Wolf's Fake Bride (Shifter Marriage Service Book 1)

Throwing the top down on her new convertible Mustang Shelby, she roared down the highway, letting the cold air blow her long blonde hair into a nest until she was forced to pull over and put the top up, trading the breeze for heat to thaw out. She was about to pull off when a police car flipped on his lights and pulled in behind her.

It was unclear whether she or Hank Timmons were more surprised to see the other. She smiled up at him as he looked down at her and the car.

“Tell me you haven’t stolen a car,” he said with a slow smile.

“I have not. I just bought it.”

“Quite a change in circumstance,” he remarked.

“Yes. Settling out of court rather quickly,” she lied.

“I see. I take it you will be vacating my place soon?”

“Hopefully. I really appreciate you letting me stay there, but I’m looking for a place now that I can afford one. I’ll be happy to pay you for my stay until I do now that I can.”

“No need. Our original agreement is just fine by me. Listen though, you’re parked in an emergency only lane. You’ll have to move it along unless you’re having troubles. Car giving you a problem?”

“Oh, gosh. No. I didn’t even pay attention. I was just putting the top up.”

“All right. I’ll see you back at the house then. Just let me know if you vacate the boat, so I’m aware.”

“I will! Thanks,” she replied, rolling up the window and pulling away.

She could see him watching her as she drove away and knew he hadn’t believed her. She had hated lying to him after he had been so kind, but she had no choice. It wasn’t as if she could tell him the truth. Though, in a small town like this, news of her affiliation with The Hell’s Fangs would get back to him. There was a bigger truth she couldn’t reveal.

She had barely returned from her trip to take care of necessities, like opening a bank account with part of the money she had been given and shopping for a few more personal things when her phone had rang. It was the realtor.

“I’ve got a great list of places for you to look at,” she told her on the phone.

“Already? That was fast.”

“Houses aren’t exactly fast sellers in this town. If you were in the main parts of Eugene, sure, but this is a little side show of a town. Things move a bit slower out here. Are you sure you don’t want to find a busier area?”

“Positive. Peace and quiet is exactly what I’m in for, at this point.”

“All right. We’ll head out in the morning to see how you like what I’ve got set up for you then.”

Jo hung up with a quick goodbye and opened the bag she had brought with her from the deli. The roast beef sandwich inside was divine. She sat in her tiny little boat home, watching the water roll past as the sun sank in the sky. It had been a long, busy day and she was ready to curl up and sleep, which is exactly what she did after putting away the few things she had bought to get her by until she had more space.

Putting the cash into a small safe, she tucked it well under the extra blankets in a nearby cabinet and locked the door before climbing into bed and falling quickly asleep.CHAPTER SIX

Holly, her new realtor, was waiting for her outside the house, wearing a fitted black coat and matching knee-length boots beneath a tailored skirt paired with a crisp white button down.

Jo felt under-dressed in a baggy sweater, parka and jeans. It was colder today, the sky dark above them. Hopefully, the rain would hold off. They were standing in the parking lot of the real estate office with another realtor named Trey.

“We’ll take my car,” Holly told her, leading her toward a large Mercedes SUV parked in front of the building.

It seemed a bit much for a small town like this, but she soon realized that Holly wasn’t from here. She had come in from the larger city. Trey was the local realtor, but he looked afraid of his shadow.

Things went quickly downhill from there. All of the houses they looked at were much more than she would ever need just for herself. She wanted something sizable, but these were nothing special. She wanted something that was expansive, but also could be made cozy. Plenty of room for guests, but homey in the places she would dwell alone before and after her “marriage” to King. Something like King’s place.

“I tell you what, let me show you a place I like,” she said, on a whim.

She directed them toward the house where she had met him, hoping he wasn’t around, and they wouldn’t be noticed. To her surprise, there was a for sale sign in the yard when they arrived. She felt confused.