Come Out Swinging (Reach for the Moon Book 2), Sam Hall [leveled readers .TXT] 📗

at the alpha estate,” Micah said. “That’s who Kip works for.”

“So Selma’s mates, the pharmacist at Berkefeld and Beck’s,” I said, getting to my feet. “Thanks, Aidan. You’ve been a huge help.”

He rose with us, following us to the door, then moved in close when we got there.

“Look, Micah, do you mind if I have a quick word with Paige in here before you go? You can wait just outside.”

The man in question moved closer to me, checking in with his eyes, not moving until I nodded.

“If I’m just outside, I’m gonna hear everything you say,” Micah replied as he went for the door.

“I know, it’s just…”

“Have pity on the man,” I said. “I’ll be out shortly.”

Aidan watched the door shut like the secrets of the universe could be found there, but when he turned to me, his eyes shone silver. I heard the ragged rasp of his breath, saw the tension in his body as he held himself back, thrumming so taut, I almost wanted to reach out and poke him, just to dissipate it.

Almost.

“This is about what I owe you,” I said, settling back on the edge of his desk and crossing my arms.

“No.” His eyebrows knitted, a frown forming before he forced himself to smooth it over, and when he met my eyes, they faded back to amber. “When I heard you were coming back to town, I thought I had it all sorted. I’d make a big play for alpha. You’d see me and react like most women did.” He had the grace to look embarrassed by that. “We were at school together. I…”

“Got every girl you crooked a finger at.”

“Well, yeah.” He shot me that golden smile. It was a conspiratorial one, one that included me in the joke and had a touch of shame about it, but still. Impulse tugged at the muscles in my face, wanting to smile along with him. “It’s taken me way too fucking long to realise that isn’t gonna work for you. I’m not gonna be able to turn on the charm and expect your panties to hit the floor.” He moved closer, not enough to touch, but there was an intent there, if I chose to encourage it.

Did I want to?

I scanned that big, broad frame, the honey-coloured hair just a little bit too long, as if no woman in his life had bothered to trim it. Where the hell had that thought come from? I thought with a frown. Sometimes, the big man on campus peaks in year twelve, eventually balding, going soft, and never achieving anything else beyond school. But not Aidan. Now that he wasn’t standing up in the crowds at home and in the town hall, insisting on getting access to me, now that he wasn’t being a thorn in my side, what was he? He took another step closer, close enough I could feel the heat from his body, but not him, not yet.

“So if you can’t smile your way into my knickers and can’t pressure your way,” my eyebrow jerked up, making sure he knew exactly what I thought about his high-handed bullshit. “What’re you going to do?”

Why did I want to hear his answer? Why did my eyes watch every single little micro-expression? Why did my vision narrow down on his lips, watching them purse, then say the words?

“Help you,” he said. His eyes dropped, all the tension dissipating like a punctured balloon. “It guarantees nothing, I know that. Micah’s right—this can’t be transactional. As much as I want…” A long hiss of breath, a golden eye rolling up to meet mine. “As much as I want every damn thing you’ll give me, it makes no difference.” He backed up a little, hands shifting restively. “I can’t hold a fucking thing back. I can help you with one part of what you seek.”

“Yeah?”

“You want to know who Selma’s lovers are? I have a connection to some of the gay community in Lupindorf.”

“Yeah?” I asked with a frown, wondering how the hell that could be true.

“Meet me tonight. I’ll take you to my sister’s place,” he said, tipping his head back and meeting my gaze head on.

“Cheryl?” Instantly a tall, glamorous blonde girl from school flashed into my mind, surrounded by a flock of guys. “How can she…?”

My voice trailed away when I realised what I was about to say. Like most straight people, I assumed all that male attention was wanted and…

“Bring a gun or a knife, whatever it takes to make you feel safe, because I can’t bring your guys in on this.”

“They’re gonna hate that idea so hard. Like you don’t know how hard.”

“But they have to trust that you’re strong enough to hold off any threat, don’t they?”

I couldn’t decide if this was some kind of trap or what, so I just shook my head, then dragged out my phone.

“Put in the address. I’ll meet you outside her place. I’m sorry, but I’m not trusting you enough to drive me there.”

“Fair enough.” His fingers grazed mine as he took it from me, then I watched them move over the screen as he tapped out the details before he handed it back. “I’ve added my number into there as well. I’ll text you when Cheryl’s available.”

I tried to get a read on him, wishing to the goddess I could see into his mind, determine his motives, but I couldn’t, could I? Like women all over the world, I had to walk into this and hope he was going to behave reasonably. But unlike some, I thought as my hands formed fists, I was fairly sure I could put Pretty Boy here on his arse if required. I nodded to him when I opened the door, filing out before getting pulled into Micah’s arms. He buried his nose in my hair, breathing me in, letting that tell him how things went.

And Aidan? He watched the ease with which my mate interacted with me with a look of almost pain, something