Jaguar's Joy (Veteran Shifters 5)

That’s a good cat, was the doe’s verdict. Protected us against the wolf.

That he did, Misty had to agree, as she went up to say hello.

“Misty,” Ty said. He reached out—Misty was suddenly immensely curious at what he was going to do.

Shake her hand? That was professional. Kiss it? An indication that he hadn’t paid any kind of attention to what kind of woman he was out with. Hug her? Surely it was too early.

But he didn’t do any of those things. He settled his hand on her shoulder and gripped it, half-comradely, half-caressing.

“Thanks for coming out tonight,” he said. His eyes were warm and dark, filled with happiness. “I know it must have been a long day.”

“That doesn’t make it a bad one,” Misty countered.

His eyebrows went up. “Getting charged by a raging wolf isn’t a bad day in your book?”

“Not if it ends as well as it did today. For which thanks, once again.”

He waved it off. “It was my pleasure.”

Misty raised her own eyebrows. “Getting charged by a raging wolf was your pleasure?”

He laughed, big and expansive, and Misty saw a few heads turn. This was a man who wasn’t ashamed of enjoying himself.

She admired that.

“It is if it ends as well as it did today,” he admitted. He turned to the hostess’ stand and holding up two fingers. The woman nodded, her eyes lingering on Ty as she picked up two menus.

Misty surprised herself with a flash of possessiveness. Mine.

Ours, her deer agreed.

Whoa, wait, no, she thought, as she followed the hostess, Ty behind her. No one is anyone’s. We just met him and he lives a thousand miles away in one of the biggest cities in the world.

So what am I doing?

Misty didn’t have an answer to that one.

They were seated in a booth, and Ty picked up the menu with another one of his tireless grins. “What’s good here?”

“Everything,” Misty said honestly. “For a local dive, it’s a good restaurant. Try the steak or the fish. Or the burgers are good.”

“You eat here a lot?”

Misty nodded. “Takeout, mostly. Call in an order while I’m out on patrol, pick it up and take it back to the station.”

“Busy job,” he observed.

“The busiest. We’re a bit understaffed, and when Gene retires it’s going to be worse. Trouble is, it’s hard to find good recruits.” Misty contemplated the menu and sighed.

The waitress appeared to take their orders; Misty got a beer, and Ty followed suit.

“So how’d you get into it, then?” he asked. “Are you local?”

She nodded. “My dad’s family is all from here. He was the sheriff back when I was a kid, and he taught me everything I know.”

Ty smiled. “It’s good to have family traditions. I bet he’s proud of you.”

Misty looked away. “He was.”