Chapter 3

“What a lonely number.” Grabbing the rag, I needed to clean my hands off. “I am done. There wasn’t much to do.”

Walking back to the office section, Maddox was right behind me. “Go on a date with me?”

My hand hovered above the computer mouse. “Excuse me? Driver’s license.”

Maddox reached into his wallet and dropped his license in front of me. “I’m sure you remember what a date is? When a guy takes a girl out to eat and then maybe a movie.”

Rolling my eyes, I wasn’t exactly eager to go. “Why would I want to?” I challenged as I tossed back his license. “$200.”

“That’s steep.”

“You brought a Lamborghini into my shop and thought it would cost $50? If that is too much for you, you can’t afford me.”

“What can I do to entice you to go?” Maddox dropped his black card in front of me. Something that annoys the shit out of me when customers do that.

“Give me a good fucking reason I should go. You slammed me against the wall, touched my waist without making sure I even wanted you to do that. You are acting as if I should toss myself at your feet. Called Brett sexy next to your bike. All things that don’t exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”

Maddox took a deep breath. “That mouth might get you into trouble one day.”

Handing him back his card, I just sighed and logged off my computer. “Let me know when that day is so I can be ready.”

As I tried walking back to the garage part, Maddox took my arm and whipped me around. “I’m serious. I want a date.”

“Did my left knee not do the trick? Does my right one need to remind you what man handling me means?”

I wasn’t prepared for Maddox to move to quickly. Bending over, he grabbed my knees and picked my legs up. Wrapping them around his waist, he slammed me against the wall again. This time, my hands instinctively wrapped around my neck for support.

The fire that burned in my stomach wasn’t like anything I ever experienced before. His lips were barely touching mine. Something hard poked into my core, something I had never felt before, but knew exactly what it was.

“I enjoy a chase. You are far too beautiful for me to play games. I’m being serious. I want to do this right. Take you out. Let me show you the real me.”

Everything in me screamed for him to touch me, kiss me and make me feel things I had never felt before. However, I believe in the mate bond. True love and I wanted that. “Give me a good reason why. I believe in the mate bond, do you?”

“I do.” Maddox moved down to my neck as he breathed in my scent.

“Why go on a date with you if you aren’t my mate? I don’t turn 18 for a few weeks.”

“Maybe I can show you what a real man acts like, how a lady is supposed to be treated.”

“How many women have you shown that to?” I asked. Maddox came back up and looked at me in the eyes.

His silence was all I needed to know. “I know of your reputation and what a play boy you are. I won’t be another notch on your bedpost.”

His hand moved to cup my neck. “I guess I will just have to show you how honest I am being when I say that I want to get to know you for who you are. That starts with a date.”

“I’ll think about it. It sounds like we will be seeing each other tonight. Plus, don’t you have a few girls wanting to meet up with you?”

“You are intoxicating.” Maddox took a deep breath in. It was as if he wasn’t listening to anything I was saying. “I usually don’t go this slow, but for you, I will.”

Maddox’s hand pushed up my neck as he gently placed a kiss just under my jaw. “This is slow?” My breathing was heavy. With each breath, my chest pushed deeper into his.

Pulling back. Maddox set me down low, but kept me between him and the wall. “I’m usually not a patient man when I want something.”

“I’m not something for you to conquere.”

“You are a prize. One that I intend to win over.” He took a step back and looked at how flushed I was. “I like this look on you. Especially since I am the one that put it there.” He gave me a smirk as he started to leave. Just before he was out of sight, he leaned back in. “Oh, by the way. I wasn’t talking about Brett when I said there was someone sexy by my bike.”

With that, he turned and left. Nothing moved on me until I heard his bike start up. He was out within seconds, flying away without looking back.

“Holy shit.” I sighed as I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. He was so fucking sexy that I lost my brain. Normally, I would have punched him in the face for touching me that way. However, my body begged for it and that was dangerous. Maybe going on a date was a bad idea.

Shaking my head, I needed to finish closing down and heading back. A storm was building, and I didn’t want to get caught in it. My pack was a thirty-minute drive away, out of the city. As much as I loved taking my time, something told me I needed to get home, and quickly.

The hair was standing up on the back of my neck as I got onto my bike. Someone was watching me. Looking around, my wolf couldn’t figure out who or where it was even coming from. After one last look at my shop, I hit the gas and didn’t stop. Even as the headlights flashed behind me.