Krissy

I couldn't help risking a glance at the bar while I danced my stress away. I wasn't sure without outright looking but I thought the hulking bartender—I now know his name is Jase—was watching me.

When I had asked Remy his name, she added that he was new to Tucson as 6well. Hadn't been in town much longer than myself.

"He's single too." Tayla piped in.

I brushed the comment off with an eye-roll, like I didn't care, but quickly started to feel flushed. I didn't eat much today so that second Jack and Coke must be taking its toll.

Sure. It has nothing to do with the fact that Jase was about ten seconds away from flirting with you before and you haven't even been on a coffee date in four years. You're practically praying that he's watching you right now. The way you're dancing you might as well be in his lap!

I needed to hit the brakes immediately! I may have been aiming for Jase's attention, but I was starting to gather it from every guy within three feet of us!

Thankfully the song ended, giving me an excuse to stop.

"I need some fresh air." I told the girls and headed for the patio door, not bothering to ask them to join me. I never did understand why girls in a nightclub needed to strut around, joined at the hip the whole night.

There was a cooling breeze tonight, just my luck. It was a relief at first but within a few minutes I was hugging myself. I was no stick model but in this dress that left my arms, shoulders and most of my legs bare, I noticed the chill.

Too bad I hadn't noticed one of the leering guys from the dance floor had followed me outside.

Oh. Right. That's why girls stick together.

"Yer one sexy ginger on that dance floor." He slurred, clearly inebriated. "I don't 'member seeing ya up on those boxes with those other girls before."

"Oh I'm not part of that dance show. I'm just out for a girl's night." I prayed he got the hint.

To deaf ears I guess.

He wavered closer to me, and I could tell his poison of choice was beer. Too much of it.

"Ya move like ya should be. Ye'd be even hotter in those go-go boots." He leaned into me and it didn't matter to him that I leaned away. "Hotter still on the stripper pole I got set up back at my place."

I felt my last drink roil in my stomach.

"No thanks." I said firmly and stepped away from him.

He snorted a laugh. "Awe, come on! Dance with me!" He stepped closer to me and again I stepped back.

"She said no, douche." A warning voice called from the shadowed corner.

When the voice stepped forward I found I was disappointed that it wasn't Jase. It was a familiar and welcome face, however.

Trey Robson. Bouncer and Jared's best friend. I had been introduced to him the same day Angelina introduced me to Jared.

"Time to call it a night, buddy." He added to the drunk.

If the tone of his words didn't sway the creep's direction, Trey's size and overall look should have. Inked and muscular like the rest of his coworkers, buzz shaved hair, and as an added incentive, piercings galore.

Douche's focus slowly took him in and after a few slow beats he did the smart thing and headed back inside. Trey nodded to another bouncer I didn't know and he followed Douche, presumably to make sure he in fact left the club.

Trey turned his focus on me and offered a wry smile. "You good?"

I nodded and smiled back. "Yeah, but I think I need to take the hint and call it a night."

"You driving?"

I shook my head. "No I took a Lyft here, I'll call another."

Trey nodded and left me to it.

Jase

I felt useless as I spotted that drunk being escorted out of the club. I was trapped behind the bar, unable to find out what happened. The redhead didn't reenter from the patio and again I had the urge to leap across the bar top. Worse still, the dancers didn't seem at all concerned that their friend had yet to return. They simply continued to dance with each other.

Some girl's night.

My wolf's fur bristled.

The patio door opened again. The redhead didn't come in or into view, but I did spot Trey standing out there. Although I wasn't thrilled at the thought of him with her I knew he wouldn't let anymore trouble stir up.

He's also probably smart enough to stay away from a marked female. Not like me.

After a minute that felt like twenty passed, she reappeared and made her way back to her friends. She talked to them for a second, hugged them and started for the front door. Her friends seemed disappointed.

Leaving already?

She couldn't. At least not until I had the chance to talk to her again.

"Going on break." I said to Sam and shuffled around him towards the front door without waiting for an answer.

"A break from what?" I heard him mutter under his breath.

Krissy

"Leaving so soon?"

A shiver went through me as I recognized Jase's voice behind me. I'd already made it out the front door and he'd followed.

Reining in the smile that had sprouted on my lips I held a blank expression on my face as I turned to face him.

"I never got the chance to apologize." He continued.

I gave him a puzzled look. "First of all, I don't know exactly what you're apologizing for. Second of all, I thought the free drink was the apology."

A smile quirked his kissable lips.

Stop that Krissy!

"Technically it was two free drinks." He corrected. "You never did pay for that first one."

I flushed but kept my voice a drawl. "So that's why you're really out here? Chasing me down for an outstanding tab?"

"Well now that you came outside the premises, I don't think money will cut it anymore. I think I have to have you work it off somehow."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Really? Like what? You saw me dance." My tone was only slightly accusatory. "Should I cover one of the girls next Saturday night?"

I could have sworn I heard him growl at that.

After a second he shook his head. "No. I think I can come up with something better."

"Like a punishment?"

Girl, what in the hell do you think you are doing?! This is the worst direction for flirting you've ever stumbled into!

Was this my early Catholic upbringing rearing its ugly head, only to reveal its neck was twisted?

I didn't know why the word punishment came to mind, but I inwardly panicked when it looked like it was exactly what he wanted to hear.

Heat flared in his gaze and quickly filtered down to my core.

Get out! Get out now! This is so not going to happen tonight!

"Krissy?"

We both turned to the new voice and to say I was glad for the disruption was putting it mildly. I could see Jase try to discreetly adjust his jeans from the corner of my eye.

It was Angelina whom had called my name, she was walking up to us with Jared.

"Are you leaving?" She asked, sounding let down.

"Yeah. I just really wasn't feeling well. But it's good you showed. Makes me feel less guilty for ditching Remy and Tayla. Hey Jared."

"You driving yourself, Doc?" Jared's eyes narrowed slightly at me.

All these butch guys, so concerned for a lady's well-being.

I shook my head no. "Not in my old truck."

"Doc?" Jase repeated.

"Oh." Angelina's face lit up. "Have you two not met?"

Jase managed to look sheepish. "I guess we forgot the formal introductions."

Angelina smiled wider. "In that case, Jason Knight, this is Dr. Krystal Ann Scott."

Jase offered me his large hand. When I took it, sparks of electricity fired my every nerve ending. A gust of wind rushed past at that moment and it oddly felt like coarse fur brushed up against my bare legs. I prayed no one could see through the fabric of my dress, because my nipples had pebbled.

I pulled my hand back, the motion a little jerky. "Krissy." I blurted. "I prefer just Krissy, not Krystal Ann. Krystal Ann just reminds me of Sister Mary Margaret's lectures."

"Jase." He offered, seeming to ignore my tension. "Doctor of what?"

"I'm a veterinarian." I replied. I didn't mean for my tone to suggest I was ashamed.

"Isn't veterinary school harder to get into than med school?" He queried.

A smile reached my lips. Oh he's good. "A little." I answered coyly.

"What's wrong with your truck?" Jared asked, breaking my gaze from Jase before I could get dopey again.

"Not much really, besides age. It mostly needs a good tune up. I just haven't made the time."

"I work at the motorcycle shop our—" Jase stopped like he was about to say one thing, thought better of it and changed course. "A lot of the guys here use it. In fact, Tank owns it." Jase jutted his chin behind him at the bouncer that had granted me entrance earlier. "I know my way around pretty much anything with an engine. Bring your truck by in the morning and I'll give it a good going over."

While I mulled it over my phone beeped from inside my clutch. I fished the phone out, though I knew what the message would say: my Lyft was arriving at last.

Ultimately liking the idea of seeing Jase again so soon, I agreed.

He told me the address of the bike shop and I typed it into my Google Maps just as the Lyft car pulled up in front of me.

"Feel better!" Angelina offered cheerily as she blew me a kiss and looped her arm through Jared's. They entered the club and Jase moved around me to open my door for me.

I stifled a giggle.

His last name is Knight.

Once he saw I was buckled in, he closed my door. I rolled down my window.

"Thanks. So… I will see you tomorrow." I drawled out slowly.

His smile was…wolfish? "Looking forward to it."

I couldn't resist watching him until the car turned out of view.

He watched me back.

Jase

"You sense it too, right?" Jared asked me in a hushed tone once we were back in the club. "I mean, Trey and I aren't just crazy, right? You and the others noticed it too? There's something…off."

I simply grunted in response.

"What's her deal?" Jared's voice held the faintest sign of concern.

"I don't know."

But I'm damned sure going to find out.

Even now, I wasn't sure I cared what that deal would be. Marked or not, shifter or not, my wolf rumbled exactly what I felt singing in my veins.

Mine.