Wolf

“Reese!”

I ran to catch up to her outside the school where she taught. I had Becky run a background check on her so I could find out where she lived and worked. I figured it would be a little creepy to show up at her house, but work was good. There were other people around and she would feel safe.

I took in every inch of her as she turned toward me. She was short, maybe 5’ 3”, but she was so damn beautiful. She was curvy and had blonde hair in one of those pixie haircuts. It looked damn good on her too.

She turned and her eyes widened. She looked around quickly, so I followed her gaze, thinking she saw something suspicious. “What’s wrong? Is someone after you?”

“No,” she said incredulously. “Why would you assume that?”

“Because you were looking around, like there was danger or something.”

“Yeah, you’re the danger! Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to talk to you. I feel like we got off on the wrong foot in the coffee shop and you’ve been ignoring my calls-”

“Because I didn’t give you my number.”

“Well, I didn’t get it on our date-”

“We never had a date. Look, it was nice to meet you, but there’s nothing going on between us. We aren’t dating.”

I scratched the back of my neck, not sure why she was denying what I saw clear as day. “Okay, I can see how you would think that there’s nothing between us. I mean, high intensity situations cause stress on new relationships.”

“We’re not in a relationship.”

“But we could be,” I grinned. “See, I think you’re not really giving me a chance here. We had a connection back in that coffee shop.”

“What we had was some banter before I found out that you murder people for a living!”

I shook my head slightly. “See, that’s not entirely accurate. First, I told you that I worked in security, and I even told you that sometimes I took out the bad guys. I never lied about that. And second, I never ever murder anyone. I strategically take out people that should otherwise be dead or imprisoned because they’re really bad people.”

She stared at me dumbfounded and I grinned, thinking I had gotten through to her. “I don’t believe it.”

“You’re starting to come around, am I right?”

“Are you really this…obtuse?”

“Okay, I resent that. I’m not stupid. I’ll admit, there are some times that I can be a little…oblivious and it’s gotten me into trouble, but I know exactly what happened in that coffee shop and you do too. You can’t deny that we had something.”

“Yes, I can. We didn’t have anything in the coffee shop. See? I just denied it.”

“I object your denial,” I said firmly.

“What? You can’t just…ugh!”

“You’re so cute when you get flustered. I could just pick you up and carry you around in my pocket all the time.”

She glared at me and stomped past me to her car.

“So, should I pick you up tonight?”

“No!” She spun around, putting her hands on her hips as she stared me down. “I don’t want to go out tonight. In fact, I don’t want to see you ever again!”

She got into her car and slammed the door. I went over and knocked on her window. “Seven?”

She threw her car in reverse and squealed out of the parking lot. “Hey, this is a twenty mile an hour zone!” I shouted.

I grinned as I walked back to my truck. I had a date for tonight and it was going to be great. I just had to figure out what to wear. And I needed to get in a workout and get rid of some of this pent up frustration that I had. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that little pixie on her knees, sucking my cock. It made me so hard that I was constantly walking around feeling like I had a pole down my pants.

When I walked into the training area at Reed Security, I was pleasantly surprised to see Alec and Florrie sparring. This was perfect. I needed some good advice, and seeing as how they both just went through a bunch of shit, I figured they would have some good perspective.

“Hey.” I gave a chin lift to Alec and pulled Florrie in for a hug. I was feeling the love today, even if she wasn’t. She punched me in the shoulder.

“What’s with you?” she grumbled.

I spread my arms wide and grinned. “I’m in love.”

“What?” Alec spat. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Reese,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, but I thought you hadn’t been on a date with her.”

“Well, no, but it’s only a matter of time,” I said with a smile. “I saw her today and I’m taking her out to dinner tonight.”

“How did you convince her?” Florrie asked. “I thought she didn’t want anything to do with you after the coffee shop.”

“Well, okay, technically, she didn’t agree to go out with me to dinner, but I figured that if I showed up at her door, she couldn’t turn me down.”

They both just stood there and stared at me. I was starting to feel like maybe they didn’t think this was such a good idea.

“Are you trying to get arrested?” Alec asked. “I mean, if you show up at her house and she doesn’t want you there, she’s calling the police on your ass.”

I chuckled slightly. He thought he was so smart. “Come on, we have it pretty good with the police. I’m not seeing me getting arrested.”

“Okay, I know I’m the only female here and it took me a while to admit that I love Alec, but what makes you think that you really love her? Or that she’s going to fall for you?”

“I’m glad you brought that up, because I was wondering, do you think you would have realized how stupid you were being sooner if you and Alec had actually dated?”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Alec growled. “Shut the fuck up.”

“No, I’m interested,” Florrie said, looking at me intently. “Is that how you think you’re going to win her over? By forcing her to date you?”

I shifted uncomfortably at her implications. “I’m not forcing her to do anything. She just hasn’t gotten a chance to really know me. See, if I show up enough, she’ll realize that maybe I’ll just leave her alone if she goes on one date with me. And that’s when I make my move.”

“You throw her in the trunk of you car and kidnap her?”

“No,” I chuckled. “Why would I…I’m not psycho.”

“Look,” Florrie stepped forward and placed her hands on my shoulders. I looked to my left shoulder and raised an eyebrow. This wasn’t like Florrie, so it had me a little concerned. “You can’t show up at her house tonight. She’s going to freak out and you will end up in jail.”

“No,” I laughed. “You just don’t understand how charming I can be.”

She sighed and backed up. Alec held out his hand to me. “Good luck tonight. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

“My call?”

He turned with Florrie and headed for the ring. “From jail.”

💕💕💕💕💕

I straightened my tie and checked in the rearview mirror for any signs of anything out of place. I looked good. I nodded to myself and picked up the flowers off the seat beside me. I didn’t know what to go for, so I picked up something that I thought was pretty. It was a little difficult to get the flowers out of the truck. It was a pretty big arrangement, but it was beautiful, just like my Reese’s Pieces. And she deserved the best.

I walked up to her house, appreciating how well she took care of the place. It was one of those older homes that was actually made out of brick and had a nice brick porch with a white wicker set. I could picture her out here in the summer, drinking coffee with her feet tucked up under her.

I slicked back my hair one last time and gave a confident knock on her door. I saw her peer at me through the sidelight by the front door. Her eyes widened and she moved away from the door. I was expecting the door to open, but it didn’t. Frustrated, I knocked again and waited. Two minutes later, her front door opened, but she made no move to come out or let me in. In fact, she wasn’t even dressed for our date.

“Uh, it’s seven.”

“I know,” she snapped. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for our date.” I pulled the huge wreath out from behind my back and held it up for her. “I brought you flowers.”

“You brought me a wreath,” she said dumbly.

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. She didn’t seem to like them. “Right, well, I didn’t know what to get and they were pretty.”

“Lillies are a funeral flower.”

“Oh…well…” I scratched at the back of my neck and then pulled at my tie. I was starting to feel a little stupid standing here holding flowers that she apparently didn’t like. “So, I made reservations for us at the Italian restaurant. We should probably get going soon.”

“That’s…not gonna happen. Look, Craig, it was nice to meet you, but I’m not into,” she waved at my body and I looked down questioningly.

“What?”

“All that.”

“All what?”

“You know, big muscles and scary looking.”

“I’m not scary looking,” I said, slightly offended.

“Look, thank you for the coffee at the coffee shop, but I’m not interested in more.”

“This wasn’t how this was supposed to go,” I muttered to myself. “I don’t understand. I’m talking about one date. I just want a chance to get to know you.”

“But I don’t want to get to know you.”

“That’s a little harsh,” I grumbled.

“Well, you’re the one standing on my porch when I already told you that I wasn’t interested in going out with you. I figured that being gentle right now wasn’t the way to go.”

I heard sirens in the distance and looked down the road. An undercover car with a police light was headed this way. “Did you call the police on me?”

“You showed up to my house. What did you think I was going to do?”

“Go on a date with me,” I said foolishly.

“Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but-”

“But you don’t want to find out.”

The car pulled into the drive and Sean stepped out. I groaned and turned back to her one last time.

“Please, I’m begging you. I know this guy.”

“So do I.”

“Okay, so just go get your shoes on and tell him this was all a misunderstanding.”

“Is everything okay here?”

I closed my eyes and then turned around, giving Sean a big grin. “Hey, Sean. Nice night.”

He eyed me skeptically and looked past me to Reese. “I got a call about a trespasser. Everything okay here?”

“I’m just here to take Reese out on a date. I got her flowers and everything.” He looked at the flowers and then looked to me like I was a dumbass. “They looked nice.”

“Right. Reese, I can personally vouch for this man, if that’s the problem. While his choice in flowers may be terrible, I can tell you that he’s a good guy.”

“I appreciate that, but I told him that I wasn’t interested. I told him that again when he showed up at the school, and I told him again when he showed up at my door.” She turned back to me with a suspicious look. “How did you find me anyway?”

“Oh, I asked Becky,” I grinned. “She’s our IT woman and she’s excellent at finding anything or anyone.”

Reese looked past me to Sean. “Do you see what I’m dealing with?”

“Yeah…” Sean cleared his throat and motioned for me to come closer. I took a step toward him and leaned in. “I think she’s telling you to leave.”

I snorted. “Yeah, I know that, but she just needs to get to know me.”

“Look, if you don’t leave, I’m gonna have to take you in and I really don’t want to book you for stalking.”

I reared back in surprise. “Stalking? I’m not stalking her. I just went to her school because I didn’t get her phone number. And when I got it from Becky, she wasn’t answering.”

“Because I didn’t want to talk to you,” she snapped.

“Well, I didn’t know that. I thought you probably figured that I was a telemarketer or something. So, I told her that I would take her out tonight at seven. Here I am.”

Sean scratched his jaw and jerked his head toward the stairs. I followed and leaned in so he could keep things quiet. “Look, I don’t want to do this, but you don’t seem to be getting the hint. I won’t book you, but you’re gonna have to come to the police station with me. I’ll call Cap to pick you up.”

I turned back to Reese in confusion. “What about our date?”

She shut the door in my face and Sean started pulling me down the stairs.

“I’m gonna have to find a new way to convince her to go out with me.”

“Maybe she’s not the right woman for you,” Sean grumbled. “She’s obviously not impressed by your muscles or good looks.”

“You think I’m good looking?”

Sean rolled his eyes and opened the back door, shoving me inside.

“Hey, gentle. I’m a big guy. There’s no reason to be rough.”

I watched Reese as she stood in the window and watched Sean drive me away. There had to be some way to reach her. I knew that she was the one I was supposed to be with. It was clear to me, so why wasn’t it to her?