for subjecting him to that when he’s here on a date with my best friend.
“You sure you’re okay going with him?” Zoey asks me, plugging her nose so she doesn’t have to keep smelling me. “You’re about to hit your first wave, and it’s always crazy intense.”
“It’s either that or I hightail it back home and hole up in the sanctuary,” I say, pressing the back of my hand against my heated brow. “But I don’t even know if I’d make it in time. A motel would be closer.”
Worriedly, Zoey sinks her sharp teeth into her bottom lip. “Okay. He seems nice enough. But just let him take the edge off, and then come home, okay? He can’t handle more than one heatwave round.”
“I know, I know,” I say, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “See you...whenever this damn heatwave passes.”
“Don’t let your slutty animal start frisky phoning,” she says, her voice nasally since she’s still plugging her nostrils closed. “The last time you went into heat, you left me ten voicemails begging me to send you ‘a shifter hung like an Alabama windchime,’ whatever that means.”
“Bye Zoey,” I say, tossing her a wave as I quickly make my way through the bar.
As I push my way through the crowd, I notice a couple of male shifters turn their noses up in the air and sniff, frowns appearing on their faces. Heart pounding, I hurry past them, not even caring when I have to elbow a few people on the way out. I need to get outside and out of scent-distance. When I make it to the exit, I push open the door and relish in the cool night air that hits my fevered skin. I instantly feel better now that I’m out in the open in the night air, and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my animal and hold the heatwave at bay.
At the sound of footsteps approaching, I open my eyes and whirl around, almost colliding with someone on their way inside the bar. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“My fault.”
My eyes snap up at his familiar voice, and my animal immediately perks up.
Mr. Coyote Hotshot Penn Weiss takes me in, and I see recognition dawn in his eyes. “Wait. You’re the girl from the bank, right? Aderyn Locke.”
I take a discreet step backwards and try to smile politely. “That’s right, Mr. Weiss.” My voice comes out unintentionally husky. Dammit.
His eyes trail up my body, and I swear, I can feel his gaze like it’s a caress against my skin. “I almost didn’t recognize you with the different hair.”
I reach a hand up to smooth the tangled pastel locks. I’m turning into a sweaty mess. If it weren’t for the slight breeze carrying upwind, I’d be screwed right now. I start backing up again, hoping Mario will get out here soon so we can leave.
Penn notices my retreating movement and frowns at me. “What’s wron—”
My back hits a hard body behind me and I turn to see the hottie from the lake—Herrick.
“Hey, Lake Lady,” the dark-skinned hottie says, flashing me a smile. “I knew we’d meet again. Cool hair.”
God, why did I have to run into them right now?
“How do you and Herrick know each other?” Penn asks me, his eyes darting between his friend and me.
I don’t hear Herrick’s answer, because both of their scents suddenly hit me when the direction of the wind shifts, and my animal goes insane. I sway on my feet like I’m drunk.
I feel Penn grab my arm to steady me, just as a third shifter with a man bun walks up. I’m squashed in the middle of their hottie triangle when my scent finally hits them. All three pairs of nostrils flare and their pupils dilate. They go from relaxed and friendly, to a trio of hungry predators, and I’m on the menu.
“Holy fuck, she’s riding her wave,” Man-Bun says with more groan than growl.
I look up at him, noting the dark brown hair swept up, and his sexy, scratchy beard. I have a sudden urge to grab his head and shove it down between my legs. I want to feel that beard all over my thighs.
Good grief. This one is coming on fast.
“I gotta go,” I say, pushing past them. I can’t wait for Mario. I need to leave before my animal completely takes over and I don’t even have the ability to drive home anymore.
Just as I shove Penn aside, a huge