Protecting His Fox's Sass (Sass And Growl Book 2) Read online

  Fighting back tears of embarrassment, Teine took a deep breath and snatched her keys from the floor. Life had just been one obstacle after another since she left her skulk. Why would now be any different? Resisting the urge to shrug off the hands that gently cupped her elbows and helped her up, she muttered, “Thank you, Mr. Wolfe.”

  “Jake.”

  Knowing she wouldn’t be around long enough to call him anything, Teine just nodded.

  “How about we go sit at the table in the corner over there?” When Teine looked at him in confusion, he smiled. “I’m assuming you are my next appointment, correct?” When she didn’t reply, he cocked an eyebrow. “You are here to apply for the open position for a dancer, right?”

  Slowly, Teine nodded, glancing behind her at the closed door. “Yes, I was.” Originally, before she made a complete fool of herself. And before she found out the owner was a wolf shifter.

  “I hope that hasn’t changed,” Jake said, accepting an icepack from the blonde she remembered seeing before, and gesturing to a table in the far corner.

  Was he serious? After the entrance she’d just made, he still wanted her to apply?

  Chuckling at the incredulous look that must have been on her face, Jake held out a hand. “How about we start over? I’m Jake Wolfe, owner of the Naked Wolfe.”

  Teine hesitated, wondering what would be worse: continuing with the interview and possibly getting a job she desperately needed — even though she had absolutely no idea how to do it — or walking out the door, uprooting the child she had left with the sweet old lady who lived close to them after thoroughly vetting her, and running again, praying there would be a job in the next city. That there would be someone she could trust with Athena while she was at work. She was so tired of running. So tired of constantly looking over her shoulder. Just so damn tired. Tentatively, she grasped his hand as she said, “Teine.”

  “Just Teine?” he asked, guiding her back to the table and handing her the icepack.

  “Is that a problem?”

  Shaking his head, Jake waited until she sat down before lowering himself in the seat across from her.

  “It’s an unusual name.”

  “It was my grandmother’s middle name,” she admitted, immediately wanting to kick herself afterwards. Too much information could jeopardize things. She knew she should have changed her name months ago, but it was all she had left of the woman who had saved her life. She couldn’t give it up, no matter how unusual it was.

  “Gaelic, right?”

  Teine nodded, closing her eyes as she held the icepack to the bump that had formed right smack in the middle of her forehead.

  “It sounds so different from the way it is spelled. T e i n e, but pronounced Chee na.”

  How the hell did he know that? Slowly lowering the pack, she placed it on the table, her eyes trailing around the room. “Yes.”

  “Have you ever danced before, Teine?”

  She knew she had to be very careful how she answered the next few questions. He would smell a lie a mile away. She could do it, though. He might be a wolf shifter, but she was a fox, which meant she could be very sly and cunning when she needed to be. Glancing over to where a slender brunette with large breasts was now on the stage, moving to slow, sensual music as she humped the brass pole, she shrugged. “Yes.” It wasn’t a lie. She loved to dance.

  “Without clothes?”

  “Yes.” That also wasn’t a lie. It had been a long time, but who didn’t dance in the shower when the music put you in the mood?

  “Alone?”

  “Yes.” Also true, since she’d never had company in the shower before.

  “Good. I will need a list of references.”

  Shit. Holding her head high, she cocked an eyebrow. “You want me to give you a list of people who have seen me dance? And who have seen me with my clothes off?”

  Jake threw his head back and laughed. “You are going to fit right in here, Cherry Pie.”

  Teine almost choked on her own breath as she wheezed, “Cherry Pie?”

  Grinning, Jake pushed some papers over to her that had been sitting in front of him. “Sure. You need a stage name. I can’t introduce you as Teine when you take the stage.”

  She hadn’t thought of that. But… Cherry Pie? Was that the best he could come up with?

  “Hey, with your red hair, it fits.”

  “Not even close,” she muttered, shaking her head and looking down at the papers in front of her. Accepting a pen from him, she filled out her first name, added the number for the pay-by-minute cell phone she’d gotten the day before, and handed it back to him.

  Staring down at the mostly blank form, he asked, “Am I going to have trouble in my club, Teine?”

  “I hope not,” she replied bluntly.

  His fingers tightening on the papers, he raised his head to meet her gaze. What he saw there must have answered any questions, because all he did was nod once, and then stand. Glancing at his watch, he said, “Normally, I would have you do a small audition for me, but the place opens in less than an hour, and one of the bartenders just called in sick. I’ll see you back here Tuesday night. The beginning of the week is always slower, so it will help you get accustomed to a crowd, and will let me see that you can handle it. You have the option of dancing with a couple of the other girls at first if you like, but it dips into your tips, so everyone normally prefers to dance alone.”

  Then that’s what she would do. Dance alone. Because she needed all of the money she could get so that she could move on before her old alpha found her.

  Teine let a small smile break free, the first one in a long time, as she said, “I’ll be here on one condition.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You let me come up with something better than Cherry Pie. I don’t even like cherries. Or pie.”

  Another loud laugh filled the air, and Jake placed his hands on his hips. “You got it. Go with Gina now, and she will help you figure out a costume.” Teine glanced over in surprise to see the beautiful blonde was back once again with a large smile on her face. As she rose from her chair, she almost choked when he said, “I look forward to seeing your routine, Teine.”

  Her routine? What routine? Didn’t she just have to get out there and shake her ass and boobs for everyone? “Me, too,” she muttered under her breath, and she could have sworn her new boss laughed again as she walked away. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

  Three

  “No club tonight?”

  Nolan Channing didn’t bother opening his eyes when he replied with a short, “Naw.”

  “What’s up with you and Brayden?” his little sister, Briar, pressed. “Neither of you have gone in weeks. You used to be there every other night. I bet the women are missing you and your big… tips.”

  He grunted in response, but stayed quiet. What was he supposed to say? That since Knox found Emery, his fated mate, Nolan’s entire way of thinking had changed? That now, instead of thinking with his dick, he wanted to feel more of a connection with his soul? With his heart? Damn, he was turning into a sappy motherfucker. It was true, though. As much fun as he had at the club, it just wasn’t the same now. He’d tried going a few times after Emery moved in, but all he could think about when he looked at one of the ladies at the club was the fact that they didn’t belong to him. They would never be the other half of his soul. As much as he loved women, he wanted more than that now. He wanted what Knox had. And, even though he and Brayden never discussed it, he knew his younger brother felt the same way.

  “Seriously, all you two do is work, watch TV, and sleep. What gives?”

  “Guess I’m just busy and tired,” he muttered, wishing she would leave him in peace. “Don’t you have a computer calling your name?” His sister was a wiz with the things. She lived on them. Personally, he knew just enough to be dangerous, and that was the way he liked it. He would leave the technical crap to her. Give him a wrench and engine to mess with and he was happy.

  “I
call bullshit,” Briar said, reaching out to smack him on the side of the head.

  “Hey!” His eyes flying open, Nolan slammed the recliner down and rose to his feet, the blanket covering him falling to the ground. “What the hell? Can’t a man get some rest around here?”

  “Not tonight,” Noah snarled, walking into the living room and glaring at them both. “Put on some fucking jeans, Nolan. We’re going to the Naked Wolfe.” Not waiting for a response, he left the room, and soon Nolan heard his heavy feet stomping up the stairs to his bedroom.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Nolan growled, slamming his fist into the top of the chair.

  “You better go with him,” Briar said quietly. “I heard from Emery that Aurora is off helping one of the witches in her coven save her charge. Noah isn’t taking it very well. Especially, since she still refuses to talk to him.”

  “Charge?” What the hell was a charge?

  “Seriously, Nolan? Do you ever pay attention to anything?” When he just stood there looking at her, Briar huffed in annoyance. “That is what the witches in Aurora’s coven call the people they save. Like Aurora saved Emery.”

  His sister-in-law had moved to Blue Creek just a few months ago after barely escaping from a life of hell. Her family had planned to sell her to a neighboring alpha, going so far as to try to beat her into submission when she refused, until Aurora saved her. When Knox discovered that Emery was his mate, all bets were off. She was claimed by him, and became a part of the Channing family, which meant her bastard brothers didn’t stand a chance.

  Sighing, Nolan raked a hand through his hair, letting it fall where it may. “I don’t understand why Noah wants to go to the damn titty bar. He has a mate. Why does he want to go look at other women?”

  “Two reasons,” Briar replied, scooping the blanket up off the floor and throwing it at him. “Cover your junk, Nolan.” Grunting, Nolan wrapped the blanket around his waist as he waited for her to continue. “One, Aurora could be in danger, and there is nothing he can do about it. He has no idea what is going on or where she is. All he knows is that she is putting her life on the line to help someone else.”

  “It’s a pretty noble thing to do if you ask me.”

  “Yes, it is. But… would you want your mate risking her life for any reason, even if it were to help someone else?”

  Nolan paused, his eyes narrowing. She had a good point. If he had a mate, he wouldn’t like the thought of her in danger, no matter what the reason. His hand tightening on the blanket, he muttered, “Go on.”

  “Second, she rejected him.”

  “Actually, that isn’t true.”

  “Yes, it is. She won’t even return his phone calls.”

  “Look, Briar, contrary to what you may think, I do pay attention. I saw the way Noah reacted when he found out Aurora was a witch. We all know how he feels about anything to do with magic, and so does she. What does he expect? Mates are to be loved and cherished, and there was no way she felt anything except his condemnation that day. If anyone rejected anyone, it was Noah. He screwed up.”

  “If you two are done discussing me and my personal life, I’m ready to leave,” Noah growled, appearing out of nowhere in front of the living room door again. Dressed in a deep red, button-down shirt, black jeans, and cowboy boots, with a Stetson covering his dark brown hair, he looked like he was on the hunt for a woman. But Nolan knew that wasn’t the case. There was no way the man would cheat on his mate, whether he accepted her or not. Which was why the trip to the club tonight made absolutely no sense.

  “Look, man,” Nolan started, prepared to tell his brother that he was on his own.

  Before he could continue, Brayden yelled from the top of the stairs, “You’re driving, Noah. And paying the cover charge!”

  Shaking his head, Nolan stalked from the room. If Brayden was going, there was no way he was getting out of it. Ten minutes later, he was back, wearing a pair of his most comfortable, threadbare jeans that had seen better days, a black tee-shirt, and old boots. He’d half-heartedly run a comb through his thick hair, but didn’t bother with trying to tame it with any kind of gel. Shoving his wallet in his back pocket, he muttered, “Let’s get this over with.”

  Knox had joined the party, standing in the hallway with Emery at his side, and he raised an eyebrow. “What’s up, Nolan?

  “Nothing. I just had a shitty day at work, and I wanted a night to myself. That too much to ask? Instead, I’m off to a club with loud music and even louder women.” Who were all going to expect him to pick one of them for a night of fun, like he always had in the past, and he was going to have to play nice, flirt, and act like he gave a damn. He loved women as much as the next bear, but it just wasn’t the same anymore.

  “Look,” Noah said, shaking his head, “I don’t want to do this anymore than you do, but it’s work related, and it would look suspicious if I went alone.”

  Emery’s dark blue eyes widened in surprise as her gaze went to Noah. “You’re an attorney. How can going to a strip club be considered work related for you?”

  “Trust me, you don’t want to know,” Noah grumbled, making his way to the front door. “With any luck, we will be home by midnight.”

  Nolan grinned, glancing at his watch before reaching out to pull on a lock of Emery’s long, blonde hair. “That means you and Knox have exactly three and a half hours to bump uglies before we get back.”

  Emery giggled while Knox’s loud growls filled the room. “Then I guess we better get busy,” she said, squealing when Knox picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

  Smacking her ass, he snarled, “Don’t talk to my mate like that again, brother.” Then, he was up the stairs and Nolan could hear Emery’s laughter as their bedroom door slammed shut. Smiling, deciding to make the most of the night, he followed Brayden out to Noah’s truck, all the while wishing he was back in the recliner, with it laid back, snoozing.

  Four

  Teine sat in front of the mirror in a small room in the back of the Naked Wolfe, carefully applying her makeup with trembling fingers. Tuesday night had come awfully fast, and even with all of the videos she’d watched and all of the time she spent coming up with a routine, she felt like she was way out of her element.

  She’d decided to forego the wig and mask, hoping that being in a small town thousands of miles away from where she lived most of her life would be enough. After a full year of continuous running, she was praying Alpha Bond had finally given up trying to locate her. The first few months had been hit and miss. His enforcers were always one step behind her the entire way. Then, she’d managed to evade them, and hadn’t seen anything of them since.

  Teine jumped when Gina poked her head in the room and said, “You’re up next, girl! Lette’s almost finished. You ready?”

  Mentally scolding herself for dropping her guard for a moment, Teine glanced back with a small smile, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Gina’s eyes narrowed and she slipped inside the room, shutting the door behind her. Crossing over to where Teine sat, she placed a hand gently on her shoulder and asked, “Teine, are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to.”

  Did she really want to go out and parade around naked on a stage, showing her body to the town of Blue Creek? No, not even a little bit. Unfortunately, she didn’t have many options. Her alpha may not have caught up with her yet, but she had killed three of his best enforcers. She may not have seen anyone in months, but it was only a matter of time. She had no doubt they were out there, and they were coming for her. She needed money fast, so she and Athena could keep moving. That little girl was the only thing in this world that mattered to her now. She would do anything for her. Even step out on that stage.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Teine,” Gina began tentatively, “there are other jobs available if you need one. I’m sure Jake will let you bartend or waitress.”

  Teine sighed as the scent of Gina’s lies filled the air. The wo
man was obviously worried about her, and willing to do what she could to help, even if it meant going to her boss and asking him for a different position at the club for Teine. Covering the woman’s hand with her own, Teine smiled. “I really appreciate it, Gina, but I promise, I will be fine.”

  “You’ve never done this before, have you?”

  “No,” Teine admitted quietly, glancing one last time in the mirror before rising from the chair and making her way to the door. Flashing a grin in Gina’s direction, she said, “But… there is always a first time for everything!”

  “I could dance with you,” Gina offered, returning her smile. “We don’t have a routine together, but I doubt anyone will notice.”

  No acrid smell of a lie filled the air. Gina was telling the truth this time. She could go out on the stage with her, dance on one side while Teine did on the other, and no one would give a damn if they did the same routine or not. Teine was so tempted to take her up on her offer, but she knew she couldn’t. She hadn’t relied on anyone except herself for a long time. She couldn’t do it now.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, sending the other woman one last smile. “I appreciate it, but I really will be fine.”

  “Sometimes it helps to pick one person out of everyone, and just dance for them,” Gina suggested. “Ignore everyone else out there and focus on that single person. Pretend no one else exists.”