engineered boner-food.

His was growing. Significantly. Every time she moved under him.

She pulled him hard against her body and his erection slid into the apex between her legs. A whimper drove him on, and he was just about to jump out of his clothes when he realized what he was doing.

He wanted to be deep inside her. Marking every part of her for himself. Fully, completely making her…mine.

He’d never…no.

One thing Ryan knew about himself was that he was single and not looking. Not interested. It was what made him such a perfect fit for being the Trewitt alpha.

But damn, this girl was dangerous. His whole body heated and hardened when she was around, and he…wanted her. He never wanted anyone. Definitely not enough to put his position in the pack at risk. How could this be happening? Why now?

“Stop,” he said, backing up fast and disentangling himself from her. “Look. This interview is over. I’m afraid you’re not a good fit for the job.”

Her head shook, tiny little shakes that made her wavy blonde hair dance around her face and shoulders. “Wait. This isn’t the interview.”

“It was. It’s over.”

Her jaw dropped open. “No. I was supposed to interview with Bracken. The alpha of the Trewitt pack.”

“Well, Bracken won’t be the alpha anymore in three days.” He walked toward the library door, needing to get away from this woman.

“What?” Her shock was genuine.

He turned at the door. “I take over in three days. So this was the interview.”

The pain that flashed across her face had him by the throat. He couldn’t breathe until that pain relaxed and her smiley, flirty self was back. But that one moment…he’d considered a lot of violence on her behalf. He didn’t like seeing her hurt. Especially not because of something he’d said or done.

Shit, man. What is wrong?

“I didn’t know the interview had started, Ryan,” she said, just a hint of desperation in her voice. “Can we please start over?”

That slide of her hip drew his attention back to that little slip of exposed skin. Part of him wanted to stand back and watch while she gyrated those hips, and part of him wanted to pull that tank top up so he could see the rest of her smooth skin.

Neither of those parts was going to win. His will was going win—just like it always did.

“This really won’t work, Kate.” He gestured between them. “We could never work together.”

“Yes, we could,” she said with that bright, quirky smile again. Dammit, it was gorgeous. “I can work with anyone.”

“Well, I can’t.” He turned on his booted heel and walked through the door, out into the hallway that led to the foyer. “Interview over.”

“It can’t be over.” Desperation rose in her voice and she followed him, her own boots clicking on the hard wood floors. “You didn’t give me a fair chance.”

“You can’t work for me,” Ryan said, shaking his head, as they walked into the hallway. He set a fast pace, walking toward the foyer. He needed to get away from her. His resolve had to hold.

“Why not?”

“Because Trewitt alphas have to stay single.” He lowered his voice, looking around the big, empty space.

“You have to know what’s going on between us…” Her voice trailed off, like she couldn’t possibly understand why he didn’t want to have sex, right here, right now.

“There’s nothing going on. We’re done here.” Ryan made a quick grab for the front door and opened it, hoping she couldn’t hear the lie. Then he walked out into the early evening air and took a big, long breath of fresh air. Finally. Freedom. The draw he felt toward her had felt inescapable in that enclosed room.

So much lust.

“We can’t be done.” She followed him out onto the empty porch. “You should be glad for the connect—”

“Didn’t you hear me?” He rounded on her. “Trewitt alphas have to stay single.”

Kate cocked her head to one side. “That wasn’t a joke?”

“Not a joke. It’s a rule. And one that’s enforced by the pack.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Ryan grunted out a laugh, walking down the steps and toward the dirt road that he knew would eventually lead him to the shifter cabins. He needed to get away from her. Stat. “The last thing I’d ever do is hire someone I’m this attracted to.”

“What are you doing?” Kate asked, following him down the road.

“Just get in your car and go find your pack.”

“I can’t do that,” she said, desperation lining her tone.

The tension brought up Ryan’s hackles, and he turned to face the black-clad blonde girl. There was so much frustration in her features, he wanted to touch her. Comfort her. Take the pain away. Dammit. Damn instincts.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“I mean, I can’t go back to my pack.” Her brows drew together and her nostrils flared. He didn’t like that.

Ryan moved toward her. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, and her hair floated around her, partly bouncy, and partly caught up in the little breeze. “It’s nothing you can fix. I just…I need this job.”

“Something is going on back in your pack?”

“None of your business.”

“Kate.” He felt the protective, dominant streak of the alpha rise up in him. He got close enough to reach out and grab her, but he let his voice do the commanding. “You’re going to tell me. Right now.”

Her features went even more constricted, and then they shifted. He actually saw the moment they changed—like a switch had flipped.

“My grandfather fired me,” she said sweetly. That was a lie, and he knew it. But he wasn’t her alpha. He couldn’t order her to tell him. “I need this job, Ryan.”

That last part was true. He could hear the conviction behind it.

Dammit. She’d found his weakness. He couldn’t stand to see a woman in distress. It was part of what would make him a good alpha. He didn’t want to see anyone taken advantage of or put down or mistreated, but more than that, he valued the contribution of women to the pack, and he’d heard some stories about the Quades that didn’t sit well with him.

He blew out a breath. There was no possible way that he could work with Kate the way Bracken had worked with Dee. He wanted her too much.

“At some point, you’re going to tell me why you need this job so badly,” he ordered, like he had some kind of power over her. “It doesn’t need to be this minute, but you’re going to tell me.”

“I told you.”

“That was a lie.”

Her lips opened in surprise, and she stared up at him. “How do you know?”

“You’re not a good liar. And I’m not going to hire someone who lies to me.”

She swallowed and then pursed her lips, studying him. “You mean, you might agree to hire me?”

“No comment.”

“That’s not a no.”

“Well, it’s not a yes.” He crossed his arms.

“But you’re saying there’s a chance…”

Ryan rolled his eyes. He couldn’t let her affect him like this. He had to control himself. He was a Trewitt wolf, and soon he’d be alpha. He was made of steel.