Highland Shapeshifter Read Online Free PDF Page B

wondered when his last one was. If she knew Starch, he would’ve had that taken care of while he was out to pretty him up some. Pretty him up even for her, knowing his youthfulness and beaten state would get to her. Calculating ogre. He’d probably be great at staging furniture showrooms if human and drug trafficking didn’t work out for him.
    The shifter most likely wouldn’t awaken for hours yet, which gave her enough time to settle with Starch and get back here and find out what he had to do with her sister.
    Ah, man, Charity. Big Sis should be up by now. It was her day to open the shop.
    Scrambling off the bed, she grabbed her jeans draped over a half-open drawer and dug in the pocket for her phone.
    She punched in the number and waited.
    Gabe stumbled in, shirtless and droopy-eyed. His mouth cracked wide in a yawn.
    Charity wasn’t picking up. Geez, come on. She hung up and hit the button to their herbal shop.
    “Problem?” Gabe plopped his butt on the end of the bed, making the shifter’s foot bounce.
    Lenore punched the phone off. “Charity’s not answering.” She stepped into her jeans. Gabe’s sleepy gaze followed their movement up her hips.
    She rolled her eyes. “Can you watch him until I get back?”
    “Shapeshifter.” Gabe’s eyes danced. “Hell, yes, I can watch him. Think he’ll wake any time soon?”
    Lenore hesitated, suddenly uncomfortable leaving the guy. Not that she didn’t trust Gabe. She did. The most he’d do is pester the shifter. But leaving the guy when he was vulnerable and there were ogres and yuppies gunning for him…
    The ogres she could take deal with. If she got a move on. He was safe here. No one knew where he was. And once she paid Starch off, that would be one less party after the guy. Hopefully the yuppies had gotten bored and sought their entertainment elsewhere. Her gut twisted, imagining what type of entertainment the wealthy young trio had wanted with a drugged-to-the-gills shapeshifter. None of the thoughts were good. That was messed up.
    She leaned over the bed to check the guy’s pulse and breathing again. “He’ll probably sleep a few more hours. I’ll be back before then. Don’t wake him.”
    Gabe grinned. “Now why would I do that?”
    “I mean it. He could be dangerous. I don’t want you hurt.”
    Gabe’s grin widened. His palm splayed over his smooth chest. “You still care. So there’s hope for us.”
    Lenore laughed. “You’re such a jerk. Yes, I care. No, we will never get back together. Ever. You’re a good guy, Gabe, but you’re also a royal pain. I need to borrow your car.” And keep hers safely hidden in his garage.
    “Keys are in the bowl.” He leaned forward, snagging her by the hem of his T-shirt she wore. “Looks good on you.”
    Rejected and not breaking stride. The guy was incorrigible. He must have an extra flirting chromosome. He simply didn’t register the word “no”. It was like talking to a wall. A wall with the elevated hormones of a teenager.  
    “Thanks.” Satisfied with the shifter’s pulse, she absently ran a hand along his jaw. Her heart took a little tumble as he rolled his face unconsciously into her touch.
    “Huh.” Gabe snorted.
    Lenore snapped her hand away and Gabe laughed. “I saw that.”
    “What? Get real. I don’t even know him.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “I don’t.”
    He stood and drew her up by the shoulders, looking as serious as she’d ever seen him. “For once, sweetheart, just go with what you’re feeling without analyzing it.” He kissed her forehead. “You might have the best time of your life.”
    “There’s more to living than always looking for a good time,” she murmured.
    “Life’s in the journey,” he countered.
    “That’s all blissful and good until someone gets hurt.”
    He stared at her for a long moment. “For what it’s worth, Nory. I never went out of my way to hurt you.”
    “No. But you still did.”

    Chapter Five

    Lenore slid into the white corvette, hoping