Trailing Kaiwulf

Excerpt

Jee rolled over in the bunk and stretched. She'd been so tired the night before, she'd fallen asleep fully dressed. The sheet hanging between them had fallen in the night, and across the room, Dane lay in full view. He slept face down, stripped to the waist, mosquito netting in place. His feet hung over the end.

How long had it been since she'd noticed Dane was male? It wasn't that he wasn't attractive, with his thick dark hair, rich brown eyes, and warm smile. He had a wide jaw and pleasant face, plenty of muscle. Truth was, the man was a tame lion any woman would want to curl up with on a hearth. He kept his claws hidden unless his hearth was threatened. It embarrassed him to death when women fawned over him, but they always did. He was shamelessly romantic with Jenny, but let another woman get even a little bit undressed and he looked everywhere else. He even did his utmost to protect Jee from untoward advances. Much to her annoyance.

They'd shared quarters in the past, including times on stakeout when they'd slept back to back, and even spooned for warmth. She'd never feared his touch or his closeness. Fact was, she didn't notice he was male because he was the closest thing she'd ever had to family. He made her feel safe, and that thought made her smile.

"Hey." His voice rumbled. "What are you looking at?"

She sat up. "A big lump."

"You got a mirror over there?"

She ran her fingers through her short, dark hair to rearrange her curls and pulled a strand down over her brows. "You have an eye in the back of your head?"

"Yep." He turned over. "They stuck it in when I became a dad."

"That right?"

"Got it after I signed the oath to tell my kids to eat vegetables and warn them not to put their eyes out with sticks." A wide yawn showed off his perfect molars. "Any idea when they serve breakfast?"

"All you think about is food."

"Jenny's not here." He sat up. "What else is there?"

The pillow she threw hit him right in the middle of the chest. He sent it flying back. She ducked.

"I feel great." He jumped up to shadow box the air. "I'm going for a run." He flung the sheet back up over its cord.

"Dane, do you realize this is the first case where all I have to do to earn money is pay attention?"

"Well, I suppose for some of us that's harder than others."