Scared of Spiders

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He smelled her the moment she walked in-a tantalizing mix of peaches ’n’ cream and woman that made his beast pace in his mind and whisper Ours. Clint looked up to see the face of the one he’d waited for-my mate-and sucked in a breath for she wasn’t what he’d expected at all.

For one, she was tiny. He doubted she’d even reach his chin, yet while short in stature, she had the curves, pillowy and sweet, of a woman. Their eyes met and even across the space separating them, he noticed her interest, the way her lips softened and parted. An innocent look that made him rock-hard. Oh, baby, I can’t wait to see your face when it’s looking up at me, glazed with passion.

She broke the glance, and Clint realized something else before her gaze turned fearful and she whirled to escape. He wasn’t the only man who’d noticed her.

But forget that dilemma for the moment. She’d left, and if he didn’t hurry, he’d have to resort to sniffing out her trail like some trained canine. Clint strode across the warehouse, snarling when a few of his pack brothers moved to follow. They backed off, unwilling to challenge their alpha. Clint reached the rapidly shutting door with Brandon, best friend and pack beta, on his heels. “She’s mine,” he growled at his lieutenant, who ignored his order.

“Not if I get to her first,” replied Brandon, hip-checking him aside to dive through the door.

If we weren’t best friends… Clint gritted his teeth and followed, emerging into bright sunlight. The woman he intended to bed-and, yes, wed-had already scurried half a block away. Whereas Brandon jogged to catch up to her, Clint simply stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled.

The strident sound startled her, and she whirled to gape back at him with big, doe-like eyes.

“You wouldn’t happen to be my two p.m. interview, would you?” he said on a hunch, his question loud enough for her to hear as he strolled toward her. He tried to look harmless. What a joke, she was probably right to run. I am the big, bad wolf the stories warned you about. She stood her ground, however, even as her fearful bearing screamed weak, but that was okay because he had strength enough for both of them.

Brandon, with his long stride and closer position, reached her first, and Clint bit back a grin as she cringed from him and clutched her purse tightly to her chest.

“I’m Brandon Schuster,” said his business partner, sticking his hand out. She hesitated, biting her lower lip before placing her trembling hand in Brandon ’s.

The shock of their skin-to-skin contact was all too visible, and Clint held back an urge to rip her away from his beta. His beast snarled in his mind, willing to forgo friendship so it might take a bite out of the one who dared touch their woman. Ignoring the bloodthirsty requests of his beast, Clint instead smiled widely at the petite woman, perhaps a tad toothily judging by the wide eyes that rose to meet his. “Hi, there. I’m Clint Jefferson, majority owner of J &S Inc.” He added that last bit on purpose and enjoyed the way Brandon ’s mouth tightened. Clint stuck his hand out, and, with the same lip-biting trepidation, she placed her hand in his. An electric current shot through him, and his beast grunted in recognition. Ours. Expected, and yet odd, because there was no doubting the same thing had happened with Brandon, who now frowned at him.

His tiny woman snatched her hand back and took a step away from them, her gaze darting between them, but he was glad to notice her initial trepidation seemed to have faded. And if he wasn’t mistaken, he could smell distinct interest, from her lower parts anyway.

“I’m Josephine Winters, and I’m sorry to have wasted your time.” Her voice, no surprise, was soft and demure, kind of like her.

It’s always the quiet ones, though, that end up wildest in bed. Clint forced himself to focus on her words instead of how she’d look naked and bent over. Delicious. “Why do you say that? Your resume is quite impressive. Not only are you familiar with the computer system we’re on, you’ve spent several years in management. It’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

“But-” Again she gnawed, which exposed her pearly whites, and Clint really had to restrain himself from joining her in chewing on her full lower lip.

Brandon jumped in to help. “I admit we look like a noisy bunch, but I promise you, our staff will obey you.”

Clint silently agreed, for if they didn’t, they’d face the wrath of their pack alpha.

Her spine straightened, and her countenance went from soft to indignant.

Hmm, looks like my intended mate might have a backbone hidden in there. It made him wonder what other surprises her meek exterior hid.

“It’s not that,” she said. “I know I can do the job.”

“Then what’s the problem?” he asked. Whatever the problem, he’d fix it. He couldn’t let Josephine-such a big name for a tiny thing-walk away.

“You’ll laugh,” she said staring down at the ground, her shoulders slumping as she shuffled her feet.

Clint wanted to sweep her up and carry her away. There was something about her timid nature that made his protective side swell. “I promise I won’t,” he said, and was echoed by Brandon.

“You have spiders,” she whispered, unable to look them in the eyes.

“Spiders?” repeated Brandon, incomprehension on his face. “Well, yeah. They come in with the shipments.”

Clint saw her flinch and held onto his urge to laugh. Although spiders didn’t bother him, it looked like Josephine was terrified of them, and there was no denying their place had a fair share. Despite the connection he felt drawing him to her, Clint had to wonder at the choice of her as his mate. If she’s scared of spiders, then how the hell is she ever going to accept the fact that I turn furry on the full moon?

Again, a dilemma for later, for now that he’d found his female-my mate-he wanted her where he could keep an eye on her, not to mention having her around would make it easier to seduce her. And protect what is mine.

“If spiders are the problem, then I think we can do something about that. Come back with us, and we’ll discuss it in our office. Brandon will go ahead and clear the way. And I promise tonight, even if it takes a whole case of bug spray, we will blanket the place from top to bottom and get rid of the critters.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and her lips curved into a sweet smile that made his cock jerk. Damn, she’s a hottie. I am going to have to find more reasons to make her smile.

“You’d do that for me?” she said incredulously. “But you don’t even know me. And surely you’ve got other applicants for the job.”

“We need you,” Clint said, the words sincere even if he meant them for something else.

“Do we ever,” muttered Brandon. Clint shot him a hard glare, which Brandon pretended to ignore.

How is it possible we both feel drawn to the same woman? If she were a bitch in heat, I’d understand it, but I’ve never heard of a human attracting more than one werewolf mate. One alpha was hard enough to handle; throw in a beta who could have been alpha, and any woman, werewolf bitch or not, would have her hands full. In that case, I’ll just have to make sure that she chooses me over Brandon.

As they neared the entrance to the warehouse, Brandon jogged ahead. Soon exaggerated stomping sounds drifted through the open door along with shouted orders to clear out any webs along with their inhabitants.

“You guys are nuts,” she muttered, but Clint caught the slight smile hovering around her lips.

“All clear,” shouted Brandon.

When Josephine hesitated at the doorway, Clint grabbed her hand and tugged her in after him. She followed him meekly, her cheeks pink and her eyes downcast, which was probably a good thing, because every pack member in the place noticed her. Their eyes tracked her, and Clint could see their interest and, in a few cases, their beasts as they struggled with their human half.

Josephine might appear fragile, but something about her appealed to the rough crew who by nature of blood were like family to him. Blood or not, though, she is mine, and my brothers better have the sense to keep away. His beast stirred in his mind and growled in agreement.

Clint didn’t let go of her hand until he had closed the door to the upstairs office behind them. He no sooner ushered her into a chair than Brandon breezed in with a grin and perched himself on the edge of Clint’s desk.

Josephine huddled in the chair, her lip-biting trepidation back, but he also smelled the desire and was jolted to realize some of her shyness might stem from her reaction to them. She probably had a strong desire to touch them, an urge she assumably couldn’t understand. An overwhelming desire for contact that Clint-and, he’d bet, Brandon -