Harley~
"Excuse me, please." I bolt from my captain's office to the nearest bathroom, entering the accessible stall. I secured the latch lock before sliding down the wall to the floor and hugging my knees to my chest, tears welling up in my eyes.
'It's going to be ok, Harley, breathe. I told you he would come back; you need to get yourself together, sister.'
'Not that simple, Rae.'
'Why isn't it?'
I didn't have an answer, but she's right; I have to get a hold of myself. Damned, I will be before I let the wolfman waltz in here and shake my foundation. Mate or not, this was still my case; I will stand my ground. From the beginning, I have worked night and day and will see it through!
Sheer determination brings me up by the bootstraps. The stall door swings open, and I go to the hand sink, turn on the faucet, and cup water over my face. I come out to find them both waiting in the hallway.
"Are you okay, detective?" My captain asked.
"I am fine, Captain, damn allergies."
"We can do this later if you aren't feeling well," Nick said. His eyes surprised me; they showed genuine concern.
"That won't be necessary, Agent Reins. I was about to continue the search for the missing van. Captain Howard suggested I wait for you." I said over my shoulder as I moved past them to my desk. "Just let me get the file, and we can go." Creepy Carl has removed the wilted flowers from my desk; thank the Goddess for his dedication.
"It's good to have you on board, Agent Reins," Captain Howard said. "I will run Luccese through the panels while you're gone. Let me know what you find, detective." Mitch walks away, and I head for the door, not bothering to see if the wolfman is following me. It wasn't necessary; I could feel him.
Unlocking my car with my key fob, I go to the passenger side and get inside. Nick slides into the driver's seat, and I pass him the keys. He starts the car, and I put the coordinates into the GPS interface. "It's nice to see you again, Harley."
I don't answer him as we drive away, and I remain quiet when he asks me how I've been. Nick's wolf growls at Rae, and she returns his sentiments. Nick follows the GPS for a few more unanswered questions before entering a parking lot. He finds a secluded spot and puts the car in park, turns to face me, cupping my face in his hands. I turn my face into his palm.
Not at all what I intended to do, but resistance was futile. He slid his hand around my neck and under my hair, leaving my skin a heated trail. His lips are gentle on mine at first. My arms wrap around his neck, and my fingers tangle in his hair like it's their nest. He deepened the kiss before releasing me and kissing my forehead, while I rested the bridge of my nose on his.
"Why didn't you tell me, Nick?" I asked breathlessly.
"There wasn't much time between the bar and my hotel room. I was called back to headquarters on another case shortly after you left."
I pull away from him. "About that, Nick, I want to apologize for my behavior at McGilleys. It's not like I do what we did with strange men as a hobby."
"The thought never crossed my mind; you were just a she-wolf following her instinct, which is good, by the way. I would worry if you didn't find your mate attractive."
"You know about that, too, hun?" I bit my lip, and he growled at me.
"I do, but I assure you there will be no pressure from me. My wolf, Zeek, however, would like to at least meet his mate. I asked you once before." He pulls me back in, and I go like a love-sick puppy. His kiss is a bit more urgent this time. "Show me your wolf?"
Rae is purring so hard that she is vibrating the back of the seat behind me. "Ok, wolfman, but not now. We have work to do."
His fingers trail over my marking spot, and a chill runs down my spine. Nick takes my hand and kisses it before placing it in its spot, then puts the car in drive. I never thought I would enjoy being electrocuted, but I damn sure do! He draws circles on my thumb with his. We pull into the parking lot, and I pull away from him. He looks a little disappointed when I open the door myself to get out of the car.
Again, I need to slow my ass down; my legs became about as sturdy as running water. Slumping against the car, I hoped Nick hadn't seen my falter, but in a second, his massive hands were around my waist. "I am fine, Nick. I have an appointment the day after tomorrow."
He steps back but stays close. "I know LA is diverse, but I didn't realize there was a pack doctor."
Now, he sounds like my wolf. "There isn't. It's just Mad Wolf disease. As long as I get my shots every month, I don't foam at the mouth." I chuckle and shrug my shoulders. I need to work on my humor; he does not find it amusing.
We get into the office, and Nick steps in front of me. I don't like that! He flashed his badge abruptly in the clerk's face. I don't like that either. "I am Agent Reins, and this is Detective Gibson. Are you the manager?"
I stepped around him. "Nancy is not the manager." I gave him the side-eye. "Nancy, is Phill around?"
"Sure, Detective."
"You will catch more flies with honey than vinegar, Agent Reins."
A few moments later, Phill came up from the back office. "What can I do for you, Detective?"
"Hi, Phill. I am looking for a cargo van, maybe a 22' or 23' model. I do not know the make, but I assume it is white."
Phill types away on his keyboard. A satisfied smile crosses my face. "I have a few; you're welcome to look." He hands me the printout.
"Thanks, Phill." I hand Nick a copy, and we head out the service door towards the lot.