The Wolf Who Loved Her by Kasey Moone Page A

snapped.
    Joni sucked in a breath. So, he was going to be a nasty customer then. No problem. She had her share of difficult patrons. Lifting her chin, she glided down the ladder, attempting to illustrate her composure, but her foot got caught in the last rung. A screech escaped her as she fell. Strong arms enveloped her before the impact. She clung to bulging biceps, mortified at her clumsiness, as black stubble scratched her cheeks.
    The scent of cologne and cinnamon filled her senses, and something else, something wild and earthy that made her sniff him like a cat in heat. The man smelled good. She righted herself quickly and looked into his light green eyes. Noticing for the first time that his nose was crooked, and that the purple bruise on his jaw was nastier up close, Joni stared, her hand hovering above the mark.
    “Did someone hurt you?”
    He said not a word. Just gazed at her, deathly silent. She stiffened. What was his deal? Was he upset about the fall? She was not going to apologize for her clumsiness.
    “Do you need ice?”
    “No.” He nodded towards the ladder. “Do you?”
    She grinned. “I’m okay. I fall all the time. What about ice for you?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Sure about that?”
    “Yes.”
    “’Cause I keep First Aid behind my desk.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “’Cause it looks like—”
    “I heal fast.”
    She frowned. What an odd thing to say.
    “Well, thanks for catching me then,” she mumbled, eying the bruise, absently wondering who’d have the courage to plant this man with a punch. He looked dangerous, unpredictable, muscle-ripped to the core. Shit, he’d probably made a ham sandwich out of the other man. Her eyes locked with his. To keep from groaning, she swallowed. Hard. God, he was fine.
    Silence ensued.
    Confused as to what to say and do next, she stood there awkwardly, sequestered between the bookshelves. They were closer than she remembered. One step forward and she’d be pressed against him.
    He finally spoke. “I need a book.”
    Joni mentally slapped herself. Of course he needed a book. She could help him with that!
    “Which one?”
    “ Contemporary Magic 101 . Got it?”
    Joni put on her game face and tried to make a sell. “Yes, I have that. I have everything that deals with the art of magic and clairvoyance. Don’t be fooled by the size of this establishment. I keep all of the best books here, so if you ever—”
    “Get it.”
    She snapped her mouth shut. The nerve of the jerk! So she rambled on when she was nervous, but who could blame her in this situation? And who did he think he was barking orders like he was Captain Hero? More like Captain Zero. Annoyed that she found the rude man irresistible, she sucked in a patient breath. Don’t let this statue of a man get under your skin, girl. You need to make a sell. You need to make a sell.
    She pointed towards the front. “Just wait up there, sir, and I’ll be right with you.”
     
    ****
     
    Ian McNeal hid his smile. Had he upset the frumpy woman? Too bad. He didn’t have the time or patience for talkative humans tonight. Not when his blood still churned from the recent fight.
    His lips curled. So many people in the city tried to test his fucking patience. Not just members of his pack, but random werebabes at clubs. The kind of wolves bent on earning a name for themselves by attacking an alpha.
    Eyes narrowed, he rubbed his jaw, tension stiffening his muscles.
    He was worked up.
    He needed release.
    Beneath hooded lids, his eyes drifted to the woman, taking in every detail. She was short and round, with boobs and an ass to die for. Skin the color of mahogany. Tiny, curly intricate braids that fell around her shoulders and her sweet oval face. A small mole sat above the corner of her lips. Pretty. Not drop dead gorgeous like the women he bedded in the past, but pretty enough, despite her muddy clothes and tedious talking. He sneered. She was human. And one thing was certain: he did not fuck humans.
    As if on