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  “You don’t need rescuing? Did you suddenly find hidden money, Nika?” Robert’s voice chafed her nerve endings.

  “I found a treasure, yes.” She shot a quick glance to Jaemus who was still watching her and smiling now that he realized she was calling him a treasure. She winked at him and his grin widened.

  Damn, he’s pretty.

  And since when did she wink at men? This guy was dangerous. What out-of-character things would she do next? Her body tingled at the possibilities.

  “Treasure? What kind of treasure?” Robert’s voice brought her mind out of a dirty, dirty place.

  Nika threw a glance up to the air conditioning vent in the ceiling. Was the unit broken? Why was it so hot in her office? She’d have to check on that.

  Yeah.

  “An end-of-the-rainbow Irish treasure.” She lifted an eyebrow at Jaemus, who made a blue T-shirt and black jeans look runway ready. “I gotta go, Robert.” She didn’t wait for him to reply before clicking the phone off and setting it on her desk. That would probably send him running to the post to see what was going on, but for once, she didn’t care if he showed up today.

  Because she wasn’t alone. Jaemus was here.

  “Everything okay, sprite?” Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. Though he sat back against the couch, he didn’t look relaxed. His muscles appeared tensed. Ready. Wanting to be used.

  “Yeah. Mr. Robert Senclair wishes to purchase all this,” she motioned to the building around them, “and turn it into a Mr. Sprinkles Donut Shop.”

  Jaemus sat forward now, his hands clasping his knees, fingers gripping. “The ass-saving you mentioned.”

  Nika nodded. “The Wolfman Show will bring in money. If I’m bringing in money, I can keep Robert away.”

  “There are many ways to keep him away.” Jaemus narrowed his eyes at her and tilted his head to the side, almost as if he were sniffing the air around him. “He wants more than your post.”

  She looked away. How the hell did he figure that out? “Well, he’s shit out of luck on that front too.”

  “Good.” Jaemus’s facial expression relaxed, his mouth turning up in a grin again. “Do you have time to give me a tour of the place?”

  Nika popped up out of her seat. “Sure.” She glanced at his application forms, which she should probably look at, but the notion of guiding him around the trading post and its outdoor features delighted her. “Right this way.”

  He eased off the couch with fluid movements and a grace a man of his size shouldn’t have. “How did you come to own this place?”

  She spent a few moments telling him about Tato and his Native American friends. Jaemus listened as if every word she said was important to him. Had anyone ever focused their attention on her like that? Big no. Big.

  After she’d shown him the entire post and the outdoor theater where he’d be doing most of his acting, she brought him back to the front doors, Daisy loping along beside them. There were still a lot of hours before The Wolfman Show. What was Jaemus planning to do in those hours? Come to think of it…

  “Why did you come in so early? The show isn’t until the afternoon.” She squinted one eye at him, but one eye wasn’t enough to truly enjoy his otherworldly beauty.

  “I wanted to get those papers to you. I wanted to tour the place. I wanted to see you.”

  “Me? Why?” What was with the fires-of-Hell heat level today? July in Vermont never caused her to break a sweat like this.

  Jaemus, however, knew how to use that body of his—and his words—to seduce her.

  Could she let him?

  Chapter Six

  The rosy glow on Nika’s cheeks fascinated Jaemus. She fanned her face, bracelets jingling on her slender wrist, as she waited for him to give a reason why he wanted to see her.

  Right. Why had he told her that?

  Because it’s true.

  “I’ve had a bit of a difficult time as of late,” he began, feeling a little off balance, exposed, as Nika stared at him. He dropped his attention to the beastie sitting between them. Crouching, he rubbed Daisy’s ears until the dog’s eyes closed. He let her lick every one of his fingers before standing again.

  “There have been some changes I’ve had to come to grips with. Some… traveling I hadn’t expected to do.” He blew out a breath then sucked in a new one. “Taking this job, being here with you now… I don’t know. It feels right. It feels good. Normal.”

  Nika’s gaze softened, those pale green eyes drawing him in, and the desire to press his lips to hers nearly overwhelmed Jaemus.

  “I still can’t believe you’re here.” Her tongue came out to moisten her lips, and he cursed the stiff confines of Reardon’s borrowed jeans. How did men wear these in this time? Most uncomfortable.

  “I said I would take the job when you offered it yesterday,” he reminded her.

  “I know, but I was filled with doubts this morning.” She let out a little laugh that put a light in her eyes, igniting something inside him. They truly sparkled like gems and reminded Jaemus of the glowing that happened to werewolf eyes. What would Nika look like if he turned her?

  He instantly squeezed his eyes closed. Not going down that path. He couldn’t imagine taking Nika’s beautiful humanity away from her. That would be cruel. That would be something Reardon would do—had done—and Jaemus wasn’t making the same mistake. He didn’t even know if he could change her anyway. He’d hardly had a werewolf tutorial. He had no idea what the rules were.

  “No reason to doubt, sprite,” he said. “If I said I’ll take the job, I’ll take the job. I’m a great many terrible things, but I keep my word.”

  Without responding, Nika led them back into the post while Daisy plopped down on a mat by the front door, appearing to settle in for the day. Nika turned to face him. “I’ve been in your presence for a little while, Jaemus, and I don’t see anything terrible about you.” Her gaze combed down to his feet and back up to his eyes. He felt as if he’d been stroked though she hadn’t put a finger on him.

  How he wished she’d put a finger on him. Maybe all her fingers.

  “Give it time, aye. The terrible is bound to come through.”

  Nika turned the sign on the door so the Open side faced out. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” She studied him for a moment longer. “You’re welcome to wander the grounds until showtime, but I assume you have a costume to get into that you didn’t bring with you.”

  “Aye, my costume is back at the sanctuary, but actually I was planning to look around town before the show. I’d like to find a place to stay.”

  “Things a little crowded at Silver Moon?” Nika got behind the counter where the ringing machine Carrie and Zavier had used yesterday sat.

  “You could say that.” He shrugged. “Know of any available places close by?”

  “Is this job your only employment?”

  “Aye.”

  “And you do recall I can’t pay you much, right? Probably not enough to rent a place.” Her lips turned down. “I wish I could give you more, especially because your acting skills and costume are beyond expectations.”

  “Perhaps once things take off again, when your post is the thriving business you wish it to be, you could give a good Wolfman a raise for his services.” Jaemus loved that his words brought the smile back to her amazing mouth. A mouth he was becoming more and more enchanted by.

  “Perhaps.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Maybe we could cut another deal in the meantime.”

  “What kind of a deal?” He was definitely interested in any deals that involved Nika Skarvinksi.

  “Well…” She toyed with the big curls resting on her shoulder then shook her head. “Oh, never mind. I don’t know what I’m thinking.”

  “But now I want to know what you’re thinking.” He waved his hand. “Out with it, sprite.”

  She drummed long fingers on the counter between them. The sound and the movement hypnotized him as he fantasized about those fingertips resting
on his chest. As they lounged in a comfortable bed. Naked.

  Definitely naked.

  “Did you see that barn out back when I gave you the grand tour?” She pointed to the back of the trading post.

  “Aye. It caught my eye. Looks solidly built.” Strangely, it reminded him of the past—a time that belonged to him.

  “My tato built it. I live in a loft apartment inside that barn, but the lower level is… available. I mean, it needs some work… actually some probably isn’t the right word. Are you handy, Jaemus?”

  “Aye.” At least he was in his time. He often fixed things at the fortress the army called home, and he was usually the one who erected temporary shelters when the men needed them. That was why he’d easily turned branches and leaves into a shelter on that blasted island Flidae had sent him to.

  “Well, if you wanted to fix it up yourself, I wouldn’t charge you to stay there. It’s nothing elaborate, but—”

  “I’ll take it.”

  Nika’s gaze shot up to his. “Don’t you want to see inside or something first?”

  “No.” Whatever condition the barn was in, it had to be better than being trapped with Reardon. He was trying to work on forgiving his brother, but he needed some space to be able to do that.

  And the notion that Nika also lived in that barn made it an attractive option.

  She smirked. “What if the barn is mice ridden?”

  As if mice are the worst things I’ve slept amongst. Or eaten for that matter.

  “I have no fear of mice.” In fact, the mice should be afraid of him.

  “What about snakes?”

  He shook his head. “I’d be happy to cuddle with them.”

  Nika laughed and the sound floated through Jaemus, making him feel like seaweed floating on the water, weightless, carefree.

  “Cuddling with snakes. Okay, then. Maybe playing Wolfman isn’t such a stretch for you.”

  You have no idea, sprite.

  “I have no problems sharing that barn with any manner of beasties.” Or trading post owners with curls his fingers longed to dive into and lips his mouth ached to taste.

  Nika came out from behind the counter and motioned for him to follow her to the office. She went to her desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out something that clinked in her hands.

  “Extra keys.” She held them out to him. “If you want to get started on the necessary improvements before the one o’clock show.”

  He took the keys, holding on to her hand and watching her eyes go wide as she looked at him. “Your kindness is much appreciated, sprite.” He dropped a light kiss on the back of her hand, loving how her smooth skin felt against his lips.

  She started to speak, but had to clear her throat and try again twice as he held onto her hand. “You might not think I’m so kind when you see the state of the barn.”

  He looked at her for a beat longer, imagining himself taking a step closer, lowering his head, brushing his lips against hers. Her beauty was unlike anything he’d ever seen in Ireland. Fair-haired lasses more than willing to offer him whatever he’d wanted had been plentiful. He hadn’t been one to refuse their advances.

  But Nika? She stimulated him on a whole new level. One he wanted to explore, even if his time here was limited.

  Jaemus took that step closer, his gaze focusing on her mouth and making plans to claim it. His thumb rubbed along the knuckles of her hand he still held in his.

  “Nika?” a voice called from out front.

  He jolted a little, dropped Nika’s hand, and shifted his gaze to the keys in his hand. “I’ll let you get to work. See you in a few hours.” He swiveled on his heel and marched out of her office, telling himself not to look back.

  Of course he’d never been one to listen to himself.

  A quick glance over his shoulder revealed Nika staring at him with an expression on her face that matched the rapid pulse beating in his blood. Had she wanted him to kiss her? What would she have done if he had? Kissed him back? And why could he hear her heartbeat as well? Was it favorable that it matched the tempo of his own?

  Puffing out a breath, he said a quick hello to Zavier who had been the one to call to Nika and made his way out of the trading post, Daisy following him. Leaning against the front of the building, he hooked his hair behind his ear then gave his temple a quick rub.

  “Gods be damned, pup, I almost kissed her.” The office around them had melted away and there was only her standing in front of him. Kissing her would have been a mistake. She was his employer now. She’d been kind in offering him a place to stay. He couldn’t take advantage of her good nature. He had to keep the boundaries in place.

  Besides, he wasn’t staying.

  Reardon had thought that too. Flidae’s voice filled his head.

  I’m not like Reardon. Nor did he want to be.

  We’ll see…

  Shaking his head, Jaemus pushed off the building and followed the gravel path to the barn with Daisy right on his heels. Finding a small door at the side of it, he guided the key into the lock and turned. When he opened the door, Daisy bounded in and headed for the narrow stairs.

  “No.” At the sound of Jaemus’s voice, the dog stopped with her paw on the first step. “We’re not going to your home. We’re going to make down here my home.”

  The dog looked up at the door at the top of the stairs, let out a little whine, and wagged her tail.

  “Aye, I know. Trust me. I want to go up there too, but only when your mum is home and only if I’m invited.” It scared Jaemus how much he wanted that invitation.

  As his eyes adjusted to the dimness of the barn’s interior, the first thing to hit him was the smell of old wood. He inhaled deeply and for the first time since being banished from Ireland by Flidae, he felt… settled.

  Strange. He couldn’t be farther from his regular life. He hadn’t held a sword in weeks. He hadn’t let loose any battle cries, set fire to the bodies of the fallen, counted his acquired riches. The only blood he’d spilled recently had been his own. He wasn’t accustomed to this place or this time and yet, a sense of belonging washed over him in that barn. An unseen, unexplainable force pulled at him, drew him in, made him want to make this barn into something he could call home.

  Daisy came over and sat by his boot, her golden eyes turned up expectantly and her wagging tail stirring up the layers of dust covering the floor.

  “Getting a start on sweeping, pup?” He petted Daisy’s head then investigated the barn, taking an inventory of the space.

  Large windows lined two of the walls, letting in the summer sunshine and creating yellow rectangles on the floor. Jaemus crouched and used his hand to brush away at the dust, revealing wide planks of wood beneath his feet. Some of the boards were damaged, but after replacing them, he was confident he could restore the floor to its former glory.

  Thick posts and beams interlocked around him to create the frame of the barn and they were in wonderful condition. All the joints still looked tight. Nika’s father must have been an excellent craftsman for the structure to weather time so well.

  At the back gable end of the barn, two wide doors sat crookedly. Jaemus walked toward them and had to use most of his bulk to open one of them. A loud squeak sounded as rusted hinges complained about Jaemus disturbing them. He made a mental note to replace those as well and repair the doors.

  He spotted electrical outlets—something Dylan had showed him back at Silver Moon—so there was power to the barn. Not that Jaemus needed electricity, but as his brother had pointed out, it was indeed convenient.

  A low wall in the back corner sectioned off what looked like a small, rudimentary kitchen and beyond that was a tiny bathroom. Again, Jaemus wasn’t used to having either of those modern inventions, but wasn’t about to snub his nose at them. If everything worked in both, he’d use them. They looked as if they just needed a thorough cleaning.

  “We’ll need a few supplies, won’t we?” He looked down at Daisy who had followed him as he’d meande
red through the space. “And maybe some free labor.”

  Twenty minutes later, he was back in the barn with Dylan, Meredith, and her bucket of cleaning supplies.

  “Holy shit,” Meredith said as she scanned the place. “This needs more than a tidying.”

  “If I said it needed a complete scouring, would you have agreed to come?” Jaemus raised his eyebrows at the woman.

  “Hell, no.”

  Dylan laughed. “Aww, c’mon, Gram. You love to clean.”

  “And I’m damn good at it, but this is… this is extreme.”

  “If you’re not up for the challenge…” Jaemus shrugged.

  A fire flared in Meredith’s eyes. “Step aside, son. You are about to get schooled in the Ways of Clean.” She dumped her supplies out on the floor and waved the bucket at Dylan. “Fill this, kid.”

  Jaemus had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. When he’d approached Dylan about helping him clean the barn, the boy had dropped his comic book and abandoned the wolf he was using as a pillow in the grass behind Brandy’s house.

  “Sure!” Then his shoulders had hunched a bit.

  “What’s the matter?” Jaemus had asked.

  “Mom won’t just let me go with you. Neither will Reardon.” Then he’d snapped his fingers. “We’ll ask Gram to come.”

  Jaemus had hesitated, but Dylan insisted.

  “We can trust her. Gram always wants to help everybody.”

  Sure enough, the boy had convinced Meredith that cleaning the barn was a worthy cause. And yes, maybe they’d led her to believe they were cleaning it for Nika, but Jaemus wasn’t ready to reveal he’d gotten a job or a place to live yet.

  He wasn’t ready to reveal that maybe… maybe he rather enjoyed Canville, Vermont.

  ****

  He was going to kiss me. That thought cycled through Nika’s head all morning long as she and Zavier used their lack of customers as an excuse to design and type up a shiny new advertisement for The Wolfman Show. Zavier was great with making flyers, and Carrie was a whiz with a movie-making app, so Nika would have a video to go with the advertisement.

  All she would have to do next was wait for word to get out and watch the visitors—the ticket buyers and trading post shoppers—roll on in.