“All right,” he says slowly. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Would your roommates volunteer to help?”
“Jared and Trey?” His eyebrows pop up. “They’ll do whatever I tell them to do.”
“You said it yourself: they’re Boy Scouts. They’d be great role models. As long as they tell the kids not to drink or smoke, and to stay in school.”
“My buddy Tank owns a motorcycle shop. He has a handful of high school kids who hang out on the regular to learn from him. I’ve always thought it could be a formal program. You know-vocational training or something.”
My heart squeezes to hear that Garrett-the giant werewolf I’d so misjudged-thinks about helping local teens. “That’s an incredible idea. Would you want to be a part of it?”
He shrugs. “Yeah.”
I picture him mentoring young would-be thugs and giving them a sense of purpose and confidence. “I bet you’ll make a great dad,” I blurt. My eyes widen when I realize I just brought up having kids on our first date. I don’t even know what made me say it. Yes, I do. My overactive ovaries, which are still dropping eggs every two minutes in hopes they’ll get lucky with him. “I mean-”
“Yeah, I’ll teach them to pick locks and ride motorcycles. Isn’t that what every woman looks for in the father of her pup?” There’s a challenge in his voice, and a flush of shame runs through me for being so judgmental of him.
“I’m sorry I acted like a snooty bitch when we met. I was just nervous about my safety and I-”
He cuts me off with a kiss, stamping his lips over mine with an unspoken demand.
I yield, opening for his tongue, trying to ignore the way the Earth tilts on its axis and dumps me on my butt. Somehow, I know my hair is never going to fit back into the uptight twist I used to wear.
“Oh, Amber,” Garrett breaks the kiss. “If you had any idea all the terrible things I want to do to you, you’d know you were right to be nervous.”
My breasts ache now, nipples stinging and chafing against the fabric of my yoga top. I want his mouth on them. I want to know all the terrible things. He’s already spanked me. What else is the kinky werewolf into? Bondage? Humiliation? I never considered anything but plain old missionary sex to be in my future, but it’s like a door has slid open, showing me a whole new, beautiful world.
I grope for something to say, something safe and neutral. “What about you?” I bump his foot with mine. “How did you get into real estate?”
“I moved to Tucson when I was eighteen. My dad gave me a startup loan, and I bought a small commercial property and rented it out. Did all the repairs and fixup myself. Then I got lucky. Downtown revitalization took off, and the value of the property shot through the roof. I borrowed against equity to pay my dad back and open Eclipse. My dad was disappointed to say the least.”
“That you opened a nightclub?”
“Yeah. He says I’ll always be a punk.”
A rush of anger runs through me on Garrett’s behalf. I may have jumped to the same conclusion when I met Garrett, but I’ve since seen he’s more than a motorcycle-driving hoodlum. And even with a startup loan from his father, any guy who could grow his real estate empire from one commercial building to a multi-million dollar empire has some business skills and savvy.
Garrett’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Guess he’s right.”
Hearing about his father’s condemnation suddenly gives me some insight into why Garrett hasn’t grown up. With a father like that, you’d either want to prove him wrong or prove him right. Looks like Garrett chose proving him right. Yes, he’s a little old to be rebelling, but if he grew up with an overbearing, judgmental asshole for a parent, I can see how that might stick with him.
“So, what’s the average day look like for you?”
“Drink beer. Harass my hot neighbor.” He keeps playing the thug role.
I yank the container of tacos away just as he reaches for one. He arches a stern brow. I stifle a grin and shove them back, eyeing his enormous pecs.
He catches me looking and smirks. “Like what you see, angel?”
I shrug like his nearness has no effect on me. “You work out for those?”